New Practice Field - General Description to Bidders Assignment

New Practice Field - General Description to Bidders - Assignment Example The primary requirements to be incorporated into the design of the new practice field will include baseball playing field and parking facility that would hold about 50 cars and a small clubhouse. The proposal should be arranged simply and efficiently, specifying the brief description of the bidder’s capacity to conform to the requirements of the RFP. Proposals are required to be typewritten and no deletions are acceptable. Bidders are also required to submit information in strict compliance with this RFP or shall otherwise be disqualified. In addition, specific conceptual design and complete engineering and construction drawings that will act as the origin for both bidding and construction of the baseball practice field by the general contractor shall be provided (Porter-Roth, 2006). The selected bidders shall begin working on this project within the 10 days of a Notice to Proceed and conclude the project through approving and finalization of construction bid forms by no later than December 27, 2014. The Notice to Proceed is expected to be commenced on or near February 1, 2015, and the project is to be markedly completed by March 2017. The project site is located in Sothern Maryland. The land is relatively flat and it has only a few uneven structures (barns) and trees on it. Linking with existing water and sewer system would pose no major technical problems. The site selected for the proposed baseball playing field is approximately 20 acres. A pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2014, at the project site commencing at 2.00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). As a component of the meeting, a site visit will be arranged for the advantage of the bidders. At least one top-level executive of each bidder is anticipated to be present at this meeting and for the site inspection but is not obligatory. Single bidders can send not more than three representatives to the meeting and for the site inspection. The purpose of the pre-bid meeting will be to explain and clarify any matters in relation to the RFP.  Ã‚  

The USAs economic recovery Essay Example for Free

The USAs economic recovery Essay The achievement of the new deal is a myth. The USAs economic recovery came with the outbreak of the Second World War. How far do these sources support this view? It is arguable how far the sources help to answer the question as some answer some parts and other sources answer other parts. The New Deal could be called a myth as far as helping the economic recovery is concerned. Evidence of this is given in source I as the information shows that the economy recovers the most when the USA enters the war the economy goes back, near enough, to what it was before the war and one year into the war the economy is actually better than it was before the crash and depression! The New deal also never helped to solve the underlying American economic problems. Sources A, C, G, are the ones which mostly oppose the New Deal. Confidence remained low through the 1930s when the New Deal was in operation; Americans spent and invested about 75 per-cent of what they had done before 1929. Unemployment was still at a high even after the Second New Deal It wasnt until Roosevelt cut the New Deal Budget in 1937 that the country went back into recession. The New Deals achievements are evident in sources D, E and F as these sources give evidence that America had been improving since the New Deal was created, and that the public were mostly happy that the New Deal had achieved what its main goals were. When USA entered the Second World War, the New Deal carried on improving Americas economy. Analysing the data in source I, closely evidence can also be found that the New Deal did help America overall. The New Deal helped to get production lines back on track, and the statistics also improved between 1935 and 1938 slightly. The fact that the economy did recover and improved shows that the statement is true to some extent. When Roosevelt cut the budget in 1937, it proved that the country may have been relying to much on the New Deal. This leads me to a theory that the country perhaps became slightly too dependent on the New Deal and in fact that the New Deal was not a myth at all in the long run. The war may not have helped as much as the general public and American figureheads made out. Economy had started improving before the world war anyway, at a steady rate. This therefore means that it wasnt purely because of the world war that the economy recovered, as it was already showing signs of improvement before America entered the war. Unemployment was falling greatly until Roosevelt cut the budget on the New Deal, after which it started to rise again slightly. Therefore, this does give proof that the New Deal did help the economy recover again because a year after the budget was cut, unemployment figures went up again. The war did help a great deal on improving the economy a great deal and this is shown mostly in source I as when America enters the war the unemployment decreased a lot, this is probably because of all the job openings in the army due to lack of soldiers and the fact that they had to supply armaments and food supplies to the rest of Europe and themselves as well. Looking at the sources that are generally against the New Deal and Roosevelt they are not very reliable, and are potentially very biased. This is because the sources are no more than propaganda sources, and only portray what the Republicans want the public people to believe. This is because the Republicans were mostly old fashioned and believed in the old fashioned ways. From analysing the sources closely and looking at the statistics given in the sources from World War Two and the New Deal it is possible to see that they show overall that both helped the recovery of the USA very much. The New Deal cut unemployment drastically, and unemployment was still going down before the war even started. When America entered the world war, it cut unemployment from 19 per-cent to 4.7per-cent. This almost wiped out unemployment completely, and created thousands of jobs. I conclude that it is for the above reasons that I believe that the statement, The achievement of the new deal is a myth. The USAs economic recovery came with the outbreak of the Second World War, is not very true and is bias. The sources are useful in helping interpret this, especially source I although some sources are not as helpful as others. If I had to place their support on the view in a scale of one to ten I would place it around 4 because they do not actually support the view in general, although they do help to put forward the opposite argument. The figures and data given before the America entered war give evidence which proves that the New Deal did reduce the unemployment rate, and entering the war just sped up the process and created many more jobs therefore chopping unemployment. Although the war may have helped to speed up the economic recovery, it is unfair to state that the New Deal was entirely a myth as it clearly did help America and the unemployment problems created within the country as a whole.

Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights Essay -- Emily Bronte Wuthering Heigh

Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights 1) The story takes place in the early XIXth century. There are two characters in this extract : Mr Lockwood and Catherine Linton. Mr Lockwood is the first narrator of this novel, he was one of Mr Heathcliff's tenants. At the beginning of the story , there were three characters : Heathcliff, a foundling, his sister Catherine and his brother Hindley. Catherine fell in love with Heathcliff, but was married with Edgar Linton. So, the second character we meet here is Catherine Linton, Edgar Linton's daughter. This extract belongs to the end of the novel. Catherine comes back to the farm Wuthering Heights, she tries to get in the house trough the window. Mr Lockwood, which had read Catherine's diary, does not recognize her. 2) In this text, Mr Lockwood is in his bed room at Wuthering Heights, he is alone and he had to stay in the farm because of the snow. He is disturbed by the gusty wind and the incessant move of the fir-bough. So he tries to stop this teasing noise, opening the window and seizing the branch. When his fingers grabbed the branch, another cold hand caught his. Then the context makes the text become an ambiguous experience and we can say that this extract is set between sanity and madness to some extents. First of all, we will see that this text relates an ambiguous experience. The atmosphere is gloomy : Mr Lockwood is alone in an isolated farm, everithing is dark around him and there are many teasing noises. So we can say that the atmosphere is quite nightmarish. Mr Lockwood had found Catherine Linton's diary, and he had read it. So he knows the passion between Catherine Linton and Mr Heathcliff, the owner of Wuthering Heights. The first contact between... ...ieve that what he is living is a hallucination, a product of his imagination because nothing seems to be real. Maybe that the excessive feelings mentionned are caused by Mr Lockwood's imagination ; for the reader, the atmosphere is not very threatening. As in many pre-Romantic novel, the nightmarish atmosphere, symbolised by the darkness, the moor, the winter, is the source of imagination and also of fear : imagination and extreme feelings like fear are linked together. We could make a link between this novel from Emily Bront and the short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, like in The Raven for example. Indeed, Poe wrote his short stories in the same period as Emily Bront. In The Raven, the power of imagination, the supranatural and the unreal have also a great place, and we could note, as in Wuthering Heights, that the feelings expressed are often excessive.

Hooded Americanism: The First Century of the Ku Klux Klan Essay

In â€Å"Hooded Americanism,† David M. Chalmers narrates the olden times of the Ku Klux Klan in every single one of its personifications from right away following the Civil War to the belatedly 1970s. Mr. Chalmers moreover talks about the Klan’s expansion and accomplishments in all of the states throughout its strongest era in the 1920s to 1930s. Mr. Chalmers furthermore discusses in great detail the tumultuous 1960s and how the Klan lends a hand unintentionally to produce the Civil Rights legislation for which it struggled so toughly against the opposition. Comprehensively investigated and finely written, â€Å"Hooded Americanism† is based on facts and peeps into the life of a contentious association and into the survival of the men and women who made it achievable. Summary of the Book: In the book â€Å"Hooded Americanism†, according to the author, David M. Chalmers, â€Å"it is not possible under American law to forbid the existence of an organization such as the Klan. Only the overt deeds of individuals, not organizations and opinions, are punishable† (David Mark Chalmers, 391). In other expressions it is practically not possible to pin the activities of a company on one human being. In result, the group gets away with monstrous and dreadful actions of violent behavior and no one is penalized for it. They have extended an effectual and successful approach and it is one of terrorization. All the way through the past, the Ku Klux Klan has instilled terror in others compelling them to give the impression to be substandard and defenseless. Not including the capability to threaten civilization, the Klan may perhaps still subsist, but it would obtain no authority above others. David Chalmers’ Hooded Americanism is in spite of everything, a standard history of the Ku Klux Klan. His 1981 modified version traced the indistinguishable territory all the way through its fourth period, peaking with the late-1970s resurrection directed by new leaders like David Duke and manifested by the assassinators of five anti-Klan protesters at a 1979 war of words in Greensboro, North Carolina â€Å"Greensboro† readdresses here. Greensboro, North Carolina is a municipality in the U. S. state of North Carolina. Subsequently Klan relationships previously again forced, even though hard-core Klansmen soldiered into the new millennium by setting of connections crossways the chauvinistic Right, counterfeiting associations with Christian distinctiveness supporters, armed force combatants Nordic paganists, and neo-Nazi demagogues. Thesis of the book:  In spite of the civil rights modifications being approved greater than 40 years ago, racial discrimination persists to continue living to a great extent in America. A good example of this is the book â€Å"Hooded Americanism†. This book is based on the southern-based group known as the Ku Klux Klan. Instantaneously subsequent to the Civil War, this group moved towards the Modernization Period. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is one of America’s oldest and mainly one of the most apprehended groups. Determined by the vision of a world with simply one master ethnic group, the KKK frequently makes use of violent behavior, aggression and tactics exceeding the law to encourage their cause: white domination. Believe it or not, the innovative components intended for the KKK, were supposed to be an entertaining communal association that would be occupied of meaningless excitement and enjoyment despite the fact that in later years the KKK grew to be identified for their violent behavior and brutality in opposition to inhabitants outside the white nation and public who connected with them. With the times gone by that image Americans have of the KKK is hard to accept as true that it was on track for the reason that a small number of inhabitants wanting to have some childlike enjoyment, not because they were determined to establish a procession of hostility on anybody outside the white ethnic group. The Klan was extremely mysterious; all of the components were protected from individuals meaningful in their real characteristics (if that was their desire). Because of this confidentiality they obtained the alternate substitute name of â€Å"The Invisible Empire†. Even though slavery was brought to a conclusion, racial discrimination was not. The KKK was decived by the U. S. Government when it established and started being familiar with African-Americans as more than simply slaves. The KKK started their remonstration by execution, tar and feathering, thrashing, pounding and assassinating African-Americans in the South. The Klan doesn’t make use of the similar strategies as they did years and years ago. At that instant the KKK grasps nonviolent complaints in front of civil rights organization structures, the White House, and so on. For the reason that of their further diplomatic and more knowledgeable sounding loom, the Klan gets further encouraging awareness from brainless southerners. Subsequent to the removal of the U. S. Government hordes from the South in the late 1800’s, the Klan accomplished its objective. Numerous of the groups separated. Following the turn of the century, it started happening another time. This instant the objective was a lot superior, emancipation of America from all non-white, Christian Americans. This is the Ku Klux Klan we are familiar with at the moment. The Klan hasn’t been as authoritative from the time when they began, but for the past 50 years it has had a lot of reincarnation and plunges. All the way through the history, the KKK has tried to put a stop to the correspondence of America. They will maintain to do well by pleading with further inexperienced and unqualified Americans to stick together with them. It is correct that racial discrimination still continues to exist in the United States, but there will at all times be men and women of every color and shade struggling in opposition to group similar to the KKK. Provided that there are dissimilarities linking people on this earth, there will forever be revulsion. And the KKK will be there to nourish on this abhorrence and take advantage of it in each and every way probable. They might be noiseless for numerous years, but you can calculate on the reality that they are there. They are â€Å"The Invisible Empire† and will for eternity be the dark and mysterious side to American History. The book goes in length into the Klan’s spreading out into numerous nations and documents their accomplishments/collapses and the universal communal response of the group of people the Klan was entering. The novelist despite the fact that appeared to have a pro-Klan prejudice, and this is sensed just by the title and the understanding of the within jacket. He infrequently spots out the tribulations of the Klan’s philosophy (throughout his utilization of expressions, particularly exclusion of such words as â€Å"racist† and â€Å"bigot†, which a lot of Klan associates gave the impression to symbolize), and glamorizes the Klan’s analyses on white preeminence as a standard, contemporary inspection of white Christians (a little exceptionally distant from the reality). It glamorizes Klan violent behavior and intimidation of aggression, and in more than a small number of places it blames those adjacent to the Klan as unpatriotic Americans, or unappreciative colonizers or minorities. Mr. Chalmers furthermore highlights community brutality not in favor of Klan action as the actual erroneous and wickedness, something I believe is a usual response to these ‘pseudo-Christian revolutionary law enforcers’ who wish for time (and America) to stand still and static for them. A number of areas furthermore intimate towards the writer’s support for the Klan’s principles. The foremost Klan was established in 1865 by veterans of the co-conspirator defense force. Its rationale was to reinstate white incomparability in the consequences of the American Civil War. The Klan opposed Reconstruction by threatening â€Å"carpetbaggers†, â€Å"troublemakers† and freedmen. The KKK promptly accepted aggressive techniques. The increase in assassinations finally resulted in a counterattack between Southern leaders who observed the Klan’s immoderation as an explanation for centralized troops to prolong occupation. The association refused from 1868 to 1870 and was shattered by President Ulysses S. Grant’s route and enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1871. In 1915, the following Klan was established. It developed quickly in a different period of postwar social apprehensions. After World War I, a lot of Americans managed with successful development rates in main metropolis, where plentiful influence of refugees from southern and Eastern Europe and the Great Migration of Southern blacks and whites were being captivated. Subsequent to World War I, labor anxiety increased as veterans attempted to reenter the work energy. In response to these new groups of migrants and refugees, the second KKK urged racial discrimination, anti-Catholicism, anti-Communism, nativism, and anti-Semitism. Conclusion: Mr. Chalmers creates exceptional use of modern newspaper descriptions and perspectives to cover the Klan and its reputation in a specified group of people. What I found particularly fascinating was the Klan’s demographics. Mr. Chalmers acquaints with investigation that disproves long-held confidences that the Klan was for all time strongest in the South; in actual fact the Klan, at times, lined the authorized administrations of the Midwest. Mr. Chalmers furthermore talks about how different state governments and councils struggled with the Klan or sided with them. Yet again, I was astonished at how numerous administrations in reality attempted to restrain the enlargement of the Klan in their states throughout anti-mask commandments and other legislation. Mr. Chalmers has printed an outstanding history that includes in huge detail the 100 years subsequent to the Civil War. I look forward to that he is at an effort on modernizing this essential work.

Health Literacy Essay

Background of the Study Poor health literacy is a stronger predictor of a person’s health than age, income, employment status, education level, and race. There is a high correlation between the ability to read and health literacy, but it is important to recognize that patients who are fully literate may be health illiterate (American Medical Association). Nowadays, knowledge is vital for maintaining and achieving optimum health. The concept of health literacy has come to the forefront in healthcare. Health literacy is defined as: â€Å"The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions† (Ratzen &Park, 2000). Half of our population has limited literacy skills, which affects health literacy. To determine the extent of this impact, the Institute of Medicine formed a committee to examine health literacy. As nurses we need to use this knowledge about health literacy to assist our patients in understanding their health and interacting with the healthcare system. Health literacy has three components (Baker DW (1999)). : First, literacy: a lack of capacity to read, write, communicate, or solve problems which affects the ability of an individual to gain necessary knowledge of health and health systems; Second, comprehension: a lack of capacity to understand how health and health care services are structured and operate to meet health and health care needs and how they can be accessed; and third, participation: a lack of capacity to follow a course of treatment or self-management that will improve health and wellbeing, or change behaviour to prevent disease processes starting or progressing. These components may not be anything new, but they do help to clarify what the purpose of any interventions to promote health literacy and prevent the consequence of its absence for individuals within a wider population, as well as for the public health and health care professionals who work with them. It may be old fashioned, but it is almost possible to recognize a primary, secondary and tertiary preventative approach could be applied to such components. The researchers were puzzled whether the patient who is illiterate has been taking the correct patient education from the nurses. The researchers decided to have such study to know the difference of the recovery and health process between the literate and illiterate patients among the Medical and Surgical Ward at Davao Medical Center. According to Parker(2003), health and health care are increasingly characterized by technological sophistication, and choice by â€Å"informed† consumers is of growing importance in the market. Patients who are better informed about their options and who understand the evidence behind certain approaches to care may have better health outcomes. Those without adequate understanding-without adequate health literacy-cannot function successfully in a market designed for active, informed consumers. They are the ones most likely to be left behind. Problems with health literacy are extremely common and costly; more than half of the individuals are experiencing problems to read and understand the information needed to function in the health care system. Being exposed to a public hospital setting, the researchers handle different patients with different levels of intellectual capacity. In most instances, patients who are illiterate make the incorrect decisions regarding health care and sometimes, it affects their recovery or health status. It becomes a huge barrier to proper health care. The researchers are going to assess the lack of information and nursing interventions the hospital has for the illiterate. The main purpose of this study is to know how the hospital setting handles patient who are illiterate. As nurses of the future, we need to gather some information about the different ways of health teachings that should be appropriate to different types of people. (1 and a half ang intro and last is the reason why you pick the study) Theoretical Framework â€Å"Nursing is the art of improving and providing culturally congruent care to people that is beneficial, will fit with, and will be useful o the client, family, or culture group healthy life ways. † (Madeleine Leinenger). Madeleine Leinenger’s Transcultural Theory of Nursing forwards the principle that caring is the true essence of nursing. Caring is also the dominant, distinctive, and unifying feature of nursing. Human caring, however, varies from one culture to another in terms of how it is expressed and the processes and patterns unique to the culture. Leininger’s theory of Cultural Care is a product of devoted consciousness of an ever changing world, wherein individual is at play with society and their environment. The core of the theory was derived from all her experiences in hospital, clinic and in the community setting. World War II became the nest wherein the theory developed; it was during this period that many immigrants and refugees from diverse cultures were moving to the United States and to other places worldwide. With direct observations and interactions with clients of diverse cultures, with variety of health conditions, she became conscious that recovery from illnesses and or maintaining health and wellbeing was greatly affected by how health care was provided to them. The major event that led to the development of her theory happened in the early 1950’s where she worked as a clinical specialist caring for mildly disturbed children of diverse cultural backgrounds. It’s a humanistic and scientific caring discipline and profession with the main focus of serving individuals, groups, communities, societies, and  institutions by carefully considering cultural care dimensions such as: worldwide view of caring, language of caring, philosophical and religious factors, kinship and social factors, cultural values, beliefs, and life ways, political and legal factors, economic factors, educational factors, and technological factors. Conceptual Framework Based on Madeleine Leinenger’s Theory, the patient needs different way of healthcare provision, proportional to his culture to attend a high level of health. The major conceptual elements of the origin and emergent theory are: human care, culture, culture care, culture care diversity, culture care universality, social and cultural structure dimensions, and world view. As and discussed in the theory, there are 9 factors to consider in administering health care and healthy teachings to the client. If these factors are considered, high level of health can be given to the patient. The independent variable is the health literacy- literacy, cooperation, and participation of the patient; and the dependent variable is the barriers in patient education. The relationship between the independent and dependent variable is that the dependent variable relies on its independent variable and they work together to achieve its ultimate goal – which is to help render optimum care that the researchers can give to their patients. DEPENDENT VARIABLE Barrier to patient education: a. Compliance to Medication b. Lifestyle changes c. Follow-up care INDEPENDENT VARIABLE Health literacy: a. Intellectual Capacity b. Comprehension c. Participation a. Age b. Gender c. Educational attainment d. Religion Figure 1: CONCEPTUAL PARADIGM.

Depression in The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Example

Depression in The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Example Depression in The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Depression in The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Essay Topic: The Yellow Wallpaper ? Charlotte Gilman’s short story, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† illustrates the effects of post-partum depression and neglect on a woman who is mistreated by her husband. In early nineteenth century, middle-class women in America normally seen as the household moral compass. In society, the women’s place was to be motherly and to be a wife, who obeys her husband. During the nineteenth century, women were not allowed to have creative thoughts of their own. The male population had animosity towards the publication of the book because it went against how women were supposed to behave in society. After, reading The Yellow Wallpaper, it became clear to me that the moral of the story was about identity crisis. The women became delusional because she was losing a part of her identity, held hostage as if she was in prison with â€Å"barred windows for little children and rings and things in the walls† (Gilman 174). The disturbing wallpaper was chosen against her will. It was a loud yellow, which was distasteful. In the moonlight or any other â€Å"kind of light, twilight, candlelight, lamplight, and worst of all moonlight, becomes bars† like a penitentiary (Gilman 182). She began to feel imprisoned, which started her to project her feelings on the wallpaper. The idea of the room being barred and caged symbolized isolation and control. She was excluded being around others causing her sister Jennie to take on her responsibility as a mother to her children. Her husband dismisses her illness and behavior as if she was a child â€Å"bless her little heart; she shall be as sick as she pleases† (Gilman 181). That statement is childlike treatment because the use of the word â€Å"little† describes her heart giving an image of a small body as if she was an infant. For example, the phrase â€Å"as sick as she pleases† reflects how children falsify illnesses to escape duties expected of them such as chores. As a doctor, her husband diagnosed her with ?

Information technology is a big part of the busine Essays

Information technology is a big part of the busine Essays Information technology is a big part of the business and living world. Business world is using it to improve the utilization of resource and make reasonable decisions. IT is also widely adapted to human activities more convenient. However, this is not surprising that IT problem cause upset for everyone. From my own experience, many websites mandatory require you change your passwords once a year like Google and RamWeb. If you didn't do it, website system will remind you over and over again after you change password. This is annoying. Even I change my password, I also have a strong possibility forget the new password that I change. Because the old password is that I usually type on keyboard, I can't just remember it immediately. The most common result are that click to request my password or spend some time to remember what is current password. I think this is the website over-protect account's security. Every user should have the right to set up whether the system need remind change password periodicity. If you have important information and secret, that person will set up high security password or other way to protect the account. So I think the part of password system should be more flexible and apply to everyone. This is the IT problem what I met and some idea on how to solve it.

Apple Inc. Secrets Revealed

Apple Inc. Secrets Revealed Apple sparked the personal computer revolution in the 1970s by introducing Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 80s with the Macintosh. Apple Inc. is committed to bringing the best computing experience to creative professional, students, educators, and customers around the globe through innovative software, hardware, and Internet offerings APPLE INC. CASE STUDY Apple Inc. has survived in a competitive and dynamic market to become one of the leading companies in the electronics industry. This case study reflects on some aspects of the company including history, products, competitors, innovation strategy, business strategy, and strategic management. The study will then examine the key success factor of the company and conduct a SWOT analysis. History and Background Apple is an American company founded by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Jobs in April 1976. Initially, the company was primarily involved in developing and selling personal computers. The company was then incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. in January 1977 and renamed to Apple Inc. in January 2007. The current owners of Apple Inc. are the major shareholders such as Tim Cook, Arthur Levinson, Craig Federighi, Albert Gore Junior, Bruce Sewell, and institutional shareholders such as The Vanguard Group. Over the last six years, Apples income has been consistently on the rise. In the year 2015, the company made $53.4 billion annual profits, the highest in the companys history. It is not clear from Apple Companys Website what the mission statement of the company is. However, Steve Jobs mission statement for the company in the 1980s was: To make a contribution to the world by developing tools for the mind that bring progress to humankind. A relatively new mission statement for the company states: Apple sparked the personal computer revolution in the 1970s by introducing Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 80s with the Macintosh. Apple Inc. is committed to bringing the best computing experience to creative professional, students, educators, and customers around the globe through innovative software, hardware, and Internet offerings. For high-quality custom essay writing services, sign up and order paper online You could be asking yourself what exactly the company produces. Apple Inc. has come a long way and is now a world leader in the electronics industry. The business has developed several products and services and has over 375 retail shops worldwide. The company is popular for its hardware products such as the Mac line of computers, the iPhone Smartphone, the Apple iWatch, the iPad tablet computer, and the iPod media player among others. Apple Inc. is also known for its software products such as iOS and OS X operating systems. Apple Innovation Strategy To Apple Inc. innovation is more of a culture than a process. Apple has produced innovative products that have propelled it to the pinnacle of the information technology and electronics industries. However, the company does not just focus on developing beautiful and innovative products; they also have a very innovative business model. For instance, it is apparent that the success of iPod and iPhone can be attributed to the fact that these products were matched with iTunes and App Store respectively. It is also interesting to note that Apple Inc. has crossed many industry-defined boundaries to establish an innovation-friendly business ecosystem. The business deals with hardware, software, entertainment, and logistics, and has made significant impacts in these industries. For example, App Store is the largest collection of mobile applications which makes the Apple iPhone even better. Apple iTunes which is an innovative business model provides an interface that is easy to use on which people pay for music they like if they get it at their desired prices. Apple Company has demonstrated, through their terrific innovation management, that product design and user-friendliness are major determinants of success in the modern business environment. Apples Main Competitors Apple deals with many different products. As a result, the company has to compete in several different markets. Each of these markets has other big producers controlling significant market shares. For instance, Microsoft is the major competitor in the market for computer operating systems. Amazon and Microsoft have their own smart tablet and have carved out a significant market that used to be largely dominated by Apple. Samsung remains the biggest Apples competitor in the Smartphone market. Google challenges Apple in different market fronts such as cloud storage where Apple iCloud has to compete with Google Drive. Apples Success Factors Despite the nature of competition that Apple Company face, the company happens to be one of the most successful businesses in the United States and the world in general. So we seek to understand what factors fuel Apples success. Below is a rundown Apple Inc. success factors. 1. Innovative Activities: Apple Inc. is successful because it has been consistent on the issue of innovation. Innovation is one of the strongest cultures of the company. Over the past decade, Apple Inc. launched the following game-changing innovations: The Apple iPhone The Apple iPod The Apple iTunes The App Exchange The App Store Through innovation, Apple has managed to survive for 30 years in a market that is highly competitive and dynamic. 2. Retail Distribution Network: Generally, Apple distributes its products through direct sales, retail stores, online stores, and value added resellers. Apple opened its largest US retail store in Boston to increase its domestic sales. This comprehensive local and international market network is one of the factors that have significantly influenced the success of Apple Inc. 3. Well recognized brand: Apple is one of the most popular brands in the electronics industry. By focusing on customers and product quality, Apple has established itself as a reputable and respectable brand. As a result, it has millions of customers around the world who are loyal to the brand. To some extent, the brand sells the companys products. 4. Advertising Differentiation: Since the company was founded, Apple Inc. has been recognized for its creative approach to advertising. Its advertisements are unique in that they are planned in such a way that they imitate a setup of selling its products to creative people. The most noticeable advertisement campaign include the Super Bowl Commercial of the 1980s, Think Differently in 1990s, and The iPod People in 2000s. Apple Strategic Management At the core of Apples strategic management is the customer. To compete effectively, Apple seeks to understand what the customer wants and responds accordingly. Apple has remained competitive for three decades because it has always maintained an open mind and created designs that meet or exceed their customers expectations. Apple Inc. also embraces innovation and quality as important features of its strategic plan. A couple of years ago, the company reiterated that it would embark on a plan to compete on the basis of quality. Production of high quality and unique products has facilitated the establishment of a reliable brand which now has cult-like following around the world, and this has placed Apple at the top particularly in the Smartphone market. Apple  Business Strategy Apple Inc. relies on Generic Business Strategy (Porters Model) and Intensive Growth Strategy. These strategies directly influence the companys strategies when it comes to marketing and pricing among other areas of business. The Generic Model influences the features that differentiate Apple and its products from competitors. On the other hand, Apple Company uses innovation and product development as its core intensive growth strategy. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis highlights the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that Apple Inc. faces. 1. Strengths A strong brand image Financial strength Market leadership in several products High-profit margin Well-developed supply-chain infrastructure 2. Weaknesses High prices compared to competitors Technical issues to do with product functionality Narrow product range Incompatibility of Apple products with other companies products 3. Opportunities Product diversification Research and development Increasing product compatibility Establishment of strategic partnerships with other companies elsewhere in the world 4. Threats Intensified competition from China, South Korea, and India Loss of the companys innovative potential due to the demise of inspirational founder, Steve Jobs Increasing manufacturing cost How Apple Inc. Changed the World It is apparent that Apple is now one the most profitable companies in the world. However, the company had to make radical changes in the world to get there. For instance, the Macintosh was the first mass-market personal computer to use graphical user interface. This innovation has had a major impact on how the world knows and uses the computer today. For high quality and original essays, sign up and go to write my essay. You can also view our free essay sample. From the foregoing discussion, it is clear that innovation has been core to the success of Apple Inc. Strong brand, a well developed retail distribution infrastructure, and advertising differentiation have also been key success factors for the company. Although the company has a number of weaknesses and faces several threats, the company also has many areas of strength, and the opportunities for growth are numerous. Thus, there is a potential for further growth in the future.

Los Angeles School Police Department Research Paper

Los Angeles School Police Department - Research Paper Example It also serves the communities where these students reside. The Police Officers and the School Safety Officers are given their respective responsibilities to serve the school campuses, surrounding areas, as well as the parking enforcement. The LASPD works with support from the LAUSD and is focused on achieving the safety of children and students (What is the LASPD about). The present study focuses on learning about the LASPD discussing about its various departments, its job structure and rankings, its differences with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), its impact on the community and the students, and also studies the schools that are protected by the LASPD. Departments within the LASPD: Sworn police officers, non-sworn school safety officers, and civilian support staff are the main employees working for the LASPD. The major departments working under the LASPD are the Chief’s Office, Campus Services Bureau, Administration Services Bureau, Support Services Bureau, and th e School Safety Officers. The Chief of the Police Department is Steven K. ... al Service Centers, the Operations Coordinators, the School Crisis and Mental Health, the Campus Administrators, and other agencies that are associated. It takes the role of preventing victimization of students and promotes an environment for health learning of the students. Any critical incident occurring on the campus is attended by the team at the earliest and various services for protection of the campus and its surroundings and ensures safety for the schools under its charge (Campus Services Bureau). The role of the Administrative Services Bureau is to coordinate and manage the divisions of administration and investigation of the department. As part of its roles, the Bureau supervisions on the Payroll Unit of the department, as well as on other units such as the Budget Services, Records and Crime Analysis, responsibilities related to Custodian or Records, duties of Pitchess Motion, requests of Public Records, Subpoena Control Unit, and the Citation Control Unit. Also, the manage ment of the fleet management, contract administration of the department is considered by the Bureau along with the management of the investigation division of the department (Administrative Services Bureau). The Support Services Bureau of the LASPD is in charge of the operations of off-hour patrolling of the department and the center of communication. The units that are overseen by this Bureau include the Canine, the Safe Passages Motor, and the Parking Enforcement. The support resources of the campus are managed by this team and critical information related to their services is communicated effectively all the way through the District. The Bureau also provides for protection coverage of the District during times when the schools are off intending to ensure safety of the schools and

Discounted cash flow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discounted cash flow - Essay Example One of the valuation tools that analysts use to determine the stock valuation is discounted cash flow. They try to determine current value estimating future cash flows. Cash Flow is taken into account while making all estimations. Cash Flow (Free) gives far clear picture about the company for it takes into account the change in working capital as well as all investments made during the period. It can be expressed as under. Cash Flow = Net Profit+ Depreciation/Amortization-Expenditures-changes in working cap. Analysts take into account cash flows because it is difficult to manipulate while earnings can be manipulated and adjusted. (Free Cash†¦) When estimated cash flows are discounted to the present value as per the cost of capital for the number of years of operation, it gives a clear picture for the benefits accrued from the investments made in the company. Mathematically, it can be expressed as Present Value = CF1/(1+K)+ CF2 / (1+K)2 +CF3/ (1+K)3 +.......[TCF / (K  - R)] / ( 1+K)n-1 CFi = Cash flow in the year 1, 2, 3†¦ K = discount rate TCF = Cash flow in the terminal year R= growth rate assumption beyond terminal year n = the number of years including the terminal year In short, above model gives the present value of the company based on the cash flow estimates of the future. DCF analysis implies that the company is worth all the cash that can be made available to the investors in the future. Future cash flows are discounted to the present value so that comparison becomes possible on investments made and benefits accrued. All future benefits of the investments made accrue at different time intervals, for example, at the end of year 1, 2, 3, and so on. Methodology and formula is same for all the analysts yet end results will differ for the following reasons. 1. The Discount Rate taken into calculation will be different for different analyst. The discount rate is usually the cost of capital. Each company is made of debt and equity in its capital st ructure. The cost of debt can be known easily as per the going rate in the market but estimating the cost of equity is a bit complicated task where each analyst applies his or her judgment. The equity is shareholder’s money and not without the cost. It has also certain indirect cost implications. The share holders of the company expect to obtain a certain return on their equity investments. Equity is a risk capital and depending upon the general economic conditions of the market, share holder wants certain minimum return over and above risk free return available to them in the market. If the company does not meet shareholder’s expectation, they will simple exit from the company. That will cause the fall in the market price of the shares. In other words, the company must give some minimum return to the shareholders to maintain the price of shares in the market. This is, in a way, the cost of equity for the company. Every analyst will have own perception on this cost of equity. Thus, each analyst will have some different discounting factor in their mind. This will also vary as per the economic conditions of the country and risk factors associated with the company. 2. Cash Flow Forecast is another critical parameter where two analysts estimate always differ. It is always easy to forecast the cash flow for a few years down the line but it is not possible to have these estimates without error beyond few years. Each analyst’s perception about future market conditions and overall economic scenarios come into play. Some analyst may have a cautious approach in estimation of future cash flows while other may be a bit liberal or optimist in the projections. It is obvious that this will have a bearing on the valuation of the stock and cause variance on valuation of the stock. (Free Cash†¦) 3. The Growth Rate beyond the terminal year is a long visionary assumption. Farther we go, more difficult it becomes to arrive at the agreement on values. When company reaches to the maturity cycle after a few years of operation, it

Philosophy of Math Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Philosophy of Math - Scholarship Essay Example This question turned out to be extraordinarily difficult, and mathematicians have been struggling with it ever since" (Clay Mathematics Institute, 2008). Ornes (2006) finds a way to simply, yet humorously, define the conjecture by saying, "Say you're walking down a street, and you encounter a strange and complicated shape whose surface sports peaks and valleys, mountains and molehills, but no holes. If you were a mathematician, you may want to study the way that functions behave on it. Poincar's conjecture says that no matter what it looks like, it's a sphere. The conjecture gives mathematicians a short and easy way to identify a deformed blob as a sphere in disguise." (2) Read the article by Colyvan on indispensability of math. You will find it at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mathphil-indis/ . Describe the "indispensability argument" and briefly discuss one objection (ie, state an objection and say why you think it a good one or a poor one.) According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2008, pg.

Back Injury of South African Female Gymnasts Research Paper

Back Injury of South African Female Gymnasts - Research Paper Example This study has employed a prospective testing program which was followed by a retrospective descriptive questionnaire-based study design. It was structured in this manner in order to establish an injury profile in both of the current and previous seasons and another one for the training program. There were 20 registered gymnastics clubs located in Gauteng. Seven of the twenty clubs were the only ones who offer a high quality of programs in terms of performance. It is only within these seven clubs that the respondents of this study have been chosen. However, only three of the seven clubs have allowed and agreed to partake in this research since the remaining four clubs do not have their current elite gymnasts. Respondents of the study were selected based on their age and training hours. Female artistic gymnasts who were born between 1990 and 2000 are the main participants. These gymnasts should be spending, at least 15 hours of training each week for a minimum of three years. Other respondents include the retired gymnasts who have already competed in the elite level while they were still active in the sports. They have been included in order to obtain information regarding the reasons behind their retirement and radiological data which were also compared to the data gathered from the current active gymnasts. The total number of the retired gymnasts is ten and each has filled a questionnaire. It was also made sure by the researcher that the data used in this study was provided with consent by the gymnasts who were participating in the study. Before conducting the initial study, the questionnaires were sent to gymnastics experts who include ten gymnasts who are not participating in this study and another two gymnastics coaches. The questionnaires were also checked and validated by a biokineticist and sports physician who works closely with gymnasts. This checking and verification of questionnaires was made in line with the content and construct validity as stated by Sim and Wright (2000). In the pilot study, which was conducted at the onset of the competition and was three months before the main study, the questionnaires were given to the participants. After a week, the completed questionnaires were sent back to the same respondents for the purpose of checking the reliability of the answers. When it comes to the X-ray test, it was taken by three radiographers who follow similar procedures for each of the view such as antero-posterior view, oblique view, and lateral view. Gathered data were analyzed through the use of a computerized statistical program which is the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12. Descriptive analysis was obtained through means and standard deviations while tests of significance were achieved with inferential statistics. The level of significance used in the inferential statistics was set at 5%. Results of the study have identified that injuries, which commonly result to radiological changes, were generally caused by the training and the competition proper itself. Prevalence of injuries is very common in the ankle which has recorded 16.7% of the entire population of the participants. It was followed by the injuries occurring in the elbow. It can also be

Describe one social work method and how you could use it in practice Essay

Describe one social work method and how you could use it in practice - Essay Example Social case work is identified as a form of ‘one to one relationship’ based on which social workers make efforts in terms of understanding the factors resulting to complications within human lives (Sajid, 2012; Schwartz & et. al., 1975; Richmond, 1922). In this context, to adopt social case work in practice, I would perform social case work with the assistance of social workers in the community. The practice of social case work would be based on certain procedure that include assessment, study, evaluation and application of appropriate procedures based on which social case work activities are to be conducted. Additionally, the practice of social case work should be conducted in accordance with guiding principles and standards that include ethical values and knowledge among others (National Association of Social Workers, 2013; Perlman, 1957; NCBI, n.d.). It can be comprehended that social case work acts as a comprehensive tool in terms of developing the overall situation of individuals having difficulties in aligning with surrounding environment both in terms of physical and social perspective. In this regard, the practice of social case work is required to be conducted on the basis of certain procedure, so that care and treatment is offered appropriately. LinkedIn Corporation, 2014. Social Case Work. Celebrating the Dignity & Worth of Every Individual. [Online] Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/srengasamy/social-case-work-main [Accessed September 22, 2014]. Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2014. End of Life - Ideas for Practice: Case Study the Importance of Social Work Support. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.scie.org.uk/adults/endoflifecare/ideasforpractice/socialworksupport.asp [Accessed September 22,

Back Injury of South African Female Gymnasts Research Paper

Back Injury of South African Female Gymnasts - Research Paper Example This study has employed a prospective testing program which was followed by a retrospective descriptive questionnaire-based study design. It was structured in this manner in order to establish an injury profile in both of the current and previous seasons and another one for the training program. There were 20 registered gymnastics clubs located in Gauteng. Seven of the twenty clubs were the only ones who offer a high quality of programs in terms of performance. It is only within these seven clubs that the respondents of this study have been chosen. However, only three of the seven clubs have allowed and agreed to partake in this research since the remaining four clubs do not have their current elite gymnasts. Respondents of the study were selected based on their age and training hours. Female artistic gymnasts who were born between 1990 and 2000 are the main participants. These gymnasts should be spending, at least 15 hours of training each week for a minimum of three years. Other respondents include the retired gymnasts who have already competed in the elite level while they were still active in the sports. They have been included in order to obtain information regarding the reasons behind their retirement and radiological data which were also compared to the data gathered from the current active gymnasts. The total number of the retired gymnasts is ten and each has filled a questionnaire. It was also made sure by the researcher that the data used in this study was provided with consent by the gymnasts who were participating in the study. Before conducting the initial study, the questionnaires were sent to gymnastics experts who include ten gymnasts who are not participating in this study and another two gymnastics coaches. The questionnaires were also checked and validated by a biokineticist and sports physician who works closely with gymnasts. This checking and verification of questionnaires was made in line with the content and construct validity as stated by Sim and Wright (2000). In the pilot study, which was conducted at the onset of the competition and was three months before the main study, the questionnaires were given to the participants. After a week, the completed questionnaires were sent back to the same respondents for the purpose of checking the reliability of the answers. When it comes to the X-ray test, it was taken by three radiographers who follow similar procedures for each of the view such as antero-posterior view, oblique view, and lateral view. Gathered data were analyzed through the use of a computerized statistical program which is the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12. Descriptive analysis was obtained through means and standard deviations while tests of significance were achieved with inferential statistics. The level of significance used in the inferential statistics was set at 5%. Results of the study have identified that injuries, which commonly result to radiological changes, were generally caused by the training and the competition proper itself. Prevalence of injuries is very common in the ankle which has recorded 16.7% of the entire population of the participants. It was followed by the injuries occurring in the elbow. It can also be

Buyer Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Buyer Behavior - Essay Example Real world marketing strategies must account for this principle in a bid to lure consumers into buying, and actually draw them to certain products and not others. The personal factor in influencing buyer behavior is diverse and dynamic. Individual buyers exhibit different buying behaviors based on their tastes and preferences, and the actual product or service properties they look. Price and quality sensitivity also plays a fundamental role in driving individuals into buying. There are those that buy due to price favorability, while others will pay the given price provided the product or service meets the desired quality (Lunn, 2011). On the same note, there are persons who buy products or services because they are expensive; purchase of ostentatious commodities. Marketing in this line can also influence personal buying behaviors relative to meeting personal demands and properties in products and services (Lunn, 2011). Personal factor in the buying behavior of consumers cannot be ignored relative to the purchase process and buyer

Why chinese mothers are superior Essay Example for Free

Why chinese mothers are superior Essay How do you raise your child in the best way? Is it the Western or Chinese methods to prefer? That is the big question in this article. Amy Chua takes her starting point in her own life, where she raises her two daughters, Sophia and Louisa. Their upbringing is influenced by the Chinese methods. Amy Chua never allowed them to attend a sleepover or get any grade less than an A for instance. 1 The sender of this article is the 50-year old Chinese woman, Amy Chua, who is a professor at Yale Law School, USA. She argues that the Chinese methods are the most effective way of raising a successful child. According to Amy, there are three main differences between Western and Chinese parenting. First of all, Western parents are concerned about their children’s’ psyches, while Chinese, roughly said, aren’t. For instance, if a child comes home with a B on the test, some Western parents would still praise their child. The Chinese mother would probably gasp in horror and start an immediate long and hard practice session. Secondly, Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything, while Western parents like Jed (her husband) has the opposite view. The Westerners will most likely say, the children don’t choose their parents and the children don’t owe their parents anything. â€Å"Their duty will be to their own kids†. 2 Third, Chinese parents know what is best for their children, while Western parents will probably say that the children must figure out themselves what’s best for them. As you can see, there is a huge cultural barrier between the Chinese and Western parenting. She uses studies in her article, which increases her credibility like, â€Å"In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70 % of the Westerns mothers said either that â€Å"stressing academic success is not good for children†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. By contrast, roughly 0 % Chinese mothers felt the same way†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 3 Even though she uses a lot of studies to increase her credibility, it is still important to notice that the article is entirely subjective. Throughout the story, you can sense that Amy Chua thinks the Chinese methods are the most effective way to raise a successful and happy child. It is exemplified in her story about Lulu, who tries intensively to learn a piano piece called â€Å"The Little White Donkey†. Lulu cannot do it in the beginning, because it is a very difficult piece of art for young players. That is not acceptable for Amy Chua, who keeps pushing and threatening her (according to Western mothers). According to Amy Chua, she is just motivating Lulu to achieve her goals. Amy Chua’s husband says, he does not want to see Lulu get insulted and mistreated like that. â€Å"Sophia could play that piece, when she was this age†, Amy responded. So Amy and Lulu continued practicing and all of a sudden, Lulu did it. Even Jed gave Amy credit for that one. Jed (as a Western parent) worries a lot about her self-esteem, because Amy pushes Lulu to the edge. But as a parent according to Amy, one of the worst things you can for your child’s self-esteem is to let them give up. â€Å"There’s nothing better for building confidence than learning you can do something you thought you couldn’t†. The story about Lulu and the title of the article provokes the reader. She uses a provocation for the intended reader, who is most likely parents in the USA, by naming the article â€Å"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior† which demeans the reader’s parenting skills. It engages the reader to read the story, because they want to know why she would say such thing. Furthermore, Amy constantly compares the Western and the Chinese mothers and it is often to lead the reader in a certain direction. She uses the story to increase her credibility by telling the reader that the Chinese method is an effective way to success. The children must possess a strong psyche to survive the very rough Chinese methods of upbringing. The Chinese methods can have fatal consequences for the children. You can for instance lose your individuality as a human being by trying to satisfy everyone but yourself. You also lose the ability of self-realization, where you can do exactly what you want to do. The Chinese methods, roughly said, transform you into an object instead of a human being. It is documented that the methods cause psychological damage to a lot of children in China. The high suicide rates, depressions and rebellious behavior are a consequence of the very rough methods of upbringing. Lots of children’s academic excellence is â€Å"forced† rather than chosen. Some children may respond well to â€Å"Chinese mothering†, and hopefully for Amy Chua’s sake, her own daughters are among them. But on the other hand it is impossible to be â€Å"the No. 1 in every subject except gym and drama. †4 It is important to have diligence, but on the other hand, you’ve got to have some talent as well – especially, if you want to be the best at everything. Let me conclude by repeating that it is not healthy for every child to be forced to achieve academic excellence. You have to respect every child’s individuality and support their decisions, so they do not end up by doing something they actually do not want to do.

The exit strategy within a business plan

The exit strategy within a business plan The Last portion of the business plan is the exit strategy. It may seem strange to develop a strategy this soon to leave the business, but potential investors will want to know the long-term plans. The exit plans need to be clear in your own mind because they will dictate how you operate the company. For example, if it is your ultimate aim to get listed on the stock market, then you have to follow certain accounting regulations from day one. Recent research study has shown that 40% of all small business owners would like to exit their business immediately but that only 25% have any sort of plan for doing so. A mere 7% of the people have a formal written exit plan in place so although the desire is at the forefront of many owners minds, there is no strategy to make it happen. The sequence of steps involved in the exit strategy are Timing and the market Estimation of business worth Improving business value Selling the business Concluding the sale Timing the market: During last decade, capital markets around the world became abundant with funds. These funds primarily got accumulated through a decade of economic growth and prosperity. Low interest rates and low yielding traditional investments have driven the fund managers to seek alternative investment strategies that would maximise their returns. Whether through expansion strategies of large corporates, consolidation strategies of private equity managers or purely direct investment, this money is finding a home in middle market privately owned businesses. No such opportunity had existed for business owners to accelerate their succession planning and considerthe future of their equity. But now, such a thing has become common. Estimation of business worth : Perhaps the single biggest factor that determines of the value of a business is its current and recent profit history. It represents the return to the business owner, and of course, the future business owner. The second major determinant of the value of a business is the future risk. It is an assessment of the probability that the profit of the business will be maintained or increase. Factors to be considered in assessing this risk include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ the dependency of the business on the promoters à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ sustaining the competitiveadvantage à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ intellectual property of the company à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ growth and profit trends projections à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ business practices à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ culture and professionalism of the company à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ the market in which the business functions While there is something called profit and risk trade-off, the Ultimate factor that determines the value is the strategic position of a buyer.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Factors such as economies of scale, Innovation of products and markets, market domination or even fast tracking of growth, can see particular buyers pay more for acquisitions than an accountants valuation. Improving business value: Business owners should consider similar steps when preparing to sell their business. Many businesses view their businesses as their Golden opportunity . It represents a one-off opportunity to convert a lifetime of efforts into wealth. So often, the majority of the familys wealth is tied up in the business, invariably all at risk and highly dependent on a successful exit outcomeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ that is of course, after tax, after debt repayment if any. Clearly a strategy must be set to maximise value. The Main aim is to get the business investment available. Enough Attention must be focussed on those attributes of the future risk described before. We can take an example, what must be done to reduce the perception that the business will no longer prosper without the promoter of the business ? so, what are the implications for the management structure, policies and procedures, reporting, ongoing innovation and creativity and ultimately, the drive behind the business? By taking factors such as these, the business becomes more mature and will usually be in a better position to grow and prosper without the business promoters influence. Selling the Business: The whole selling process is a procedural methodology structured to attract the right buyer who is prepared to pay a good price for a business which clearly demonstrates strategic advantage through acquisition. It must be capable of withstanding a due diligence process without any material concerns. Armed with an Information, an investment ready business owner can commence the next phase of sellingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ identification of a buyer. Not surprisingly, in around 60% of cases, business owners already know their future buyer. It may be a competitor, a supplier or even a client. A list of known suitors is easily assembled. Attracting the other 40% requires a sales program using mass marketing . The various options that are available are IPO Acquisition Merger Liquidation Concluding the sale For most of their lives, business promoters have risked most of their wealth to be in this once-in-a-lifetime position. They know how to run a business, but how can they make the transition from a risk taker to that of custodian? Sadly, too many business owners get this bit wrong! What does this pot of gold represent? It represents the future security, income and lifestyles for the business owner and their dependents for the term of their lives. It represents the opportunity to pass wealth to the next generation and beyond. How can investments be structured to provide good returns but mindful of the risk profile of the family? How can taxation be legally minimised? How can the estate planning be properly structured to incorporate uperannuation, insurance, wills and trusts? How can the owner remain mentally challenged? A comprehensive wealth management strategy should bring together all of these components. Importantly, like planning for the sale itself, it should not be left to the last minute. Impact on community: Companies. impacts on the host communities where they operate do not abruptly end when they close down operations and go home. Rather, the way in which companies depart has a significant impact that can linger long after the mine or plant has closed. Three of the most common impacts on communities are: Decrease in economic status. Often a company is one of few sources of income for a community, if not the only one. A company.s closure can represent a return to economic hardship for its host community. Decrease in company-provided services. Companies often bring services that were not previously present, such as hospitals or road maintenance. Decrease in social status. The departure of a company can lead to a decrease in a social status that corporate resources had elevated. Most companies do not give enough attention to the impact that their departure may have on surrounding communities, or how to manage that impact. Some companies do not consider an exit plan until operations draw to a close. Other companies plan an exit plan early on, but do not revise the strategy based on ongoing analysis. COMMON PITFALLS SURROUNDING DEPARTURE 1. Companies do not sufficiently prepare communities for what to expect when they depart. 2. Companies only strategy for ensuring sustainability of social programs is that the government will take over. 3. Companies decrease community relations budgets as time for closure approaches, but the need for services does not decrease. 4. Companies leave behind infrastructure that is unsuited to community needs. The Right strategy Include an exit strategy in the design of any new project. the manner in which a company wishes to leave its corporate site behind after its departure determines the manner in which it develops a project, even if the departure date lies several decades ahead.Engage communities in discussing impacts and planning closure. Talk with affectedcommunities about the present and the future. By planning together, the community will understand the process, and can have buy-in on decisions made.Solicit a range of perspectives and views in order to assist groups in appropriate ways. Companies can identify surrounding communities. views of the future by engaging community members in planning closure. Use care when choosing language and framing exit strategies. The ways in which a company.s key events are presented and discussed will influence how those events are perceived. Closure is no exception. Use tangible and visible short-term objectives that build toward goals for departure. While long-term vision is necessary, companies risk overlooking concrete, short-term actions that will be necessary to reach future goals. Impact on Customers: When a company is planning to make an exit, the society at large will get affected. The extent to which customers are affected cant be quantified. The kind of problems that the customers likely to face are Unavailability of the product or service No other alternatives available Lack of customer support (for product or service) There are various ways by which these issues can be tackled. Some of the possible ways are, The company making a tie-up with other company which offers similar product. So,that similar products are being manufactured for the old customers. Having a tie-up with companies to offer customer support services (even after companies exit. Creating a forum to address the needs of the past customers.

Gun Control :: Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

Gun Control A Well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms , shall not be infringed. Amendment II, Bill of Rights Constitution of the U.S.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Second Amendment has been a major issue in American politics since 1876. In question is the intent of this Amendment. Was it meant to insure that people in general have arms for personal service, or was it intended to insure arms for military service? The nation's powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, holds that it means the right to keep and bear arms -any arms. This privileged right is given to those 60-65 million people who choose to own guns. The NRA also believes that human character defects cannot be changed by a simple regulation of guns. They argue that problems with firearm ownership cannot be, in any way, associated with criminal violence. The lobbyist give credibility to this statement by adding that criminal violence continues to increase in cities like New York and Washington DC, even though gun control statutes were put into affect. They point out that gun laws would not have stopped most addicted killers. According to the NRA, anti-crime measures are the way to conquer urban violence, not anti-gun measures. The hope of most members in the association is to educate people about guns. The association is willing to reveal proper usage of guns to non-gun owners. They feel that this training could help reduce some of the tragedies involving guns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The issue of gun control has become a dividing line in America. To gun control activists, the issue is about crime and the regulation of the weapons used to commit these crimes. In their opinion, law abiding citizens should have no need for guns. In this respect, the big controversy seems shallow . However, to the NRA population, a much deeper issue is in question, the issue is freedom. The members believe that the Second Amendment is crucial to the maintenance's of the democratic process. From their point of view, people who advocate gun control are ready to disregard a constitutional right. They believe that, if the Second Amendment is abridged, the First Amendment will be the next to go.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Executive Branch of the Federal Government is in a high-profile position on the issue of gun control. During this current Presidential election season, much rhetoric is being exchanged on the issue. It would almost appear that one must play to either camp in order to receive the desired endorsement of the strong political lobby groups. In the case of Bob Dole, the Republican

The Racism of “Diversity”

This summary was from an article entitled â€Å"The Racism of Diversity† written by Peter Schwartz on December 15, 2003. It was taken from Capitalism Magazine made available in the internet, the URL of which is http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3399.The author is the chairman of the board of directors of the Ayn Rand Institute.The aforementioned article dealt specifically on the distinction of racism vis-à  -vis diversity in the school setting particularly in universities and colleges. Many school administrations have differing views about diversity and racism bringing along a positive and negative connotations depending upon how one interprets it.But the bottom line is, diversity can be constructive if it suggests integration of races in order to learn and understand the races of other people. However, it is said to be destructive if diversity â€Å"propagates all the evils inherent in racism† as stated by Schwartz in his paper.Along this line, the admission of mul ti-racial enrollees in an educational institution may have interesting and disparaging effects for contrasting races or skin color. Because of the mixing of races in one school, racial division is highly emphasized thereby causing segregation of residence halls, cafeterias, and organizations. Diversity in this sense is not helpful to solve the problem of inter-tribal conflict but instead underscores the differences between races.On the other hand, diversity is also deemed to be an excellent learning method inside the school to rule out individualism and foster unity and understanding. It provides a channel in which a race can express itself for the alien tribes to appreciate the ethnicity of a certain group of people because it is believed that one’s colors determines one’s ideas and perspectives of things in one’s environment.At present, the issue of â€Å"color-blindness† or being non-discriminative in terms of skin color remains a controversial issue i n universities and colleges.â€Å"Diversity† advocates are moving toward better grasp of this subject matter, however, the long-time history of racial discrimination has indoctrinated and passed on from one generation to another. One’s bloodline speaks louder than words despite the fact that it is not a person’s fault to be born in a particular race whether one is brown-eyed or green-eyed.The sole purpose of this paper is to remind the readers that racial diversities are still existent among our learning institutions and it has tremendous effects on students and on how they deal and treat one another.Education through diversity is very ideal but very hard to comprehend because of things that cannot be changed. This change does not take overnight to be materialized, but it takes further orientation, education and re-orientation to instill its importance in the hearts and minds of people.

E-Tourism in Sri Lanaka

E-Tourism In Sri Lanka E-Commerce Infrastructure University Collage Dublin Student Name: Madushanka W. H. M Student Number: 11294574 E-mail: madawa. [email  protected] com About Sri Lanka Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka commonly known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean or as Ceylon is one of the exquisite Island in the world Sri Lanka set in the Indian Ocean in south Asia near to the equator which is a great home to 8 UNESCO world heritage sites.Not only that this great Island has unspoiled beaches, waterfalls, pure rivers, 15 national wildlife parks, lagoons with indigenous aquatic birds, 250 acres of botanical gardens, hot water wells and so many unique things. Because Sri Lanka is a multinational country; Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamil, Sri Lankan Tamil, all these ethical groups lives in this small Island. Sri Lanka is a place where the original soul of Buddhism still flourishes (Buddhist 69. %) but it is not a problem to friendly people in this country becau se there are Muslims (7. 6%), Hindu (7. 1%), Christian (6. 2%) & some other religions people living happily within area of 65,610Km. Country has three main geological divisions. In the lowlands, up to an altitude of 100m to 150m, the mean annual temperature various between 26. 5 0C to 28. 5 0C. In the highlands, the temperature falls quickly as the altitude increases. The mean annual temperature of Nuwara Eliya, at 1800 m sea level, is 15. 9 0C.The coldest month of the country is January, and the warmest months are April and August. Agriculture plays an important role in Sri Lankan economy. Main agricultural product is rice but Tea, Rubber & coconut brings more foreign currency to the Island not only that but also Spices export brings foreign money as well. Sri Lanka's economy today is mainly based on the service and industrial sector. However Tourism and the related services industries are also growing in Sri Lanka. Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com What is E-TourismWhen we consider about manual processes regarding tourism, there are so many things including air ticket or Cruise ticket reservation, hotel reservation not only that every person must need to obtain a permission before entering to a country (Visa). Just think if a tourist or travel agency had to do all those things manually; definitely it will take nearly one month or more. So E-tourism is the best option for all those time taken processes. It’s a combination of e-commerce and tourism & it helps to maximizing the efficiency of tourism sector.Tourism has closely been connected to progress of ICTs for over 30 years. The establishments of the Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) in the 1970s, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) in the late 1980s and the Internet in the late 1990s have transformed operational and strategic practices dramatically in tourism (Buhalis, 2003; Buhalis & Law, 2008). The tourism industry at first focused on utilizing computerized systems (e. g. , CRS, GDS) to increase efficiency in processing of internal information and managing distribution.Nowadays, the Internet and ICTs are relevant on all operative, structural, strategic and marketing levels to facilitate global interaction among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers around the world (Buhalis & Law, 2008; Egger & Buhalis, 2008). E-tourism is a really great concept because it includes business management, information systems & management and the tourism. As an example it has main electronic business functions such as e-commerce, e-marketing, e-accounting etc http://www. srilankan. aero/welcome. html? local e=en_us. ttp://www. srilankan. aero/welcome. html? local e=en_ushttp://www. srilankan. aero/welcome. ht ml? locale=en_ushttp://www. srilankan. aero/wel come. html? locale=en_us. srilankan. aero/welco me. html? locale=en_us http://www. starcruises. com/newweb/homepage. aspx Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com Key Players In E-tourism E-tou rism provides great opportunities for numerous key players in tourism industry to expand their businesses. Also because of the E-tourism numbers of new players have come into the tourism industry.Mainly there are several key players; 1. 2. 3. 4. Airlines Hotels Tour operators 7 Travel Agencies Particular country(In here Sri Lanka) 1. Airlines When we considering about the airlines long time ago reservations were made by using a manual process. It’s a really time consuming work because reservations were made on manual display boards, where passengers were listed. Travel agencies had to locate the best routes and fares in manuals and then check availability and make reservation by phone, before issuing a ticket manually.World’s first automated reservation system called SABRE (Semi-Automatic Business Research Environment) was introduced by American Airlines and IBM jointly during 1962. It enabled American Airlines to replace the handwritten passenger reservations system o f the 1950s with the automated reservations system for the future. Currently SABRE global distribution system is used by more than 400 airlines, 55,000 travel agencies, 88,000 hotels, 13 cruise lines & etc.In Sri Lanka currently Sri Lankan airlines has earned great revenue and won series of international and national awards in fields ranging from passenger transport to marketing and internet technology including Platinum Award from the International Air Transport Association as one of the first airlines in the world to introduce a major innovation to tickets. Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com SriLankan Airlines made significant investments in technology during last year, the carrier contracted with Calidris(since acquired by Sabre Airline Solutions) to help ensure seats are not occupied by false or spurious bookings .The solution looks at business problems including: Ticket time limits, Fake names, Duplicate bookings and duplicate segments within a booking , Fake or duplicate ticket numbers. 2. Hotels One of the most important player in travel & tourism sector which has a long history, nearly 1300 years. World’s oldest hotel is â€Å"Hoshi Ryokan† which is founded in 717. Sri Lanka’s oldest hotel is â€Å"Galle Face Hotel† which was founded in 1864 by four British entrepreneurs. Now a day hotels in other words E-Hospitality plays major role in E-Tourism.During 1970s due to the airlines Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) and ICT developments forced hotel industry to develop hotel CRSs in order to maintain good customer friendly environment with rapid response time to customer. By using CRSs in hotel sector, it’s enable travel & tourism trade to access accurate information on availability and to provide easy, inexpensive, efficient and reliable way of making and confirming reservations. Switch companies such as THISCO and WIZCOM emerged also to facilitate interconnectivity between dedicated or interna l hotel system and GDSs (Emmer etal. 1993; O’Connor, 1995, 1999) The development of switch companies Switch Companies CRSs/GDSs Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com â€Å"Galileo† is one of the well-known CRS in the world which provide Hotel room reservations, Airline bookings etc. Galileo RoomMasterâ„ ¢ is supper solution by â€Å"Travelport† company which provides hotel shopping and booking solution. By purchasing Galileo RoomMasterâ„ ¢ it provides Galileo-connected subscribers with direct, real-time access to relevant hotel system for shopping and bookings of hotel’s properties.Also it enables to connect with more than 190,000 travel agency workstations, as well as corporate and consumer/ecommerce users throughout the world. Most of the Sri Lankan hotels also are now available for online reservations by using those systems & some of them are inbuilt solutions by the hotels. 3. Tour operators & Travel Agencies Tour operator s organizes, arranges leisure packages including flights & accommodation. They pre-book tourism products and distribute them through advertising in travel agencies.Major tour operators use internet based communication system in order to reduce information handling costs and to increase the speed of information transfer with agencies and the customers. Currently some of the established tour operator’s business are made, in other words packages are booked through online. Thomson Holidays is one of the world famous tour operator company which only accept reservation made through Thomson’s open-line Program (TOP). In Sri Lanka huge number of tour operators like JF tours, Miracle Sri Lanka, Nalro tours use Ecommerce based techniques to attract travelers & advertise about their packages. Madushanka W.H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com 4. Sri Lankan Government After 30 years of the civil war, tourism is one of the main considering areas of the Sri Lankan governmen t. As mentioned in previously, county has lot of tourist attractions. So currently government has invested in several areas to develop travel & tourism industry. Sri Lanka Tourism Board (SLTB) former Ceylon Tourist Board which is under the Ministry of Economic Development has the main responsibilities to develop country’s travel & tourism. As a country still Sri Lanka couldn’t reach up to good place in E-Tourism. but SLTB doing its best to improve E-tourism.They have an alliance with ICTA (Information and Communication Technology Association of Sri Lanka) to develop E-Tourism. Also SLTB re- launched their web site (http://www. srilankatourism. org/) with new look & currently Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau which is under SLTB trying to use the best technologies to promote about the Sri Lanka (http://www. srilanka. travel/). Social networking (Facebook icon) on the page Ministry of Economic development has long time tourism development strategy (20112016). They have mentioned use of the internet & E-commerce are key objectives to be achieved through the 5 year strategy.Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com E-Tourism Benefits to Key Players 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Help to understand about the customers & help to build a good customer relationship. Make direct communication between customers. Ability to respond in quick and efficient way to customer. Reduces communication, advertising cost due to eMarketing. Help to increase interconnectivity among the key players. 24/7 of the business time Less of labors. E-Tourism Benefits to Customers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Can do the business directly without interpreters. Reduces time Accessible at any time Due to competition can obtain good ervice or great product at low price. Can know Up to date information. Wide range of selections. Ability to customize products or services. Online auctions. Future developments in E-Tourism E-tourism has reach to great place in the world but when con sidering with E-commerce there are so many ways which can develop. ? ? ? E-tourism in world or Sri Lanka, still haven’t any major developments in field of mobile, mobile advertising. So developing that kind of product will help to earn more revenue than now. When considering other online products travel & tourism sector need to more think about social networking.As a country Sri Lanka should need to develop several telecommunication technologies such as speed of the internet, wireless internet access etc. †¦ Madushanka W. H. M 11294574 madawa. [email  protected] com Bibliography 1. Department of Meteorology – Sri Lanka (2012) Climate in Sri Lanka [online], available: http://www. meteo. gov. lk/index. php? option=com_content=article=106 d=81=en [07 Feb 2012]. 2. Dodson, B (2011) ‘PEACOCK PROUD’, ascend, available: http://www. google. lk/url? sa=t=j=sabre%20in%20srilankan%20airlines= web=1=2=0CCgQFjAA=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. abreairlinesolutions. co m%2Fima ges%2Fuploads%2FPeacockProud_APR_2011. pdf=6Lk0T87BIYnPrQe13rC6 Dw=AFQjCNGqQUEN5z3krOlHuO4v41AcGRi3wA=rja [06 Feb 2012]. 3. Gartner, W. C, Lime, D. W. (2000) Trends in outdoor recreation, leisure, and tourism: New wave of technological evolution, London: CABI publishing. 4. Glowatz, M (2011) ‘Emerging Infrastructure Trends ’, E Commerce Infrastructure (SL), 9 Feb 2012, University Collage Dublin, Unpublished. 5. Hotelmule(2008)The development of switch companies[Image online], available: http://hotelmule. com/management/html/83/n-2183-9. html[06 Feb 2012]. 6. IBM

Himalayans Cat

Student Number _____________ RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT Himalayans Cat Felis Catus Abstract When you think of a warm, loving, and sensationally beautiful cat with crystal blue eyes to die for the first cat that should come to mind is the prestigious Himalayan Cat. The Himalayan Cat is a lovable cat breed and is a favorite choice amongst cat lovers. This domestic breed of felines are a popular pick in Hollywood and are famous for playing cat characters in movies such as â€Å"Meet the Parents,† â€Å"Meet the Flockers,† â€Å"Date Movie,† â€Å"Homeward Bound,† and on the â€Å"Martha Stewart show† (Petinsurance, 2012, Para. ). The Himalayan cat is unlike any other for it has a unique history. The Himalayan cat is derived from the Genus/Species Felis catus and is a result of the breeding of two very prestigious breeds of cats: the Persian and the Siamese cat. As a result of this unique breeding the Himalayan cat was created and has since been a symbol of el egance due to there â€Å"very unique body characteristic that distinguishes them from any other member of the feline family† (Helgreen, 2011, Para. 5).The Himalayan Cat is a domestic cat or Felis catus, which is â€Å"a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal† (Wikipedia, 2012, Para 1). It is more commonly referred to as the â€Å"house cat†. Its taxonomic classification group is â€Å"animalia chordata mammalia carnivora felidae felis catus† (Ramel, 2012, Para 1). According to Ramel (2012) archaeological evidence suggests that modern cats lineage, recognizably similar to our present day species, began to emerge about 25 MYA and during the last 12 million years the eight separate lineages of modern cats have emerged.The domestic cats are apart of that lineage known as the Felis genius, which makes them in direct relation to the cougar, lion, and tigers with the exception of the obvious differences of size and domestication (Wikipedia, 2012 ). The Felis catus are strong, active, round headed, small-bodied, social natured, intelligent animals. â€Å"Felis, typically weigh between eight and eleven pounds, but some breeds can exceed to twenty-five pounds† (Wikipedia, 2012, Para. 7).Domestic cats still have many of their wild instincts for instance; they are constantly climbing, jumping, running, and/or extending their claws in hunting or self-defense (Ramel, 2012). Their sharp retractable claws and strong sharp teeth are their defense mechanism against predators. Domestic cats have great sense of smell, excellent night vision, and a variety of â€Å"vocalization methods of communication (purring, hissing, meowing, and growling), and exceptional hearing† (Wikipedia, 2012, Para 10). According to Wikipedia (2012) they can hear higher-pitched sounds than either dogs or humans, detecting frequencies from 55Hz up to 79 kHz.The life expectancy for a domestic cat is between 12-16 years but some may live longer. Dome stic cats â€Å"reach sexual maturity anywhere between the ages of 7 to 9 months† and usually have an average of 3-5 kitten per liter† (Ramel, 2012, Para. 3) Domestic cats have a â€Å"mutualistic relationship† with human beings and are great companions for people of all ages (Wikipedia, 2012). One of the most devoted people loving breeds of domestic cats is the Himalayan Cat breed. Himalayan Cats are extremely affectionate (Anderson, 2012).Schapmann (2012) states according to Animal Planet’s rating of Himalayan cat characteristics, Himalayans rank high in affection toward their owners, need for attention, and compatibility with children and other pets. This breed of domestic cats are very calm natured but playful. â€Å"The males are more outgoing than their female counter partners, who are more shy and reserved† (Anderson, 2012, Para. 3). Himalayans Cats are a result of a crossbreeding of the Persian cat with the Siamese cat. â€Å"The Himalayan cat was the creation of scientist, Dr. Clyde Keeler and cat breeder, Virginia Cobb.The two teamed up to blend a Persian cat and a Siamese cat† (Petinsurance, 2012, Para. 2) McDonald (1999) states that although, for decades, breeders attempted to breed these two cats but were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until Marguerita Goforth successfully created this breed in 1950s and by the 1960s, it was accepted as a breed by cat authorities (McDonald, 1999). The Himalayan Cat has a remarkable appearance, which makes them so popular. They are short with long thick white hair, which is a featured they adopted from the Persian Cat and have strong colourpoint markings, which is a featured they adopted from the Siamese Cat Petinsurance, 2012). The colourpoint markings are on their ears, legs, tail, and facemask and vary in color (Helgreen, 2011). â€Å"There is a definite contrast between point and body color† (Helgreen, 2011, Para. 4). Most Himalayan Cats range from either white to beige and their colourpoint markings can be â€Å"chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, red, cream tortile, blue-cream, chocolate-torte, lilac cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream lynx, torte lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx, chocolate-torte lynx, and lilac-cream lynx†(Helgreen, 2011, Para. ) Aside from their distinctive color patterns, the Himalayans are also recognized for their piercing blue eyes and strong flat faces (American Cat Fanciers Association, 2012). There are two facial types: the Extreme/Peke (Ultra face) and the Traditional known as the â€Å"Doll face†(Helgreen, 2011, Para. 4). The major difference between these two is that Extreme faced Himalayan has an extremely flatten face. â€Å"The nose is as nearly as high as the eyes† (McDonald, 1999, pg. 5). This flattened face feature causes this breed to experience problems with their eyes tearing, teeth crowding, and difficulties breathing (Petinsurance, 2012, Para 5).According to C hancellor (2012) Himalayans are subjected to the same types of diseases as Persian Cats due to their linage. These health issues include: â€Å"Tear Duct Overflow, Skin fold dermatitis, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Urinary tract stones† (Chancellor, 2012, Para, 1). Despite the possible health issues, Himalayan Cats have a lifespan of 14-15 years and have no problems with breeding (McDonald, 1999). The female Himalayan Cats may be ready for breeding as early as five months and will begin calling for the her male counter partner to assist in the reproduction process (McDonald, 1999).According to Helgreen (2011) Himalayan cats normally birth 3-4 kittens however; they can produce liters of eight kittens. Himalayan Cats have a very lovable, docile, and playful personality (Schapman, 2012). â€Å"The amazing pet behaviors observed in this cat are commendable the high level of affection intelligence and tolerance are not qualities that are seen in ord inary domestic cats†(Petinsurance, 2012, Para. 6). According to Schapman (2012) this breed of domestic cats has a strong need for attention and companionship from its human owner.This may range anywhere from daily grooming to reassurance and security from its owner. â€Å"They are very dependent on their owners but also have an air of independence, calmness, and self-assuredness† (Schapman, 2012, Para 4). The Himalayan Cat breed is a very unique breed aside from all its unique physical and behavioral characteristics. The American Cat Fanciers Association recognizes this uniqueness and is the only association that recognizes this breed as a separate breed from all other varieties of Persian and Siamese cats (American Cat Fanciers Association, 2012).Despite their ancestral linage to the Persian and Siamese Cat, the Himalayan Cat breed is in a league of its own. References American Cat Fanciers Association. (2012) Himalayians. Retrieved from http://www. acfacat. com/breed_ standard. htm Anderson, C. (2012). Personality differences for male and female himalayan cats. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/info_8087211_personality-male-female-himalayan-cats. html Chancellor, T. L. (2012). Himalayan cat diseases. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/about_5436085_himalayan-cat-diseases. html#ixzz2C8PXRtDf. Helgreen, J. A. 2011). Himalayan cats. Telmark Productions. McDonald, C. (1999). Guide to owning a himalayan cat. Facts On File, Incorporated. Petinsurance. (2012). Himalayan cats; blue-eyed wonder. Retrieved from http://www. petinsurance. com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-breeds/himalayan-cats. aspx Ramel, G. (2012). Cats. Retrieved from http://www. earthlife. net/mammals/cats. html Schapman, S. (2012). Himalayan cat personality. Retrieved from http://suite101. com/article/the-himalayan-cat-personality-a70239 Wikipedia. (2012). Domestic cats. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Cat. Himalayans Cat Student Number _____________ RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT Himalayans Cat Felis Catus Abstract When you think of a warm, loving, and sensationally beautiful cat with crystal blue eyes to die for the first cat that should come to mind is the prestigious Himalayan Cat. The Himalayan Cat is a lovable cat breed and is a favorite choice amongst cat lovers. This domestic breed of felines are a popular pick in Hollywood and are famous for playing cat characters in movies such as â€Å"Meet the Parents,† â€Å"Meet the Flockers,† â€Å"Date Movie,† â€Å"Homeward Bound,† and on the â€Å"Martha Stewart show† (Petinsurance, 2012, Para. ). The Himalayan cat is unlike any other for it has a unique history. The Himalayan cat is derived from the Genus/Species Felis catus and is a result of the breeding of two very prestigious breeds of cats: the Persian and the Siamese cat. As a result of this unique breeding the Himalayan cat was created and has since been a symbol of el egance due to there â€Å"very unique body characteristic that distinguishes them from any other member of the feline family† (Helgreen, 2011, Para. 5).The Himalayan Cat is a domestic cat or Felis catus, which is â€Å"a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal† (Wikipedia, 2012, Para 1). It is more commonly referred to as the â€Å"house cat†. Its taxonomic classification group is â€Å"animalia chordata mammalia carnivora felidae felis catus† (Ramel, 2012, Para 1). According to Ramel (2012) archaeological evidence suggests that modern cats lineage, recognizably similar to our present day species, began to emerge about 25 MYA and during the last 12 million years the eight separate lineages of modern cats have emerged.The domestic cats are apart of that lineage known as the Felis genius, which makes them in direct relation to the cougar, lion, and tigers with the exception of the obvious differences of size and domestication (Wikipedia, 2012 ). The Felis catus are strong, active, round headed, small-bodied, social natured, intelligent animals. â€Å"Felis, typically weigh between eight and eleven pounds, but some breeds can exceed to twenty-five pounds† (Wikipedia, 2012, Para. 7).Domestic cats still have many of their wild instincts for instance; they are constantly climbing, jumping, running, and/or extending their claws in hunting or self-defense (Ramel, 2012). Their sharp retractable claws and strong sharp teeth are their defense mechanism against predators. Domestic cats have great sense of smell, excellent night vision, and a variety of â€Å"vocalization methods of communication (purring, hissing, meowing, and growling), and exceptional hearing† (Wikipedia, 2012, Para 10). According to Wikipedia (2012) they can hear higher-pitched sounds than either dogs or humans, detecting frequencies from 55Hz up to 79 kHz.The life expectancy for a domestic cat is between 12-16 years but some may live longer. Dome stic cats â€Å"reach sexual maturity anywhere between the ages of 7 to 9 months† and usually have an average of 3-5 kitten per liter† (Ramel, 2012, Para. 3) Domestic cats have a â€Å"mutualistic relationship† with human beings and are great companions for people of all ages (Wikipedia, 2012). One of the most devoted people loving breeds of domestic cats is the Himalayan Cat breed. Himalayan Cats are extremely affectionate (Anderson, 2012).Schapmann (2012) states according to Animal Planet’s rating of Himalayan cat characteristics, Himalayans rank high in affection toward their owners, need for attention, and compatibility with children and other pets. This breed of domestic cats are very calm natured but playful. â€Å"The males are more outgoing than their female counter partners, who are more shy and reserved† (Anderson, 2012, Para. 3). Himalayans Cats are a result of a crossbreeding of the Persian cat with the Siamese cat. â€Å"The Himalayan cat was the creation of scientist, Dr. Clyde Keeler and cat breeder, Virginia Cobb.The two teamed up to blend a Persian cat and a Siamese cat† (Petinsurance, 2012, Para. 2) McDonald (1999) states that although, for decades, breeders attempted to breed these two cats but were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until Marguerita Goforth successfully created this breed in 1950s and by the 1960s, it was accepted as a breed by cat authorities (McDonald, 1999). The Himalayan Cat has a remarkable appearance, which makes them so popular. They are short with long thick white hair, which is a featured they adopted from the Persian Cat and have strong colourpoint markings, which is a featured they adopted from the Siamese Cat Petinsurance, 2012). The colourpoint markings are on their ears, legs, tail, and facemask and vary in color (Helgreen, 2011). â€Å"There is a definite contrast between point and body color† (Helgreen, 2011, Para. 4). Most Himalayan Cats range from either white to beige and their colourpoint markings can be â€Å"chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, red, cream tortile, blue-cream, chocolate-torte, lilac cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream lynx, torte lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx, chocolate-torte lynx, and lilac-cream lynx†(Helgreen, 2011, Para. ) Aside from their distinctive color patterns, the Himalayans are also recognized for their piercing blue eyes and strong flat faces (American Cat Fanciers Association, 2012). There are two facial types: the Extreme/Peke (Ultra face) and the Traditional known as the â€Å"Doll face†(Helgreen, 2011, Para. 4). The major difference between these two is that Extreme faced Himalayan has an extremely flatten face. â€Å"The nose is as nearly as high as the eyes† (McDonald, 1999, pg. 5). This flattened face feature causes this breed to experience problems with their eyes tearing, teeth crowding, and difficulties breathing (Petinsurance, 2012, Para 5).According to C hancellor (2012) Himalayans are subjected to the same types of diseases as Persian Cats due to their linage. These health issues include: â€Å"Tear Duct Overflow, Skin fold dermatitis, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Urinary tract stones† (Chancellor, 2012, Para, 1). Despite the possible health issues, Himalayan Cats have a lifespan of 14-15 years and have no problems with breeding (McDonald, 1999). The female Himalayan Cats may be ready for breeding as early as five months and will begin calling for the her male counter partner to assist in the reproduction process (McDonald, 1999).According to Helgreen (2011) Himalayan cats normally birth 3-4 kittens however; they can produce liters of eight kittens. Himalayan Cats have a very lovable, docile, and playful personality (Schapman, 2012). â€Å"The amazing pet behaviors observed in this cat are commendable the high level of affection intelligence and tolerance are not qualities that are seen in ord inary domestic cats†(Petinsurance, 2012, Para. 6). According to Schapman (2012) this breed of domestic cats has a strong need for attention and companionship from its human owner.This may range anywhere from daily grooming to reassurance and security from its owner. â€Å"They are very dependent on their owners but also have an air of independence, calmness, and self-assuredness† (Schapman, 2012, Para 4). The Himalayan Cat breed is a very unique breed aside from all its unique physical and behavioral characteristics. The American Cat Fanciers Association recognizes this uniqueness and is the only association that recognizes this breed as a separate breed from all other varieties of Persian and Siamese cats (American Cat Fanciers Association, 2012).Despite their ancestral linage to the Persian and Siamese Cat, the Himalayan Cat breed is in a league of its own. References American Cat Fanciers Association. (2012) Himalayians. Retrieved from http://www. acfacat. com/breed_ standard. htm Anderson, C. (2012). Personality differences for male and female himalayan cats. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/info_8087211_personality-male-female-himalayan-cats. html Chancellor, T. L. (2012). Himalayan cat diseases. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/about_5436085_himalayan-cat-diseases. html#ixzz2C8PXRtDf. Helgreen, J. A. 2011). Himalayan cats. Telmark Productions. McDonald, C. (1999). Guide to owning a himalayan cat. Facts On File, Incorporated. Petinsurance. (2012). Himalayan cats; blue-eyed wonder. Retrieved from http://www. petinsurance. com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-breeds/himalayan-cats. aspx Ramel, G. (2012). Cats. Retrieved from http://www. earthlife. net/mammals/cats. html Schapman, S. (2012). Himalayan cat personality. Retrieved from http://suite101. com/article/the-himalayan-cat-personality-a70239 Wikipedia. (2012). Domestic cats. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Cat.