Spartacus Essay Example

Spartacus Essay Spartacus lived between the years 120 BC-70 BC, was a gladiator-slave who was involved in a great slave uprising against the Roman Republic, at the conclusion of the Third Servile War. He is remembered for being a historical figure that fought for his oppressed people, for their rights and freedom. Spartacus fought against a huge State in his quest, which had great authority. Spartacus was a resident of Thracian who served in the Roman army as an auxiliary, who was disgraced and then sold into slavery.   As a Thracian styled combat fighter, Spartacus fought with a round shield and a short sword and became a gladiator because of the greatness of his strength. Spartacus was a part of an army which consisted of over 120,000 escaped slaves and since the number of slaves outnumbered the Roman citizens, Spartacus and his army were a serious threat to the Romans. The Roman Senate sent Claudius Glaber, a praetor to fight against the rebels using an army of 3,000 and besieged the Spartacus and his army on Vesuvius but Spartacus and his army went down the other side of the mountain where they had been fighting and came up behind the Roman soldiers and attacked them with an element of surprise. In this attack, the biggest portion of the Roman soldiers was killed, including Claudius Glaber. We will write a custom essay sample on Spartacus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Spartacus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Spartacus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Two more Roman legions were defeated by Spartacus and his army of men. They took a break from fighting and sat quiet during the winter, making their weapons on the south coast. Many people joined Spartacus and his army and the people included women, the elderly and children who followed behind the army and when spring arrived, they marched toward the north and were headed to Gaul. The Senate was alerted that Spartacus and his large group were coming and he told two councils, Gellius Publicola and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus, which each held two legions who were going to fight against this army who were ready to attach them. The Gauls and Germanic groups were slain because they separated from Spartacus and his army. They were attacked and defeated by the Publicola, where Crixus was also slain. Lentilus lost in the battle against Spartacus and then the army of Publicola was defeated, as well. After defeating the consular armies, Spartacus and his men headed toward the north, where they also defeated another legion which was operated by Gaius Cassius Longinus. Spartacus and his followers were later crucified, which was made up of 6,600 followers who were slaves, along the Via Appia, which is also called the Apian Way, between Capua and Rome. For years, the dead bodies were seen by people who passed by the area because Crassus never gave permission to take the bodies down for the army of people to have proper burial. J. Carter translates a story about the Appian Way, (Carter, 1996), which tells us about the area known for the crucifixion of Spartacus and his followers. Spartacus Essay Example Spartacus Essay Spartacus Spartacus, written in 1951 by Howard Fast, is the story of a gladiator, named Spartacus. Spartacus is a slave who is bought by a lanista, a person who owns, sells, and fights gladiators, whose name is Batiatus. Batiatus trains Spartacus to be a gladiator at a gladitorial school in Capua. Because Spartacus is brave, loves life, and has leadership he breaks out of the school and leads a four-year long slave revolt against Rome. Spartacus is brave. This trait is important as he is leading a revolt against what is then the most powerful nation in the world. Spartacus shows his incredible bravery when ?Spartacus rose to his feet?(152) and ?the trainers lashed out their whips and knives?(152). He opposses despite the fact that he knows the trainers could whip or kill him. When Spartacus sees the soldiers of Capua coming to fight the gladiators he does not run but instead tells his men that We will fight like soldiers.(160) Spartacus shows his courage when he tells his soldiers they are to go to war against Rome. Spartacus?s bravery is shown by the fact that he wants to destroy Rome. And after they destroy Rome, he wants We will write a custom essay sample on Spartacus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Spartacus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Spartacus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer spartacus, slave, shows, leadership, gladiators, bravery, tells, slaves, rome, revolt, life, against, trainers, spartacus?s, senate, out, men, leading, knows, gladiator, fight, virtue, together, third, soldiers, sends, school, roman, one, nation, message, love, glad, fact, destroy

The Why, Where, and How of Writing for the Christian Market

The Why, Where, and How of Writing for the Christian Market Writing for Christian markets may not be at the top of your write-for list. I grew up in church, so it seemed a natural place for me to begin my writing career. I was already familiar with publications and what types of stories and articles they used. As with any freelance market, you want payment for your effort, so all the publications listed here do pay, and most I have written for many times over the years, selling fillers, devotionals, articles, and stories. A serious freelancer is always on the lookout for new markets. Many Christian publications, especially Sunday school take home papers, publish weekly so the number of manuscripts they need is greater than a traditional monthly magazine. They accept a variety of pieces; fillers, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and devotionals. The age range is diverse. There are publications for the smallest of children up to adults. Our Little Friend is for children from ages 1-5. They seek true-to-life stories one or two pages long. One story I wrote for them was about kids making fun of each other. Mature Living is for those facing retirement. Many older people feel as if they are used up. I offered encouragement and gave examples of things anyone could do to help others in a list article. Devo’Zine is a devotional market geared toward teens that Ive written for using lessons from teaching young people at church. Youth leaders are always looking for great activity ideas to use with their kids, and Insight Youth Resources has paid me for ideas our youth group did. ParentLife is a magazine that has published multiple funny saying from my kids as fillers. Do you work with women in the church? Today’s Christian Woman  needs articles that offer strength and encouragement for everyday women. Need more market ideas? An invaluable tool for finding these markets is the Christian Writer’s Market.   You can also ask friends for help. Do they attend a church that hands out take-home papers? Do they subscribe to Christian magazines? Ask to borrow copies and research to see if those publications accept freelance work. You could also Google â€Å"Christian magazines,† â€Å"Christian publications,† or â€Å"Christian writers wanted.† I have found some regular writing employment doing this. When considering topic ideas, note that many of the publications follow a theme list. Lookout and Youth Worker both do. Theme lists give basic ideas of what the editors want during certain times of the year. Once you repeatedly write for these publications, many will come to you with an urgent need, when something on their theme list hasn’t been fulfilled, and they know you are dependable. Some Christian publications just want to hear your story. I have used many of my own experiences, especially when it came to the teenage years, mine and my children’s (Guide). Guide wants true stories, and many of my teens experiences ended up on their pages. And keep in mind that not all Christian publications are overtly religious. Some of the children’s publications simply want stories with a moral lesson. But be aware of the diversity amongst denominations and their beliefs. For example, some conservative publications want women to wear dresses, if clothing happens to be mentioned in your story. Some denominations worship on the Sabbath, which is actually Saturday, not Sunday. Others won’t include anything about drinking. Here is a site with helpful information on denominations. Don’t underestimate the power of the Christian market for your writing. You can stretch yourself, get some new

Risk2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Risk2 - Essay Example These regulations cut across the need for adequate liquidity and capital. â€Å"Liquidity is the ability to make payments as the fall due† (Moir, 1999). This implies that liquidity refers to access to money or liquid resources that can be easily transformed into cash in a short time. This is what enables a business to pay for its cost of operations and trading activities. The lack of liquidity will cause a business to fold up. Liquidity is mainly borne out of cash inflows and short term convertibles to cash. These resources are used to fund working capital. A bank, like any other business needs to hold enough liquid resources to fund its operations and existence. It needs to pay its workers, pay for the premises they use for operations as well as working tools like computers, cars and other day-to-day expenses. Without this, a bank will obviously fold up. Due to the nature of banking, there is the need for banks to look beyond working capital for the maintenance of operations. They need to hold enough liquid resources to meet the cash demands of their clients within short notices. This therefore means that a bank needs to have enough cash in its vaults or within reach so that when entities banking with them call for their monies, they will be able to honour their legal obligation to pay customers as and when they come to make demands. This puts the need to hold sufficient cash or cash resources for the payment of clients an inherent part of the working capital structure of commercial banks. However, banks also have the duty of increasing the wealth of people saving with them. A rational person who holds money will want it to increase in value by earning some interest or profits through savings or investments. In the capitalist setting where people have the right to choose when and how to invest their money, banks have an obligation to come up with competitive interests for people who decide to save with them. Higher interest rates offered by commercial b anks enables them to get more customers. This means that the commercial banks have the duty to invest the money of people who save with them in ventures that bring sufficient returns that enables them to pay high interests to their customers. Commercial banks therefore need to hold assets that can be used to re-generate revenue and sold for profits to attain the aim of providing high interest for their customers (Matz & Neu, 2007). As these assets generate revenues for the bank, the bank increases the wealth of the clients and earn more money through the sale of the assets. Thus, capitalisation is an important part of retail banking. Though the need to capitalise money deposited by clients is vital, clients also come in from time to time and demand their money. Due to the legal obligation of banks to make funds of their customers available to them when they need it, there is a strong need for banks to draw a balance between liquidity and capitalisation. A bank therefore needs to be careful to ensure that it has a fair balance between the two extremes. Investing too much money will mean shortage of money to pay customers who demand money. Also, failure to invest an adequate amount of money will mean that the bank will rake in lower

Fiji Electricity System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fiji Electricity System - Research Paper Example The value of imports from Fiji has been increasing and hit the $3 billion US mark in 2006. The main contributing factor to the increase is the mineral fuels importation. The mineral fuels have increased in value since 2004 to 2008. It represents a change from US$400 to about $1.2 billion. The overdependence of the industry’s on fuel importation reveals how the economy is vulnerable to the rising fuel prices. The vulnerability is of concern given that the increase in demand for electric power has overwhelmed Monasavu Hydropower Station limits over the last decade. It results in the supplementation of its energy requirements with diesel generation (F.E.A. n.d.). Fiji can be termed as better than its larger neighbors. It has about 80% of its people (about 92% in urban areas) accessing electricity. By 2008, its average electricity production mix was composed of 33.7% diesel, 62.1% hydro, 0.6% wind and 3.6% biomass. Energy consumption in Fiji has increased to 715.2 million kWh in 2009 from 202.8 million kWh in 1980. Because the hydropower component is variable as it depends on the weather patterns, the ever growing demand for electric power has to be fulfilled by importing diesel-based generation. FEA has an ambitious plan of producing 90% of its electricity by use of renewable energy resources by 2015 (Lal & Atul n.d) Fijis pricing tariff rates are the lowest in the Pacific Islands region. As of recent times, its rates have stagnated though there was a marked increase in its demand and diesel usage. The cause of its low tariff prices is its rejection by the independent power producers because FEA could not pay them suitable buying rates. As at present, FEA supplies about 54% of the electricity market from its hydropower stations as it gets the rest from thermal generation. This condition is expected to change upon the installation of a new 42-MW hydropower system. In regards to estimates made by FEA, generation of

Summarize and Critics on Torah (Pentateuch) Essay - 1

Summarize and Critics on Torah (Pentateuch) - Essay Example of the Torah, along with some other perspectives, and allows us to take a step back from blind faith in order to better understand how, most likely, the Torah came to be. Source criticism assumes human, rather than divine, authorship of the text, and further uses modern kinds of literary research to establish that the Five Books of Moses were cobbled together from four major bodies of knowledge or traditions. Friedman does not spend much time dealing with the obviously oral origins of the words, but instead bases his reading on textual elements, from which scholars are able to tease apart the contributions of four separate writers and to hypothesize the literary steps taken by the editor who combined all four into a single, coherent, and cohesive document. Friedman reports on ten disparate categories through which we can discern the four authors: doublets, terminology, contradictions, consistent characteristics, narrative flow, historical referents, linguistic classifications, relationships among sources, references in other parts of the bible, and editorial marks. Doublets refer to â€Å"cases of two variations of the same story in the Pentateuch† (Friedman, 1992, p. 609). This essay refers to twenty-seven different places in the Torah where the same story has been told in slightly different ways, for instance, the order of creation in Genesis, which is presented differently in 1:1-2:3 than in 2:4-25. There are even examples of triplets, three versions of the same story. The second category, terminology, refers to different names being used, especially for God. This is most important because, â€Å"these differences of terminology fall consistently into one or another group of doublets† (Friedman, 1992, p. 610). One set will always use the term â€Å"God† while the other will always use â€Å"Yahweh,† suggesting two different authors with two different ways of talking about the deity. For scholars, this is the key to determining the number of different authors,

The Dark Night: A film analysis

The Dark Night: A film analysis Which features of the film would you consider place it as either mainstream or alternative? To answer this question I have chosen to base my answer upon the film ‘The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan. As one of the main spectacle blockbusters to come out in 2008, I thought that it would be appropriate to base my essay upon. I would class the film as mainstream for many reasons, and one of these being that the film had a very wide target audience; the film is an adaptation from a comic book, so there is already a strong fan base for the film. There is also the fact that there are fans purely of the other Batman films; however these are not prequels as they are from an entirely different series, with different directors. It was also very much so a family film, released on the 24th July 2008 it was released in the middle of the Hollywood blockbuster season, making it a must see for children and adults alike. Another reason that the film would be based in the mainstream category is the fact that film cost approximately $185,000,000 to make. The filmmakers intended for the film to be a spectacle, focusing largely on the visual impact of the film. However, narrative and character development also played a large part, unlike most Hollywood blockbusters. This is evident through the characterisation of the Joker and Batman. Throughout the film we see differing sides of the two characters and spectators may well have sided with that of the Joker, a person who in real life people would not have found themselves able to condone their behaviour. However, in the world of the film it is possible for a spectator to find themselves forming an allegiance with them. It was also the first time in feature film-making that IMAX cameras were utilized†[1] It is often found that in blockbusters, the filmmakers are looking for some sort of excuse to try new technology, and this happens in this film, for example in the armoured car chase. When looking at a film as a spectacle an audience would expect the spectacle to be seen through the following; costume, sets, locations, action, set pieces, sound, employment of new technologies, and editing and camera work, all of which is evidently been shown through The Dark Knight. It is these things that show the appreciation of the films surface quality†[2], and that The Dark Knight is very much so a visual spectacle, as to a spectator it is extremely aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore the film itself is an ‘event film, as it was based on a comic book and has a large fan base already even before its release, it is expected of fans to show up in fancy dress etc to actually take part in the spectacle itself. When looking at alternatives to Hollywood, they fall into various differing sub-genres. However, The Dark Knight does not belong to any other alternative heading; it is a mainstream blockbuster/spectacle. No other alternative cinema heading would be able to be logically applied to this film. Although the implications of the developments appeared to be that, in a society dominated by the mass media, popular culture is better able than avant-garde art to provide visual metaphors that reflect the problems and dilemmas of everyday life.†[3] For instance the fact the character of Batman himself represents justice for the people, he is not the law, nor does he abide by it, however he seeks justice whether or not people think that it be morally correct or not. Another key scene when looking at this would be where the Joker has sent the two ships out, each ship has a detonator for the other ship, and however one boat is filled with normal citizens and the other with convicts. The fact is that viewers expect the boat full of civilians to blow the other ship, though this is not the case. One of the more menacing looking convicts throws their detonator out of the ships window proclaiming that You dont wanna die, but you dont know how to take a life. Give it to me; these men would kill you, and take it anyway. Give it to me. You can tell em I took it by force. Give it to me, and Ill do what you shoulda did ten minutes ago.† This is not what a spectator member would usually expect from a criminal however this scene allows the view to question their own moral compass, as the innocent civilians are up for blowing the convicts up, but it is in fact the convicts who throw the detonator away first. Another reason that this would be classed as mainstream is due to the casting. Stars and other well known names are used for all the main characters, which would not usually be the norm in alternative film-making. Actors such as Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman were all used in the film. Using stars in films is an especially good way for filmmakers to draw a larger target audience, and they cleverly use these actors/actresses as a marketing tool. Some of the main stars in the film also starred in some of the previous Batman films, so many people will have some sort of recognition with them and will be expecting certain things from them. Although these people were purposefully cast in order to make the film more successful, no one could have anticipated the death of Heath Ledger before the films release. And although it may not be pleasant his death worked as one of the largest marketing tools for the film, as people who may not have wished to view the film before, whether because it was a Batman film, the cast or the fact it was a blockbuster, fans of Ledger flooded cinemas in order to see his last performance. When thinking of Hollywood/blockbuster films many people feel that they are made purely for the profit. However, regardless of genre and other factors of similarities you cannot deny the fact that Hollywood produces artistic products.†[4] As technology is advancing Hollywood are the able to have the chance to make bigger and better films, and this is evident in The Dark Knight, IMAX cameras are being used for the first time, the director Christopher Nolan wanted the film to be as big as possible, and it succeeded. For example aerial shots at (00:58) and (57:58) show just how expensive this film was to make, as it is highly expensive to use shots like these in films. Although many Hollywood films are similar in content, cinematography, cast, budget, genre etc the filmmakers do have to make each film different, Henry Ford could manufacture thousands of cars exactly alike; here sameness is a virtue. But every movie had to be different; otherwise the movie audiences would not appea r at the theatres again and again†.[5] All blockbusters aim to be bigger and better than the last and it is this drive that makes audiences members want to go and see the next one time after time. The film would also be classed as mainstream due to the theme of violence. Mainly complaints were made by people saying that it should have received a higher rating by the BBFC as it was only rated as a 12A, which caused controversy amongst many parents who did not wish for their children to view the film. Thus meaning that anyone above the age of 12 could view the film with adult supervision and that under 12s would be permitted if with an adult. However, there is never any blood on screen throughout the entirety of the film itself. It is this that makes it a more mainstream film, by not showing blood onscreen, the filmmakers are allowing the film to reach a wider audience. The film displays spectacular action sequences†[6] and this is one of the main things that The Dark Knight is about, showing the action to the best of their ability. It is the action throughout this film that makes people glued to the screen. The budget is also a main factor in this, considering that the film cost $185,000,000 to make, the filmmakers were able to afford, any special effects that were necessary or wanted, this would not usually happen in alternative films, as many alternative filming methods have very low budgets, and the directors may only get to work with what they can get their hands on at the time. The music also plays a key role in The Dark Knight, and the reason I feel this should be included, is based upon the fact that it has been composed by Hans Zimmer; A German born composer who is responsible for many of Hollywoods most recent hits. He provided music for The Pirates of the Caribbean films, Pearl Harbour, The Da Vinchi Code, Black Hawk Down, King Arthur, Angels and Demons, and most recently Sherlock Holmes. The action film/action blockbuster is at once the most contemporary, the most visibly relevant to present day Hollywood filmmaking, and also the least discussed and least well defined†[7]. People dont like admitting to the fact they enjoy mainstream movies anymore, it is the hegemony of the people that believe that Hollywood are only producing films to make money, however The Dark Knight defies this generalisation, based upon the fact it is directed by an independent stylised director. They also fail to take into account the basic fact that its conventionality is the very reason for its creativity.†[8] Another factor that makes The Dark Knight stand out as a mainstream film is the use of special effects throughout the film. However director Christopher Nolan is not fond of using CGI, and so tried his very best to use the practical alternatives where necessary. With regards to the Joker within the film Nolan felt that â€Å"when youre dealing with an anarchist, somebody who is dedicated to chaos, the most visceral way of representing that is an explosion†[9], so that he did. All the way throughout the film many explosions can be seen, and it is Nolan himself who tried to keep them as ‘real as possible. He believes an audience can tell the difference between something being done practically and something which has been done using CGI, and so therefore chose to limit the amount of CGI he used within the film, unless it was absolutely necessary due to health and safety reasons. Nolan wanted the film to have more explosions than ever seen in any other film, as he thought th is was the key to the Joker, and believed that it would make the audience feel like anything could happen in the film. Take for example the hospital explosion where the Joker is walking out, Nolan wanted to do this explosion for real and did this to the best of his ability. They allowed the explosion to stop for a second as Heath Ledger is walking away from the building, and turns round in surprise, just as the audience will, thinking that something has gone wrong. However, this is not the case and the explosion continues, leaving the audience feeling disconcerted. Another factor which also makes the film mainstream is that it presents universal themes to its audience. The reason being that if the viewer has a character that they feel they can connect to throughout the film, whether it be the hero/protagonist or the villain/antagonist, or any other character for that matter, there is someone they feel that within the film they have a similarity to, further interpolating them into the diegetic world of the film. Whether you feel that you are more connected with Batman or the Joker, it does not matter, the fact remains that if you do share views/outlook you will enjoy the film more based on the fact that you have someone else that feels the same as you, offering you a feeling of comfort and fulfilment, this would also be considered as a form of escapism. It remains that escapism can also be used as a device for criticising reality and the present state of society,†[10] which can be seen throughout the film, as the battle between justice and the people is ongoing in The Dark Knight. To conclude the mainstream category would be the best to define The Dark Knight. The reasons stated in the above contribute to making it so. Essentially reasons why it could not be categorised as an alternative film made it a fair argument. Research provided key factors into the reasoning of why The Knight is a mainstream film. Using a modern film was necessary as a more passà © film may not be classed as mainstream now to the current generation of cinema goers. The Dark Knight was possibly the mainstream blockbuster to have been released in 2008, therefore it was relevant to be used in this essay. The internet movie database. 2009. The Dark Knight. [online] [accessible online at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/ [Accessed 1 December 2009]. Neale,A.,2000. Genre and Hollywood, Routledge. London. Diedre Pribam,E. March 22, 2004. Cinema and Culture: Independent Film in the United States, 1980-2001. Framing Film: The History and Art of Cinema. P33. Neale,S.2000.Genre and Hollywood. Routledge. London. Neale,S.2000.Genre and Hollywood. Routledge. London. Langford,B.2005.Film Genre Hollywood and Beyond. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. Langford,B.2005.Film Genre Hollywood and Beyond. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. Grant, K. Ed., 2005. Film Genre Reader 3. University of Texas Press. USA. HowStuffWorks, Gerri Miller. The Dark Knight Stunts Special Effects [online] (Updated 2009) Available at: http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/dark-knight2.htm [ Accessed 6 December 2009]. Grant, K. Ed., 2005. Film Genre Reader 3. University of Texas Press. USA.

Essay examples --

Shale Gas refers to natural gas trapped within sedimentary shale rock formations and is found abundantly in many regions of the world. Recent advances in technology such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) have meant that access to this valuable resource is now viable. Onshore oil and gas exploration is the best, most transformative energy story since the transition from coal to oil a century ago. This is because what we are getting is a far cleaner and more economic source of energy than its predecessors or competitors. Even though gas is a fossil fuel in replacing coal for electricity - which is the global goal - it means that we can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 50 per cent. It is also a secure source of energy because it is globally ubiquitous. On the subject of resources, this is not a short-term solution. It is probably correct that we should try to avoid fossil use going out into a 30 or 40-year timeframe. But on the other hand the glo bal prevalence and ubiquity of natural gas shows us that there is at least 200 years’ worth of supply and is therefore a mammoth resource. Hydraulic fracturing has provided major technological boost to the industry in efforts to obtain larger amounts of natural gas from unconventional (tougher to reach) sources. According to Peter Saundry (2009), fracking is the process of placing high-pressurized water underground along with other fluids and chemicals into gas bearing rock to form fractures that are propped open with sand. When the formation is fractured, natural gas can then flow out of the crevices where it is then pumped out of the ground. Earlier forms of fracking by the United States can be traced back to the late 1940’s. the recent upsurge is caused by the ... ...he state of Colorado houses a fast growing and bankable energy market in the United States. With the nation carrying 100 natural fields of gas, containing three of the largest oil fields, Colorado has manifested itself to be a suited producer and competitor. Colorado doesn’t need any alternatives to its fracking policy. COGA’s (2012) study suggested that Colorado’s towns such as Garfield, Weld, La Plata, Rio Blanco, and Las Animas brought the state $8.1 billion and it directly brought 43,800 jobs with wages being 51 percent higher than states average. It clearly cannot be contradicted that the natural gas industry has a noteworthy influence on the states economy. Considering the tens of thousands of Coloradans employed to the colossal contributions of gas. As Colorado continues this path on energy, this foundation will promote further economic growth and diversity. Essay examples -- Shale Gas refers to natural gas trapped within sedimentary shale rock formations and is found abundantly in many regions of the world. Recent advances in technology such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) have meant that access to this valuable resource is now viable. Onshore oil and gas exploration is the best, most transformative energy story since the transition from coal to oil a century ago. This is because what we are getting is a far cleaner and more economic source of energy than its predecessors or competitors. Even though gas is a fossil fuel in replacing coal for electricity - which is the global goal - it means that we can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 50 per cent. It is also a secure source of energy because it is globally ubiquitous. On the subject of resources, this is not a short-term solution. It is probably correct that we should try to avoid fossil use going out into a 30 or 40-year timeframe. But on the other hand the glo bal prevalence and ubiquity of natural gas shows us that there is at least 200 years’ worth of supply and is therefore a mammoth resource. Hydraulic fracturing has provided major technological boost to the industry in efforts to obtain larger amounts of natural gas from unconventional (tougher to reach) sources. According to Peter Saundry (2009), fracking is the process of placing high-pressurized water underground along with other fluids and chemicals into gas bearing rock to form fractures that are propped open with sand. When the formation is fractured, natural gas can then flow out of the crevices where it is then pumped out of the ground. Earlier forms of fracking by the United States can be traced back to the late 1940’s. the recent upsurge is caused by the ... ...he state of Colorado houses a fast growing and bankable energy market in the United States. With the nation carrying 100 natural fields of gas, containing three of the largest oil fields, Colorado has manifested itself to be a suited producer and competitor. Colorado doesn’t need any alternatives to its fracking policy. COGA’s (2012) study suggested that Colorado’s towns such as Garfield, Weld, La Plata, Rio Blanco, and Las Animas brought the state $8.1 billion and it directly brought 43,800 jobs with wages being 51 percent higher than states average. It clearly cannot be contradicted that the natural gas industry has a noteworthy influence on the states economy. Considering the tens of thousands of Coloradans employed to the colossal contributions of gas. As Colorado continues this path on energy, this foundation will promote further economic growth and diversity.

Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling Essay

Counselors like any other medical professionals are guided by professional ethics when it comes to performance of their duties. More often than not, mental health professions are usually faced with the challenge to observe ethical guidelines and legal concerns due to the unique criteria that comes with their job. Primarily, the ethical requirement requires the confidentiality, privacy, and professional relationship between the counselor and the client. This is meant to safeguard the well being of the client and the society at large. The American Counseling Association however provides the ethical guidelines to help these professionals to be able to strike a balance between the ethical practice and the legal requirements depending on the condition of the patient. This leads us to the ethical and legal issues in counseling profession which stems from the 1976 Supreme Court ruling in the State of California better known as the Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California ruling. This paper shall review the California Supreme Court ruling giving details of the case and its implications on the counseling profession. It will also revisit the Virginia Tech Tragedy and draw comparisons between the incident and the Tarasoff decision. Review of California Supreme Court findings: Mental health professionals are confronted with scenarios in which the patients are expressive of some tendencies to cause harm to other individuals. This presents a dilemma on what should the mental health professional do in an effort to avert the imminent danger that the client might pose to the third party. In legal terms, this has been referred to as ‘the psychotherapy’s duty to warn or protect third parties’. The duty to warn and/or protect the third parties came up during the Tarasoff V. Regents of the University of California case in 1976. After learning of the incident in detail, the California Supreme Court observed that the psychotherapists engaged in the treatment of mentally disturbed patients had the duty to warn the threatened individuals based on their reasonable care in an effort to prevent the foreseeable danger that may arise from the condition of the patient (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). In this landmark ruling, the Supreme Court had learnt of the negligence of the parties concerned which culminated in the death of the Tatiana Tarasoff. The facts of the case outlined that Prosenjit Poddar and Tatiana were in a relationship which to Poddar, was destined to be intimate. However, when Tatiana revealed to him that they were not going to be in such a relationship Poddar was heartbroken leading to the start of the emotional and mental breakdown. Tatiana left for Brazil in the summer of 1969 and Poddar’s conditions started to show some signs of improvement. He was later to enroll for psychotherapeutic sessions after a friend advised him to do so and became a voluntary outpatient at Cowell Memorial Hospital. He was placed under the care of Dr. Lawrence Moore and it is argued that he confided to the doctor that he was going to commit murder. He was referring to Tatiana, his supposed girlfriend when she returned from Brazil (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). Dr. Lawrence Moore took an initiative to notify the police officers based on the campus regarding the intentions of his patient. He even wrote a letter to the police Chief based at the campus elaborating that Poddar was suffering from an acute and severe paranoid schizophrenic reaction and that he could be a danger not only to himself but also to the other people. The doctor proposed that he was ready to sign the seventy-two hour surveillance order if the police decided to pick up the patient and relocate him to Herrick Hospital. The doctor also observed that his patient’s behavior could at times be rational. Doctors Gold and James Yandell, who were supervisors to Dr. Moore, agreed with his diagnosis and recommendations that Poddar needed to be hospitalized. The patient was taken by the police and put into custody. The police officers including Gary L. Browning; Joseph P. Halleran; and Atkinson interrogated Podder and found out that he was indeed rational and had changed his attitude. The police however released Poddar from custody after he promised to avoid Tatiana and stay far away from her. On the same issue, Dr. Harvey Powelson, who was the Director of Psychiatry at Cowell Memorial Hospital ordered for the return of the letter that had been written by Dr. Moore to the police chief requesting for the 72-hour emergence detention of Poddar. He called for its destruction including the notes that had been written by Dr. Moore on the patient. The Director also issued warnings against taking of any action in putting Podder under the 72-hour emergency surveillance (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). In the month of October 1969, Tatiana returned from Brazil and Poddar failed to live by the promise that he had made to the police and continued to pursue her. It is claimed that Poddar stopped his appointments with Dr. Moore after Tatiana had returned from her trip. However, the Supreme Court observed that Poddar had stopped seeing the psychotherapist after he was detained by the campus police. All the same, towards the end of October in 1969, Podder went to check on Tatiana at their home. At first he could not find Tatiana and was ordered to leave by Tatiana’s mother. Podder was to come back later equipped with a knife and a pellet gun. This time, he was lucky to find Tatiana alone at home. Tatiana refused to speak to Poddar and upon insisting, Tatiana started screaming. This prompted Poddar to aim at her with the pellet gun with Tatiana running wildly from the house. Poddar pursued her and was able to catch her up in the yard stabbing her severally. Poddar then retuned to the house and informed the police of what he had done asking to be handcuffed (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). Dr. Kermit Gruberg, who was serving the Berkeley Police Department upon observation of Poddar in less than twenty four hours of the incident, confirmed that Poddar was a victim of paranoid schizophrenia. Poddar was charged with murder though he refused to enter a plea on the ground of insanity. Some times before he was tried, examinations from a neurologist who was hired by the defense indicated that Poddar had organic abnormalities in his brains. During the trial, Dr. Philip Grossi, Dr. Gruberg, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Gold gave testimonies that Podder was insane and a paranoid schizophrenic. It was during the testimonies of Dr. Moore and Dr. Gold that the details about the victim’s plans to murder Tatiana were exposed. Poddar was convicted to second degree murder and following numerous appeals, he was released and ordered to immediately leave the United States, never to come back (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). Vitaly and Lydia Tarasoff, who were parents to Tatiana, filed the wrongful death suits against the University of California and the psychotherapists who were treating Poddar. The parents alleged four actions which included failure to detain Poddar by the psychotherapists and failure to warn the Tarasoffs that Poddar was of potential danger to their daughter. The other two allegations included the one directed towards Dr. Powelson following his activities in abandoning a dangerous patient and the last one was regarding the ‘Breach of Primary Duty to Patient and the Public’ which was more same to the first allegation (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). The rulings of the Alameda County Superior Court and the court of appeals dismissed the case ruling in the favor of the defendants. It was argued that there was no special relationship between the defendants and Tatiana or her parents and thus there was no obligation to warn. Dr. Powelson was said to have had no duty to commit Poddar and in case he did so, this action was fdiscretionary and in accordance with the statutes. The Tarasoffs were not satisfied and sought redress from the California Supreme Court (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). California Supreme Court Decision and its impacts on counseling profession: The decision made in 1976 by the Supreme Court is said to be a second time in considering the case. The very first decision was made in 1974 whereas the second decision emanated from the re-hearing which was granted in 1975. The first decision exemplified that the campus police had a case to answer for having failed to warn Tatiana whereas the second decision was freed them from all legal responsibility (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). In the second decision, psychotherapists were handed greater latitude to offer protection to the potential victims. In the first decision by the California Supreme Court, the defendants claimed that had no obligation to issue any warnings to Tatiana or the Tarasoffs since they were not patients to the therapists. The court rejected this view while observing some exceptions. Under this the court observed that though the defendants had an exceptional relationship with Poddar as their patient; they had even attempted to control his behavior through the initiation of a police detention (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). The defendants were also opposed to the duty to warn potential victims calling it problematic in the performance of their duties. However, the Court was quick to assure that not all incidences reported could result into the duty to warn and that a reasonable degree of skill, knowledge, and care would be required in exercising good judgment within the acceptable professional opinion. On the need to protect the confidentiality of the patient, the Court observed that limitation must be observed in disclosing information to prevent danger of patients to other individuals. In the second decision, the California Supreme Court required the psychotherapists to discharge duty to the endangered third parties by other means apart from warning them. The ‘duty to warn’ was therefore changed to become ‘the duty to protect’ under the second decision. The Court held on the decision that required the psychotherapy to protect third party victims upon using reasonable care aimed at protecting the other individuals from the dangers posed by their patients. The Court held that the Psychiatrists could warn the would be victims directly, sending other people who are likely to inform the intended individual, informing the law enforcement agencies, or taking any necessary step depending on the situation (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). Following the landmark ruling in the Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California, many individuals thought that such a decision was an abnormal one and likely to be overlooked. The professions in mental health also observed that this decision was aimed at undermining psychotherapy practice through the destruction of the principles of confidentiality. Such observations were to be proved wrong since in a couple of year’s time, a New Jersey Superior Court in the McIntosh v. Milano (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000), indicted a psychiatrist basing on the Tarasoff incident. It has to be observed that the California Supreme Court decision which required the mental health professions to give a warning to third party individuals who were in potential danger from their patients has been adopted in most jurisdictions and the decision has even been broaden to incorporate other areas in healthcare practice (Buckner, and Firestone, 2000). The American Counseling Association (ACA) elaborates on the steps to be taken when there is a conflict between the established code of ethics and law requirement. The ACA observes that in the event there is a conflict, the counselors have the duty to make known their commitment to the ACA Code of Ethics and when the conflict stands unresolved by this; counselors have no choice but to relinquish their code of ethics and adhere to the laws and regulations. This means that the law reigns when there is a conflict between the established ethical responsibilities and the law (Docstoc, 2010). The Tragedy at Virginia Tech: Preliminary facts regarding the tragic incident at the Virginia Tech in the year 2007 were appalling. On this fateful day, 33 students and staff lost their lives in a shooting spree carried out by one of the students at the institution. The perpetrator was an English student known as Cho Seung-Hui who was described as a loner by his colleagues and is said have been identified by at least two of his professors as troubled. Earlier on the fateful day, Cho Seung-Hui is said to have mailed a tape to NBC News after having killed two of his victims. In the tape, he fumed against the wealthy in the society and argued that the society was to blame for his actions. The tape indicates that Cho Seung-Hui was full of rage and that he was emotionally troubled. His roommates and friends observed that Cho Seung-Hui showed anti-social tendencies on campus. He is said to have rarely engaged in conversations and was known for one word answers especially on questions that could expose much of him. Further more it has been established that much of the writings made by Cho in his course work revealed violence and murderous images and fury directed towards the female gender (Angelo, 2007). The incident at the Virginia Tech relates in many aspects to the Tarasoff case where the defendants failed to issue warning to the victim and her family. The United States Department of Education findings indicate that the institution dishonored the established campus crime-reporting legislations in responding to the shootings. It is argued that after the first shooting incident occurred at around a quarter past seven in the morning only for the university to issue the e-mail warning at around nine thirty. A moment later the gunman went on a shooting spree which resulted in the death of 33 students and professors including the gunman who shot himself. Timely warning was not issued and that the e-mail that was issued was inadequate as it failed to comprehensively pass the message. The mail read, ‘shooting incident’ without mentioning any fatalities. There is no justification for the two hour delay from the very first incident and the vagueness of the warning. The Virginia Tech officials had enough information that could have helped in identifying the threat and passing information to students and employees (Lipka, 2010). After the shooting, many people have claimed to have raised an alarm regarding Cho’s behavior two years before the incident. His English teacher at the institute is said to have been alarmed by his drawings and even asked him to stay out of class. There were also two other complaints rose by female students at the institution. Cho is said to have contacted one of the female in person and by phone and the other through instant message. After the incident were reported to the campus police, the only asked Cho not to repeat his advances. In the year 2005, the victim is said to have been ordered to a psychiatric observation by a court which revealed that he posed imminent danger to himself. He is also said to have spoken of suicide on several occasion. The officials from higher education claims that these observations are in contravention with the student’s right to privacy. Thus the institution was not in any position to conduct the parents of Cho without his consent on his background (Angelo, 2007). It is evident that those who had some crucial information on Cho Seung-Hui did not take the bold step on sharing the same. It is assumed that by sharing the information that colleagues and professors held about that the young man harbored could have seen the ugly incident averted through psychotherapy. It has been argued that his roommates and some professors had observed some warning behavioral traits. According to the findings of the 2007 Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy; it was found that there are impediments in sharing of crucial information. One of the findings read; Education officials, healthcare providers, law enforcement personnel, and others are not fully informed about when they can share critical information on persons who are likely to be a danger to self or others, and the resulting confusion may chill legitimate information sharing (The White House, 2007, para 4) Conclusion: In the Tarasoff incident, the patient is said to have revealed of his intention to kill the girlfriend to the psychiatrists but the therapist failed to issue a warning to the intended victim which tragically ended in the death of the victim. The therapists were found to be answerable for having failed in their duty to warn the victim of the potential danger posed by their patient. The psychiatrists cited breach of confidentiality in their defense which was dismissed by the Supreme Court ruling by offering guidelines on the confidentiality issue. The Virginia Tech incident on the other hand presents a scenario where the institution was barred by the right to privacy to inquire into the psychiatric background of the student gunman and this led to the fatal incident where many lives were lost in cold murder. Reference: Angelo, J. M. , (2007). Tragedy at Virginia Tech. Retrieved on 17th July 2010 from; http://www. universitybusiness. com/viewarticle. aspx? articleid=758 Buckner, F. , and Firestone, M. , (2000). â€Å"Where the Public Peril Begins†: 25 Years After Tarasoff. Retrieved on 17th July 2010 from; http://cyber. law. harvard. edu/torts01/syllabus/readings/buckner. html Docstoc, (2010). Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Practice. Retrieved on 17th July 2010 from; http://www. docstoc. com/docs/18350933/Ethical-and-Legal-Issues-in-Counseling-Practice Lipka, S. , (2010). Virginia Tech Contests Education Department’s Assertion of Late Warning in 2007 Shootings. Retrieved on 17th July 2010 from; http://chronicle. com/article/Virginia-Tech-Disagrees-With/65613/ The White House, (2007), Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy, Retrieved on 17th July 2010 from; http://www. hhs. gov/vtreport. html

4 Exasperating Malapropisms

4 Exasperating Malapropisms 4 Exasperating Malapropisms 4 Exasperating Malapropisms By Maeve Maddox Malapropisms can be funny, but only if one understands both the misused word and the word appropriate in the context. Here are four malapropisms that left one reader scratching his head: 1.The butler entered the drawing room bearing the visitors name card on a silver sliver. The word wanted here is salver, not sliver. A salver is a tray; A sliver is a very narrow splinter of some substance. A silver sliver would not be large enough to hold a visitors card. 2. Mrs Jones earned the reputation of a vertigo because her poor husbands head was always in a spin from her constant nagging and scolding. The word wanted in this context is virago, not vertigo. Vertigo is dizziness; A virago, in this context, is a loud, obnoxious woman who nags and scolds and doesnt behave as a proper woman should. (The word virago has an interesting history that deserves a post of its own.) 3. The teacher commented that Janes essay on D. H. Lawrence was extremely erotic; although certain parts were commendable, others left much to be desired. Yes, D.H. Lawrence is noted for erotic content, but the appropriate word here is erratic. The clue is certain parts were commendable, others left much to be desired. erotic relating to sexual desire. erratic irregular, inconsistent, eccentric. 4. Unfortunately, all efforts to pacify the furious tourists only served to exasperate the situation. Many native English speakers might miss the malapropism in this one because the words exasperate and exacerbate are often used as if they meant the same thing. For example, heres an exchange at Wiki Answers.com: Q: Can you use exasperate in a sentence? A: The 20 mph winds really exasperated the already 20 degree weather, making it feel like 0 degrees. exasperate to cause irritation or annoyance in a person. exacerbate to make a situation worse. The Wiki winds, therefore, would exacerbate the weather and the efforts to pacify the tourists in Example 4 would exacerbate the situation. Thanks to Jayanthi K for suggesting this post. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect ObjectsThe Many Forms of the Verb TO BEThe "Pied" in The Pied Piper

Small business management To build or buy

Small business management To build or buy Introduction This article examines strategic planning process of purchasing an existing coffee business in Miami. We have based the business concept on News Cafà ©, which demonstrates affordability, growth, and comfort at the Ocean Drive of Miami Beach. New Cafà © is a 24-hour business with a great menu that consists of both national and international coffee and desserts. It has a great oceanfront view. However, the place experiences service lackluster during high tourists’ seasons. Business Concept Strategy Starbucks introduced coffee business to the US and coffee has become a common feature of Americans as millions of them consume coffee daily. These people are willing to spend money on quality coffee.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Small business management: To build or buy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Specialty coffee has become a growing coffee business in Miami as News Cafà © shows (Mona ghan and Huffaker, 1995). Market conditions such as recession and slow economic growths have not affected coffee consumption in Miami or the US. In fact, specialty coffee sales have increased. In addition, no coffee house closed due to recession unlike in other industries. News Cafà © and other coffee outlets serve quality coffee in Miami. However, most of these coffee outlets look like ‘fast food restaurants’ because of their services. Now Miami coffee consumers have increased, and their preferences for coffee and other products have grown. As a result, many consumers need fresh coffee, varieties, and coffee with health benefits. This means that there is a niche in the coffee market of Miami. Coffee consumers want fresh, high-end, quality, and health coffee served in high volumes and in a warm and conducive atmosphere. A new coffee business in Miami can meet these needs and fill the niche in the market. The business should provide high quality coffee products in upsca le locations of Miami. The location must also provide a mixed clientele base in order to ensure that the business has high-levels of activities throughout the session. Develop or Purchase Based on the performance of News Cafà ©, it is necessary to purchase an existing coffee business than developing a new one. The existing coffee business in Miami has existing customers, a stream of revenues, existing employees, recognized business name, and working business policies and procedures (Joseph, Nekoranec and Steffens, 1992). Purchasing an existing coffee business in Miami shall enable the investor to avoid risks associated with start-ups. Business pundits claim that nearly 80 percent of start-ups do not last for more than two years. In addition, start-ups may also lack adequate cash flows, which may affect their working capital. New businesses have financing and setup challenges. An investor who opts for an existing business with history avoids challenges associated with a new business that lacks a record of accomplishment. Therefore, the process of developing a new coffee business in Miami should be through purchasing an existing business. Still, it also eliminates a daunting task of finding capital for a new business.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Start-ups also undergo creation challenges. There are business procedures and policies, which the new business owner would not like in an existing. However, the new owner may make changes that fit his new business concept. The purchasing party can easily locate what areas or policies of the existing business need changes. The investor may also decide to overhaul all aspects of the business, but eventually gains from identifying factors that do not favor the business. Such existing business already has stability required to start operation. In addition, the interested party can rely on hist orical sales records in order to make sales projection. The new owner can realize immediate returns after the purchase. Any business for sale usually has a fair price. Furthermore, purchasing an existing business may not require all the capitals needed when buying a new business. The owner can make down payment and pay the rest of the debt in installment by using the generated cash flows from the business. A new start-up does not provide this advantage. Still, sellers also offer favorable financing terms for such existing businesses. This may be due to income tax reasons, enhance profitability of the business, and get a net for existing loans. A seller who may carry back any part of sales price indicates that he has confidence in the future performance of the business even under new management. Form of Ownership Aspiring entrepreneur has various forms of business ownership and can select the one that matches his business financial position. For this new coffee shop venture in Miami, we have settled on limited liability company (LLC). LLC has a hybrid structure that will provide the new owner with limited liability features of corporation, offer tax efficiency and eliminates cases of double taxation, and operational flexibility of a partnership business. However, this form of business ownership is complex and formal that a general partnership ownership. Business Plan Executive Summary This new coffee shop venture borrows the concept of News Cafà © in Miami, but shall be in upscale areas, provide high quality coffee, efficiency, and 24-hour services. The owner can introduce other partners or run it independently (McDonald, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Small business management: To build or buy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Financing shall be from the owner’s capital. The owner shall fund the rest with income generated from returns. After reviewing the operation of N ews Cafà ©, the new coffee business shall rely on the News Cafà © model for expansion to other areas of Miami. Mission The new coffee business goal is to be the coffee shop of choice in Miami for upscale consumers, tourists, students and the local business community by offering high quality coffee and coffee products. The business intends to be profitable with more than 20 percent returns annually. The business also intends to support local environmental initiatives at the beach and supports coffee farmers too. Objectives Make the new business highly attractive place for coffee consumers in Miami Make sales of $750,000 in the first fiscal year, $1 million for the second year, and $ 1.3 million for the third fiscal year Achieve over 20 percent net profit after the third year Start expansion within six months after opening Support community, coffee farmers, and conservation efforts Key to Success High quality coffee products Upscale markets with mix customer base Targets on tour ists, affluent population, students, working community, and pedestrians Well-trained staff Aggressive and continuous marketing Sales of coffee and related products for multiple revenue sources Provide online sales services in the Web Company SummaryAdvertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The business shall provide unique coffee to its consumers. Variety: the coffee shop shall have different varieties of coffee not found in Miami Location: the coffee shop shall occupy upscale environments with attractive views next to busy streets, shopping complex, tourists’ destinations, and entertainment locations The coffee shop shall expand within six months after successful takeover Ownership The coffee shop shall be LLC Products The coffee shop shall offer high quality: Coffee varieties Tea Juice Gift items Chocolate Bottled water Soft drinks Snacks Pricing of these products shall favor both high-end and low-end consumers. Market Analysis Summary The new venture shall launch a new coffee business by purchasing an existing business in a receptive and a growing market. America coffee consumers are increasing. The business shall consider: Affluent and popular locations Areas with tourists activities throughout the year Student locations Low media costs Busy streets Popular beach areas Market Segmentation The customer base in Miami shall consist of various customer segments: High-end local residents Local community business people Tourists Students Pedestrians and travelers These segments of consumers are strong and provide mixed benefits. They can provide consistent business and cash flows throughout the fiscal year. The business will also benefit from high tourist seasons during summer breaks when students break for their long holidays. Still, the other segments of the market shall be available throughout the year. Figure 1: Target Market Segments for the New Coffee Shop Competitors Competition consists of international, regional, and local coffee shops. Starbucks News Cafà © Cafà © Demetrio Joffrey’s Coffee and Restaurant Versailles Mercedes Coffee Shop Romeos Cafà © Greenstreet Cafà © These competitors have grown ever since their inception. In addition, no single chain of coffee shop has failed in Miami in the last 20 years . Marketing Strategy The new coffee shop shall rely on word of mouth, local media, and social media as marketing strategies in order to reduce costs of media promotions. The aim of the marketing campaign is to establish profitability for fast and continued growth of the business. The marketing strategy shall position the coffee shop as the only place that offers high quality coffee products in Miami Beach. Assumptions The market requires high quality coffee products There is a need for conducive environment Consumers want affordable luxuries Coffee market is stable Competitive Edge The business competitive edge in comparison to competitors includes: High quality products with great tastes Best locations in busy streets, areas with tourists’ presence throughout the year High-end locations Favorable prices to both high-end and low-end consumers Superior ambience 24-hour operation Varieties of products for various segments of the market Internet online sales The business sh ould have more than 20 shops within the next five years. However, this will depend on the financial performance of the purchased business. The managers must track all daily activities in order to provide clear perspectives for expansion. Web Plan Summary The coffee shop will have an established Web site from the previous business owner. The established Web site of the business guarantees the new owner high traffic from existing customers. The Web site shall act as a tool of marketing and offer online sales services. Management Profile Owner Chief finance officer Marketing head Operation manager Financial Plan Achieve sales growth of 15 percent annually Adequate cash flows Profit margins of 20 to 25 percent Marketing budget shall be five percent of the annual budget The profits shall fund expansion strategies Figure 2: Monthly sales by products Figure 3: Yearly sales by products References Joseph, R., Nekoranec, A., and Steffens, C. (1992). How To Buy a Business. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing. McDonald, M. (2007). Marketing plans: how to prepare them, how to use them. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. Monaghan, J., and Huffaker, J. (1995). ESPRESSO! Starting and Running Your Own Specialty Coffee Business . New York: Wiley.

American History reconstruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

American History reconstruction - Essay Example The next mentionable event in the Reconstruction era was the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864. Republican dominated Congress passed it declaring that Southern States should be run by military governors and Secession and Slavery would be outlawed with the consent of the fifty percent of a state’s voters. Congress passed the 13th Amendment and established the Freedmen’s Bureau in order to provide the formers slaves and black communities with the opportunities of education, employment, medical service, and economic facilities. Indeed the Republican dominated Congress’s attempts complementary ones to a great extent, though they were more stringent and punitive than Lincoln. Reconstruction under Johnson’s Presidency took the same course that Lincoln started. But President Johnson’s lack of foresight made Reconstruction less effective. Consequently the Congress passed the 14th Amendment in order to protect Black people’s civil right and full citizenship in 1866 and the 15th Amendment in order to give constitutional protection to black suffrage in 1870. But along the passage of time, the reconstruction zeal began to wane.

Employment and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employment and Society - Essay Example According to the Meaning of Work Survey, there are five principal aspects of life – work, family, community, religion and leisure. Respondents asked to rank the five according to their importance to them indicated in the majority that family came first then work second. However, a good number – accounting for slightly over one-fourth of all respondents – chose work above all, even family. The perspective implicitly assumed by the Survey is that the five aspects the respondents were asked to rank were different and mutually exclusive from each other, and that their apparent meanings are the basis upon which they were ranked.Studies have shown, however, that there are multiple dimensions from which to approach the meaning of work, that explains why individuals would consider it more important than some (or all) of the other aspects of life. The meaning and context of â€Å"Work† Overell (2009) what is obvious to all – that occupational work is importa nt because joblessness is not an economically feasible option. Where remunerated work is viewed as scarce, therefore, the value of having a job rises dramatically. Other than this, however, work provides people with their self-identity, a structure to their time and activities, and a means of self-expression as much as a means to an economic end. Work is not a monolithic whole, however, but has many shades and implications. A study was conducted on three non-economic aspects of the work environment: job demands, job discretion, and job social relationships. According to Karasek (1976), a lack of discretion over the contents of a job tends to make the worker either passive in leisure and community associations or experience mental strain. On the other hand, work that is psychologically demanding does not always lead to deleterious effects, as long as the level of job discretion is not low. When job discretion is high, work that is psychologically demanding tends to make the worker mo re socially active in leisure and in community participation. In a more recent study, Knowles and Taylor (1990) identified two dimensions, each with two â€Å"poles†, that cut across work, family and leisure activities in general. For the first dimension, its positive pole involved activities viewed as challenging, creative and under the individual’s control, and were viewed as enjoyable – communicating with people, creating new business, and finding solutions – whether done at work or at home. Its negative pole involves the routine and mundane activities over which the individual exercises little control, such as completing paperwork, doing the shopping or general administration or housework, which are seen as necessary but stressful. In the second dimension, one pole involved socialization and moral obligation and included settling disputes, attending meetings, and doing things as a family. The other pole involved activities done alone, without any soci al or moral obligation, such as most leisure activities. It was found that whether the respondents chose work or home as preferable over the other, it usually involved pursuit of a lifestyle that was perceived as non-stressful, challenging, and enjoyable, and wherein they are free to exercise their freedom of choice and personal control. Frames of reference: Challenges to the traditional concept of work vs life There is a social context to work that is beside the concept of individual undertaking. In seeking to understand challenges to the traditional sexual/gender paradigm of â€Å"work-life balance† (WLB), it must be noted that a greater emphasis must be devoted to understanding the allocation of the burden of responsibilities discharged by adult members of a household, both as to size and composition. Another important consideration is the quality of recreational activity. WLB decisions take into account the normative expectations linked to gender roles, the regularities a nd patterns with which people meet these expectations, and the lifestyles and consumption habits that result