Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Benefits and drawbacks SAP in an Enterprise The WritePass Journal

Benefits and drawbacks SAP in an Enterprise Introduction Benefits and drawbacks SAP in an Enterprise IntroductionDefinition of ERP and SAPBackground of Siemens Power CorporationUsing SWOT to analyses Siemens Power CorporationAdvantages and disadvantages of implementing SAPSAP has high integration of business moduleSAP can reduce maintain costConclusionReference Related Introduction As world economy is increasing step by step, a lot of enterprises are looking for a system to help enterprise integrate resource, enhance efficiency of operation of enterprise and reduce cost. Although there are some relative systems in the market, Enterprise resource planning system(ERP) as one of the most popular system has been used in most enterprises. In addition, there is a report come from Klaus etc. in 2000, it showed that ERP could effectively integrate enterprise resource and improve competition of enterprise. It aims to analyses enterprise information in each department and present some rational recommendations to management (Klaus H. etc., 2000). Meanwhile, it is known to all that ERP is a kind of software of management. There are many different software belong to ERP in the market, such as SAP, Oracle and so on. Therefore, in this report, combining SWOT method, one of business strategies, and SAP to analyses this case study. At the same time, a significance of SAP will b e proved in an enterprise. Definition of ERP and SAP Background of Siemens Power Corporation Siemens Power Corporation is a globally operating manufacturer of both fossil fuel and nuclear power generation systems. It mainly provides both Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) and related services. In the market, it had many customers at the beginning. However, after few years, some customers hope manufacturer can offer safer and cheaper energy sources. Meanwhile, in the same market, some competitors sized market. It caused that Siemens Power Corporation lost advantages in the competition and reduce some customers. Using SWOT to analyses Siemens Power Corporation A SOWT analysis is adopted to estimate the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats involved in a project (Hay Castilla, unknown). It can be separated into internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats). Thus, in this report, SWOT will be adopted to evaluate problems in order to carry out relative measures to solve them. Internal factors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strengths:   Siemens can offer fossil fuel to each country in the whole world. Siemens has enough finance to support enterprise operation. Siemens has great reputation in the world. At the beginning of operating enterprise, Siemens had a number of customers. Weakness: Inside of enterprise, because of AMAPS system did not fulfill the requirement of business modules. It still had many overhaul of legacy system. Management had to drop it. In the other word, Siemens implements old system, such as AMAPS system and PERMAC system. It did not have a formal and efficiency system. Otherwise, during operating old system, most of data collection had been done by telephone. External factors Opportunities: During US started to close many fossil fuel manufactures, Siemens can be saved. It means Siemens’ products are safe and approbated. It can occupy more market share. Threats: Although Siemens can offer both Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) and Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), its competitors trend to more specialize in one type reactors of them. Under this case, competitors probably shrink market share step by step with Siemens. Following a clear SWOT analyses, it obliviously displayed that it is necessary to bring in a new enterprise resource planning system to help Siemens improve their competition in order to expand its advantages of competition in the market. Advantages and disadvantages of implementing SAP In the ERP market, there are many vendors can be selected, special SAP and Oracle. They are all famous ERP systems. However, after Siemens management compared SAP with Oracle or another ERP system, management believed that SAP could provide the best â€Å"client/server† architecture. At the same time, SAP also reduced interface problems. SAP has high integration of business module Despite SAP owned business modules over eighty and was saw a little complex, SAP is most smart and comprehensive integrated modules of business configuration. In the case study, it still mentioned that SAP software modules are designed according to â€Å"best business/industry†. SAP could be configured easily than before so that SAP could reflect whole enterprise structure more detail, even reflect precise pricing discount. There was a report from Hejazi etc. in 2003. They also point out that SAP could more effectively integrate various resources during they pay more attention on working SAP (Hejazi etc., 2003). In addition, in 2002, Mandal and Gunasekaran all argued that the organization of SAP owned whole view of the process. This structure could help enterprise effectively manage enterprise-wide project. Therefore, it is confirmed that SAP could help enterprise improve efficiency of integrating resource. SAP can reduce maintain cost For an enterprise, cost is a big issue. Most enterprises try to look for a method to decrease cost in order to gain higher profit. Thus, in a condition of ensuring qualified product, enterprise brings in a new system which it can reduce cost can greatly enhance competition. SAP as a kind of software for demanding, it promised that SAP system can decrease cost by all kinds of effective methods, such as reengineered business processes, maintain cost and so on. This viewpoint also is proved by Gattiker and Goodhue in 2000. In their report, they clearly believed that ERP system could cut down maintaining cost. At the same time, ERP also could enhance ability to deploy new functionally (Gattiker F. Goodhue L., 2000). There is a conclusion in the paragraph, SAP could decreased enterprise maintain cost so that it can become a part of helping enterprise improve competition. Drawback It is hard to configured SAP It is known to all that SAP is one of the most popular software in the world. To implement SAP in enterprise, enterprise could gain huge benefits from SAP application software. However, it still cannot avoid some disadvantage in SAP system. One of the hardest drawbacks is how to set configuration during implementing SAP. SAP only accepted own interface. It means that enterprise have to change old business interface into new â€Å"SAP-way† interface in order to operate SAP system. in the case study, it can be seen that even if enterprise have some professional recommendations from consultant, it is still hard to configure the SAP. An article from Gattiker and Goodhue in 2000, they also presented that it is difficult to configure SAP. Once SAP configuration unreasonable, to run SAP easily lost accuracy of tracking data. Therefore, it is clear to recognize that SAP weakness is configuration. Recommendations for configuring SAP To implement SAP on relational database such as Informix, Oracle, SAP database. Because few current SAP systems create own database base on Oracle. Enterprise can seek a professional consultant or experienced staff to configure SAP. the reason is that they can give some recommendations to deal with problem during configuring SAP. At the beginning of configuring SAP, all business modules are defined by software as soon as possible. In this case, it is useful to reduce some mistake such as matching the name of variety of business modules. Conclusion In a conclusion, SAP as a kind of ERP system, when an enterprise implements SAP, they will suffer from some uncertain troubles such as hard to configure system. However, some problem will be solved by relevant solutions. At the same time, it definitely gets a conclusion that SAP has more benefits than disadvantages. Otherwise, in the report, it also presented that enterprise bring in SAP system can help management fully use variety of resources. Through rationally integrate resource and cost reduction to help enterprise enhance competition in the market. Reference 1. Klaus H., Rosemann M. and Gable G..G..(2000). what is ERP?. Accessed 05/04/2011 http://eprints.qut.edu.au/40347/1/c40347.pdf 2. Hay G.J. and Castilla G.(unknown). OBJECT-BASED IMAGE ANALYSIS:The Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats involved in a project. Accessed 05/04/2011 isprs.org/proceedings/XXXVI/4-C42/Papers/01_Opening%20Session/OBIA2006_Hay_Castilla.pdf 3. Hejazi S.S., Halpin L.A. and Biggs D.W. (2003). USING SAP ERP TECHNOLOGY TO INTEGRATE THE UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS CURRICULUM. Accessed 06/04/2011 http://sbaweb.wayne.edu/~absel/bkl/.%5Cvol30%5C30an.pdf 4. Gattiker F.T. Goodhue L.D. (2000). Understanding the Plant Level Costs and Benefits of ERP: Will the Ugly Duckling Always Turn Into a Swan?. Accessed 06/04/2011 computer.org/portal/web/csdl/doi/10.1109/HICSS.2000.926907 5.   Mandal P. and Gunasekaran A. (April, 2002). Issues in implementing ERP: A case study. European Journal of Operational Research. 146,(2)274-2

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Legendary Phoenix in Ancient History

The Legendary Phoenix in Ancient History Those who have seen the Harry Potter movies have watched the amazing power of the Phoenix. Its tear once cured Harry of Basilisk poison and another time, it went up in a puff of flame only to come back to life again. It would truly be an amazing bird, if only it were real. The Phoenix symbolizes rebirth, especially of the sun, and has variants in European, Central American, Egyptian and Asian cultures. In the 19th century, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a story about it. Edith Nesbit features it in one of her childrens stories, The Phoenix, and the Carpet, as does J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. According to the most popular variant of the phoenix, the bird lives in Arabia for 500 years at the end of which, it burns itself and its nest. In the version described by Clement, an ante-Nicene (basically, before Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire) Christian theologian, the phoenix nest is made of frankincense, myrrh, and spices. A new bird always rises from the ashes. Ancient sources on the mythological phoenix bird, include Clement, the great mythographer and poet Ovid, the Roman natural historian Pliny (Book X.2.2), the top ancient Roman historian, Tacitus, and the father of Greek history, Herodotus. Passage From Pliny Ethiopia and India, more especially, produce1 birds of diversified plumage, and such as quite surpass all description. In the front rank of these is the phœnix, that famous bird of Arabia; though I am not quite sure that its existence is not all a fable. It is said that there is only one in existence in the whole world, and that that one has not been seen very often. We are told that this bird is of the size of an eagle, and has a brilliant golden plumage around the neck, while the rest of the body is of a purple colour; except the tail, which is azure, with long feathers intermingled of a roseate hue; the throat is adorned with a crest, and the head with a tuft of feathers. The first Roman who described this bird, and who has done so with the greatest exactness, was the senator Manilius, so famous for his learning; which he owed, too, to the instructions of no teacher. He tells us that no person has ever seen this bird eat, that in Arabia it is looked upon as sacred to the sun, that it lives five hundred and forty years, that when it becomes old it builds a nest of cassia and sprigs of incense, which it fills with perfumes, and then lays its body down upon them to die; that from its bones and marrow there springs at first a sort of small worm, which in time changes into a little bird: that the first thing that it does is to perform the obsequies of its predecessor, and to carry the nest entire to the city of the Sun near Panchaia, and there deposit it upon the altar of that divinity.The same Manilius states also, that the revolution of the great year 6 is completed with the life of this bird, and that then a new cycle comes round again with the same characteristics as the former one, in the seasons and the appearance of the stars; and he says that this begins about mid-day of the day on which the sun enters the sign of Aries. He also tells us that when he wrote to the above effect, in the consulship7 of P. Licinius and Cneius Cornelius, it was the two hun dred and fifteenth year of the said revolution. Cornelius Valerianus says that the phœnix took its flight from Arabia into Egypt in the consulship8 of Q. Plautius and Sextus Papinius. This bird was brought to Rome in the censorship of the Emperor Claudius, being the year from the building of the City, 800, and it was exposed to public view in the Comitium.9 This fact is attested by the public Annals, but there is no one that doubts that it was a fictitious phœnix only. Passage From Herodotus There is another sacred bird, too, whose name is phoenix. I myself have never seen it, only pictures of it; for the bird seldom comes into Egypt: once in five hundred years, as the people of Heliopolis say.Herodotus Book II. 73.1 Passage From Ovids Metamorphoses [391] Now these I named derive their origin from other living forms. There is one bird which reproduces and renews itself: the Assyrians gave this bird his name-the Phoenix. He does not live either on grain or herbs, but only on small drops of frankincense and juices of amomum. When this bird completes a full five centuries of life straightway with talons and with shining beak he builds a nest among palm branches, where they join to form the palm trees waving top. As soon as he has strewn in this new nest the cassia bark and ears of sweet spikenard, and some bruised cinnamon with yellow myrrh, he lies down on it and refuses life among those dreamful odors.-And they say that from the body of the dying bird is reproduced a little Phoenix which is destined to live just as many years. When time has given to him sufficient strength and he is able to sustain the weight, he lifts the nest up from the lofty tree and dutifully carries from that place his cradle and the parents sepulchre. As soon as he has reached through yielding air the city of Hyperion, he will lay the burden just before the sacred doors within the temple of Hyperion.Metamorphoses Book XV Passage From Tacitus During the consulship of Paulus Fabius and Lucius Vitellius, the bird called the phoenix, after a long succession of ages, appeared in Egypt and furnished the most learned men of that country and of Greece with abundant matter for the discussion of the marvellous phenomenon. It is my wish to make known all on which they agree with several things, questionable enough indeed, but not too absurd to be noticed. That it is a creature sacred to the sun, differing from all other birds in its beak and in the tints of its plumage, is held unanimously by those who have described its nature. As to the number of years it lives, there are various accounts. The general tradition says five hundred years. Some maintain that it is seen at intervals of fourteen hundred and sixty-one years, and that the former birds flew into the city called Heliopolis successively in the reigns of Sesostris, Amasis, and Ptolemy, the third king of the Macedonian dynasty, with a multitude of companion birds marvelling at the novelty of the appearance. But all antiquity is of course obscure. From Ptolemy to Tiberius was a period of less than five hundred years. Consequently some have supposed that this was a spurious phoenix, not from the regions of Arabia, and with none of the instincts which ancient tradition has attributed to the bird. For when the number of years is completed and death is near, the phoenix, it is said, builds a nest in the land of its birth and infuses into it a germ of life from which an offspring arises, whose first care, when fledged, is to bury its father. This is not rashly done, but taking up a load of myrrh and having tried its strength by a long flight, as soon as it is equal to the burden and to the journey, it carries its fathers body, bears it to the altar of the Sun, and leaves it to the flames. All this is full of doubt and legendary exaggeration. Still, there is no question that the bird is occasionally seen in Egypt.Annals of Tacitus Book VI Alternate Spellings: Phoinix Examples: Harry Potters magic wand has a feather from the same phoenix that gave a feather for the wand of Voldemort.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Public Sector vs Private Sector Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Public Sector vs Private Sector - Research Paper Example The researcher states that the evaluation of projects has three key parts: a) the identification of costs, b) the identification of outputs and c) the comparison of the findings related to the previous two phases. In practice, the method chosen for the evaluation of a project can highly variable depending on the project’s targets, the resources available and the environment in which the project was first developed. For example, if the project has been developed in the private sector its evaluation will be based on a method that will be different from those used in the public sector. The specific method of project evaluation is ideal for projects that have both economic and non-economic effects. When the costs involved in a project are difficult to be precisely estimated, then the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis would be preferred. The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis has an important benefit: it gives the chance to choose among alternative projects so that the project related to the lo west costs is identified. The only drawback of the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis is the following one: in projects of the public sector, not all costs can be clearly estimated in advance, especially if the project involved is related to a non-economic sector, as, for example, education. A different process for the evaluation of a project can be chosen, taking into consideration the economic and social environment and the project’s targets.  

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

To what extent is islamaphobia a problem in british society Essay

To what extent is islamaphobia a problem in british society - Essay Example That concept has seen a significant rise in the UK, and the reasons for it, while somewhat understandably valid, are deluded and overstated. An Inherited Tradition: The Crusades and The New Crusade While islamaphobia might be something new to the United States since 911, it is certainly well entrenched in the thinking of people of the United Kingdom. Beginning with the Crusades, particularly those of Richard the Lionhearted and other British kings who went off to â€Å"fight the good fight† against the Muslims, a natural tendency has developed to mistrust Muslims as treacherous and determined to destroy Christianity, and along with it Western civilization. Feffer (2010) in his defense of Islam writes that the UK culture itself has promoted this notion throughout the ages by reinforcing it in subtle ways, including the teaching and analysis of such epic poems as The Song of Roland, which he contends places untrue emphasis upon the slaughter of Charlemagne’s troops as des cribed in the poem by Muslim warriors. ‘In the real battle of 778, the slayers of the Franks were [really] Christian Basques furious at Charlemagne for pillaging their city of Pamplona’ (Feffer, 2010: par. 3). ... om 1500-1600 the ‘crusade’—verbal, psychological and historical—continued against the Ottoman Empire, passing from one generation to another stories of the atrocities of the Ottoman Empire and their Muslim leaders, defaming, as it went, all of its followers. Ongoing as well was the attitude that Muslims and Islam continually attempted to hide their violent ill-intentioned tendencies under the guise of the peaceful dictates of the Koran. Today that attempt is still being challenged in every respect and from every side, and by his own admission, from a Christian perspective, by Dunkin (2010) in his official condemnation, Ten Myths About Islam. Dunkin writes the following: Jihad is still alive and well today, and is not just the province of a few militant radicals. The forcible advancement of Islam, coupled with a contrived hatred for the Western world, appeals to the hearts and minds of millions of disaffected Muslims worldwide, many of them young and eager t o give their lives in the cause of Allah. Many well-educated Muslims, in the Middle East and in the West, have taken hold of the intellectual cause of Islamism and support this jihad wholeheartedly. (Myth #7) With academics such as Dunkin fanning the flames of anti-religious perception, it is not difficult to reason that such ideas have continued to find their way into modern UK thinking, in a world much more diverse and thus, for many, much more threatening. Islamaphobia and Politics As a prejudice which has developed over centuries, it seems clear that at least one political group in the UK, namely the British National Party and its Campaign Against Islam, presents a clear if not pervasive view of Islam as a violent entity detrimental to the interests of Britain and the British population. With media at

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Applicability of the Porter Diamonds Framework Essay Example for Free

The Applicability of the Porter Diamonds Framework Essay The car industry contributes for 40% of German exports. Germany is the third world car producer and approximately 6 million cars are produced every year. Among these firms are the luxury firms such as BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Audi. Let’s consider, first of all, the factors conditions in relation to the car industry. These factors express the Nation’s position in factors of production such as unskilled labor, skilled labor, infrastructure, natural resources†¦ * The industries are based on a high technological region, in the center of a zone of economic development. * Germany has always considered very important the transmission of scientific and technical knowledge: from the mid XIX century, a huge net of technical schools has been created (the Gewerbeschulen). Those schools became later engineers school and technical universities. Today, Germany sustain this effort in favor of a â€Å"knowledge society† by taking measures such as the â€Å"Exzellenzinitiative† which is backed by Angela Merkel and allocate 1,9 billions in order to maintain German research among the top 3 in the world. This initiative wishes also to sustain the creation of clusters. * In Germany, approximately one job out of seven is linked (directly or indirectly) to the car industry. The labor is very skilled. * Germany’s position is also an advantage: the country is in the heart of Europe and shares borders with many countries. * The transport infrastructure is optimal (railway, important harbors, road infrastructure†¦) The Demand conditions are another factor of the Porter’s diamond: * The local consumer is demanding: quality is very important * Huge population. * The wage level is high among the population * Increase of revenue levels in emerging countries. The demand abroad is high. The Related and supporting industries (clusters of industries) factors: * Presence of competitive suppliers * Presence of clusters (and government incentives in order to develop them) * Presence of a labor market that develops specific skills relevant for the cluster Firm strategy, structure and rivalry factors: * The four luxury brands are based in the same region. Therefore there is a strong competitiveness among them. However, each brand has a specific positioning. * The local context favors investments and constant improvements. Government: * There are no speed limits in Germany therefore sport cars can be used to their full potential. * Incentives to sustain scientific development and the creation of clusters. [ 1 ]. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89conomie_de_l%27Allemagne.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Essay --

1. The development of the astrolabe was an important invention that helped measure altitude. Maps were also very important in determining location. The sailors understanding of wind patterns allowed them to determine route and the most prompt way to reach their destinations. The improvement of the Spanish and Portuguese caravel sailing ship allowed them to be quicker on their expeditions. Combined, these technical developments allowed transoceanic trade and travel to be possible. 2. The Ming dynasty, in 1644 was taken over by the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Hongwu was the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1368, when he drove out the mongols he then brought back the sholar-gentry. The Chinese society began to be strict on education. They began giving the youth exam questions which was a reflection of what the Chinese values had become. 3. Columbian Exchange Intentional effects Unintentional effects Brought in domesticated animals Brought diseases Brought in crops Contaminated land Weeds Wild animals 4. Mining in Spain was the foundation of its power in the indies. Latin America was b...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

REsearch Paper on Bike Safety Essay

A. â€Å"The loss of 630 lives in bicycle crashes in 2009, just under two people every day of the year in the U.S., is a terrible toll† (â€Å"Bicycle Crash Facts†), states the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. B. Due to the lack of education in bike safety, Elementary Schools in the U.S. do not provide, children are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents, have an increased risk of death, and the rate of people riding bikes is rapidly decreasing. II. Body Paragraph Children are not informed properly about the different traffic signs, the importance of a helmet and other topics, which are fundamental for a person to be able to ride a bike. III. Body Paragraph In addition, Teachers and parents should encourage their children and students to ride their bikes more frequently, what could prevent them from obesity and pollution. IV. Body Paragraph Besides the positive change the use of a bicycle can have on a human body and even mind as they relax on their way, they help reduce pollution, as they do not create any carbon emissions. V. Conclusion A. Clearly, elementary schools in the United States of America do not satisfy the deficit of the bicycling information in the education system in order to prevent their students from eventual traffic accidents, perhaps even death and to encourage the next generation to use their bicycles more frequently. B. Summarize Body Paragraphs C. Saving 630 lives of sons and daughters in a year should not be a topic to discuss, but to be set immediately in action and support the greatest invention a human ever made, the bicycle. A Ride to a Better World â€Å"The loss of 630 lives in bicycle crashes in 2009, just under two people every day of the year in the U.S., is a terrible toll† (â€Å"Bicycle Crash Facts†), states the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Nowadays people live ignorantly with the idea of bicycling being too dangerous, forgetting that it is a healthy, alternative and effective form of transportation that provides a fascinating way of exercising. Not only do bicyclists have to be educated, but also every user of a public vehicle has to be informed about bike safety; every vehicle user has to be aware of bikes exactly as they are for other vehicles. In order for a cyclist to be safe, car drivers and motorcyclists have to treat cyclists as a vehicle exactly as they are. Due to the lack of education in bike safety, Elementary Schools in the U.S. do not provide, children are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents, have an increased risk of death, and the rate of people riding bikes is rapidly decreasing. Children are not informed properly about the different traffic signs, the importance of a helmet and other topics, which are fundamental for a person to be able to ride a bike. John Pucher, a professor of urban planning, has been conducting much research on transport policies, transport systems, and specially bicycling behavior in Europe, Canada, and the USA. Considered an expert on the topic planning and public policy, he informed; â€Å"Freiburg, Germany reported the largest increase in bicycling, almost doubling the bicycle share of trips from 15% in 1982 to 27% in 2007. These data suggest that it may be difficult to increase bicycling beyond already high levels† (Putcher, John). Without a doubt, the reason for the increase in bicycling in this country is education. In Germany, children in 4th grade have to obligatory take a license test for bicycles. Basically, it is the same as a driver’s license; for a month children are taught by their teachers about traffic signs and how to react in different traffic situations. After the theoretical lessons, they bring their already inspected bikes to school and start with practical lessons, riding on miniature traffic lines and obeying traffic signs previously installed. To make the situation seem more formal, children nervously take the theoretical and practical test, supervised by two police officers. Enthusiastically, every child wants to impress their parents by riding as good as they can. Tzirath Perez, a thirteen-year old girl, describes her experience in fourth grade: â€Å"Thanks to the bicycle lessons I had in Germany, now, when I ride my bike with my friends, I feel more secure, confident and I am glad I already know most of the traffic signs† (Perez). Because of the early encouragement for children, they are more willing to use their bikes and are prepared to ride through traffic safely on their way to their destination. By wearing a helmet and knowing exactly how to behave on the street when riding their bikes to school, German children help to reduce their parent’s car use because these young cyclists can travel safely without an automobile. Because these children ride their bikes to school in the morning they save their parents from the stress of hurrying to get ready in the morning for school and from spending time stuck in car congestions trying to get to school. Due to the bike lanes, which the U.S government has introduced to the streets, it is safer for children to ride their bikes and they will arrive faster at their destination. After school, when children ride home they relax their body and mind, enjoying the beautiful nature and breathing fresh air. While riding their bicycles between school and home, children have a little bit of time for themselves to calm down by forgetting about the stressful school and agitated parents. Jennifer Dill, a professor at the Toulan School of Urban Studies & Planning, states in her research paper: â€Å"An extensive and rapidly growing literature suggests the need to facilitate bicycling through appropriate infrastructure (such as bike paths and bike parking), traffic calming, training and education programs, and other supportive measures† (Dill, Jennifer). Obviously, the key word to this entire issue is education; schools are forming the values of the next era of humanity. If the following generation is not capable of understanding simple traffic signs, how to drive safely nor the daily impact the use of a car is having on our planet, they are slowly taking steps toward a world full of ignorant people, who will fail in their attempt to make our planet a better place. Surprisingly, teachers sometimes do not take their jobs as educators seriously and do not see the bike topic as an important factor in our society. America could experience a decrease in traffic accidents, where children are involved, not by reducing cyclists, but by educating properly America’s youth. In addition, Teachers and parents should encourage their children and students to ride their bikes more frequently, what could prevent them from obesity and pollution. â€Å"Obesity and physical inactivity among younger people is a major issue we have to tackle and biking has proved a very popular after-school activity with the youngsters† (Milford, Lynne), noticed Chris French, a senior public health specialist at NHS North East Essex, about the biking-program he has done in various schools as an extracurricular activity. Indeed, Chris French is setting a fabulous role model for us to follow, but our final goal is to incorporate bicycle education in our official education system, so it is obligatory for every single child who goes to a public school. In this way we can encourage them to do more exercising and learn from an early age on most of the important traffic signs to be better prepared when they have to do their license test in the future. If parents cannot afford to pay their children some kind of extracurricular activity outside from school, bicycling is a cheap alternative way that can be extremely pleasant for children in every age and adults in its various forms of use, such as â€Å"†¦mountain bicycling, racing bicycling, touring bicycling or BMX biking† (Baxamusa, Batul); fortunately, the numerous diversity of using a bicycle can appeal to all kinds of different people. Also, the excessively use of videogame is harming the next generation, because they entertain themselves for hours by not moving any body part, but their fingers making the burning of calories almost impossible. Besides the violence of this inadequate videogames reflects on the children, which start being disrespectful towards their parents and not obeying their restrictions. The routine would become eventually a vicious cycle, because the children keep disobeying their parents and playing more videogames. Although â€Å"33 percent of children and teens are obese in the United States† (Stein, Cherie), the majority of parents lamentably do not distinguish nor accept the overweight of their own children; due to the discriminating society we live in. A combination of lack of physical activity, genetic factors and unhealthy eating patterns is the major cause of obesity in children, enforced by their unwillingness to do exercise and outside-playing activities. Fortunately, two of these causes, physical activity and eating patterns, can be controlled closely by educators and parents, if they have a strong initiative toward their children. Children are easy to manipulate; if a parent or a teacher enthusiastically encouraged children to ride their bikes at least once a week and combined it with a healthy diet, the number of obese young people in the United States could easily be reduced. Also, bicycling cannot only decrease heart and lung diseases, but also asthma and overweight related diseases. Not only are the children in danger of healthy risks, but also in danger to the exposure of peers bullying them for their overweight. Eventually this type of harassment can lead to lower self-esteem and even mental harm. If a person has the tool to prevent and solve a serious problem with horrible consequences, this person should not waste a minute more on thinking this problem through, but solve it instantly. Most children in the United States have enough money to buy a videogame console, thus they should have enough money to buy at least a second-hand bicycle, making the issue of missing money irrelevant. Riding their bicycles to school, and in general as a common way of transportation, would surely prevent them from serious health problems and from loosing their self-esteem because of bullying by some of their peers. Besides the positive change the use of a bicycle can have on a human body and even mind as they relax on their way, they help reduce pollution, as they do not create any carbon emissions. â€Å"Based on the mechanical energy used †¦ the bicycle is roughly 10 times more efficient [than a car]† (Lawyer, David). David Lawyer has been studying for several years how much energy a vehicle of transportation needs and how much pollution it causes. Worthwhile, he calculated from the energy to produce a car and a bicycle, to the pollution they cause in a total and general view. Undoubtedly, the comparison turned out, as expected, to be favoring the bicycles, but now official by showing all his research to the public in his website. Providentially, SanFrancisco was performing a massive plan to improve the bicycle-conditions in this enormous, populated, urban city. Conscious officials wanted to create more bike parking, bike lanes and other cycling incentives, but one man, Rob Anderson, stopped the whole process by arguing â€Å"By eliminating some car parking spaces and traffic lanes to make room for more cyclists, the biking plan would create more traffic jams and more pollution† (Dvorak, Phred), and he demanded an environmental impact study before anything could be continued. Lamentably, a Californian superior court judge agreed with him, and so by stopped all pro-cycling activities until the study was done. Obviously, his argument did not have a certain point, because â€Å"a bicycle does not have any carbon emissions† (Forester, John), thus a bicycle is not harming the environment in any way and if a solution to pollution really existed, it would be to limit the car use instead of the bike use. Furthermore, every cyclist stands for one less car on the road and is amiably helping to â€Å"reduce approximately 31.37 pounds of carbon dioxide† (McNamara, Melissa), which will not pollute our atmosphere. The whole juristic issue took two years plus two years of studying the environmental impact, thus San Francisco had to wait until 2010 for the whole process to start where it had left. It is incredible how an insignificant individual could harm a whole city and part of the solution to a worldwide problem in such an arrogant manner. Instead of questioning the benefits of cycling, responsible citizen should consider all the consequences and detriments the excessively use of automobiles has been having on our atmosphere for the last couple of decades. Easily, a person can contribute to prevent the humanity of catastrophic after-effects, but teachers and parents could emphasize more the importance of a change in our society by improving the education on their students and children. Altruistic, individually contribution is required to make a significant change on the issues of global warming, acid rain, ozone thinning and other negative effects of air pollution, which the destructive impact of cars has been having in our world. Clearly, elementary schools in the United States of America do not satisfy the deficit of the bicycling information in the education system in order to prevent their students from eventual traffic accidents, perhaps even death and to encourage the next generation to use their bicycles more frequently. Instead of reducing bicyclers by persuading them bicycling is too dangerous, the American education system should rather implement rules and signs of bicycling to their students. Higher self-esteem and better health, mentally and physically, could be important benefits in children’s live in result of bicycling. An enormous change in our atmosphere and living customs would happen if the present and next cohort of humans learned to appreciate the extraordinary activity of cycling. Saving 630 lives of sons and daughters in a year should not be a topic to discuss, but to be set immediately in action and support the greatest invention a human ever made, the bicycle. Works Cited Baxamusa, Batul N. â€Å"Ride You Weight off.† Easy Health and Living Oct. 2008: 31-32. Print. â€Å"Bicycle Crash Facts.† Bicyclinginfo.org. University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, and Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. Dill, Jennifer. â€Å"Editorial Board.† Preventive Medicine 37.1 (2003): 24-25. Print. Dvorak, Phred. â€Å"San Francisco Ponders: Could Bike Lanes Cause Pollution?† Wall Street Journal (2008): A1. Print. Forester, John. Bicycle Transportation. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1983. Print. McNamara, Melissa. â€Å"Air Pollution Facts – CBS Evening News – CBS News.† Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment and World News – CBS News. 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. . Milford, Lynne. â€Å"Bike Plan to Tackle Childhood Obesity.† The Daily Gazette. 12 May 2009. Print. Lawyer, David S. â€Å"Compare to an Automobile.† Bicycle Energy. L.A. Free Net, July 2010. Web Perez, Tzirath. Personal interview. 09 Dec. 2010. Putcher, John. â€Å"Infrastructure, Programs, and Policies to Increase Bicycling: An International Review.† Rev. of Increasing Bicycling Policies. Mar. 2010: 15-17. Print. Stein, Cherie. Your Child: A Recipe for Healthy Happy Children. Burleigh, Qld.: Zeus Publications, 2008. 16. Print.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Advertising media industry Essay

I am student in a work placement agency called STG Media Corporation, a company which dedicates their mission and vision in providing accountable advertising solutions. In my 7 week placement here in the corporation, I learned a lot and discovered that nothing beats on-hand experience in working. Week One (provide date) It was a week of anticipation, stress and learning. How does one person deal with work placement? The first day was dedicated with meeting the executive staff, the working staff, and introduction to what the company is. STG Media Corp. is an interesting work placement agency. I learned about the company through one of my friends and I thought that working for a media company will be so great; little did I know that it is a lot difficult. The first thing that came up in my mind when STG Media Corp. was mentioned is that it is just an advertising company. But it is different. The company details their service in the concept of accountable advertising, in which they refine print advertising media in context of the 21st century need. As a communication student, this was beginning to worry me. After the primary day of introduction, I get to know more about the company and the thought that it is not the conventional type of advertising agency made me overwhelmed with the job and the condition in the work place. This week, I was designated to the Print Media Research, print Media Planning and Market Analysis of one of the company’s client. The company of a branded sports drink is asking STG Media Corp. to help them with the advertising promotion in one of the new products they will launch in about 5 months time. The first thing I did was to interview the sports drink company representative about the nature of their company. I went to their office was so anxious to do the interview that I forgot to bring my recorder, which is considered as one of the great mistakes before doing an interview, coming unprepared. But the good thing is, I did the interview well. I was given the set questions of STG Media Corp., questions that are required to be asked to the client, and throughout the interview, I inserted some of the questions I thought myself to be able to get a good amount of fact for the company. As inexperienced as I am in working for the company, one of the greatest skill I learned is to communicate effectively and luckily I am able to do that with this interview. During the week, one of the great challenges I faced was inputting the vital information of the company’s client to their database called the Print Media Buying System. The PMBS which is the company’s own database generates detailed market research, analysis reports accounting for all aspects such as demographic information, buying trends and other print media recommendations. I really asked for help this time as since I was not acquainted with the kind of technology they used in the particular system. But later I got the hang of it and was commended for a job well done in collecting information from the client. Week 2 (provide date) Before the work placement began, I was told that I will be working full time in one of the company’s venture with a famous sports drink brand. I thought that would be easy since I don’t have to do all the other work, but the challenged I soon found out during the second week is that the process of STG Media Corp. as an advertising consultant is a process to which many steps are taken. This week I am part of the Creative Team designated by the company to help the sports drink brand. Although I must be clear that I was just a part of the team, doing menial job that the professionals are tasked to do. I learned one great thing about the print media industry, 75% of advertisement fail because of weak creative and non-compelling ad copy. It’s true that one of the strengths of a great brand is not just with its quality, but through rigorous and effective advertising that they create. Before working here, I thought that companies only advertise for the sake of advertising, but companies do take this strategy very seriously. On the third day of this week, I was asked to look at one print ad for five seconds during one of the meetings of the Creative Team. They asked me questions rigorously, whether it be based on the appearance or the content. I answered them frankly and mention the things that I would personally think about the ad if I was just a normal consumer looking at the advertisement. Several times, the Team will press and argue their points with me, but all was attributed to presenting a better advertisement for the client. During this week, as unprofessional to assume the role of being a advertiser consultant, I was placed in the position of the consumer, the Team’s viewpoint on the things they realize about the brand and how they can effectively approach working for the client. I really felt like my ideas were respected and included to the Creative Team’s analysis of the product. This week, I also was comfortable with the workplace. I am familiar with the different employees and get to have small talks with them through several breaks. Its interesting how some of them had assumed I am part of the Creative Team when in fact; I am just a student on work placement.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Dave Grohl essays

Dave Grohl essays Rarely in the history of Rock has a musician switched bands and instruments simultaneously with such a high degree of success as Dave Grohl (Current Bio. 202). Grohl started his work as a professional musician at the age of 15 in such Ohio punk bands as Mission Impossible, Dain Bramage and Freak Baby (Current Bio. 202). Gorhls original hard-hitting style that was due to his own method of practicing on pillows for lack of an actual drum set was impressive to the frequenters of the local Ohio venues; so impressive, in fact, that Grohl won a place in his own favorite band, Scream, after lying to the front-man, Pete Stahl, about his age. Grohl opted for touring with Scream rather than finishing his senior year in high school; a decision witch ultimately would seal his destiny of becoming one of the most influential drummers of the century. Scream never really became all that popular, but Grohl benefitted greatly from the time he spent with Scream front-man, Pete Stahl. Stahl became Daves father figure and taught him many things during the four years in which they toured together. In 1990, in the middle of a nation-wide tour, Screams bassist, Skeeter, quit the band and left them poor and stranded in Los Angeles. Salvation came quite suddenly as a telephone call was made to Grohl by a little-known Seattle-based band called Nirvana in hopes that he would become their 5th and final drummer. The co-founders of Nirvana were impressed by Grohls Power and Precision (Current Bio. 202) at a Scream concert they had attended preciously. Crohl joined Nirvana in 1990 and embarked on a tour in England with his band-mates and the all female band, L7. Nevermind, Nirvanas seond album, was released in 1991 on Geffen Records. Nevermind soon became one of the most popular albums in history, with more than 10 million sales to date. The album triggered a sea change in popular music&qu...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Schrenker Faked Death to Escape Financial Trouble

Schrenker Faked Death to Escape Financial Trouble Wealthy business owner and money manager Marcus Schrenker made headlines in January 2009, when he attempted to escape the consequences of frauding investors by parachuting out of his small one-engine prop plane in an attempt to fake his death. At one time, Marcus Schrenker had everything. He owned three investment consulting firms, lived with his wife and children in the exclusive Indianapolis suburb of Geist, in a $3 million dollar waterfront home that had a dock and a large swimming pool. Flying was a hobby of his and he owned two aircraft which he used to go on lavish vacations. But in January 2009, it all came crashing down. Idyllic Life on the Outside Marcus Schrenker was born on November 22, 1970.   He grew up in Merrillville, Indiana which is located in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 1989 Schrenker graduated from Merrillville High School, and then went to college at Purdue University. It was at Purdue that he met (former wife) Michelle, married and together they had three children together. As idyllic as the Schrenkers life appeared, there was also a dark side that those who lived with Marcus or around him were very aware of to the point of feeling discomfort when he was around. Schrenker would go from being friendly and charismatic to angry, unreasonable and combative. And, according to his neighbor Tom Britt in an interview with abcnews.go.com, episodes of this type of erratic behavior became more frequent as he grew older. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Schrenker did what many with this disorder do, he would often stop taking his medication, and Michelle, their children, and investors would end up paying the price. Savvy Financial Investor Turned Crook Schrenker owned three financial companies: Heritage Wealth Management, Heritage Insurance Services, and Icon Wealth Management.   His wife Michelle was paid $11,600 as the chief financial officer of the three companies and bookkeeper. She was also on the bank account of Heritage Insurance Services, which gave her the authority to write checks and withdraw money. But in 2008 Schrenker was under investigation in Indiana after several complaints were lodged by some of his investors, upset with how he was handling their money. Friends, the parents of friends and neighbors were among the investors that filed complaints. Michelle had also filed for divorce on December 20, 2008, after learning of her husbands infidelities with a woman who worked at the airport. Investors Supported Lavish Lifestyle Unknown to Schrenker, he had been under investigation for 10 years for various lawsuits that had been filed against him. Then on December 31, 2008, state investigators armed with a search warrant, seized computers, several plastic tubs filled with paperwork, the Schrenkers passports, over $6,000 in cash, and the title to a Lexus, from the Schrenkers home. On January 6, 2009, Schrenker was charged with unlawful acts by a compensated adviser and unlawful transaction by an investment adviser. Bail was set at $4 million.   According to Jim Atterholt, who was the State Insurance Commissioner, Schrenker charged investors exorbitant surrender charges after he moved them out of one annuity and into another. The investors were not told in advance about the fees.   Three days later, on January 9, Schrenkers company Heritage Wealth Management Inc. was issued a $533,500 judgment after a federal court in Maryland ruled in favor of OM Financial Life Insurance Co. The lawsuit contended that Heritage Wealth Management was involved in insurance irregularities and should have returned commissions of more than $230,000. Plane Crash   On Sunday, January 11, 2009, Schrenker flew off from an airfield in Anderson, Indiana in his single-engine Piper. He listed his destination as Destin, Florida. As he neared Birmingham, Alabama, he put out a fake mayday signal and told air traffic controllers that he had been badly injured and was bleeding profusely after the windshield of the plane imploded.Afterward, he put the plane on autopilot and parachuted out. Military jets attempting to intercept the plane reported that the door of the plane was opened, and the cockpit was dark and appeared empty. The jets followed the unmanned plane which crashed over 200 miles later in a swamp in Santa Rosa County, Florida, around 50 yards from a residential area.   After the crash, the plane was found somewhat intact. Investigators searched the plane and reported that there was no blood inside of it and the windshield was completely intact. Authorities put out a warrant for Schrenker arrest. On the Run Schrenker plan was to fake his death and make a run for it. On January 10, the day before he parachuted out of his plane, he drove to Harpersville, Alabama and stashed a motorcycle, money and other supplies in a storage facility. He informed the owner of the facility that he would return Monday. Once Schrenker parachuted to the ground, he made it to Childersburg, Alabama, where at 2:30 a.m. he asked for help from a private resident. He told the resident that he had been in a canoeing accident. He was given a ride to the nearest town and went to the local police station.   He gave the police the same story about being in a canoe accident, and after producing his (surprisingly) real identification, the police drove him to a hotel where he registered under a fake name and paid cash for the room. The following morning, after hearing about the plane crash and that Schrenker was on the run, the police returned to the hotel, but he was gone. Schrenker managed to walk undetected to Harpersville and retrieved his motorcycle then rode it a KOA Campground in Quincy, Florida. There he bought a tent site for one night, wood, a six-pack of Bud Light Lime and was given access to the campgrounds wireless access. Embarrassed and Scared On January 12, Schrenker emailed his friend, Tom Britt, and wrote that the crash was a misunderstanding and that he was too embarrassed and scared to return home, so instead checked into the hotel. He went on to say that he would soon be dead.   On the same day, a Hamilton County Superior Court judge froze both Marcus and Michelles assets. Capture The campground owners were contacted by the sheriff, who wanted to know if there was anything unusual going on there. They told the sheriff about the man who had checked in the previous day but had not checked out.  Soon afterward, U.S. marshals swarmed the campground and found Schrenker, barely conscious and incoherent, lying inside the tent. He had lost a lot of blood from a self-inflicted cut on his wrist and an area near his elbow. He was flown to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. On January 13, Schrenker was arrested and charged in federal court in Pensacola, Florida, with deliberately crashing his plane and making a fake distress call.   Trials and Sentencing February 5, 2009A man in Dothan, Alabama was granted $12 million after an Alabama judge ruled in his favor that Schrenker had sold him a defective airplane. June 5, 2009  Schrenker pleaded guilty to intentionally crashing his plane as a way to escape his mounting financial and legal problems. He was sentenced two months later to four years and three months in prison, $34,000 in restitution to the Coast Guard for its search and rescue efforts and $871,000 in restitution to Harley-Davidson, the lienholder of the plane. Schrenker later pleaded guilty to three counts of securities fraud and two counts of working as an investment banker without being registered. He was given a 10-year prison sentence to run consecutively with the previous sentence for the fake plane crash, and he also had to pay $633,781 in restitution. Six Years Later Schrenker was released from prison on September 18, 2015.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Assignment 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Assignment 3 - Essay Example Averys work is the springboard for everything from recombinant DNA work to human cloning to cancer research. It has been used as a basis for other experiments that do not merely change the host genetic makeup, but actually replace one gene with another gene, and this process has even further widened the implication of Averys work. Drug resistant bacterial infections have been stemmed in part because of the processes used by Avery, in which injurious agents are introduced into the drug resistant strains, and these injurious changes are passed down through the progeny. The implications of this work for every aspect of life, from the environment to medicine to crop engineering is explored within the confines of this paper. The basis for the studies were previous studies that induced changes in higher organisms that were permanently embedded and passed on to next generations as hereditary characteristics. The first description of this phenomenon is by Griffith, who transformed variant that was non-encapsulated and attenuated into a fully encapsulated and virulent cells of another type (Avery, et al., 1943, p. 137). The present study deals with an attempt to determine the chemical nature of a substance that produces transformation of the pneumococcal types. This experiment, in which a DNA fraction, which is isolated from Type III pneumococci, transforms unencapsulated R variants, which are derivated from Pneumococcus Type II, into a fully encapsulated Type III cells, builds upon earlier studies that showed that changes induced into various pneumococcal types is determined by the encapsulated cells that are used to evoke the reaction (Avery, et al., 1943, p. 152). The researchers found it striking that variants from a Pneumococcus Type II are changed into Pneumococcus Type III cells by the addition of highly purified and protein-free material that consisted mainly of DNA. Also striking is that the capsular substance and the substance