Differences and Comparisons of Ethics Essay

When we think of ethics, we think of two words, good or bad. Through the history of our world, philosophers and scientists have devised several thoughts that include a system that we are able to use to determine who and what is good or bad. As a population, we can use these different terms and types of ethical theory to determine which style, form, or behavior of ethics fits with our beliefs and culture. Some of these different types of theories include virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. Although these all fall into the category of a theory of ethics and may seem to be similar, they are also very different. When looking at the virtue theory of ethics, we can see that the term character can be used in the place of virtue. According to Ben (2007), the virtue theory has roots that reach back to the time of Plato. Plato, and the virtue theory, suggest that all men and women would be happy if they would only grasp the eternal Form of the Good as his or her criterion. In contrast to the virtue theory, the utilitarianism theory suggests that a person present or have behavior of good for the entire team or group. One of the problems associated with this theory according to Boylan (2009) is that for any moral theory to work in a group, the group must first come to some terms of a general agreement. Knowing this and thinking on this statement, there are few times in my life where a team or group of people come together on any idea and agree on its entirety. The deontological theory suggest a contrasting idea to the other two theories, it suggests that there are features within the actions of the individual that determine whether it is right or not. The first theory was about the character of the individual, the second theory was about a group of individuals, this theory involves the actions of a person. The deontological theory also suggests that an individual may believe that good intentions are more important than the results. One personal experience  that comes to mind when writing about these theories. Many years ago, I worked for an electrical contractor, his moral concepts and mine were not the same. His idea of running a business was to bid much lower than any other contractor, when in fact, he did get the job, the work he applied was shoddy and the materials were sub-par. He could not perceive the value of the labor that was performed by his employees, he could have simply bid more per job, paid his employees’ wages tha t fit their position, and used materials that were deemed appropriate. His virtue or company mission statement was; â€Å"get the job done as cheaply as possible†. As a businessman I can realize the importance of saving money and using business sense to achieve business directives, however, purposefully paying employees low wages, using non name brand parts and bidding lower than any other contractor for every job is one ethic that I do not agree with. There are seven general ethical categories used in defining the ethical values and morals people follow. Each category has different subsections and expectations for a person’s behavior. A person’s morals and ethical beliefs develop from a mixture of values from these various theories; therefore he or she does not necessarily fit snugly into one category. The top three ethical theories are deontological, utilitarianism, and virtue-based ethics – these are the theories under examination. Deontological Theory Also known as ‘duty-based’, ‘categorical imperative’, and ‘The Golden Rule’, deontology focuses on â€Å"decisions about what’s right [based] on broad, abstract universal ethical principles or values such as honesty, promise keeping, fairness, loyalty, rights (to safety, privacy, etc.), justice, responsibility, compassion, and respect for human beings and property† (Trevino, 2011, pg. 42). People following this ethical category believe moral principles outline the necessary obligations and duties – principles developed by biblical or religious beliefs and societal or government laws. A deontological person does not worry about the consequences of a decision. Their concerns focus on duty or moral obligations. In a professional capacity, the person follows instructions of managers or supervisors because it is his or her duty to respect authority, even if the instructions are unethical. Utilitarianism Theor y The second most common category of ethical behavior is also known as  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœconsequence-based’ or ‘teleological ethics’. In this category, people focus on decisions that result in the most benefits for the greatest number of people in a society. Utilitarianism ethics applies to much of the decision-making in the business world, as a company exerts an effort to become environmentally responsible and trustworthy. A difficulty that arises with utilitarianism is that the decisions made cannot account for every possibility. This means that the person is â€Å"unlikely to arrive at a completely accurate assessment of all future consequences [and] †¦ the rights of a minority group can easily be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority† (Trevino, 2011, pg. 42). Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics tend to fit in more with the deontological category than with utilitarianism. In this category, the focus is on making good decisions because it reflects the type of person one wants to be. A good person makes good decisions and exerts effort â€Å"to cultivate excellence in all that [they] do and all that others do† (Boylan, 2009, pg. 133). In this category, people take a personalized approach to decision-making that not only accounts for societal expectations but also for how the person wants to be perceived, focusing on the act or decision instead of the consequences. Virtue ethics are beneficial to people working in specialized professional communities. A professional community or organization, such as physicians or lawyers, has a highly developed set of ethical standards. These standards give the members of the community guidelines to follow when trying to be good moral agents. Personal Experience In a gambling casino, deontological values are important. In any position, there are local, state, and federal laws that govern the activities within the casino. State regulations are especially strict on how employees handle money and gambling chips. As a surveillance employee in a local casino, my deontological ethics followed company and state policies. Because of the possible legal ramifications, I chose to place state regulations before company obligations. There were inconsistencies in how management handled money – per state guidelines; documentation was required for every step in the process. Whenever I saw something getting done incompletely or  inappropriately, I documented each instance. After a few weeks of documentation, I discovered that the Washington State Gambling Commission representative had never seen any of the paperwork. This meant that my immediate supervisor and the owners had concealed the paperwork so that the company would not have to make the necessary changes or possibly face fines for improper handling of money. My morals and values caused an ethical dilemma because I knew that the company was following improper procedures but I also knew that informing the representative of the missing paperwork and improper handling practices could cost me my job. I chose to follow the higher level duties and obligations outlined by the state regulations in an effort to prevent the loss of the company. This choice backfired on me in the end – management fired me because I informed the state representative of the issues. Conclusion Each ethical theory has its own rules and expectations. There are sub-levels within each category that creates even more varied options. When a person knows his or her own values and morals, it is easier to identify which ethical category he or she fits into. In this manner, a person is more aware of why he or she makes the decisions he or she does and can see other viewpoints more clearly. There are different types of ethical theories. Ethical theories help to find how a person should act towards another or in a situation. The various types of ethical theories helps people define what is right and what is wrong and how we make those assumptions. Although the three main theories of ethics have the same purpose they are different from one another. The virtue theory is the ethical theory also called character ethics is based on the moral of what is ethical. It is based on personal belief and feeling of character. It â€Å"describes the character of a moral agent as a driving force for ethical behavior, rather than rules (Wikipedia, 2012). Virtue ethics is character based and focuses on helping people develop a better character trait. According to the text (2009), virtue ethics â€Å"take the viewpoint that in living your life you should try to cultivate excellence in all that you do and all that others do. These excellences or virtues are both moral and non-moral.† It deals with the moral character of a person rather than what is the more ethical thing to do or what society expects from them. Utilitarianism states that something is  morally right if it is for the greater good of all. It is most often used in the United States government because of the principle of satisfying everyone. According to Wikipedia (2012), it is the measurement between what is right and wrong without consequence. A utilitarian is a person who puts the need of others before their own. They believe that success is achieved as a whole rather than individually. It is based on factual beliefs where the moral worth is based on the overall outcome. Deontological or â€Å"Duty† ethics is the ethical theory that is based on one’s duty to do the right thing. Deontology states that people act ethically moral because of what is expected from them in a particular situation. For example, at work you are more likely to use deontological ethics in determining how to behave in the workplace. It is because your employer expects for you to follow the code of ethics set forth by the company. It is based on what society expects out of you as a person and a citizen. Voting could be considered to be a deontological ethical decision as well as utilitarianism because even though you may want to vote because of your personal beliefs and character, most people do it because it is necessary and they are expected to do so. It also is for the good of all Americans and if one person fails to vote it can affect the people as a whole. For me this is also a virtue base theory as well because I feel that it is my duty to myself to vote because of how I was raised. I was always taught the importance of voting and the things that can become from voting. The three main ethical theories are the basis of the path to making decisions and how decisions are made. They set the standard for how and why people act the way they do or why and how they make the decisions that they make. It helps to determine what is right and what is wrong and how assumptions are made to come to conclusions. Although the three main ethical theories serve the same purpose of establishing ethical principles (Rainbow, 2002), they differ from one another because they each define different points and differ in a person’s duty to make ethical decisions. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory. An action is right or wrong based on its consequences. John Stuart Mill was an important philosopher in developing the idea of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism holds that any action that  results in a greater amount of happiness in the world is a right action and any action that results in pain or less happiness is wrong. Utilitarianism can be divided into di fferent versions. Act utilitarianism is one of the versions of utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism’s goal is to maximize the overall happiness of the universe. Act utilitarianism uses the Greatest Happiness Principle which says in every situation, choose the option that you believe to be most likely to produce the greatest possible happiness or least possible unhappiness for the all people who will be affected. An act utilitarian would determine if robbing a bank is a right action or not by determining how much happiness the robbery would create. To do this he would have to use the hedonistic calculus, which is a way of adding up all the happiness that everyone affected by an action would receive. If the results of this calculation show that the bank managers, the hundreds of investors, and the police would all be unhappy with this action and only the robber and maybe his family would be happy, then robbing the bank is a wrong action. If the bank managers did not care about the customer’s money, the FDIC insured all the stolen money, the police wer e not unhappy because of the robbery, and the robber was extremely happy because he could move to the Caribbean and never work again, then robbing the bank would be a right action. There are many good points to act utilitarianism. It is very appealing because most people want to increase their happiness and reduce their pain. Act utilitarianism says that people could do that and they would not only make everyone happier but they would also be doing what is morally right. Act utilitarians will not have conflicts over any action being right or wrong because the hedonistic calculus is an objective test that proves the amount of please or pain that will result. It is a standard that all actions can be evaluated by. Another point or act utilitarianism that can be seen as an advantage over rule utilitarianism is that each individual situation can have a different action be right. This means that in every situation the right action will provide more happiness or less pain as opposed to rule utilitarianism where the individual situations do not matter. Act utilitarianism also has some disadvantages. One major fault of act utilitarianism is that some actions would produ ce a greater amount of happiness if they were done in secret. The same action, however, would produce less happiness if it were done in public. That means that the exact  same action and situation would be right if no one knew about it but wrong if enough people were aware of it. If people know about an action and believe it is wrong, then wouldn’t it be just as wrong if no one knew about it? The action would still have the same affect on the same amount of people, they just would not know about, so they could not be unhappy about it. Act utilitarianism can also seem unjust because the hedonistic calculus may say that it is right to take away the rights of a person because it will contribute to the overall happiness in the universe. Act utilitarianism would say an action producing pain for a small number of innocent people is right as long as the rest of the world is happy about it. Another problem is the feelings of a person are disregarded; only the consequences are important. Some other problems with act utilitarianism are if a person has never experienced a similar situation, then they will be unable to perform the hedonistic calculus because they will not know if people will be happy or not. It also may not be possible to compare the different people’s happiness. Act Utilitarianism has many problems. If everyone acted according to act utilitarianism, then the majority or people would probably be happier. But morally correct actions do not necessarily have to make people happy, so act utilitarianism might not be a good way to determine if an action is really right or wrong. References 2006 Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River NJ 07458 The Legal Environment of Business: A Crititical Thinking Approach 4th Edition Nancy K. Kumasek, Bartley ABrennanm M. Neil Browne, Bowiling Green University 2009 Oxford University Press Business Ethics and Ethical Business Robert Audi, University of Notre Dame New York /Oxford 2011 SAGE Publications, Inc Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment 2nd Edition William B Werther Jr(University of Miami) and David Chandler (University of Texas at Austin) 2013 South-Western CENGAGE Learning Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases 9th Edition O. C. Ferrell, John Fraedrich and Linda Ferrell Mason, Ohio

Ethnic Literature Essay

The term â€Å"ethnic† when in conjunction with the word â€Å"literature† in the academic discourse community of students, often brings out mixed feelings of excitement and dread. On the one hand, students understand that they will be getting away from the canonical American literature – which can equal boring in their eyes; on the other hand, students interpret the term â€Å"ethnic literature† to mean distinctive – which can equal confusing or ambiguous – and perhaps at times not relatable because it is outside their scope of experiences. Perhaps before jumping into why it matters, the term â€Å"ethnic literature† should be defined first and because I am still learning how to interpret this term myself, I searched for a suitable one I could agree with. I found one in an article entitled â€Å"Assessing Teachers’ Knowledge of Multi-Ethnic Literature†, and the article actually used another source themselves to come up with a workable, layman’s definition. Ethnic literature as defined by D. E. Norton (as the article’s source) is, â€Å"Literature about racial or ethnic minority groups that are culturally and socially different from the white Anglo-Saxon majority in the United States, whose largely middle-class values and customs are most represented in American literature† (qtd. in Hager & Thompson 22). I think this definition works well to define what ethnic literature is on a surface level, but the more I dig in, I feel that this idea goes much deeper. I asked myself, who can write about ethnic literature? Can anyone just pick up a pen so to speak and tell a story about a young Japanese boy, or a Hispanic family? Can an African-American writer write about Hispanic or Chinese people and claim it is ethnic literature? And the answer to myself is no. Why? Because unless that African-American has been submersed in the Hispanic or Japanese culture from the time of childhood, how are they going to capture the very essence of being, thinking, and living day-to-day in that culture? And even if that African-American had, they would still most likely have a different perspective from the average Hispanic or Chinese person because of being different themselves (i. e black) and perhaps are treated different by the community at large which corrupts the â€Å"normal† cultural thinking. At this deeper level I am trying to get at, I find John M. Reilly’s article â€Å"Criticism of Ethnic Literature: Seeing the Whole Story† helpful in acquiring this. He states that, â€Å"the assertion of ethnicity in literature can be made only through a procedure by which the writer resolves formal problems†¦ what moves from recognition of identity to creation of a strategy for handling reality still is not literature until the individual author sustains her or his ethnic identity through a sequence of formal choices† (4). I am interpreting this to mean that as a reader of this literature, I should see and feel throughout the story (perhaps subtlety) that in some way, the characters mindset (and perhaps actions) in the story differ from my own specifically because of the culture they have grown up in in, which has shaped that character’s thinking. There are thoughts and feelings – ideas, I don’t understand without further explanation from the author, which is sometimes provided, and sometimes not. An example of this is in Brando Skyhorse’s novel The Madonnas of Echo Park, I find myself wondering what the significance of the jacaranda trees mentioned in different parts of the book. Looking up what they are, it becomes apparent to me as jacaranda trees are native to Central America – roots back to their homeland. The blossoms from the trees fall and are scattered everywhere. Felicia in chapter 2 states that â€Å"there’s no way getting away from them† (25). Basically meaning, you cannot escape who you are and where you come from. I would not have understood this had I not explored the history of that tree to uncover the significance in the book. Another example is in Seventeen Syllables in the story â€Å"Seventeen Syllables†. The story about a Japanese family is easy to read, but is hard to connect with as I don’t share the same philosophies about a woman’s place in the Japanese culture. A specific instance in the story was when Mrs. Hayashi, Rosie’s mother received her the first place prize for her stellar Haiku. When the man from the newspaper presented her with a package, Mrs. Hayashi, stating she knew it was unorthodox, asked if she might open it because she was very curious. (Yamamoto 17). At this point, I am thinking to myself, â€Å"I don’t get it – why wouldn’t she open it? † but upon reflection, I considered the patriarchal society that is dominant in this culture, and perhaps it is the wife’s obligation to consult or have the husband open the gift, even if it is not specifically for him. Yet another example is in Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. To come specifically to the point, I do not understand this idea of why it is understood that Dominican men are supposed to be these â€Å"manly men† that women flock to and fall on their knees for. That the sexual appetite along with innate sense of charisma from Dominican men is expected, and when it’s lacking, it doesn’t go unnoticed. â€Å"Anywhere else his triple-zero batting average with the ladies might have passed without comment, but this is a Dominican kid we’re talking about, in a Dominican family: dude was supposed to have Atomic Level G, was supposed to be pulling in the bitches with both hands† (24). Why is this idea so indoctrinated in this culture according to the book? This is perhaps something I will never understand, except that it is a part of their culture. All of these examples are all good and well, but the important question is why is ethnic literature important? What can be gained from reading it? From a most basic viewpoint, it is a highly effective vehicle for helping people understand themselves and the world around them. Thompson and Hager in their article state that, â€Å"multi-ethnic literature mirrors and validates the experiences for minority groups and juxtaposes the familiar with the less familiar for mainstream children† (22). In other words, through reading ethnic literature, readers can find ways to connect with others around them that are different. The article also states that when readers are exposed to divergent thoughts, language patterns, value systems, and different ways of living, that it can open up awareness about others and create compassion and understanding towards them that might not have happened without the literary exposure (23). To sum it all up, I will never argue against the instruction of ethnic literature in the school setting. In fact, I think teaching it should begin right from the beginning in kindergarten, and perhaps one day we won’t need the designated term â€Å"ethnic literature† – perhaps one day it can just be â€Å"American Literature† and part of the regular American canon of literature. Works Cited Diaz, Junot. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. New York: Penguin, 2007. Print. Reilly, John. M. â€Å"Criticism of Ethnic Literature: Seeing the Whole Story†. Critical Approaches to Ethnic Literature. 5. 1 (1978): 2-13. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. Skyhorse, Brando. The Madonnas of Echo Park. New York: Free Press, 2010. Print. Thompson, Deborah L. and Jane Meeks Hager. â€Å"Assessing Teachers’ Knowledge of Multi-Ethnic Literature†. Yearbook of the American Reading Forum. 1990. 21-29. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. Yamamoto, Hisaye. Seventeen Syllables. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2001. Print.

Analysing Federalist 10 And The Violence Of Factions Politics Essay

Analysing Federalist 10 And The Violence Of Factions Politics Essay James Madison, in Federalist No. X states, â€Å"But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property.† (Madison, pg. 64) Please write an essay exploring the reasons Madison gives for the unequal distribution of property and how the new government will be structured to control factions (be sure to give specific examples in our governmental structure or procedures that control factions). Your answer should also include a discussion of Madison’s view of both democracy and majorities. One of the most influential essays of the Federalist Papers is that of No.10, which was written by James Madison in 1787. Federalist No.10 talks about the role of faction, liberty, and how and to what extent the government should control the concerns brought on by factions. Madison defines factions as being, â€Å"a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some commo n impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.† Although these factions are often at odds with each other, they also work against public interests, thus violating the rights of others. Madison is concerned with the social and political insecurity formed by enemy factions. Madison feels that the state governments alone cannot succeed in solving this problem of factions; the answer lies in how a government is structured as a whole. Any type of popular government that can solve this problem effectively must then be presented; Federalist 10 is Madison’s attempt to present that solution. Central to Federalist 10 is the discussion of is factions. Madison makes the case that liberty and factions are one in the same. Instead of trying to figure out a way to eliminate factions all together, Madison wishes to control only the effects of factions. Madison shows this when he says, â€Å" Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be a less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.† To remove factions all together would then mean the government would have to oppress the people; which the government should never do. Madison sees liberty and faction as essential in any government system and, â€Å"As long as the reason of man continues to be fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.† Having a healthy government means allowing citizens to express their opinions and concerns, but what isn’t healthy is the violence that factions may cause. Madison argues that controlling the effects of violent factions can be achieved through the Republican model of government. A rep ublic is supposed to be capable of controlling the effects of faction, according to Madison, and even more so than a democracy. The republican model of government is one made up of representatives. These representatives carry the beliefs and passions of the majority of the ones they represent. A republic is inherently going to be made of different groups of people with different views (i.e. Democrats, Republicans), these groups are factions. According to Madison, a structure of representation within the government is better at defending the rights of those of the minority and of the individual, as well as being superior in the ability to stabilize the necessities of the community. Also, Madison feels representatives are better at distancing themselves from the influence of factions and thus better at creating the right kind of legislation that is friendly to the public. When Madison wrote about democracy, he warned against a ‘direct democracy’ where the common people ha ve a large say in the government. He thought that was a bad idea because he didn’t think the people were informed enough to make good decisions. Madison saw democracy as allowing individuals to be their own decision maker in their own interests within a community. They would obviously have a biased motive when deciding on important legislation that will affect more than just them. Madison writes, â€Å"No man is allowed to be a judge in his own case, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time.† This supports the Aristotelian view that an understanding of common good is exclusive to elites. Elites are supposed to represent the public with less of a bias than a regular citizen because the elite is better educated and therefore more virtuous. Furthermore, since the common majority is incapable of making sure th at they are not suppressing a truthful opinion; they would most likely oppress the minorities and then become unable to serve the common good and to make legislation for that purpose. Thus, democracies can never control the violence of factions because the strongest and largest factions will always win out, and it will never be able to protect the weak factions against the will of a strong majority. However, Madison does admit that a risk of such a representative system is having too few representatives, and thus a lack of distribution of power can corrupt individual representatives and distort the system. From this Madison says that the republican system works better the larger the republic is; this is beneficial to the United States because of its large size and population. The key is to find the perfect number of representatives, but Madison does not give us that number.

Can torture be ethical Discuss in relation to the War on Terror Essay

Can torture be ethical Discuss in relation to the War on Terror - Essay Example There were often many manuals given to convey the torture techniques and the implications. Written codes and conducts were also regulated to redefine the process of torture and differentiate what is acceptable and what is impermissible (Scott, 2003, p27). As the theories enhanced, there is a huge debate on the torture ethics which is going on since years, and especially after 2001 when there was an initiative of the war on terror by collaboration of many countries. Some debate that torture has always been immoral and unjustifiable, whereas many of the modern theorists and socialists suggest that if torturing an evil man because of which many lives can be saved, then there is no better moral decision that could be taken (Wisnewski, Emerick, 2009, p 78). Thus, war on terror is a justifiable process which is carried out throughout the Western world, and if it includes the practices of torturing then torture can be considered ethical too, in a broad scope. There are many ethical argument s that have risen up related to torture and its value to the society. The major argument that supports the ethics or torture is the fact that it is an essential tool. Many of the countries condemn the use of torture and consider it not only unethical but also unlawful. Whereas many countries still use it as their tool and consider it as effective in many circumstances (Harbury, 2005, p95). There are many arguments placed forth and the basic debate lie in the views presented by deontological and utilitarian viewpoints. Both the viewpoints hold justification in their own way. The utilitarian viewpoint suggests that torture can be justified if the overall outcome of the action is positive. This refers to the process of torture which is used as a tool to investigate and weed the evil out of a person or criminal. In this belief, the utilitarian thinker might consider the outcome as the only source of judgment and to decide whether the act of torturing is moral or not. The outcome can def ine the long term effects in which lives may be saved and evil may be finished. This is the primary factor on which torture is used as a tool (Greenberg, 2006, p50). Opposing the utilitarian view is the deontological view which came from the word duty. This viewpoint suggests that the rules and values hold immense importance and they should be fulfilled as the first priority rather than the outcome. Utilitarian thinkers give immense respect to the moral values and ethics over the outcomes of allowing torture or restricting it. However, if the outcome is uncertain or can not be known, then the utilitarian thinker would state that torture is wrong and unjustifiable (Skerker, 2010, p154). There are any arguments seen favoring the utilitarian views against torture and in some parts of the world, the laws support these views as well. The war on terror or war on terrorism is known to describe the campaign set out by the US and includes many other countries such as the UK. The term is comm only used and it applies to the campaign which is initiated against the al-Qaeda and other militant groups which are associated to it. The aim of this campaign was to eliminate the powers and actions of such militant organizations. The September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre gave rise to many militant groups that tend to declare war against America. These groups were the terrorists and in regard to those, the phrase War on Terror was used and made popular by the military organizations of the US. Soon it became

A Comparison of Some Methods of Cluster Analysis with SPSS Dissertation

A Comparison of Some Methods of Cluster Analysis with SPSS - Dissertation Example duction to Classification and Clustering Statistical analysis is the process by which those conducting research and analysing data, can determine who or what within a dataset, fit certain patterns and trends. There is always a dependent or prominent variable which is affected by independent variables under different analytical circumstances and then there is clustering a group of people, for example, who may have similar buying propensities or who respond the same way to a certain dosage in a medical treatment (Norusis 361). As Burns and Burns describe it, cluster analysis classifies ‘a mountain of information into manageable meaningful piles’ (552). Clustering into groups helps in identifying and classifying particular categories into a membership, from which a classification rule is determined. In a simple description of cluster analysis, it is a generic name for mathematical operations which determine what classified objects fit closely in a group (Romesburg 2). Analy sis conducted on a batch of rocks as the main group, will show through analysis that some are classified as simple round pebbles, others are quartz, rough diamonds (hopefully) or fool’s gold (typical luck). Characteristics of the rocks then reclassify into smaller clustered groups, depending on the goal of the research (2). Linkage between the variables, the cases and the clusters are a main proponent of cluster analysis (Burns and Burns 1). Classification analysis is used more often in regular research analysis than people realize and there are several ways of approaching classifications, as reviewed in the next section. Information and marketing research has found ways to conduct all types of cluster sampling, for example, in order to learn more about what is happening in their market with consumers, their purchasing habits, and where these are occurring. One popular form of research is through area sampling, where clusters are done by geographic designations such as north, northwest, south, southwest, and so on, or by metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), such as cities, streets, and regional divisions (Hair, Bush, and Ortinau 352). Whatever the sampling is, cluster sample provides that sampling clustered units are divided into exclusive groupings where each cluster is considered a representative of mutually similar components (Zikmund 708). A more common term used in the marketing research field is segmentation when referring to a population group of customers and this can also be cluster sampled by customers in different cities to find out which cities are alike in consumer purchasing (Churchill and Iacobucci 820). In psychology, clustering is a process of putting together groups of people, based on their responses to variables, rather than grouping those variables, such as found in factor analysis (Field 1). From that point, Euclidean distance determines the geometric distance between two objects, also known as cases. In the cases where there are some negative and some positive differences, the distances are squared, therefore providing a positive distance. This is because a negative distance, squared, becomes a positive. A positive distance, squared, remains a positive distance. At the end of squaring all the distances, then they are all summed up and then the square

Scott F. Turow English Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Scott F. Turow English - Research Paper Example Before diving into as to what potentially Scott F. Turow is mastered in we might like to learn as to what exactly has been formerly associated with the man and to where did his career start and develop to what it is today. Born on 12th April 1949 Scott Turow attended New Trier High School while he effectively graduated from Amherst College in 1970. To his credit Scott F Turow won a fellowship at the Stanford University in the department of Creative writing and later went to the Harvard Law School to become a professional lawyer. With the American population Scott F Turow has been one of the great entertainers in providing crime action thrillers pertaining to novels establishing a very rare authenticated plot that demonstrates originality plus keen sense of suspense closely related to the plot and never in the whole text let’s go of it at any point in time. ... Scott Turow identified that there is also corruption imbedded in the system of judiciary as opposed to a clean legislature and fundamentally highlighted one such aspect in his much acclaimed novel â€Å"Presumed Innocent†. In this novel Scott Turow significantly underlined that the system is prone to even prosecute innocent suspects that have a niche for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. His fictional hypothesis in this novel fundamentally and to a great extent issued a inaugural loop hole in the Judicial system while also made, through the passage of the novel, way to better equip the law for any such future real time cases. In eyes of a fan Scott Turow’s writings generally entertained a crime reader to the core of his or her suspense appetite while also making sure that the message intended in the book was also effectively delivered, for I may quote from the book, Scott Turow: A critical companion â€Å"Turow is an architect of devious narrative. His philos ophical take onthe law is that what you get is never simply what you see, and his medium parallels and reinforces this message. The mystery element of most of the novels remains ambiguous at the end.The narrative, too, typically shifts point of view and time period, with the chronological shifts often showing just how blind the legal system can be at the time of the crime, or how lost events can become in retrospect. Inferences, both legal and commonsense, fill in gaps in the story, but the ultimate truth remains untold†¦.. These particular fact clearly suggest that even though with a legal system as strong as that of the United States of America a typical genius of

Conflict Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Conflict - Coursework Example He loves Sri Lankan culture due to its multilingual, multi-religions and multicultural neighborhood. Paranoia theory shows the intolerable internal feelings of the Tamil Tigers who have killed many innocent souls and exploited the children rights by using them as soldiers and there antics go unreported because of the fear of being assassinated. Religious fundamentalism, because of its ability to serve identity needs, and the feeling that globalization, secularization, and Westernization will erode the good social fabric of society leads to the conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers. Murder are rampant because the terrorist consider those siding with the government as impediment to their course (Rubin,123).Though a cease fire has been declared by the government, the Tamil ruled area is reluctant to the move due to the distrust it has to the government. They doubt whether democracy will prevail in the region that was formerly in their control if the government seized power thus denying the people room to exercise their democratic rights. The rational choice theory derives its meaning from economic and behavioral proclivity. It is evident in the policies set by the government and conflicting groups. Poverty and lack of education is the main reason for suicide attacks in the region. However, it is noted that every mortal man is bound to live in this world for a short time hence the need to co-exist peacefully with our neighbors. There should be no segregations basing on ethnicity, religion and political views. This is because every human being has the right for life (Bongar, 345). Many suicide bombers are driven in their barbaric acts by the desperations that they undergo in life. Moreover, war and violence takes toll on the overall growth of generations. Many suicide missions are carried out by women a figure estimated at 30% in Sri Lanka. This is because of too much sadness they experience when they grow up they give their lives to

New position of women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

New position of women - Essay Example It was quite a pity on the women owing to this take. As researches indicate, the women can now sigh in relief because of reversed opinions that are cropping up. In fact, many who formerly had a dissimilar opinion about women and jobs that they undertake somehow embrace them. Their conception about men as Hanna Rosin observed was depicting them as individuals who are prompt and with strength to manage inadequate resources with a sole reason of boosting the economy. On the contrary, women were seen as those that are programmed to care for their families or simply to say, they were bound to domesticity. The former is in the process to be put at bay and be done away with for even those who believed that male dominance existed believe yet again that their supremacy is by now gone. A new look which is fast rising since 1970 is all about the new position of women in the society at large in this contemporary society. The changing human history is at a very high speed as research indicates. T he speed at which the shift is taking place is rather shocking with a clear view on the strengths of the rising woman so to speak. The effect is not only experienced in a single part of the world but also in entirely all parts of the globe. As Hanna Rosin, the author has identified through her thorough research, in Korea, for instance male preference no longer exists. Moreover, the same is manifested in China and India that are regarded as countries that are rapidly industrializing. Now looking upon men, women and education with an intention of comparing and contrasting their levels of advancement, women will still take a great lead, something that defines their new position in society. The author’s research has identified the truth behind this, and how female students dominate professional schools as well as colleges, where they compete with the male students thereby outweighing them in terms of degrees that they hold after their studies. As a matter of fact, she has made it plain that the ratio of male to female who receive their Bachelor of Arts (BA) in their places of study is two to three. To this I second and agree with. Therefore, it is now evident that male individuals are lagging behind the female ones in school. In addition, their positions in class work also show how bright they are over the male students. As the recent research indicates, there are many faculties that men and women pursue of which women dominate most of them with an exception of those involved with engineering and computer science. Even for that, women are still at the fore front as men lag behind at a considerable distance. Another issue that exposes men as individuals who drag behind the success of women is work. In the recent past as earlier indicated, women were not considered as those who could stand to be bosses in any company. Today, it is not uncommon to see them manage companies entitled big positions in well paying jobs. I concur with Hanna Rosin upon the mention o f fifteen job categories that are available to date with the women taking the lead in them all apart from just two. The two she mentions as those related to engineering and computer science as had been revealed earlier. The rest are primarily occupied by the female

Fast Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fast Food - Essay Example More significantly, many American public health experts and policymakers have latched onto these rather narrow cross-sectional and time-series correlations in order to promote policies to discourage eating out at fast food restaurants, to demand that fast food restaurants alter or eliminate food inputs such as trans fats in New York City, and have even demanded special zoning regulations to protect vulnerable populations from the fast food predators. In order to determine the validity of the ostensibly well-established causal relationship, and by implication the theoretical legitimacy of the laws and regulations subsequently advocated and implemented, the authors tested the well-established correlation by reversing the research question; more specifically, the new question became whether "more restaurants cause obesity, or do preferences for greater food consumption lead to an increase in restaurant density" (Anderson & Mata, 2007: 1). In short, is the core source of obesity caused b y predatory fast food businesses or, rather, by individual or demographic preferences The authors created a research model that manipulated the costs of eating at a fast food outlet (through an availability model where different costs were associated with travel distances) and then examined the effect on the body mass of an American consumer. In this way, the research design sought an alternative explanation for obesity, that individual preferences attracted fast food outlets rather than fast food outlets preying on irrational consumers, and the findings tended rather strongly to confirm the authors' skepticism regarding conventional wisdom. The data obtained suggested that "the causal link between the availability of... As a preliminary matter, the authors conceded that â€Å"Well-established cross-sectional and time-series correlations between average body weight and eating out have convinced many researchers and policymakers that restaurants are a leading cause of obesity in the United States† (Anderson & Mata, 2007: 1). This simplistic analysis thus holds that the more an American eats out at fast food restaurants the more obese an American tends to become. More significantly, many American public health experts and policymakers have latched onto these rather narrow cross-sectional and time-series correlations in order to promote policies to discourage eating out at fast food restaurants, to demand that fast food restaurants alter or eliminate food inputs such as trans fats in New York City, and have even demanded special zoning regulations to protect vulnerable populations from the fast food predators. In order to determine the validity of the ostensibly well-established causal relationsh ip, and by implication the theoretical legitimacy of the laws and regulations subsequently advocated and implemented, the authors tested the well-established correlation by reversing the research question; more specifically, the new question became whether â€Å"more restaurants cause obesity, or do preferences for greater food consumption lead to an increase in restaurant density?† (Anderson & Mata, 2007: 1). In short, is the core source of obesity caused by predatory fast food businesses or, rather, by individual or demographic preferences? The authors created a research model that manipulated the costs of eating at a fast food outlet (through an availability model where different costs were associated with travel distances) and then examined the effect on the body mass of an American consumer. In this way, the research design sought an alternative explanation for obesity, that individual preferences attracted fast food outlets rather than fast food outlets preying on irrat ional consumers, and the findings tended rather strongly to confirm the authors’ skepticism regarding conventional wisdom. The data obtained suggested that â€Å"the causal link between the availability of restaurant foods and obesity is minimal at best. Manipulating the distance to the nearest restaurant using Interstate Highway proximity as an instrument demonstrates that restaurants have no significant effect on BMI or overweight status† (Anderson & Matsa, 2007: 24).

Managing hypoglycemia in primary care as a practice nurse Essay

Managing hypoglycemia in primary care as a practice nurse - Essay Example Many patients opt to increase their food intake to an extent where hyperglycemia becomes inevitable. Others respond by being psychologically upset which in turn compromises their quality of lif e. Long-term consequences may include a less productive lifestyle coupled with feelings of anxiety and fear. Glucose acts as the primary fuel for the large variety of functions that nervous system performs. Despite the fact that glucose is vital for neuronal survival, the local storage of glucose within the substance of brain is limited; astrocytes contain glycogen which may produce glucose for a very limited period of time. For this reason, neuronal survival is mainly dependent upon a sustained supply of glucose through the blood brain barrier. Consequently, brain becomes one of the primary targets of hypoglycemia and suffers the first insult when blood glucose level starts to fall below a certain level (65 mg/dl). Irregular electrical activity at neuronal level may precipitate seizures when the level falls below 40mg/dl. Neuronal electrical activity ceases to exist when blood glucose level is below the 10mg/dl range (Ahrens et al, 2010). Since the control mechanism related to glycemia is affected in diabetes, it is common for diabetics to encounter hypoglycemic events due to reduced food intake, altered level of activity or overuse of glucose-lowering drugs. In severe cases, hypoglycemia may bring forth worst prognostic outcomes like coma or death. Due to the fact that different symptoms like hunger, irritability or anxiety are often attributed to hypoglycemia by health care workers without documenting actual hypoglycemia, the exact incidence of hypoglycemia cannot be determined with certainty. Among people presenting with symptoms suggestive of hypoglycemia, only 5-10% are actually hypoglycemic i.e. blood sugar levels below 50 mg/dL. Moreover, the incidence

The Playwright Employ to Create Tension Essay Example for Free

The Playwright Employ to Create Tension Essay Act I of A View from the Bridge ends with Marco standing over Eddie, holding a chair above his head threateningly. This stage direction, which expresses Marcos physical power and dominance over Eddie, is not very surprising to the audience as through the whole scene Arthur Miller has been building up tension in a variety of ways. In this essay I will be examining and evaluating these methods. The play is a tragedy. In all tragic plays, the ending involves a death. The audiences awareness of this builds up tension because the ending is inevitable. A View from the Bridge is set in Red Hook in the 1950s. There is a very important code of honour between the inhabitants of the area, who are primarily immigrants from Italy. We learn of this code through Eddies story of Vinnie, who is spat on in the street because he betrayed his uncle, an illegal immigrant, to the immigration bureau. This creates tension as throughout the play as the audience knows if anyone does break the code, there will be disastrous results for them. This theme of betrayal is also connected with Arthur Miller. He was a communist sympathiser during the cold war, a time when all communists in the west were hated and feared. Many communist supporters living and working in America were forced to give out names of other communists within the country. Arthur Miller was firmly against informing, and highlights his views throughout the play Arthur Millers use of the narrator, Alfieri, also builds up tension. At the beginning of the scene, he says I knew where he was going to end. The audience know the play will end unpleasantly because of this, so a lot of tension is built up through the anticipation of the ending.

Im the King of the Castle Essay Example for Free

Im the King of the Castle Essay (i) With close reference to the passage, give evidence to show how Hooper knew that locking Kingshaw in the Red Room would scare him. From the beginning of this chapter three, we have already been exposed to the fears of the despondent young boy Kingshaw. In this passage, Hooper welcomed the supposed to be honoured Kingshaw into the Red Room. When the door was opened wide for Kingshaw, he stepped a little into the room and then he stopped. While Hooper was standing beside the doors, the keys in his hand. With a tuck from Hoopers challenge to go on into the room and look around, Kingshaw stiffened and moved slowly towards the first of the glass cases and then drew in his breath sharply. Hooper was watching him intently waiting for the next chance to attack his prey. Kingshaw also gave his fear away when he stuttered upon asking, whowhere did they come from? while trying to act interested about the dead moths in that dark and dreary room. The despots wit took him nearer to his opportunity. He offered the small key to open one of the cases so that Kingshaw could touch them but Kingshaw was very overwhelmed by his fear that he replied Hooper with a straight No. four times. That only led himself deeper into the tyrants trap. Not only did Kingshaws answers betrayed himself, he also started moving backwards and only wanted to get out of the room. This incident in the room only brought Hooper to confirm his suspicion of Kingshaw having a fear for dead things. Hooper was first given an impression with his first attempt of scaring Kingshaw upon his first meeting with him. The young tyrant lied to the vulnerable Kingshaw about his grandfather dying in the room and on the bed that Kingshaw was about to use. At that time, the young boy was oblivious towards Hoopers tormenting words. Yet, his reaction said a lot about his inner being. Kingshaw upon knowing of the past of his new bedroom only went to the suitcase and squatted down. It was very obvious to Hooper that he was trying to act as if the fact that someone died in his room did not scare him at all. At ten years old, any young boy would have protested for another room and demand a confirmation from an adult but Kingshaw just kept mum. Hooper put Kingshaw to another test of a dead creature again after watching the boy being attacked by the life crow. He confronted Kingshaw about his fear You were scared. You were running away. The helpless Kingshaw then got reminded of his encounter with the scarlet red mouth of the carrion crow and was very agitated when he asked Hooper to Shut up, shut up. Kingshaw obviously didnt want to recall that terrifying incident again. However, the scheming Hooper placed a stuffed crow on Kingshaws bed at night. As Kingshaw was already very afraid of his room, as he believed Hoopers lie that his grandfather died in his bed, Hooper wanted to use the stuffed crow to make the terror of the attack of that crow return. Also, considering Hoopers devious mind, I believe he also placed the stuffed crow on Kingshaws bed in the night also to create an impression on him that it could be Hoopers dead grandfather. When Kingshaw saw the stuffed crow on his bed the next morning, he knew for sure that Hooper was behind it. He also developed a fear towards Hooper from this as he realized that that tyrant was capable of anything to scare him even more. Yet, Kingshaw was so afraid to put himself to shame if he ever did cry out for help as he remembered his father was laughing at him about his childhood fear of drowning. Kingshaw also knew that Hooper was waiting for him to scream and yell thus he decided to consume his fear so that he could get the overhand over this psychological battle against Hooper. Hence, we can see very clearly that Hooper did very careful planning and made specific interpretations about Kingshaws fear of dead things and yearns for the stronghold against Kingshaw and his emotions. Thus upon confirming Kingshaws fear, Hooper moves on to locking him in the Red Room with the dead moths and other stuffed animals with very dark surroundings enhanced by the rain and grey skies outside that creates a threatening mood in Kingshaw. (ii) Describe one other incident where Hooper preys on Kingshaws fears and discuss the effect of that incident on Kingshaw. Write with reference till where we stopped Chapter 6. One other incident apart from that of locking Kingshaw in the Red Room on that rainy night, I believe very strongly that the stuffed crow created a very deep threat in Kingshaws life in Warings and he was bent on running away from his greatest fear right now Edmund Hooper. Kingshaw was exceptionally traumatized from his attack of the living crow. It was like Hooper aggressive, territorial and left no space for him to escape. The crow caused him to scream in a queer, gasping sort of way which shows us how terrified of the crow Kingshaw was. The crow seemed to have a craving to hurt him and Kingshaw was left totally helpless and almost unable to make a sound because of his terror and shock. The vicious attack of that crow showed how trapped and isolated Kingshaw was in Warings. Hence when Hooper exploits Kingshaws fear of the crow and dead things, Kingshaw started to have a fear for Hooper grow in him. Especially when he realizes that Hooper used the stuffed crow to terrorise him and also to hint to him about himself being kept under close observation and can be defeated anytime by a click of Hoopers fingers. Although the living crow attacked Kingshaw physically, he knew very clearly that the stuffed crow was to attack him psychologically and that Hooper has had seen through his brave front. Kingshaw tried very hard to battle the fear inside him so that Hooper would not win him. However, after being locked inside the Red Room with all the dead animals, Kingshaw yearns for somewhere he can hide away from Hoopers supervision. He hates Hooper now. Kingshaw did find a room of his own, his personal space in Warings somewhere that Hooper does not hold control of. It was a small room that seemed never to have had any particular function of its own. Although the room was small, Kingshaw was not afraid of it. The author was trying to tell us that the claustrophia was towards being locked up and not of minimal spaces. Kingshaw was actually fine with the idea about locking himself in that room full of antique dolls as a way of defending himself against Hooper. He only panics when somebody else locks him in a room, against his own will. His secret room was a very little room compared to Hoopers confident Red Room. This tells a lot of Kingshaws insecurity and his sensitive and gentle character as the room was filled with a collection of female dolls. However, Kingshaws temporary sanctuary was not occupied for long, Hooper found his hiding place. His freedom was short-lived.

Business Analysis of Morrisons

Business Analysis of Morrisons Executive Summary In this competitive era every organization is facing financial ups and downs from last few years due to recession. UK has a wide variety of retailers all with big infrastructure and chains that include food, clothing and lots of other products. This assignment focuses on the financial growth of Morrison PLC and two other competitors of Morrison i.e. Sainsbury and Tesco. The report will shed light on the key indicators affecting the performance of Morrison and its two competitors Sainsbury and Tesco. Both Sainsbury and Tesco have a brand name in the retailing sector and give good competition to Morrison. To find out accurate result we collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Recession effects the whole world same as UK. Every company applies lots of strategies to overcome this. Some will successful and some unable of overcome the impact of recession. Morrison is one of the companies from retailing sector, which is successfully recovering from the recession, and giving tough competition to its competitors. In this assignment we will also discuss about the strategies adopted by the Morrison to overcome from recession and how it maintain it self in competitive market. And also try to find out what other methods Morrison used to increase its growth as compare to its competitors Sainsbury and Tesco Introduction Retailing industry is one of the biggest growing industries in UK. It stands on number 3rd in the world economy. Initially retailing industry used to restrain only small scale shops. But now retailers are more focused on customer services and expand their business at very large scale. In UK there are several supermarkets that have their long chains like Morrison, Sainsbury, Tesco and ASDA. From last five years UK retailing industry provide more than 190,000 employments and this figure is growing continuously (British Retail Consortium 2004b). It is estimated as 11% of the total UKS workforce.UK retailing industry provides part time jobs more then other sectors. UK retailing sector generates revenue of around 265bn per year which is the 8% of total GDP of UK economy.70% of UK supermarket is dominated by Morrison, Sainsbury, Tesco, and Asda. Morrison Morrison was founded by William Morrison in1899.In 1961 he opened his first store in Bradford. Very soon Morrison took over the Safeway and in early 2005 Morrison became the 4th largest Supermarket of UK retail industry. It has 403 stores all over the UK. Main business of Morrison is food and grocery. In 2005 Morrison generated 150,000 employments all over the UK. More then 9 million customers visit Morrison everyday. Morrison had its own warehouses and industries to maintain the demand and supply and has sufficient staff to provide better customer service. Morrison has more than 100yr experience in retailing sector. In 2008 Morrison awarded for the outstanding contribution in the retailing sector. In 2007 Sir Lan Gibson (64) joined Morrison as a non executive deputy chairmen. In 2010, 29 march Mr. Dalton Philips (43) Joined the group as Chief Executive. Mr. Mark Gunter (52) Joined Morrison as a Group retail director in the year 1993 and In 2005 Richard Pennycook was appointed as a G roup finance Director. Morrison has strong and experienced management hierarchy, which provides sustainability in the market and helped Morrison to recover from the Recession. In 210/11 Morrison sales increased 7% from the previous year. Overall growth of Morrison for this year is 12.8%. With this growth Morrison is giving tough competition to the competitors like Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury. Contribution of these three supermarkets is only 3.5%, whereas only Morrison contributes with the growth of 4.5% in 2010/11 to the market. This is one of the most beneficial years for the Morrison. USP of Morrison or reason of the growth is Morrison is use of unique manufacturing and packaging techniques and most of the food is prepared everyday to provide fresh food to the customers. Morrison continuously updated itself with use of new technologies and new innovative tools in supermarket. Now days Morrison is working on incorporating digital technology in its operations. Morrison provides all te chnological facilities to the customers like online shopping, self checkouts, card payments etc. Subsidiaries of Morrison plc- Farmers boy limited Neerock limited Safeway limited Rathbone kear limited Optimization developments limited Bos brothers fruit and vegetables Farock insurance company limited Optimization developments limited These are the few subsidiaries of Morrison from where Morrison purchase their food for the customers. Sainsbury:- Sainsbury was established in the year 1869. Today Sainsbury has 890 stores out of which 547 are supermarkets and 343 are convince stores. It has joint venture with land securities group PLC and The British Land Company PLC. It also has Sainsburys bank in collaboration with Lloyds bank. Sainsbury serves fresh, healthy and tasty food. It entertains around 19 million consumers a week and has over 16 % share in market. It has a workforce of 15000 people. Tesco :- Tesco is one of the biggest retailers in UK. Tesco has expanded its business almost all over the world like USA, Europe, Asia etc. In UK, Tesco started in 1924. It has 2482 stores and 287669 numbers of employees. Tesco was formed by Sir Jack Cohen. It was the first self service store. Tesco introduced the concept of superstores in 1967.Tesco focused on the strategy of serving good products at low cost. In 2002-03 Tesco introduced more then five thousand food products to grab the attention of customers. Tesco use many technical innovative tools to provide better service to customers like online shopping, self checkouts etc. Tesco deals in food, clothing and all other daily use products. Tesco is one the biggest competitor for Morrison. Quantitative Data data which we can quantify and verify and that can be manipulated statistically is called quantitative data. The data which is in the form of numbers and figures is quantitative data. Quantitative data analysis plays an important role in analyzing the business performance of a company. Both quantitative and qualitative data are necessary to analyze the business performance of a company in a better way. Financial ratio analysis is a type of quantitative analysis to analyze the performance of a business. Financial analysis- we can define financial analysis as the analysis of the financial condition of the company. It involves investigating if the capital is efficiently invested, efficiency of oprations, profitability of the company and the security of the debtors money . there are two types of financial analysis techniques- fund flow analysis and financial ratio analysis. Company requires these techniques to analyse if it is efficiently investing and using its financial resources. Tools and techniques of financial statement analysis- Horizontal and vertical analysis Ratio analysis Horizontal analysis- analyzing and comparing the financial data of a company of 2 or more years is called horizontal analysis Vertical analysis- this analysis is conducted on profit and loss account or on balance sheet and the result calculated is in percentage of a total amount. Ratio analysis- it is the most excepted and widely used technique. The result is calculated as one number articulated in terms of other. In this assignment we will be using this technique to quantitatively analyze the performance of Morrison with respect to its competitors Sainsbury and Tesco. Some of the ratios analyzed for Morrison, Sainsbury and Tesco are stated below- PROFITABILITY RATIOS- it can be defined as evaluation of the total performance and the effectiveness of the company. Some of the profitability ratios are discussed below- ROCE- This ratio stands for return on capital employed. We know that the main aim of the company for investing its financial resources is the profit it is reaping out of it. Therefore we can say that it is the success of a business in meeting its goals. Formula for return on capital employed- [Profit before interest and tax/capital employed] x100 Significance- It is one of the widely excepted methods to analyze the profitability and the overall performance of the company. It gives us information if the investment of the capital is optimal or not and funds are efficiently allocated and utilized by the company or not. Calculations- ROCE calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (612/4378) x100=13.97 In 2009- (655/4520) x100=14.49 In 2010- (858/4949) x100=17.33 ROCE calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (479/4935) x100=9.7 In 2009- (466/4376) x100=10.64 In 2010- (733/4966) x100=14.76 ROCE calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (1402/12099) x100=11.58 In 2009- (1419/12942) x100=10.96 In 2010- (1596/14681) x100=10.87 Net Profit Margin- it is the ratio of total net profit a company gains after eliminating all the taxes divided by the net sales. It is articulated in percentage. Formula: Net Profit Margin= [profit before interest and tax/sales or turnover] x100 Significance- to examine the overall profit of the company this ratio is used and is significantly used by proprietors. The return on investment depends upon the net profit. Calculations- Net Profit Margin calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (612/12151) x100=5.03 In 2009- (655/13615) x100=4.81 In 2010- (858/14348) x100=5.97 Net Profit Margin calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (479/16835) x100=2.84 In 2009- (466/17875) x100=2.60 In 2010- (733/18882) x100=3.88 Net Profit Margin calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (1402/23684) x100=5.91 In 2009- (1419/25734) x100=5.51 In 2010- (1596/27485) x100=5.80 Net Asset Turnover- it can be defined as the measure of capability of the firm to generate turnover by an efficient utilization of its assets. Formula- sales or turnover/capital employed Significance- higher is the ratio more efficiently and optimally the company has utilized its assets and lower ratio means the assets are underutilized. Higher is the ratio signifies the requirement of very low investment in the business and if the ratio is low it signifies incompetent management. Calculations- Net Asset Turnover calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- 12151/4378=2.77 In 2009- 13615/4520=3.01 In 2010- 14348/4949=2.89 Net Asset Turnover calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- 16835/4935=3.41 In 2009- 17875/4379=4.08 In 2010- 18882/4966=3.80 Net Asset Turnover calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- 23684/12099=1.95 In 2009- 25734/12942=1.98 In 2010- 27485/14681=1.87 Gross Profit Margin- it can be defined as the total amount of profit a firm can generate by selling its goods. Formula- [gross profit/sales or turnover] x100 Significance- it is an indication of how much the selling price of per unit of goods can be lowered without any loss in operations of the company. Higher is this ratio more efficient is the production of goods in the company and vice versa. Calculations- Gross Profit Margin calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (818/12151) x100=6.73 In 2009- (913/13615) x100=6.70 In 2010- (1062/14348) x100=7.40 Gross Profit Margin calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (1002/16835) x100=5.95 In 2009- (1036/17875) x100=5.79 In 2010- (1082/18882) x100=5.73 Gross Profit Margin calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (1761/23684) x100=7.43 In 2009- (2048/25734) x100=7.95 In 2010- (2270/27485) x100=8.25 ACTIVITY RATIOS- It is the measure of how efficiently and optimally the resources of a company are engaged. It is also known as turnover ratio because it is the measure of how quickly the assets are converted into sales. Stock days or Stock turnover- it is the relationship of cost of sold items during an interval of time and cost of average inventory during a particular interval of time. It tells about the times the company is able to convert the inventory into sales and the efficiency of company to manage its inventory. Formula- [stock or inventory/cost of sales] x365 Significance- it is the measure of how quick a company can convert its inventory into sales. Higher is this ratio indicates more efficient the company is an managing its inventory. It means the company is able to sell more and therefore will have adequate capital to get new inventory and vice versa. Calculations- Stock turnover calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (442/12151) x365=13 days In 2009- (494/13615) x365=13 days In 2010- (577/14348) x365=14 days Stock turnover calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (681/16835) x365=15 days In 2009- (689/17875) x365=14 days In 2010- (702/18882) x365=13 days Stock turnover calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (2603/23684) x365=40 days In 2009- (2669/25734) x365=37 days In 2010- (2729/27485) x365=36 days LIQUIDITY RATIOS- It is a financial technique to measure the short term solvency of the company financial condition. It is the measure of the capacity of a company to fulfill its short term obligations. Current ratio- it the relationship of companys current assets to its current liabilities. It is the measure of the potential of a company to accomplish its short term obligations. Formula- current assets/current liabilities Significance- it in the measure of how liquid are the assets of a company. It tells us how much safe a company is for its creditors. It is the measure of how stable company is financially. Higher ratio shows that company is more efficient to fulfill their short term obligations and vice versa. Calculations- Current ratio calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- 910/1853=0.49 In 2009- 1066/2024=0.52 In 2010- 1092/2152=0.50 Current ratio calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- 1722/2652=0.64 In 2009- 1591/2919=0.54 In 2010- 1853/2793=0.66 Current ratio calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- 6648/12689=0.52 In 2009- 13669/18115=0.75 In 2010- 11392/16015=0.71 Quick ratio- it is also called as liquid ratio or acid test ratio. It the relationship of liquid assets of company to its current liabilities. Formula- current assets less stocks/current liabilities Significance- It is the measure of how capable a company is in meeting in obligations and promises. Higher is this ratio indicates that company is more capable to meet its objectives and obligations. Calculations- Quick ratio calculation of Morrison for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (910-442)/1853=0.25 In 2009- (1066-494)/2024=0.28 In 2010- (1092-577)/2152=0.23 Quick ratio calculation of Sainsbury for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (1722-681)/2652=0.39 In 2009- (1591-689)/2919=0.30 In 2010- (1853-702)/2793=0.41 Quick ratio calculation of Tesco for the financial year 2008-2010- In 2008- (6648-2603)/12689=0.31 In 2009- (13669-2669)/18115=0.60 In 2010- (11392-2729)/16015=0.54 Comparison- Year-2010 Morrison Sainsbury Tesco ROCE 17.33 14.76 10.87 Net Profit Margin 5.97 3.88 5.80 Net Asset Turnover 2.89 3.80 1.87 Gross Profit Margin 7.40 5.73 8.25 Stock Turnover 14 days 13 days 36 days Current ratio 0.50 0.66 0.71 Quick ratio 0.23 0.41 0.54 Ratio analysis carried on Morrison, Sainsbury and Tesco for the financial year 2010 The above data shows some of the ratios analyzed for M orison, Sainsbury and Tesco for the financial year 2010.from the above data we can see that the ROCE ratio for the Morrison is high as compare to its competitors. Higher is this ratio high is the profitability and overall performance of the company. Thus Morrison tops the chart followed by Sainsbury and then Tesco at the last. If we have a look at the Net Profit Margin we can see that Morrison has the highest followed by Tesco and then Sainsbury. Since higher is the net profit margining more profitable is the business. Thus Morrison has made more profits as compared to Sainsbury and Tesco in concern of the revenue they have generated. If we compare the net asset turnover ratio Sainsbury tops the chart followed by Morrison and Tesco in the last. This data tells us that Sainsbury has made lowest investment followed by Morrison and Tesco lag behind in the race indicating inefficient use and management of resources. Looking at the gr oss profit margin Tesco has the highest followed by Morrison and Sainsbury. We know that if higher is this ratio more efficient is the production of goods in the company. Thus Tesco wins in this aspect and is most efficient amongst the three in the production of goods. Analyzing the stock turnover ratio Sainsbury has the least followed by Morrison and Tesco has the highest. Lower is this more quick is company in converting its stock into sales and more is the profit. Current ratio of Morrison is the least followed by Sainsbury and Tesco. Since higher is this ratio more is the ability of firm to pay its shorter debts. Thus Tesco wins in this race. Comparing the quick ratio, again Tesco has the highest, then Sainsbury and then Morrison. More is this ratio indicates more financially strong is the company. Thus Tesco again tops the chart. From the above discussion we can see that in some areas Morrison is doing good like profitability and in some areas it as lagging like financial strength as compare to its competitors Sainsbury and Tesco. Therefore Morrison should keep on working hard to compete with its competitors. Similarly we can compare the financial data of Morrison, Sainsbury and Tesco for the other financial years 2008 and 2009. QUALITATIVE DATA- It can be defined as ways of collecting information to illustrate the meaning of a situation or a problem instead of focusing on statistical approach of analysis. They help to explain a situation in more depth and with more description. There are lot of qualitative methods in the management study to analyze the business of the company and its competitors. We will be using Porter and PESTEL analysis to qualitatively analyze the business and the market environment for Morrison, Sainsbury and Tesco in UK. Porters five forces Overall Level of Rivalry In retailing industry, UK is dominated by the Morrison, Tesco and Sainsbury. All three are big brand names in supermarket of UK. All three gives good competition to each other. All have equal number of resources to attract the customers. Power of Buyer Customer is the king of todays era. So the power of buyers is relatively high, customer have lots of options so he can easily switch between suppliers. It affects the overall profit of the organization. But due to less number of competitors Morrison have chance to attract more and more customers by providing more offers to its customers and using new strategies. Power of Supplier All big brands have their own manufacturing units , which decrease the power of suppliers .Moreover , purchasing from outside make the cost of a product high and reduce the profit , so organizations prefers to avoid purchasing goods from outsiders. In retailing sector suppliers are dominated by the consumers. Threat of New Entry -The threat of new entry in supermarket is very low, because it requires huge investment and big infrastructure. Apart from this new organization has to provide food and other material at very low cost to sustain in the market and compete with the existing retailers, which is quite hard. Secondly, consumer acceptance is one the major issue for new entries in this sector which makes supermarkets less attractive as compare to other sectors. Threat of Alternatives Because all three supermarkets deal in food and grocery, a long range of products is always available to the customers. So, the customer always has the chance to switch between products. It depends on the way of customer service and the cost and quality of the product, which can bind up the customer with the product and the same organization. To Sustain in market and maintain the growth rate, Morrison have to provide the good customer service and better product at low coast as compare to competitors. PESTEL Analysis Through PESTEL Analysis we can identify the external environmental factors which impact on the performance of Morrison and its competitors Tesco and Sainsbury. Political Government of UK has imposed strict rules and regulation for the company to protect the environment e.g. laws related to waste disposal by companies. Food and other retailers will have to follow these rules planned by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and it will affect the cost of businesses. The bovine tuberculosis and chronic diseases through waste will compel the government to make more strict and stiff rules against these companies for the protection of company. European food authority has imposed regulations on food retailers to indicate the nutritional information and standard of quality of their products. The competition commission of uk and office of fair trading keep an eye on the main five supermarket retailing companies due to their high market share in the supermarket industry. Economic Rise or failure in economy has a direct impact on the business because it affects the purchasing power of consumer. After 2008, UK officially declared the recession in economy. Though, government helps a lot to reduce the impact of recession on business and normal people by cutting interest rates. (Euromonitor, 2010), and it in turn helps to increase the purchasing power of customers and increase the business in UK. Whereas people are still not able to become heavy spender like before. Now a days people think twice before spending money and avoid to buy the product which are less in use which affect the overall profit of business.(Keynote,2010). After, 2010 economy of UK has started growing up slowly and purchasing power of customer is increasing day by day. Social In UK population , there are less young people and children as compare to retired people.(Herald Scotland,2010) which affects the retailing business of food and grocery because it is understood that the eating and purchasing habits of older people is totally different and slow as compare to youngsters . They prefer light food mainly cooked at home and they like home deliveries to avoid the shopping, which cost extra to the stores. Apart from this older people dont believe in online shopping because they find it inconvenient and difficult to use (Turban et al., 2001), overall it affects the business growth. Technological In this technological era every sector try to use new innovative tools to increase the performance and provide better customer service. Same is the case with supermarkets. Now a days every super market use technological tools like online shopping, self checkouts, card payments which is a revolution in the supermarkets. With the help of these technical tools retailers can increase the productivity and efficiency of the employees and business and reduce the billing time of customers which automatically provide customer satisfaction and help to increase the overall profit. According to national statistics, 2010, people using internet have grown by 50% from last few years. In UK more than 70% people know the use of internet and prefer to use online shopping which saves time and money of customer. Environmental In UK, People believe in recycling, reduced packaging and avoid plastic bags. This kind of initiatives towards the improvement of environment is also promoted by UK government and Morrison actively takes part in CSR. From last few years more then 70% people have stopped using plastic bags and prefer to use reusable bags for shopping which cut down the packing cost of a product and increase the profit of an organization.(Office for National Statistics,2010) Legal By HM Treasury, 2010, UK govt. has increased the VAT charges by 20% on the products, which affects the overall profit of organizations. Apart from this National minimum wage in UK is very high as compare to other countries which is one the reason of reduction in profit on the products for the supermarkets. It is assumed that standard UK minimum wages could increase by 15% which can affect badly on the supermarkets of UK. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Morrison should move its focus towards different product categories instead of just focusing on being a specialist in food products in order to compete with other competitors like Sainsbury and Tesco. 2. Morrison should pay attention towards analyzing its financial and other resources and should try to strategically allocate these resources in an optimal fashion to achieve improvement in performance and efficiency of the overall business. 3. This is a world of technology and development. Thus Morrison should try to incorporate new and better technology like self checkouts and other form of technology like digital technology which should have features like online shopping in order to provide better customer service to its customers and compete with other competitors in the market. 4. Morrison should focus on better customer service and should focus on the concepts of CSR to fulfill its role and duties towards the society and the environment. CONCLUSIONS- 1. The financial analysis of Morrison shows that it is able to use its financial resources optimally and is able to fulfill its duties towards the creditors. But it really needs to work hard to improve on where it is lagging and it has a long way to go. 2. Morrison financial statement shows that the flow of fund and cash is strong and it is efficiently managing its financial resources but needs to improve more. 3. Morrison is working on the concept of CSR and understands its duties towards society and environment. This will help Morrison to build a good image and relationship with people in society. It was recorded that it did charity of around 1.18 million pounds. 4. Morrison should focus on adding new food products which are healthy to attract more customers.

President Jimmy Carter Essay -- Biography

President Jimmy Carter The President of Peace Jimmy Carter was born October 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia, and grew up in the nearby community of Archery. His father, James Earl Carter, Sr., was a farmer and businessman; his mother, Lillian Gordy, a registered nurse. He was educated in the Plains public schools, attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. On July 7, 1946, he married Rosalynn Smith. When his father died in 1953, he resigned a naval commission and returned to Plains. He became involved in the affairs of the community, serving as chairman of the county school board and the first president of the Georgia Planning Association. In 1962 he won election to the Georgia Senate. He lost his first gubernatorial campaign in 1966, but won the next election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on January 12, 1971. He was the Democratic National Committee campaign chairman for the 1974 congressional elections (Hochman html). After only serving one term as governor of Georgia he announced his candidacy for president of the United States on December 12, 1974. He won his party’s nomination on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, and was elected the 39th president of the United States on November 2, 1976. During his presidency, Jimmy Carter made many important foreign policy accomplishments, including the Panama Canal treaties, the Diplomatic relations with China, and the Salt II treaty with the Soviet Union. Jimmy Carter’s first foreign policy accomplishment, and by the United States citizens, the most popular, were the Panama Canal treaties. After more than eighty years after the first official ocean-to-ocean transit of the Panama Canal, the United States and Panama embarked on a partnership for the management, operation and defense of the Panama Canal. Under two treaties signed in a ceremony at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., on September 7, 1977, the canal would be operated by the United States until the turn of the century under arrangements designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The treaties were approved by Panama in a plebiscite on October 23, 1977, and th... ...T II treaty being ratified, it set an agreement for the heavy cut back of nuclear weapons for both the United States and the Soviet Union. This was a relief to the citizens of the United States in a sense that the nuclear arms race was coming to a halt. Jimmy Carter was a man who made the most of his opportunities and did what was best, in his mind, for the general public of all United States. The puzzle about the Carter presidency which may never be fully answered is why Jimmy Carter became so unpopular with the media, politicians and the general public, and stayed unpopular during the presidency of his successor. With more political skill, and a good bit more luck, Jimmy Carter might have been a second term president. Works Cited Dumbrell, John. The Carter Presidency: A Re-Evaluation. 2nd ed. Manchester UP, 1995. Hargrove, Erwin C. â€Å"Jimmy Carter as President†: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1998. Hochman, Steven H. Metacrawler.com: October 1, 1997. Lycos.com: September 21, 1997. http:/www.simulations.com/panamacanal/index.htm>. Yahoo.com: March 1, 1998. http:/www.pancanal.com/ctransition/>. President Jimmy Carter Essay -- Biography President Jimmy Carter The President of Peace Jimmy Carter was born October 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia, and grew up in the nearby community of Archery. His father, James Earl Carter, Sr., was a farmer and businessman; his mother, Lillian Gordy, a registered nurse. He was educated in the Plains public schools, attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. On July 7, 1946, he married Rosalynn Smith. When his father died in 1953, he resigned a naval commission and returned to Plains. He became involved in the affairs of the community, serving as chairman of the county school board and the first president of the Georgia Planning Association. In 1962 he won election to the Georgia Senate. He lost his first gubernatorial campaign in 1966, but won the next election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on January 12, 1971. He was the Democratic National Committee campaign chairman for the 1974 congressional elections (Hochman html). After only serving one term as governor of Georgia he announced his candidacy for president of the United States on December 12, 1974. He won his party’s nomination on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, and was elected the 39th president of the United States on November 2, 1976. During his presidency, Jimmy Carter made many important foreign policy accomplishments, including the Panama Canal treaties, the Diplomatic relations with China, and the Salt II treaty with the Soviet Union. Jimmy Carter’s first foreign policy accomplishment, and by the United States citizens, the most popular, were the Panama Canal treaties. After more than eighty years after the first official ocean-to-ocean transit of the Panama Canal, the United States and Panama embarked on a partnership for the management, operation and defense of the Panama Canal. Under two treaties signed in a ceremony at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., on September 7, 1977, the canal would be operated by the United States until the turn of the century under arrangements designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The treaties were approved by Panama in a plebiscite on October 23, 1977, and th... ...T II treaty being ratified, it set an agreement for the heavy cut back of nuclear weapons for both the United States and the Soviet Union. This was a relief to the citizens of the United States in a sense that the nuclear arms race was coming to a halt. Jimmy Carter was a man who made the most of his opportunities and did what was best, in his mind, for the general public of all United States. The puzzle about the Carter presidency which may never be fully answered is why Jimmy Carter became so unpopular with the media, politicians and the general public, and stayed unpopular during the presidency of his successor. With more political skill, and a good bit more luck, Jimmy Carter might have been a second term president. Works Cited Dumbrell, John. The Carter Presidency: A Re-Evaluation. 2nd ed. Manchester UP, 1995. Hargrove, Erwin C. â€Å"Jimmy Carter as President†: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1998. Hochman, Steven H. Metacrawler.com: October 1, 1997. Lycos.com: September 21, 1997. http:/www.simulations.com/panamacanal/index.htm>. Yahoo.com: March 1, 1998. http:/www.pancanal.com/ctransition/>.

Akeelah and the Bee Essay -- Film Review

Akeelah Anderson, an eleven year old African American student from the Crenshaw neighborhood of South Los Angeles, struggles to overcome the limitations of her environment in order to succeed in a national spelling bee competition. As our group discussed the film Akeelah and the Bee we first wanted to look at the themes the film presents. We originally thought of the more oblivious ones such as how race and socioeconomic class play apart in the film. We also started to notice that the film presented an idealized view of how one individual can transform a community. We came to am agreement that the film gives clear representations of both the traditional and progressive forms of education, but neglects to do anything to address the socioeconomic issues that critical theorists focus on. The film opens with the returning of spelling tests in an under-privileged, and traditional school. The first sign of a traditional based school is the way the classrooms are designed and set up, with all of the desks facing the front toward the teacher's desk and chalk board. The movie begins with the teacher handing out spelling test scores, and everyone except Akeelah’s spelling test is under the satisfactory mark. The teacher gave the students words to memorize and recite back on the test later that week, and focuses on basic rote memorization where all of the students are tested on the same level, which is common in a traditional school. The movie shows how the traditional classroom setting is flawed, and seems to be at a standstill not allowing for growth or a true learning experience. As states in School and Society: â€Å"This concern is not hypothetical. Many of the specific tests being used to generate speeches and articles about the ... ...to make a predominantly white, coffee-drinking consumer group feel less bad about school children in the ghetto. The film is a good example of how powerful progressive education can be with glimpses of traditional classroom, but fails to understand the Although this type of environment threatens her ability to be a very smart and gifted student, a few people in her life realize her potential. Akeelah gets this opportunity because the district gets involved with Crenshaw, Akeelah’s school, because their test scores are so low, and will not receive the full funding it needs in order to provide simple supplies to their students such as book and bathroom stalls: â€Å"The district is breathing down my back, the test scores are low again.† (Akeelah and the Bee), and the principle thinks that if a student does well at the national bee then it will get more attention.

Essay --

Superbugs: Overcoming the Resistance Bio 1M03 PBL Project March 11, 2014 This report has been edited and approved by all contributing group members before submission. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has presented many problems in our society, including an increased chance of fatality due to infections that could have otherwise been treated with success. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, but overexposure to these drugs give the bacteria more opportunities to mutate, forming resistant strains. Through natural selection, those few mutated bacteria are able to survive treatments of antibiotics and then pass on their genes to other bacterial cells through lateral gene transfer (Zhaxybayeva, 2011). Once resistance builds in one patient, it is possible for the strain to be transmitted to others through improper hygiene and failure to isolate patients in hospitals. Resistance arises from mutations that are not under the control of humans, but the evolution of bacteria has been sped along by the overexposure of antibiotics to both people and animals. The number of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in an area is closely related to the frequency that antibiotics that are prescribed (Todar, 2012). Patients often unnecessarily demand antibiotics to treat common colds or simple illnesses that are not caused by bacteria. Instead, these infections are caused by viruses which, unlike bacteria, are unaffected by antibiotics. Incorrect diagnosis can also lead patients to using unnecessary antibiotics, which can sometimes be even more dangerous than otherwise left untreated. Besides the fact that antibiotics kill off beneficial bacteria in the intestines, misuse of antibiotics provides an opportunity ... ... antibiotic resistance has quickly become an increasing concern in recent times due to the growing use of antibiotics. To combat this problem, we propose that healthy intestinal floras be maintained after antibiotic resistance using fecal bacteriotherapy, and that processes of lateral gene transfer be disrupted before antibiotic resistance through the use of copper surfaces and after antibiotic resistance through synthesized CSPs. Continuing research in these solutions as well as implementing these strategies into mainstream medicine will certainly reduce the frequency of antibiotic resistance along with incidences of serious disease outbreaks in hospitals. With a better understanding of the causes of antibiotic resistance and the role that patients and doctors play in these causes, it is time to move forward and attempt to eradicate this problem once and for all.

A Memory

Remembered Event A remembered event is when something important and interesting happens in a person’s life. These days will leave good memories and emotions in people’s mind and it will be memorable forever. These days are usually one that people will always want to talk about and remember every moment of it. One of the most remembered events in my life is the birth of my brother. It was March, 2008 when I found out that my mother is pregnant.I was upset at the beginning, because all my life I was the only child in my family and I was kind of mad, because I realized that now my parents will pay attention at the new child, leaving me as the second plan. Up until December, I had bad relationships with my parents, especially with my mother. Then, it was the beginning of December and I went on vacation with my aunt for a few weeks. One day before we had to come back to Moscow, my grandmother called me and said that my mother is in the hospital and that she will most likely have the baby the next day.We already knew that it will be a boy. The next day I had my flight and we stopped half way because we had some problems with the plane, so I decided to call my parents and let them know about this situation. When I talked to my parents and my grandmother they told me that I have a baby brother now. At this moment something happened to me and everything changed inside. I was so happy to hear the good news. I was thinking about this the rest of my flight and I wanted to get home faster to go and see my brother.Next day, when I got home, my grandmother and I decided to go and visit my mother and brother at the hospital. I could not wait to get there, because I was really excited to see my baby brother for the first time. Finally when we got there, I met my mother and after that the doctor brought in my little brother. The first moment when I saw him I was so happy and I took him into my hands. He was so small and he looked like me with his blue eyes and blon d hair. I almost cried at this moment. I realized that now he is the most important person in my life and he will be very close to me all my life.We will be always together now and be able help to each other. Now, my brother is 4 years old. Those years passed very fast. Sometimes I do not like him at all and I can fight with him. He is very annoying sometimes because he has bad character and he is very active. It is too hard with him sometimes, but no matter what I understand he is still very little and of course he will change. I am very thankful to my mother now that I have him. I do not know how my life will be even in the future without him. Now, I will always have support from his side.The past year I spent in America and throughout this time I cannot see how he is growing up like I used to. I am so sad because I cannot see him now, at the most interesting time and age for children. But I still call my parents every day and I can see him and talk with him. December, 2008 change d my life completely with my brother’s birth. I am the happiest person because I have him. It was my big mistake at the beginning, when I was getting mad at my parents and did not want to have a brother or sister. After his birth all my family became more and more important for me.Me and my brother 14 years apart, but this is very good for both of us because he will learn so much from me and I will always protect him. He also will help me with everything and we will be together when we will have problems, help each other and be around our parents when they will be older. I think, it is very important in life to have brother or sister no matter if they are younger, older or same age. Still, this is a person for support, to grow up together with, and to learn something from each other.