Apple Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Apple - Assignment Example Moreover, the conversation of the task likewise will in general spotlight on current business execution of Apple relating to its money related, operational, overseeing and key foundation of the organization. With respect to the major serious situation, business associations have been frequently recognized to include critical vital qualities in contrast with their rivals. Corresponding to the current rising pattern in the buyer gadgets and PC Hardware and programming fabricating business industry, associations are regularly considered accomplishing noteworthy development by conveying wide scope of smoothed out items and administrations to the objective clients. The outstanding vital measures alongside endeavoring pace in innovative work have generously empowered the business to contribute a huge segment in the worldwide economy. The endeavoring strategic policies and execution of the market chiefs have been fundamentally recognized to acquire an enormous budgetary development in the course of the most recent two decades in the worldwide shopper hardware and PC producing industry. According to the present business pattern, the business has seen to at the same time act in accordance with the unabated financial change. As indicated by the ebb and flow measurable reports, worldwide shopper gadgets producing industry has been recorded to US$ 226bn in the course of recent years with a yearly development of 0.7% in 2014 (IBISWorld, â€Å"Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing: Market Research Report†). Likewise, the key measures and works on including more extensive brand separation alongside extraordinary method of business activities have significantly empowered the electronic assembling market pioneers to make constant progress than different business areas. Comparable to the present pattern in this particular industry, forceful extension of specialty units over

Gender Equity in College Sports Essay -- essays papers

Sex Equity in College Sports â€Å"Gender Equality In College Sports?† An on going issue confronting instruction today is the developing questionable subject of sex balance in sports support and it’s so call portion for accomplishing uniformity. The most eminent move that has made spot as ladies keep on endeavoring towards correspondence in the athletic domain is what is known as, Title IX. The fundamental thoughts hidden Title IX are that â€Å"if an organization supports a sports program, it must give equivalent athletic chances to individuals from both sexes.† (Yoshida p.3) Simply put, Title IX endeavors to accomplish â€Å"equality† of subsidizing for male and female competitors. The issue with this thought of complete â€Å"equality† is that nobody concurs concerning what is viewed as equivalent. It is a vague term, deciphered contrastingly by numerous individuals. The authorization of this Title has fundamentally changed the playing field for athletic offices all through the country by adjusting their subsidizing frameworks to agree to its principles. Thus, ladies have profited enormously. There have been augmentations of female games just as an expansion of the quantity of grants granted to female competitors, and furthermore much all the more subsidizing to give more â€Å"equitable† offices to them. As indicated by the NCAA Gender Equity Studies , â€Å"from 1992 to 1997 NCAA establishments have expanded the quantity of female competitors by 5,800. In any case, grievously during that time these schools additionally disposed of 20,900 male athletes.† (Kocher p.1) This emotional avalanche has happened in light of the fact that athletic divisions are feeling the squeeze to quickly build the extent of female competitors by whatever implies essential. As the way toward complete â€Å"equality† step by step lights up for ladi es in school sports, a dim way is currently getting clear. Male competitors, one might say, are currently being oppressed in view of Title IX. This issue of Title IX influences our training framework today since its standards are questionable concerning what is truly â€Å"equal.† For example, on the off chance that one specific game at a college is amazingly effective and is equipped for supporting numerous different games inside the framework, at that point, is it reasonable that that fruitful games group ought to be punished by constraining their assets? Would it be advisable for them to need to help a group who has been added to the college to maintain Title IX rules, yet are not making a benefit? At long last, the ... ...nd training. Concerning the University of Hawaii, I feel that we are making positive walks the correct way in adding female games to the athletic program. The most recent option to be added to the program is a women’s track group. Despite the fact that Title IX has made it conceivable in opening open doors for ladies, I believe that officials need to investigate having the University of Hawaii absolved, somewhat, to the extent being agreeable with Title IX. On the off chance that equity is the thing that officials are taking a stab at than, due to UH’s topographical position, it’s not reasonable that the athletic program alone would need to create twice as much cash contrasted with the terrain schools, just to remain above water. Not even to be serious! How close would we say we are truly to accomplishing â€Å"equality† or is there even such a word like, that in school sports? List of sources: 1.) Kocher, Leo; â€Å"1992-1997-An Era Of Title IX’s Unintended Consequences in College Athletics,† Online @: (www.intermathwrestle.com/titleix/congress4.htm) 2.) Yoshida, Hugh; â€Å"If You Let Us Play...† A Plan for Achieving Gender Equity in University of Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletics 1996-2002. Walk 15, 1996

Varied states of the basement

Varied states of the basement Once I reached Room 6-001, some nearby basement sights compelled me to poke around a bit before heading over to 7-012 (a room I pass on a daily basis). ;-) Leaving Room 6-001, we continue through Building 6 and arrive at one of my favorites I mean, just look at the pattern on that window shade! I dont know why a printer cable is dangling from the ceiling in this neglected room, but it looked interesting, so I took a picture for you. Various areas of Building 6s basement are under construction, as you can tell. Turning back around to leave, I spotted this worn task chair waiting patiently in the corner. Hi, chair! How do you do? From here, I took the path beneath the Infinite with which youre familiar, thanks to a previous entry. Along the way, I thought Id show you a few highlights. The note on this door wouldnt normally be amusing, except it was late at night, and the sign was clearly no longer applicable. :-) A glassblowing lab nearby Yes, its another ice cream machine! But lets look at his friends down the corridor Yes, folks, that is a TechCash reader. Most vending machines arent so handily equipped, so keep these in mind. Were almost out of Building 3 as we pass through this outdoor driveway area connecting parking lots. Yes! Lo and behold, Room 7-012, the Heat Transfer Laboratory. On my way back to East Campus, a few other things stood out have a look. Furniture Requests, Pest Control these things dont strike me as complementary :- On a safety-themed bulletin board intended for MIT employees, this helpful instructional placard tells us what a tagout is. As you can see, some innovative joker drew a parallel between tagout and ragout, expressing his comment as shown. :-P Another mischievous bloke decided to scratch off the m in team on the door to 10-085, giving Building Services day shift their very own tea room. This inviting walkway beside 8-032 leads to an outdoor loading area with a great view of a certain dome. Retreating to shelter, I noticed that the closed door to 8-032 proved no barrier to a view inside. You see, there are these wonderful things called windows that afford a good look. :-) So this was all wonderful and fun, but it was getting late, so I decided to head back to my room. This involves going back toward Building 66, then emerging on the ground level and walking about . forty or fifty feet. Once you leave the infinite, you are presented with the tunnel toward 16. Logically, you obey the sign of No Access and turn as indicated. (Yes, there is a very usable staircase that acts as a shortcut.) On your way toward 66, you pass many labs, each with an emergency shower out front. This one looks as if it was once utilized, judging by the wall damage. Once in 66, you can turn to view an interesting room full of old, deactivated computer equipment. Unfortunately, the room is locked, the light is on and a window on the door makes you wish you were inside. Opposite this room lies another room with Keep Out inscribed on the face of the double doors. If that werent enough, the windows are painted some kind of opaque gold color, obscuring your view of the rooms contents. Some helpful wanderer stripped a small area of paint, giving just enough of an opening for my camera lens. ;-) Yes, terribly secret goods that belong behind doors marked Keep Out. We also observe an ancient freight elevator, capacity 5,000 pounds and the Alfred Henry and Jean Morrison Hayes Analytical Laboratory, in which lots of analysis occurs atop these bare cabinets. Standard lab equipment: shop vac! ;-) Okay, back into the main walkway, toward the staircase leading me to 66s lobby I come across the entry to some kind of facility with bored employees. A window in the door affords me a prime view of their collection of fruit stickers, helpfully arranged next to a cluster of mail inboxes. Can you make out some brands? ;-) I see Chiquita and Sunkist. Okay, it was time to get back to my room. Stay tuned for a fun day trip idea!

Top 10 SAT Test Prep Tips and Tricks

Taking any test is difficult. Thats a fact. The redesigned  SAT has its own set of rules that you must know in order to score well. Fortunately, the test tips here will maximize your time because they follow the SAT rules. Use Process of Elimination (POE)   Get rid of as many wrong choices as you can before answering a question. Wrong answers are often easier to find. Look for extremes such as never, only, and always in the reading test; look for opposites in the math section, such as a substitution of -1 for 1. Look for words that sound similar in the writing and language test,  such as conjunctive and subjunctive. Answer Every Question You are no longer penalized for incorrect answers. The redesigned SAT has reversed its penalty of 1/4 point for incorrect answers, so guess, guess, guess away after using the process of elimination.  That said, you dont just want to go at the questions willy-nilly. (See the Slow Down section below.) Write in the Test Booklet   Use your pencil to physically scratch out wrong choices, write down formulas and equations, solve math problems, outline, paraphrase, and underline to help you read. No one is going to read what you write in the test booklet, so use it to your advantage. Transfer Your Questions at the End of Each Section Instead of going back and forth between the Scantron answer form and the test booklet, just write your answers in the test booklet and transfer them over at the end of every section or page. Youll make fewer mistakes and save time. There is nothing worse than getting to the end of a section and realizing you dont have an oval to fill in for the last question.   Slow  Down   Its very difficult to finish all the problems and maintain accuracy. Slow down a little bit, and answer fewer questions correctly instead of guessing at the entire lot. You’ll get a better score if you answer 75 percent of the questions on the test and answer them correctly than if you answer all of them and get 50 percent correct. Choose Which Questions to Answer First You do not have to complete the test sections in order. No, you cant jump from math to writing, but you can certainly skip around inside each section. If youre stuck on a difficult question on the reading test, for example, by all means, circle the question in your test booklet and move on to a simpler question. You dont get any extra points for more difficult questions. Get the easy point when you can! Use the Order of Difficulty to Your Advantage in Math Because the SAT Math section is loosely arranged from easiest to most difficult, the seemingly obvious answers to problems toward the beginning of a section may actually be correct. If youre in the final third of a section, though, beware of the obvious answer choices—theyre probably distracters. Do Not Give Your Opinion in the SAT Essay Even though the SAT essay is now optional, youll still probably need to take it. But it isnt like the essay of the past. The redesigned SAT essay asks you to read an argument and critique it. You are no longer be asked to give your opinion; rather, you need to tear someone elses opinion apart. If you spend your 50 minutes writing a persuasive essay, youre going to bomb it. Cross-Check Your Ovals If you have time at the end of a section, cross-check your test-booklet answers with your Scantron ovals. Make sure you didnt miss a question. Dont Second-Guess  Yourself Trust your gut. Statistics prove that your first answer choice is usually correct. Do not go back through the test and change your answers unless youve found evidence that you are absolutely incorrect.

Self-Regulated Learning - 850 Words

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a social-cognitive model that conceptualizes effective learning as a cyclical process of evaluating cognitive and motivational processes during academic tasks.† (Ness and Middleton, 2011, p. 268). The three-phase cycle includes planning, performance, and self-evaluation. In SRL, learning is guided by metacognition, strategic action, and motivation to learn. â€Å"Self-regulated† describes a process of taking control of and evaluating one’s own learning and behavior. SRL emphasizes autonomy and control by the individual who monitors, directs, and regulates their actions toward goals of information acquisition, expanding knowledge, and self-improvement. Self-regulated learners are aware of their academic†¦show more content†¦Attention Control Attention control requires students to clear their minds of distracting thoughts, as well as providing them with an environment that is conducive to learning. Removing stimuli tha t may cause distractions and providing students with frequent breaks can result in more focused time spent on-task. Flexible Use of Strategies By introducing and modeling (model, model, model!) new strategies, as well as providing appropriate amounts of scaffolding, students can become independent strategy users. Self-Monitoring Self-monitoring can be utilized in the classroom through the use of checklists that aid students in tracking the number of times they worked on a particular learning task, the strategies they used, and the amount of time spent working. Help-Seeking Positive help-seeking behaviors can be promoted by providing students with on-going progress feedback that they can easily understand and by allowing students the opportunity to resubmit assignments after making appropriate changes. Self-Evaluation Self-evaluation enables students to evaluate their learning strategies and make adjustments. Self-evaluation can be promoted in the classroom by helping students monitor their learning goals and strategy use, and then making changes to those goals and strategies based upon learning outcomes. In summary, self-regulated learners are able to set short- andShow MoreRelatedSelf Regulated Learning1355 Words   |  6 PagesSelf-Regulated Learning Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century. (Alfred Perlman). As he said, there is no doubt that learning is a very important skill especially in modern society because of the knowledge explosion and rapid developing of information technology. However, there are different results with different learning methods. Good learning method can lead to success easier, on the contrary, poor learning method means wasting time and energy. ThereforRead MoreWhy Do People Interest And University Or University?1005 Words   |  5 Pagesnot know a student’s ability to self-monitor levels of understanding and predict how well he will do on a particular task.’ Metacognition is the strategy thinking the thinking to figure a way to know ourselves much better in particular task. The practice of metacognitive learning lead to greater success in college or university, because this is like a guide book with the specific ways showing what you need to do and a t ool to identify your abilities. It makes use self-regulation, identify ourselvesRead MoreHigh School Students : A Interview At Alain Leroy Locke1616 Words   |  7 Pagesinterviewed was a College Adviser, placed through USC, at Diego Rivera Learning Complex. While the first interview was conducted on site at Locke, the second interview was conducted on campus at USC. For both interviews, I came equipped with my questions already printed out and ready for me to write my interviewees responses down. In discussing the challenges that both the counselor and adviser experience in terms of learning, it is important to first understand the population of students that bothRead MoreHigh School Students : A Interview At Alain Leroy Locke1615 Words   |  7 Pagesinterviewed was a College Adviser, placed through USC, at Diego Rivera Learning Complex. While the first interview was conducted on site at Locke, the second interview was conducted on campus at USC. For both interviews, I came equi pped with my questions already printed out and ready for me to write my interviewees responses down. In discussing the challenges that both the counselor and adviser experience in terms of learning, it is important to first understand the population of students that bothRead MoreSocial Cognitive Model Of Self Regulated Learning Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pagesable to regulate cognition, motivation and behaviors in learning are key factors to success, and students with disabilities often struggle in these areas (Wagner, M., Newman, L., Cameto, R., Levine, P., 2005). Although there is little research focusing on self-regulation of students with disabilities, models and strategies have been developed to support all students in successful learning (Zimmerman, Bandura, Martinez-Pons, 1992). Self-regulation is the ability to stay calmly focused and alertRead MoreOpen Learner Model As A Tool For Self Regulated Learning1603 Words   |  7 PagesOpen Learner Model as a Tool for Self-regulated Learning Research Question An Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) is a computer-assisted instructional system designed using artificial intelligence to simulate a human tutor and customize instruction. Traditionally ITS had a three-component architecture: domain model, student model, and tutoring model (Self, 1990). Later, a fourth component, user interface, was added, and now ITS is commonly known to have a four-component architecture. Domain modelRead MoreChildren s Academic Achievement, And The Mediation Role Of Self Regulated Learning850 Words   |  4 Pageschildren s academic achievement, and the mediation role of self-regulated learning. In line with earlier findings, the results of this study showed parental involvement is positively linked to children s academic achievement. 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In addition, the functions of self-regulated learning strategies are affected by individual factors such as virtual competenceRead MoreI Am Learning Interview Techniques From Wicklander Zulawski Associates, Inc.965 Words   |  4 PagesSelf-Regulated Learning Describe one topic that you are currently attempting to learn. Explain your motivation for learning about this topic. Currently I am learning interview techniques from Wicklander-Zulawski Associates, Inc. This course teaches me how to conduct interviews and interrogations leading to admissions from the guilty while eliminating the innocent from suspicion. I will learn to identify truthful and untruthful behavior along with powerful new ideas to obtain confessions fromRead MorePersuasive Speech : Meaningful Instruction Takes Place When Students Take Charge Of Their Own Learning Essay1091 Words   |  5 PagesLESSON INTRO Meaningful instruction takes place when students take charge of their own learning. 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One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Free Essays

The only constant is change. It is inevitable that every person throughout their life will transform in some way—for good or for bad. Changing for the better usually starts with a selfish, egotistic person who is trying to be less interested in him/herself, and more interested in others. We will write a custom essay sample on One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, this type of transformation is easily recognized. â€Å"When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness~Joseph Campbell. McMurphy parellels the previous quote by Joseph Campbell, and by examining his actions and relationships, the reader is able to see that he is transformed from an originally selfish man into a self-less hero. Randal Patrick McMurphy is introduced as an extremely selfish man who will do anything to benefit his own personal gain. This is evidently displayed through the description of his past actions, and also through the way he treats the other patients on the ward. Motivated by self-interest throughout his life, McMurphy’s past can not only be labeled as that of a criminal, but of an egotistical criminal who completely disregards the feelings of others repeatedly. â€Å"McMurry, Randle Patrick. Committed by the state from Pendleton Farm for Correction. For diagnosis and possible treatment. Thirty-five years old. Never married. Distinguished Service Cross in Korea, for leading an escape from a Communist prison camp. A dishonorable discharge, afterward, for insubordination. Followed by a history of street brawls and barroom fights and a series of arrests for Drunkenness, Assault and Battery, Disturbing the Peace, repeated gambling, and one arrest—for Rape. † (Kesey 44) The charges that Randall proudly displays while he is introducing himself manifests that his character is irresponsible on account of his behaviour for Drunkenness, violent—shown through Assault and Battery charges, and deranged which is evident in his arrest for Rape. Each of these characteristics that make up his criminal personality can be associated with that of an extremely selfish and negligent man. Furthermore, McMurphy displays his mercenariness when it comes to his repetitive gambling. Not only was McMurphy charged for this in the past, but his disregard for the rules and his lack of sensitivity for the well being of others allow him to continue to gamble with the patients in the Oregon asylum. McMurphy is constantly hassling the patients to gamble with him on subjects such as poker, the Chief lifting the control panel, and McMurphy driving Big Nurse insane—with the knowledge that he is going to win. Many of the patients in the ward are in debt because of McMurphy. â€Å"How much did you lose, Bruce? Mr. Sefelt? Mr. Scanlon? I think you all have some idea what your personal losses were, but do you know what his total winnings came to, according to deposits he has made at Funds? Almost three hundred dollars. † (222) Treating his fellow patients like this and disregarding the consequences that they will face due to his gambling, McMurphy show’s the reader that he is only there to benefit himself. The once selfish personality that McMurphy heavily displays in the beginning of the novel is starting to undergo change. The fishing trip that McMurphy plans for the patients is a distinct event where the reader is able to see a transformation because he shows characteristics of his selfish side, but also of his new self-less personality. Before going on the fishing trip, McMurphy cheated the other patient’s by charging them too much money. â€Å"Seventy dollars? So? I thought you told the patients you’d need to collect a hundred dollars plus ten of your own to finance the trip Mr. McMurphy. † (197) Big Nurse questions McMurphy until it is completely obvious that he was making money off of taking the patients on this trip. Contrasted to this act however, while on the boat McMurphy helps each of the men to act for, and stand up for themselves. He teaches them to laugh, fish, and act like a man even though they have been suppressed from their ability to do so with Big Nurse. â€Å"They could sense a change that most of us were only suspecting; these weren’t the same bunch of weak-knees from a nuthouse that they’d watched take their insults on the dock this morning. (215) McMurphy set aside his time to help these men because he could tell they needed to learn for themselves—it was only then that they would be able to stick up to Big Nurse. He is becoming more and more aware of the responsibility he has on teaching and leading the men. Another event where both sides of Macks’ (McMurphys’) personalities are displayed is thro ugh the simple action that he takes by standing up to the Nurse. Cheswick takes great pride in McMurphy’s actions and starts to follow them. However, when McMurphy finds out he is committed, he completely disregards the importance of his status, nd stops helping Cheswick— who commits suicide right after he says â€Å"I do wish something mighta been done though.. † (151) After this incident, McMurphy’s rebellious nature goes from self-interest to devotion of helping the other inmates, and he enshrines himself in being an example for them so that nobody ever gets hurt like Cheswick did. Once McMurphy realizes how important the power and responsibility that he has put on himself is, the transformation from a self-interested criminal into a respected hero was complete. He dedicates his time, and well-being to aid the others patients who could not do so for themselves. McMurphy was their hero. In the showers one day, George—a germophobe—was having a tough time with the black boys and could not defend himself. In seeing this, McMurphy stepped in: â€Å"I said that’s enough, buddy† (229) McMurphy repeatedly argued, and fought with the boys’ until he was taken away by aides of the Disturbed ward. The punishment: Electroshock Therapy. In this situation, McMurphy was not previously aware of the consequences, but still gave himself to helping another. Following this incident, McMurphy is well aware of the consequences he would face—but still made a conscious decision to do all that he is able to for his friends. A hero is considered to be a man noted for nobility and courage; especially one who has risked his life. McMurphy is a hero; a martyr; a figure of Christ. After Billy had slit his throat due to the tyrannous power of the Nurse, McMurphy attacked her. Knowing full well that this action would result in a lobotomy, he did it anyways for Billy and the others on the ward. Even though he sacrificed his own life, he stood against oppressive powers and displayed to the others his bravery and loyalty. â€Å"We couldn’t stop him because we were the ones making him do it. It wasn’t the nurse that was forcing him, it was our need that was making him push himself†¦ It was us that had been making him go on for weeks, keeping him standing long after his feet and legs had given out, weeks of making him wink and grin and laugh and go on with his act long after his humour had been parched dry between two electrodes. (267) Easily compared to Christ, McMurphy acted as a saviour and saint to his fellow men. His death was dignified, and it was for other people. A truly heroic transformation was completed throughout McMurphy’s commitance at the Oregon State Asylum. He started out as a self-involved criminal who was treating the fellow patients poorly, and slowly became more herioc as he showed signs of helping the men, mixed with his old self ish ways. Ending off, Randal P. By examining his actions and relationships, McMurphy is finally seend as a man who sacrificed himself for a greater cause; he evolved into a hero. How to cite One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Essay examples One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Free Essays Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a Classic American novel that is filled with correlating events that portray women as monsters through misogynistic actions and language. Throughout time, society advocated that man was the dominate role that was in charge in almost every aspect, while women stayed at home and were inferior figures. However, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest shows how society acts misogynistic, or shows hatred towards women, when there is a reversal of these stereotypical gender roles; women are instantly depicted as monsters and uniformly terrifying. We will write a custom essay sample on One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest or any similar topic only for you Order Now McMurphy’s actions in the ward, Kesey establishing women as over-oppressive, and women being portrayed as terrifying figures all illustrate how society acts misogynistic when there is a reversal in the roles of men and women. The man figure thrives off being dominant and in control, and when that power is threatened or not in place, male figures instantly bash the women society. McMurphy’s actions towards the nurse, such as disrespecting the nurse, indicate misogynistic qualities as it signifies women do not deserve respect. When McMurphy is enrolled in the hospital, Nurse Ratched has a set of rules set forth that everyone is to comply to so they can become healthy. However, McMurphy being the misogynistic character that he is, starts a war between the nurse and himself as he finds the rules overbearing. McMurphy then shows a hatred of women as he disrespects the nurse and fails to comply to the rules she set in place. He begins by being loud and obnoxious and disrupting the peace in the ward, and when the nurse asks him to quiet down he only becomes more difficult by showing his naked body. The nurse goes to confront him about being loud and â€Å"McMurphy steps out of the latrine door right in front of her holding that towel around his hips† (86). The nurse states that he cannot run around the ward revealing his body, but only laughs in her face and gets a kick out of her being uncomfortable. By lacking the wherewithal to comply to such simple rules that were established by the women work force reveals a sense of misogyny in the novel. He is not only disrespecting and establishing his hatred for the nurse and the women in the hospital, he is teaching the other patients that it is okay to have a hate for women. When McMurphy is forced to attend the meetings that are meant to help each patient get problems off their chest, he states that â€Å"she’s a bitch and a buzzard and a ball cutter† (54) for bringing up Harding’s issues with his wife. Nurse Ratched sees that the issues that Harding experiences with is wife are part of the reason why he is wrapped up in a mental ward, and McMurphy only uses misogynistic language to describe the nurse. McMurphy continues to show his misogynistic characteristics has he disobeys the rules of the ward at a higher level; he physically harms another patient. When McMurphy is trying to be restrained for fighting he only â€Å"drove a fist square in the center of the white, starched chest† (237) of the aide that worked for the nurse. The fight in the shower only further signifies the hatred of women that McMurphy had. He decided to disrupt the peace in the ward and not only make the life difficult for the nurse but difficult for her workers. Kesey strengths the idea of misogyny as he establishes the nurse and other female characters, such as the nurse, as over-oppressive figures who emasculate the male characters. The purpose of the ward is to enable patients to receive treatment that will help them get better so they can function in society. However, Kesey implies that women are merely characters who are detrimental to the male’s as they castrate them. For instance, Chief Bromden’s mother is portrayed as this overbearing character who turned his father into a weak alcoholic from a big strong chief. The chief’s father was a big man and married a women from Dallas, and he signifies that the emasculating began as his mother made them take on her last name, Bromden. The Chief proceeds to portray his mother as an emasculator as he states, â€Å"my mother made him to little to fight any more and he gave up† when the government was trying to take away his tribe and land (188). Thus, a sense of hatred is brought forth as the Chief is stating that women will turn you form a big, strong man into a weak alcoholic, just as his mother did to his father. Similarly, Billy Bibbit’s mother will not let him develop sexually and treats him as an infant to be watched over by the nurse. When Billy goes and has sex with Candy, the prostitute, he gains this sense of manhood and dominance. However, the nurse is portrayed as an emasculator as she threatens to tell Billy’s mother that he has had sex; ultimately taking away the manhood he briefly gained. The nurse states, â€Å"Mrs. Bibbit’s always been so proud of your decision. I know she has. This is going to disturb her terribly. You know how she is when she gets disturbed, Billy; you know how ill the poor women can become† (271). Scared of loosing his mother’s love Billy’s voice â€Å"scraped the white, bare walls of the seclusion room† and he â€Å"lifted his chin so he was shouting at the moon of light in the ceiling† (271). After Billy commits suicide over the situation, and everyone suggests that the nurse is the reason Billy killed himself. Thus, the idea of misogyny is further noticeable in the text as Kesey is applying that women are these over bearing individuals that strip men of their manhood. Within in the novel, Kesey illustrates the demeanor of the women character as terrifying and almost monster like. This creates a misogynistic undertone within the text as women are not being portrayed as a nurturing figure, they are these terrifying people that the men are afraid of. Right away the image of the nurse is depicted as this huge monster like an image that punishes for any wrong doing. In the beginning of the novel the aides of the nurse are slacking from their job, and as the nurse sees them mumbling together in a group Chief Bromden indicates that she is going to â€Å"tear the black bastards limb from limb† and that she â€Å"blows up bigger and bigger, as big as a tractor† (5). The nurse is being portrayed as this beast like figure that takes on this hideous form whenever she is unhappy with people and their actions. Fundamentally, there is a misogynistic setting being set forth as the Chief is indicating that a women in power, such as the nurse, takes on these hideous qualities. Rather then being depicted as upset or annoyed with the aides, any nurturing and loving qualities are instantly stripped as she is described as a creature. In a sense women being terrifying figures is further evident as Harding, a patient in the ward, proclaims, â€Å"We are victims or matriarchy here, my friend, and that doctor is just as helpless as we are. He knows all Ratched has to do is pick up that phone you see sitting at her elbow and call the supervisor and mention, oh, say, that the doctor seems to be making a great number of requisitions for Demerol† (56). Ultimately the Nurse is being portrayed as this terrifying figure that must be obeyed, and when disobeyed she can have it so you are addicted to the strongest drugs possible. A misogynistic undertone is being established as it is evident that Kesey is attempting to insinuate that women in the text are centralized on having complete and utter control rather then on helping patients get better. Another character that underlings the misogynic undertone in the novel is Billy Bibbit’s mother; she is a terrifying figure in the eyes of Billy. Billy has dreams of going to college and looking for a wife, however, when he brings these topics up with his mother â€Å"she only tickled him with the fluff and laughed at such foolishness† (254). Thus, women are being presented as these terrifying figures that will not let you escape from their grasp. They want to have complete control so they can always establish the rules. Society is based of the status quo of men and women; men love being in control over the women and dictating the rules of a society. However, when a women seizes power in a particular culture there can be a sense of misogyny that is established. Such examples of McMurphy’s barbaric actions in the ward, Kesey establishing women as controlling figure, and women being noted as feared all underline misogynistic qualities that a society takes on when males are upset with a women in power. These qualities all are detrimental to the women society; they are not being illustrated as caring and loving, they are presented as people who create a struggle for everyone else. Just as the society of the mental ward has a hatred for Nurse Ratched, they take on these qualities in attempt to force her to leave, so they can be set free from her grasp. They want a new leader for the ward and by being misogynistic they believe that it will cause the nurse to leave as no one wants to live hated in a society. Furthermore, the ward acts with misogyny as they strive to tire the nurse out from all the stress being created so that she will eventually break down and give up her position. How to cite One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Papers One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Free Essays One flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a tale of rebellion against the obvious authority cloaked within the walls of an insane asylum and redemption through it. The setting is one played out many times before in various hero stories. A man enters a foreign place, meets oppressed indigenous people, decides to help them see the light, and gives his life for the greater good. We will write a custom essay sample on One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this case the protagonist is not the narrator, but rather McMurphy, a con-man and gambler who fixes his way out of hard labor and into a seemingly cushy hospital setting. Little does he realize he just signed his freedom away to Gestapo dressed as nurses. From the moment he steps into the hospital his freedom is questioned. The nurses acting as dictators, especially Nurse Ratched, try to take complete control of every patient, of every aspect, and the more one struggles the harder their life becomes. For McMurphy what is a challenge to established sanction in the beginning, becomes a fight for the freedom of all patients in the end. The power of the nurses dictatorship runs in three themes throughout the book; false diagnoses of illness, women emasculating men, and social destruction of natural impulses and drives. The emasculation of men is a theme found through out the entire novel. Not only are the men weakened through embarrassment, but also destroyed through castration. Seeing the men gathered for their talks with the nurses was just one of the many ways the men were destroyed emotionally. Bromden himself commented on this torture of patience which in a sense took their balls. The struggle there is not against just one woman but an entire system. A matriarchy set up with easily controllable subordinates to Ratched and watchdogs who are the men full of anger working underneath her. This power struggle is not an unknown phenomenon to the men there as most of the patients have had controlling women in their lives before. One great example of this is the mother of the narrator who is a woman that took control just as the women of the hospital. Bromdens mother turned his father into an alcoholic weakling and even made him take her last name further weakening the chief. Another example came later in the novel when McMurphy commissioned a prostitute to sleep with Billy. This form of therapy did seem to help him recover, however Nurse Ratched threatened to tell his mother because of which he committed suicide. This idea of suicide was not the only one as another of the patients castrated himself and others commented that all a man had to do was wait a bit. Moving further into the oppression of men we step into the realms of the destruction of impulse. The novel makes a strong distinction between the natural and the mechanical. Bromden, being a man of the land and the son of a Native American chief, is the embodiment of nature trapped within social confines. He is born free as he hunts with his father as a child until the government buys out the land and so starts his battle to regain his place in nature. The hospital and the staff are all seen as agents of the unnatural. The staff is described as consisting of mechanical parts and the hospital it self has is a machine at the control of Ratched. Bromden goes on to describe a fog machine that is used to fill the hospital and cloud the vision of the patients. This of course is symbolic for the clouding of judgment and in effect the manipulation of sanity as a mind unable to see clearly will not be one to make sound decisions. McMurphy’s entrance into the hospital is a representation of natural impulse and raw sexuality clashing directly with the mechanical. As he walks in he laughs and Bromden comments how that is the first real laugh he has heard in long time. Later in the novel McMurphy brags about his conquests of a young girl which led to his incarceration adding to social constraints presented in the story. As the novel nears end McMurphy does free many of the patients which symbolizes the return to the natural and a weakening of authoritative grip when they walk out of the hospital. This however, is directly tied in to him loosing his mind via lobotomy. This brings the final theme for the subjugation of freedom found within the story; false diagnosis. Sometime before McMurphy ever stepped foot in the asylum there was a rebel before him. Though this man did not seem to challenge the system as harshly as McMurphy he was not a roll over either. He did, however question the process which is evident from his inquiry to the medication he was taking. He was treated via intense electro shock therapy and lobotomy from which he lost his ability to reason, his fighting spirit, and indeed his personality. The man became a human cow for which he was later released and praised as cured by Nurse Ratched. This was an erroneous diagnosis as the man was perhaps as healthy as most. The issue was brought up in the novel stating that a man of sound mind questions, however it is insane to do so at the challenge of authority as majority rules. The case was very much the same for McMurphy. When he rebelled he was not seen as a man rebelling but a patient loosing a grip on reality. Though, it is unclear whether Nurse Ratchet really saw it that way, it would seem that she was too concerned with having absolute control to care for the peoples well being. This in turned caused to the patients treated inhumanly within the hospital and leant to the fear of leaving. What happened in the hospital was tragic and in many ways analogous to a dictatorship of a nation. When a dictator has absolute control of a country the people must have a fear instilled in them in order to remain in control. This is how the hospital operated with Ratched unchallenged based on the fear of what she may do to the men there. This was the case until McMurphy showed them to live out side the confines of a mental prison of fear. How to cite One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Essay examples

The Importance of the Ozone Essay Example For Students

The Importance of the Ozone Essay The Importance of the OzoneLike an infection that grows more and more virulent, the continent-size hole in Earths ozone layer keeps getting bigger and bigger(Beyond Discovery). The ozone is a protective layer that occurs naturally in the stratosphere, 6 to 28 miles in altitude. Each year, since the late 1970s, much of the ozone layer above Antarctica has disappeared, creating what is popularly known as the ozone hole. This hole now measures about 9 million square miles, nearly the size of North America. Less dramatic, but still significant, depletion of ozone levels has been recorded around the globe. With less ozone in the atmosphere, more ultraviolet radiation strikes Earth, causing more skin cancer, eye damage, and possible harm to crops. We will write a custom essay on The Importance of the Ozone specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The main causes of ozone depletion are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), such as coolants, aerosols, and fire extinguishers. When CFCs are released, they rise into the ozone layer. The UV (ultraviolet) radiation then releases chlorine from the CFCs. Chlorine is a chemical that disintegrates the ozone. Other everyday items that contribute Cottrell 2to the devastation of the ozone include household refrigerants and exhaust fumes emitted from automobiles. Without the ozone layer the health of every single living being on planet Earth would be jeopardized. Ozone depletion leads to an increased exposure to ultraviolet light, which can cause many health problems. Exposure to ultraviolet light greatly increases the risks of skin cancer and cataract development. Skin cancers are very treatable in their early stages but very deadly in the advanced stages. Cataracts are growths in the eyes that cloud vision and can lead to blindness. Increased UV exposure also causes decreased growth of phytoplankto n. This is the light-sensitive organism that not only forms the base of the oceans food web, but also is responsible for removing much of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Last, a thinning ozone layer would produce lower crop yields. Some crops, such as rice, are sensitive to ultraviolet light. Increased UV exposure could make these crops less productive or even kill them. Much of the world relies on rice as a primary source of food. The people who need it most are destroying the ozone layer. This problem can be traced back to the overwhelming increase in the worlds population. With more people on the planet, there will be use of more automobiles, CFCs, and refrigerants. In turn, an increase in these products will yield an increase in air pollution. Finally, these pollutants eat away at the ozone and slowly increase the size of the already humungous hole above Antarctica. Cottrell 3There are many ways in which we can help prevent ozone depletion. Obviously, the best way is to eliminate all ozone-destroying chemicals, but some of these chemicals are important to modern technology and manufacturing. The United States has regulations prohibiting some ozone-destroying chemicals and limiting the use of others through Title VI of the Clean Air Act. Also, the US is a participant in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international treaty that aims to reduce and eventually eliminate the emissions of man-made ozone-depleting substances. In order to eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals, usable alternatives must be developed. The CFC-free coolants and aerosol propellants that have been on the market for a number of years are examples of such development. There are other ways to help avoid a disastrous future, as well. Automobile owners can ask if refrigerants from their vehicle will be recovered and recycled during servicing. They can also see about converting their car to a substitute refrigerant if the air-conditioning system needs major repair. Most importantly, repair all leaks in the air conditioning system. About 80 million cars on the road today use CFC refrigerants in their air conditioning systems. If leaky systems were repaired, it would prevent the release of about 30 million pounds of CFCs this year. .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf , .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .postImageUrl , .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf , .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:hover , .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:visited , .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:active { border:0!important; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:active , .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u83862f84fe96f9256d2e99b92eebdbcf:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Comparing Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The EssayAt home, it is crucial to repair air conditioners. This step alone prevents ozone-depleting refrigerants from escaping. Also, remove the refrigerant from refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers before disposing them. Removing the refrigerant before disposal of old refrigerators alone would prevent the release of about 4 million pounds of CFCs each year. The used refrigerant can be recycled and reused. Cottrell 4If the ozone layer were extinguished, life on this planet would be nearly impossible. Our world would be filled with deadly ultraviolet radiation. The ozone protects all life by absorbing 99% of UV ra diation. Theres not much that can be done about the increasing world population, but there are steps that can be taken to avoid products that are harmful to the ozone layer. It makes no sense to not protect what has always protected us. There is not much of a choice in the matter. Cottrell 5Works CitedBeyond Discovery, The Ozone Depletion Phenomenon. 1998. National Academy of Sciences. 20 Nov. 2001(www4.nationalacademies.org/beyond/beyonddiscovery.nsf)Canning, Kate. Antarctic ozone Hole Shows Sign of Recovery. Pollution EngineeringDec. 1999: 3. Levy, Elizabeth. No More Ozone Hole? E Magazine: The Environmental MagazineJan./Feb. 1999: 21. Ozone Hole Report. Chemical Week Oct. 31 2001: 41. R. M. Ozone Hole is Smaller than Last Year. Science News Oct. 23 1999: 270The Ozone Hole Sets a Record. Earth Island Journal Winter 2000: 15.

Free Essays on March Of Madness

Listening to the music: Social Problems in Song Mini-Assignment 1 Cory Rossin The song that I have selected with respect to a social problem (Global) is â€Å"March of Death† by Zack De La Rocha lead singer of â€Å"Rage Against Machine†. The intention of this article is to inform the reader of the expressive opinion in reference to the Iraqi war in conjunction with the sociological conflict theory imposed by Karl Marx. â€Å"March of Death implies several messages towards the act of war; consequences and political agendas within the U.S.A. government. â€Å"I won’t toe or defend, instead I curse at murderous men in suits or professionals who act like animals†. This bold statement refers to the new method of colonialism; multi-national corporations who exploit and conquer resources in countries that possess abundant supplies of tangible material and inexpensive labor. Who is in control? Who can repress the American leader, another intriguing statement by the songwriter. Finally the most important message of all, the destructive outcomes of war; thousands of helpless, innocent civilians disfigured and executed by the hands of Goliath himself. The Social problem is evident throughout this song, war and political propaganda a method of achieving the world’s precious energy, oil. In today’s world war is not just a social problem but also a malicious execution of all humanity; in theoretical terms war exhibits all three foundations of a social problem, origin, definition, and treatment (Fleras 2001,10). For conflict theorists war is an inevitable clash between inequalities of wealth, power, privilege, delivered through institutional means within a capitalist system. â€Å"Social problems are inherent in those societies organized around the capitalist principles of profit, competitive individualism, and class conflict† (Fleras 2001,19). â€Å"March of Death† closely reflects the conflict theory by describing religious, ... Free Essays on March Of Madness Free Essays on March Of Madness Listening to the music: Social Problems in Song Mini-Assignment 1 Cory Rossin The song that I have selected with respect to a social problem (Global) is â€Å"March of Death† by Zack De La Rocha lead singer of â€Å"Rage Against Machine†. The intention of this article is to inform the reader of the expressive opinion in reference to the Iraqi war in conjunction with the sociological conflict theory imposed by Karl Marx. â€Å"March of Death implies several messages towards the act of war; consequences and political agendas within the U.S.A. government. â€Å"I won’t toe or defend, instead I curse at murderous men in suits or professionals who act like animals†. This bold statement refers to the new method of colonialism; multi-national corporations who exploit and conquer resources in countries that possess abundant supplies of tangible material and inexpensive labor. Who is in control? Who can repress the American leader, another intriguing statement by the songwriter. Finally the most important message of all, the destructive outcomes of war; thousands of helpless, innocent civilians disfigured and executed by the hands of Goliath himself. The Social problem is evident throughout this song, war and political propaganda a method of achieving the world’s precious energy, oil. In today’s world war is not just a social problem but also a malicious execution of all humanity; in theoretical terms war exhibits all three foundations of a social problem, origin, definition, and treatment (Fleras 2001,10). For conflict theorists war is an inevitable clash between inequalities of wealth, power, privilege, delivered through institutional means within a capitalist system. â€Å"Social problems are inherent in those societies organized around the capitalist principles of profit, competitive individualism, and class conflict† (Fleras 2001,19). â€Å"March of Death† closely reflects the conflict theory by describing religious, ...

15 Words That Will Make You Sound Smarter

15 Words That Will Make You Sound Smarter Do you remember how exciting it was when you learned to say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Didn’t you feel smart? Just because youre older, doesnt mean acronyms and emojis should be your main form of communication. After all, if you want to be successful in life, you have to make an unforgettable first impression. Why Word Choice Is Important Having a strong vocabulary allows you to communicate in a thoughtful and intelligent way. Whether youre trying to land a job, impress your 3rd-period teacher, or nail a scholarship interview, your ability to choose your words carefully will help you stand out. But here’s something to consider: overusing complex language can turn people off, so it’s best to test out a few new words at a time and see what kind of reaction you get. Chances are, you’ve seen (or maybe even used) a few of these words. And while there are hundreds of words that can make you sound smarter, some are definitely more fun (and easier) than others to use. So, the next time youre toe-to-toe with your AP English teacher, ditch the toady act and impress her with a few of these scintillating words instead. Words to Add to Your Vocabulary Accolade: a mark of acknowledgement; an honor.Even though he received numerous accolades at the senior awards night, Ben is still one of the most humble people I know.Acquiesce: to go along with something without protest, even if you dont really want to.My grandma loves the ballet and bought tickets for us to go. I really wanted to watch the basketball game, but her sweet smile eventually caused me to acquiesce.Bamboozle: conceal one’s true motives; to cheat or deceive another person.I got bamboozled by my buddy to buy him a pair of new shoes even though his mom picked up a pair yesterday.Camaraderie: trust existing between friends who spend time together; a spirit of familiarity.There was a sense of camaraderie among the soccer team after they spent two weeks together at a wilderness camp.Conundrum: a difficult problem.Looks like you have  a bit of conundrum, but thats what happens when you cheat on a test and the teacher finds out.Idyllic: peaceful, happy, pleasing.The out door classroom at our school is in an idyllic location because you can see the mountain range and several acres of forest from every open window. Impeccable: faultless or without defect; incapable of wrongdoing.Have you ever had that one teacher who won’t accept any work unless it’s impeccable? There’s no way my essays are ever going to be that perfect.Perfunctory: something done without much care or attention.You did a perfunctory job including descriptive words in this essay. Next time, I expect you to show more interest in what you are writing.Ruminate: to think about something thoroughly and in great detail.People who struggle with anxiety tend to ruminate and fixate on their thoughts. Tempestuous: identified by explosive conditions.My older brother’s tempestuous relationship with our mom has led to very little communication between the two of them.Tenuous: very weak or slight and likely to change.We’re not sure if our boating store is going to survive this harsh winter season. Your employment will remain a bit tenuous until we know the total number of sales from this month.Vacillate: to go back and forth between two points, waver between different opinions, or to be indecisive.When I ask my sister where she’s going to college, she vacillates between her two favorite schools; but I know she will eventually make the best decision for her. Vitriolic: harsh or corrosive in tone.The student body election turned into an argument reaching vitriolic levels. The two candidates ended their speeches by shouting harmful words at each other.Wheelhouse: a metaphor for an individuals area of comfort or expertise.I need you to cover this story about the construction at our school, even though it’s not in your wheelhouse. Zealous: displaying or feeling energetic support for a person, cause, etc.My neighbor has been a zealous supporter of animal rights for as long as I’ve known her. Source Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Geographical Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Geographical Information Systems - Essay Example The most important part of a GIS is the ‘gencode’ to which information is connected. It represents a geographical code to highlight a place or location anywhere in the world. A GIS shows vital data in a diagrammatic manner, displaying extended spatial locations, territorial divisions, neighborhood vicinities and their inhabitants with unparalleled clearness. The GIS displays structure upon structure of data {such as characteristics and statistics of human population, income levels, voting preferences, poverty levels, pollution rates, and Internet availability}, and the manner in which all structures work in cohesive unity. The GIS user then selects the data to structure according to the queries that need to be solved. The precise information provided by GIS is being increasingly used for public safety purposes. Public safety officials have discovered that its geospatial information is derived much more spontaneously, and is more productive as compared to data supplied by ambiguous orthodox photography due to the very fast rate at which imagery of a certain area can be displayed as well as the cost savings involved. It is estimated that GIS use has resulted in cutting short land-use and field visits by as much as 70%. Tasks like on-the-way and on-the-scene skillful planning, highlighting the precise origin of wireless calls, advance planning of interior safety and security strategies, and re-directing traffic in times of emergencies have become much easier to undertake and solve more quickly and efficiently (Earth Imaging Journal, 2005). The use of GIS as a crime-fighting tool is increasing in the United States. It enables the police to examine and evaluate crime trends and find precise geographic locations where some crimes are concentrated, connect those crimes to the area in which they take place, and highlight the locations

Calcium within the Human Body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Calcium within the Human Body - Essay Example A fascinating interplay of pathways and signals are involved in calcium regulation. As research and new technologies evolve, new aspects are elucidated in these complex mechanisms. Various animal models have been used in order to understand the cellular responses and the hormonal regulation (Eckermann 2008). Moe (2008) states "normal homeostatic regulation maintains serum levels, intracellular levels, and optimal mineral content in bone", summarizing the intricacy of structures and organs that contribute to "normal" levels. The major organs involved in the regulation of its metabolism are the parathyroid glands, the kidneys, the skeleton, and the gut (Wysolmerski & Insogna 2007). Our body obtains the necessary amount of calcium from two major sources: diet (through intestinal absorption) and bones (through calcium mobilization). Foods that include a high amount of calcium are diary milk, cheese yogurt, and green vegetables. The amount of calcium people need varies: young people need a high intake, so that growth and development are assured. Older women need calcium supplementation in order to prevent osteoporosis. Calcium is absorbed in the very beginning of the small bowel: duodenum and the first portion of the jejunum. The intestinal absorption is regulated by Vitamin D, and its mobil ization is tightly regulated by various hormones and signaling mechanisms, with a continuous remodeling of calcium storage. For example, if calcium is not adequately obtained from diet, a series of hormonal mechanisms are set off in order to get the necessary amount from bones; if this process is sustained for a long period of time, bones weaken. The kidneys are also important organs which regulate calcium metabolism and keep its blood levels (Choudhury & Levy 2007). In the different portions of the kidney, calcium is reabsorbed, so that equilibrium is achieved in the blood. Additionally, in both the proximal and distal nephrons, filtrated calcium is passively or actively absorbed into the bloodstream obtaining adequate levels in the urine. Those mechanisms can be modified with different drugs, which are used in certain conditions such as renal calculi. To review the impact of kidney disease in calcium metabolism, Hamdy (2007) has published an article where he explains the role of chronic kidney disease and the major disturbances seen in bone and mineral metabolism. A review of calcium metabolism would not be complete without addressing bone processes. Bone undergoes remodeling in all life stages, but certainly this process is faster in younger individuals, and more significant in trabecular bone than cortical bone. Normal bones are formed by different substances. Most of the body's calcium is stored in the bones, along with phosphorus and, mostly, as calcium phosphate salts. The great majority (almost 99%) of the calcium is found in the skeleton and approximately 1% moves freely from and into the bones (Matos 2008). Two principal cells regulate bone formation and destruction: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts resorb bone and are formed by numerous monocytes that fuse and take shape of a multinucleated cell. On the other hand, osteoblasts deposit new bone and arise from mesenchymal cells. The remainder component of bone

Innovation And Technology Management Media Essay

Innovation And Technology Management Media Essay Ever since cameras were developed, it had evolved into many different types. This report will be focusing on the improvement of different types of camera, from film to digital used by consumers. A few case studies of camera makers will also be included to show how innovation affects each company. A camera is a device that captures images and the images were stored in the device or transmitted to another location. These images may be still or moving images. Still images means photograph while moving images can be videos or movies. The term camera was from the word camera obscura which was an early mechanism used to project images. Camera obscura is an optical device which can project surrounding image on a screen and used in drawing and for entertainment. Camera obscura consists of a box with an opening in one side. The light from an external scene passes through the hole and strikes a surface inside causing an image of the scene being reproduced but was turned upside down, with the color and perspective being preserved. The image will then be projected onto a piece of paper and traced which produced a highly accurate representation of the scene. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Camera_obscura_box.jpg/220px-Camera_obscura_box.jpg Figure 1: Drawing of camera obscura A camera may work with the light of the visible spectrum or with other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It generally consists of an enclosed hollow box with an opening in one side for external light to pass through and a recording or viewing surface for capturing the light at the other side. Most of the cameras will have a lens being placed at the front of the cameras opening which is used to gather the incoming light and focus all or part of the image to the recording or viewing surface. The sizes of the opening are mostly controlled by using a diaphragm mechanism but some of them will use a fixed size opening. Most of the cameras today use an electronic image sensor for storing photographs on flash memory. Before that, from the 20th century, photographic films were used For a typical still camera, it takes a photo at a time when the user presses the shutter button unless the user uses continuous fire mode. As for a typical movie camera, it continuously takes 24 film frames per second when the shutter is pressed and holds on until the shutter is released. Some movie camera works by pressing the shutter button once and the second time will stop it. http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThEehclSMeXPhA1DEisnDoFw1w5_YCT5-6TFcNfv5q30kXSs-p-g http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxh6ovUrXMGAZPP7tlsthvgrJ5jiMvKJD8swHykuo80AdRgOGT Figure 2: Digital still camera Figure 3: Digital movie camera Until today, cameras has evolved from the camera obscura and continued to change through many generations of photographic technology, including daguerreotypes, calotypes, dry plates, film and different types of digital cameras. Background In the past, camera obscura was used by people for drawing or viewing purposes. In 1827, the first permanent photograph was made using a sliding wooden box camera which used the concept of camera obscura to build. Although camera obscura was already available before 1827, there was no way to preserve the images produced by it apart from manually tracing the images. The preservation of the images was made possible after the invention of photographic lapel processes. These preserved images were then being called as photographs. The earliest cameras were of room sized, which were able to accommodate one or more people inside. By Niepces time, the camera technology had gradually evolved. Cameras became more compact, making portable handheld cameras which were suitable for photography possible. Although cameras technology had been keep improving, a camera in its barest form is still simply a light tight container that used a lens with iris, a shutter that has variable speeds and contains a sensitive piece of media. The media is either film or a digital sensor. http://www.photographica.nu/cameracol/dall273.jpg Figure 4: sliding wooden box camera Types of cameras Currently there are different types of camera in the market. The different types of consumers cameras are as following: Digital camera, a camera that takes video or still photographs by recording images on an electronic image sensor Remote camera, a camera placed by a photographer in areas where the photographer generally cannot be Movie camera, a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film Pocket instamatic camera, a series of inexpensive, easy-to-load camera Single-lens reflex camera, a camera that typically uses a mirror and prism system that permits the photographer to view through the lens and see exactly what will be captured Twin-lens reflex camera, a type of camera with two objective lenses of the same focal length. Video camera, a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition Camera phone, a mobile phone which is able to capture still photographs and video Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, a type of digital system cameras equipped with an interchangeable lens. Technology Developments Film Camera When the first camera was invented, it used an engraving which was placed onto a metal plate coated in bitumen and then exposed it to light. The shadowy areas of the engraving will block the light while the whiter areas allowed the light to react with the chemicals on the plate. When the metal plate was placed into a solvent, an image will appear. The photograph required eight hours of light exposure to create and after appearing, it would soon fade away. In 1839, a more convenient and effective method of photography was developed. Daguerres process fixed the image onto a sheet of silver plated copper. The silver surface was polished and coated in iodine to create a surface that was sensitive to light. The plate was then putted in a camera and exposed for a few minutes. After the image was painted by light, the plate was bathed in a solution of silver chloride. This process created a lasting image which would not change even if exposed to light. With this process, daguerreotype cameras were created. The cameras used in the daguerreotype process were made by opticians and instrument makers. The camera had a sliding box design with lens placed in the front box and a smaller box was slid into the back of the larger box. The focus was controlled by sliding the rear box forward or backwards. When the sensitized plate was placed in the camera, the lens cap would be removed to start the exposure. In 1879, the dry plate consisting of a glass negative plate with a dried gelatin emulsion was invented. The dry plates could be stored for a period of time. With this dry processes, hand held camera was now possible as it absorbed light very quickly. In 1888 the box camera which uses dry plate was introduced. The box camera was a wooden, lighted tight box with a simple lens and shutter that was factory filled with film which allows for 100 shots. The photographer pushed the shutter to produce a negative. Once the film was used up, the camera with the film still in it was mailed to the factory where the film was removed from the camera, processed and printed. The camera was then reloaded with film and returned. In 1889 flexible roll film was invented. The film has a base that was flexible, unbreakable and could be rolled. Emulsions coated on a cellulose nitrate film base made the mass produced box camera a reality. In the mid-1914, 35 mm camera was invented. The camera used 35 mm roll film which was developed based on the flexible roll films. In the early 1940s, color films were brought to the market. These films used the modern technology of dye-coupled colors in which a chemical process connects the three dye layers together to create an apparent color image. In 1948, the first Polaroid camera was sold to the public. The camera allows the photographer to create an instant photograph. The disposable camera was introduced in 1986. It was a single use camera which allowed the photographer to take photo until the film was used up. After which the photographer will send the film for processing and the camera would be disposed. Digital Camera Need to group into sub sections of point and shoot (or known as compact digital cameras), Video cams, digital SLR and include camera phones here. For each section, show examples through the use of pictures. In 1981, the first consumer camera was produced by Sony. It takes still photographs by recording image on an electronic image sensor. Digital and film cameras shared an optical system, typically using a lens with a variable diaphragm to focus light onto an image. In 1986, the first sensor used to detect megapixels was invented by Kodak. In the same year, a prototype for an analog electronic SLR camera which was able to store images digitally was created by Nikon. In early 2000, the first digital SLR directed at consumers was released by Fujifilm. In 2008, mirrorless interchangeable lens camera emerged. Unlike a digital SLR, it does not have a mirror based optical viewfinder. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Leica_M9_Framework.jpg/220px-Leica_M9_Framework.jpg Figure 4: Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera Camera Handphone In 2000, the first camera phone was developed by Sharp. The phone had 0.1 megapixels sensor and 256 color display. In 2003, Samsung introduced the first 1 megapixels camera phone. In the same year, Casio introduces the first 2 megapixels phone. In 2004, Samsung introduced the first 3.2 and 5 megapixels phone. In 2005, Samsung introduced the first 7 megapixels phone. In 2006, Samsung introduces the first infrared camera phone and the first 10 megapixels camera phone. At this time, more than 50% of the world handphone had camera in it. http://c2499022.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/samsung-sch-b600-10-megapixel-cellphone.jpg Figure 5: Samsung 10 megapixels phone In 2007, the first 5 megapixels camera phone with 3x optical zoom was introduced by Samsung. In 2008, Digital Imaging Systems announced first 9 megapixels camera phone and Samsung introduced first 8 megapixels camera phone. In 2009, Samsung introduced first 8 megapixels camera phone with touchscreen and LG launched the slimmest 8 megapixels camera phone. In the same year, Samsung also introduced first 12 megapixels camera phone with 3x optical zoom. In 2010, the first 14 megapixels camera phone was introduced by Altek and Sony ericsson introduced the first 16 megapixels camera phone. At this time, more than 81% of the worlds cell phone had camera in it. In 2012, Nokia introduced the first 41 megapixels camera phone. Nokia 808 Pureview Figure 6: Nokia 41 megapixels camera phone Cases Studies Introduction The purpose of this section is to clearly illustrate that having good innovation and technology strategy management techniques are of paramount importance to sustaining any business. The authors will analyze how major companies such as Canon remain prosperous in the market, while also analyzing the fall of a once hugely successful giant in the imaging business, Kodak. Case study of Kodaks Rise and Fall Rise of Kodak: Kodak was one of the major leading brands and pioneers of the camera making business. Founded in 1880, its rise to dominance of the imaging industry came after its introduction of color films and Instamatic camera to the market in the 1960s.The companys near monopoly of film businesses continued in the 1970s as sales skyrocketed to a point where it had 90% of film and 85% of camera sales in the United States of America according to a 2005 case study for Harvard Business School. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/22/john-naughton-kodak-lessons). Fall of Kodak: By the 1980s, the emergence of a serious competitor in Fujifilm and Kodaks dominance in the US market was undermine after Fujifilm gained a share of the market by offering lower-priced film and supplies as well as adopting very aggressive marketing which included winning sponsorship rights to be the official film of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, an opportunity which Kodak ironically passed up. During the 1990s, although Kodak tried to maintain itself as a healthy business by diversifying to other areas of business (including medical ,pharmaceutical (http://www.csub.edu/kej/documents/economic_rsch/2012-04-23.pdf),printers for both consumer and commercial use as well as chemical manufacturing.), these businesses were all bought and not developed in-house leading to income being shared (http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/01/how-fujifilm-survived). Eventually when sales from film developing and printing went into sharp decline nearing year 2000,earnings from these additional businesses simply do not scale up to the revenue gained from its core business which relied on film. In addition to the above, the development of digital photography technology and Kodaks own hesitancy of making the switch from film photography to digital photography proved to be one of the major causes of its eventual demise. This is clearly depicted as even though Kodak was a pioneer of digital cameras (Kodak first introduced it in 1975), the product was dropped as there was fear that it would threaten its core photographic film business which was hugely successful then. Sales and revenue soon begun to go into a decline with the arrival of the digital age and a change in core business model was made ultimately. Kodak soon introduced a range of digital cameras, inkjet printers as well as became one of the first to launch a photosharing website (www.ofoto.com) between the 1990s and 2000s to cope with the need to transform with the digital age. While efforts were made to transform and keep up with the digital photography, its business model and technology strategy was still flawed as Kodak still revolved around the idea of printing photos. For instance, in spite of being pioneers of photosharing online, Kodaks website merely served as a vessel for providing a service for online ordering of prints. (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57363629/why-kodak-failed-and-how-to-avoid-the-same-fate/) In addition, the authors observed that despite innovating in the correct direction enjoying huge success with its line of digital cameras in the early 2000s, Kodak failed to anticipate the dynamics of digital photography and had no alternatives when consumers are no longer interested in photo printing but, sharing photos online in social media websites such as Flickr, Instagram and Facebook. Kodak being overly diversified, adopted the wrong technology strategy and did not exploit and capitalize early on a core digital camera technology Kodak pioneered, while investing heavily in developing technology for taking pictures in mobile phones and other digital devices. As a result, this allowed other companies such as Canon, Nikon and Sony to overtake and innovate further to produce hugely successful lines of digital cameras which eventually dominate the digital photography market. Furthermore, Kodaks success with digital cameras was short-lived towards 2010 when smartphones technology advanced and begun to include powerful cameras which are just as capable as the pocket digital cameras that Kodak was manufacturing. The following figure illustrates how camera phones such as the iPhone have gained a strong foothold in the market share of most popular cameras amongst consumers. Conclusion In a nut shell while aligning our observations to the concepts of technology management, there were multiple reasons contributing to the downfall of the once powerful giant in imaging market, Kodak. But this cannot be attributed entirely to the failure of incorrect technology forecasting or a lack of innovation. In fact, a report did circulate among the leaders of Kodak depicting the eventual permanent shift from film to digital by 2010 in 1979. It can also be observed from the earlier part of this chapter that Kodak was not at a shortage in the area of innovation. Consequently, the authors believe that it was not doing the correct technology road mapping which allowed other brands of digital cameras and camera phones to overtake them in the imaging market, leading to its ultimate demise and bankruptcy. This can be broken down into following: -The over reliance on a single product for revenue (film) -Lack of in-house expertise when diversifying into other areas of business -Slow transition from film to digital age -Despite early success, failed to forecast that digital cameras would eventually have low profit margins as more companies entered the market in mid-2000s, along with the emergence of camera phones -Slow transformation from a then overly diversified chemical manufacturer to a company mainly focused on imaging Had Kodak been able to identify and develop technology alternatives before making a better technological investment decision such as perhaps investing in SLR technology or social media websites which allows photosharing such as Flickr, Kodak might have been able to avoid their present predicament. This therefore emphasizes the importance of technology road mapping, as not having alternatives for a set product needs within different timeframes can have detrimental effects on businesses overtime. Case study of Canon Background In this section the authors will analyze how Canon, a company much like Kodak in terms of innovation and diversification of businesses, manage to still stay as one of the major leaders imaging market while facing the same challenges of having to make the switch from film to digital photography and decline of photo printing. Technology Strategy and Forecasting Canon introduced Japans first ever 35-mm focal-plane-shutter camera at a time when all high-quality cameras originated form the Europe, in 1935. Immediately after its founding and similarly to Kodak, it saw the importance of diversification and acted promptly with the introduction of Japans first indirect X-ray cameras, office equipment (calculators) and notably Japans first plain paper copying machine in 1970. As a result, the company adopted the management slogan of cameras in the right hand, business machines in the left and by then the company had already globalized (branches were set up in Europe and New York) successfully as exports took up 50 % of the total sales. Unlike Kodak, Canon continued to emphasize on the importance of in-house expertise by unceasing innovation of technology with the aim of becoming the best in all major business areas, be it in imaging (both medical and consumer) or multifunctional copiers technologies. This is achieved through constant innovation efforts such as setting up collaboration with Kyoto University in joint research projects. Shortly in 1976, Canon introduced the worlds first SLR with embedded micro-computer (AE-1), delivering powerful performance and along with its good ergonomics, propelled it into worldwide popularity among amateur and professional photographers alike, marking the start of its strong foothold in the share of the imaging market besides other current majors such as Nikon and Sony up till now. Besides being a leader in imaging industry, Canon also invested greatly on innovation in the technology of printers for both business and personal use. Its multifunctional copier division was notably very successful enabling it to hold the highest market share in the industry for the last 2 decades. Conclusion While Kodak had started to slip into decline because of its over reliance on film, Canon adopted good technology strategy and demonstrated good technology road mapping by making the best technology investment decisions with focused, continual innovation on camera technology (notably SLRs) and multifunctional copier technology. Hence Canon embraced the decline of films, photoprinting and the gradual replacement of compact digital cameras by smartphones through gaining a strong position in market areas of amateur and professional photography with their innovation in digital SLRs. The figure above shows its dominance in digital photography alone with smartphones. Along with ever changing times, Canon continued to strengthen product competitiveness in major business areas which also includes multifunctional copiers. In conclusion, while Canon had many business areas, Canon were not over-diversified like Kodak and one major difference leading to Canons success in diversification was because of the in-house expertise and technology management Canon had in dedicated business areas, an implication that income would not be shared with other companies as these business areas were not bought. Conclusion Future predictions of camera industry Global Camera Industry The world photographic products market has generated sales of over $55 billion in 2010, according to MarketLine. Cameras are leading the market with a sale close to $35 billion which is more than 60% of the overall market. Growth is expected to be accelerating at a rate of more than 3% every year, bringing the whole market up to over $65 billion by 2015. This consists of cameras, optical instruments, video cameras and other photogenic equipment. Digital photography continues to take over the sales of traditional cameras and films. And this is expected with the upcoming future of the industry Market Outlook However, with technological advances companies will need to continue investing in research and development of new technologies to stay in industrys cutting edge. There will be demands of new technologies of the consumers. As mentioned previously, Canon embraced the decline of films and photoprinting by the innovation of digital cameras. With online photo sharing/storing websites like Flickr, Google Plus or even Facebook, the generation of films and photoprinting is almost over proven by what has happened to Kodak. However smart phone cameras are slowly replacing the digital cameras. (Many often people are taking photos with their iPhone or Samsungs smartphone.) The percentage of photos taken with cameras and smartphones are declining and rising individually. Smartphones now have cameras of great qualities and functionalities in terms of programs known as apps and they will slowly continue to eat into the camera market. This has been shown by the appearance of smartphone picture uploading apps or social media like Instagram, Path, Facebook and many others more. But this may not necessarily remove digital cameras totally off the market. With constant technological advances, cameras with high performance capacity will become cheaper to produce. It will become a cycle that what used to be expensive and high-end products becomes the old technology and is cheaper to produce due to the advances. So low end cameras is becoming something with more advanced features. The consumer video camera market too is declining. Consumers are using their smart phones or DSLR to shoot videos. The video camera market will only move in the higher end markets (video producers, film makers) in the near future. Conclusion From our case studies above, it shows how Kodak and Canon tried applying technology management in their company to produce innovative product to the consumer market. However economic and social factors too play a part in innovation. By looking at Canon, few reasons why they were successful in the imaging market were because of their constant innovation on SLRs , coupled with the fact they were always targeting the market share of photography hobbyists, both in entry levels and professional level photography. However even though incorporating technology and innovative management into a organization does not guarantee 100% success. It depends on many factors such as the society, economic, the current market situation or even any other external factors. Kodak had tried displaying technology and innovation management in the corporation, however they have failed. Their over reliance on a single product for revenue (film), the lack of in-house expertise when diversifying into other areas of business and their slow transition from film to digital age these were the few factors that has caused their downfall of today. Our predications for the next 10 years: à ¢-  3D still and moving pictures will become standard in the next 5 years à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cameras will have more on-board processing software that perfects the final image without the need for a computer à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Images to be printed on and saved to wafer-thin electronic paper called e-paper. Recently showcased by LG this flexible, full colour display is the wave of the future, and could be used in so many different products including e-readers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Immediate upload of your image once taken to your favourite internet site with Bluetooth connection for cameras http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/userfiles/file/digital_imaging_1990-2010.pdf Figure 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_obscura Figure 2 3: http://www.sony.com Figure 4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirrorless_interchangeable-lens_camera Figure 5: http://www.unwiredview.com/2007/01/09/10-megapixel-samsung-sch-b600-phone-nears-worldwide-launch/ Figure 6: http://www.nokia.com/global/products/phone/808pureview/specifications/

Financial Ratio and Costco

Acct Info for Decision Making Project on Costco Wholesale Corp. Costco Group 2012 History & Background Founded by  James (Jim) Sinegl  and  Jeffrey H. Brotman,  Costco opened its first warehouse in  Seattle, Washington, on September 15, 1983. Sinegal had started in wholesale distribution by working forSol Price  at both  FedMart  and  Price Club. Brotman, an  attorney  from an old Seattle retailing family, had also been involved in retail distribution from an early age. Wal-Mart  founder  Sam Walton  had plans to merge  Sam's Club  with Price Club.In 1993, however, Costco merged with Price Club (called  Club Price  in the Canadian province of  Quebec). Costco's business model and size were similar to those of Price Club, which was founded by Sol and Robert Price in 1976 in San Diego, California. Thus, the combined company, PriceCostco, was effectively double the size of each of its parents. Just after the merger, PriceCostco had 206 locations gen erating $16  billion in annual sales. PriceCostco was initially led by executives from both companies, but then Sol and his son Robert Price founded Price Enterprises and left Costco in December 1994.In 1993, when growing competition threatened both Price Club and Costco Wholesale, they entered into a partial merger just after Price’s earnings dropped to 40%. The new company, named PriceCostco, Inc. , focused heavily on international expansion, opening stores in Mexico, South Korea, and England. Despite best efforts to recover losses, sales continued to drop. Disagreement between the two leaders, Robert Price and Jim Sinegal, regarding company direction and recovery policies soon left the merger in tatters.In 1994, the breakup was formally announced. Sinegal continued to manage PriceCostco while Price’s breakaway company was named as Price Enterprises. The first Price Club location was opened in 1976 in an old airplane hangar,  previously owned by  Howard Hughes, and is still in operation today (Warehouse No. 401, located on Morena Boulevard in San Diego). In 1997, the company changed its name to Costco Wholesale and all Price Club locations were rebranded Costco. As of December 011, the Company operated a chain of 598 warehouses in 40 states and Puerto Rico (433 locations), nine Canadian provinces (82 locations), the United Kingdom (22 locations), Korea (seven locations), Taiwan (eight locations, through a 55%-owned subsidiary), Japan (eleven locations), Australia (three locations), and 32 warehouses in Mexico through a 50%-owned joint venture. Financial Highlights Net Revenue Year| 2012| 2011| 2010| Costco Net Revenue| 12,314,000| 11,176,000| 9,951,000| (Currency in USD) The net revenue of COST increase every year, it was a good sign.Year| 2012| 2011| 2010| Costco Net Income| 1,709,000  | 1,462,000| 1,303,000| (Currency in USD) COST did better in the following two years. And COST had most 40. 6 thousand dollars increase from 2011 to 201 2. Total Assets Year| 2012| 2011| 2010| Costco Total Assets| 27,140,000  | 26,761,000  | 23,815,000  | Costco Total Liabilities| 14,779,000  Ã‚  | 14,759,000| 12,986,000  | (Currency in USD) The total assets and liability of COST shows that the company purchased a lot of assets on its credit during these three years. That might be not a good sign, because COST might not have enough cash.Earnings per Share Year| 2012| 2011| 2010| Costco EPS| 3. 89| 3. 3| 2. 92| It’s increasing in every years. It means COST are profiting during every years so that they can paying the EPS. Financial Ratios Analysis Profitability Ratios 1. Return on Assets (ROA) Year| 2011| 2010| 2009| Costco| 5. 78%| 5. 69%| 5. 09%| Return on assets ratio is calculated by dividing net income by average total assets. Return on assets represents the cents in profits for every dollar of assets. This measures how efficiently and effectively the company uses its assets to generate profits.These numbers tell the ability of Costco to make profit. Costco has a positive net income so that its ROA is increasing past 3 years. 2. Return on Equity (ROE) Year| 2011| 2010| 2009| Costco| 12. 81%| 12. 50%| 11. 31%| The Return of Equity is calculated by dividing net profit by total shareholders’ equity. Return on equity measures a corporation's profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders. The number above shows that Costco is with stable growth in past 3 years, however, ROE ;15% that will attract more investors to invest.Effectiveness Ratios 3. Asset Turnover Year| 2011| 2010| 2009| Costco| 3. 52| 3. 40| 3. 35| Asset turnover  is calculated as sales divided by average total assets. It measures  a firm's efficiency on using its assets to generate sale. The higher assets turnover is, tells the better the company does. Costco’s assets turnover tells us that it did a better job in 2011 because the ratio increased 0. 12 compared with 2010 which only grew about 0. 05. 4. Inventory Turnover Year| 2011| 2010| 2009| Costco| 12. 67| 12. 31| 11. 94| Inventory turnover is calculated as COGS divided by average inventory.It measures how many times per year the company sells its inventory. Firms with a low cost strategy want a high inventory turnover, while firms with a differentiation strategy will experience a lower inventory turnover. The ratios for Costco are increasing during the three years, and Costco seems to have done a better job in selling their inventory because it sells its inventory faster and faster. Liquidity Ratios 5. Current Ratio Year| Aug. , 2011| Aug. , 2010| Aug. , 2009| Costco| 1. 14| 1. 16| 1. 11| The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities.This ratio measure if a firm has enough in current assets to cover his current liabilities. The current ratios for Costco have gone up during 2009-2010, and decreased during 2010-2011. However, the ratio is greater than 1 which means Costco has enough assets to cover his current liabilities. 6. Quick Ratio Year| Aug. , 2011| Aug. , 2010| Aug. , 2009| Costco| 0. 55| 0. 56| 0. 49| The quick ration is calculated by dividing the sum of cash, account receivable and short-term investment by current liabilities. As with the current ration, an analyst would want to see a minimum of one for the quick ratio.However, the number above shows that Costco’s quick ratio is under 1, which means that Costco is not doing well on its job. It might because Costco has a too big liability to its business or Costco has a less current asset to cover its liabilities. Solvency ratios 7. Long-Term Debt to Assets Year| Aug. , 2011| Aug. , 2010| Aug. , 2009| Costco| 0. 05| 0. 09| 0. 10| The long-term debt to assets is calculated by dividing long-term debt by total assets. This tells us that if a firm can pay its long-term debt. If a firm does not a ability to pay off its long-term debt, shareholder might be left with nothing.The lower long-term debt is the better ability a firm has to pay its debt. Costco is doing well by keeping the long-term debt ratio (average) around 0. 08, which means its assets will be enough to pay the long-term debt. 8. Debt to Equity Year| Aug. , 2011| Aug. , 2010| Aug. , 2009| Costco| 0. 10| 0. 20| 0. 22| The debt to equity is calculated as dividing total liabilities by total shareholder equity. It tests the ability of the firm to cover its interest payment. The higher the ratio is, the lower the likelihood of default.Costco’s debt to equity ratio is quite stable around 0. 10-0. 22 during 2009-2011. Summary According to Costco's 2011 annual report, the Costco Wholesale has a growing rate in making profits. It is one of the largest retailer stores in the global market. Unlike most retail operations, it has built its model around providing only what people want to buy quickly or in volumes that make up for its discounting practices. As the economy has slowed, the warehouse d iscount strategy has come into focus as the go-to source for both consumers and small business supply needs.Costco and its subsidiary companies are mostly like engaged in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, through majority owned subsidiaries in Taiwan and Korea, and a 50 percent-owned joint venture in Mexico. Costco operates membership warehouses based on the concept that offering member’s low prices on a limited selection of nationally branded and private-label products in a wide range of merchandise categories will produce high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover, management said in a recent filing.Here are the competitive advantages and disadvantages for Toyota based on our research data and analysis: Competitive Advantages: * Know their customer: Costco goes after a certain type of customer: small business owners who are status conscious and who have money to spend on bargain-priced premium ite ms like Dom Perpignan champagne, luxury watches and tech gadgets. * Deliver bigger value, not just lower prices: Costco doesn’t just offer low prices, it offers exceptional bargains on elegant, Treat customer service as an investment, not a cost to be shed: Costco has been criticized by some Wall Street analysts for their high labor costs –and Costco does pay their employees quite well Costco Wholesale SWOT Analysis Strengths: Costco Wholesale offers its customers and consumers lowest prices on a wide range of national and international branded products and goods, in a wide arrange of merchandise categories. The products and services of the Costco Wholesale are reliable as the company deals in best available quality products at competitive prices.The company pays attention to details and has various strengths that add to its success. These factors include rapid turnover of the inventory, running an efficient operating structure, reduced cost of handling of merchandise and generation of high sales volume at each of its store. Costco Wholesale gives preferences to it customers and provides them best value for the money. Weaknesses: Costco’s business conditions constantly change because external and internal forces make other business participants to alter their actions.The driving forces in this sector are the major underlying causes changing business and competitive conditions. Operating on a large scale means difficulty in bringing changes to grass root levels Opportunities Costco Wholesale is one of the first companies to have a growing acceptance of internet shopping. Costco created a website in the United States as well as website in Canada to be more effective and competitive in the internet market. The company is constantly working to make its distribution channels stronger and enter new potential markets.By offering value and working more towards developing a strong loyal customer base the company can gain more market share. Threats Warehouse clubs not only compete in one sector or market but it competes with a wide range of other types of retailers which include Wal-Mart Dollar General, supermarkets, general merchandise chains, specialty chains, fuel stations and internet retailers. Their competitiveness changes because the different types of products they deal in. Due to its tremors growth and growing market share, the company has caught the attention of many of the market leaders and its competitors.The industry of wholesale has a number of individual companies that are highly competitive and have very effective strategies. They have developed loyal customer bases and everyone is relentlessly fighting for the greatest market share. Costco’s major competitors include Wal-Mart. Recommendation 1. Develop more types of the products. The Costco involved every kind of products in the store, but we can see there are just few types of each product, so the optional become less and less.Every customer wants to the lower price at Costco, but they still want to have more choices on each product. And every single product just has the biggest packet so that it may cause to the waste. So the member of the Costco doesn’t have any choices to select the same product, such as the size, color and so on. 2. Improve the quality of the products. The strategy of Costco is the right products in the right place for the right price, but the right price should be with the good quality, but some customers said the quality of the clothes is not good.We cannot deny that most of the products have the good quality, but the company should check on every product, or just a little customers' unsatisfaction will influence all the customer's choice. 3. Increase the amount of the stores. The company has 600 locations wide world. In US, there are 433 locations. As an international global company, Costco should develop more location out of the United States so that it can open a new market in the world. For othe r countries, the customers are still inconvenient to purchase in the Costco. It will decrease the confidence of Costco's members.The Costco's strategy is the right products in the right place for the right price. If the members of other countries doubt the right place, the strategy will be broken. 4. Reduce the prices of some products. The company guarantees the low price and most of the products are, but we still can see a lot of products are more expensive compare to other stores, especially Jewelry. For most customers can understand that the high quality with the high price, but the huge amount of numbers, such as 12,234. 99 will make the members confuse to the strategy of the company