Interest Groups

Interest Groups: 15. 3. 2013 Globalization occurring at rapid speeds is having vast affects on the Canadian political system. The strong emergence and growing influence of interest groups, gained through institutionalization and immense monetary funding have proven to become a direct threat to political parties in the modern age. This essay will primarily discuss, â€Å"Pressure Groups: Talking Chameleons† written by Paul Pross.Following, the analysis of the article, â€Å"Wilderness Politics in BC: The Business Dominated State and the Containment of Environmentalism† written by Jeremy Wilson. And finally, discuss and evaluate the vital contents of both articles in relation to other academic sources. Paul Pross identifies that modern governments in Canada have problems communicating with the public sector. Public debate was originally controlled by the government, however in the early 1970’s policymaking became more of a public process.Governments could no longe r insist on withholding valuable information, and the public insisted on increased transparency. Electronic media has proven to be a large contributor in the sense that it has created an environment encouraging public participation and the notion of making groups less dependent on bureaucracies. This resulting in a diffusion of power, granting more influence to the public sector. Prior to the emergence of these interest groups, political parties were the main vehicle enabling citizens to channel their concerns mainly by elections and enabling communication to and from the government.Political parties alone would not suffice to account for the entire populations aggregated demands and thus governments continue to further support pressure groups to battle the constant problem of communication. Interest groups simply emerged as individuals acting together and attempting to influence public policy in the direction of their common interests. In some cases what originated as little organi zations has now emerged into influential contributors to the policy making process. This raising concern that the Canadian democratic system is threatened by these emerging interests groups.Pross emphasizes that unless interest groups have access to substantial resources, their influence will be insignificant in most cases. Another factor which causes for some interest groups to survive and other to fail in the political system is undergoing the process of institutionalization. Pross defines an institution as a sophisticated entity, in which members have structured relationships, and collectively attempt to achieve a common goal. As Philip Selznick says, â€Å"As the institutionalization progresses the enterprise†¦ becomes peculiarly competent to do a particular type of work. The process of constant adaptation, and establishing connections to the government officials is of immense value in order for an interest group to partake in the policy process. The sub government process es the policy issues, it consists mainly of government agencies however interest groups and large corporations are also included to a certain extent. The degree of inclusion is debatable however the interest groups are guaranteed â€Å"a seat on the table† and thus consult with the government on a daily basis.Ideally the interest groups gain influence in policy decision and thus for the benefit of the government can successfully accomplish the citizens aggregate demands. However as of 1993 party activists began to criticize the influence of interest groups since they were constantly winning concessions over political parties. There was a large amount of party antipathy coming mostly from the government itself in the sense reducing direct funding to interest groups, and limiting advertising groups during election periods.Kim Campell was a great contributor towards reducing the influence of interest groups, as she remarks, â€Å" Interest groups are no longer useful adjuncts t o the political system, but a direct competition rival to political parties. † The notion of interest groups superseding political parties, and serving as the main channel to communicate with the government had become true. In this globalized world, Pross identifies the challenge between interest groups and political parties as inevitable. He metaphorically describes interest groups as â€Å"talking chameleon† this explains the superiority of interest groups to a certain extent.Unlike political parties, interest groups and corporations, are not specifically interested in the occurrence of certain locations, they plant themselves in many places, furthermore they have the ability to draw funds from around the world. Another factor making the political party inferior is its longstanding values, territorial basis restricting it from expansion since political parties aim to accomplish control of legislative. Hence since the legislature is based on a territorial perimeter, th e rest of the political party body must follow in this direction.In contrast to some interest groups, political parties have not fully been able to achieve a system which incorporates the public into the policy making process. Pross questioned whether the fragmentation of the political parties endangers long-standing institutions, or if this merely is the politics of the new age. Canada has witnessed the emergence of a new public philosophy â€Å"pluralism† started taking the place of the previous representative parliamentary democracy. Pluralism emphasizes the collaboration between government and interest groups.Ideally members of private groups exchange ideas and negotiate with government civil servants. The second article written by Jeremy Wilson focuses on how the British Columbian governments responds in regard to the so called environmentalist movement starting 1975 to 1989. The timber and paper industry is of vast importance to the economy of British Columbia. Most of the timber is Crown owned, and distributed to companies under long contracts, these licenses are easily renewable. Hence environmentalist protest against this established hierarchy.They argue in favor of tenure alternations and demand more caution regarding the protection of British Colombia’s wildlife. Environmentalists demand the forest areas to be protected and transformed into parks however corporations claim this is unwise use of the land. The article Global Spin by Sharon Beder analyzes the notion of anti-environmentalism. As mentioned in Wilsons article Beder, â€Å"reveals the deceptive and unethical underpinnings of the â€Å"wise use† movement, industry front groups, contrarian think tanks, multinational public relation firms, and media establishments. regulations. As Wilsonhad mentioned, the interest groups were arguing against the single use of areas, as they promoted multiple use which further legitimized their corporate use of forrest areas. These concer ns are very problematic for the forest corporations as an alternation of the tenure regulations would directly alter the value of the commodity and thus damage the economy as a whole. Timber companies, began to heavily lobby against these proposed suggestions, using there extensive wealth to battle environmentalist’s claims.These forest corporations, have extensive resources, a continuing organizational structure consisting of established professionals familiar to the governmental processes to represent their aggregate demands. According to R. V. Smith â€Å"Forest tenures and timber supply and the commitments by which those tenures are held are the fundamental asset by which potential investors or lenders judge the viability of a company. † It became clear that the security of timber was the priority for forest corporations.Thus the conservative stance of forest corporations claimed that the environmentalists were putting at risk a â€Å"system that has long legitimi zed a profitable traffic in rights to Crown resources. † Hence as could be expected the corporations heavily campaigned against the emerging environmental movement by adopting a hardline attitude; one sign of retreat will automatically result in further demands. Environmentalist movement pursuing redistributive politics in British Columbia challenged the establishment.These new groups want a share of the pie which was a strictly closed community consisting of; â€Å"Ministry of Forests (MOF), cabinet committee having ultimate responsibility for resolving land use disputes and the 10 or 12 major forest companies that hold tenure rights to over 60% of BC’s forest lands. This challenge resulted in minor alternations and corporations are no longer unchallenged, however this is a prime example in parallel the previously mentioned quote by Selznick; â€Å"in order for pressure groups to carry out their functions they need to become peculiarly competent. The institutionalize d pressure groups have immense power which are difficult to challenge, especially in the Forest industry of British Columbia. Hence the challenges of the environmentalist were everything but a paradigm shift. It appears that policy makers are under sever constraints from policies adopted by previous governments. There are deep rooted problems beginning with the fact that the process concerning resource management being a closed matter to the public. Furthermore provincial legislators playing no role in decision-making process, thus the power is held in the hands of cabinet ministers and other officials.Environmentalists groups like the Western Canada Wilderness Committee began to adopt the approach of a â€Å"moral call out† appealing on an emotional level to the citizens’ regard the environment. In addition their arguments mainly suggested that tourism would decreases as lumbering prevails. Even though the citizens are now collectively assisting as a bureaucracy they have no virtual political power in the decision making process. Most of the environmentalist movements is funded out of members due, or paid individually. None of the groups considered in the article has sufficient funds to support media advertising campaigns, or maintain a full time lobbyist in Victoria. † Quite similar to the analysis of Pross, Wilson clearly defines that money plays a large role in the power dynamics between governments, corporations and environmentalists. Another key factor to note is that since the 1982 adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, interest groups have resorted to utilizing the process of litigation. Litigation under the charter is now partially funded by the government, in programs such as the â€Å"Court Challenges Program. The answer is not as simple according to Paul Pross; In the optimal case interest groups offer access to the political decisions, which were originally, influenced by elites, hence establishing a new soci al order. However in 1992 there was a fair degree of constitutional discussion, questioning whether or not to fully include women Aboriginal groups and other minority groups into policy making process. At first many were for the groups inclusion, however others feared that the re-ordering of social power portrayed by the Charlottetown accord.The aboriginal women groups attempted to achieve redistribution of power and saw this as an opportunity to partake in the constitutional debate. Unfortunately people developed a radical bias which primarily associated fragmentation process to the attempts of this group, even though they were following the footsteps of more â€Å"established interest, † In fact the gross part of the debate is dominated by the institutionalized groups a majority of these specifically representing business interests.The political process has become very diffuse, it has become difficult to differentiate between individual and public interests, and there have been cases of interest groups especially corporations establishing themselves by institutionalizing and extensive lobbying, and are thus dominating in certain policy processes. A consensus is established than overall interest groups are an effective method of getting to the public, however some groups have extensively developed into structures, giving them superiority and priority over other interests.This in Canada has lead to a sharp decline of the political party and a increase of interest groups. Wilson in his article describes a sheer decrease in motivation of the environmentalist, since there continuous attempts had little affects on public policy. Furthermore the structuring of Wilderness politics has put nominated preservation candidates into the foreground placing environmentalists at a disadvantage. This structure ignored the environmentalists’ claims to a small portion of the remaining wilderness, and furthermore creates the illusion that they are greedy. We gave t hem South Moresby, now they want Stein. † In summary of both articles and additional sources, it can be said that main themes continue to re-occur. Initially interest groups were a great access tool for governments, to communicate with the public sector, however after the diffusion of powers in Canada, some interest groups have attained extensive powers. These groups have achieved this by undergoing the process of institutionalization at rapid speeds differentiating themselves in terms to influence compared to environmentalist groups for instance.The corporations are now so established and reluctant to give into any environmentalist’s demands. IN addition Interests groups typically establish ongoing relationships with the departments of government corresponding to their interest, this is also known as â€Å"elite accommodation† has become very common in Canadian politics. The only solution which remains for environmentalist groups is to rise and attain power by; developing a cohesive inter group structure, institutionalizing and possibly merging with other interest groups to broaden the monetary funding established through increased membership.Environmentalist can thus employ professional lawyers and other personal to lobby on their behalf. The future entails many possibilities; on one hand the environmentalists groups could successfully expand their influence to eventually restructuring forest land use policy and thus would demonstrate how interest groups are not necessarily monopolistic and how there is room at the table for new comers. However the problem of the economy remains; one could pose the question of how a decrease in the revue caused by enforced regulations by environmentalist would be compensated to British Columbia economy as a whole? ——————————————- [ 1 ]. Paul Pross, Pressure Groups: Talking Chameleons. (Nelson, 1995): pp. 263s . [ 2 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 263. [ 3 ]. Political demands of individual persons and corporations. [ 4 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 252. [ 5 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 257. [ 6 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 259. [ 7 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 260. [ 8 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 264. [ 9 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 265. [ 10 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 69. [ 11 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 269. [ 12 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 270. [ 13 ]. Hugh H. Thorburn, Interest Groups and Polic Policy in Canada. (Queen's law journal. 1988) pp. 447. [ 14 ]. Jeremy Wilson, Wilderness Politics in BC. (Missisagua, Ontario, 1989): pp. 142. [ 15 ]. Jeremy Wilson, op cit. , pp. 143. [ 16 ]. Beder, Sharon. Global spin: the corporate assault on environmentalism. Alternatives Journal25. 4 (Fall 1999): pp. 42. [ 17 ]. Jeremy Wilson, op cit. , pp. 143. [ 18 ].Jeremy Wilson, op cit. , pp. 143. [ 19 ]. Paul Pross, op cit. , pp. 260. [ 20 ]. Jeremy Wilson, op cit. , pp. 147. [ 21 ]. Jeremy Wilson , op cit. , pp. 151. [ 22 ]. Morton – Allen. Feminisits and the Courts: Measuring success in Interest Group Litigation in Canada. (Canadian Journal of Political Science, 2001) pp. 55. [ 23 ]. Jeremy Wilson, op cit. , pp. 167. [ 24 ]. Jeremy Wilson, op cit. , pp. 167. [ 25 ]. Hugh H. Thorburn, Interest Groups and Polic Policy in Canada. (Queen's law journal. 1988) pp. 445.

Amazon.com and Porter’s Five Forces Essay

Introduction In the early 1990s, the Venture Capitalists and Banks reviewed business models of books, CDs, electrical appliance retailers which were majorly confined to brick and mortar stores and simple operations. But they would be surprised to view the business model of Amazon.com Inc, which has used the internet to gain competitive strategic advantage and personify most of innovation metaphors. This analysis of Amazon.com Inc has Porter’s five forces model, which consist of Supplier’s Power, Customer’s Power, Threat of New Entrants, Threat of Substitutes and Degree of Rivalry, respectively, being conscientiously used in respect to our chosen company, to determine whether Amazon has benefitted in terms of competitive advantage by its different-than-others business model, or has it not. The rest of this research answer is organized as follows: first we shall look at why we chose Amazon, and then we shall study the five forces given in the same progressive order as above. Th is is finalized by our conclusion, where the research answer is stated clearly. Why Amazon Being one of the largest online retail companies in the world (Forbes), Amazon.com has clearly stated its position in the dominant market analogies. Emerging in the early 1990s (the era of .com boom) the firm was one of its own kinds of innovation. The firm sells everything from books, DVDs to kitchen appliances and jewellery. The firm’s other operations are: providing content production and computing services to various firms. So, all this was basic data about the company which looks great on paper, but the quality in Amazon which led us to choose it as our company was persistence towards transforming. To survive and grow in today’s complex business world where words like stability don’t matter anymore, you need to change and transform constantly according to situation and time, which Amazon has done very nicely. First of all, it survived through the dot com bust due to it having an innovative business model with less cost formula. Then to expand, they went further than books to bring in most of easily shippable goods. Amazon came through once again to satisfy a new customer – IT community, which required new resources, and a new business model. This was in 2002. In 2007, it further innovated to launch the kindle eBook reader (which currently is a  tablet computer). This product required Amazon to be a hardware producer as well as digital media software. And the success of Kindle showed that Amazon had the ability to respond to market needs, and to transform, not just once, but time and time again, to deliver the demanded product for both customer satisfaction and growth of its business. These support our choice of choosing this company. Supplier’s power There are two major supplying fields for Amazon’s (according to the sales structure of the firm), namely; electronics and book sectors. With those suppliers related to supplying books in terms of their bargaining power have proved to be at a minimum (or limited) level ’cause of low concentration that directly adds to the firm’s value overtime. The out-coming factor to such relativity is large number of book sellers present in the market. In such manner, Amazon is readily open to select its own suppliers for books once there is a distortion of material nature of things. Other sector that the firm’s sale figures are heavily dependent upon is electronics. In such case the bargaining power for electronics suppliers is relatively high. The only reason present for this explanation is the low costing structure that Amazon presents for its electronic goods to sell. In such manner they are not collecting their deliveries straights from the parent companies rather they opt for its second dealers, which have more bargaining power (price mechanism that outcry’s the related market dependences). The nature for such power is the presence of fewer dealers for the supply or if the firm wants to switch to other suppliers then their pricing could be different (generally higher than market price). On an overall we can say the bargaining power of suppliers fluctuates from low to mid-high (taking overtime factor into account that directly proportions the book sector) Customer’s Power Such power is generally related in the manner how a customer selects, carry forward and considers his / hers buying options. In terms of online retailing, customers are having high bargaining power. If they see other  sites selling at different costing they’ll shift the choice of not selecting Amazon.com. Sometimes customers are over possessive in terms of product selection. So they want hand touch to their selections. In accordance to that online retailers are at a diminishing level as there are markets to look for (such could also be a case of buyer’s customisation). Another way to look for such scenario is the manner in which the industry provides product quality. Amazon.com being regarded as a superior firm in terms of product quality, so its costumers purchase more on it rather going to the markets. This also adds value to the firm by creating more customers over the years. Considering the fact that Amazon.com do not operate any of its retail outlets, there are saving, accordingly. It’s in the business nature of the firm to transfer that saving directly to buyers in terms of low pricing of its goods, and in that causative approach Amazon.com enhances its value. Being more customer centric firm, it satisfies more customers and due to that reason the firm has more offering than any other industry in such field. To conclude, the above reasoning for the customer’s power to bargain and industry’s ability to attract more, we say that it fluctuates mid to high. Threat of New Entrants Majorly this relates to barrier to entry into the current segment of the market (online retailing). In such field (at eh present financial scenario) threats of new entrants are low. Beating Amazon.com is at its performance scale is a tough job for any new .com enterprise. It may take years for a new firm to get into form working in present financial world (concerning stock market fluctuations, investment hedges etc.). For any E-commerce firm to develop requires a start-up strategy and stable working environment; that is only possible when there a suitable financial induction and better approach to day-to-day problems. Strong distribution and supply network is the basic necessity for an online retail company. The manner in which big firms such as Amazon.com, eBay, Alibaba; operates, they have evolved overtime to get their goods to the end consumers. Geographic factor is better for the firm’s competitive advantage. Amazon.com withstand a better than any other firm, by operating as product and service differentiation to attain maximum locality it can. (a view in accordance to the working nature  and size of Amazon.com) http://www.wikiwealth.com/five-forces-competitor:amazon:geographic-factors-limit-compe Pricing structure and capital requirements always pose a extradition to new retailing firms as these costs associated to them are usually high. An economy of scale is widely looked upon a changing mechanism for a firms operating level. Amazon.com has this factor in high nature as it is able to limit its cost governing operations which in case of new entrants is high. Governmental policies could sometimes hold a newly formed company not the start up or disrupts its operations in middle as it might not be in the proper nature of working (legal concerns) (Chapter 2 page 85 book – exploring corporate strategy) Threat of Substitutes Having market for goods diversified, there are number of options available to purchasers while selecting a particular choice of their own. Online stores, direct outlets, discount shops, stands; goods can now be purchased anywhere and any-time (no need for going online every-time; but yes the comparison can be made). Taking example for book purchase; such can be bought from number of book shops or news-stands at much more cheaper price (taking a margin of interest). Other could be music selection; iTunes, radio stations or recording on one’s own are close substitutes for online purchase. Only thing to argue here is the nature of physical presence or being virtual about a shopping item. By taking such notice, threat of substitutes in case of Amazon.com is high. Degree of Rivalry Market adjusts in accordance to the compelling nature of firms to attract consumers. More product diversification leads to empowering market to produce rivalry among providers of it. Amazon.com being of the key player in such market capture faces strong competition from its rivals (such as eBay, Alibaba, Barnes & Nobel, Wal-Mart etc.) Growth rate [in %] (Source: NASDAQ) INDUSTRY 2014 2015 Amazon.com 195.36 132.47 Wal-Mart 3.82 9.10 Barnes & Nobel -189.66 2.38 Ebay 8.65 14.11 Amazon.com hold a strong future forecasts in terms of growth rate. (could also be a measure to predict industry development towards market behaviour) But when we consider sales revenues into account for the year 2012-13 http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2013/07/24/alibaba-a-threat-to-amazon-ebay-walmart-and-everyone-else/ Source: Forbes In billion $ Alibaba 170 Amazon.com 95 EBay 75 There is a clear presentation of how market can integrate companies in terms of revenue capturing in the same field of online retailing. This could either be short-term or long-term depending upon attempts to gain dominance over one another (chapter 2 page 85 book – exploring corporate strategy) In terms of entry and exit barriers, there is a moderate rivalry between firms. The explanation to that is the profit making what the investors see in retail sector. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/AGDM/wholefarm/html/c5-200.html Consequently, Amazon.com stands on a better scale of performance as when it started operating there were low exit barriers that made the company to add to its value. But these current times, investments and barriers are getting more complex that puts pressure on firms which are stepping into recent marking to perform above. The firms that hold strong grounds (as mentioned EBay, Alibaba etc.) are giving intense rivalry to Amazon.com. Conclusion Porter’s Five Forces Model Conclusion Supplier’s power Mid-High Customer’s Power Mid-High Threat of New Entrants Low Threat of Substitutes High Degree of Rivalry Mid-high Viewing the tabular conclusion gets us to further conclude that Amazon.com Inc has increased its competitive advantage, in a good degree, one might say.

Hospitality Operation Management Essay

Executive Summary This report is based on the findings from Tripadvisor that aimed to examine theissues of in Bella Vista Hotel and Resort Langkawi and provided therecommendations for improving housekeeping management in the futureexpansion. The findings in this report are according to the comments fromguests who had been staying in Bella Vista Hotel and Resort previously and makethe judgments on those serious issues in this particular hotel. The studyconfirmed the existing of inappropriate hotel housekeeping operation andmanagement would strongly influence the image of hotel and lead this hoteltowards low revenue. This report discusses on four issues of Bella Vista Hoteland Resort which are room hygiene and cleanliness concerns, inappropriatemaintenance, bathroom and amenities as well as inconsistent manpowermanagement and other service. Because of the massive growth of travelers around the world, the guests‟ perception to the hotel rooms have been shifted differently compared the past. Hotel guests are looking forward a comfortableroom and proper hotel management when they are staying in particular hotel toincrease the satisfaction of guests. It is shown that the comments from hotelguests are effective means of evaluating the issues of Bella Vista Hotel andResort and the application of recommendations are highlighted. Introduction to assignment objectives Hospitality environment has always played a key role in the tourism and hotelculture. Lodging or Accommodation with service is the center of any hotel in theworld, but recently, it has been facing many problems. Society nowadays shiftsthe concerns from traditional style with high-class service and room amenities tothe flexibly modern way of saving money or budget oriented style due to thechanges of preferences, economic crisis and other external factors. Guestsbecome smarter and pickier when they choose the hotel to stay. The hotelsattempting to succeed have to forecast what the new trend is. And they alsoshould consider of combining two elements of luxury and budget in one coreproduct   room (Power, 2005).Malaysia is early named as one of the most popular tourist destinationsworldwide. With its significant hot spots, especially in island areas, tourists areincreasingly coming to Malaysia and enjoying their trip with affordable price.Langkawi islands (Malaysia) and its hotels serve a thousand of tourists annually,which means to sustain the quality and quantity, the hotels in this isolated islandput as much effort as possible. With the combination of the custom ers‟  expectation factors such as low rate and high quality in service, the frequency of guests‟ returns inclines tremendously in Langkawi. However, in an isolated area with many issues can be happened, and to solve the problems, it could beanalyzed critically and particularly.

How is the lead actor Warren Beatty's character in Heaven Can Wait Essay

How is the lead actor Warren Beatty's character in Heaven Can Wait movie similar to Jay Gatsby please give specific examples - Essay Example story is centered on this journey as he finds a way to return back to Earth to finally fulfill his lifelong dream: to lead his team as quarterback in the Super Bowl. These two characters in both stories play a similar role. Both Pendleton and Gatsby earn great status and position. For Joe Pendleton, he is a quarterback football star playing for the football team Los Angeles Rams. He is preparing his team to play in the Super Bowl. For Jay Gatsby, on the other hand, is a successful and extremely wealthy magnate who throws extravagant lavish parties. Both characters are not only similar in rank, position and social status, they are also very similar in their attitude and personality. Both are very persistent and determined people. Joe Pendleton as he meets an accident and is plucked into heaven by an angel a little too early, does not accept the reality and believe he is really dead and his time is up on Earth. Like Joe, Jay Gatsby refuses to give up on his desire of having Daisy, the girl of his dreams. Her affair with Gatsby five years ago brings about the main events in the story. Because of Gatsby’s extreme fiery desire to rekindle the love he used to share with Daisy, he committed his life to become the rich and affluent man to impress her. Towards the end of the story, Daisy is aghast even though Gatsby refuses to stop the pursuit. He is still anticipating for her call up until the exact instant he dies. Meanwhile, Joe Pendleton, even in his new given body as Farnsworth, a dying millionaire, he is still determined and single-minded on leading his team to the Super Bowl as their quarterback. Even in the afterlife, he refuses to believe his life has come to an end and it results in him finding new bodies to dwell in so he can lead as quarterback in Super Bowl and even in his new life as Leo Farnsworth. His only goal is still to lead as quarterback in the Super Bowl. For both characters, even to the point of death, their goal is their only thought in mind.

Images of Los Angeles presented in What We Do Is Secret Essay

Images of Los Angeles presented in What We Do Is Secret - Essay Example The scenarios and images describe surroundings and the state of life in Los Angeles. With that respect, this paper will base arguments and comparison of images of Los Angeles in the film ‘what we do is secret’. To begin with, the writer of the film what we do is secret Michelle Baer chooses words as infamous and legendary to describe Darby but rationally the words reflect on the image of the city of Los Angeles in the 1970’s. This shows that, even though the city of Los Angeles was infamous, it was also a legendary city. In the film, Darby and the rest of the Germ rock band crew present issues related to naivety, peculiarity, feebleness, as well as brilliance. These characteristics ultimately depict presence of real and true misfit of the city of Los Angeles. To some extent, the city appears to have some degree of negligence as showcased by the wretched life of young adults (Samudio and Lee 57). This is because, the Germs are cognitively high school dropouts, bad behaved, and careless drug users. Secondly, the images in the film are photographic tribute paid to the city of Los Angeles. It provides a fascinating journey through the cultural, sociological, political, and the industrial history of the city of Los Angeles. ... Additionally, this book gives a stern representation of the city of Los Angeles in all its grits and glory via events that made the world such as the two Olympics, the Rodney King riots, and the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. All these events reveal that Los Angeles is a city of many dimensions. Moreover, the film describes the city of Los Angeles as the world’s entertainment capital, Hollywood, and showcases a variety of celebrities along with a number of notable residents that include architects, musicians, and artists. The film highlights in-depth condition of pop cultural movements of Los Angeles together with the state of music (Banham 168). The Germ bandleader, Darby knows not his biological father. On the other end, his mother is an alcoholic and his elder brother dies from heroin overdose. His school life portrays him as an avid reader who against all odds comprehensively develops into a frighteningly intelligent student. Presumably, the overall life feature of Darby displays and compares the state of art and the status of education system within the city of Los Angeles. The book ‘what we do is secret’ depicts the city of Los Angeles through contrasting points of view. For instance, it covers the city’s state of social life in conjunction with its status of its pop cultural movements. These conditions display contradicting issues since the book stretches its length to show presence of the city’s state of music, state of food fads, gangs, surfing, and hot rods. In short, it portrays the condition of food, which is healthy, state of music however associated with behaviors that lead to drug abuse, as well as the city’s

Bhang smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bhang smoking - Essay Example Research has shown that most bhang smokers are affected by it due to the way they inhale the drug. Most of the users tend to retain much the smoke in their lungs while inhaling as a better way of using the drug. This act tends to increase the accumulation of tar which is present in the drug. This tends to cause lung cancer in shorter period than cigarettes.   Research has also shown that bhang smoking can lead to female infertility (Chein). An Australian report indicated that the use of bhang is causing harmful effects during pregnancies and may cause birth failures or miscarriages. This is a long term effect. Research has also put forward that continued use of bhang by males can tamper with the sperm functioning which leads to a negative impact. Study has also proven that this disease leads to psychosis, depression and anxiety (MD Newcomb). These are psychological problems. Sixty percent of mentally ill persons have their illness being related to drug consumption. Most of these pe rsons prefer use of bhang and drinking of alcohol. Psychiatrist then argue that the role played by alcohol in causing these diseases is quite minimal and most probably this issues are mostly related to the inhaling of marijuana. Psychotic diseases are also depicted to affect persons who started to abuse from a young age.The most affected age Group. Teenagers between the age of sixteen and twenty five are the most highly affected group by the psychotic diseases. Study has also shown that bhang smoking causes.... This is a long term effect. Research has also put forward that continued use of bhang by males can tamper with the sperm functioning which leads to a negative impact. Study has also proven that this disease leads to psychosis, depression and anxiety (MD Newcomb). These are psychological problems. Sixty percent of mentally ill persons have their illness being related to drug consumption. Most of these persons prefer use of bhang and drinking of alcohol. Psychiatrist then argue that the role played by alcohol in causing these diseases is quite minimal and most probably this issues are mostly related to the inhaling of marijuana. Psychotic diseases are also depicted to affect persons who started to abuse from a young age. The most affected age Group. Teenagers between the age of sixteen and twenty five are the most highly affected group by the psychotic diseases. Study has also shown that bhang smoking causes unipolar which is a depression disorder. The relation between bhang and depres sion is also prevalent. Statistical research has shown that the number of people affected by depression is almost equal to the people affected by psychosis. However, most of the people affected by depression do not have access to clinical facilities. The most striking attribute of this particular disorder is that the people who are not so much dependent on marijuana have a higher risk of contracting this disease. Studies have also associated many suicide cases with the use of bhang. For instance most bhang users in the United States of America have being documented to have reported most cases of attempted suicide. This data is as shown in the US National Co morbidity Survey (Crewe). This is due

Care of Vulnerable people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Care of Vulnerable people - Essay Example One of the reasons that might result in schizophrenia are genes associated with the family where the man comes from, which caused alteration of the brain structure. Secondly, the man can be born with a risk of developing mental illness when he attempts to use harmful drugs such as illicit drugs. Often, depressions such as family tensions may cause mental illness to be developed by the persons (Calder, 2010). This condition of schizophrenia is of priority to the country so much since it needs to intervene by ensuring there is education regarding those who have this kind of mental illness. The patient may recover as he can learn topics that enable him to adapt to changes needed to manage the disease and acquires life skills. It is a concern of the government since it hires the personnel (Lambert, Naber & Killackey, 2012). Nurses also play the important roles in efforts of fighting against schizophrenia. One of the roles is that they give patients medicines that decrease symptoms by equalizing the chemical in the brain. The nurses also offer support to the affected (Frank & Cobb, 2005). Vulnerability is defined both as psychological and physiological. Psychological vulnerability is a trend of developing panic disorder over harmful occasions or even additional alerts that arise from experiences, which have predictions and control. Biological vulnerability is a tendency of a body of a person to be neurobiological much reactive to stress. This client diagnosed with schizophrenia is at a high risk since they exhibit a greater frequency neurological signs, which are not accurate at an early development of the children of the affected parents. Risk is the chances of having effects such as illness to occur as a result of physical or biological factors over a specified period. On the other hand, resilience is the ability of someone to adapt to depressions and stress in a proper way. Risk increases high chances of

Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Literary Analysis - Essay Example (American Literature,2008). Sherwood Anderson, the American writer with a number of characters emerging in the story tries to describe the narrow mindedness and indifferent approach in people’s thinking and the resistance that the society offers to one who desires change and development. The storyline is a journey of a young man, George Willard, taking a train to Westbound from Winesburg. The journey is a symbolic representation of the urge to change and the process of striving across the limiting factors. An indication of inspiration and hope reveals while reading in between the lines of the first few sentences of the story. A commentary on the book by Sparknotes (2008) has reiterated this factor of inspiration as it is stated that George Willard in his journey is taking the readers also along with him. The buds sprouting after the fall represents the scope and the fortune waiting the young generation. A representation of the young generation has been made as George Willard, the main character of the story is said to wake up early in the morning. The carpet that the maple leaves pave under the foot symbolizes the future and fortune ahead, if the road towards a change is taken. The concern on the future has been portrayed as the boy had been thinking and wondering on what he would find at the end of the journey. Further, George Willard passes across a boy who was snoring in the coat laid in the hotel office. Here the main character is overtaking a representative of the lazy young generation in the journey towards change. A ray of hope and prosperity is brought in to the scene by the long streaks of light climbing into the sky. However the goodness of the past is still twinkling, as a star of the previous night is still found in the sky. When the boy walks into the lonely street it becomes obvious that in his journey of change he is alone, which in other ways is a representation of a revolutionary thought for development and the

Discussion 2 Week 10 Contract Termination Liability Risk Assignment

Discussion 2 Week 10 Contract Termination Liability Risk - Assignment Example ssionals on adequately addressing potential termination risks on their contracts, and on how potential termination costs would be funded in the event of a termination† (GAO, 2011, p. 11). The recommendations are consistent with the findings which allegedly cause potential termination practices. As emphasized, NASA does not observe consistency in application of detailed and specific instructions for the implementation of FAR clauses. As such, the contractors assume diverse interpretations of reported â€Å"risks and financial responsibilities related to potential termination liability, which may be due in part to NASA’s inconsistent practices† (GAO, 2011, p. 10). As such, the recommendation requiring NASA professionals to monitor potential termination costs would only be successful if and when the root cause of the dispute and inconsistency in practices is addressed. Thus, first and foremost, NASA should be able to design structured and consistent policies and prac tices concerning termination liability funding to avoid problems ensuing from contract termination in the future. One alternative to reinforce consistency in contract termination practices is to enforce review and monitoring of long term government projects and contracts within a definite time frame, say, every three years. Any need for changes, adjustments, and updates which are not within the original scope of the contract should be identified within that stage of progress. As such, as early as possible, when termination costs are not yet significant, the government and contracting parties should already set the stage for appropriate action (either termination or proceed with the contract) within a maximum ceiling (costs) stipulated. The changes and conditions should be subject to the regulations set in terminations for default and convenience (OConnor,

Facebook vs. Twitter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Facebook vs. Twitter - Essay Example As a matter of understanding these similarities and differentials, the following analysis will perform something of an in depth discussion with regards to how such a level of comparison can be made between these two sites. Rather than resorting to a pro and con listing of how one of these sites is necessarily better than the other, the following analysis will engage the reader with a realization for the way in which both Facebook and Twitter differentiate from one another and the means through which the user experience is affected accordingly. The first level of similarity that exists is with regards to the way in which both of these social networking sites allow the users to come in closer contact with hundreds or even thousands of other users. However, the level of intimacy that Facebook allows, as compared to Twitter, is greatly enhanced. For instance, Twitter only allows status updates fewer than 140 characters. By means of comparison, Facebook messages and post can exceed that limit by several hundred times and allow for a great more nuanced expression as compared to Twitter.... and advertisers integrating with their products and utilizing their service as a means of promoting themselves to potential clients, it is difficult to view a single advertisement on television without the encouragement of the advertiser to follow the given product or service on Facebook and Twitter. Another marked level of similarity that exists between these two social networking sites is with regards to the fact that both of them have come to rely heavily upon multimedia as a means of integrating with their client base. Whereas other sites were relatively slow to include multimedia and functions allowing individual users to upload, save, and post various forms of pictures, music, or data of another variety, Facebook and Twitter long ago realized that the user experience of social networking was one that can ultimately be maximized by allowing the user to engage with their own forms of multimedia; while at the same time sharing it with their close friends. As such, it comes as litt le surprise that Facebook and Twitter began to buy up the many different services that allowed for data sharing and multimedia uploads. The acquisition of Instagram for nearly $1 billion is evidence of the way in which this dramatic rush for such platforms exists between the two services. Whereas it may seem that the users of Facebook or Twitter are infinitely diverse and hail from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, research into the demographics of Twitter and Facebook users had noted the fact that well over half of these individuals have some form of college education and make between $25,000 $49,000 a year (Matt, 2011). In such a way, even though a broad level of stereotyping cannot be concluded to exist with regards to the typical Facebook or Twitter user, a level of analysis

A General Biography Essay Example for Free

A General Biography Essay Colin Jones presents a moderate and historical description of the development of the city of Paris. According to Jones, although Paris was the center of European culture, it was also the center of political intrigues, rebellion, and revolution. From 1715, Paris became the witness of the sad pages in the books of Western history. Revolutions, religious wars, and political chaos descended the city – a result of factionalism. Indeed, according to the author, the beautiful city of Paris shrouded the problems which were common to the French state. From 1715 The reign of Louis XIV brought France to a period of relative peace and prosperity. The ‘Sun King’ built palaces throughout the country to commemorate his glorious reign. Near Paris, for example, he ordered the building of the Versailles Palace. The city, however, was relentless. Riots periodically broke out, as the supply of food in the city gradually diminished. In 1750, the city was again torn by civil dissent. This time, it was the issue of continued colonial wars. Many of the Parisians regarded the colonial wars as addition burden on the part of the common people. However, when viewed from the lens of a historian, it was clear that the dissent was caused by periodic famine in the city. After the death of Louis XIV, the stage was set for a revolution. The reign of Louis XVI seemed to be calm and on the road to progress. Many of the Parisians, as most of the French people, liked the new monarch. He was spiritually subtle and politically mild. The extravagance of his court, however, caught the imagination of the people of Paris. France was suffering from bankruptcy; Paris was descending into another great famine. The French monarchy did nothing to alleviate these sufferings. In fact, when Marie Antoinette asked, â€Å"what is happening to the city? † her maid said, â€Å"the people do not have enough bread. † The queen replied, â€Å"Then, they should eat cakes. † Paris was ripe for a revolution. On July 14, 1789, the prison of Bastille was attacked by a large Parisian mob. The king was forced to call the Estate-General to resolve the economic and political issues. The Third Estate broke from the council and declared the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Over the years, Paris became a battleground of political ideologies. A republic was established. The king, together with prominent royalists, was executed. Over the course of five years, Paris saw the rise of Napoleon to the throne of France. Paris became the capital of the First French Empire under Napoleon. With the demise of Napoleon in the early 1800s, Paris was the scene of political turmoil. The monarchy was reestablished. By 1830, Parisians revolted against the monarchy during the July Revolution. The February Revolution of 1848 ended the monarchy of Louis-Philippe. The Second Republic was established. The Industrial Revolution and the Second French Empire brought Paris the greatest development in its history. From 1840, rail transport allowed the flow of migrants into Paris. Most of these migrant were attracted by employment in factories. Under Napoleon II, the city underwent massive renovations. Streets were widened and the neo-classical facades of Paris were improved. During the Second and Third Republics, Paris was again renovated. Modern buildings were constructed. During the First World War, the city known today was in place. It was spared from the trenches of the Western Front because the German Army failed to reach its suburbs in 1914. During the Second World War, the city was again spared. It was neither the center of German industry nor the primary target of Allied bombers. After the war, the city was renovated. It became the center of arts and culture in the European continent. Reference Colin Jones. 2004. Paris: The Biography of a City. New York: Penguin Viking.

Reflections Through the Looking Glass Essay Example for Free

Reflections Through the Looking Glass Essay Gazing at who the world perceives me to be†¦..A hesitant glance, my mind is flooded with questions. Who am I? Is this reflection a true representation of me? The looking glass offers up an image. An image that I know not to be true. It is a temporary snapshot of, supposedly, who I am. Am I to believe that this blunt and uncomfortably â€Å"honest† silver artist truly portrays ME, and all those that make use of the looking glass? It occurs to me that maybe it is not what one sees in the reflection that defines who I am, but rather what I feel. Sadly the reflection can be misused. We so often search for not who we are but who we want to be. The looking glass can begin to form part of an addiction to some and just like all other addictions, it damages the user. This ritual becomes, in some ways the source of a self-inflicted pain. Instead of pain in a physical sense, it takes its toll on one’s self esteem. I think that we all experience this at some stage in our lives where we simply loath that which is reflected in the mirror and feel pressured to change our image so as to fulfil the supposed requirements of society. In Sylvia Plath’s poem ‘Mirror’ she describes the arrogance of a woman’s mirror. In the last two lines she describes how the mirror has changed her self-perception and how she has aged. â€Å"In me (the mirror) she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman rises toward her, day after day, like a terrible fish.† I believe that Sylvia Plath’s poem addresses our concern with our outward appearance. However I think that, like in this poem, as in society, the most important aspect of one’s reflection is not made clear. We need to realise that our outward appearance is not all that the looking glass reflects, for indeed, if we look deeper, beyond the physical bonds of the looking glass, the heart becomes clear, for it is the reflection of our heart on the silver that truly defines who we are Don’t become a prisoner to the bondage of the looking glass. The only true facets of you are absent in the echo of the reflection. Shatter the glass with your inner truth and be liberated to see beyond the silver reflection – into your heart, where the Glory of God resonates the truth of who you are and let the shattered lies of the looking glass tumble into a heap of debris where they belong!

Indus Motors Company (IMC) Analysis

Indus Motors Company (IMC) Analysis Introduction This Research and Analysis report is based on an analysis of Indus Motors Company (IMC) over a period of three years. IMC is engaged in sole distributorship of Toyota and Daihatsu Motor Company Ltds vehicles in Pakistan through its dealership network. Reasons for Choosing the Topic and the Company: Selecting one project out of twenty available projects by Oxford Brookes University (OBU) was a difficult task. After in-depth analysis of all the available options, I finally selected .The business and financial performance of an organization over a three years period as I used to feel lot more comfortable in this area during my studies and this was suggested by my mentor as well. It was totally in correlation with my studies and during our studies were supposed to excel at accounting techniques like Ratio Analysis and business techniques like Porters Five Forces Analysis and SWOT analysis. Due to a personal interest in automobiles, I choose Automobile Sector of Pakistan which is considered as mother of all industries of Pakistan. The rise in automobile production has resulted from an increased domestic demand and generating over 150,000 direct employment opportunities. For the sake of RAP I selected Indus Motor Company limited (IMC). IMC is a joint venture between the House of Habib, Toyota Motor Corporation Japan (TMC) , and Toyota Tsusho Corporation Japan (TTC) for assembling, progressive manufacturing and marketing of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan since July 01, 1990. Project Objectives Each type of analysis has a purpose or use that determines the different relationships emphasized in that analysis. (Weston Copeland, 1992,pp 178) The objective of this project is to assess the business and financial performance of IMC over a period of three years ending 30th June 2010 and comparison of its performance with one of its competitors, Atlas Honda Limited. The aims and objectives of this research and analysis project are to To analyze the company and the sector in which it exists. To evaluate the performance of the company in terms of: Profitability; to assess a firms ability to create economic value in excess of value expended, to grow, remain solvent and repay debt. To judge the liquidity of the company and evaluate the financial risk. To assess the debt and capital structure of the company by calculating debt equity ratios and interest cover. To carry out the investors analysis in terms of earning per share. To Carry out SWOT analysis. To study the companys market position by using porters five forces model. To conclude the current situation and prospects of companys business and financial position and to suggest the improvements (http://articles.bplans.com) (Accessed 7th April 2010) Research Question In order to ensure my project has the appropriate structure and that I have clear objectives, I highlighted the same questions Shane Johnson (2006) mentioned in his famous article how not to rap myself which states: What is my research question/title of my project? What is the underlying theory? What methods will be used to gather information about the topic? How will the analysis be carried out? What conclusions can be drawn from the analysis? What are the key elements that I should present to my mentor? What have I learned from the process? (www.project-as-practice.org) (Assessed 2nd April 2010) Overall Research Approach I started my project by reading all the information available on the website of ACCA about the OBU degree. After carefully thinking over the available list of projects and consulting with my mentor, I selected The business and financial performance of an organization over a three year period. I started working on the project by setting objectives of the project and by identifying which techniques to be used and I consulted many course and referencing books before start working on the project. Then I started working on the organization by collecting all the relevant data useful for the project. I used secondary sources like newspapers, articles, internet, anylists reports, and annual reports of IMC and the competitor HAL, etc to get the required information. I had to assure reliability of the source of information throughout the information collection process and details of sources were saved by me for the referencing purpose. Meanwhile I conducted three formal meetings with my mentor during working on my RAP. In each meeting I used to show him my research and working till date. My mentor also guided me on various techniques and also referred to few books and resources that were relevant to my research. After completing my project, I had to give my mentor a fifteen minutes presentation on the project, and after his final approval I finally submitted it to OBU. Information gathering and Accounting/Business techniques used 2.1 Sources of Information and Methods used to collect it I had to collect data mainly from secondary sources to undertake the project.. Secondary Data Secondary data is data which has been collected by individuals or agencies for purposes other than those of our particular research study. Source (http://www.fao.org) (Accessed 5th October 2010) I started looking for secondary data from news papers, Companies profile from website, business magazines and journals for competitors and industry reports and industry position of main competitor HAL. Annual Reports were the most reliable source for my RAP and I used audited financial statements for calculating the key ratios relevant to my project and also extract relevant information from annual report to analyze the key strengths and weaknesses of the company. Internet search engines helped me a lot to provide me most relevant and easily accessible information in a timely manner. Information about the overall economic condition of the country and the sector of the company was easily available and was very useful. Companys official website was also very helpful to get the latest authentic information. Some of Analyst Reports with other hard form materials like Business Recorder, daily newspapers etc were also reviewed to benefit from their findings and recommendations. I also used BPP and FTC study material student accountant and refer other management books. Limitations of Information gathering The major limitation about gathering data is that 100% accuracy cannot be guaranteed and there is always a small chance that the source is not reliable and the information gathered is inaccurate. Ethical Issues during Information gathering While dealing with all the information to conduct the RAP I was supposed to strictly follow ACCAs code of ethics. During the research I came across few ethical issues which had to be addressed Research participants must be fully informed about the procedures and risks involved in research and must give their consent to participate; so I had to gain the permission of the people who I was studying to conduct research involving them. Ethical standards also require that researchers not put participants in a situation where they might be at risk of harm as a result of their participation thus I had to be careful about using word sensitive or difficult questions during interviews. Accounting/Business Techniques used and their Limitation I used different business and accounting techniques to conduct my RAP. They are discussed below one by one with their limitations The Ratio Analysis This is the measure of inter relationship between different sections of the financial statements which then is compared with the budgeted or forecasted results, prior year results and or the Industrial results. Profitability For shareholders, employees, creditors, investors, management. Liquidity For shareholders, management, suppliers, creditor and competitors. Efficiency For management, shareholders, creditors and competitors. Gearing For shareholders, lenders, creditor and potential investors. Investment For shareholders, potential investors, management. P2-Corporate Reporting (International) BPP, 2005 pg.223 Limitations Operating and accounting policies differ from firm to firm. Ratios are static and do not consider future trends. Many firms engaged in multiple lines of business so comparing ratios may be meaningless. (Shim Siegel,2007 pp.34) Historical costs not suitable for decision making Different accounting methods may be used by individual firms making up the industry sample. Industry figures may be biased by few large firms within the sample. Different capital structures and size Strategic Business Planning and Development (3.5) FTC, 2005 pg.196. The SWOT Analysis: David (2002), describes SWOT as an analysis that can be used to measure an organizations competencies and identify opportunities to taken by business management in the future. When looking at your strengths, one should make a list of all the things that can be done well. Identify weaknesses as part of SWOT analysis and one will be on the first step to success. One of the places to look for opportunities is we to our competitors. Scanning market, industry or environment for unforeseen threats is an important part of the SWOT process. Limitations of SWOT It can provide useful information about company but as with all toll analysis it will not supply strategic decisions. Strengths and weaknesses may not be readily translated in to opportunities and sometimes in SWOT analysis same factor can be identified as both strengths and weaknesses. A company may also have difficulty identifying opportunities and opportunities may be easy to overlook or may be identified long after they can be exploited. Similarly, a company may have difficulty anticipating possible threats in order to effectively avoid them. (Anthony Henry, 2008) Source 🙠 www.referenceforbusiness.com) (Accessed 15th October 2010) Porters Five Forces Analysis The pure competition model does not present a viable tool to assess an industry. Porters Five Forces model is a tool used by companies that deconstructs the industry structure in to five underlying competitive forces. Bargaining power of suppliers Bargaining power of customers Threat of new entrants The threat of substitutes Competitive rivalry (Nemati Barko, 2001 pp.29) The conventional interpretation of Porters framework emphasized that rivalry and competition as the key components of the strategy. ( Hax wilde,2001 pp.42) Source:(www.articles.bplans.com) (Accessed 26th October 2010) Limitations of Five Forces Model: The model was designed for analyzing individual business strategies. It does not cope with synergies and interdependencies within the portfolio of large corporations. The model does not address the possibility that an industry could be attractive because certain companies are in it. Some people claim that environments which are characterized by rapid, systemic and radical change require more flexible, dynamic or emergent approaches to strategy formulation. P3-Business Analysis: BPP 2008 pg.108 Business Analysis, Conclusion and Recommendations 3.1 Organisations History, Profile Indus Motor Company (IMC) is a joint venture between the House of Habib , Toyota Motor Corporation Japan (TMC) , and Toyota Tsusho Corporation Japan (TTC) for assembling, manufacturing and marketing of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan since July 01, 1990. IMC had sole distributorship of Toyota and Daihatsu Motor Company Ltd Vehicles in Pakistan through its dealership network. IMC was incorporated in Pakistan as a (PLC) in December 1989 and started commercial production in May 1993. The shares of company are quoted on the stock exchanges of Pakistan. Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have 25 % stake in the company equity. The majority of shares owned by House of Habib an investment group of Pakistan. IMCs manufacturing plants are located near Karachi which is industrial hub of Pakistan at Port Bin Qasim. Source:(www.toyota-indus.com) (Accesses 30th October 2010) Business Recorder 14th May, 2009 Products: Companys plant in Pakistan is the only site throughout the world where both brands Toyota and Daihatsu are being manufactured.IMCs Product line includes 6 variants of the newly introduced Toyota Corolla, Toyota Hilux Single Cabin 42 and 4 versions of Daihatsu Cuore and newly imported vehicle like Toyota Camry. Source: (www.toyota-indus.com) Source 🙠 www.scribd.com) (Accessed 20th October 2010) The Sectors Overview The Pakistani auto sector has played a significant role in the growth and development of the local economy in terms of revenue generation, foreign exchange, human resource development and technology transfer. Automobiles companies are growing along with industry and all the manufacturers are putting hard efforts to increase their production capacity to meet consumers demands.Prodouction was constant throughout 90s around 45000 but due to consistent policies and increasing power of buyer industry boomed to over 120000 units/annum on just four years to 2003/04. According to the statistics of 2006-07 there were 82 vehicle assemblers in the industry producing passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, tractors and 2/3 wheelers. Besides these there were over 600 players in the vendor industry. The total employment in the sector was over 192,000 with a total investment of over Rs.98 billion. The auto industry has played a significant role in the large scale manufacturing ind ustry as it contributed $3.6 billion to the economy besides import substitution resulting in annual foreign exchange savings of over $ 1 billion. Source :(www.toyota-indus.com) (Accessed 25th October 2010) The Ratio Analysis: The ratio analysis undertaken is based on the data collected from Annual Reports of Indus Motor Company Limited for the financial year ended 30th June 2010, FY09 and FY08 and that of Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited for the finance year ended 31st march 2010,FY 09 and FY 08. . 3.3.1 REVENUE GROWTH The revenue in 2010 according to audited financial reports is 60.09 billion 58.7% higher than in 2009 where as it was 37.84 billion (8.6%) lower than in 2008. (Appendix A) This sharp increase in revenue is mainly due to healthy agricultural income from the farming community and a little increase in auto finance sector.Govt of Pakistan more tightened policy of used imported cars which gives a relief to the industry and the reduction of 5% in excise duty in federal budget 2009/10 which passed to the customers immediately in the form of price reduction. During the year the 2009/10 industry witnessed sharp rise in locally manufactured Passengers and commercial vehicles which grew up to 43% to 141654 units as compared to 99310 units in 2008/09 which lead the production up to 37% higher as compare to 2008/09 and this is mainly because of the Govt tightened policies for second hand imported vehicles. (IMC Annual Report FY10) Profitability Ratios: A class of financial metrics that are used to judge the business capability to generate profits as compare to its expenses and some other relevant costs within a specific period of time. (Kaplan Study Text FR) Shareholder, investors and other stakeholders like management have particularly focused on the profitability of the organisation. These ratios have key importance between majority of stakeholders. Gross Profit Ratio: Gross profit known as the organisation paying additional expenses and savings for coming years also known as gross margin. (Kaplan Study Text FR) In 2010 Gross margin increased to 27.86% as compare to FY09.One of the reasons of this increase is that Pakistan economy showing a modest signs of recovery from recession and sharp increase in demand of passenger and commercial vehicles. Although the gross sales 60 billion RS in FY10 sets all time new records for the company but there is still decline in Gross Margin of (16.12%) when we compare with FY08 where it was 9.3%.The main reasons behind that is the consistent pressure from the Govt to reduce the selling prices, backdrop of rising interest rates,weakning Pak Rupee against YEN, high inflationary conditions, and frequent disruptions to the business cause of shortage of power and terrorist attacks, all of these factors effects the entire supply chain of the company and pushed the manufacturing price to a new highest level and limited the companys ability to pass the increase to the customers. These above mentioned reasons becomes the main reason of erosions of margins. (IMC Annual Report 2010) Honda Atlas gross profit margin had a negative growth in FY10 and reached at (1.5%) as compared to 1.2% and 4.3% in FY09 and FY08 respectively. Where as IMC gross profit had a growth of 28.56% as compare to sharp decline of (34.4%) in FY09. As clear by above data, IMC performance regarding gross profit was far better than its competitor. (Appendix A) Net Profit Margin: Net profit margin measures how efficiently company has controlled its over head. (Kaplan Study Text FR) In highly challenging business environment,IMC has delivered satisfactory financial and operational performance in FY10.The companys net profit increased to 3.44 billion a 54.05% increase as compare to FY09 where it was 1.38 billion a (32.73%) decrease as compare to FY08.The main reasons behind the sharp increase of 54.05% in net profit is due to an incremental increase of 16750 units of Corollas sales volume through extensive marketing efforts. During the FY10 IMC outstandingly reduce their fixed costs which increase the overall profitability despite weakening PAK Rupee and increased manufacturing costs. (IMC Annual Report 2010) When we have a glance at net profit/loss of HAL, the net profit margin decrease to (5.4%) in FY10 where it was (2.8%) in FY09.HAL was having a positive growth of .5% in FY08. Return on capital employed (ROCE): ROCE is a measure that shows how efficiently assets of the company have been utilized to get return from them. It is essentially the net assets of the company. ROCE of IMC has moved in between 19 to 41% between FY08 TO FY10..This is mainly because of massive increase of income of the company in FY10 along with tightened financial controls and efficient and effective management of its various risks exposures. On the other hand HAL utilisation of capital resources are not showing a good picture where ROCE in FY10 had declined to (16.1%) as compare to (9.2%) in FY09 which is mainly because of operating loss of (5.2 billion RS).ROCE was having a positive growth at 8% in FY08. (IMC Annual Report FY10) Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate an organisations ability to meet its short term financial obligations. Most commonly evaluated ratios are current ratio and quick ratio calculated as follows. Current Ratio: .IMC was having a ratio high of 2.6 in (FY08).In( FY09) the current ratio fall drastically to 1.7 times. There was a significant increase in current assets in FY09 specially in cash and bank balances which rose from 9664 million to 16715 million and stock in trade from 2637 million to 4088 million but there was a more than proportionate increase in current liabilities from 3779 million to 9884 million mainly due to advances from customers a 628% increase as compare to FY08.The current ratio in FY10 did not improve it remains at FY09 level 1.7 times because of proportionate increase in current assets and current liabilities. (IMC Annual Report FY10) (Appendix A) HAL current ratio was near to 1 in FY08 (.8 times ) which was not as bad because it remains close to industry average of 1.It got worse in FY09 (.7 times) and (.6 times) in FY10 which is not a good indicator for short term creditors. (HAL Annual Reports FY10) Quick ratio: Quick ratio also known as acid test ratio eliminates the effect of inventory from the current ratio. Quick ratio behaves the same way as to current ratio was 1.8:1 in (FYO8) before declining to (1.3:1) in FY09 and remains constant at the same level in FY10.Although there is a sharp increase in current liabilities in FY10 from 9884 million to 1422 million but the current assets on the other hand (excluding inventory) moved almost the same proportion. Over all quick ratio is reasonable and company is in sound position to meet its liabilities from most liquid resources for example cash and bank balances and receivables. (IMC Annual Reports FY10) (Appendix A) Quick ratio of HAL is very low as to industry average and remains constant for the past three years at (0.20:1).This shows that HAL is not having enough liquid resources to pay its current liabilities even. This low current ratio can be seen as the going concern problem for HAL in near future if this situation sustain as it is. (HAL Annual Reports FY10) (Appendix B) Overall liquidity condition of IMC is far better than that of HAL. Working Capital Ratios Working capital ratios also known as efficiency ratios reduce the risk for lenders and enable management to increase the productivity and business profits. (Kaplan Study Text FR) Days Accounts Receivable: IMC receivables days decreased from 12 days in FY08 to 17 days in FY09 and decreased further to 10 days in FY10.This reduction in receivable days pointed towards the better effective and controlled credit policy. HAL on the other hand does not have trade debts at all in their balance sheet. This reflects their policy to only deal in cash. Days Accounts Payable: Creditor turnover ratio shows how many days an organisation takes to pay its short term obligations and how much it depends on trade credit for short term financing. (Kaplan Study Text FR) Creditor turned out cost of sales in FY10 is 39 days almost at the same level in FY09 but increased when we compare with FY08 where it was 28 days. This improvement in payments pointed towards the strong and healthy relationship with lenders and suppliers of raw material and longer the days payable better for the cash flow. (Appendix A) HAL days accounts payable increased significantly 79 days to 124 days between FY08 and FY10.Taking in account of HAL current year financial performance it is apparent that company is struggling to pay its creditors and taking too long as compare to its main competitor IMC which is not a good news for creditors and shareholders as well. (Appendix B) Debt/ Solvency Ratios IMC is All-Equity Company with a zero long-term debt. This is a plus point in the current economic situations as company doesnt have to pay fixed cost of interest on long term borrowings. (IMC Annual Report FY 10) Gearing Ratio: As being all equity funded IMC manages to perform well in the crucial economic time and leave its competitors behind.IMC does not have any long term debt included in their capital structure making companys gearing ratio nil. On the other hand it has some disadvantages as well, the companys capital structure is not at optimum level and company is ignoring cheap sources of finance (long term debt) as to equity. (Appendix A) HAL is not all equity financed company and have long term debts on their balance sheet which results in a high finance costs. These high finance costs pushed company from profits into losses.HAL gearing level increased from 35% to 105% between FY08 and FY09 this increase was mainly due to increase in debt which rose from 500 thousands to 1500 thousands. The ratio decline to 93% in FY10 but still high as compare to industry norms. (Appendix B) This high gearing ratio could cause serious liquidity problems and could seen as a going concern threat but the parent company Honda Motors Japan will continue to provide the liquidity support to HAL and on that basis directors does not see any threat of this serious liquidity problems as a going concern threat and company will carry on its operations in foreseeable future. (HAL Annual Reports FY10) Interest Cover Ratio: Interest cover shows how many times, the profit before interest and tax covers interest amount. Its a measure of how adequately company profit could cover up its interest payments on debts. (Kaplan Study Text FM) IMC results are very healthy and reached at the level 1284 time in FY08 mainly because of very low finance charge of RS 2.7 million. It reduced drastically in FY09 from 1284 times to 78 times mainly because of enormous increase in finance charge from 2.7 million to 26.5 million due to loss on revaluation on foreign exchange contracts, sharp increase in mark up on advance from customers which rise from 2.8 million from FY08 to 8.8 million in FY09 , and high interest rates. It is at its all time high in FY10 at 1467 times. The main reasons behind that impressive increase are the best ever financial performance of the company and reduction in finance cost through unrealised gain on revaluation of foreign exchange contract of 96 million approximately which is quiet commendable as it guarantees good rating of the company. (Appendix A) (IMC Annual Reports FY10) Interest cover ratio at HAL was positive but very low at 1 time in FY08 before got worse in FY09 at (2) times in (FY09) and remains constant at the same level in FY10. It shows that company is facing difficulties to meet its long term financial obligations. These drastic results of profitability ratios of HAL could threaten its credibility to raise more finance in near future. (Appendix B) (HAL Annual Reports FY10) Investors Ratios: The earnings per share (EPS) of a company indicates profit after tax attributable to equity shares of a company. (Kaplan Study Text FR) The EPS of IMC was RS.29.15 in FY08 before dropping down to RS. 17.62 in FY09 due to fall in earnings of the company because of recession in the overall automobile market globally and locally. However (EPS) up by 138% from RS.17.62 to RS.41.9 due to highest ever car sales of 50.8k units as compared to 34.1k units in FY09.IMC achieved 100% capacity utilization of its manufacturing plant since it started its operations in FY10. This is due to increasing liquidity in rural areas and Govt institutions that continued buying Corolla. These increased and recovered car sales remained one of the main reasons behind such a high growth in earnings. Due to increased car sales,liquidity position improved as company was having 16 billion cash on its balance sheet as compare to 9.7 billion in FY09.Company invested this surplus cash in high yielding bank deposits which becomes the main reason of significant increase in other income from RS.727 million to RS.1.25 billion in FY10 and increased the ove rall earnings of the company. (Appendix A) Source:(www.dailytimes.com.pk) Assessed:( 10th November 2010) HALs EPS declined more in FY10 to (RS.5.97) from (RS.2.81) in FY09.This was due to loss after tax of (RS.852.2 million) in FY10.The main reasons attributed to the loss are under utilisation of capacity and depreciation of Pak Rupee as to Japanese Yen.HAL did increase the sale prices in line with the market condition to overcome these problems but this was not enough for complete recovery.EPS was RS.55 in FY08. (Appendix B) (HAL Annual Report FY10) The SWOT Analysis: SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in IMC. Strengths: IMC is a joint venture between House Of Habib and Toyota Tusho Corporation LTD Japan. Toyota is a global organization with representation of more than 170 countries . Toyota has becomes the industry leader for maximizing profits through lean manufacturing system and waste reduction methods.IMC has a very well experienced, talented and diversified management team and IMC has the strongest dealership network within the country and during the FY10 a new 3s dealership was launched in Lahore and Faisalabad to strengthen the business with this addition IMC dealership consists of 32 outlets throughout the country with market share of 34.5%.IMC commitment to provide excellent customer services have been acknowledged by Toyota Motor Corporation and awarded the Customer Service Excellence Award 2009. (IMC Annual Report FY10) Source : ( www.oppapers.com) (www.toyota-indus.com) Assesses 🙠 12th November 2010) Weaknesses; IMC is all equity financed company with zero long term debt.IMC financial results for FY10 for sales and profits are at all time high however it is not likely that company will carry on the same momentum for near future. Moreover company is not investing considerably in new projects and plants.IMC is utilizing its manufacturing capacity at full and unless the margins increased significantly or they increased their capacity by installing new manufacturing plants it will be quiet likely that the earning momentum will not be the same as FY10. Source 🙠 www.dailytimes.com.pk) Assess 🙠 15th November 2010) Opportunities : Pakistan automobile industry for LCV and PC is growing at the rate of 43%. In Pakistan context there are 8 cars in 1,000 persons which is one of the lowest in the emerging economies which itself speaks of high potential of growth in the auto sector and more in the car production. Rising per capita income with changing demographic distribution and an anticipated influx of 30 to 40 million young people in the economically active workforce in the next few years provides a stimulus to IMC to expand and grow.As the environmental protection awareness is rising in Pakistan slowly, IMC has the opportunity to introduce Hybrid cars in Pakistan to meet the needs of environment friendly people. (IMC Annual Report, FY10) Source :(www.nationmaster.com) Assess :(16th November 2010) Threats: Pakistan domestic auto industry has barely started recovery from global financial crunch and currently facing lots of challenges.Govt has recently signed Afghan Transit Trade Agreement and it is very important to implement the agreed safeguard otherwise it would cause a serious threat to t

Emily Dickinson Essay -- essays research papers

An Analytical Essay on Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson was a woman who lived in times that are more traditional; her life experiences influence and help us to understand the dramatic and poetic lines in her writing. Although Dickinson’s poetry can often be defined as sad and moody, we can find the use of humor and irony in many of her poems. By looking at the humor and sarcasm found in three of Dickinson’s poems, "Success Is Counted Sweetest", "I am Nobody", and "Some keep the Sabbath Going to Church", one can examine each poem show how Dickinson used humor and irony for the dual purposes of comic relief and to stress an idea or conclusion about her life and the environment in the each poem. Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst Massachusetts; a small farming town that had a college and a hat factory. There, she was raised in a strict Calvinist household while receiving most of her education at a boarding school that followed the American Puritanical tradition. She seldom left her hometown; virtually, her only contact with her friends came to be made through letters. As a young woman, Dickinson rejected comforting traditions, resisted male authority, and wrestled alone with her complex and often contrary emotions. Although she was claimed to be a high-spirited and active young woman, Dickinson began to withdraw from society in the 1850's. The many losses she experienced throughout her life, the death of her father, mother, close neighbors, and fr...

Contrasting Friendship Essay -- essays papers

Contrasting Friendship â€Å"The two ladies, who had been intimate since childhood, reflected how little they knew each other†. This is how, author, Edith Wharton shows the relationship of two characters, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, in the short story â€Å"Roman Fever.† These two women who are supposed to be friends, led envious lives of each other, and because of the way they lived they were very contrasting and conflicting characters. In the end, I believe Mrs. Slade was guiltier for her actions and in fact the whole incident would have never happened if it weren’t for her. Before there widowhood these two ladies led very envious and superficial lives. In describing her friend Mrs. Slade says, â€Å"Mrs. Horace Ansley, twenty-five years ago, had been exquisitely lovely†¦though, of course, still charming, distinguished†¦far more beautiful than her daughter. Horace Ansley was just the duplicate of his wife. Museum specimens of old New York. Good-looking, irreproachable, exemplary†. In return, when Mrs. Ansley was asked about or spoke about Mrs. Slade she would reply, â€Å"Alida Slade’s awfully brilliant; but not as brilliant as she thinks. Mrs. Slade had been an extremely dashing girl; much more so than her daughter who was pretty, of course, and clever in a way, but had none of her mother’s—well vividness†. These two ladies had a friendship based upon nothing but there own jealous and arrogant behavior; as if the only reason they spoke was in spite of one another. As Wharton describes them, â€Å" these tw o ladies visualized each other, each through the wrong end of her little telescope† (258). Wharton realized that these fragments composed the only true communication about their friendship and therefore told the real story of Mrs. Slade and ... ...hat Mrs. Ansley finally decided to shut Mrs. Slade up of her arrogant, superficial talk and she nonchalantly turned to Mrs. Slade and said, â€Å"I had Barbara†. In the end, I believe, it was Mrs. Ansley who had the ultimate revenge. While Mrs. Slade had planned to get rid of Mrs. Ansley that night, Mrs. Ansley not only answered the letter, and had a night of passion with Mrs. Slade’s husband, but she also had his child. Each time Mrs. Slade tried to make Mrs. Ansley feel like she meant nothing, Mrs. Ansley came back with a harsher reality for Mrs. Slade. Throughout the whole story, I believe Mrs. Slade is ultimately at greater fault because she was the one who brought up the letter and she wouldn’t let it go. She felt she had to top Mrs. Ansley each time. Though both women were at fault, in a way, Mrs. Slade had no one to blame for the consequences but herself.

Toni Morrisons Sula - The Provinciality of Sulas Characters :: Sula Essays

The Provinciality of Sula's Character's In her review of Toni Morrison's novel, Sula, Sara Blackburn complains that the setting and characters "seem somehow frozen, stylized"(1). While Blackburn talks favorably about Morrison's past novels (The Bluest Eye in particular), she is of the opinion that Sula is less successful because the characters are confined to one location and one mode of thought. Morrison hasn't endowed her people with life beyond their place and function in the novel, and we can't imagine their surviving outside the tiny community where they carry on their separate lives (1). While I agree with Blackburn that the characters remain inside the confines of the Bottom and the way of life there, I disagree with her that the characters are nothing more than their place and function in the novel. After reading this review, I began to think about other famous authors and novels and I realized that most stay within a certain setting and way of life. Morrison is not writing her characters as flat by making them a product of their environment and upbringing; she is simply mirroring the reality of life and human nature. I also disagree with Blackburn that the character of Sula is the exception in the novel. She too is simply a meshing of her surroundings and the people who raised her and whom she came into contact with. Had Sula not been raised by a mother prone to taking other women's husbands into storage closets, she would not have slept with her best friend's husband and then act as if she had done nothing wrong. Morrison say's the following in the novel about ho w Sula became the woman she was: Eva's arrogance and Hannah's self-indulgence merged in her and, with a twist that was all her own imagination, she lived out her days exploring her own thoughts and emotions, giving them full reign, feeling no obligation to please anybody unless their pleasure pleasedher (118). I also disagree when Blackburn says that Sula is a novel "whose long-range impact doesn't sustain the intensity of its first reading"(2). How can that be true when the character's actions are never those that the reader expects. The reader is forced to wonder why about so many different situation in the novel, that it sticks with them way after they've put down the book. How could Eva justify burning alive her own son?

Haddon House

Jurists Haddam House Food Products has over 50 years of experience in the gourmet food industry. As you know our inventory selection is more than 20,000 items which consists of major brand within ethnic and gourmet categories. One of our most popular brands is Cane's Crazy Mixed-up seasonings. Haddam House is very strong when it comes to selling our products. However, Haddam House needs improvement when it comes to employee turnover.Haddam House has three major locations, two locations in New Jersey, and one in South Carolina. There are 60 people who work in our corporate office and about 700-800 sales representative. Looking back at the last five years there has only been four employees who have been promoted and a handful of employees who left the company or got terminated. It is clear that these promotions happened because the supervisor of Accounts Payable decided to leave the company because she was moving out of state.This left her position open which then the supervisor of Acc ount Receivable decided to take her position this way one of her employees could become the supervisor. This may not be considered a promotion because she was already a supervisor Just moving to a new department. Furthermore, the young lady working in customer service has only been employed with the company for two years and she has a tough time trying to get promoted In addition to the employees in the cooperate office looking at the sales representative there have been at least three employees getting terminated each week.That is a really high number and it should not be like this at all. It should be in the company's strong interest to want to keep their employees. There are many times where a sales representative will leave the company and then get hired again a month later. There are many questions that come with that. Are they leaving the company because their pay is not high enough and then Join the company later to get a better pay increase?This problem can be avoided if the sales representative can give their feedback and the company takes it into consideration to better improve the company. . There is an even amount of males and females that leave the company each year. However, by looking at the numbers more females feel the need to get remoter and have the highest Job whereas, the males feel comfortable in their position. One good aspect about Haddam House is that there are an equal number of males and females in the company.The company is also very diverse. Another variable that we looked into was if there was a correlation between education and promotion within the company. With any other company if a person gets a higher education it can give them a chance to get promoted in the company. However, with this company it rarely happens. Employees feel that when they get hired for a position it does not matter if they further their education they will be stuck that session.This comes to be a big problem because individuals do not want to keep looking for a Job because they cannot go further. Haddam house is very particular with who is in the right position and they fear that only these people are right for the Job. It would help them in the long run if they were willing to trust more people and willing to promote more people than they do now. If they can get past this threshold they may notice an increase in moral and loyalty. Which will help people stay in the company and keep it a happy and healthy environment.

Juvenile Justice Articles

Samara Belgrade Ventura county 14-year-old boy, Brandon McClellan was arrested and charged with the shooting death off classmate Lawrence King. Lawrence was shot In the head at a close range. This crime was a premeditated hate crime, therefore, the Dialect Attorney added special allegation of a hate crime against Brandon McClellan, and he was charged as an adult.Larry King classmates indicated that King had recently started to wear makeup and had openly proclaimed himself as gay. Classmates also indicated that King and a group of students had a confrontation due to his sexual orientation the day before he was murdered. McClellan recently turned 14, this is the legal age for charging an adolescent as an adult under the early sass's Proposition 21 . Brandon McClellan was sentenced to 21 years for the killing Lawrence King.Juvenile arrested after hooting at undercover police in Lincoln Heights A male juvenile was booked for attempted murder after shots were fired at undercover police of ficers in Lincoln Heights. The 16-year-old male was captured after a search of more than seven hours inside a closed perimeter in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood, Los Angels Police Department SST. Kevin Moore said. The search began after an unknown number of shots were fired at a car driven by undercover narcotics detectives, neither officer were hurt.A citywide tactical alert, where all police personnel had their shifts extended as the search continued, was issued at 7:15 p. M. And downgraded to the Central Bureau at 8 p. M.

History in the Making Essay

History†¦it’s who we are and where we come from. From cave men to cars that run on compost, history happens every day. Everything that has happened in history is absolutely fundamental in our current day existence. From the Revolutionary Era to the Cold War, America has come so far, and through the War on Terror, we continue to march on†¦ making every action history. The Revolutionary Era: After the British spent an extreme amount of money defending the Colonies against the French, they decided to shift some of the expenditures to the colonists. The result led to the Boston Tea Party in 1773 (Lib. Of Congress, p. 1), when the colonists rebelled against the British and their absurd tax on tea in order to re-coop defense expenditures. Reactions such as this led to the necessitation of order, which led to the Declaration of Independence, and the Revolutionary Era. The Constitution: As a result of deciding not to amend the current Articles of Confederation, a new frame of government was born. 55 delegates from age 26 to age 81 debated, redrafted and created what is now known as the Constitution of the United States. These articles clarified many topics such as how much control the government should have in certain areas, how representatives should be elected, and many other issues we still live by today. Since it’s publishing in 1787, there have been 27 amendments to the original version. Jeffersonianism: Derived from the term Jeffersonian, and named for its discoverer, the Jeffersonianism philosophy held that each man had a right to have a say-so in government, believed in the expansion of human freedom, and believed that every person had a right to be educated. It also supported reliance on the farmer and agriculture, instead of relying solely on History in the Making 3 industry to boost the economy. Hamiltonism, which followed Jeffersonianism, was believed to be an evil stigma to Jeffersonianism by Jeffersonians. Civil War: Brother against brother, the revolutionized nation could not decide whether or not the government should have control over the states, industrialization, and most importantly, slavery. The southern states, or the Confederate States of America, decided to take matters into their own hands and individualized themselves to make their own rules. This led to the Civil War, where one nation quarreled with its counterpart. Although the North won, losing over half a million soldiers did not make the impact any easier for anyone to handle. Reconstruction: After the period of the Civil War, a period of Reconstruction began. Attempts were made to solve differences between the Union and the 11 Confederate states that had seceded from the Union. Though opposition from the Radical Republicans was evident, the Reconstruction Act of 1867 was passed, and military districts in the South were re-established. The South had no choice but to accept the 14th and 15th amendments of the Constitution (39th Congress, p. 1). The New South: Although the days of slavery had ended, the Southern states continued to retain control over their civilization. With the abolition of slavery came anger from loss of control, which led to the birth of the Black Codes. The Black Codes allowed whites to control the newly freed slaves by regulating the type of work black people could do, the hours they worked, and prevented blacks from raising their own crops. Freedom was not freedom after all. Foreign Affairs: Lack of support from the European economies post Civil War distressed the cotton crops, as the producers became overstocked. The North added some restriction to the History in the Making 4 Southern ports, and our foreign allies soon found other sources to fulfill their needs, which hurt the South tremendously. Industrialization: As America advanced, so did the way work was performed. Not only did industrialization bring forth machinery, it also was the birth of transportation and communication. Andrew Carnegie’s steel industry revolutionized transportation. The rails made from refined steel created necessary use of the railroad system, as did communication with the use of the telegraphs and telephone systems (Feldmeth, p. 1). Progressive Era: Along with industrialization came those who felt that anything old was inefficient and useless. These reformers brought forth the Efficiency Movement, which argued that the economy, society and government were inefficient. Frederick Winslow Taylor coined the term â€Å"one best way† with the idea that there was one best way to fix everything. He, along with several other engineers improved industrial efficiency. World Wars: Taking place mostly in Europe, the First World War between the Allied Powers (France, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, Italy and the U. S) and the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, the German Empire, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire) was a result of the assassination of the Austrian throne heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. This event soon led to a full fledged war. The Treaty of Versailles would end the first war, and stake victory for the Allied Powers, but controversy over its contents would soon lead to World War II. The second war between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Empire of Japan) would be the deadliest war to date, killing over 60 million people. This war resulted in victory for the Allied Powers. History in the Making 5 The Depression: In 1929 our nation suffered the worst market plunge to date. The stock market crash, in conjunction with the outrageous cost of WWII, led to great losses for many people. Soon, supply exceeded demand. Cities based heavy in industry-type operations, including those outside of the U. S. were hit especially hard. Farmers were also a target, as the price for crops fell between 40 and 50 percent. The New Deal, or restructuring of the economy, enforced by President Roosevelt, would help lead the nation to recovery. The Cold War: The Cold War, as dubbed by Bernard Baruch and Walter Lippmann, is a term used to describe the growing tensions between the US and the Soviet Union. It would be the longest war to date, lasting from the mid 1940’s to the early 1990’s. Post WWII, the two nations could not agree on how to reconstruct the post war world. Wars including the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crises, and the Vietnam War were possible threats to lead into a third world war. The Cold War came to an end when Gorbachev launched his reform programs, Perestroika (reconstruction of the Soviet economy) and Glastnost (introduction of publicity and openness) (Wikipedia Staff, p. 1). It is almost impossible to summarize our nation’s history. So many events, far too many to place in a single composition of words, played key roles in the structure of how we live today. Needless to say, history continues to ensue every day. From our nation’s birth to the Cold War to the hanging of Saddam, America will continue to write a story we all should be so eager to read. References 1. Library of Congress (1998). Revolutionary Period. Retrieved in January 2007 from www. americaslibrary. gov/cgi. bin/page. cgiljb/revolt. 2. 39th Congress (1866). 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. Retrieved in January 2007 from www. nps. gov/archive/malu/documents/amend14. htm. 3. G. Feldmeth (2000). American Industrialization. Retrieved in January 2007 from www. home. earthlink. net/~gfeldmeth/lec. indust. html. 4. Wikipedia Staff (2001). Definitions for Perestroika and Glastnost. Retrieved in January 2007 from www. en. wikipedia. org.