Police Ethics and Deviance Assignment

Running head: POLICE ETHICS AND DEVIANCE ASSIGNMENT Police Ethics and Deviance Assignment Axia College Police Ethics and Deviance Assignment Police officers live by a specific code of ethics that helps them to their chosen profession in the noblest means possible. The problem is that officers are human and as humans, they sometimes give in to temptation and bad judgment while trying to fulfill the completion of those duties. A few of the deviant behaviors that officers succumb to are corruption, misconduct, and brutality. Some officers will partake in the items previously listed in the name of doing the â€Å"right thing†. This has been given the name â€Å"The Dirty Harry† syndrome, after the movie of the same name (Dempsey & Frost, 2005). Regardless of the goodwill behind it, any abnormal behavior by a person sworn to uphold the law cannot and will not be tolerated. Ethics can be described as what one does that is considered right and wrong to society and people. Ethics helps one make decisions and behave in specific ways that will not bring shame and disgrace to one’s self. A police officer’s code of ethics has to be higher than the people they are protecting and serving. T. O’Connor (2005) cites the following Law Enforcement Code of Ethics: |The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics | |As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the | |innocent against deception; the weak against oppression or intimidation; and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to| |respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice. |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or | |ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in my thought and deed in both | |personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever| |I see or hear of a confidential nature or that i s confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless | |revelation is necessary in the performance of my duties. |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my | |decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and | |appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill-will, never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never accepting | |gratuities. | |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I| |am true to the ethics of police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself | |before God to my chosen profession — law enforcement. (para. 12) | As one can see, it is very specific about the treatment of others and how an officer is expected to act while working in the public trust (O’Connor, 2006). This code ethics provides an outline for the officers and takes away any gray areas that may cause some confusion and wrong choices by the officers. One of the first items of the code deals with an officer’s duty to protect and not deceive. Unfortunately, some officers do not apply this part to their working lives or they choose to forget it. This will lead an officer to the darker side of police work such as, corruption and misconduct by the officer. In Los Angeles, for example, corruption presents itself in many forms, such as financial kick-backs, drug-dealing, obstruction of justice, and theft (Staff, 2009). These acts will degrade an officer’s identity and create an air of mistrust amongst those they are supposed to help. Not to mention, they are against the law the police officers have sworn to uphold. This will lead to the officers answering for their actions and being reviewed by other officers, whose duty is to weed out the corrupt officers. Even lesser types of corruption, like taking gratuities and â€Å"cooping†, will compromise an officer’s integrity and effect how they do their job. By taking gifts they will show favoritism to those individuals giving them the gifts. Cooping is the term for when officers rest, sleep or just are negligent in doing their job. That is why it is very important that officer’s followed the code of ethics and remain above the public in everything they do. Misconduct is also something that an officer can do that will tarnish the whole department. Misconduct is what an officer does when they break departmental rules and regulations that guide police behavior. This is not a misuse of authority, but of how an officer acts in regard to the force. This type of deviant behavior shows the police force in a bad light and paints a negative picture of the police and what they do. Some of the types of misconduct are using police property for personal use, unsafe use of police property, failure to write reports, and improper searching of suspects. This is only a small collection of the many types of misconduct, but all are damaging to the character of the officer (Stevens, 2005). Police brutality is probably one of the most egregious of all the deviant behaviors that has been listed previously. It is the use of excessive force against suspects, civilians, and offenders (Dempsey & Frost, 2005, p. 308). This type of deviant behavior has been present since the inception of police work. These acts of aggression are direct infringements of constitutional rights against people who officers are supposed to protect and help. The needed trust in the police officer by the public is broken and is difficult to try to repair. Even if citizen oversight committees are formed and officers are punished for their actions, public trust usually is not restored. Police brutality usually goes hand-in-hand with perjury by the officer committing the brutality. An officer is more likely to lie under oath instead of risking punishment from the court and their department (O’Connor, 2005) Thankfully, most police officers follow the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. Only a small fraction of â€Å"rogue† officers use the influence of the position to gain power and monetary gain. What needs to be done is to have more honest officers stand up and police their own. Only then will society be able to purge this nefarious aspect from its policing expectations and create a culture free from deceit and wrongdoings by those charged with protecting others. References Dempsey, J. S. , & Frost, L. S. (2005). Police and the law. In (Ed. ), An introduction to policing (pp. 250-290). Retrieved from Axia CJS 210. O’Connor, T. (2006). Topics in police ethics. Manuscript submitted for publication. Retrieved February 19, 2010, from http://www. apsu. edu/oconnort/3300/3300lect04. htm O’Connor, T. R. (2005). Police deviance and ethics. Retrieved February 20, 2010, from http://policecrimes. com/police_deviance. html Staff (2009, July). In the news: police corruption. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles. latimes. com/keyword/police-corruption Stevens, M. (2005). Police deviance and ethics (Masters Thesis, California State University – Fresno, 2005). Retrieved from http://faculty. ncwc. edu/mstevens/205/205lect11. htm

Intolerance in Nigeria Essay

ABSTRACT This paper examines the relationship between religion and sustainable development, as well as the role of Nigerian intellectuals in ameliorating religious crisis in the country. Religion, as a system of faith is based on belief in the existence of a particular God or gods, to some extent, influences or contributes in developing and coordinating the expression of the capacities latent in human nature for the progress of the society. All the elements that made up the resources originating from human are expressed in their actions, behaviour and daily activities, either in positive and constructive ways, or in a negative and destructive ways, especially with respect to their inherent power to generate value by leveraging other production variables for economic growth and development. Empirical results obtained, using descriptive analysis approach, indicate that religion plays an important role in shaping the moral and social values necessary for development. Based on these findings, some recommendations are offered which include: Re-examine education policies in the light of its contribution to individual growth and to bring about fundamental structural changes in society, changes which are necessary for the creation of a just, peaceful, and harmonious environment, hence teachers and other intellectuals must be a model of nobility, selfactualization and discipline, since sound character is ultimately more important than intellectual brilliance.. Keywords: Religion, Economic growth, Amelioration, Tolerance and Intellectuals. INTRODUCTION A religion can be broadly described as a set of common belief and practices generally held by a group of people. Oxford Learner Dictionary described religion as a system of faith that is based on belief in the existence of a particular God or gods. According to Oke, Oloruntimehin and Akinola (1996), it is generally accepted by social scientists that people’s religious beliefs and their social organizations are closely interrelated. They quoted Emile, as noted that religion is a social artifact symbolizing what a society considers sacred and the most sacred thing to any society is the society itself. In view of this, religion provides an organized picture of the universe and establishes a more or less orderly relationship between man and his surroundings. Early economists and other researchers have paid little attention to any link between religion and economic development, rather it is seen as something personal between man and his God. The early relationship between religion and economic was established by Marx, who was of the opinion that the strength of an economy would influenced a religion or belief. However, the like of Max Weber, an eminent sociologist of early 20th century was of contra opinion. According to him, the source of the growth of the western economy is religion, especially the reformation of protestant and its doctrine about 40 Religion and Economic Development: the Role of Nigerian Intellectuals Saheed, Zakaree S. and Alofun, G. O. O. simplicity and moral responsibility to work (Skousen, 2007). Weber Marx (1930), believe that capitalism originated from religious ideals and not historical materialism. Specifically, the protestant reformation teachings changed the western culture, and led to the rise of capitalism, which in turn led to the growth and development of their economy. Islam as a religion also played a positive role in the development of the Arab society and transformed it to such a remarkable extent that it not only overcame its own handicaps but also brought about a revolutionary change in the societies that came under its influence (Charpra, 1998). Barro and McCleary (2003) suggested that higher rates of religious beliefs stimulate growth because they help to sustain the aspect of individual behaviour that enhances productivity. The higher number of church or mosque attendance, for instance, tends to depressed growth because it signifies a greater use of esources including land, buildings and other capital, by the religious sector. However, that suppression of growth is tempered by the extent to which church or mosque attendance leads to greater religion beliefs, which in turn encourages economic growth. In Nigeria, traditional communities are essentially religious. In these communities, religion is kinship based because it governs the peopleâ⠂¬â„¢s lineage or family relationships; it governs the doctrine of collective responsibility and forms the basis of the family, which in turn is the basic unit of social control. Indeed, religion is so important in the society as a form of social control because of people’s adherence to religion, whether traditional, Christian or Islam (Ikporukpo, 2001), which are the recognized religions in Nigeria, though the last two are more pronounced. Christianity and Islam, especially have a great influence on the daily lives of Nigerians, and plays a significant role in the socio-political and economic development. According to Nwite and Wilson (2010), churches in Nigeria has contributed immensely to the economic development of the country through investment in different sectors of the economy like real estate, capital market, shopping complex and schools. The essence of economic and human development embodied health, for which life expectancy is taken as a reasonable gauge; knowledge, which is expressed as a combination of literacy rates and average years of schoolings; and per capital income (Lynn, 2001). Any effort put forward towards the development of these determining factors would amount to stirring the economy towards development. Given the foregoing, the paper proposes to critically examine/analyses: i. The contribution of religion to the education sector in Nigeria. ii. The role of religion in the development of health sector in Nigeria. iii. The role of religion towards creation of job opportunities in Nigeria. iv. The role of religion and Nigerian Intellectuals in socio-ethnic crisis in Nigeria. To this end, the paper is organized into five sections. Following this introduction is section II, which focuses on conceptual issues. Section III discusses the role of religion on economic development in Nigeria. Section IV analyses the role of religion on socio-ethnic crisis in Nigeria, while section V summarises the findings and offer policy recommendation. 41 Journal of Social Science and Public Policy Volume 3, December 2011 CONCEPTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT There are different conceptions of development. First, it could be viewed as the development of the mind in which case the humanity of man is no longer subjugated to nature, but has transcended the confines of nature to progressively understand the whole of the world in order to be able to develop from it an environment which is most suitable for him. Moreso, economic development means sustained and sustainable growth per capita income, accompanied by diversification of production, reduction in absolute poverty, and expanding economic opportunities for all citizens (Lynn, 2003). The definition implies an economic growth which can be maintained over a long period of time. Moreso it requires diversification of economic activities so that the nation can be producing variety of goods and services, with the economy gradually progressing from primary, to secondary and then to tertiary economy. This should be able to create an expanding opportunities for people to make a choice of work and earn income through which they can improve their lives and able to participate in the social life of the community. Most importantly, there should be reduction in the level of absolute poverty in the country. The conception of development also connote growth with changes, which usually demands significant structural transformation within a country, and that includes the reorganization and reorientation of the economic and social systems, radical arrangements in installations and administrative structures, as well as reorientations in popular attitudes, customs and belief (Ogunkola and Egwaikhide, 2001). In contemplating development, more than access to goods and services is at stake. As such, in measuring level of development, the Physical Quality of Life (PQL) is considered, and it is equal weighting of an infant mortality rate, life expectancy, and basic literacy. However the United Nations Development’s version of development measurement refers to as Human Development Index (HDI) incorporates an income measure. All these elements considered in measuring the level of development of a nation are subject of level of development of the health and educational sectors, where the eligious sectors in Nigeria has contributed, as can be seen in the Holy Scriptures. For instance: Both religions in Nigeria, that is, Christianity and Islam recognize that the created universe is subjected to man for the enrichment and fulfillment of his life (Quran 45:12-13, 14:32-34 and Genesis 1:26-28). More so, contrary to the view that religion only emphasis faith and not works, the Bible and Qur’an invite men to labour and action (Qur’an 13: 11, 2:275 and Exodus 20 :9, Proverbs 16:3, 2. Thessalonians 3:10). All the elements that made up the resources originating from human are expressed in their actions, behaviour and daily activities, either in positive and constructive ways, or in a negative and destructive ways (Zainun, 2006), especially with respect to their inherent power to generate value by leveraging other production variables for economic growth development. In carrying out development activities, religion provides some code of norms and obligations which subject man to regulations necessary for the progress of the society. 2 Religion and Economic Development: the Role of Nigerian Intellectuals Saheed, Zakaree S. and Alofun, G. O. O. The Role of Religion in Nigerian Economic Development Religion has contributed much to development of human race, and it will be totally absurd to ignore the contributions of religion, especially Christianity and Islam. Both religious communities have become the key determinants of history and destiny of the nation, and its vast population, as well as deciding the course of development and building of the nation. Religion is given a reasonable degree of recognition by governments of Nigeria and some other countries as a major factor determining the stability of a nation. The roles of religion in economic development are more pronounced in the educational and health sectors, as well as creation of job opportunities. The Role of Religion in Educational Sector in Nigeria Education is a continuous and creative process which aimed at developing the capacities latent in human nature, and coordinate their expression for the enrichment and progress of ociety, by equipping students with spiritual, moral and material knowledge. Education in terms of the knowledge, qualities, skills, attitudes and capacities that enable individuals to become conscious subjects of their growth and active responsible participants in a systemic process of building a new world order. In Nigeria, Christian missions pioneered the establishment of primary and secondary schools, and ever since then the two religions, that is, C hristianity and Islam, have played a significant role in the establishment of schools in Nigeria. As the primary schools and their products multiplied, secondary schools were established to satisfy the demand for higher education. The Catholic Missionary Society (CMS) established the C. M. S. Grammar School in Lagos in 1859, followed by the Methodist Boys’ High School in 1879 and St. Gregory’s College, established by the Catholic in 1881. It is on this foundation that secondary schools education has rested in Nigeria (Olurode, 1999). Many other religion based secondary schools later emerged. These include, Ahmadiyya Grammar School, Anwar-Ul-Islam Grammar School, St. Theresa College, Islamic High School, Ebira Muslim Community College among many. The religious sector in Nigeria is also involved in establishment of higher institutions, to enhance government effort towards educational development. Among the religion based private higher institutions in Nigeria are listed in table 1. 0 below: Table 1. 0 Some religion based private higher institutions in Nigeria S/N Institution 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. Bowen University, Iwo-Osun State Fountain University, Osogbo- Ondo state Founder/Sponsor The Baptist NASFAT Islam Bishop Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo – Anglican Churches Oyo state Al-Hikama University, Ilorin – Kwara State Islamic Foundation (AROIF) and Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) Redeemer University, Lagos state The Redeemed Churches Wesley University of Technology, Ondo The Methodist churches State. Covenant University, Lagos state Living Faith Church World 43 Journal of Social Science and Public Policy Volume 3, December 2011 . 10. Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun state Christ Apostolic Church VERITAS University (Catholic University of The Catholic Churches Nigeria), Abuja. Source: Culled by the authors from lists of private universities in Nigeria The Contribution of Religion to the Health Sector in Nigeria The spread of western ideas including medicine and social welfare also owed much to the advent of religion in Nigeria. According to Olurode (1997), by the end of the nineteen century, the hospital; was as effective as the school. By 1914, various missions had established hospitals such as the C. M. S. Iyi Enu Hospital near Onitsha, the Wesley Guide Hospital in Ilesha, the Baptist Hospital in Ogbomosho and the Sacred Heart Hospital of the Society for African Missions in Abeokuta. Missionary involvement had, as its aim, the eradication of superstitious beliefs about such diseases as smallpox. In Yoruba land, for instance, the god of smallpox shoponna had a strong hold on the people which took western medicine, specifically vaccines to break. Even where orthodox medicine failed, some religion has been playing a significant role to proffer spiritual solution to cure illness. The Role of Religion and Nigerian Intellectuals on Socio-ethnic Crisis in Nigeria According to UNHCR (2008) as quoted by Saheed and Alofun (2010), since 1999, more than 10,000 Nigerians have been killed and more properties worth billions of naira have been destroyed in sectarian and communal attacks and reprisals between Muslims and Christians. The most serious of these clashes occurred in Kaduna state in February and May 2000, and November 2002; Jos, Plateau state in September 2001; Kano state and Yelwa, Plateau state between February and May, 2004; and in the northern and southeastern Nigeria in the wake of the controversy over depictions of the Prophet Muhammad in the Danish press in February 2006. Table 2. 0. Some of the Religious Crises in Nigeria in the last one decade Date Events Victims Sept. 2001 July, 2007 Sept. 2007 Dec. 2007 Dec. 2008 July, 2009 Violent clashes between Muslims and Christians in 3,000 people killed Jos, Plateau state. Violent clashes between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims over 5 people killed the murder of a Sunni cleric in Sokoto Rioting in the northern state of Kano 19 people killed Three churches burned in the northern state of 10 people killed Bauchi Violent clashes over disputed election result which 400 people killed degenerated into religion crisis in Jos, Plateau state Two days battle with radical Islamists in two northern 150 people killed cities of Yobe and Bauchi Source: Culled by the Authors from the records of UNHCR, GlobalSecurity. org and Mail and Guardian online, 2009 44 Religion and Economic Development: the Role of Nigerian Intellectuals Saheed, Zakaree S. and Alofun, G. O. O. All these events, as shown in table 2. 0 above, have a negative effect on Nigerian economy in terms of capital and loss of lives, especially manpower or human resources with high productivity potentials. In each of these events the role of Nigerian intellectuals calls for question. In the two widely acknowledged religions in Nigeria, that is, the Christianity and Islam, the leaders are intellectuals who are well educated, many of whom are holders of various degrees ranging from bachelor, to masters and even doctorate. They are very influential among their followers and the congregations. Their words are like policy within that congregation. They are leaders who are supposed to articulate an ideological vision congruent with deeply held value of the country. They are supposed to engage in alignment, with interpretive orientations such that the country’s interest, value and belief as well as these religions activities, goals and ideology becomes congruent and complementary. Universal education must be relevant to he true needs of a community and contribute to the unification of mankind, in such a way that it will enable the people to move in the direction of their own chosen field and help them appreciate those universal qualities that distinguish the human race (Saheed, 2008). However, a situation where misunderstanding between two people in a community degenerated into communal clashes that claimed several lives, or members of congregation dispersed from their places of worship and created anarchy in the street, then the impact of the message of such religion leader becomes questionable. Is it a sermon of peace or hatred? CONCLUSION AND POLICY ISSUES Religion, especially Christianity and Islam, to some extent, has contributed to economic development either indirectly, by influencing and coordinate the expression of the capacities latent in human nature for the progress of the society, and by shaping the moral and social values necessary for development, or directly by its contribution to the growth of the educational and health sectors in Nigeria. However, religious intolerance among the people which often lead to crisis claiming several lives and destruction of properties has a negative impact on Nigerian economy. Adherents of the religious communities, to some extent, have lost focus of their responsibility towards nation building, and are embraced vices such religious fanaticism or intolerance and its attendant problems such as unending intensive strives, fight of superiority, loss of human and material resources. To promote religious tolerance towards national development, the religious communities in Nigeria must wake up to their responsibilities in home so that the problem of moral decadence plaguing the nation will radically reduced. Since many Nigerian families are facing the pangs of unemployment, inability to pay their children and wards school fees among other hardships, the religious bodies should resume their pioneering work in the area of health, education, industry and vocational training to assist the nation, especially in the area of human development. Education should be examined in the light of its contribution to individual growth and to bring about fundamental structural changes in society, changes which are necessary for the creation of a just, peaceful, and harmonious environment, hence teachers and other intellectuals must be a model of nobility, self-actualisation and discipline, since sound character is ultimately more important than intellectual brilliance. A well educated community 45 Journal of Social Science and Public Policy Volume 3, December 2011 ember is a determined yet humble participant, who helps overcome conflict and division thereby contributing to a spirit of unity and collaboration. Therefore, Nigerian education, like a universal education, must be relevant to the needs of the Nigerian communities and contribute to the unification of the people of Nigeria, regardless of their religion and race. It must enable the people both to move in the direction of their choice and help them appreciate those universal q ualities that distinguish the entire human race. REFERENCE Barro, J. B. and McClear, R. M. 2003), Religion and Growth, Havard University Press, U. S. A Ikporukpo, C. O. (2001). Government, Society and Economy. Ibadan: Stirling-Horden Publishers (Nig. ) Ltd. Lynn, S. R. (2003). Development Economics: World. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River Theory and Practice for a Divided Nwite, S. C. and Wilson, A. (2010). Churches in Nigeria and Investment Strategies: Problems and Prospect. Book of Abstract. Second World Congress on Research and Development, University of Ibadan. Oke, F. A. , et al. (1996). Introduction to Social Institutions. Ibadan: Akinlabi Fayinmi Ventures. Saheed, Z. S. (2008). Ebira: What Our Problems Is. http://jakomodebiravonyainternational. blogspot. com The Ebiras and the World. Saheed, Z. S. and Alofun, G. O. O, (2010). Nigeria, Five Decades of Sovereignty: Rich But Poor. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Development Studies, Vol. 5, No. 1. Skousen, M. , (2007). Modern Economics Theories. Indonesia: Prenada Media Group Publication. Sushmit, N. (2007). Religion & Economic www. mpra. ub. uni-muechen. de/8181 Growth and Development. MPRA. Zainun, B. (2001). Indonesia Human Resources Development. Jakarta: PT. Gunung Agung Tbk. 46

Describe the Factors to Consider When Promoting Effective Communication

Factors you may need to consider when trying to communicate effectively with others could be their age. If it's a child you will need to simplify your language, get down to their level so that eye contact can be easily made. Be aware of your own posture and body language, while assessing theirs so that you can gauge their emotions, and be able to respond appropriately. It is also important to show that you are listening to the child and looking interested in what they are saying. Sometimes it takes a while for a child to get their sentences out, so if you look bored and uninterested, he/she will be less inclined to carry on with the conversation and it may affect their confidence for when communicating in the future.When communicating with an adult it is slightly different, the language you use will be more complex and the sentences will flow a bit faster. Good eye to eye contact and facial expressions are important to help you convey your message, and to be able to decode their emot ions and feelings. Adults also need to feel valued, so good listening skills are key to effective communication and allowing the other person time to answer before you start talking again, never guess what a person is trying to say.Effective communication isn't just achieved by verbally expressing yourself though. Some organisations use P.E.C.S (Picture Exchange Communication System), exchanging picture and symbols on a board to communicate feelings, choices, wants and needs. This is particularly useful for children with a speech delay, or children with learning difficulties. Photos of the toys/equipment on the front of the boxes and draws tell everyone where to put it all away after use. Or at snack times the children can see the choices available on the board in photo or picture form.Children learn to become more affective communicators through role playing games, either with or without adult participation. Listening to stories and discussing them afterwards with others is greatly beneficial to the child,as they are practicing their listening skills and communicating with each other.Other ways in which adults communicate are trough email, telephone or text message to colleagues. News letters to keep parents informed of general news and updates.When communicating effectively at work with the children, I like to sit on the floor small hair. I like to be at their level, as I feel it can be a bit intimidating to have an adult standing over and talking. My speech will be slower and clearer, I will use simple words and keep sentences short. Usually I try to ask open ended questions to try and encourage the children to talk to me, instead of giving a dead ended answer with yes or no. Involving the parent/career into the conversation is also great, as it helps me to find out more information about the child. Im able to find out their strengths and abilities and better able to provide activities for that individual child's needs.

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

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Whither information governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

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Morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Morality - Essay Example Considering that fundamentalist followers of any religion will have a different moral code from those of a liberal bent, it becomes nearly impossible to take dogma as a guideline for morals. Similarly, there have been times in history where certain laws themselves were unethical and even immoral therefore to follow those laws would be unethical and immoral. Therefore, I feel that my own morals come from ethical guidelines that have been given to us by experts in the field who continually update their suggestions based on changing times. That strikes very close to my idea of life since life itself is full of change and this dynamic nature of life is tremendously exciting. While the basic realties of life itself may not alter everyday, the expanding knowledge and greater understanding we have of the world around us brings changes to our lives which make it worth living. Considering the difference between what we knew a few hundred years ago and what we know today, it is not easy to project how our lives will change in a few years let alone a few decades. Yet the coming changes do not scare me in the least for I know that I will keep trying to improve my own condition as well as those who are around me. If I can devote my life to that purpose alone I would think that I have lived a good life and do not need to go far beyond that. I know that I can not change the world and I know that I probably will never be able to create anything which has a lasting affect beyond one or two generations that follow me. However, it is the idea which excites me that if I try hard enough I will be able to make a difference. Even if it is a small difference it should be something which adds to the quality of life rather than something that subtracts. Therefore, as I keep improving my own abilities and seek out ways in which I can make the lives of people

Choose from Instruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Choose from Instruction - Essay Example From the article we are informed of two possible reasons for McDonald’s success in India: its partnership with two domestic firms and the adaptation of its restaurants to Indian local palates (Bellman, 2009). Analysis of the situation With the continued globalization of world markets, firms are ever more dependent on new products to generate revenues and market share. To maintain their momentum and relative position firms must enter a broader and more diverse set of markets (Yeniturt & Townsend, 2003). This could be one of the reasons why McDonalds had to get into the Indian market. Some scholars argue that globalization has progressively created a more homogenized world market due to better interconnectedness among the world’s nations (Yeniturt & Townsend, 2003). This implies that an increasing number of consumers from diverse geographic locations and cultural backgrounds are beginning to show similar preferences. These scholars state that this trend is evidenced by the emergence of global brands. However, Suh and Kwon (2002) differ with that school of thought. They argue that even after tremendous exposure to globalization, consumers from different cultures have different attitudes, perceptions, tastes, preferences and values, and remain reluctant to purchase foreign products. A good example is found in Europe where even with an economic union and a progression toward the standardization of the political and social infrastructure, national cultural values have remained stable over time. Cultural norms and beliefs therefore remain an important aspect of global marketing. According to Yeniturt and Townsend (2003) culture remains an elusive, multi-faceted dimension that is difficult to harness and understand completely. They argue since consumers’ attitudes and behaviors are significantly influenced by the cultural context of the market it is expected for there to be a strong effect of national culture in the adoption of new produc ts in a country. The downside to this whole globalization trend is what is referred to as cultural imperialism. Kiely and Marfleet (1998) describe cultural imperialism as the process by which the developed world consciously disseminate their values and norms as being superior to those of the less developed countries (LDCs). Through the use of mass media advertising and the Internet, Western multinational corporations portray the Western lifestyle as something for the LDCs to aspire to. How McDonalds achieved its success McDonalds planned for two major phases for its launch with an understanding of the socio-economic status of the Indian people. The first phase involved opening branches in Indian cities of relatively high income. In these metropolitan cities, McDonalds banked on the residents’ exposure to Western food and culture. These residents were to lead the second phase by sharing the McDonalds experience to satellite towns, where the firm would open new stores. McDona ld also made menus that would attract the locals’ palates. There was no beef or pork or animal fat used to fry the food chains recipes. That is not to say that McDonald’s did not replicate its Western cultures in India. The company continued to offer fast, friendly service at value-prices. Conclusion Even though economic development continues to lead to a convergence in global markets, and as the influence of mass media creates a global consumer culture we are yet to reach the point where culture,

Explain why you would rather live in the city, the suburbs, or in the Essay

Explain why you would rather live in the city, the suburbs, or in the country - Essay Example My learning need is better addressed by the city because all good universities are located in urban areas. This is evident with a lot of students from the rural areas who come to the city to attend the universities. While there are also colleges in the countryside, the really good learning institutions are located in the cities. Big cities are also a host of a lot of experts in different fields who offer lectures either in class or symposia. As a young student like me, these lectures offers me an invaluable opportunity to gain insights in my chosen field of endeavor which is otherwise not available had I lived in the rural areas. I also grow better as a person and a professional by living in a city. There are a lot of people with different backgrounds living in a city. Acquainting myself with them widens my perspective and enhances my social skills. We are now living in a globalized environment where it will be necessary for me to work with different people of varying orientation in the future and this exposure to different kind of people afforded by living in a city will enable to better deal with them when I become a professional. I believe that to become successful in my chosen endeavor, my academic preparation should be coupled with social skills which the city can better prepare me. It is also fun living in a city. Almost all type of entertainment is located just nearby. Whenever I feel bored, I can always go to the movie house or watch a concert. There are also bars in the city where I can party to unwind myself. For a young person like me, the city also keeps me abreast not only with the latest news, but also with the latest fads. There are also a lot of interests in the city where I can engage myself in. Living in a city makes me a well rounded person which is why is I prefer living in it than in the countryside. I may prefer living in the city but it does not mean I do not like the countryside. I like the

Differences between War Crimes, Acts of Genocide and Crimes against Essay

Differences between War Crimes, Acts of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity - Essay Example In order to successfully offer a distinction it is important to identify what each means in international law. It is important to note that Crimes against Humanity to be precise are largely vague by definition in many legally authoritative commentaries (Trahan & Human Rights Watch, 2006). Acts of Genocide on the other hand are clear in many statutes while the former has many interpretations depending on which statute one is referring to. This can be attributed to their history and how each developed as an internationally recognised offense. Acts of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity emanated primarily from the Nuremberg trials where they were utilised as synonyms. It is important to note that these crimes had their roots after the World War II when the international community wanted the Nazi regime in Germany to be held accountable for the atrocities it had committed during the war. Discussions were held by the United Nations from 1947 to 1948 before the adoption of a definition of genocide. Crimes against Humanity are criminal conducts towards civilians or distinct groups of people for example murder, enslavement, sexual violence among other inhumane acts regardless of whether the state in question was at war and regardless whether the acts were against that state’s laws at the time of committal. These crimes can be committed by anyone ranging from state officials to individuals towards their own nationals or foreigners. Genocide on the other hand has a smaller definition which is an act perpetrated by state nationals or individuals with the intention to destroy a religious, national, racial or ethnic group irrespective of whether the state is at peace or at war (Schabas, 2000; Boot, 2002). War Crimes on the other hand are acts perpetrated at the time of armed conflict which are against international laws governing the rule of law. These acts include mistreatment of civilian populations and people exploitation through torture or executions. War Crimes have been around for a longer period than genocide or Crimes against Humanity. Many civilisations around the world have had their share of controls that governed their warfare. In China for example, those at war were strictly forbidden to strike an elderly enemy fighter or further harm an injured enemy or opponent. Further restrictions were in regards to treatment of captives or prisoners of war. They were to be well treated so as to be used later for the captors benefit. Some of these rules contributed to the definitions stipulated above under the international law. It should also be noted that defining War Crimes has been a problem especially when instilling punishment (Schabas, 2008). It is a fact that in war solders are instructed or even ordered to kill with methods of doing so having some restrictions. Some contradictions often arise in determining War Crimes circumstances for example where a soldier kills their victims during war and are punished for it. Another is where pla nes engage in mass bombing of cities killing many innocent lives and no one is held accountable for it. These and more are some of the dilemmas that challenge the implementation of international law in various nations. The notion of Crimes against Humanity As earlier mentioned, Crimes against Humanity are rarely defined in many authoritative commentaries. The Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia and that of Rwanda brought to the fore the graveness of lack of definite meanings for the Crimes against Humanity (Meron, 1994; Akhavan, 1996). The reason for this was that the statutes establishing these tribunals

PRINT ADS ASSIGMENT QUESTIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

PRINT ADS ASSIGMENT QUESTIONS - Essay Example Even the placement of items in the stores like Loblaws, are designed with the consumer in mind... the milks always at the back. You have to walk through the store and past all the other ready-to-be-purchased stuff to get there. The kid-friendly items are at the cash in line with childrens eyes where squirmy, bored little kids can spot it, and frustrated parents can buy it to keep their kids from howling in the lengthy cash line-ups. Been there, done that! Just as example, there is a billboard company in California who have developed a techno-billboard that is erected beside the highway, a so many of the billboards are. THIS billboard has an "intelligent" computer in it that can "read" the radio stations of the cars as they pass...and display the type of ad that would appeal to the majority of drivers. The example given was if the majority of drivers were listening to a sports station, then an ad for Nike might appear on the board. If the majority were listening to F.M. easy-listening music, then an ad for BMW might appear. The advertisers pay $13,000 a month for this, and feel its worth every penny. Stewardship can be applied to such things as the world’s forests by making every person responsible for the care of the forests. I believe stewardship of forests would entail a concrete responsibility by a person to take place in a group that oversees the protection of the world’s forest through a variety of means. For instance, this would involve, intervening when there is abuse of the forests. Each person taking part as a steward would have a role to speak or work to protect the forests. Frankly, what attracts my attention is Pierce Brosnan, specifically his eyes. Then I slowly look around him to see what he has to say. After Pierce, the slogan is the second item that catches my attention. The brand name and logo are the last items I look at. Are there any words bigger than others? Where are the labels... on the outside or the inside of the product? Is

Short Cousework on Parts of Speech Essay Example for Free

Short Cousework on Parts of Speech Essay I am equally grateful to my lecturer, Madam Wan Ziraiza Binti Raja Wan Ismail because she gave me moral support and guided me regarding the topic in this assignment. She had been very kind and patient while suggesting me the outlines of this short coursework in class and correcting my uncertainties. I would like to thank her from bottom of my heart for her overall supports. Encourage is all important for me. I find myself being deeply indebted and grateful to those who always stand beside and supporting me; my parents and friends. I would like to show my appreciation to all of my fellow friends who are willing to spend their time discussing together about this English assignment in the progression of finishing this assignment. Thanks to them for their useful information and guidance in order to help out to make my assignment better from time to time. I am very thankful to everyone who had supported me, for I have completed this short coursework effectively and moreover on time. By doing this assignment, I can call in mind and increased my knowledge on English especially on grammar part. I sincerely hope that this assignment can encourage me and my friends to become possess in English grammar from now on. INTRODUCTION In this short coursework, three main things must be included which is parts of speech, types of sentences and tenses. According to Edward Sapir in his book Language: an Introduction to the Study of Speech (1921), â€Å"a part of speech outside of the limitations of syntactic form is but a will o’ the wisp. For this reason, no logical scheme of the parts of speech-their number, nature, and necessary confines-is of the slightest interest to the linguist†. Part of speech can be defined as a classification of words according to how they are used in a sentence and the types of ideas they convey. The chief parts of speech in English are nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections. There are three major types of sentences. They are simple sentence, compound sentence and complex sentence. Simple sentence also called an independent clause contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. Compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The example of coordinators are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which. John Seely said in his book Grammar for Teachers ( 2007), Some grammarians define a tense as an inflection of the verb-a change of meaning you achieve by altering the form of the verb†. In other words, tense refers to the form a verb takes depending on the time at which an action occurred. Tenses may also indicate whether an action, activity or state is, was, or will be complete, or whether it is, was, or will be in progress over a period of  time. The English grammar should be learned by everyone because it supplies essential information about the grammatical forms and structures of all the major and minor word classes that is important in daily conversations. 2.2 TYPES OF SENTENCES Simple sentences: 1) Developing countries contribute nearly half of the total GHG emissions. 2) Climate change is steadily depressing crop yields. Compound sentences: 1) Numerous policy and scientific reports indicate that if better technologies and management practices are evolved and put into use, the agricultural sector can offer a huge potential to reduce GHG load in a cost-effective manner. 2) It is estimated that an additional annual investment of USD 1.5 billion in agriculture and rural development will be needed to offset such an impact in South Asia. Complex sentences: 1) Sustainability has been given due consideration because in Asian countries intensive land use is accompanied by problems such as unplanned exploitation of nature soil and water resources. 2) It is estimated that an additional annual investment of USD 1.5 billion in agriculture and rural development will be needed to offset such an impact in South Asia and USD 7 billion on a global scale. REFLECTION Thanks to Allah S.W.T. for His Grateful finally I could finished my short coursework completely. In this short coursework, I have to select a text on environment. 10 sentences must be selected from the text and analyze the sentences according to the five parts of speech. Next task is to give two examples of simple, compound and complex sentences each from the text. Lastly, the task needs me to construct 12 sentences from selected three verbs according to the sub tenses. I have gained a lot of benefits by doing this assignment. First, when I have found the article, I read it critically and understanding the type of sentences. This has improving my reading skill. Secondly, I practice to use correct and appropriate language structure in different types of writing. I admit that I was weak in the grammar part. With this assignment, I could recall what I have learned in previous lesson at class before this and strengthen my English especially in grammar. Moreover, this assignment gives me opportunity to learn English grammar more as I know grammar scope is wide. The problem that I face in completing this short coursework is I have to select the most suitable text related to environment. The difficulty appeared when the text contains long sentences and it brings difficulty to me to analyze the sentences. To overcome this problem, I have discussed with  my friend about the best text to be selected. My friends and I help each other as the saying goes â€Å"sharing is caring†. Even Sir Winston Churchill said that â€Å"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it†. Finally, I would like to emphasis here that this coursework has build my repertoire of understanding the grammar in English. Hopefully the knowledge that I gained would be useful for me and my friends. Thank you. CONCLUSION Grammar is one of the structures of language. It is very important to have a good basic grammar, as it is most important one being effective communication. Grammatical errors in both speaking and writing can distract from the message itself and cause negative feelings to the listener or reader. Avoiding grammatical errors can help students avoid low grades, low self-esteem and embarrassment. The key to good grammar is getting know first when to use which style and being able to defend own reasoning. Bookstores, libraries, and the internet are full of information on proper use of grammar. In order to improve grammar mastery, take some time to read the books, listen to the english tapes, visit english web sites, and work on grammar skills. Conversation in english with friends may help to make english mastery better. Thus, I can conclude that grammar is subjective and quite doubtful however; bad grammar should always be avoided. BIBLIOGRAPHY Wren Martin, (2008), High School English Grammar Composition, S. Chand Company Ltd. Mark Cholij and Geetha Nagaraj, (2004), English Basic a companion to grammar and writing, C.O.S. Printers Pte Ltd Betty Schrampfer Azar, (1996), Basic English Grammar Second Edition, Pearson Education Company Betty Schrampfer Azar, (1992), Fundamentals of English Grammar Second Edition Pearson Education Company J.S. Hooper, (2007), A Quick English Reference, published by Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd. Eddiplex, (2008), Advanced English Grammar, Eddiplex Sdn. Bhd. Lynne Hand, The Learn English Online Network, http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/tenses/growtense.htm#top, access on 23 February 2011 Erlyn Baack, http://www.eslbee.com/sentences.htm, access on 23 February 2011 Demand Media (2010), http://www.essortment.com/parts-speech-34216.html, access on 23 February 2011 Englishclub.com, http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses.htm, access on 24 February 2011

World War 1 Essay Example for Free

World War 1 Essay In this essay, I am going to explore the similarities and differences between different WW1 poetry. I will be looking into the points that the poems show and comparing them with each other. Different poems are written for different reasons and they are written to show different things. In terms of the realities of war, In Flanders Fields is the only poem that truly shows this. This is because John McCrae wanted to show the realities of war because his friend had died during the war, this meant that McCrae was determined to show the realities of war and not let people think that it was easy or fun as people said it was. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow (In Flanders Fields) This shows that war isnt all that good. It explains quite bluntly that they are dead, this is to show the harsh realities of war. It represents that they no longer have lives because they are soldiers and so do nothing else but fight. It explains this by using past tense, which shows that it no longer exists. The poem In Flanders Fields also shows mans inhumanity to man. This is also because McCrae is trying to show what war was really like and show the insensitive realities of war. Take up our quarrel with the foe (In Flanders Fields) This shows that people in war did show inhumanity to the opposition because they were not suppose to be a team together, they are fighting. By using the word foe, it is dehumanising the enemy and making them a lesser worth. Also the word take, is an imperative and shows that war isnt fair. This poem is quite clearly not propaganda. On the other hand, some poems were very positive for war and try to show war as a positive thing so that they recruit young men and soldiers and encourage them to enlist. To show war as a positive thing, the poets often used euphemisms for death in order to make it sound good. His lance is broken; but he lies content (The Volunteer) This shows death in a positive way and makes it sound as if it is something good. It shows the reader that even though they have died, they feel good about it and are proud to die for their country. However in the same poem, there are also some negative points which show that the poem is not completely propaganda or positive for war.

Aided System for Visually Impaired using Intel Galileo Gen-2

Aided System for Visually Impaired using Intel Galileo Gen-2 Aided System for Visually Impaired People in Bus Transport using Intel Galileo Gen-2: Technical Note K. Bommarajua, A. Manikandanb and S. Ramalingamc Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engg., Government College of Engg., Trichy, India ABSTRACT: Visually impaired people have difficulty in travelling and accessing information about public transportation systems. Several systems have been developed for helping visually impaired people to use the city bus. Most systems provide dual-way communication and require costly and complex equipments. The purpose of this study is to reduce the difficulties faced by visually impaired people while boarding in city buses, using an interactive wireless communication system. The system comprised a user module and a bus module to provide a direct one-to-one connection to reduce the difficulties due to many-to-many communication. When the user triggers the switch, the user module immediately sends out the information. If the bus module receives the matched signal, it buzzes and the warning LED flashes to notify the bus driver that someone is waiting to board on the bus. The interactive wireless communication aid system is a valid and low-cost device for assisting visually impaired people to use city buses. KEYwords:  Wireless communication; Visual impairment; Public transportation Citation: K. Bommaraju, A. Manikandan and S. Ramalingam. 2017. Aided System for Visually Impaired People in Bus Transport using Intel Galileo Gen-2: Technical Note, Int. J. Vehicle Structures Systems, 9(1), 219-223. doi:10.4273/ijvss.9.1.06 Introduction The use of public transport is vital to the productivity and independence of visually impaired people. Supporting visually impaired people to use the public transport can increase their chances of education and employment and reduces the financial burden on their families. In most physical environments, the visually impaired people have difficulty in accessing information about bus stops, terminals, vehicles, schedules, maps, and directories, which prevent them from using the public transport effectively. Knowing the location of the bus stop and the time when the bus arrives are the difficulties faced by the visually impaired people. Some position navigation systems have been developed to solve the problem of locating bus stops. Advanced public transportation services (APTS), including bus dynamic information display method with the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, have been developed by many countries. APTS [1] helps with the bus-stop voice reporting systems to provide more information for visually impaired people about the arrival of the bus which they want to board. Some APTS combined special handling devices were designed to provide dynamic information for visually impaired people. In Taiwan, the Taipei city government utilized an experimental system named broadcasting bus, that announces the bus number upon arriving at the bus terminal, to serve the visually impaired in 2002. The APTS named e-bus system started to be deployed in Taipei city since 2005 [3]. Using these technologies the number and the waiting time of the buses were shown on the light-emitting diode (LED) screen at the smart bus stops using GPRS facility. Only 20 percent of bus stops are planned to build. A survey of 400 passengers in 1998 revealed that the smart bus stops are not sufficient when equipped only with the voice reporting system because the voice information confused when many buses approached the sam e terminal at the same time which was a disadvantage of using many-to-many communication. The APTS with bus-stop voice reporting system and handheld devices might not provide a solution to this important issue. A survey showed that it would be very helpful if somebody could alert bus drivers about their boarding on buses. Various systems have been developed for visually impaired to communicate with bus drivers. Mehra et al. developed a user-triggered bus identification system in 2010. The user could select a particular bus and send signals by user module, and then a small LED starts flickering in the drivers control panel. The system offered only one-way communication. Bischof et al.developed a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system named NAVCOM. The authors proposed that blind people need a feedback to make sure whether the bus drivers get the original message. Another bus identification system designed by El Alamy et al. involves a bus station controller to identify users and send signals to buses with radio frequency. This system will say the information of the bus number when there is a 2-meter distance between the bus and the bus station. In Taipei, bus drivers are forced to leave the bus stop as soon as possible because most time several buses arrive at the same bus stop simultaneously. Visually impaired people are often ignored at bus stops if no one informs bus drivers about waiting passengers [2]. The aim of the present study is to reduce the difficulties faced by visually impaired people while taking buses with interactive wireless communication design. The interactive feedback system allow visually impaired people and bus drivers to receive the transmitted signals from each other and improve the success rate of boarding correct buses [4]. Project moto The moto of our project is to help the visually impaired people to transport easily and also we added some extra features through which the deaf could also be benefited in bus transport. So our project is like a knife which is sharp at both the ends and is going to help the people in two ways. Adults also can know which bus is going to arrive at that moment. So all the people in the society can use this system. We are very interested in doing such a project for our society. There are two modules user module and bus module. The user module will be handled by the user or it can also be placed as common in the bus stop also, so that all the people can use it and then if it is handled by single user alone then he or she can only use it. The bus module is fixed in the place where the driver can notice it. Hardware design For the development of our project, we use two modules. One at the bus driver-bus module One at the passenger-user module Here we are using both transmitter and receiver at both the module. The process, here is that the passenger waiting at the bus stop should switch on the passenger module, it sends out the signal, that signal is received at the receiver of the bus module. Then automatically the alarm sound will be produced and then the LCD will display that there is a passenger is waiting at the nearby bus stop, and then an LED will be glowing there. There are many components that are used for this process. Two types of ICs are used one is coding IC and the other is decoding IC. Fig. 1: Intel Galileo Gen-2 Here the signal is transmitted and received using RF transmitting and receiving modules. For various indicating purpose we use different types of LCD such as warning LED to glow while the buzzer buzzes and the power LED to indicate the status of the module whether it is in ON or OFF state. The main component of our project is Intel Galileo Gen-2 board which is used in Adruinio programming platform as shown in Fig. 1. The speciality of this board is that it can be used as a PC after installing an OS through SD card. It also has some special features that it can be connected to LAN and access internet, it has 20 digital pins which can be used as input/output and 6PWM output pins. We can also connect USB cable to it to transfer programming to it. It works with a power supply of 7-15V DC input. The coding IC HT12E is a 18 pin IC as shown in Fig. 2 mostly used for Radio Applications. The main purpose of this IC is to convert parallel input to serial output. It has 8 address pins and 4 dat a pins, used as an encoder. It has an active low enable pin and works on the voltage level of 2.4-12V. Fig. 2: Encoding IC Fig. 3: Decoding IC Fig. 4: System framework of the user module and the bus module In Fig. 3, the decoding IC HT12D is also a 18 pin IC and converts the serial input to parallel output. Which does the opposite process on the coding IC. Operates at the voltage level same as coding IC. The block diagram shows the components connection of both user and bus module. System development In a real environment, the interaction between visually impaired people and bus drivers are many-to-many relationship rather than a one-to-one. For technological simplicity, in our system we used a one-to-one interactive communication system. The collision of communication data over the one-to-one interactive wireless communication leads to the poor stability and low accuracy of wireless communication. The signal communicates through two distinct frequency bands: 434MHz and 315MHz. The interactive wireless communication system has two modules: a user module for the visually impaired (Fig. 4), and a bus module (Fig. 5) for bus drivers. The hardware was developed according to the interactive design. The user module consists of a wireless transmission module (434MHz), a wireless receiving module (315MHz). The bus module consists of a wireless transmission module (315MHz), a wireless receiving module (434MHz). When the user module sends out a signal, it is transmitted through the 434MHz band to the bus module, which then sends reply through the 315MHz band to the user module. In this way by using different frequencies for transmitting and receiving signals, the problem of wireless data collision between users is avoided. Outcome measure A basic requirement of this system is the wireless communication distance. If the wireless communication distances were shorter than buses stopping distances, conversely, if the wireless communication distance was too long, it was possible that the bus driver would have received the information from a waiting user too early. To avoid such situations, the maximum transmission distance of this system must be less than 100 meters. The outputs are displayed in an LCD which are taken snapshot for both transmitter in Fig. 5 and receiver in Fig. 6. 5.1. Transmitter: Fig.5(a) : Transmitter Initial Stage Fig.5(b) : Transmitter After Request Fig.5 (c): Transmitter After press Key pad 5.2. Receiver Fig.6(a):   Receiver Request of the blind person in the bus module Fig.6(b):   Receiver- Indication of the blind person Conclusions Thus this system improves the confidence of the visually impaired to take city buses and travel to their desired destination. This system is flexible to any climatic conditions. Thus by using our project visually impaired people can use the public transport facilities in an efficient manner. References: A. Montarzino, B. Robertson, P. Aspinall, A. Ambrecht, C. Findlay, J. Hine and B. Dhillon. 2007. The impact of mobility and public transport on the independence of visually impaired people, Vis. Impair. Res., 9, 67-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/13882350701673266. E. Neuville, M. Izaute and L. Trassoudaine. 2009. A way finding pilot study: The use of the intelligent public vehicle by people with visual impairment, Br. J. Vis. Impair., 27, 65-74. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…’608097747. Survey on Difficulties in Daily Living of above 6 Year-Old Physically and Mentally Disabled, Report on Physically and Mentally Disabled Citizens Living Demand Survey, 2000, Taiwan Ministry of the Interior, Taipei, Taiwan, 329. W.R. Wiener, P. Ponchillia, E. Joffee, J.R. Kuskin and J. Brown. 2000. The effectiveness of external bus speaker systems for persons who are visually impaired, J. Vis. Impair. Blind., 94, 421-433. T.P. Hatlen and L.A. Myers, Advocating in behalf of blind and visually impaired bus travellers, Access to Mass Transit for Blind and Visually Impaired Travelers American Foundation for the Blind, 87-91. Hsiao-Lan Wang , Ya-Ping Chen , Chi-Lun Rau   and Chung-Huang Yu. An Interactive Wireless Communication System for Visually Impaired People Using City Bus Transport. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11(5), 4560-4571; doi:10.3390/ijerph110504560.

Gatsby :: essays papers

Gatsby Green Light in the Great Gatsby After the events of this story have unfolded, the narrator Nick, focuses on the man most like himself; Gatsby. Both Nick Carraway and Jay Gatz hail from the mid-west, where morals and the right way of getting ahead are instilled into them. They travel to New York, where the morals are paper-thin and everything seems turned upside down. The saps with morals stay in the ashheaps while the careless, foolhardy upper society do what they please. Nick stays true to the mid-west morals of an earnest, hardworking living while Gatsby tries to be just like the others on East Egg. Nick says this of him, â€Å"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter-tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further.....And one fine morning-†. A central theme of the novel I think, is the idea that people aren’t satisfied with what they have, they are always going further and further, never knowing when to stop, and always striving for that bright star that â€Å"seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.† To Gatsby the green light symbolizes Daisy, Daisy in a way represents her peers in the same social strata as her. Daisy is a fool, living vicariously and so are the characters in this book. The green light represents the wild and recklessness of the times. These were times when women for the first time were drinking and smoking alongside the guys, their war was over and so were their troubles. The green light for them means go, after most wars the economy experiences a boom, this was no different. They are cocksure, thinking that whatever they do is right, and they always push on. They don’t care what happens to others as long as they remain untouched and unrivaled. This selfishness is shown in nearly all characters except Nick, who accepts his life and is satisfied. He works hard and scrapes by, but he is living the life he wants, â€Å"I am one of the few honest men that I have ever known.†(64). He’s sensible and thinks out his actions. He doesn’t have the green gleam in his eye that everyone else seems to have. He is an observer to the situation, and when he talks of Gatsby believing in the Green Light, he sums up Gatsby’s philosophy and possibly what was written in the back of his most recent edition of â€Å"Hopalong Cassidy†; the way to live his life dedicated to Daisy.

The Porter Analysis Essay examples -- essays research papers fc

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To perform the Industry Analysis it is better to follow Michael Porter's five forces model. This analysis framework was created so that it helps managers in their task to analyze competitive forces to the company. (Hill & Jones 80) This model is only one of the models that can be used for this task but it is one of the more popular models. The five forces that we will have to look at for this model are (1) the risk of new and potential competitors; (2) the bargaining power of suppliers; (3) the threat of substitute products; (4) the bargaining power of buyers; and (5) the degree of rivalry among established companies within an industry. (Hill & Jones 80) Barriers to Entry   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first force in Porter's Five Forces Model is Entry Barriers. These factors are those that make it harder or easier for another company to enter into the industry. High barriers to entry will keep potential competitors out of the industry and low barriers to entry will give an opening for competitors to enter into the industry if the industry returns are high enough. (Hill & Jones 82) The fewer competitors in an industry the more the existing companies can take advantage of higher prices and better returns. One barrier to entry is brand loyalty. Brand loyalty is very important for the sales of IBM. When personal computers first came out you had to choose from IBM or Apple. Both computers were great machines but when IBM became a better-known computer the name was very recognizable. Today your choice in computers is much more extensive. Even though there are many more brands to choose from IBM is still a popular name. If not for it's own products it is for their platform it has. IBM compatible is a widely used term when talking about computers. Many people when looking for a new notebook computer will then think about the name first. You may think well if the other computers are compatible then why not just get something that is cheaper? This is an option but the other way of looking at it is the name brand will be a better product. A second barrier to entry is switching costs. When IBM and Apple were the only computer systems to choose from people had to make a choice. When you went to buy one system then you had to buy all the software that went along with that system. Ultimately, IBM became the mor... ...oking at industry analysis is that the Five Forces model looks at an industry as a whole instead of each individual company. Bibliography www.britannica.com Hill, C. & Jones, G. Strategic management: an integrated approach, 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston. 2001. www.ibm.com www.msn.encarta.com   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web March 13, 2001, Insight.com http://www.insight.com/web/apps/products/†¦esentation_print.php?product_id=IB264747U   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web March 13, 2001, Insight.com http://www.insight.com/web/apps/products/†¦5B%5D=IBT264792U&product_id%5B%5D=SOFX190   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web March 13, 2001, Apple.com http://www,apple.com/powerbook/ http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/We†¦ZWOLk9/0.3.0.3.29.23.0.3.3.3.1.1.0?80,30   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web March 13, 2001, ZD NET http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2676495,00.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web March 13, 2001, Personal Technology from the Wall Street Journal, http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20010104.html Rupley, S. (2000, November 21). PC Magazine†¦ Apple's Latest (pg.83-84)

Distance Education Essay -- Teaching Educating School Essays

Distance Education "Distance education is a process that creates and provides access to learning when time and distance separate the source of information and the learners"(Zhang, 1998, p.1). Distance education defies time and space and can help create a "virtual schoolhouse, or a ‘classroom without walls’"(Wheat, 1998, p.1). The "need to take the distance out of education has not been driven largely by sheer need to bridge physical separations. It has been based mainly on providing access as open as possible to those who are willing to avail themselves of the opportunities education affords them"(Tam, 1998, p.3). "Education needs to reach those who are disadvantaged by location, finance, time, and resources"(Tam, 1998, p.3). Distance learning can also reach students "with an unusual learning needs" or "unusual emotional problems", who need to take "atypical courses", or who have "visual learning styles"(Dede, 1990, p.3). "Distance learning is a strategy educational institutions are in itially using to overcome inadequacies of local resources for meeting learners’ needs"(Dede, 1990, p.3). "Distance learning is hardly a new idea; correspondence courses have been offered since the mid-1800’s"(Sonner, 1999, p.1). New technologies have simply given distance educators more options on how to supply distance learning to potential distance learners. Technology-Assisted Distance Education The technologies of distance education "have been evolving from traditional technologies such as mail, telephone, fax, to instructional television, to VCR-based technology, and computers systems such as the Internet (Zhang, 1998, p.2). "Internet-based distance courses are booming"(Zhang, 1998, p.2) "IP (Internet Protocol) is the way the ... ...ges. Hancock, Amy. (1999, March). The evolving terrain of distance learning. Satellite Communications, 23(3), 4 pages. Leonard, David C. (1999, Winter). The Web, the millenium, and the digital evolution of distance education. Technical Communication Quarterly, 8(1), 12 pages. Markel, Mike. (1999, April). Distance education and the myth of the new pedagogy. Journal of Business & Technical Communication, 13(2), 15 pages. Merisotis, Jamie P., & Phipps, Ronald A. What’s the difference? Change, 31(3), 6 pages. Sonner, Brenda S. (1999, Mar/Apr.). Success in the capstone business course—assessing the effectiveness of distance learning. Journal of Education for Business, 74(4), 5 pages. Zhang, Ping. (1998, Summer). A case study on technology use in distance learning. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 30(4), 22 pages.

Innovation From Googles Free Food Strategy Essay

ABSTRACT We will be looking at the Forbes Magazine’s â€Å"Best Company to Work for in 2014† number 1 ranked company Google. The very successful Technology Industry based company has been very successful and been named as the best employer to work for several times since it opened its doors in 1998. We will look at their Mission Statement and business strategy and how they use employee benefits to draw and keep the best employees. Mission and Business Model Googles Mission Statement is one that does not include a lot of the components that are used to evaluate a quality mission statement. It fails to accompany the customer, concern of survivability or public image amongst other things, but at the sometime this small open minded Mission Statement accomplices the company as a whole and their â€Å"Open Innovation† philosophy. (Jurevicuis, 2013) The Google business model is a ‘Business Model Canvas’. As a world leading Technology Company and the most popular search engine on the internet. They have built an extremely successful primary pay stream with the Cost per Click (CPC) in which advertisers pay each time a user clicks on their advertisement. (Osterwalder, 2013) This has accounted for most of the revenue the company generates despite recent ventures into new markets. They have started purchasing companies such as Nest to attempt to generate new revenue streams as well as start the Google Apps, Android and other opportunities. With this movement Google has steadfast and is continuing to stay with the same business model. Googles Culture and Leaders Google’s culture is to keep an open environment the same as a startup company would be between employees and management. They continue to fill their ranks with people that believe in what they are doing and taking care of those people to retain them and push them to be creative with what they enjoy. They believe in working with smaller teams to promote team work, but encourage to help where you can even if it is to help another team in a different area. Google has identified people that they want as their leaders and management is consistent and fair people with their decisions. People that are predictable with their decision making fosters freedom within their teams as they know what to expect. They have employees rate their managers twice a year so the company can help develop their managers where their weaknesses are and make them better leaders. (Bryant, 2013 Fostering Innovation with Amenities Google founders have built the company the way they wanted and what they would want their employers would do for them. They have created an environment that fosters innovation and creativity with the freedom to purse your interest as well as accomplishing your team goals. They want a complete open culture that is felt within a new startup company would have to make the employees feel free to talk to anyone within the company, including the founders, at any time. They offer amenities such as free meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), Free concierge services to help you run errands, Free Shuttle Service, gyms and workout classes, and the 80/20 Rule amongst other things. The most talked about amenity that Google offers their employees is the free meal program. They feature over 25 cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s that offer lunch and dinner, plus many snack stations throughout the campus that makes it where you are never more than 150 feet away from food. The cafes have some of the best chef’s from around the Bay Area and create some of he best food in the area. This helps to keep employees working more areas as they do not have to leave the  campus for an hour to get lunch, or to need to leave early to cook dinner. This has also helped with productivity because the employees do not feel that sluggishness from being hungry. This has also lead to the dreaded â€Å"Google 15† in regards to the 15 pounds people gain in the first year from all the great food. At least they do have the gyms, climbing walls and classes to help with that. One of the perks that Google offers their employees is the 80/20 rule. This rule allows for employees to work 1 day a week on passion projects that they believe will benefit the company. (Smith, 2013) There has been some quality innovations come from this ability such as Google Chrome, and Google Plus. This also is a good way for the employees to feel free and reduce stress as they can spend time on the things they love. My Culture View Googles business philosophy of putting their employees at the top of their priorities and give them their freedoms is wonderful environment to be in. They foster this work environment that helps an employee to become the best they can as they have a freedom to think outside the box and be innovative and bring what you know and what you’re passionate about to the table. When an employer takes care of their employees the top talent stays with the company and is loyal to them. It also attracts the top new coming talent to want to work for them. This gives the employer the ability to choose the talent they want, instead of the talent selecting whether they want to be there. This works great for Google but not all parts of their perks may not be the best approach for all companies. I think having something like the 80/20 rule would not work for something like a call center in which it is more of a directive driven position. I believe all companies can see what google has done and take notice and look at themselves to see where they can take aspects to help them make their companies more desired to work for and be loyal to. I personally would love to work at Google or a company that treat their employees with respect, provides freedom in work, and promotes innovation and the ability to better yourself as you help benefit the  company. References Author: Adam Bryant Publication Date: June 19, 2013 Title of Document: In Head Hunting, Big Data May Not Be Such a Big Deal Web Address: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/business/in-head-hunting-big-data-may-not-be-such-a-big-deal.html?_r=1& Author: .Administrator Publication Date: Copyright 2014 Title of Document: SDLC Waterfall Model Web Address: http://www.tutorialspoint.com/sdlc/sdlc_waterfall_model.htm Author: Smith, Kevin Publication Date: March 6,2013 Title of Document: Google Employees Reveal Their Favorite Perks Working For The Company Web Address: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-favorite-perks-2013-3?op=1 Author: Jurevicuis , Ovidijus Publication Date: June 9, 2013 Title of Document: Mission Statement of Google Web Address: http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/mission-statements/google-mission-statement.html Author: Osterwalder, Alexander Date of Publication: March 29, 2012 Title of Document: Understanding Google Business Model Web Address: http://bmimatters.com/2012/03/29/understanding-google-business-model/

My Weekend Essay

It is important for me to share with my family especially on weekends, when all rest from our daily activities, work, studies and responsibilities and so we build a strong relation with our family having fun and doing all kind of activities that involve all of us. This week end is one of my favorite ones because though my family is not as big as many of the families that I know, we do have a lot of fun specially when it comes to watching the base ball game with them, we cheer for our home town team that is doing very good and is playing for the Championship. On Sunday we woke up early had a nice breakfast and then head to church where I also meet with some of my other relatives and so I make much of that little time to catch up on what is going on in their lives and try to work out how we can spend some more quality time together sometime in the week. My father took us for lunch to a nice restaurant for a wonderful lunch, later that evening we all start to get things ready for another week. Spending time with my family is very important to me and also for them and I can say that my father spend a lot of time far from us so whenever he is on holydays we make it more special and we spend all the time we can together and so comes the end of another wonderful weekend with my folks and I am very much grateful for my loving family.

Introductory Accounting Assignment

ACCT 2060 Introductory Accounting Assignment – Semester 2, 2011 This assignment is designed to get you to locate the Annual Reports for a company and become familiar with the contents of an Annual Report, particularly the financial statements and the notes to the financial statements. While we have looked at very basic formats of the financial statements, the financial statements for a company contain a little more detail and information on some items you may not have been introduced to yet.Pay particular attention to the information provided in the notes to the financial statements as you will find a lot of useful information in them that may help with some of the questions. REQUIRED: You are required to obtain the 2010 Annual Report of Blackmores Limited and then answer the questions that follow in Part A and Part B. PART A – THE COMPANY (8 x 1 = 8 marks) Question 1 Describe the company’s principal operating activities. Ans: Blackmores Limited manufactures & de velops health products. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 2]Question 2 An auditing firm will have received remuneration for their services. What services did the auditing firm provide for this company in 2010? Ans: The auditing firm, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU, audited the Remuneration Report included in pages 41 to 48 of the directors’ report for the year ended 30  June 2010. Their  responsibility is to express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on their audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 41 to 48, Page 50 and 51] Question 3Using the 2010 Annual Report, identify the number of the note that deals with Significant Accounting Policies and identify the method of depreciation the company uses to depreciate property, plant and equipment. What is the underlying assumption of this method in relation to the usefulness of property, plant and equipment? Ans: Total numbers of notes dealing with Significant Accounting Policies are 22. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 58 – 64]. The method of depreciation the company adopt onto depreciation of property, plant and equipment is the straight-line method.The underlying assumption is that the residual value is estimated based on the cost of asset over the expected useful life. Freehold land is not depreciated. The following estimated useful lives are used in the calculation of depreciation: †¢ Buildings 25–40 years †¢ Leasehold improvements 3–13 years †¢ Plant and equipment 3–20 years [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 59]. Question 4 The annual report contains a number of reports with only some of these being ‘financial reports’. Name all of the financial reports in the 2010 annual report shown for this company in their annual report.Ans: The financial reports in the 2010 annual report are Statement of Financial position as at 30 June 2010, Statem ent of Comprehensive Income for the. Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of cash flows. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 53-57]. Question 5 Directors of the company will often own shares in the company as well. Identify the name of the chairman of the board of directors and identify the number of shares the chairman held in the company at the end of their 2010 financial year (financial year ends June 30, 2010). Ans:Chairman of the board of directors is Marcus C Blackmore AM [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 36]. The number of fully paid ordinary shares he has is 4,479,278 [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 38]. Question 6 Describe the purpose of the external auditor’s report. Ans: The external auditor’s report is to ensure that the financial reports produced by Blackmores internally are true & fair, complete & accurate. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 51]. Question 7 With reference to the consolidated entity: †¢ What is the total amount of revenue and other income in 2010? What are the two revenue items? †¢ What is the ‘other income’ comprised of? (You must refer to the relevant note to find the answer to this. ) Ans: The total amount of revenue and other income in 2010 is $217,093,000 The two revenue items are Sales and Royalties. The ‘other income’ comprises of bank deposits / Net foreign exchange gains. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 53 and 67]. Question 8 Again with reference to the consolidated entity: †¢ What is the amount of cash receipts from customers in 2010? †¢ Why does this amount differ from the 2010 sales figure? Ans:The amount of cash receipts from customers is 2010 is $237,522,000 The amount differ from the 2010 sales figures as not all customer pay cash on payment, some may pay on credit which result in account receivable. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 57]. PART B – Analysis of financial informa tion (12 marks) Question 1 (4 marks) Using the consolidated figures for Blackmores Ltd, calculate the following ratios for the years 2009 and 2010. Ratios are to be shown at one decimal place. You must show all your workings. (Where no workings are shown you will receive zero for this section): . Current ratio ii. Acid test ratio iii. Gearing ratio iv. Interest cover ratio Ans: Current ratio = Current assets / Current liabilities Acid ratio = Current assets (excluding inventory and prepayments) / Current liabilities Gearing ratio = Long-term liabilities / (Share capital + Reserves + Long-term liabilities) Interest cover ratio = Profit before interest and taxation / Interest Expense [Ref: School of Business, MBA 2011, ‘Introductory accounting’, Course Notes from ACCT2060_1160, ‘Lecture 6, Unit 6 – Financial Ratio Analysis’, Page102-107 , RMIT University, Melbourne] |Yr 2009 (Working) |Yr 2009 Ratio |Yr 2010 (Working) |Yr 2010 Ratio | |Current ratio |6 9,544 / 31,903 |2. 2 |82,985 / 34,457 |2. 4 | |Acid Test ratio |(69,544-16,072) / 31,903 |1. 7 |(82,985-22,555) / 34,457 |1. 8 | |Gearing ratio |48,043 / (58,563 + 48,043) |0. 5 |48,102 / (71,790 + 48,102) |0. | |Interest cover ratio |30,335 / 1,372 |22. 1 |36,746 / 2,442 |15. 0 | [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 53 and 55]. Question 2 (2 marks) You have been provided with the following information about another company, Company X, in the same industry as Blackmores Ltd: |COMPANY X | |Ratio |2010 |2009 | |Current ratio |2. |1. 8 | |Acid test ratio |1. 2 |1. 5 | |Gearing ratio |1. 2 |0. 8 | |Interest cover ratio (times) |10. 9 |13. 1 | Using the information above and the calculations in Part B Question 1, you are required to analyse the liquidity and financial gearing (leverage) of Blackmores Ltd and Company X by providing: ) a description of the movement in each of the ratios for Blackmores Ltd; b) a description of the movement in each of the ratios for Company X; c) an explanation of what each of these ratios tell you about Blackmores Ltd; d) an explanation of what each of these ratios tell you about Company X; Ans: A) The current ratio for Blackmores Ltd indicates that the company is experiencing a slight increase in current asset over current liability. The acid ratio for Blackmores Ltd indicates that the company has slight increase in current asset over the current liability excluding inventories.The gearing ratio for Blackmores Ltd indicates that the company has marginal increase in long term liability over equity. The interest cover ratio for Blackmores Ltd indicates that the company has increase in interest expense. B) The current ratio for Company X indicates that the company is experiencing a slight increase in current asset over current liability. The acid ratio for Company X indicates that the company has slight decline in current asset over the current liability excluding its inventories.The gearing ratio for Company X indicates that th e company has marginal increase in long term liability over equity. The interest cover ratio for Company X indicates that the company has increase in interest expense. C) In Blackmores Ltd current ratio, we see a 20cents increase in liquidity to repay for every 1 dollar of obligation in the next operating cycle. By zooming further into acid ratio test, it becomes clearer that the company has only a 10cents increase in liquidity to repay for every 1 dollar of obligation within 90days as it excludes inventories and prepayment.In gearing ratio, we can conclude that Blackmores Ltd has lowered their long term by 10cents per 1 dollar obligation. As for interest ratio, it reflects that Blackmores Ltd has to pay more interest on outstanding debt. D) In Company X current ratio, we see an increase in 30cents in liquidity to repay for every 1 dollar of obligation in the next operating cycle. Looking further into the acid ratio test, it becomes clearer that the company actually have a 30cents d ecline in liquidity to repay for every 1 dollar of obligation within 90days and we also can assume that the company has a lot of inventories or prepayments.In gearing ratio, we can assume that Company X has increased their long term liabilities in certain aspect. In interest cover ratio of Company X, it also reflects that Company X has to pay more interest on outstanding debt. Question 3 (2 marks) Assume you are considering becoming a creditor for Blackmores Ltd or Company X (from Part B Question 2 above). That is, you will only be providing credit to one of them. Explain which company you would prefer to provide goods to on credit and why you have chosen this company. You may consider both financial and non-financial information in making this decision.Ans: I would provide goods on credit to Blackmores Ltd because Blackmores Ltd has a higher ability to pay off obligations as compare to Company X reference from their current and acid ratio. Also, Blackmores Ltd shows that the compan y is relatively low in term of leverage shown from gearing ratio. Question 4(4 marks) Prepare a table similar to the table below. Complete the table by inserting information from Blackmores’ financial statements (consolidated figures). Calculate each item as a percentage (%) of sales revenue. Financial Item |2010 ($) |% |2009 ($) |% | |Sales |214,934,000 |100. 0 |200,314,000 |100. 0 | |Total expenses |180,347,000 |83. 9 |171,380,000 |85. 6 | |Promotional and other rebates |19,054,000 |8. 9 |18,581,000 |9. | |Raw materials and consumables used |65,748,000 |30. 6 |71,338,000 |35. 6 | |Employee benefits expense |48,179,000 |22. 4 |42,212,000 |21. 1 | |Selling and marketing expenses |19,134,000 |8. 9 |21,078,000 |10. 5 | |Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent |24,297,000 |11. |20,782,000 |10. 4 | Refer to the table above to explain the performance of Blackmores in 2010 compared to 2009. Ans: Based on the above table, Blackmores Ltd performance in 2010 is has inc rease in sales by 7. 3% compared to 2009. By looking at the table, we can determine that the company has cut down on expenses. Particular area is the buying of raw materials and other consumables and marketing expenses. With these we can assume that marketing is successful. The other reason is because the company’s equity has increased as well.This means more dividends for the shareholder. [Ref: Blackmores AR Report August 2010, Page 53 and 55]. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Format and Presentation: The assignment needs to be presented and formatted according to the guidelines shown in this semester’s Course Guide. You need to ensure that the numeric answers you provide are accurate. For example, some figures are shown in thousands while others are not; showing an answer as $102 instead of $102,000 will result in a mark of zero for such a question as there is obviously quite a difference between these two figures.Also ensure that you read each question carefully as some questions will ask for a figure for a particular year and for either the Group (Consolidated) Financial Reports or the Parent Entity (Company). Referencing: As you will be using a company’s Annual Report as the basis for answering many of the questions asked in this assignment, you need to ensure that you acknowledge this in your assignment. In fact, any sources that you use need to be acknowledged in order to avoid plagiarism. Information on referencing can be found in the Guidelines for Referencing and Presentation at the RMIT website using the following address: (http://www. mit. edu. au/bus/students). A copy can also be found on the Blackboard under the Course Documents folder. From the Blackboard site there is also an online referencing resource that you might find useful. It can be found by following these links: External Links / Study and Learning Centre / Study Skills/Referencing/Referencing for Business Students. In-Text Referencing and the Reference List: Sources of information must be cited both in the body of the text (in-text referencing) and the end of the assignment (reference list). Failure to do so will result in penalties.Remember that when referencing an Annual Report it is a corporate document that does not have a particular author but it will still require referencing any time you use information from it. Any other documents or books or other references you use will also require referencing. Penalties Regarding Referencing: No in-text referencing – deduct 1. 5 marks Some in-text referencing only – deduct 1 mark No reference list – deduct 1. 5 marks Incomplete reference list – deduct 1 mark Policy on Late Submissions: The policy on late submissions can be found in the current semester’s course guide. ASSIGNMENT TOTAL – 20 Marks