Economic Boom of the 1920s Essay

Only those who know little or nothing about economics and the very naive did not know in the year 1925 that economic hard times follow good times as economic booms and slumps are cyclical. Still, there were various reasons why even seasoned economists may have speculated that economic prosperity of the 1920s would continue forevermore. Machinery, manufacturing plants and â€Å"the process of standardized mass production† were the main reasons for the excitement of the 1920s (Schultz and Tischler). In fact, the economy of the United States continued to grow until 1929. The First World War had encouraged industry to expand. Labor shortages coupled with the need to increase production had stimulated the development of efficient modes of production. Taylorism or scientific management to streamline processes of production in order to increase production capacity had been introduced around the country. With new machinery and management tools, worker productivity was raised. This rise in productivity increased wages, thereby increasing consumption. Americans were also encouraged to use credit to fuel consumption at the time. The installment plan was an innovation of the 1920s. What is more, the government supported businesses by raising tariffs on foreign goods, reducing personal income tax and corporate tax, repealing taxes on profits, and looking into unfair trade practices as a means to encourage businesses to expand (Schultz and Tischler). The consumer psychology in 1925 was another reason why many may have reasoned that economic slumps are a thing of the past. Americans had the radio at the time, in addition to a growing motion picture industry to keep their mindsets positive. They also had electric appliances at home and a growing automobile industry making them believe their lives had changed forevermore in a positive direction (Schultz and Tischler). Then again, all those who know about the economic boom bust cycle were aware in 1925 that a slump is sure to follow a boom. Works Cited Schultz, Stanley K. , and William P. Tischler. â€Å"Civil War to the Present. † American History 102. 1999. 1 Mar 2009.

Minority: United States and Minorities Essay

What do members of minority groups gain and lose as they undergo a process of assimilation the process by which minorities gradually adopt patterns of the dominant culture. As a minority you gain and lose it can be positive or negative. Every culture is different as we all know as a minority you have to adapt to the norms. As a minority you gain certain things such as learning a new language although it might be very difficult, given the right for a better education, being independence the right to do what you please. You might lose traditional food traditional behaviors, leaving family behind. However its normal. I experience most of these situation when I came here in a America as minority is was very difficult and a big change because as I aged I noticed and felt unwanted by majority of people living here you can tell by the negative stereotypes and discrimination But these situation happened around the world. When I came here I gained a self of independence going to school, working buying and things I desire to have, and going anywhere I felt like going. In contrast. iving in my country as woman I didn’t really have much independence although I was young I understand, but most woman went to school but usually they stay home they don’t work the man pays the bills buys everything needed for the house. I left my family behind but I also have family here and were all doing things to better our self in the future by going to school and become whoever we want to be that’s the beauty of America. According to Macionis â€Å" Minorities have two important characteristics. First, society imposes on them a distinctive identity, which may be based on physical or cultural traits. Second, minorities experience subordination. As this chapter shows, U. S. minorities typically have lower income, lower occupational prestige, and limited schooling. Class, race and ethnicity, as well as gender, are overlapping and reinforcing dimensions of social stratification. The Thinking About Diversity box on page 278 describes the struggles of recent Latin American immigrants to the Unites States. † (Macionis 277) As Macionis mentioned this is very true that minorities have lower income in my opinion it has a lot to do with racism which makes it hard to find a job and be able to sustain yourself and your family. As a minority in my nine family household most of us work but we still struggle to make ends meet. Also I thing as a minority in any country it’s very hard it takes years to adjust to the new culture and people. I think that some ways we can improve the contemporary American relation on a family level is to reach out to neighbors and community not being judgmental, get to know people as individuals not as a stereotype. At the community level/ school: join clubs or activities that are inclusive of all minorities. Town /cities policies: enforcing equal opportunity laws housing, availability for schools, support services. U.  S. government: funding to help minorities be successful here, visas to immigrate here All of these will help build relationship with minorities and see then as individual not a stereotype. In conclusion we do gain and lose certain things we admire by moving to a different country or region but having the advantage to experience different part of the world is exciting you learn new things each day. And no part of the world is perfect your always going to finds things you like or dislike about a place but as long as take advantage of knowing who you are and be yourself and learn to adopt to new things that’s all that matters.

Common Core State Standards Essay

Is a girl in your neighborhood being taught the same things as a boy in another neighborhood? Is a graduating senior in Baton Rouge as prepared to get a job as a graduating senior in Minneapolis? The answer to these questions is â€Å"no,† and rightfully so. All children are unique. A student with autism or dyslexia should not be taught the same way as students who have no learning disabilities. Indiana, which adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), is now eliminating those standards because, the state asserts, Common Core â€Å"takes control of educational content and standards away from parents, taxpayers, local school districts, and states† (Volsky). The Indiana legislators want to write new standards, which are governed locally, not at the federal level. NEED A TRANSITION? Forty-five American states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the CCSS (Common Core State Standards Initiative). These standards were designed by a group of teachers, school chiefs, administrators, and other experts. The CCSS are suggested targets in English Language Arts and Mathematics that set the skills a student should possess in order to proceed to the next level of education. There is no clear divide on the standards between Republicans and Democrats; both have expressed their concerns. But, the controversy reached its peak when the Obama administration slowly started to support the CCSS (Bidwell). Proponents of the CCSS argue that the standards ensure that all students will have the same set of skills, the standards will make sure all students are college ready, and that the standards are a new state-led effort instead of a federal effort. I believe that all states should abolish the CCSS because children with disabilities should not be expected to learn the same way as advanced students, the CCSS takes away from the tradition and individuality of independent/parochial schools, and the problem in education is not standards but poverty. The CCSS have not made success easy for students with learning disabilities. According to the CCSS, students with disabilities â€Å"must be challenged to excel within the general curriculum† (Herbert 10). In addition to students with disabilities, students without disabilities learn different things in different ways, mature at different rates, and have different talents and goals. There is no reason for states to have standards that require students to learn the same things at the same time, and learn them the same way (McClusky). The CCSS â€Å"moves all kids largely in lock-step, processing them like soulless widgets† (McClusky). In a recent discussion, Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania special education student teachers expressed their frustrations in trying to teach special-ed students within the confines of the CCSS (Beals 2). The CCSS are supposed to boost national achievement levels, but by restricting these students to subject matter beyond thei r cognitive abilities, the standards are ultimately lowering student achievements. The CCSS also take away from the tradition and individuality of independent/parochial schools. Parochial schools are private schools that are affiliated with some religious organization and whose curriculum includes religion along with all major subjects. As a graduate of Catholic schools, I believe it is important that the traditions and religion classes be kept alive in these schools. The standards were approved without consideration of how they would affect Catholic schools (Strauss 4). The Catholic education is geared at preparing students for a life of spirit, truth, and faith in God, all of which are never mentioned in the CCSS. Adopting the standards into Catholic schools will essentially diminish them of their tradition to help children not only obtain an education but to develop their faith. As an education major, I have observed many Catholic schools. On the walls, on the boards, and in the hallways, there are examples of prayer and religion everywhere. Taking this away wou ld be taking away the identity of these students. This will ultimately lead to the some students being ashamed of their religion. Another issue that arises is the involvement of the federal government. Independent and parochial schools are independent in their finances and governance and in most cases rely on tuition for funding. The CCSS are state-led efforts but, because these  schools are free from state and federal government financing and guidance, they will not be able to afford the implementation of the CCSS. One of the reasons people believe CCSS are needed is because of the idea that America’s school system has low national test scores. This is not because the current standards are not working; the real issue is poverty. The reason for low-test scores is that about 23% of American students live in poverty. Finland, which has the highest-ranking test scores, has only 5% of students living in poverty (Krashen 37). Poverty stricken children in Queens, NY that have a lack of health care, food insecurity, and lack of library access will not succeed as well as a student going to a school in the Upper East Side of New York City. For example, studies show that food-insecure children are more likely to have slow language development, and problems in social behavior and emotional control (Krashen 38). This results in missed schools days, causing students to repeat grades, which leads to low achievement scores. Instead of spending money on implementing the standards, schools need to spend t he funds on sufficient food programs, improved health care (including more school nurses), and more money going towards libraries in lower-income schools. Some in favor of the CCSS believe that the standards will ensure that all students, no matter what race, gender, or state they are in, will have the same set of skills when graduating to each new grade level (Gardner and Powell 50). Although this is a great notion in theory, the idea that every single student in America will know the exact same things is a major overgeneralization. Even with the CCSS, children with disabilities are physically and mentally incapable of learning the same things at the same rate as a student in advanced or gifted programs. The CCSS have also increased the rigor of the curriculum students are learning. Therefore, students who are already struggling to not fall behind will struggle even further causing the students, parents, and teachers to suffer. In addition to underachieving students, overachieving students will also be negatively affected by the standards. Children who learn faster than others, or who are naturally smarter than their peers will be for ced to learn at the same pace as students who are not as gifted. This will result in students being bored  and losing all interest in school. If every single child in America had the same cognitive abilities, the CCSS would be the answer; but they are not. Other proponents believe that the CCSS will make sure all students graduating from high school are college ready. The problem with this is, America has too many over educated students; the professional work force does not have enough jobs for American students when they graduate. If all students are college ready, no one will want to work at grocery stores, fast food restaurants, mechanic shops, etc. If every student gets a degree and starts work in the professional world, the economy will eventually fail. There will be no farmers to produce groceries; there will be no waitresses; there will be no janitors or cleaning services. In order for this country’s economy to produce money, there needs to be people who do not earn college degrees. One major reason people are supporting the CCSS is because they are state-led instead of being dictated by the federal government. The federal government is largely imposing the CCSS. The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, both of which do not represent states, created the standards. The hasty adoption by most states was federal action. To compete for a part of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top (ADD DEFINITION) reward, a federal government led education effort, states had to adopt the CCSS (McCluskey). When the CCSS came about, the Obama administration only gave states two options: adopt the CCSS or make sure a state university certified a student as college ready. Also, the U.S. Department of Education funded two programs that created the national tests that coincide with the CCSS (McCluskey). With all of this federal involvement, the CCSS is no longer a state-led effort. It is a â€Å"one-size-fits-all† program that ignores the nee ds of the individual states. The reason to oppose the CCSS is not because of the content, some of which is great, the reason is that the CCSS lacks most qualities needed to be considered authoritative, or to even be considered standards. Sadly, the CCSS is generating in America’s education system severe and lasting damage that would take decades to reverse. The CCSS is bad for states, teachers,  students, parents, and anyone associated with the education process. Now, ask yourself these questions again. Is a girl in your neighborhood being taught the same things as a boy in another neighborhood? Is a graduating senior in Baton Rouge as prepared to get a job as a graduating senior in Minneapolis? Still, the answer is â€Å"no†. Do you believe me now that this is a good answer? Works Cited Bidwell, Allie. â€Å"The History Of Common Core State Standards.† U.S. News Digital Weekly 6.9 (2014): 7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Common Core State Standards Initiative., 2012. Web. 3 Feb. 2014. Herbert, Marion. â€Å"Common Core’s Implications For Special Ed Students.† District Administration 47.2 (2011): 10.Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Krashen, Stephen. â€Å"THE COMMON CORE. (Cover Story).† Knowledge Quest 42.3 (2014): 36-45. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Feb. 2014. McCluskey, Neal. â€Å"No Child Is Standard.† Reading Today 31.2 (2013): 30. Academic SearchComplete. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Strauss, Valerie. â€Å"Catholic scholars blast Common Core in letter to U.S. bishops.† Washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2013. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.

The Ideal Method of Studying Textbook Material Essay

The Ideal Method of Studying Textbook Material - Essay Example After repeated pairings, the conditioned stimulus (the tone) was enough on its own to elicit the conditioned response. However, when the tone was repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (food), the conditioned response (salivation) became progressively weaker and eventually disappeared altogether, a process called extinction. Classical conditioning can best be described as associative learning. The simplest form of classical conditioning is what Aristotle would have called the law of contiguity, which states that: "When two things commonly occur together, the appearance of one will bring the other to mind." ("Classical Conditioning") Similarly, John B. Watson, an early American psychologist, presented an 11-month old child, Albert, with a loud, frightening bang and a rat at the same time. After being subjected to six or seven repetitions of this paired stimulus over the period of a week, the child became afraid of the rat although he had not been afraid of it before being subjected to the pairings. ... Thorndike formed this theory while observing the behavior of cats trying to escape from homemade puzzle boxes. When the cats were first placed in the boxes, they took a long time to escape. With experience, however, successful responses occurred more frequently. This enabled the cats to escape in less time over successive trials. In his Law of Effect, Thorndike theorized that successful responses were "stamped in" by experience and thus occurred more frequently while unsuccessful responses were "stamped out" and subsequently occurred less frequently. In simple terms, what he learned is that some consequences strengthen behavior while some weaken behavior and that learning occurs through trial and error. Learning strategies involve techniques ranging from improving memory by association to better studying by behavior modification. Examples of behavior modification that have proven helpful and aid in learning are: Eliminate the environmental cues that interfere with studying. Set aside study time and adhere to the schedule. Reward yourself for starting on time or penalize yourself for starting late. Visualize the consequences of not studying, such as failing an exam. Beware of avoidance mechanisms. Beware of preparation overkill. The main ideas are to avoid procrastination and to practice discipline. Memory Memory is one of the most important concepts in learning. If you cannot remember anything, no learning can take place. A distinction is often made between short-term and long-term memory. Short term memory is brief and transient. Sort of like when you look up a phone number in the phone book to make a call. You remember it long enough to make the call but you do not recall it later. Your short-term memory holds a small

Others Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Others - Essay Example s decrease from P1 to P2, the quantity demanded by customers increase from Q1 to Q2, which is represented by a movement is the demand curve from point A to B. On the other hand, a shift in the demand curve is brought about by the changes in other factors affecting demand other than the price. They are taste, level of income and others. In the graph below, DD is the demand curve before any change. When the mentioned factors causes the demand to increase, the DD shifts to the right from DD to D1D1. The quantity demanded at P1 increases from Q1 to Q2 as shown in the graph below (Tucker 67-75). In economics, supply is the amount of goods and services that suppliers are willing and able to supply to the market at a given price and time, ceteris paribus. Therefore, the supply curve represents the association between the quantity supplied and the prevailing market prices. In the graph below, SS is the supply curve. When commodity prices increases from P1 to P2, the quantity supplied increases from Q1 to Q2 and the movement along the supply curve is from point A to B (Tucker 67-75). A shift in the supply curve is caused by factors other than price. They are the prices of factors of production among others. When the factors of production are cheaper, the quantity supplied increases leading to a shift in the demand curve from SS to S1S1. See the graph below (Tucker

The influences of price elasticity of demand(Microeconomics) Essay

The influences of price elasticity of demand(Microeconomics) - Essay Example These are usually elastic goods. Price elasticity of demand influences total revenue. When there is increase in price, more revenue is generated on every item that is sold along with the fact that there are fewer items sold. When the aim is to increase total revenue, we must decide which effect is larger. In case of inelastic demand, the increased price affects the total revenue significantly which become directly proportional to increase in price; whereas, in case of elastic demand, the factor that influences total revenue is the lower quantity which makes the revenue inversely proportional to increase in price. Mainly, there are three factors that contribute to demand elasticity (Investopedia, 2010). These are explained below along with a description of how these factors influence consumers to purchase goods: The thumb rule is that: the more is the availability of product substitutes, the more elastic is the demand. Increase in price of elastic goods will influence their demand and the consumer will start looking for other options to replace the product he was using. For example, if the price of tetra pack milk goes up by $1.25, the consumer will start buying fresh milk. Thus, the demand of tetra pack milk decreases. But the industry itself is inelastic, that is if the price of milk as a whole goes up, the consumer will not stop buying milk as it is a necessity. â€Å"Thus, while a product within an industry is elastic due to the availability of substitutes, the industry itself tends to be inelastic† (Investopedia, 2010). This factor deals with the amount of income that is available for a person to spend on goods. If price of an elastic good goes up and the income remains the same, the person will have less to spend on that good than what he had to spend before price increased. For example, the quantity of tetra packs he bought

Financial Management - Cool Moose Creamery Essay

Financial Management - Cool Moose Creamery - Essay Example The report analyses whether starting a new franchise of Cool Moose Creamery would be feasible or not and what opportunities and threats might be considered while starting this venture. The report has been divided into two parts; the first part of the reports highlights and discusses different elements that could influence the decision whether to start a new venture or not and the other part of the report analyses the feasibility of starting a new venture by using different project appraisal techniques. The first part of would include more of qualitative data however the quantitative data and all the calculations have been included in the second part. Important Elements to Consider Starting a new venture is the phase when the management of the business has to consider important elements and factors that could influence the operations and success of the new firm. By identifying these important elements, the managers are able to identify factors that could influence the business and the n take steps to minimize the impact of these steps. Such elements are also important for the management as they provide areas that the management should look at and be careful of while starting a new venture (Dunung, 2010). Some of the most important elements that the management has to consider while starting a new venture are as follows: Market Size and potential of the market One of the important elements that have been considered before starting a new venture is the market size and the potential of the market. Market size is basically defined as the total number of potential customers that the firm for whom the firm would be offering products or services. Market potential basically refers to the potential or possibility of the consumers buying the products or services of the firm. If the market has high potential but the size is very limited and starting a business requires high investment, then it is not feasible to go ahead with such a venture. However, if the market size is sm all and has potential in it but requires low investment then venture can be started as despite of low market size firm would be able to capitalise the market. Therefore it is important for the management to consider and analyse the market size and the potential of the market along with the benefits that would be delivered by the venture and by comparing these elements, the final decision should be made. Product and its uniqueness The other important element that

The Role of IMF in providing assistanse to countries to overcome their Assignment

The Role of IMF in providing assistanse to countries to overcome their economic problems - Assignment Example The study aims to explain the procedure based on which IMF contributes towards the development of economic conditions of several countries. Also main functions of the IMF is under consideration. IMF is an international organisation that has been established in the year 1944. The organisation is headquartered in Washington D.C., United States. The organisation has been a significant consideration for developing the global financial condition. After the establishment of IMF, the condition of world economy has dramatically changed. To operate the global financial development, IMF has introduced few improvements in its policies for managing the needs in terms of balance of payment. IMF has been developed with the aim of managing macroeconomic factors and to implement structural policies for every poor, rich and middle-income member nations. In this context, the mission of the organisation has been to monitor and manage economic trend that prevails in the global economy The IMF provides necessary policies, advice and financing to member countries of the organization. IMF is an international organisation that has been dealing with global financial or money market. The function of IMF has been helpful in supporting the member countries of IMF. It enables the availability of resources and develops a fund including general resources for low-income countries. IMF has made a complete contribution towards the development of the global economy. IMF has achieved certain success in providing financial support to the member countries.

Competency based HR Activities&8207 in Oman Private sector Dissertation

Competency based HR Activities† in Oman Private sector - Dissertation Example The vision as outlined in its HRD strategy (Vision 2020) is: â€Å"To develop human resources and the capabilities of the Omani people to generate and manage technological changes efficiently, in addition to facing the continuously changing local and international conditions, in a way that ensures maintaining the Omani traditions and customs.† The need to diversify in order to reduce its reliance on oil is of major importance and the expectation is that the private sector will be most able to help the country to realise that vision. According to Potter (1989, p.26) effective localisation (Omanisation) occurs when a local (Omani) filling a job is sufficiently competent to fulfil organisational needs. The strategies by which the Government of Oman plans to achieve its long-term â€Å"Vision 2020† plan are: sustainable development within a stable macroeconomic framework; human resources development; diversification of the economy; and development of the private sector (UNE SCO Report n.d.). ... Challenges The dependence on expatriate labour has serious consequences politically, economically and socially (Rees et al 2007). Oman along with other Middle Eastern countries has been highly dependent on expatriate workers for advanced technical and professional expertise and manual labour (Aycan et al 2007, p. 13). Human capital is recognised as the means to social progress and economic development, and therefore the development of Omanis is seen as the key to the realisation of Oman’s vision. This is especially important with the emphasis that has been has placed on Omanisation. According to Ghailani and Khan (2004) the private sector is viewed as one of the main vehicles for growth and development through which greater employment generation is likely to occur. In the long run Omanis rather than expatriates are expected to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the private sector (Al-Hamadi et al 2007). In this regard the Government’s social policy and specifically that connected with the development of the skills of Omanis has taken priority as it strives to enhance the capacity of its people to participate effectively in the country’s development (UNESCO Report n.d.). Another challenge is the increasing unemployment of Omanis, especially those who have only completed secondary education. This situation exists amidst the high percentage of expatriates employed in the private sector. Omanis remain reluctant to take up certain positions in the private sector. Al-Hamadi et al (2007, p.104) states that data suggests that Omanis have a preference for certain sectors while they reject others such as construction and other manual jobs. Therefore, there are doubts that targets for certain industries in the private sector will ever be met without some

Organic Light Emitting Diode Essay Example for Free

Organic Light Emitting Diode Essay Abstract: Organic Light Emitting Diode is a scalable nano level emerging technology in Flat Panel Displays and as a White Light Source with efficient features. This paper focuses on OLED structure, principle aspects, fabrication methodology and different techniques to replace current white light sources like Incandescent bulbs, Fluorescent tubes, and even display techniques like Liquid Crystal Displays, Plasma technologies. OLEDs can be fabricated using Polymers or by small molecules. OLED matrix displays offer high contrast, wide viewing angle and a broad temperature range at low power consumption. These are Cheaper, Sharper, Thinner, and Flexible. An OLED is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compounds which emit light in response to an electric current. This layer of organic semiconductor material is situated between two electrodes. Generally, at least one of these electrodes is transparent. There are two main families of OLED s: those based on small molecules and those employing polymers. Adding mobile ions to an OLED creates a Light-emitting Electrochemical Cell or LEC, which has a slightly different mode of operation. OLED displays can use either passive-matrix (PMOLED) or active-matrix addressing schemes. Active-matrix OLED s (AMOLED) require a thin-film transistor backplane to switch each individual pixel on or off, but allow for higher resolution and larger display sizes. An OLED display works without a backlight. Thus, it can display deep black levels and can be thinner and lighter than a liquid crystal display (LCD). In low ambient light conditions such as a dark room an OLED screen can achieve a higher contrast ratio than an LCD, whether the LCD uses cold cathode fluorescent lamps or the more recently developed LED backlight. Due to its low thermal conductivity, an OLED typically emits less light per area than an inorganic LED. OLEDs are used in television screens, computer monitors, small, portable system screens such as mobile phones and PDA s, watches, advertising, information, and indication. OLEDs are also used in large-area light-emitting elements for general illumination. OLED s have a potential of being white-light sources that are †¢Bright, power-efficient and long lived, by emitting pleasing white light †¢Ultra-thin, lightweight, rugged, and conformable †¢Inexpensive, portable Introduction: OLEDs are energy conversion devices (electricity-to-light) based on Electroluminescence. Electro-luminescence is light emission from a solid through which an electric current is passed. OLEDs are more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps. The luminous efficiency of light bulbs is about 13 20 lm/W but the latest experimental green emitting OLEDs already have luminous efficiency of 76 lm/W, though at low luminance. The development is on track for OLEDs to effectively compete even with fluorescent lamps, which have the luminous efficiency of 50 100 lm/W. One big advantage of OLEDs is the ability to tune the light emission to any desired color, and any shade of color or intensity, including white. Achieving the high Color Rendition Index (CRI) near 100 (the ability to simulate the most pleasing white color, sunlight), is already within the reach of OLEDs. Another advantage of OLEDs is that they are current-driven devices; where brightness can be varied over a very wide dynamic range and they operate CRT is still continuing as top technology in displays to produce economically best displays. The first best look of it is its Cost. But the main problems with it are its bulkiness, Difficulties in Extending to Large area displays as per construction. Even though Liquid Crystal Displays have solved one of problem i.e. size, but it is not economical. So in this present scenario the need for a new technology with both these features combined leaded to invention of OLED.OLED which is a thin, flexible, Bright LED with self luminance which can be used as a display device. The main drawback of LCD display is its Less viewing angle and highly temperature depending which moves us towards a new technology. Thus OLED promises for faithful replacement of current technology with added flavors like Less Power Consumption and Self Luminance .Both Active matrix TFT’s and Passive matrix Technologies are used for display and addressing purposes for high speed display of moving pictures and faster response. Already some of the companies released Cell Phones and PDA’s with bright OLED technology for color full displays. One of the new lighting technology which emerged within the past two decades and has the potential of becoming more energy-efficient then the existing light sources is the Solid State Lighting technology of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). The available data about OLEDs and technical projections indicate that the amount of energy needed to generate the same amount of light can be eventually reduced by up to 50%.If the consumption of electric energy used for lighting is reduced by the desired 50%; the savings to the society would amount to approximately $25B per year (1). In addition to the savings, less consumed energy would amount to less produced energy and, consequently, less pollution of water and air. According to the latest estimates, the use of electricity may be reduced by 50% by the year 2020, sparing the atmosphere some 45 million tons of carbon emissions annually. The potential savings also depends on how quickly and to what extend these developments occur (2). This study also indicates that it is primarily the price breakthrough that will facilitate the market penetration of the new sources of light. In other words, even though the technological advances may lead to significant reduction of energy, the market will not accept SSL unless the cost is reduced as well. If SSL achieves a price breakthrough, far more energy will be saved. Today, incandescent light bulbs dominate the residential and light industrial lighting market where the initial cost and aesthetics are the key drivers. Fluorescent lamps are used in the commercial sector where the combined cost of the lighting fixtures and the consumed energy is the principal driver. OLEDs are unconventional, large area thin film, nearly two-dimensional devices. They are distributed (diffused) light sources, distinctly different from point sources such as light bulbs. Also, OLEDs will operate at very low voltages, of the order of 3 5 V. Therefore, the introduction of OLEDs as sources of light for general lighting applications will cause a major paradigm shift in the lighting industry. Not only a new lighting infrastructure will be required, but also many new jobs will be created. While significant research is still needed, OLEDs will soon achieve the efficiency to compete directly with incandescent sources (light bulbs). Experimental OLEDs are already more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps The luminous efficiency of light bulbs is about 13 -20 lm/W but the latest experimental green emitting OLEDs already have luminous efficiency of 76 lm/W, albeit at low luminance. The development is on track for OLEDs to effectively compete even with fluorescent lamps, which have the luminous efficiency of 50 100 lm/W. One big advantage of OLEDs is the ability to tune the light emission to any desired color, and any shade of color or intensity, including white .Achieving the high color rendition index (CRI) near 100 (the ability to simulate the most pleasing white color, sunlight), is already within the reach of OLEDs. Another advantage of OLEDs is that they are current-driven devices, where brightness can be varied over a very wide dynamic range and they operate uniformly, without flicker. All this has created a great deal of optimism that OLEDs will be accepted and welcome by the general public as long as they are inexpensive. Yet another advantage of OLEDs is that they could be deposited on any substrate: glass, ceramics, metal, thin plastic sheets, fabrics, flexible and conformable substrates, etc., and therefore, could be fabricated in any shape and design. This will open new architectural and design possibilities. Freedom to produce sources of any shape or color will create radically new illumination culture. In a nutshell, OLEDs have a potential of being large area, white-light sources that are * Bright, power-efficient and long lived, emitting pleasing white light * Ultra-thin, light weight, rugged, and conformable * Inexpensive This qualitative comparison is based on the assumption that the development of OLEDs will be successful. Monumental challenges, however, still exist to reach the goal. Over the next 5 years, the lighting market will grow to about $40B/y. Based on the novel features; OLEDs may soon capture 10% of that market. As the efficiency and cost approach the targets fluorescent lamps, 50% of the market may be captured in 10-12 years. 1.4 White Light from OLEDs OLEDs are uniquely suitable as sources of white light. The structure of light emitting Fluorescence or phosphorescence additives can be tailored to emit any desired color (see section 5.1). Mixing light from two or more sources (dopants or layers) gives light whose color is determined by the weighted average of the CIE coordinates of these sources. Given the enormous variety of known and yet-to-be synthesized dopants, both fluorescent and phosphorescent, with broad emission spectra of choice, practically any shade of white or any temperature of white light can be generated in OLEDs. Many devices have already been made in the laboratory scale and tested and some of them almost perfectly simulate the sunlight. The methods of generating white light are described in Sections 5.1.4. And 5.1.5. 2. OLED Components Like an LED, an OLED is a solid-state semiconductor device that is 100 to 500 nanometers thick or about 200 times smaller than a human hair. OLEDs can have either two layers or three layers of organic material; in the latter design, the third layer helps transport electrons from the cathode to the emissive layer. In this article, well be focusing on the two-layer design. An OLED consists of the following parts: Substrate (clear plastic, glass, foil) The substrate supports the OLED. Anode (transparent) The anode removes electrons (adds electron holes) when a current flows through the device. Organic layers These layers are made of organic molecules or polymers. Conducting layer This layer is made of organic plastic molecules that transport holes from the anode. One conducting polymer used in OLEDs is polyaniline. Emissive layer This layer is made of organic plastic molecules (different ones from the conducting layer) that transport electrons from the cathode; this is where light is made. One polymer used in the emissive layer is polyfluorene. Cathode- (may or may not be transparent depending on the type of OLED) The cathode injects electrons when a current flows through the device. The biggest part of manufacturing OLEDs is applying the organic layers to the substrate. This can be done in three ways: †¢ Vacuum deposition or vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) In a vacuum chamber, the organic molecules are gently heated (evaporated) and allowed to condense as thin films onto cooled substrates. This process is expensive and inefficient. †¢ Organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD) In a low-pressure, hot-walled reactor chamber, a carrier gas transports evaporated organic molecules onto cooled substrates, where they condense into thin films. Using a carrier gas increases the efficiency and reduces the cost of making OLEDs. †¢ Inkjet printing With inkjet technology, OLEDs are sprayed onto substrates just like inks are sprayed onto paper during printing. Inkjet technology greatly reduces the cost of OLED manufacturing and allows OLEDs to be printed onto very large films for large displays like 80-inch TV screens or electronic billboards. 3. Working Principle of Oled OLEDs emit light in a similar manner to LEDs, through a process called electro phosphorescence. The process is as follows: 1. The battery or power supply of the device containing the OLED applies a voltage across the OLED. 2. An electrical current flows from the cathode to the anode through the organic layers (an electrical current is a flow of electrons). The cathode gives electrons to the emissive layer of organic molecules. The anode removes electrons from the conductive layer of organic molecules. (This is the equivalent to giving electron holes to the conductive layer.) 3. At the boundary between the emissive and the conductive layers, electrons find electron holes. When an electron finds an electron hole, the electron fills the hole (it falls into an energy level of the atom thats missing an electron). When this happens, the electron gives up energy in the form of a photon of light (see How Light Works). 4. The OLED emits light. 5. The color of the light depends on the type of organic molecule in the emissive layer. Manufacturers place several types of organic films on the same OLED to make color displays. The intensity or brightness of the light depends on the amount of electrical current applied: the more current, the brighter the light. [pic] Schematic of a bilayer OLED: 1. Cathode (−), 2. Emissive Layer, 3. Emission of radiation, 4. Conductive Layer, 5. Anode (+) A typical OLED is composed of a layer of organic materials situated between two electrodes, the anode and cathode, all deposited on a substrate. The organic molecules are electrically conductive as a result of delocalization of pi electrons caused by conjugation over all or part of the molecule. These materials have conductivity levels ranging from insulators to conductors, and therefore are considered organic semiconductors. The highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO) of organic semiconductors are analogous to the valence and conduction bands of inorganic semiconductors. Originally, the most basic polymer OLEDs consisted of a single organic layer. One example was the first light-emitting device synthesized by J. H. Burroughs et al., which involved a single layer of poly (p-phenylene vinylene). However multilayer OLEDs can be fabricated with two or more layers in order to improve device efficiency. As well as conductive properties, different materials may be chosen to aid charge injection at electrodes by providing a more gradual electronic profile, or block a charge from reaching the opposite electrode and being wasted. Many modern OLEDs incorporate a simple bilayer structure, consisting of a conductive layer and an emissive layer. More recent developments in OLED architecture improves quantum efficiency (up to 19%) by using a graded heterojunction. In the graded heterojunction architecture, the composition of hole and electron-transport materials varies continuously within the emissive layer with a dopant emitter. The graded heterojunction architecture combines the benefits of both conventional architectures by improving charge injection while simultaneously balancing charge transport within the emissive region. During operation, a voltage is applied across the OLED such that the anode is positive with respect to the cathode. A current of electrons flows through the device from cathode to anode, as electrons are injected into the LUMO of the organic layer at the cathode and withdrawn from the HOMO at the anode. This latter process may also be described as the injection of electron holes into the HOMO. Electrostatic forces bring the electrons and the holes towards each other and they recombine forming an exciton, a bound state of the electron and hole. This happens closer to the emissive layer, because in organic semiconductors holes are generally more mobile than electrons. The decay of this excited state results in a relaxation of the energy levels of the electron, accompanied by emission of radiation whose frequency is in the visible region. The frequency of this radiation depends on the band gap of the material, in this case the difference in energy between the HOMO and LUMO. OLEDs are solid-state devices composed of thin films of organic molecules that create light with the application of electricity. OLEDs can provide brighter, crisper displays on electronic devices and use less power than conventional light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or liquid crystal displays (LCDs) used today. 4. Types of OLEDs: Passive and Active Matrix There are several types of OLEDs: †¢ Passive-matrix OLED †¢ Active-matrix OLED †¢ Transparent OLED †¢ Top-emitting OLED †¢ Foldable OLED †¢ White OLED Each type has different uses. In the following sections, well discuss each type of OLED. Lets start with passive-matrix and active-matrix OLEDs. 1. Passive-matrix OLED \ (PMOLED) PMOLEDs has strips of cathode, organic layers and strips of anode. The anode strips are arranged perpendicular to the cathode strips. The intersections of the cathode and anode make up the pixels where light is emitted. External circuitry applies current to selected strips of anode and cathode, determining which pixels get turned on and which pixels remain off. Again, the brightness of each pixel is proportional to the amount of applied current. PMOLEDs are easy to make, but they consume more power than other types of OLED, mainly due to the power needed for the external circuitry. PMOLEDs are most efficient for text and icons and are best suited for small screens (2- to 3-inch diagonal) such as those you find in cell phones, PDAs and MP3 players. Even with the external circuitry, passive-matrix OLEDs consume less battery power than the LCDs that currently power these devices. 2. Active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) AMOLEDs have full layers of cathode, organic molecules and anode, but the anode layer overlays a thin film transistor (TFT) array that forms a matrix. The TFT array itself is the circuitry that determines which pixels get turned on to form an image. AMOLEDs consume less power than PMOLEDs because the TFT array requires less power than external circuitry, so they are efficient for large displays. AMOLEDs also have faster refresh rates suitable for video. The best uses for AMOLEDs are computer monitors, large-screen TVs and electronic signs or billboards. 3. Transparent OLED Transparent OLEDs have only transparent components (substrate, cathode and anode) and, when turned off, are up to 85 percent as transparent as their substrate. When a transparent OLED display is turned on, it allows light to pass in both directions. A transparent OLED display can be either active- or passive-matrix. This technology can be used for heads-up displays. 4. Top-emitting OLED Top-emitting OLEDs have a substrate that is either opaque or reflective. They are best suited to active-matrix design. Manufacturers may use top-emitting OLED displays. 5. Foldable OLED Foldable OLEDs have substrates made of very flexible metallic foils or plastics. Foldable OLEDs are very lightweight and durable. Their use in devices such as cell phones and PDAs can reduce breakage, a major cause for return or repair. Potentially, foldable OLED displays can be attached to fabrics to create smart clothing, such as outdoor survival clothing with an integrated computer chip, cell phone, GPS receiver and OLED display sewn into it. 6.White OLED White OLEDs emit white light that is brighter, more uniform and more energy efficient than that emitted by fluorescent lights. White OLEDs also have the true-color qualities of incandescent lighting. Because OLEDs can be made in large sheets, they can replace fluorescent lights that are currently used in homes and buildings. Their use could potentially reduce energy costs for lighting. Reference: http://impnerd.com/the-history-and-future-of-oled http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_light-emitting_diode http://www.oled-research.com/oleds/oleds-history.html http://www.voidspace.org.uk/technology/top_ten_phone_techs.shtml#keep-your-eye-on-flexible-displays-coming-soon http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/23150/24174/samsung-say-oled-not-ready.phtml http://www.cepro.com/article/study_future_bright_for_oled_lighting_market/

An Analysis Of What Is Enlightenment By Kant Philosophy Essay

An Analysis Of What Is Enlightenment By Kant Philosophy Essay The title of the essay was what is enlightenment it was written in 1784, in the essay he basically replied to a question that was put forward an year earlier by Reverand Johann Zollner, he was also a government official. Reverand had posed an open question to all about removal of clergy from marriages, many people replied but the most famous one is by Kant. The essay reflected the present situation that existed when he wrote the essay. The situation had 3 basic characterstics: the present was different from the previous eras in some distinct way, second; it represented some important upcoming events; third; it meant that the world was moving towards something new. In his essay Kant discusses the reasons for the absence of enlightenment and what is required from people for enlightenment to flourish. Kant defines enlightenment that a person achieves when he frees himself from immaturity that he caused himself. Immaturity to Kant means an inability to be able to think on your own and to rely on other peoples opinions to make decisions, this also means that a person is immature if he is unable to use his own judgment and understanding of things. Kant further explains that the immature person is so because he lets others decide for him and he becomes dependent on help from others so much so that acting and thinking on your own becomes some thing very difficult. Here to explain his argument Kant draws an analogy of the influence of government on its people with tamed animals, who are trained to not cross a certain boundary without their carts by making the animals aware of the dangers that lie ahead. This makes the cattle afraid to even try and see for it self. In the same way the government provides its people with a set of beliefs and ideas that the immature person immediately agrees upon and which aids in furthering his immaturity. Kant argues that it is extremely difficult for a man to reach maturity alone but it is easy for a number of people to do so together. The reason is that when a person starts relying on others for guidance he finds it increasingly difficult to break out of that pattern and start thinking on his own as any mistakes he makes will highlight the defects in his way of thinking. Kant also hints in his essay that a person needs certain qualities to leave immaturity, and these include fearlessness and vigor. Kant goes on to say that if a society was given freedom it will inevitably become enlightened. This statement seems a little extreme but he goes on to explain further that for enlightenment to reach everyone it should be brought about slowly and gently. Then Kant goes on to explain how and to what extent freedom should be excercised. Kant explains that public use of freedom is absolutely essential for enlightenment to take place. He says once people start expressing themselves openly in public forums, these thoughts will eventually influence decisions taken by those in positions of authority. The philosopher also points out the difference between use of freedom at an individual level and at a public level. Like I mentioned earlier, to attain enlightenment public freedom has to be used, however he says that use of freedom at an individual level is not useful at all. Kant also differentiates between expressing of ones opinions and acting on those opinions, he uses an example of a clergyman at the church. He is appointed on the condition that he will teach the principles laid down by the church so he has to teach them as it is. However he can point out constructive criticisms in the way of working of the church which can then be reviewed by his seniors. Thus Kant points out that one can not achieve enlightenment without following the laws of the society, he has to obey the laws but at the same time he should have the courage to criticize what he things is wrong or should be changed. So for him any society that does not obey the laws cannot achieve enlightenment. Kant lived at a time when Monarchy was prevalent in the world and it was considered one of the best ways of running a country. So a question arises here that is this theory acceptable in a democratic environment? My answer is No. Kant says that revolutions are counterproductive as new ideas replace old ones those new ideas are imposed on the immature population like the older ideas were. So according to Kant the situation brings about no difference but this is not true for a democratic world where rulers are selected by the people and can be changed if majority of the population is dissatisfied. However one of the unique principles of democracy is that people have freedom. They have the freedom to think and either choose to extend the current governments terms or elect a new leader if they are not satisfied with the performance of the current one. Thus it is evident that the slow and gradual change that Kant talks about can be implemented in Monarchial society, it may even be the most efficient way of bringing about change but in a democratic world this is not possible. Another aspect is that in order for a theory to be effective it needs to draw a middle ground between theory and practice. Some philosophers lack the judgment to make the theory practical others are unable to complete their theory as they lack some form of practical experience. Kants theory is also lacking in some respects. Kants theories in general have often been criticized as too vague to be practical and useful. All human beings live in a certain time period and place. It is often not possible to separate rationality from our personality, so often we ponder over some issues that others are facing in an abstract way but for anything the starting point should be our own situation. It has often been assumed by many philosophers that we can be rational and we can put our personalities aside to come up with principles that apply to all, but this is not true. Philosphers like Kant assumed this because most enlightenment thinkers were from the same period and place (Europe) this lead them to think that their answers were rational but they were not, they also reflected the culture that these ideas originated in. Kants theory has resulted in criticism and arguments from many philosophers, however whatever one thinks about this philosophy one thing cannot be ignore; i.e. its historical significance. So many years have passed yet Kants theories continue to influence us and the concept of freedom introduced by him has been embraced very clearly by all and thus his work is also very important in helping us understand what enlightenment and freedom is all about. Work Cited Kant, Immanuel. An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?  An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?  (1784). Print.

Essay --

Develop a Personal Disaster Plan A natural disaster is any event that is caused by the force of nature on environmental factors that has catastrophic consequences. Natural disasters include: avalanches, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, impact events, landslides, mudslides, tornadoes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions [1]. I live in the state of Missouri and based on the geographical location it is frequently affected by natural disasters like Ice storms, tornados, severe storms, and flooding. Since the year 1990, Missouri has recorded more than 30 federal disaster declarations. Local government keeps track of disaster information locally and it is the responsibility of State Emergency Management Agency to work with the local government to make sure that they get all the information needed and then they integrate all the information and send it to the governor. Based on the intensity of the event, the governor may request the president to issue an emergency disaster declaration. [2] Advance Preparation: Preparing for the disaster in advance might save your life. So, it’s always a wise thing to prepare in advance. My steps are: †¢ Designing a floor plan for my apartment, this makes me aware of the doors and windows to get out of the building during emergency. †¢ Creating an emergency contact of a person who is residing out-of-state and name that person as ‘ICE’ in my phone’s contact list, because whenever we are involved in an accident the officials might call to that ‘ICE’(In Case of Emergency) contact. †¢ Registering to weather alerts and being aware of the climatic conditions. †¢ Keeping the first aid kit in an emergency location in your house. †¢ In case of tornados, planning a location which is beneat... ...t locate a restore point, so that all the members of the family meet at this point after the disaster. †¢ Periodic drills must be done to ensure that, all the members of family execute their plan as planned. †¢ Talk to the children’s school officials asking for disaster plan when the disaster hits during school hours. If they are not made support them by giving your own ideas. †¢ Update and discuss the plan with all the members of the family once a year. REFERENCES: 1. Natural Disaster. (2014). Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.hccmis.com/international-insurance-definitions/#N 2. SEMA. Declared Disasters in Missouri. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://sema.dps.mo.gov/maps_and_disasters/disasters/ 3. Family Disaster Plan and Personal Survival Guide. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/oes/docs/FamilyDisasterPlan.pdf

A Tale of Two Cities- A Historical fiction Essays -- English Literatur

A Tale of Two Cities- A Historical fiction A Tale of Two Cities is a novel categorized as historical fiction. Historical fiction is a composite material, with a portion of history embedded in a matrix of fiction. A Tale of Two Cities is appropriately titled, as the novel is the story of England and Revolutionary France; as a result it can be categorized as historical fiction. A Tale of Two Cities is parallel to history in many different respects. The English setting, and atmosphere, is similarly portrayed, as it actually existed in the seventeenth century. In the novel, Dickens goes into more detail about Revolutionary France in history with regards to setting, politics and the social structure, as well as the events, which occurred during the revolution. Dickens may not have been totally accurate with his historical information, but he vividly portrays the atmosphere of England and France during this period. The French Revolution, by Carlyle, was the main source of Dickens’ information for his novel with the two settings, London and Paris. Adopting Carlyle’s philosophy of history, Dickens created A Tale of Two Cities with a tightly structured plot, developed through a series of amazingly detailed and vivid pictures. The English setting of A Tale of Two Cities is very realistic with respect to the time period. Dickens starts the story by describing the atmosphere in England by illustrating the poverty and the economic situation. It is a tale, which tells of life in two cities and the dreadful happenings, which link them together (Osbourn 3). It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, was the epoc of belief, it was the epoc of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only" (Dickens 35). In England it was the dawn of the industrial revolution, and for the growing middle class it was the best of times. For the poor, it was the worst of times because illiteracy and unemployment... ...ctorian inhabitants of what may happen if England did not make the necessary economic, judicial and political reforms. He warned them that if they did not change their ways, a revolution might occur, like it did in France. Since aspects of setting and events are accurate in history, A Tale of Two Cities can therefore be described as historical fiction. Bibliography Dickens, Charles and George Woodcock. A Tale of Two Cities. England, 1859. Davis, Earle. The Flint and the Flame: The Artistry of Charles Dickens. Columbia:Universtiy of Missouri Press, 1963. (pages 247-248) Osbourn, Barbara. Critical Commentary on A Tale of Two Cities. University of London Press, 1957 Orwell, George. Charles Dickens. Running Press, 1986, 1992. WWW Sites (World Wide Web) â€Å"Victorian Images of the French Revolution† METU British Novelists Seminar in Ankara, Turkey. March 1998. http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/dickens/turkey/turlit12.html#d â€Å"The Dickens Page.† Nagoya University. September 1995. http://lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/Dickens.html â€Å"Classic Notes on Tale of Two Cities.† 1999-2000. http://www.novelguides.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/taleoftwocities/

Getting Back To Basics :: essays research papers

Getting Back to Basics In earliest times primitive people made contact with the outside world through the same five senses used by people today. They could hear the sounds of animals, see objects, feel the rain on their faces, smell the fragrance of wild flowers, and taste berries and other foods. Primitive people also expressed their feelings through art and dance. The cave paintings in Lascaux, France, which were drawn some 27,000 years ago, depicted animals of the time. Do these images show Paleolithic man’s continuity with nature? It is not known whether these pictures had a methodical, or a magical or religious purpose; however, they did show that primitive people had both a need and a talent for self-expression. In Suzi Gablik’s book, Conversations before the End of Time, Gablik touches base with several artists analyzing the discontinuity between man and nature, nature and art, and art and man. During interviews with each artist, philosophical questions arise, such as what is art for (Ellen Dissanayake), are humans really at the apex of the pyramid (Christopher Manes), and can mankind survive without modern technological civilization (Rachel Dutton and Rob Olds)? Links between ecology, psychology, and art are explored, and the consensus among the artists states that mankind needs to change how we live with the earth by getting back to the basics. What is Art For? & Making Art About Centipedes If you were to ask Ellen Dissanayake what is art for, she would reply that art is â€Å"making special.† Dissanayake believes that humans, since the beginning, have been attracted to objects that were ‘extraordinary or special’, and ‘make special things’ to show that we care and have regard for those things. Most importantly, â€Å"art is for everyone and not solely for an elite group of artists in the art world.† Upon first reading this article, I agreed with Dissanayake, however after rereading, I discovered that there was some hypocrisy in what she was saying. Initially, Dissanayake created a solid argument on why art is important to man, why we create art, and to whom art is created. However, when linking this to the importance that man must â€Å"realize that we cannot go on living in ways that are so mechanical, materialistic and hard on the environment (Dissanayake, p.54), Dissanayake separated man into a Darwinist view of nature, and m an’s superiority over it. In my opinion, this view is the reason man is disconnected with nature.

Falling in love Essay

English romantic poet John Keats was born on October 31st 1795 in London. He lost both parents at an early age and became an apprentice at fifteen with his guardian at his surgery. He became professional in the field but chose to write poetry.  He wrote his best poetry between 1818 and 1819 after falling in love. He died of tuberculosis, the romantic disease, in the autumn of 1856.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœLa Belle Dame Sans Merci’ is a very beautiful, magical and captivating poem. It is very mysterious and leaves the reader feeling a little bemused. I had to read this ballad several times before understanding fully what it was about but I think this is only because of the more complex language used. The rhythm is slightly abrupt in places and I think the whole romanticism of this poem would put some readers off. This is a exceptionally beautiful story, very much a fairy tale and is surprisingly simple once the language is mastered. Using many comparisons to nature, the poet strongly emphasizes the wildness of the setting to help back up how wild and naturally beautiful this enchanting woman is.  Beginning with a question and a good one too, this captures attention to the poem easily. Why is the Knight loitering around such a desolate and probably wintered place? And the question is then repeated as if the Knight is in a trance. With a pale face, wrinkles on his brow and a sweat of ‘fever dew’ he begins to explain in the fourth measure, his story of how he came to be here†¦ He met a wild, very beautiful, mystifying woman who, with her ‘faery’-like charm wooed him under her spell. She cried and he comforted her. Why was she crying? She then allured him into a dream where he saw many people all pale crying out with large starving mouths in the twilight; ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci hath thee in thrall!’ The knight woke sitting on ‘the cold hill’s side’ never sleeping, lost in his love for that appealing, beautiful woman who captured him.  There are three stages of tone in this poem: the first, curious and cold, while the second is full of life, beauty and love. In the third section the knight telling the story is quickly brought back to the coldness and death of the hillside where he is cursed to roam. The mystery of this tale helps to captivate the audience and the typical saga of love not being appreciated is something people can strongly relate to making this poem a success!  In La Belle Dame even the romantic French title illustrates beauty whereas Miss Gee is the obvious title for a poem about a very dull person like Miss Gee.  La Belle Dame is a very abstract poem using nature and fairy tale to describe love and heartache. Miss Gee uses unpretentious language and very concrete facts. There is little imagination towards it but this is perfect for conveying such a faint character as Edith Gee. The story of La Belle Dame is about a beautiful woman who captures ‘warriors and princesses’ with her undying beauty. Unfortunately ‘Miss Gee’ is the complete opposite- certainly not beautiful and not charming anyone, not even a friend. She would appreciate someone who would be interested in her but the beautiful woman only uses the people who fall for her. The fact that the students who cut up and laugh at Miss Gee are men compares well to the next poem where the woman has power over the men.  The beautiful woman feels no guilt almost making her evil, soul less but Miss Gee even feels guilt for her dreams. This really shows that beauty is only skin deep and Miss Gee never got the chance or had the confidence to prove this†¦ Yet through La Belle anyone that got to know her and were captured by her beauty then realized that she was not all she appeared to be- ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci hath thee in thrall!’ Both poems take in the issue of loneliness- the brave Knight who can only blame his gullible self and the forlorn Miss Edith who wants so badly to have companionship. Both ballads don’t have happy endings- Miss Gee’s unfortunate death with her body being used for gawking students and the Knight who was left ‘palely loitering’.  Overall I preferred ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ because it is an enchanting story leaving you wondering what happened to the Knight because most fairy tales have a happy ending. The person at the start who asked the question might have helped him escape and the Knight said; ‘that is why I sojourn here’. Sojourn means ‘to stay temporarily’, which means that maybe the Knight was expecting to break the curse. Being a stereotypical fairytale Knight this ‘escape’ would be probable.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœMiss Gee’ was sad and deplorable yet it was somewhat realistic- not all lives have a happ y ending.

Origins and Significance

Among the elements of theatre, the costume is perhaps the actor’s most intimate physical tool during his performance. It completes the actor’s character, depicting his age, gender role, profession, social class, personality, from which he could draw more depth into his performance. And without the actor or narrator verbalizing it, the costume gives information as to the period/era, geographic location, season or weather, and time of day of the performance, thus making the costume an integral part of an entire production.In addition, the costume helps establish relationships between characters (mother and daughter, or servant and master, for example) and illustrate a character’s emotional state, as in Chekov’s The Seagull where Masha wears black to reflect her melancholy (Baranger, 2006). Sceno:graphy, a theatre design website, expounds on costumes in theatre as â€Å"the final jigsaw in a complex character,† further detailing that it â€Å"is the p ersonal expression of a character and within the world of a story it can also be used to create the collage that becomes theatrical design.The role of costume takes on greater meanings depending on the performance†¦ but also becomes part of the theatrical ‘picture. ’† The idea of using costumes in theatre can be traced from the ancient Greek times, with only the actor, manager, director, or wardrobe person was responsible for clothing worn on stage giving little attention to the unity of visual elements (Baranger, 2006). The use of costumes did not originate in just one place, however. In the different parts of the world where theatre is a significant part of the culture, costumes were used to identify the good from the evil, the human from the spirit or animal.Often, masks completed the costumes. In Ancient Greek drama, the actors wore large masks with exaggerated expressions. These masks fell into two general categories: tragic and comic. In Rome, masks wer e used in comedy and pantomime. During Renaissance, the commedia dell’arte made extravagant use of half masks covering the eyes and nose were used (Encarta, 2006). In old Asia, where the traditional pageants employed shiny and colorful costumes to portray the royalty, masks were required to represent the kings, princesses and grotesque characters.Japan has various and unique types of costumes, sometimes depending on the kind of theatre. In the No theatre, the costumes were intricate, formal and imaginative, usually bold in color and design, and made for a certain actor, and each had specific rules to follow. Kabuki costumes, on the other hand used big wigs and many different types of mask styles to match the character (Thinkquest, 2006). In Japanese theatre, color was used a lot to depict the emotions of a character: red for passion and super human power, blue for jealousy and fearfulness (Thinkquest, 2006), and so on.In Peking Opera, the actors wear long cuffs called water s leeves which they flick about to express emotions; warriors are identified by their heavily embroidered satin coats (Fisher, 2007). In India, several types of dance-dramas exist, the most popular of which is the kathakali, of which plots come from the Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The performers wear brightly colored makeup in symbolic patterns and beards made of paper, and costumes comprised of layered wide skirts and disk-shaped headdresses (Fisher, 2007).Ancient Roman actors, on the other hand, developed a kind of code that would tell the audience about the character just by looking at them: a black wig meant the character was a young man, gray meant he was an old man, red wig meant the character was slave; a white robe meant the character was an old man, a purple robe meant he was a young man. Color, in the modern theatre, is also used to illustrate moods: black means depressing or evil’ white is purity, red is passion or anger, blue is cool and tranquil, magen ta means royalty, green is peace and hope (Richardson, 1996).The role of costume in the modern theatre has not changed so much in the overall impact of a production. References Barranger, M. S. (2006). Theater. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. Mask. (2006). Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. Richardson, S. (1996). WPI Technical Theatre Handbook. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from http://www. gweep. net/~prefect/pubs/iqp/technical_theatre_handbook. pdf. Scenography. Costume Design. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from http://www. sceno. org/articles/costume-design/ Sorgenfrei, C. F. (2006). Asian Theater.Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. Theatrical Costume. (2006). Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. Thinkquest. (2006). Japanese Theatre Costumes. Retrieved November 8, from http://library. thinkquest. org/05aug/00717/pages/costumes. ht ml Wikipedia. Costumes. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Costumes. Wikipedia. Costume Design. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Costume_designer Wikipedia. History of Theatre. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_theatre

Childhood Obesity Essay

Obesity can be defined as the condition in which the body is characterized with excess fat by a body mass index of 30+ (Snell, et al, 2007). It is often characterized to have a genetic link i. e. it is a hereditary disease (Carol Torgan, 2002). However, families have common dietary, physical exercise, attitude and other lifestyle habits, which normally are the contributing factors to obesity. These factors sometimes are not easily from the purely genetic factors through statistical or diagnostic task. Albeit obesity is the case of children was once considered as a rare occurrence, it ahs rapidly become an epidemic with medial implications in the United States, as well as other developed states. The number of these obese children is projected to rise even further if stringent measures are not taken to curb this problem. Thus, child obesity is an issue that poses one of the greatest health challenges in the contemporary American society. The effects it has on a child’s life are generally profound, coupled with the fact that other than having to contend with overweight issues, there are numerous health issues that a child is exposed to. This is in addition to both the social and emotional problems that it creates. Once the children become adults the overweight problem does not seize, it continues and even poses other greater risk to the child in form of such conditions like stroke and heart disease. One of the possible root causes of obesity still remains as over consumption of food. When children consume too many calories for their energy needs in most cases has resulted in many modern obesity cases. When the children get to eat too much high fat food or the refined sugary foods, research suggests that they always stand a high percentage of becoming obese. According to researchers there are many metabolic as well as digestive disorders that are brought about by over consumption of refined white carbohydrates together with little or no fiber intake (Vincent Iannelli, 2007). These eating patterns in children are known to interfere with the body metabolic rates thereby causing too much fat storage within their bodies. Some of the related disorders linked to obesity include; insulin resistance, diabetes of type 2 and obesity itself. The effects of all these diseases are still a major concern the world over. Although under these circumstances the diagnosis would reveal that a child has metabolic or even digestive disorder that might be easy to treat parents do have a role to play to ensure that their children are not obese. The level on number of kids suffering from obesity has reached one that is characterized as an epidemic. Fr instance experts estimate that about fifteen percent (15%) of children are suffering from overweight problems, while another 15% one said to be at high risk of becoming overweight (Vincent 2007). Eventually, about two thirds of these current overweight children would end up as obese adults. Fast food is another risk factor that is characterized as a major contributor to overweight in children. Due to its high calorie as well as its high fat ultra sized meals. The contribution that the fast foods make toward the excess fat content within the body of the child is enormous (Gary & Juliet, 2005). The excess fat accumulates within the body tissues as well as the high sugar content that would in effect affect the body’s metabolic and digestives rates. Nevertheless, the role played by parents cannot be down played. As much as the manufactures of the fast foods are to partially be blame for this growing problem, the parents too have their tasks cut out for them. For instance, if they have learned and at least are sensitive enough to know what the effects of the fast foods have on the health of their kids. Parents have the ability to monitor the kind of food that their kids eat. In addition, the kids do not have the money to purchase these fast foods, as well as sensitizing their children’s health (Summerfield, Liane M 2007). Equally, since the dietary habits are common in almost all families it must be that either a child who is getting hooked into the various fast foods could just be picking a habit from his/her parents or from the family. It is also very hard for young children to pick up eating habits or any dietary habits that his or her parents do not approve of least of all are not practiced with the family. Many children who suffer from obesity and other related health problems often are less active. This may be due to such issue like addiction to television as well as such other activities as video games. When kids stay up all day or all night and on a frequent basis, the chances of them become obese increases. This risk factor is another contributor to obesity. Due to the inactivity that characterizes sitting down watching TV and the video games. A lot of people including parents have tended to blame the media as a whole laying a blanket condemnation and particularly directed their anger at the people who design the TV and video games programs for the kids. Much as it is admissible that the designers of these programs have a crucial role to play both in ways to help bring down the addiction aspect of the children to their games, and also to help limit the number of children suffering from obesity but with links to video or TV games. The role played by the media would only be supplementary. The program editors should also at least try to put such warming messages that would forewarn children against the dangers of excessive indulgence and addiction to their games. Once the program editors and the designers of these games have done their part then parents too have the bigger role to play. Another cause of obesity is genetically factors. Obesity as a disease is hereditary and as such runs with the family. A child who has an obese parent or someone in his or her lineage stands high-risk chance of becoming over weight. The genes from the parents or the grand parents are carried down to the child. However, genetics alone does not cause obesity, this is a condition that is only made possible to affect a child if the child eats excess food. The genetic link only makes it highly likely for the child to become obese. Nevertheless, when the child engages in eating or dietary habits that would make his or her consume large amounts of calories that he or she is not able to expend of in her body system then she will definitely develop obesity. Dietary habits mostly children’s eating lifestyles have away from the traditional healthy foods that includes fruits, vegetables as well as whole grains to new an to a larger extent, much reliance on fast food, sugary drinks together with processed snack goods as well as many other foods that are high in fat content and sugar. Due to their high gat content and/or high calories while remaining low on fiber content. Eating patterns such as having a meal while listening to radio watching TV, watching video games as well as eating while doing homework have also been identified as risk factors for the causes of obesity. Another factor which is socio-economic status ahs also been cited as risk factors for the cause of obesity. Families with lower income and with parents who are non-working have been linked to greater calorie intake for activity level. This is because the poor families cannot be able to afford health and low on fat content foods. Laziness Often defined as physical inactivity. The growing popularity among children with computer, television, video games among other activities that are found in electronic media has transformed to a growing sedentary lifestyle for many of the children within the United States of America. It has been established through research that within the United States alone, children spend a minimum of 3 hours watching TV in a single day. This habit encourages laziness and ensures that the child expends very little of energy that he or she has consumer. Further this habit encourages others acts like snacking. Due its nature, it is high in calories and since the child would spend most of the time sited, fact is she or he will not find time to release the calories consumed Brian Wansink, 2006). It is estimated that less than half of the children within the united states have parents who do routine physical exercise, and that just one third of children within the united states can access physical education facilities at school on or daily basis. The () busy schedule by parents and constant fears about the safety of their children has made it almost impossibility for kids to engage in any sports or other programs of activity after school, as they have to rush home in time. If the parents can cut down on the number of hours that children watch TV, video games and play computer games then the risks associated with media would come down as the level of laziness would be eroded if not eradicated. When parents get involved in regular exercises most likely their children too may develop interest and thus burn off excess calories and keep physically fit. The parents should also ensure that their kids are enrolled in schools where they can access physical education facilities regularly as is designed in the curriculum. If the parents took their time and organized their schedules as well as ensuring safety for their kids so as to allow them ample time to have to engage themselves in after school sports activities. During infancy, parents too can help the cause of preventing obesity through the continued breast feeding of the baby and delaying of the introduction process. Older children can be helped by their parents to develop good dietary habits, by eating healthy, nutritious food while at the same time engaging in regular exercise. In view of all these factors, from the genetics, environment to the physical activity of the child there is no particular point when the parent does not have role to play to prevent the child from being obese. As such I do believe that all the parents are to be blamed for the problems that obese children have. Reference: 1. ^http://www. obesity. org/subs/childhood/prevalence. shtml 2.   http://www. ausport. gov. au/aasc/about_aasc/facts. asp 3.   Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think (2006), Brian Wansink New York: Bantam-Dell.

My initial regional marketing strategy Essay

In pricing, most of my pricing strategies were just following my competitors, because I have the faith that their prices are the results from the competition in that market. It is true that we should put an eye upon our main competitors, because they have the important information we need. For example, in Brazil, when I found the main competitor of me spent 35 million dollars on the promotion on Family & Healthy products, I realized that I could not I Ignore the promotion on this kind of product any more. So I invested about 5 million dollars on it immediately.Furthermore, I found that a big number of the competitors produced the medium toothbrushes and few of them put their heart into producing small and large products. And more people in all of the markets choose medium toothbrushes than other products. Therefore, I focused upon the medium products from the 1st period to the 6th period. What’s more, once I entered a new market, I chose only several medium products to produce because the data told me that the medium toothbrushes are the most popular products and the most profitable products. After I ran the actions I prepared, I got positive net contribution finally. In promotion, I always consulted the strategy from my competitors, because I believed they could survive in the market, meaning that their promotions were not bad. I usually was the second or third in promotion among all the companies. In addition, I arranged the promotion by the sales force after I arranged the sale force by the shopping habits of the customers in the native market. In pricing, I chose almost all the medium products because I thought the medium is the most practical. And I chose some small and large products, in order to collocate with the medium ones. In advertising, I also consulted from my competitors. However, I put all of my advertising into a continued advertisement. Especially in large market, such as Brazil and Mexico, I focus on the Family/Economy products, because I think the family is the group, who has the biggest buying power. 2. Changes and Rationale My first steps were 1st Brazil in period 1, 2nd Argentina in period 2, 3rd Mexico in period 4, 4th Chile in period 5, 5th Peru in period 7, 6th Venezuela in period 9. And the 10th period is the remaining period for me to do some adjustments to make a better result of the simulation. In order to  get a better performance, I rearranged the steps into 1st Brazil in period 1, 2nd Argentina in period 3, 3rd Mexico in period 4, 4th Venezuela in period 6. The reasons why I changed the order is that when I entered Brazil, I got the top market share immediately. After that I set a plant in Brazil, but I need time to improve the capability of the plant to support that markets I am going to enter later (we can only add 100 units of production in Brazil every year). As a result, I stayed at Brazil for another year. At the third year, I entered Argentina instead of the second year. As for the fourth market I entered. I used to enter Chile at the 5th period. However, at this time, when I entered Mexico at the 4th period, it needs some time for me to enlarge the market in Mexico. Consequently, I chose to enter into the 4th market at the 6th period, which is actually the requirement from the MBA 558 professor, corresponding to the class syllabus. What’s more, when I chose Chile, who was my first choice for the 4th market, I found that the work-force in that country was really high and the advertising cost was also too expensive. I abandoned it because I believe I didn’t have enough money to support this strange market at that time. And then I chose Venezuela to replace it because it was a little country and it was easy for me to handle. Moreover, its work force cost is low and market is normal, unlike Chile. 3. Performance Objectives VS Actual Performance After I ran the period 1 and period 2, I got a negative net contribution. That is inevitable and reasonable, because when I entered Brazil, I started the plant immediately and invested huge money on the promotion and advertisements. Moreover, I arranged nearly 100 people working on the sales and the price was also not too high. As a result, the cost of products sold was really high, which is why the net contribution was negative. However, as I invested huge money on the promotion and sales, and the price was not too high. I got lots of unit sales totally. It means that, I already have a relatively big mark share with the competitors. Because the market share is truly important especially for the new comers, I still felt optimistic about my wonderful future in Brazil. That is to say we must bear the negative net contribution at first and try to get positive net contribution later, which needs us have the enough support of finance. Every time I entered a new market, I got a negative contribution in the first period. However when I  enlarged my productivity and raised my price, I got a positive contribution in the following periods. I didn’t have a specific objective in every market, but the actual performance was that I have the biggest market share in Brazil, which is my most important market. And in other markets, I was always top 3 company in market share. I have the overall biggest market share. It seems like my strategy was not bad but need to be improved if I want to have the biggest market in every country. 4. Key Strategy Entry Steps Important markets first, Largest markets first. Sale force, Promotion, Pricing, Allowance and Advertising According to the shopping habits of the customers, rich status of the countries and competition situation. SKU  When I entered a new market, I focus on several medium products, because medium ones are the most practical and popular. After I occupied some market share, I developed some other products. In rich countries, I focus on healthy ones. By contrast, in poor counties, I drew attention into the economy ones. Among the children, I only sold medium products, because the children don’t have so many different requirements 5. Company Position for the future After the 10 periods, I have the biggest market share in Brazil, which is my most important market. And in other markets, I was always one of the top 3 companies in market share. In total, I have the overall biggest market share. It seems like my strategy was not bad but need to be improved if I want to have the biggest market in every country. In the future, I will try to enlarge my market share in the other countries, except for Brazil, in order to get the biggest market in every country. After that, my company should find a good way to get more net contribution, as my company was not the one who has the largest net contribution. 6. Lessons from the simulation experience The entry steps when my company want to expand  I should find a most important and large country to enter first and then expand step by step. In every new market, what I need to do step by step.  At first, I should focus on the specific product or some specific products, instead of kinds of ones. After I occupy some market share, I will try to produce other kinds of popular products How to arrange sales force and promotion upon it I would search the information about the shopping habits of the customers at first and then analyze it. After that, I arrange the sales force and the promotion. How to price the products and make the allowance Before I price my products, I should consult my competitors, because their prices represent the market supply and demand. As for the allowance, I will make it based on my price. When my price is raised, I would also raise my allowance. How to advertise Before I invest my money into the advertisements, I should find my target market and then try to consult my competitors in that specific market. And then I will make a advertisement corresponding to my competitors and my steps to enlarge my market share. What’s more, I would still stick on a advertisement if I have it for many years, because I believe I have a competitive advantage in it. How to arrange the plants I chose Brazil as the location of the plant because I thought Brazil has the sufficient work force, a big market and also the central location. Nevertheless, I made a mistake upon the production in the plant that I added its capability by 100 million units every year, making the depreciation so high. If I restart the simulation, I would control the power of the plant according to the sales. 7. Conclusion From the simulation, I learned how to do the streamlined global expansion with working as the country-manager and how to use different strategies in different periods, which are the vital things that I learned from this course.

Product Launch Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Product Launch Plan - Essay Example Nonetheless, the target consumers are middle class groups, who are highly involved in the media-saturated world attributable to things like advertisements, internet and mobile phone. Company SWOTT analysis Strengths The company is located in Italy, which is a company that is associated with a tradition of pioneering production of wine. In fact, this is a tradition that would enable the company to have a good reputation and the customers will have confidence in their products (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). The company will be situated in company that has favorable climate conditions, given that Italy is countries that cover an area attributed to different types of climatic zones; in this case, this will provide ideal location for increased productivity of grapes used for making wine. In 2011, trends of wine sales were attributed to establishment of modern concept, which are contrasting with the France conservative culture (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). In fact, France has a market of wine tha t is highly competitive due to introduction of flavored wines. Weaknesses Structures of Italian vineyards lack a specific strategy given that it is highly concentrated with small wineries that are owned by families and this have a negative impact on production (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). The company is likely to face challenges due to unfamiliarity with French culture and their customs; in fact, this may have a negative impact on the effort to venture into the market (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). Opportunities In France, there are potential customers, who have developed tastes and preferences for wine; in fact, they are able to rank these products based on value over volume leading to willingness to pay high prices per unit price (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). There are opportunities derived through wine intelligence in France market, whereby there are models being developed to facilitate market growth and ascendancy of wine; thus, the consumers will develop ways of distinguishing between v arious categories of wine (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). On the other hand, the company can focus on establishing a single brand with consistency in quality, taste and it will be associated with Italy. Threats France market has been surpassed by other markets such as Australia and Britain; thereby a decision to venture this market poses a threat of reduced profitability compared to other markets (Marini & Tepponen, 2012). There are other threats emanating from a decrease in the number of wine drinkers; in fact, this is a tradition has been introduced in the market, despite high per capita among consumers in the market. The competition There are increased chances that Italy will lose their position of being leaders in the market of wines due to stiff competition from other countries such as Australia, America, Chile and South Africa. However, Italy has attained a competitive advantage based on marketing strategies, whereby they promote products through captivating images (Fernandez-Cruz, 2003). Nonetheless, this competition has led to a decrease sales of wine in Italy; in fact, analysis in 2010 indicates that the country lost to their leading position to South Africa, which attained twenty percent market share. Therefore, this

Discuss the challenges that global warming presents to both Essay

Discuss the challenges that global warming presents to both governments and business - Essay Example Lord Stern further pointed out that the increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other toxic chemicals into our atmosphere seems to represent a ‘business-as-usual’ attitude which does not bode well for our environment. He calculates that every ton of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere implies a $30 charge for the social cost and if not stopped, about 1-2% of our global GDP per year would be reduced. Our industries would also have to suffer the higher cost of climate change through adjustments in their carbon emissions (Meister, 2008). The tourist industry would also likely be impacted by global warming because businesses would incur losses or closures caused by waves, hurricanes, floods, and storms. These weather disturbances would likely reduce â€Å"international outbound and inbound tourist traffic† (Meister, 2008). Many heritage sites which are top tourist draws are also often damaged by these weather disturbances. In the end, these areas will lose the ir attractiveness; and as a result fewer tourists would visit these places (Meister, 2008). The challenge for the tourist industry would now be on how to stay economically viable despite global warming conditions. This would likely prompt these businesses to either find alternative sources of business or to help maintain such tourist spots and prevent them from deteriorating. The areas which would likely be impacted significantly by the global warming phenomenon are the third world nations like Bangladesh and areas like Mumbai in India and Indonesia; these areas have low coastlines and would likely be affected the most by global warming (Webber, 2002). The floods caused by monsoon rains as well as the droughts in some parts of the world are just some of the occurrences which are likely to be seen with more frequency in the coming years. The challenge for businesses in these areas would be on how to stay afloat amidst these weather disturbances which may destroy their crops and disru pt their supply chains. Insurers have a major share in companies, including those in the oil industry. The challenge for them is on the pressure they can exert on these companies in order to prompt them to recover their losses amidst natural disasters and also how these insurance companies can still gain profits (Webber, 2002). The challenge for businesses is on the switch to fuels which they have to implement in order to help reduce the emissions of toxic chemicals. The challenge is for them to use alternative sources of fuel which would create less greenhouse gases. Fuel switching would be a costly venture for most businesses because these sources of fuel are limited sources and would require more than the usual processing (Webber, 2002). Moreover, these alternative sources of fuel would cost millions to structure in to the industries. In the end, these financial costs are often passed to the consumers – consumers who are already undergoing various economic difficulties in recent years. Economists also point out that for companies who are located in areas which are often visited by droughts or floods, insurance companies may eventually find them uninsurable (Hagen, 2007). Many farmers would also likely invest in new areas which may be