Essay on Human and Inventions The Computer Evolution

Since the beginning of time, humans have thought and made many inventions. Repeatedly the newer one is better than the older. Our minds have created many remarkable things, however the best invention we ever created is the computer. computers are constantly growing and becoming better every day. Every day computers are capable of doing new things. Even though computers have helped us a lot in our daily lives, many jobs have been lost because of it, now the computer can do all of the things a man can do in seconds! Everything in the world relies on computers and if a universal threat happens in which all computers just malfunction then we are doomed. Computers need to be programmed to be able to work or else it would just be a useless†¦show more content†¦The computer cant work without a full input, but, our minds can by making analytical assumptions about problems. A person can note advanced and more decisive solutions to a problem using all the methods he/she can come up w ith. we can think of many solutions to the everyday problems we get, while the only thing a computer can do it give an answer from the given input and to that over and over again (s01821169 1). Ten years ago, Garry Kasparov the greatest chess mind alive lost against the IBM supercomputer program Deep Blue. that event created a change in the relationship between man and computer. In nearly every board game and card game, the computer is dominant. Computers have superior command of almost all board games. Why is that? It is because of the near flawless strategy that the computer has that man is not intellectually capable of. Every time when its computers turn, the board position is sent to a databank the gives the best move to be executed next. Computer intelligence has been one sci-fis principal themes for a long time. Experts in the field of artificial intelligence say that bots will sometime emerge far beyond the intellectual and physical capacities of humans. There is a game in wh ich computers have never been able to beat a man that is Go, the elderly Chinese board game. It is the oldest board game ever made, and the only game at which mankind was always the champion. Go was created by an emperor that wanted his fatuous to learn howShow MoreRelated Effects of Technology on People Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagescontinue to favor technology they are accustomed. The idea of technology is as old as the human race. To understand technology; first we need a common definition. Technology is anything that makes a task easier for someone or something. There are many different authorities that attempt to answer this question. Quotes, journals, and other various sources lend themselves to the topic of technological evolution as an attempt to answer this big question. There are eight sources that I feel do the bestRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article History Of Technology By Robert Angus Buchanan1012 Words   |  5 Pagesof the neanderthal, life has been constantly evolving to achieve a greater sense of survival and adaptation. We as human beings have become a prime example of the evolutionary process surpassing the predators which once preyed upon us to becoming the top of the food change. Although our evolution is an amazing feat we have used the knowledge of billions of years of evolution to create something in which blows our evolutionary process into shambles,that something being technology. As our brainsRead MoreHow To Encourage People To Use Technology 793 Words   |  3 PagesTo Encourage People To Use Technology  The evolution of modern technology has certainly changed the way we live. Indeed, modern technology has evolved enormously and rapidly in recent years and has brought with it changes in our life of beneficial changes, and other harmful. What are the advantages of modern technology? (Legris, P., Ingham, J., Collerette, 2003) How is it harmful to humans? The evolution of technology has been beneficial to humans for several reasons. First, it facilitates ourRead MoreHistory of the Development of Computers Essay1718 Words   |  7 PagesDEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS As we are stepping towards the era of 2020, man have consistently been innovative and creative in developing and improving technology for various sectors to make the world a better place for us to live in. If we look closely today, the development of IT and Computer sector and its application have greatly influenced various other sectors like telecommunication, transport, agriculture, labour, finance, etc to be more efficient and effective at their work. Computers have createdRead MoreHow Computers Change The Way We Think1373 Words   |  6 PagesStudent’s Name Professor’s Name Subject Details Date How Computers Change the Way We Think Introduction Jarvis: Sir, I think I need to sleep now... [shuts down] Tony Stark: Jarvis! Jarvis? Don t leave me, buddy... Consider this other conversation: Colonel James Rhodes: Give me a suit. [holds out arms] Tony Stark: Sorry, they re only coded to me. Don t worry, I got you covered. [a suit approaches Rhodey] Jarvis: Good evening, Colonel. Can I giveRead MoreTechnology And Its Role On Communication1245 Words   |  5 PagesSUMMARY With the passage of time men has advanced in technology in fulfilling his needs and desires. After the mechanical evolution world is now living in evolution of Informational Technology. Mechanical evolution innovate means of transportation whereas Information Technology invented a new way of communication called Internet. Astoundingly communication can be done from anytime anyplace all over the world through internet. The number of people especially among young generations internet is gainingRead MoreThe Problems Of Conformity By Virginia Woolf1186 Words   |  5 Pageshas impoverished many members of our species of independent thought and has snatched some of the complexity from the personalities humans might have once retained. Although uniformity offers a form of security from chaos, we sacrifice many aspects of humanity which would drive evolution forward; should we conform to the same ideas and principals we may hold. In our human community, there must be variation in order to grow into better species. We must also make room for innovation and creative thoughtRead MoreThe Cultural Context and Evolution of the Telephone963 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿The Cultural Context and Evolution of the Telephone It is common knowledge that the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 and that Bell was awarded the patent after a race (and legal battle) with Elisha Gray of the Western Electric Telegraph Company; what is less well-known is the cultural context that enabled the invention or the effect that the telephone eventually had on modern life. This paper places the invention of the telephone into context and explores the relationshipRead MoreEvolution of Video Games1676 Words   |  7 Pagesis an electronic game seeking human interaction through an engaging user interface that is being fetched by a video device. Traditionally the term video in video game is referred as a raster display device, but it now implies any type of display device [monitors, TV etc] that can produce two or three-dimensional images. 1. b How does it work? The electronic systems used to play video games are referred to as platforms. The most famous platforms are personal computers and video game console whileRead MoreThe Invention Of Writing Is A Fundamental Pillar Of Human Interaction879 Words   |  4 Pageswill provide, using reason and appropriate visual examples, that the invention of writing was the decisive turning point in the evolution of human growth. From primal hunter-gathers to functioning members of an ancient civilization, writing has acted more than a mere stepping stone in the technological and cultural advancement of mankind, writing is a fundamental pillar of human interaction. The essay will also convey how computers, when acting as the main medium of writing, write upon layers of more

Book Review Spiritual Formation as it the Church...

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY Book Review: Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered BY: Thomas L. Arrington CLASS: EVAN 500; Spiritual Factors of Growing Churches INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Gregory Faulls DATE: 24 JANUARY 2015 James C. Wilhoit, Spiritual Formation as it the Church Matters (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academics, 2008). INTRODUCTION Dallas Willard wrote in the foreword of this book, â€Å"James Wilhoit has written a book of special urgency for our times.(9)† In this writer’s opinion, that was an understatement. Some books you read for school, after the first 20 to 30 pages, you can truly tell that you are not going to like the book. You proceed to speed reading it just to grab the nuggets and move on to the next book or you choose†¦show more content†¦Wilhoit, while teaching and having dialogue with his students pertaining to their spirituality formative influences which lead to conducting interviews with a number of church leaders, he realized, through these stories and interviews there has been a â€Å"sea of change in our formational structures and their effects will take a generation to fully manifest themselves.(13)† This establishes the basis for writing this book, to make a â€Å"call to intentionality about our formation and to repentance about how we have tried to engin eer formation more than we have prayerfully opened our lives and our churches to God’s grace(14)†. The book consist of ten chapters, which can be broken down into two parts the establishment of the foundational structure of spiritual formation, chapters 1- 2, and the four pillars that support spiritual formation, in which he calls the four â€Å"R’s† Receiving, Remembering, Responding and Relating, chapters 3-10. Wilhoit then further breaks these four pillars into two parts. Part â€Å"A† describes and explains the foundation of the â€Å"R†; Part â€Å"B† then expounds on how to foster the pillar into the life of the individual and the church. He then moves on to the next pillar. Throughout the book the reader will find 12, what Wilhoit call, â€Å"Community Spiritual Formation Corollary† or main take-always from that specific section and when placed together form a specific

Intro to Rh Bill Free Essays

Humans are naturally born governed with laws and that’s what we call the natural law. And as we, humans grow to become more intellectual, we generated our own laws and rules to govern our lives for better quality and discipline. But sometimes, there are laws or proponents that have gained different viewpoints among us as to its necessity, value, and morality. We will write a custom essay sample on Intro to Rh Bill or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of these is the Reproductive Health Bill. Almost over a decade has passed since the Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines was for the first time proposed, now that the pursuance of the bill has gained its rebirth, still it has become a part of the national debate bringing about a wider division. The Reproductive Health Bill, popularly known as the RH Bill, is a Philippine bill aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Filipino taxpayer and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices furthermore, 81% Filipinos are Catholics, the Catholic Church exerts a strong influence in public life. Its staunch of opposition to the bill has drawn the ire of non-Catholics and Catholics alike who support the bill, and they invoke the principle of separation of church and state to stop the church. Passage or non-passage of the bill has negative implications depending on the views. How to cite Intro to Rh Bill, Essay examples

Challenges of Hotel and Resorts Industry-Free-Samples -Myassignment

Question: Challenges That the Hotel and the Resorts Industry is Facing Today. Answer: Introduction The resort and hotel industry has minted huge success to the hospitality industry. The growth has successfully contributed in the local economy as well. However, the nearing future has brought ample of challenges to the industry. They have been challenged to maintain a steady growth. The situation is challenging because of various factors; however, innovation is the one common factor, which is pulling competition in the market. Various new concepts such as Airbnb have brought mounting challenges ahead of reputed hotels and resorts (Oskam and Boswijk 2016). The main purpose of this assignment is to analyze the challenges that are there in the hospitality industry now. Brief of resort and hotel industry Resorts and hotels are little different to each other in terms of luxuries that the both offer however, they are similar in terms of factual thing. They are both offering the lodging facilities; however, there is a significant difference in between the two concepts. Hotels use to be in a building format. On the other hand, resorts are those luxury lodging places, which are built up near to attractive places such as the beaches. It is like offering personal ambience to the visitors. Both the concepts are in huge pressure because of Airbnb (Neeser, Peitz and Stuhler 2015). Effect of industry on the local economy The success of hotel resort industry does also influence the local economy. It does so in numerous ways. An incrementing number of hotel and resort booking mean an increasing number of visitors. In other words, the hospitality infrastructure is supporting the tourism industry by providing lodging facilities to the visitors. Both the foreign and the local visitors plan their trip by also booking their selected lodging facilities in advance. This trend is beneficial for both the hospitality and the tourism industry. Nevertheless, this will also improve the local economy by bringing more business to country (Zaei and Zaei 2013). Current trend in relation to business progression The future of hotel and the resort industry looks very challenging because of several reasons such as the use of innovation in offering. Services such as Airbnb have significantly driven the interest of significant number of customers towards it. The concept looks interesting to many because it is fast easy and it offers a home like experience in attractive locations. Customers are just needed to book their choice of rooms in the website of Airbnb. The rooms offered to them are not like the hotel room; however, those rooms are far better than the hotel rooms. They are actually big homes owned by others. Customers book such rooms for a long period, which is one of the specialties of the services offered by Airbnb (Zekanovic-Korona and Grzunov 2014). Challenges ahead in nearing future Innovation is perhaps the biggest challenge. It is innovation that has given birth to services like Airbnb. Airbnb has enhanced the concept of shared economy, which is significantly hampering the business of hotel resort industry (Zervas, Proserpio and Byers 2014). Labor shortage is the other challenge, which has not only worried the hotel industry but it has influenced the other industries as well. The growth of tourism in developing and the developed countries has produced the requirement of sufficient labor at the workplace. However, it is also a challenge to find an adequate number of talented professionals (Phillips et al. 2017). Strategies used for countering the challenges The changing trend for the hospitality industry has encouraged the industry to use some strategies in order to counter the challenges. Travel planning apps is one of those, which will help customers book the flights and accommodation in the choice of place. They are now heading to online channels to offer customers book their tickets. The step is just to match the innovative level, which was missing significantly. They have now understood that guest data will be important to understand the preference of customers. Furthermore, this will open up ways to some other innovation (Guttentag 2015). Conclusions The hotel industry is comprised of both the hotels and the resorts. Both are different to each other in terms of infrastructure; however, they both satisfy more or less the same need. The hotel industry is one of those sectors that have contributed significantly in the local economy of any country across the globe. However, the future looks very challenging indeed. This is because of various reasons such as the use of innovation in the services. The advent of Airbnb has significantly affected the business of traditional hotel industry. The one very evident difference between the two kinds of services is the use of innovation that has favored the later service. It is indeed required to put some show by innovating with the services in order to compete with the rising threat in the form of Airbnb. Recommendations to counter the challenges Following are the list of recommendations for the hotel industry to stay competitive in the future: It is required to convert hotel into a data platform, which means mapping up the entire guest journey. The data will help them to improve their customer experience Be innovative with the services, designs and the surrounding background. People especially the Millennial prefer to be in an accommodation place where they are introduced to local culture through the food menu, the staffs and the surrounding ambience. References Guttentag, D., 2015. Airbnb: disruptive innovation and the rise of an informal tourism accommodation sector.Current issues in Tourism,18(12), pp.1192-1217. Neeser, D., Peitz, M. and Stuhler, J., 2015. Does Airbnb hurt hotel business: Evidence from the Nordic countries.University Carlos III de Madrid dissertation. Oskam, J. and Boswijk, A., 2016. Airbnb: the future of networked hospitality businesses.Journal of Tourism Futures,2(1), pp.22-42. Phillips, P., Barnes, S., Zigan, K. and Schegg, R., 2017. Understanding the impact of online reviews on hotel performance: an empirical analysis.Journal of Travel Research,56(2), pp.235-249. Zaei, M.E. and Zaei, M.E., 2013. The impacts of tourism industry on host community.European journal of tourism hospitality and research,1(2), pp.12-21. Zekanovic-Korona, L. and Grzunov, J., 2014, May. Evaluation of shared digital economy adoption: Case of Airbnb. InInformation and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics (MIPRO), 2014 37th International Convention on(pp. 1574-1579). IEEE. Zervas, G., Proserpio, D. and Byers, J.W., 2014. The rise of the sharing economy: Estimating the impact of Airbnb on the hotel industry.Journal of Marketing Research.

The relationship between money supply and inflation

Introduction The current globalisation rate has led to many changes and effects on the value of most resources and especially the financial resources. The world’s population is increasing at a fast rate while on the other hand resources are being depleted without being replenished thus causing scarcity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between money supply and inflation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, economic crisis have occurred which have as well affected the living standards of a better part of the world’s population (Hardwick, 2002, p.176). Among the common effects are the high inflation and the amount of money supplied. Economists have however established the rate of Inflation and the money supply of a nation are correlated with one leading to another. This paper is therefore an analysis of the relationship between the inflation rate and money supply. Inflation In flation is said to be the increase in the prices of commodities and services in a given economy. This makes the people buy less since their purchasing power goes down as a result of the lower value of the currency. Inflation rates of most countries keep fluctuating but their central banks try to keep the rates at a range of about two to three percent. The consumer price index is what is used to measure the inflation rates of an economy. It has been theoretically argued that inflation is caused by an increase in money supply in the economy (Hall and Taylor, 1997, p.637). Money Supply Money supply is an economic term which refers to the amount of money circulating in an economy. The central bank is bestowed with controlling the money supply of a country through regulation of the circulation (Williams, 2008, p.1). Money supply can be measured by looking at the value of currency, bills, credit, loans as well as other liquid instruments in an economy. The Relationship between money suppl y and inflation Economists have suggested that there is a high degree of correlation between the inflation rate and money supply in an economy. To begin with is the fact that when the money supply is high the demand for money goes down.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because people are able to afford even the high priced commodities and services that they could not have initially afforded (Mishkin, 1995, p.89). It can thus be depicted that an upward supply of money in the economy results to inflation according to the graph shown below. (McMahon, 2009, p.1) A look at the graph at first glance does not show any instances of correlation however after the introduction of a time lag in which the two occur a situation of relationship is then established. This time lag is the difference in time between changes in the money supply and the changes in the inflation rates. Th us, the relationship occurs after a period of time as it can be depicted on the graph in the years 1990, 1996, 2000 and 2001 among others. This can be practically explained in a situation whereby the people of a given small town are given the opportunity to raise a higher income than they would have before in a month. They would thus shift from using gasoline to gas as their source of fuel which costs higher. This is because in real sense, the gas will cost proportionally lower than the price they were paying for gasoline before the increase in income. As a result, the market will bear high prices for commodities and services leading to inflation which has come about due to increased money supply (Williams, 2008, p.1). The relationship between inflation rates and money supply can be differently explained using different economic theories. The Monetary theory explains that money supply is the most significant factor that leads to incidences of inflation in an economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between money supply and inflation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Quoting the words of a renowned monetarist by the name Milton Friedman, he said, â€Å"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon† (Williams, 2008, p.1). Thus according to empirical studies conducted by most historical monetarists, it can be asserted that inflation is a monetary phenomenon. This is in accordance to the equation; MV= PQ Where; M is the nominal value of money (money supply) V is the money velocity P is the price level Q is the real value index (Transactions) From the above equation, monetarists argue that the money velocity is not affected by changes in the money supply in the long-run (Mankiw, 2002, p.153). Therefore the output is highly dependent on the productivity of the economy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Working with these assumptions it can be said that changes in price are dependent on the changes in the quantity of money in the economy thus the money supply. The chart below derived from the above equation shows the differences in inflation reflected by CPI and the money supply reflected as M2. Fig. A chart showing the relationship between inflation and money supply (Burda and Wyplosz, 1997, p. 267) According to the Keynesian theory, there still exists a relationship between money supply and inflation. However, they argue that money supply is not the only big factor that causes inflation as there are also other contributing factors. The Keynesians emphasize that aggregate demand is the main reason behind inflation and thus regulating the aggregate demands in periods of recessions and economic expansions helps stabilize the inflation rates as well. Nevertheless, the relationship comes about as aggregate demand is effectively controlled using economic instruments such as monetary p olicy and fiscal policy (Burda and Wyplosz, 1997, p. 275) Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be concluded that there is indeed a great correlation between money supply and inflation rates of an economy. It is evidenced that changing the money supply through the central banks leads to a control of the inflationary situations in the same economy. For instance, a country with high inflation rates and willing to lower them, they will do this through the operations of the central bank whereby the lending rates and the interest rates will be increased to reduce the amount f money leaving the bank (Baumol and Blinder, 2006, p.109). As a matter of fact, people will rush to deposit the cash they have so that it can earn as much interest as possible. This will in turn reduce the amount of money circulating in the region hence reducing the inflation rates as well. In a situation of deflation the vice versa will be applied where the central bank will reduce the lending rates and inter est rates so as to enable flow of money into the economy (Baumol and Blinder, 2006, p.109). The control between money supply and inflation rates is thus operated using the federal banking system of the central bank of the region. Reference List Baumol, W. and Blinder, A. (2006). Macroeconomics: Principles and Policy, Tenth edition. Thomson South-Western. Burda, M. and Wyplosz, C. (1997). Macroeconomics: a European text. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. Hall, R. and Taylor, J. (1993). Macroeconomics. New York: W.W. Norton. Hardwick, P. (2002). Introduction to modern economics, prentice hall publishers, New York. Mankiw, N. (2002). Macroeconomics (5th Ed.). Worth. McMahon, T. (2009). Money Supply and Inflation. Available from https://inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation/Money_Supply_and_Inflation.asp . Mishkin, F. (1995). The Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Markets, New York, Harper Collins. Williams, J. (2008). Money Supply Special Report. Available from   http://www.shadowstats.com/article/money-supply . This essay on The relationship between money supply and inflation was written and submitted by user Jaylen Ochoa to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Ethics, Hume Essays

Ethics, Hume Essays Ethics, Hume Essay Ethics, Hume Essay Yes, empathy with other human beings can provide a basis for morality because empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share feelings with another and morality is defined as the a particular system of values and principles of conduct. Therefore, empathy is the motivation for morality. David Hume, the author of A Treatise of Human Nature, was a Scottish philosopher that believed the good of man kind is the only object of laws and regulations. Hume is considered one of the greatest philosophers of all time based off his arguments; everything is natural, orality is based on natural feelings and only desires can motivate human beings. The objective of this paper is to introduce Humes philosophy, interpret A Treatise of Human Nature and follow up with support that empathy does in fact motivate morality. David Humes book A Treatise of Human Nature strives to introduce an innovative method of reasoning for anything that can be harmed. Hume does not believe there is any exact order of natural law and a natural/ unnatural theory cannot distinguish whether an action is moral or immoral. Humes theory is the opposite of ome of Hobbes theories. Hume believes that psychological egoism is false while Hobbes believes it is true. Hume also argues that social contact is pointless while Hobbes believes it is a key aspect of morality. Hume also argues in A Treatise of Human Nature that reason can not be a basis for morality, rather feelings are the motivation for morality and reason only identifies facts. Another key argument of Humes is one cannot argue is to ought, the denotation of is today means fact while ought is a view of how something should be. Humes philosophy is that only natural esire can motivate, this includes: self-interest, benevolence, and usefulness.. Justice in our world is tied into the desire of usefulness or a utility to human beings, however Justice in Humes eyes is considered an artificial virtue or unnatural because it is created by humans. On the other hand, Sympathy is considered the communication of sentiments, a basis for all moral distinctions, allowing morality to be possible. In A Treatise of Human Nature, Hume states that there is no exact morality between all human beings, we all have a foundation that is based off of ways of reasoning, and establishes the being of a God within which most reasoning is derived from empathy with others. Not to be confused that reasoning is a motivation for morality, but rather facts that help identify the natural feelings that motivate our actions or morals, whether they are right or wrong. Hume states, reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, where empathy can be considered the slave of passions for morality. There couldnt be reasoning for morals, making certain things right and others wrong without being able to understand and hare this moral with others. For instance, murder is considered against the moral code because it is said to be wrong based on our feelings and understanding of life and how others may feel if it were to occur to someone they loved, allowing the majority of humans to base their morality on empathy. Take matrimony for example, the Joining of two individuals for life could be considered part of empathy; sharing feelings with another, based on the fact that it is considered morally right for those who wish to live together and make a family to be marriage, on a basis of empathy. Hume also argues against reasonlng as a Oasis Tor morallty Decause preTerences are considered original existences and cannot be evaluated as rational or irrational. He states, Reason is a slave to the passions meaning that reason alone cannot be the motivation of morality; therefore there must be a pre-existing desire to motive morality. Hume goes against philosophers that came before him with the idea that reasoning has no part when determining goals for oneself. Human beings are taught to know the moral differences between right and wrong. Our reasoning for our hoices whether right or wrong is not thought to have an outright reason, but rather an underlying desire which comes naturally to us. Humes thinking is much different than that of philosophers before him, going against reasoning as the basis of morality. He is still very famous in the philosophical and scientific world for his theories that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience and critical examination of other philosophers works which lead to his writing of A Treatise of Human Nature. The means to understand and share feelings with other human beings is the motivation of all morality.

Argumentive essay on Why the government should own public

Argumentive on Why the government should own public transportation - Essay Example Since decisions upon providing service are generally market driven, there is no public transit in these places, or they may be somewhat served by private companies with limited and expensive service. The rationale: not enough people will use it to make it profitable. Any suggested funding for public transport is always at the bottom of everyone’s budget list. The rationale there: we should not spend public money if the service is not used by a majority of the people. If this seems prejudicial, it is, since getting around is a necessity not a privilege. Unfortunately, too many people in the U.S., while admiring the wonderful benefits of the European mass transit systems when they travel, do not see themselves using such a system at home. And most assuredly they do not see themselves funding such a system with their tax money, as do European governments believing the service a crucial necessity for the people they govern. One might conclude that in Europe, good reliable mass tra nsportation for everyone everywhere is considered a right rather than a privilege. It is not totally dependent upon the profit model. The discussion of whether our own government should be running a system similar to Europe’s in the United States has been ongoing, and attempts, as in the case of California, to provide a seamless way for people to get around using mass transit have been sporadic. One online site states, â€Å"In most states, intercity passenger train service is provided solely by Amtrak, with no assistance of any sort from State or local governments† (History of Amtrak California, par. 1). Using California as a case in point, The History of Amtrak California discusses how the state subsidizes its growing system with state and local money largely from the federal government. Its success over the years in promoting and funding a growing mass transportation system has proven quite successful, considering California’s notorious love affair with

Disassembling and Reassembling of Proteins Essay

Disassembling and Reassembling of Proteins - Essay Example As the paper highlights after leaving the stomach, food goes through the oesophagus into the stomach where the onset of protein digestion occurs. The hydrochloric acid is released in preparation for digestion, and plays a critical role in activating pepsinogen into pepsin, the enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of proteins. The HCl intrinsic factor also aids in the conversion of proteins into metaproteins, making the catalysis of the breakdown easier since peptidases break down metaproteins easily. Interaction of proteins with hydrochloric acid triggers denaturation, making digestion easier. The acidic environment serves as a favorable environment for the activity of the activated pepsin. Pepsin takes an active role in breaking down proteins into peptides.This paper stresses that digestion of protein continues in the small intestines because pepsin activity of breaking down proteins is partial. The resulting peptides need further digestion in their constitute amino acids that can be absorbed by the small intestines DNA. In the case of infants, the enzyme rennin is present in the stomach, and its major responsibility is acting on casein, converting it to a soluble protein molecule named paracasein. In the reaction that follows, calcium ions encounter paracasein, and calcium paracaseinate forms. Pepsin then acts on paracaseinate, digestive it into simpler molecules.  In the small intestines, pancreaticpeptidases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and carboxypeptidase indulge in further digestion of the peptides.

Finance Issues during the First Five Years of a New Company Essay

Finance Issues during the First Five Years of a New Company - Essay Example Accumulated losses of the first 3 years have only been neutralized in the last accounting period for which actual results are available. Consequently, the company has never declared a dividend and does not even forecast one for the first year of forecasted business results. Â  2. The Gross Margin has improved from 18.75% in 2004 to 21.57% in 2005. The forecast Gross Margin for 2006, at 22.92% is only slightly higher than the latest achievement of 2005. However, fuel costs, which are significant for a business such as that of PDS is forecast to rise to 26.04% of revenue, as against 25.49% in 2005 and 25% in 2004. It appears that PDS is not able to secure protection against a major inflation driver into its business contracts. However, PDS has been able to reduce variable labor expenses from 56.25% of revenue to just 52.94% in 2005 and expects the trend to continue with a forecast of just 51.04% in 2006. These are significant productivity gains in a challenging human resources environment. Similarly, staff salaries are forecast to remain constant in 2006 compared to 2005, though net profits will more than double. Â  3. Leased capacity utilization has improved very significantly during the past five years, considering the remarkable rise in revenues. However, depreciation at less than 5% of the gross block in vehicles seems to totally inadequate. The depreciation reserve is entirely inadequate and distorts the profitability picture, including the basis for taxation. Â  4. Though the debenture loan and bank overdraft show plenty of scope for gearing compared to the Gross Block, the company does not have any immovable fixed assets.

Ford motors and counterfeiting in the chinese automotive industry

Ford motors and counterfeiting in the chinese automotive industry Ford Motor Company (Ford) is an auto company that manufactures and sells autos and parts globally. Similar to many other corporations, Ford has invested manufacturing efforts in China, because China is now the worlds largest auto manufacturer and auto market. Given this huge opportunity, there are numerous companies looking to reap financial profits by producing counterfeit parts. The global counterfeit auto parts market was estimated at $16 billion in 2008  [i]  . For Ford, counterfeiting not only represents lost financial sales but also brand degradation and product liability risks. While robust growth in auto sales may be fueling the fake components market, the battle against manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit auto parts, specifically Ford auto parts is not new. Ford has been waging an ongoing aggressive campaign against counterfeiters since the early 1980s. Despite its efforts, there continues to be a battle as according to the automaker, counterfeit and pirated auto parts remains a problem that is putting the publics safety at risk and costing about $1 billion US annually. Since joining the WTO, the Chinese government has been placing increasing emphasis on intellectual property rights (IPR) to help encourage foreign investment in the country. However the strength of these IP laws and enforcement has not been robust as penalties are weak and do not deter counterfeiters. As Ford continues to invest and grow within China, we propose the following recommendations to address the counterfeiting issue. First, Ford should refine its internal firm strategies through security packaging innovations and a certification process, increasing education to consumers, aligning employee incentives through benefits and penalties, and continuing with the inspections. Next, Ford needs to pursue external political and legal strategies with key stakeholders, such as the industry coalition, insurance partners, the Chinese government, and the WTO. These strategies should focus on aligning incentives to develop more robust policies around counterfeiting penalties and enforcement. 2 Overview of the Counterfeit Automotive Industry in China For decades, piracy and counterfeiting problems have affected the economy. The global market for counterfeit car parts is estimated to be worth approximately $16 billion USD in 2008 (which accounts for roughly 3.2% of the global counterfeit market) and is growing roughly 9-11% per year.  [ii]  As the counterfeiting and piracy market is becoming more and more attractive to organized crime (it offers similar profits with a significantly lower probability of prosecution and penalties), criminals are making significant investments in counterfeiting. Counterfeiting and piracy activities have flourished in developing economies and gradually diminish as emerging markets achieve higher levels of prosperity and global integration. Today, industrial counterfeiting and piracy run rampant throughout emerging markets such as China. It is in fact, the worlds largest offender of IP theft and industrial piracy. According to MEMA, China is responsible for the exportation of 80% of the counterfeit goods seized at U.S. borders.  [iii]  The E.U. also estimates that 5-10% of all replacement auto parts in circulation are counterfeit.  [iv]  Furthermore, a recent study by the Commercial Times found that 56% of auto users in China have found counterfeit parts on their vehicles. Several unique characteristics make the Chinese market distinct from other counterfeiting regions. With Chinas sheer size and growing integration into the global supply chain, counterfeiting and piracy issues originating from this region have become a global problem (affecting not only local Chinese companies but also multi-nationals). Given significant socioeconomic disparities among different regions within China, the progression and convergence towards a middle income will likely be slower, fostering an environment in which counterfeiting and piracy will thrive for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, Chinas customs and traditions have historically accepted industrial piracy further stimulating growth. As the counterfeit market in China grows, increased investment has allowed counterfeiters to strengthen the sophistication of their operation. Counterfeiters now have inside information on new vehicles and specification changes before the new car is even on the market. Counterfeiters can produce exact copies of products, packaging and documentation and sell it under a competing brand name. In 2004, General Motors (GM) filed a lawsuit against Chinas Chery Automobile Company for the alleged piracy of its Spark vehicle to create a replica branded Cherys QQ. GM showed that the two vehicles were nearly identical with respect to exterior body, interior design and key components. (See Exhibit 1). In a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition against Counterfeiting and Piracy, counterfeit part sales are costing Ford about $1 billion per year. However, it is the physical dangers and risks associated with using or installing counterfeit parts that may be the most costly. Counterfeit auto parts are a huge consumer safety problem with serious potential to injure auto technicians and end-consumers. In addition to severe financial and safety implications, counterfeiting destroys the brand reputation of legitimate companies. Legitimate companies are often blamed or brought to court to take responsibility for the negative repercussions of counterfeit products. With China surpassing the U.S. to become the worlds largest auto market (achieving sales growth of 46% to 13.6 million), it will be difficult for auto original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ignore the Chinese market particularly since by entering the Chinese market, significant advantages may be leveraged (e.g. inexpensive labor, rapidly growing emerging market).  [v]  Currently, roughly 800 foreign auto parts suppliers operate in China, including most of the top 50 multi-nationals. And as the Chinese auto market continues to grow, instances of IP theft are likely to increase as well. It will become even more important for large multi-nationals such as Ford to take action and to protect itself from IP risks. 3 Impact of Counterfeiting and Piracy on Ford Motor Company in China A Background on Ford Motor Company in China Ford began manufacturing autos in the early 20th century. With $146.3 billion in revenues in 2008, Ford is now one of the worlds largest makers of cars and trucks. Its brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury and Ford receives more than half of its sales outside of North America.  [vi]   In the Asia-Pacific region, Ford operates under several investment holding companies including Ford Motor (China) Co., Ltd., Ford Motor Research Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Ford Automotive Finance (China) Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co., Company and Jiangling Motor (Stock) Co., Ltd. Roughly 9% of 2008 global sales may be attributed to the Asia-Pacific region which includes China. Ford sold slightly more than 300,000 units in China in 2008 and 2009 sales exceeded 440,000 vehicles (annual growth of 32%).  [vii]  In China, Ford has several joint ventures including joint ventures with Jiangling Motors Corp and Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co. These joint ventures provide it with three shared production platforms in China and also share factories in Nanjing and Chongqing. With China overtaking the U.S. as the worlds largest auto market last year, Chinese auto factories are running at full capacity. According to Ford, the two facilities it has with Changan Automobile Co. will not be able to accommodate expected future demand based on current growth expectations. Accordingly, it plans to open a $490 million factory in Chongqing in 2012, producing up to 150,000 vehicles per year and increasing total capacity to 600,000.  [viii]   B Detailed Assessment of the Political and Legal Issues Relating to the Counterfeit Auto Industry I Overview of the Political Landscape in China Although China has moved from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one, the Communist Party of China (CPC) still maintains political power. Having a one-party system makes the CPC susceptible to civil unrest that could threaten its power and, as a result, the CPC has been hesitant to take action that threatens local economies for fear of unrest. But as an emerging country with the worlds third largest economy on the frontier, China is struggling to balance the need to support local economies with a growing need to protect IP rights for both multinationals and domestic firms. Yet despite a reputation for considerable corruption, demonstrated by its 2009 corruption perception index score of 3.6, and a ruling CPC that often ignores counterfeiting since it supports many local economies, China still manages to attract multinationals such as Ford due to its potential for new customers and windfall profits.  [ix]   China and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Admitted to the WTO in 2001, China agreed to implement various measures that would liberalize its trade regime. Among these measures was the WTOs Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS Agreement). This agreement guards against counterfeit products by addressing minimum standards of IPRs protection, domestic procedures and remedies for enforcement of these rights, and dispute settlement procedures among WTO members.  [x]  However, despite these IPR protections, counterfeiting still represents about 8% of Chinas $10 trillion economy.  [xi]   To address this growing problem, in 2007 the U.S. asked the WTO to intervene, claiming that Chinas enforcement of IPR laws was so weak that it failed to limit the production of counterfeit products. Specifically, the U.S. argued that weak penalties for infringers and Chinas practice of allowing counterfeiters to sell goods seized by Chinese customs officials, provided that the fake labels were removed, provided little financial incentive for counterfeiters to cease production.  [xii]  In 2009 the WTO ruled that China breached trade rules by ignoring piracy and counterfeiting, yet it upheld Chinas criminal law on IPR; without strengthening Chinas criminal law and enforcement of IPR, it is likely that counterfeiting will continue to be problematic.  [xiii]   Conflicting Incentives for the Chinese Government Despite Chinas laws that aim to protect IPR, the Chinese government faces opposing incentives in cracking down on counterfeiters. Specifically, China must balance the economic benefits local economies enjoy from counterfeit products with the growing need to protect the IPR of foreign and domestic companies.  [xiv]  Because counterfeiting supports many local economies and millions of people, any crackdown on counterfeiting could result in serious economic losses. As this action would not be well-received, Chinese politicians are even less apt to prosecute counterfeiters or focus on strengthening enforcement of IPR laws. On the other hand, China must strengthen these laws and enforcement mechanisms if it hopes to continue attracting multinationals.  [xv]  However, many multinationals are so intent on entering the Chinese market, given its sheer size and potential profitability, that they are willing to operate in an environment with little IPR protection. As a result, the Chine se government has very little incentive to crack down on counterfeiters or greatly strengthen enforcement of IPR laws. Fords Risks in China and its Current Strategies Given this political landscape, Ford faces considerable risk in China. With three assembly plants in China, Ford has already encountered problems with counterfeit parts, claiming that counterfeiting costs the company $2 billion a year in sales.  [xvi]  Exhibit 2 Despite some multinationals willingness to live with Chinas lax IP protection, Ford has taken steps to protect against the growing problem of counterfeit auto parts and vehicles. Specifically, Ford has been using undercover intelligence to identify counterfeit producers and raid Chinese factories.  [xvii]  While these raids have prevented thousands of counterfeit products from entering the market, penalties still remain weak; the few offenders sentenced to prison can reduce their terms for $30 a day.  [xviii]  Despite Fords efforts and commitment to protecting its brand, this weak enforcement discourages any meaningful lawsuits and provides little deterrence to counterfeiters. Ford must develop strategies to work with the U.S. and Chinese governments to better protect against counterfeit products. II Overview of Intellectual Property Rights in China Chinas Current IP Environment Since joining the WTO, the Chinese government has been placing increasing emphasis on IPR to help encourage foreign investment in the country. Most recently, the Chinese State Council established a task force known as the Intellectual Property Executive Conference to look into IP-related issues. Chinas new auto policy released this year stresses the need to protect the intellectual rights of auto companies and bans the sale of auto products that violate these protections. China is also a party to many international agreements to protect IP (including the World Intellectual Property Organization and Paris Convention, among others). For example, China joined the Madrid Protocol in 1995, which requires reciprocal trademark registration for member countries, which now include the United States.  [xix]   The Chinese government has also established special IP courts to handle cases of IPR infringement more efficiently. In addition to having these specialized courts in some cities and provinces, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin have also established IP courts within the Intermediate Peoples Court. In 1992, the Supreme Peoples Court established an IP division as well. This increase in the legal systems capacity to handle alleged IP theft has been used to facilitate highly publicized campaigns, including activities such as raids and educational programs. Enforceability of IP Laws China has made significant progress on the legal and regulatory front, but despite stronger statutory protections, IP theft remains a major problem, as evidenced by the widespread existence of counterfeit products.  [xx]  In reality, IP laws are rarely enforced, and it is even rarer that those who are caught stealing, cheating, counterfeiting and pirating go to jail. Because China is a large country with some political decentralization, enforcing IP laws and regulations in China is a major challenge.  [xxi]   Several institutional factors undermine the enforcement of IP laws, including Chinas reliance on administrative instead of criminal measures to combat IPR violations, corruption, local protectionism, limited resources and training available to enforcement officials, and lack of public education regarding the economic and social impact of counterfeiting and piracy. At the most basic level, without adequate education with regard to IPR, there is little awareness that infringement is a crime. Furthermore, the fragmented nature of political authority in China and, more specifically, decentralized corruption exacerbates the lack of enforcement. For example, when counterfeiters have connections with local government or law enforcement officials, this may provide an easy cover for their counterfeiting activity. Local officials may create obstacles during investigations and assist local counterfeiters by letting them hide their production lines in safe places. Chinas fragmented legal system contributes to the problem as well. Protection of IP in China follows a two-track system. The first and most prevalent is the administrative track, whereby an IPR holder files a complaint at the local administrative office. The second is the judicial track, whereby complaints are filed through the court system. However, determining which IP agency has jurisdiction over an act of infringement can be confusing. Jurisdiction of IP protection is diffused throughout a number of government agencies and offices, with each typically responsible for the protection afforded by one statute or one specific area of IP-related law. There may be geographical limits or conflicts posed by one administrative agency taking a case, involving piracy or counterfeiting that also occurs in another region. Chinas courts also have rules regarding the scope of potential orders. In most cases, administrative agencies cannot award compensation to a rights holder. They can, however, fine the infringer, seize goods or equipment used in manufacturing products, and/or obtain information about the source of goods being distributed. China was also required to provide IP remedies through criminal enforcement for commercial scale piracy and counterfeiting, under the enforcement provisions of TRIPs. Chinas laws and regulations stipulate that IP administrative authorities and Customs may transfer egregious IP infringement cases to police and prosecutors for initiating criminal investigation. However, despite these criminal provisions, most IP cases continued to be handled through the administrative system. Foreign rights holders have considerably less success in encouraging criminal prosecution of IPR violations. When jail sentences are handed down, Ford officials in Taiwan say that those few offenders sentenced to prison can reduce their terms for $30 per day. Lawsuits are also often a waste of time, due to local protectionism. In 2003, Toyota lost a closely watched case in China against the countrys biggest private carmaker whose brand logo was nearly identical to Toyotas.  [xxii]  In the end, although interna tional pressure may have succeeded in getting Beijing to establish IPR laws and regulations, the enforcement of IP, as with most policy in China, falls within the domain of Chinas complex bureaucracies and local government officials. Outsourcing vs. Ford manufacturing To operate in China, Ford had to form a joint venture with a quasi-governmental partner: Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co. in China.  [xxiii]  Fords other partner in China, Jiangling Motors Corp., makes commercial vehicles, including the popular Ford Transit van.  [xxiv]  These joint ventures are one of the biggest risks automakers face as they expand in China due to the danger of IPRs violations. The Chinese made no secret that part of their strategy in forming joint ventures was to begin to learn about the auto industry and how they can produce cars. Ford produces all of their vehicles in their own three plants in the country. However, they now source many of their component parts, which increases the risk of counterfeiting since the company has transferred production of certain parts from their own plants to third-party operations in China and India.  [xxv]  There are other issues that come with operating in a rapidly developing country. In China, factories are at risk of unscheduled shutdowns because of power shortages. Ford also faces political risk. Although the danger of nationalization or outright confiscation of Fords assets may not be high, China may not always have the best interests of foreign multinationals at heart. Despite these concerns, Ford is not shying away from the fast-growing Chinese auto market. Ford currently operates two plants in China, and it broke ground for a $490 million plant in September of 2009. The factory will make the next-generation Focus compact car, which Ford plans to sell globally. Its current plant in Chongqing makes the Ford Focus, Ford Mondeo and Ford S-MAX. Its plant in Nanjing, in eastern China, makes the Ford Fiesta.  [xxvi]   In order to set up operations in China, Ford was also required to establish research and development facilities alongside its manufacturing operations to help build the countrys technical know-how. Ford has taken steps to boost their Chinese design capabilities, which also benefits domestic Chinese companies. For example, Fords China design team is putting its own spin on the upcoming Ford Fiesta (tailored for the Chinese market). Fords Current Strategies Fighting counterfeiters is a key priority at Ford, and it has stepped up countermeasures worldwide. Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler formed a global industry network in 2001 to work with law enforcement agencies and governments to strengthen patent and trademark protection laws and impose criminal penalties to prevent counterfeiting.  [xxvii]  The problem is especially acute in the Middle East, where many counterfeit Ford parts made in China are shipped and sold alongside genuine parts.  [xxviii]   Ford admits it was late in its efforts to protect its IPR abroad. However, the company is now very active and has even established its own brand protection team. The unit has led a number of raids, which have led to prosecutions. Ford recently raided a Chinese factory and turned up 7,000 sets of counterfeit brake pads destined for Egypt, each stamped with a replica of Fords blue oval. A legitimate set of pads would cost the equivalent of $47 in Egypt; the phony ones might cost $30.  [xxix]   Furthermore, as a brand Ford is trying to make everything as sophisticated as possible. It has security features in the parts packaging itself and spends time on brand awareness and training exercises so people can better identify fakes. The company says this is critical to long term public awareness and stopping sales of counterfeit products.  [xxx]   III Overview of Product Liability Product Liability All auto manufacturers, including Ford, are exposed to product liability lawsuits related to the sale of autos or parts to the public, especially in litigious countries. Ford has the most exposure in the U.S. given the extremely litigious environment and its large sales. According to the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability a user or bystander in the U.S. can sue for injuries related to a defect or malfunction of the product, and, in some instances, a defective design or a failure to warn. Even though Ford does not manufacture and sell the counterfeit Ford parts it increases its exposure if the parts are believed to be manufactured by Ford and then cause accidents and injuries. Ford could be sued and incur substantial attorneys fees and possibly even settlement costs. Ford would then have to prove that the product was not manufactured or sold by them, and even if Ford is successful it will still face attorneys fees, damage to its brand, and wasted corporate resources. Product Liability History and Severity Product liability lawsuits can take years to defend, result in millions of dollars of fees and settlements, and severely damage a brand. Ford has faced product liability lawsuits in the past such as the Ford Pinto case in the 1970s that cost it millions and the Ford Explorer rollover related lawsuits in the 2000s. Ford manufactured the Pinto throughout the 70s and due to a faulty gas tank the cars often caught fire during rear-end collisions. The most notable Ford Pinto case (versus Grimshaw) cost Ford $6.5 million in 1981.  [xxxi]  Ford has faced many other product liability lawsuits throughout its history. Fords Current Strategies Ford recognizes its exposure to insurable risks including product liability related to the manufacture and sale of autos and parts. Given the critical nature of risk management Ford maintains a Global Risk Management Committee (GRMC) that makes risk related decisions and is headed by the Chief Financial Officer. Ford chooses to manage and protect against product liability risks through a combination of self-insurance and product liability insurance.  [xxxii]  The self-insurance is typically in the form of a calculated monetary fund setup to may attorneys and claims. The product liability insurance would provide Ford with attorney support and claims/settlement payments in the event of an insurable claim. Ford also has a Sustainability, Environment Safety Engineering (SESE) Team that works to prevent faulty products from being sold and to ensure Ford complies with safety and environmental regulations. They also provide technical analysis to corporate counsel on product liability lawsuits when needed.  [xxxiii]   Finally, Ford has created a Global Brand Protection group to protect consumers from counterfeit products threatening user safety. This group is tasked with: preventing the distribution of and removing counterfeit parts from the marketplace, ensuring that the companys trademarks are used appropriately, and maintaining the integrity of the sale and distribution of original equipment parts.  [xxxiv]   4 Recommendations China has quickly become the worlds largest auto maker, surpassing the US in 2009  [xxxv]  . Due to its immense scale and rapid growth rates, China is an important strategic market for Ford from a production and sales perspective. Despite the political and legal issues and risks Ford faces in China, the company cannot simply withdraw its operations from China. Ford must engage in market and non-market strategies to help manage the counterfeit problem in this market. Recommendation 1: Refine Internal Firm Strategies As mentioned previously Ford has started to invest in internal strategies, such as raids and setting up the Brand Protection Group, to help address counterfeiting. We recommend that Ford continue to refine these strategies as well as incorporate additional internal firm tactics. From a product perspective, Ford has noted that there are security features in the packaging of the auto parts and that consumers should use reputable dealers and repairers, inspect parts and packaging closely in case they spot something and if they are concerned to ask that only original parts are used or call the auto maker.  [xxxvi]  We recommend that Ford continue to invest in its packaging to help dealers, repair shops, and consumers detect fake products. The company could consider implementing a certification program where only legitimate Ford plants and OEMs are able to put a Pre-Approved by Ford label on its products. Additionally Ford needs to employ efforts to minimize spare factory capacity in these production facilities and to increase monitoring from U.S. Ford managers. In conjunction with product-related tactics, Ford needs to educate its customers (e.g. dealers, auto-body shops) and end-consumers and bring this issue to light. Because counterfeiting auto and auto parts drastically affects consumer safety, Fords customers and consumers should have a strong commitment to help prevent counterfeiting once they are aware of the issue. These educational efforts can be spearheaded by the Global Branding Team and be implemented in various public relations and marketing efforts. Most consumers may not be aware that counterfeit autos and auto parts exist and are responsible for associated safety risks. One campaign can highlight how counterfeit auto parts can lead to injuries and fatalities. The campaign can then empower consumers to ask for Ford parts only when having their autos repaired. This will encourage customers to seek out Fords legitimate replacement parts and be wary of counterfeit products. Ford also should implement tactics to educate and incent their employees, critical stakeholders. In conjunction with educating consumers, the Global Branding Team can utilize the same resources to educate its employees. This knowledge can help increase employees commitment to prevent counterfeiting and can also create a culture of pride related to high quality production and safety. Ford ca

Analysis of Three Scenes in Raging Bull Essay -- Movies Film Cinematog

Analysis of the Raging Bull We analyzed two scenes in a movie called the Raging Bull. There were lots of clever techniques that were used. I was looking for five factors in those two scenes: the editing, the lighting and color, the use of the camera the sound and the mise en scene. I will analyze the scenes as much as I can and explain what they signify if possible. Scene 1 This first scene was actually the introduction of the movie. There was no editing or camera movement involved in this scene. The scene was filmed in black and white, I believe the director did this to connote to the audience that this is a piece of history. Black and white pictures also connotes the idea of something legendary and historic. This could fit in the topics of mise en scene or lighting and colour. However I believe it is more in the mise en scene topic because it creates an atmosphere that this is something historic and legendary. The intro was also filmed in slow motion with a slow song. I believe that the non-diegetic soundtrack was a parallel sound because it matched with the use of slow motion. The director uses these two together intentionally to manipulate the audience and to allow them to get into the mood of this movie. I felt like I was watching something important and historic. The soundtrack was the only sound you could here during that first scene. This scene took place in an arena, where there was a ring. The boxer was continuously jumping up and down, warming his self up on the left hand side of the ring. This was an asymmetrical piece because of how the boxer was always on the left hand side of the ring wi... ...ers. We felt like we were in the ring and part of the action. I noticed a few other things which I felt were also important. The darkening of the audience during the fight showed that they were not important and that the director wanted us to focus on the fight. I realised that the sound during the brawl in the audience was loud, and there was a use of low key lighting, which showed how intense and important this game is, that even the crowd got involved. There was silence at the start of the final round which signified how crucial and important this final round is. I realised that there was smoke behind that opponent’s head during the break, which could signify that he was the bad one. I conclude that these five important factors were used to create atmospheres and to connote to the audience what is the situation.

The Ideal Person

Nietzsche’s Ubermensch concept of the â€Å"ideal person† was able to achieve self-actualization, and has developed himself holistically. What Nietzsche meant by achieving self-actualization was to achieve one’s full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a grasp on the real world. I see an ideal person as someone who surrounds themselves with happiness and love even with no money or fame. Most people consider the ideal person beautiful and rich. But as many people may say, money doesn’t always bring happiness or love, it could lead to loneliness and emptiness, even with all of the material things.An ideal person, as lived their life without regrets. I do agree with an ideal person is someone who can achieve their full potential through everything they do. They put all their hard work and effort into what they need to accomplish and with the best of their ability. I believe this is the most important similarity with our ideal person a s well as Nietzsche’s. A difference between our theories would be that we may see an ideal person as someone who is less fortunate but doing the best of their potential to provide for themselves and their family.And we would see that as with the resources they have and can afford then they are achieving a self-actualization. Nietzsche may be that as not a real ideal person, because someone might not look up to that certain person because they are not so called living the glam life, and having everything around them. He may think that he is not achieving his full self-actualization because of that, when really is he by being happy in life and grasping everything around him that he can and not taking it for granted. Nietzsche believes that the ideal person is high, rare, and far between and mainly mentions them as a â€Å"he†.In my belief the ideal person can be of any gender, by achieving greatness, and many people are ideal and not as rare as he mentions. With the main differences in mind I think that his Ubermensch is not plausible. He see’s the ideal person as a higher power and rare and far between, like the so called superman that is seen in comic books, that was created after his theory. His person is like a fantasy that people wish they were instead of being normal people around us that achieve their potentials and that are plausible.

Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Free Online Research Papers An event I chose from Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut was from chapter six. The event I chose in the book was the day that the atomic bomb was going to hit Japan and Newt, the son of a scientist,writes a letter to John. There was a scence when Newt was sitting outside of his fathers work office on the carpet playing with his toy trucks. His father was one of the people who were involved in making the atomic bomb. While Newt was playing outside, his father came out with a string he got from a manuscript and tried to play with John. John’s father rarely even spoke to him or played any games so Newtwas surprised. â€Å"He had hardly ever even spoken to me(Vonnegut12). He made the string into a shape of the cats cradle and waved it in front of johns face. See?see?see? Cats cradle. See the cats cradle? See where the nice pussycat sleeps? Meow meow(Vonnegut12). Newt was not very interested in it and it seemed he was more interested in how his father looked like up close. His pores looks as big as the craters on the moon. His ears and nostrils were stuffed with hair. Cigar smoke made him smell like mouth of hell. So close up, my father was the ugliest thing I have ever seen.(Vonnegut12). Whe n his father started to sing, John started to cry and ran away from his father. I found this funny and it kind of persuades me to go on and read more. This scene I chose from the book develops humor and rejection as a theme. I chose humor as a theme because Newts reaction toward his father after he tried to play with Newt made me laugh. â€Å"I burst into tears. I jumped up and ran out of the house as fast as I could go(Vonnegut12). It seemed that he got frighten by his father’s looks. I did feel bad for the father because he was really hurt by John’s reaction. â€Å"My sister Angela has told me many times that I really hurt my father that day when I wouldn’t admire the cats cradle, when I wouldn’t stay there on the carpet with my father and listen to him sing(Vonnegut13).and that’s when rejection comes in. When Newt ran away crying from his father scared, the father was basically rejected by his son. It seemed like Newt didn’t want to play with him because he was frighten by how ugly his father looked . I also find this pretty weird because Newt realizes how his father looked when he saw him up close. I think this scenes purpose was to catch the readers’ attention and it worked. It interested me and I read on longer. How he thought of his father and especially his reaction towards it. I think it gives the readers a laugh. Rejection is also important in this scene because no one wants to be rejected by their children and Newts father felt rejected when Newt ran away crying from him. Overall, humor and rejection are what sets a theme in this scene. Newts reaction toward his father was funny, and Newt running away from his father gave off this rejected feeling. I picked this scene because I was getting bored and it caught my attention to read on. Research Papers on Cat’s Cradle by Kurt VonnegutBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyWhere Wild and West MeetComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is Art19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Spring and AutumnTrailblazing by Eric Anderson

What are the key features of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Essay Example

What are the key features of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Essay Example What are the key features of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Paper What are the key features of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Paper In the first century AD, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that people are not disturbed by the events that happen, more so by the view that they take of them (Woolfe and Dryden, 1996). The view a person takes of an event depends on their chosen orientation, and their orientation is influenced by their beliefs about their self in relation to the world (Woolfe and Dryden, 1996). This is the theoretical origin of contemporary Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, one of the major orientations of psychotherapy deriving from cognitive and behavioural psychological models of human behaviour (Grazebrook and Garland, 2005). The earlier of the two approaches was behaviourism, created by JB Watson in 1919 when academic psychology was in its infancy. Watson believed psychology need only concern itself with overtly observable phenomena, not invisible thoughts and images (McLeod, 2003). One of the primary theories pioneered by behaviourists such as Skinner, Watson, Pavlov, Tolman and Thorndike was that all behaviour and beliefs must be learned, and controlled laboratory experiments proceeded to discover how they were learned (McLeod, 2003). Pavlovs (1927) Classical Conditioning model and Skinners (1938) Operant model of learning (Gross, 2005) were the first attempts made to turn behaviourism into therapy and provided the rationale for the Systematic Desensitisation Technique (McLeod, 2003) devised by Wolpe in 1958 (Gross, 2005). However, Tolman (1948) ran a series of experiments with laboratory rats and a maze, which led him to believe they had created a mental map of the maze introducing the study of internal mental events (or cognitions) to behaviourism (Gross, 2005). This new interest in cognition eventually led to the cognitive revolution and the limitations of the stimulus response analysis of human behaviour had in effect been reversed as the fixation of the introspectionists with inner, mental events or cognitions returned to govern psychology once again. This time however, allied to more sophisticated research methods than naive introspection (McLeod, 2003). During the 1960s and 1970s, two pioneering psychologists of psychoanalytic background, Ellis and Beck (respectively) became increasingly aware of the importance in the way the clients though about themselves. Ellis had evolved a more active style of therapy than the associated Cognitive therapy, which over time was renamed several times, but most recently known as Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). High levels of challenge and confrontation during therapy enabled the client to scrutinise their irrational beliefs or crooked thinking, which Ellis believed stemmed from seeing life in terms of musts or shoulds which he claimed were invariably exaggerated or overstated and the cause of most emotional problems (McLeod, 2003). Elliss (1962) ABC model of human disturbance has made a great impact on the progress and current popularity of cognitive-behaviour therapy (De Bernardi and Wirga, date not known). The A stands for the Actualising event. C stands for the emotional or behavioural consequence and between A and C comes B, the beliefs about the event. Events and the emotional consequences are determined by the belief about the event rather than the actual event (McLeod, 2003). Beck (1976) in his story of his conversion to cognitive therapy explained how after years of working in the psychoanalytic tradition, he was struck by the impact of the patients cognition on his feelings and behaviour. His theory postulates that incorrect habits of interpreting and processing date are learned during cognitive development. The basic concepts of cognitive therapy are fundamentals of contemporary CBT. The first of these concepts is that of schemas, cognitive structures of peoples fundamental beliefs and assumptions which can be adaptive of maladaptive (Nelson-Jones, 2006). Second are Modes, networks of cognition that interpret and adapt to ongoing situations (Beck and Weishaar, 2005). Another is that of cognitive vulnerability, humans cognitive frailty unique to each individual and based upon their schemas (Nelson-Jones, 2006). Dysfunctional beliefs embedded in to schemas contribute to another basic concept called cognitive distortion (Nelson-Jones, 2006). Becks Cognitive Distortion Model (1976) is the best known model of cognitive processing used by cognitive behavioural therapists. Perceptions of events become highly selective, egocentric and rigid when they perceive a situation as threatening causing impairment to the function of normal cognitive processing (McLeod, 2003). .Beck (1976) identified many different kinds of cognitive distortion including; arbitrary inference, selective abstraction, overgeneralisation, magnification, minimisation and personalisation (McLeod, 2003). Beck described self critical cognitions as automatic thoughts, one of the keys to successful therapy. Automatic thoughts reflect schema content, deeper beliefs and assumptions which are less accessible to awareness (Nelson-Jones, 2006). Acquisition of schemas, automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions and the associated vulnerability to psychological distress, is the result of many factors such as; evolutionary, biological developmental and environmental. Many of these are common across individuals, however, each person has their own unique variations (Nelson-Jones, 2006). The therapeutic goals of cognitive therapy are to re-energise the reality testing system (Nelson-Jones, 2006). Also, to teach the client adaptive meta-cognition, which is the ability to change oneself and environment in order achieve therapeutic change (McLeod, 2003). This concept is central to the work of Ellis and Beck and has been widely researched in developmental psychology. Another therapeutic goal in cognitive psychology is to enable the client to become their own therapist, by providing skills for problem solving for example. Ellis (1962) and Beck (1976) led the way for many other clinicians and writers within the cognitive behavioural paradigm to further develop this (historically, most recent) approach to counselling with yearly contributions of new ideas and techniques being added (Dryden and Golden, 1986: Dryden and Trower, 1988; Dobson, 1988, Freeman et al, 1989). The term Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is now used to refer to behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy and to any therapy based upon the pragmatic amalgamation of the ideology of both cognitive and behavioural theories (Grazebrook and Garland, 2005). There are many facets to contemporary CBT as a result of the previously mentioned mass of regular contributions of new ideas and theories. There are however some key features comprehensively laid out by Grazebook and Garland (2005) as follows. CBT is based on scientific principles which research has proven effective for a wide variety of psychological disorders. A therapeutic alliance is formed between the client and counsellor to gain a shared view of problems in relation to the clients thoughts, feelings and behaviour, usually in relation to the here and now. This usually leads to the agreement of personalised and time limited therapy goals and strategies which the counsellor will continually monitor and evaluate with the client. The outcome of therapy is to focus on specific psychological and practical skills, through reflection and exploration of the meaning attributed to events and situations, and the re-evaluation of those meanings. The treatments are intrinsically empowering, aimed at enabling the client to tackle their problems by employing their own resources. Acquiring and using such skills is seen as the main target, the active component being promotion of change, in particular using homework to put what has been learned into practice between sessions. The client will hopefully accredit the improvement in their problems to their own efforts, with their alliance with the counsellor (Grazebook and Garland, 2005). One of the main differences between CBT and person centred therapy (PCT) is the therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client, which in cognitive behavioural therapy is characterised more as a psycho-educational rather than a medical one (McLeod, 2003). Less attention is paid to the quality of the relationship than to the technical aspects of the therapy although it is not believed to be unimportant. In CBT its is taken for granted that the relationship is necessary, Beck et al (1979) did stress the importance of warmth, accurate empathy and genuineness, but it is not believed to be sufficient to provide therapeutic change (Woolfe and Dryden, 1996) as professed by Rogers (1957) in his proposal of the six necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic change. In CBT there is a Therapist Client Rating Scale (Bennun et al, 1986) where the client can rate the therapist on three factors, positive regard/interest, activity/guidance, and competency/interest. The positive regard is one of Carl Rogers conditions, however, Rogers believed that the clients self-concept was affected by a lack of unconditional acceptance in life. The crucial aspect of UPR in person centred therapy is that the client more explore and express freely, without feeling they must do anything in particular to meet any specific standards of behaviour to earn positive regard from the therapist (Mulhauser, 2007), however, CBT is less concerned with insight and relinquishes the endless search for past hurts and teaches the client how to prevent negative thoughts from creeping into their minds (Langerth, 2007) through set tasks, agendas, and homework assignments (Nelson-Jones, 2006), Another difference between the two approaches is the lesser appreciation of the impact that the counsellors self has on therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapists are not expected to undergo personal therapy, even though the approach allows confrontation and challenging of the client (McLeod. 2006). The basic tenet of the CBT approach is to change the clients thinking which results in a change of behaviour and feelings, when this is directed by the therapist rather than self-directed (as in PCT) there are recurring themes in CBT of management, control and monitoring, particularly from the behavioural origins emphasising operant and classic conditioning (McLeod. 2006). An important task for early behaviourists was to discover how behaviour is learned. McLeod (2005) suggests that this might be due to the coinciding growth of the American advertising industry and the consequent need to control and manipulate consumer behaviour. Interestingly, Watson himself left his academic life to become an advertising executive (McLeod, 2003). In contrast, person centred therapy notes from the outset that the client is their own best authority the focus of PCT is always on the clients own feelings and thoughts, as opposed to judgement by the counsellor through diagnosis or categorisation (Mulhauser, 2007) such as Persons (1993) conceptualisation involves the counsellor devising a mini-theory of the clients problems (McLeod,2003). PCT typically does not give advice or interpretations as Rogers believed that people are trustworthy with a great potential for self awareness and self-directed growth (Cooper, 2007). Ellis (1973) actually claimed that there were virtually no legitimate reasons for a client to be upset, emotionally disturbed or hysterical, regardless of any psychological or verbal stimuli impinged on them. The implications for the therapeutic relationship when the counsellor believes the client is irrational might be considered concerning, by person centred counsellors or theorists who encourage clients to encounter themselves and become more intimate with their own thoughts, feelings and meanings (Mulhauser, 2007). Person centred counsellors aim to help the client develop a framework for understanding life, rather than aiming to fix people like Ellis implies (McLeod, 2006). The efficacy of CBT is a further contrasting aspect, as the approach prides itself on how its effectiveness is amply confirmed in research literature (McLeod, 2006). The philosophy of the Scientist-Practitioner model (Barlow et al, 1984) stresses therapists should integrate ideas of science with their practice, which through a wide array of techniques will provide counsellors with a rewarding sense of competence and potency (McLeod, 2003). CBT maintains a healthy respect for the value of research as means of improving practice, enabling practitioners to be critical and questioning, learning constructively from their colleagues (Woolfe and Dryden, 1996). Person centred therapy however has a developed a reputation for being research aversive and counsellors steer from using evaluation tools on their clients or categorising them by predefined diagnostic measures. The NICE guidelines for mental health and behavioural conditions also indicate little evidence of controlled research on person centred therapy (Cooper, 2007). Cognitive behavioural therapy is brief and time limited, structured and directive in form, whereas person centred therapy is long term, non-directive and the client is the expert. CBT is problem/solution orientation and based on an educational model where homework is the central feature. PCT could be considered simply problem focused, based on feelings and emotions rather than thoughts and behaviour. A sound therapeutic method is necessary but not entirely sufficient in CBT, in contrast to Rogers claim of the relationship and unconditional positive regard being sufficient to provide therapeutic change. The Socratic method of questioning is a key feature of both CBT and PCT, using guided questioning to promote a change in self perception in order to achieve what is after all the main aim of both approaches to make the clients life happier and more satisfying.

Skills and values for a social worker to become a competent and Essay

Skills and values for a social worker to become a competent and reflective practitioner - Essay Example Social work is carried out by professionals with a strong penchant to assist people the improving their daily lives by solving issues like personal and family problems. They, also assist individuals to deal with relationships, disability, life-threatening disease, inadequate housing, substance abuse, domestic conflicts or unemployment. The responsibility of the social worker thus includes research, involvement in planning or the development of policies to advocate better services to the client. This requires a social worker to possess adequate knowledge, skill,s and values to deal with specific situations. Generally, social workers with state mandated license are called licensed clinical social workers. Social workers are required to have the relevant theory-based knowledge to improve their competence while working with clients. In various instances, the lack of professional knowledge has lead to incompetence and even to the loss of lives. Social work practitioners should be aware of the six factors that show the theory is important for practice. The six factors are models, perspectives or approaches, prescriptions, explanation, accountability and justification

Organized Criminality and Terrorism in France Essay

Organized Criminality and Terrorism in France - Essay Example A â€Å"triangular trade† is progressively developing. It includes contraband of weapons, drugs and other goods. New al-Qaeda units such as Groupe Salafiste pour la Prà ©dication, Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group were formed and they use primarily created European channels to implement triangular trade. This activity is highly developed in France and Spain. At first, their activity was reduced to exchanges and then turned into a direct sale. It was revealed that the money received from drug sale was used to finance the terrorist attacks happened in Spain on May 16, 2003, and March 11, 2004, and in America in September 2001 (Rothe, 2006). Terrorists are also actively involved in contraband of precious stones and metals. In Germany, a travel agency was exposed after it used its activity to contraband gold and silver. The police are concerned with the fact that the channels established by terrorists will be used for contraband of heavy weapons and weapons of mass destruction, especially after the case, when Russian heavy weapon was planned to be solved to al-Qaeda through a man who worked for FBI (Berdal, 2002).

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing - Assignment Example Brands aimed at the high tier market moved on to defensive mechanisms like slashing prices, holding discreet sales or moving into completely new product lines even as they battled massive debts and decreasing popularity. While fashion brands like Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Armani were the pioneers in introducing secondary mid-priced brands for a secondary target market, others brands soon followed suit. However the diversification strategy was a double edged sword, with the perception of people being either that the brands were diluting their essence and the ‘luxury status’ that they stood for or that there are simply too many, too outrageously priced luxury brands in a market where they shouldn’t be. Cheap chic and e-shopping have become the reigning trends in the industry and as the local customer becomes more price savvy and inclined towards individual fashion choices, luxury brands have become something of a frivolous fantasy for the masses. But humans naturally gravitate towards things which sparkle and which may provide them with a kind of prestige and glamour; they just don’t want it to be a diluted version of old luxury or completely out of there budget. We are launching a new clothing label for the people who want the good things in life, want them to be available with convenience yet delivering a unique and customized experience with the purchase. BlackSilk © clothing label will carry items like cocktail dresses, semi-casual evening wear, formal wear for the work environment. The core strength of the brand will be good looking, good quality products with the option of customization and ease of availability through a completely integrated online store. The cost structure will be flexible, with a certain sum set for the template clothing and extra cost for any other additions the customer might want to make. The emphasis will be to merge the look, style and grace of the ‘roaring twenti es’ with the wearablity and sensible use as required by the fast paced modern life of the 21st century. The Core Value for customers will be the affordable luxury while the Actual Products will be BlackSilk © clothes, which will have a high quality and a focus on the aesthetics along with the option of customization such as our very crucial offering of Tres grande option for customers who are sizes 14 and above. This is keeping in line with the recent trends in the American health and lifestyle which show a shift towards higher weight and body mass in the general population. We would want to offer the same style and convenience to a size 2 or size 16 customer and make them feel comfortable with the choices we have on offer. The Augmented product offering would include getting customer feedback and giving them the option of changing their customization options within 30 days of purchase (exclusive of delivery time) or having the same kind of options replicated on a different template dress for a discounted price. The market segmentation for the clothing line will be done on the basis of demographics and psychographics with a niche marketing strategy initially which would be converted to a differentiated strategy once we have reached a core group of customers and the level of recourses are feasible for that. Primary Target market: Age: 21-45 Income: Varying;

Research Method for Computing & Technology Essay Example for Free

Research Method for Computing Technology Essay 2.0 Introduction Nowadays, people prefer to look information online instead of looking at catalogue or books. For example, woman would prefer to look for sales event online instead of looking at the catalogue that delivers to the house. Not all of the household will get the mails for promotion of the month because some postman will throw the mails away as these cases had already happened according to The Star news on Sunday, 21st of July 2013. This website is proposed for user to shop and enjoy shopping easily. The main purpose of this website is to provide the information of the malls in Malaysia. The information includes sales event, performance organize by third party or particular mall, the mall map etc. There are few similar websites like www.midvalley.com.my , www.onestopmalaysia.com and www.offerstation.com. These websites only show either their own particular mall information only or sales promotion only. This website is a combine and improve version of these existing websites as there are many improvements are needed for it. Besides, it will include social function like allowing user to post comment or sharing status by using Facebook account at the sales event area so that others can read and up to date anytime instead of go to the location personally to check out the event as not people now spend most of the time working and rest at home after that. Other than that, user can check out the mall map as well so they could able to know whether the store they looking for exist in the mall. The details of the store include the location of the store in the mall, store’s telephone number and brief explanation of the store. The picture of the store entrance and the shop sign will be provided too. In conclusion, this website will act as a shopping and event guide that allow shoppers to shop smart and save on time. 3.0 Project Background I got this idea to create the website while I am looking for promotion online. There are many similar websites but the information are not complete. One of the example is user cannot post comment for the particular event which I always wanted to know what is going on the event or how is the  atmosphere there. I always hope that there is a photo sharing function under the event post. This proposed system is created for user to shop easily and hunt for sales event easily. Many people do not know when the sales will be but once they browse this website, they could easily get the information they want. As well as they have some inquiry about products or others, they may just give them a call by searching the phone number from the website. This proposed website basically act as a shopping guide for user by showing all the related information. There are some difficulties while deciding the structure of the proposed website. My idea was providing information but I was told that my course is Web Media Technology. Hence, I should include multimedia or social network. Then, I have change my idea from only information to posting up event poster, flash banner etc. User can as well as connect with Facebook and post comment at certain area. 4.0 Problem Statement The common problems that faced by shoppers are where is the location, what is the operating hours, how is the atmosphere there, what promotion is going on etc. They will spend some time to search for the information and reconsider whether it is worth to go. 4.1 Problem Description This proposed website will include information that is needed by shoppers. For instance, shopper might take some time to walk around the mall when they are not familiar with it. With this website, it could become a guide for them so they do not need to waste time walking around the mall and might end up with nothing. Besides, the information like telephone number is useful too. Shoppers do not need to worry when they face any problems about the stuffs they bought. They can just call to the store for inquiry just by only browsing this website. 5.0 Project Aim To provide users every useful information in malls. 6.0 Objective To allow users to look for the information in each mall within Malaysia. To help users to save time on shopping and shop smartly. To give more information on the events which will hold in the mall. To share the tips about the event which is going on. To provide the floor plan to user and assist them to shop. 7.0 Research Question 1. How social networks are useful for website? 2. What kind of information will be show in website? 3. What are the guidelines to help shoppers to shop easily? 4. Can the store’s telephone number be found on other websites? 5. Which methodology is suitable for this proposed project? 6. How long will it takes to develop this website? 7. Which software tools are needed to develop this website? 8. What are the functions of the software? 8.0 Project Development Plan 8.1 Domain Design The major information of my project is about shopping malls in Malaysia while the minor area is allowing social network user to post comment for the event, which will be showed if there is. My targeted domains for this project are local residents, travellers and shopaholics. One of the similar website is One Stop Malaysia. This website contains most of the information of Malaysia which are like foods, education, travel guide etc. For instance, their travel guide blog post allows visitor to post comment. The comment area is embedded with Blogspot while for my project, I will allow Facebook user to connect for posting comment so that they do not need to create account or fill in their particular details just to post a comment. To sum up this, my project contains most of the shopping information such  as malls location, sales event, performance event and so on. Visitors can post comment for the sales event. Therefore, the others can take the comment as reference. Comment like â€Å"left only big sizes† might help those who are petites, so they do not need to waste time and petrol to head over the sales event location after their working hours. This feature is specially made for visitor to share their experience or status about their shopping trip. Visitors can also share the useful tips at the comment area. Other than that, visitors also can have other information from the website such as the malls information. For example, visitor can look for the particular store location from the website. It will show the exact floor and the store telephone number as these information cannot be easily search. 8.2 Technical Design Now days, there are a lot of software development methodology such as SDLC (system development life cycle), Rapid Application Development (RAD), Agile Methodology and others. I will choose Prototyping Methodology for this project as Prototyping has more benefits for a web-based system as it is more suitable for system develop by website. Prototyping methodology is usually used for system that tends to be modified during the development of the system. By using this type of methodology, the development of it will definitely get a higher user satisfaction results because the errors are fixed when it is found during the development process. This action can actually lower down the percentage risk of failure. This methodology required to collect feedbacks from user. This could exposes developers to potential future system enhancements because they know and gained the problems feedbacks as well as bad comment. Next, the tools that I will be using for development of this project are Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash and Adobe Photoshop. All this software functions are taught by my lecturers. Therefore, I am familiar with the functions and feature from the software. I will be coding and designing the layout of the project by using Adobe Dreamweaver. It is a website development tools which has most of the features. While Adobe Photoshop is an editing software for photos and pictures. I will be using it for Posters  editing. Last but not least, Adobe Flash is for creating the banners for advertisement or greetings. I will be using it to make my project more interesting. 9.0 Data Collection Plan 9.1 Primary Data Collection Focus group would be good for carrying out the primary data collection for user requirement of the website. This technique requires a group of people that met the requirement and fulfill the criteria which is related to shopping in order to carry out a good research. These participants are required to spend some time for a short survey. This is to find out what real consumers think and what they feel according to the questions asked. After that, participants will gather around the table and start discussing some topics and provide a range or views. Participants should express their own emotions and feelings honestly and openly as the answers are all private and kept confidential. Next, the questionnaire is also an ideal technique to perform quantitative and qualitative research. This is an inexpensive way as it does not cost too much and it saves a lot of time. The questionnaires can be distribute at shopping malls and collect from shoppers after they are done for it. By showing the appreciation, a small gift like discount vouchers could be given to the shoppers and it is also a way to attract shoppers to do the questionnaire. Focus Group Discussion 1. What function do you need in malls guide and promotion website? Explain why do you need that? 2. If this website is build, how often will you browse it? 3. What kind of information do you wish to see in this website? 4. Which is your ideal similar website now? Explain why? 9.2 Secondary Data Collection There are few sources for secondary data like books, journals, website, newspaper etc. People now do more reading on internet as most of the  information can search through there. Researcher can actually read or reference the work in website to get some inspiration there. Example websites are offerstation.com, midvalley.com.my and etc. 10.0 Personal Reflection Limitations and challenges are the problems that researcher will meet during the development. Researcher has not much knowledge on building a functional website. Thus, this will be affecting process. Researcher has to look and understand the coding from websites or other projects that are done by expertise, as the information could be helpful. Studying the code and understanding them has become a challenge for me in order to complete the proposed system because I have not done any website which is linked to social networks like Facebook and Twitter. This feature requires special coding to embed them to the website. I will have to reference the other websites that has similar function. Lastly, different browsers like Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Opera and others have their own technical issues and structures when browsing websites. This will take some time to test the proposed website in each browser and check the problems occur. As mentioned, there are many different browsers but Google Chrome is the most common browser in market. Thus, I have choose Google Chrome for the ideal choice to build this proposed website. 11.0 Conclusion In conclusion, this proposed website is proposed to help users on shopping. There are few similar website but they have not much information. I have jotted down all the useful information which gather from other websites and will apply them to this proposed system as an enhancement. 12.0 References 1. BEH, Y. H. 2013. Thousands of undelivered mail dumped in leafy Ukay Heights ravine. [online] 21st of July. Available at: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/21/Postmans-service-goes-downhi