Teaching Demonstration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Teaching Demonstration - Essay Example This enhances their acquisition of actual meaning. Each 5x7 card will have a picture on it of the noun or verb (thing or action) that the player will try to communicate to the class. The target word will be under the picture on the card. The forbidden words will be listed on the card with light red lines through them in a X (crossed out). The teacher will ask students for synonyms and related words and write them on the board. Then the teacher will cross out the words with an X to show that these words are â€Å"taboo†. The class will discuss what â€Å"taboo† means. Teacher: This is the target word. (Teacher points to the word Truck.) These crossed out words in red are â€Å"taboo†. You cannot use them. Who can think of other words you can use to get someone to say this word without seeing the picture? Raise your hand and I will call on you. The teacher should carry on demonstrating and maybe using a student or two and helping them until the class becomes very involved. Points can be given to each student who successfully communicates a word. Each student to guess the word becomes the next communicator. The lesson can be timed or limited by the number of cards available. When all of the allotted cards are used or time runs out the student with the most points is the winner. The game can also be played by dividing the students into two teams and alternating players in the same way or simply having each team member take a turn as communicator. This game is fun and easy to prepare. Even the students can make their own cards for the game and each team can contribute a set of cards for the game. Hu (2002) said that traditional teaching methods with grammar and vocabulary drill and practice â€Å"failed to develop an adequate level of communicative competence (i.e. the ability to use the target language for authentic communication)†. With this game two things are accomplished: 1) the students are

The Concept of Probability in Mathematics

The Concept of Probability in Mathematics Probability is a way of expressing knowledge or belief that an event will occur or has occurred. The concept has been given an exact mathematical meaning in probability theory, which is used extensively in such areas of study as mathematics, statistics, finance, gambling, science, and philosophy to draw conclusions about the likelihood of potential events and the underlying mechanics of complex systems. The word probability does not have a consistent direct definition. In fact, there are two broad categories of probability interpretations, whose adherents possess different views about the fundamental nature of probability. The word Probability derives from Latin word probabilitas that can also mean probity, a measure of the authority of a witness in a legal case in Europe, and often correlated with the witnesss nobility. In a sense, this differs much from the modern meaning of probability, which, in contrast, is used as a measure of the weight of empirical evidence, and is arrived at from inductive reasoning and statistical inference. History: The scientific study of probability is a modern development. Gambling shows that there has been an interest in quantifying the ideas of probability for millennia, but exact mathematical descriptions of use in those problems only arose much later. According to Richard Jeffrey, Before the middle of the seventeenth century, the term probable meant approvable, and was applied in that sense, univocally, to opinion and to action. A probable action or opinion was one such as sensible people would undertake or hold, in the circumstances.[4] However, in legal contexts especially, probable could also apply to propositions for which there was good evidence. Aside from some elementary considerations made by Girolamo Cardano in the 16th century, the doctrine of probabilities dates to the correspondence of Pierre de Fermat and Blaise Pascal (1654). Christiaan Huygens (1657) gave the earliest known scientific treatment of the subject. Jakob Bernoullis and Abraham de Moivres Doctrine of Chances (1718) treated the subject as a branch of mathematics. See Ian Hackings The Emergence of Probability and James Franklins The Science of Conjecture for histories of the early development of the very concept of mathematical probability. The theory of errors may be traced back to Roger Cotes but a memoir prepared by Thomas Simpson in 1755 (printed 1756) first applied the theory to the discussion of errors of observation. The reprint (1757) of this memoir lays down the axioms that positive and negative errors are equally probable, and that there are certain assignable limits within which all errors may be supposed to fall; continuous errors are discussed and a probability curve is given. Pierre-Simon Laplace (1774) made the first attempt to deduce a rule for the combination of observations from the principles of the theory of probabilities. He represented the law of probability of errors by a curve y = à Ã¢â‚¬  (x), x being any error and y its probability.He also gave (1781) a formula for the law of facility of error (a term due to Lagrange, 1774), but one which led to unmanageable equations. Daniel Bernoulli (1778) introduced the principle of the maximum product of the probabilities of a system of concurrent errors. The method of least squares is due to Adrien-Marie Legendre (1805), who introduced it in his New Methods for Determining the Orbits of Comets. In ignorance of Legendres contribution, an Irish-American writer, Robert Adrain, editor of The Analyst (1808), first deduced the law of facility of error, h being a constant depending on precision of observation, and c a scale factor ensuring that the area under the curve equals 1. He gave two proofs, the second being essentially the same as John Herschels (1850). Gauss gave the first proof which seems to have been known in Europe (the third after Adrains) in 1809. Further proofs were given by Laplace (1810, 1812), Gauss (1823), James Ivory (1825, 1826), Hagen (1837), Friedrich Bessel (1838), W. F. Donkin (1844, 1856), and Morgan Crofton (1870). Other contributors were Ellis (1844), De Morgan (1864), Glaisher (1872), and Giovanni Schiaparelli (1875). Peterss (1856) formula for r, the probable error of a single observation, is well known. In the nineteenth century authors on the general theory included Laplace, Sylvestre Lacroix (1816), Littrow (1833), Adolphe Quetelet (1853), Richard Dedekind (1860), Helmert (1872), Hermann Laurent (1873), Liagre, Didion, and Karl Pearson. Augustus De Morgan and George Boole improved the exposition of the theory. Andrey Markov introduced the notion of Markov chains (1906) playing an important role in theory of stochastic processes and its applications. The modern theory of probability based on the measure theory was developed by Andrey Kolmogorov (1931). On the geometric side, contributors to The Educational Times were influential. Types of probability: There are basically four types of probabilities, each with its limitations. None of these approaches to probability is wrong, but some are more useful or more general than others. Classical Probability: The classical interpretation owes its name to its early and august pedigree. Championed by Laplace, and found even in the works of Pascal, Bernoulli, Huygens, and Leibniz, it assigns probabilities in the absence of any evidence, or in the presence of symmetrically balanced evidence. The classical theory of probability applies to equally probable events, such as the outcomes of tossing a coin or throwing dice; such events were known as equipossible. probability = number of favourable equipossibilies / total number of relevant equipossibilities. Logical probability: Logical theories of probability retain the classical interpretations idea that probabilities can be determined a priori by an examination of the space of possibilities. Subjective probability: A probability derived from an individuals personal judgment about whether a specific outcome is likely to occur. Subjective probabilities contain no formal calculations and only reflect the subjects opinions and past experience. Subjective probabilities differ from person to person. Because the probability is subjective, it contains a high degree of personal bias. An example of subjective probability could be asking New York Yankees fans, before the baseball season starts, the chances of New York winning the world series. While there is no absolute mathematical proof behind the answer to the example, fans might still reply in actual percentage terms, such as the Yankees having a 25% chance of winning the world series. In everyday speech, we express our beliefs about likelihoods of events using the same terminology as in probability theory. Often, this has nothing to do with any formal definition of probability, rather it is an intuitive idea guided by our experience, and in some cases statistics. Some Of the Examples Of Probability: X says Dont buy the avocados here; about half the time, theyre rotten. X is expressing his belief about the probability of an event that an avocado will be rotten based on his personal experience. Y says I am 95% certain the capital of Spain is Barcelona. Here, the belief Y is expressing is only a probability from his point of view, because only he does not know that the capital of Spain is Madrid (from our point of view, the probability is 100%). However, we can still view this as a subjective probability because it expresses a measure of uncertainty. It is as though Y is saying in 95% of cases where I feel as sure as I do about this, I turn out to be right. Z says There is a lower chance of being shot in Omaha than in Detroit. Z is expressing a belief based (presumably) on statistics. Dr. A says to Christina, There is a 75% chance that you will live. Dr. A is basing this off of his research. Probability can also be expressed in vague terms. For example, someone might say it will probably rain tomorrow. This is subjective, but implies that the speaker believes the probability is greater than 50%. Subjective probabilities have been extensively studied, especially with regards to gambling and securities markets. While this type of probability is important, it is not the subject of this book. There are two standard approaches to conceptually interpreting probabilities. The first is known as the long run (or the relative frequency approach) and the subjective belief (or confidence approach). In the Frequency Theory of Probability, probability is the limit of the relative frequency with which an event occurs in repeated trials (note that trials must be independent). Frequentists talk about probabilities only when dealing with experiments that are random and well-defined. The probability of a random event denotes the relative frequency of occurrence of an experiments outcome, when repeating the experiment. Frequentists consider probability to be the relative frequency in the long run of outcomes. Physical probabilities, which are also called objective or frequency probabilities, are associated with random physical systems such as roulette wheels, rolling dice and radioactive atoms. In such systems, a given type of event (such as the dice yielding a six) tends to occur at a persistent rate, or relative frequency, in a long run of trials. Physical probabilities either explain, or are invoked to explain, these stable frequencies. Thus talk about physical probability makes sense only when dealing with well defined random experiments. The two main kinds of theory of physical probability are frequentist accounts and propensity accounts. Relative frequencies are always between 0% (the event essentially never happens) and 100% (the event essentially always happens), so in this theory as well, probabilities are between 0% and 100%. According to the Frequency Theory of Probability, what it means to say that the probability that A occurs is p% is that if you repeat the experiment over and over again, independently and under essentially identical conditions, the percentage of the time that A occurs will converge to p. For example, under the Frequency Theory, to say that the chance that a coin lands heads is 50% means that if you toss the coin over and over again, independently, the ratio of the number of times the coin lands heads to the total number of tosses approaches a limiting value of 50% as the number of tosses grows. Because the ratio of heads to tosses is always between 0% and 100%, when the probability exists it must be between 0% and 100%. In the Subjective Theory of Probability, probability measures the speakers degree of belief that the event will occur, on a scale of 0% (complete disbelief that the event will happen) to 100% (certainty that the event will happen). According to the Subjective Theory, what it means for me to say that the probability that A occurs is 2/3 is that I believe that A will happen twice as strongly as I believe that A will not happen. The Subjective Theory is particularly useful in assigning meaning to the probability of events that in principle can occur only once. For example, how might one assign meaning to a statement like there is a 25% chance of an earthquake on the San Andreas fault with magnitude 8 or larger before 2050? It is very hard to use either the Theory of Equally Likely Outcomes or the Frequency Theory to make sense of the assertion. Bayesians, however, assign probabilities to any statement whatsoever, even when no random process is involved. Probability, for a Bayesian, is a way to represent an individuals degree of belief in a statement, given the evidence. Evidential probability, also called Bayesian probability, can be assigned to any statement whatsoever, even when no random process is involved, as a way to represent its subjective plausibility, or the degree to which the statement is supported by the available evidence. On most accounts, evidential probabilities are considered to be degrees of belief, defined in terms of dispositions to gamble at certain odds. The four main evidential interpretations are the classical interpretation, the subjective interpretation, the epistemic or inductive interpretation, and the logical interpretation. Theory: Like other theories, the theory of probability is a representation of probabilistic concepts in formal terms-that is, in terms that can be considered separately from their meaning. These formal terms are manipulated by the rules of mathematics and logic, and any results are then interpreted or translated back into the problem domain. There have been at least two successful attempts to formalize probability, namely the Kolmogorov formulation and the Cox formulation. In Kolmogorovs formulation, sets are interpreted as events and probability itself as a measure on a class of sets. In Coxs theorem, probability is taken as a primitive and the emphasis is on constructing a consistent assignment of probability values to propositions. In both cases, the laws of probability are the same, except for technical details. There are other methods for quantifying uncertainty, such as the Dempster-Shafer theory or possibility theory, but those are essentially different and not compatible with the laws of probability as they are usually understood. Mathematical Treatment: In mathematics, a probability of an event A is represented by a real number in the range from 0 to 1 and written as P(A), p(A) or Pr(A). An impossible event has a probability of 0, and a certain event has a probability of 1. However, the converses are not always true: probability 0 events are not always impossible, nor probability 1 events certain. The opposite or complement of an event A is the event (that is, the event of A not occurring); its probability is given by P(not A) = 1 P(A). As an example, the chance of not rolling a six on a six-sided die is 1 (chance of rolling a six) . If both the events A and B occur on a single performance of an experiment this is called the intersection or joint probability of A and B, denoted as . If two events, A and B are independent then the joint probability is For example: if two coins are flipped the chance of both being heads is If either event A or event B or both events occur on a single performance of an experiment this is called the union of the events A and B denoted as . If two events are mutually exclusive then the probability of either occurring is For example, the chance of rolling a 1 or 2 on a six-sided die is If the events are not mutually exclusive then Conditional probability is the probability of some event A, given the occurrence of some other event B. Conditional probability is written P(A|B), and is read the probability of A, given B. It is defined by If P(B) = 0 then is undefined. Applications: Two major applications of probability theory in everyday life are in risk assessment and in trade on commodity markets. Governments typically apply probabilistic methods in environmental regulation where it is called pathway analysis, often measuring well-being using methods that are stochastic in nature, and choosing projects to undertake based on statistical analyses of their probable effect on the population as a whole. A good example is the effect of the perceived probability of any widespread Middle East conflict on oil prices which have ripple effects in the economy as a whole. An assessment by a commodity trader that a war is more likely vs. less likely sends prices up or down, and signals other traders of that opinion. Accordingly, the probabilities are not assessed independently nor necessarily very rationally. The theory of behavioural finance emerged to describe the effect of such groupthink on pricing, on policy, and on peace and conflict. It can reasonably be said that the discovery of rigorous methods to assess and combine probability assessments has had a profound effect on modern society. Accordingly, it may be of some importance to most citizens to understand how odds and probability assessments are made, and how they contribute to reputations and to decisions, especially in a democracy. Another significant application of probability theory in everyday life is reliability. Many consumer products, such as automobiles and consumer electronics, utilize reliability theory in the design of the product in order to reduce the probability of failure. The probability of failure may be closely associated with the products warranty. Probability Of Winning A Lottery: Everyone knows that the probability of winning the lottery is a pretty big long shot. How long, however, you probably never really thought about. Your actual odds of winning the lottery depend on where you play, but single state lotteries usually have odds of about 18 million to 1 while multiple state lotteries have odds as high as 120 million to 1. If you have ever thought youd win the lottery, youre not alone. About one out of every three people in the United States think that winning the lottery is the only way to become financially secure in their life. This is a frightening statistic when you sit down and consider what the above odds really mean. Its time to take a long hard look at the chances of you winning the lottery. While winning the lottery may be something that you want, to show you your chances well take a look at a number of remote occurrences that you probably wouldnt like to have happen to you and probably dont think will ever happen to you but are still much more likely to happen to you than winning the lottery. How about the classic odds of being struck by lightning? The actual probability of this happening varies from year to year, but as a good estimate, the National Safety Council says between 70 and 120 people a year die in the US by lightning so lets take 100 as our base. With the US population being approximately 265 million people, that means that the chances of being killed by lightning are roughly 2,650,000 to 1. Not very likely. However you are still 6 to 45 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than you would be to win the lottery. Now nobody really wants to die from flesh eating bacteria, and with odds at about 1 million to 1, the chances that you will die that way are pretty slim. Then again, you are 18 to 120 times more likely to die this way than to win the lottery. What are the chances that if youre playing with a group of four that two of you will get a hole-in-one on the exact same hole? At 17 million to 1, theyre better than the chances of you winning the lottery. What about dying from a snake bite or bee sting? It probably isnt a way that you have imagined that you would leave the earth. Youre a whopping 180 to 1,200 times more likely to die from one of these incidents than win the lottery. Thats because the probability of dying from a snake bite or bee sting is about 100,000 to 1. Now I know that you are not a bad person and you dont imagine finding yourself on death row for a crime you committed anytime soon. Still, its a lot more likely that you will be legally executed than win the lottery. In fact, you are 30,000% to 200,000% more likely to die in a legal execution than to win the lottery. If none of the above has convinced you to stop playing the lottery, then Ill bring out my favorite lottery fact. If you drive 10 miles to purchase your lottery ticket, its three to twenty times more likely for you to be killed in a car accident along the way than to win the jackpot. Flipping Of Coin: Coin flipping or coin tossing is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties. It is a form of sortition which inherently has only two possible and equally likely outcomes. Experimental and theoretical analysis of coin tossing has shown that the outcome is predictable. During coin flipping the coin is tossed into the air such that it rotates end-over-end several times. Either beforehand or when the coin is in the air, an interested party calls heads or tails, indicating which side of the coin that party is choosing. The other party is assigned the opposite side. Depending on custom, the coin may be caught, caught and inverted, or allowed to land on the ground. When the coin comes to rest, the toss is complete and the party who called or was assigned the face-up side is declared the winner. If the outcome is unclear the toss is repeated; for example the coin may, very rarely, land on edge, or fall down a drain. The coin may be any type as long as it has two distinct sides; it need not be a coin as such. Human intuition about conditional probability is often very poor and can give rise to some seemingly surprising observations. For example, if the successive tosses of a coin are recorded as a string of H and T, then for any trial of tosses, it is twice as likely that the triplet TTH will occur before THT than after it. It is three times as likely that THH will precede HHT. Are we likely to be struck by lightning? In the United States, an average of 80 people are killed by lightning each year. Considering being killed by lightning to be our favorable outcome (not such a favorable outcome!), the sample space contains the entire population of the United States (about 250 million). If we assume that all the people in our sample space are equally likely to be killed by lightning (so people who never go outside have the same chance of being killed by lightning as those who stand by flagpoles in large open fields during thunderstorms), the chance of being killed by lightning in the United States is equal to 80/250 million, or a probability of about .000032%. Clearly, you are much more likely to die in a car accident than by being struck by lightning. Probability in Our Lives: A basic understanding of probability makes it possible to understand everything from batting averages to the weather report or your chances of being struck by lightning! Probability is an important topic in mathematics because the probability of certain events happening or not happening can be important to us in the real world. Weather forecasting: Suppose a person wants to go on a picnic this afternoon, and the weather report says that the chance of rain is 70%? Will he ever wonder where that 70% came from? Forecasts like these can be calculated by the people who work for the National Weather Service when they look at all other days in their historical database that have the same weather characteristics (temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.) and determine that on 70% of similar days in the past, it rained. As weve seen, to find basic probability we divide the number of favorable outcomes by the total number of possible outcomes in our sample space. If were looking for the chance it will rain, this will be the number of days in our database that it rained divided by the total number of similar days in our database. If our meteorologist has data for 100 days with similar weather conditions (the sample space and therefore the denominator of our fraction), and on 70 of these days it rained (a favorable outcome), the probability of rain on the next similar day is 70/100 or 70%. Since a 50% probability means that an event is as likely to occur as not, 70%, which is greater than 50%, means that it is more likely to rain than not. But what is the probability that it wont rain? Remember that because the favourable outcomes represent all the possible ways that an event can occur, the sum of the various probabilities must equal 1 or 100%, so 100% 70% = 30%, and the probability that it wont rain is 30%. Bernoulli Trials On Probability: It happens very often in real life that an event may have only two outcomes that matter. For example, either you pass an exam or you do not pass an exam, either you get the job you applied for or you do not get the job, either your flight is delayed or it departs on time, etc. The probability theory abstraction of all such situations is a Bernoulli trial. Bernoulli trial is an experiment with only two possible outcomes that have positive probabilities p and q such that p + q = 1. The outcomes are said to be success and failure, and are commonly denoted as S and F or, say, 1 and 0. For example, when rolling a die, we may be only interested whether 1 shows up, in which case,naturally, P(S) = 1/6 and P(F) = 5/6. If, when rolling two dice, we are only interested whether the sum on two dice is 11, P(S) = 1/18, P(F) = 17/18. The Bernoulli process is a succession of independent Bernoulli trials with the same probability of success. Uses Of Probability In Our Daily Lives: I think we use probability routinely in our daily lives. When you get into a car and drive on public roads, we often assume that we have a low probability of being hit by another car. When you pull out onto a busy street crossing 2 lanes of traffic, you judge the speed of the traffic in those lanes. You assume you have a high probability of judging that speed correctly when you cross those lanes. If you did not make that assumption, you probably would not attempt to cross the lanes for fear of being hit by another car. We assume that we have a low probability of being hit by lightning or a meteor. When you eat with your hands, you assume your probability of getting sick from germs on your hands is low. Or you wouldnt eat with your hands. You could say the same of eating in a restaurant with reference to food you didnt prepare yourself. Within assuming many probabilities, I think wed constantly live in fear of what horrible things might happen to us. Summary of probabilities: Event Probability A not A A or B A and B A given B Other Cases Where Probability Can Be Observed: Youve seen it happen many times-a player in a dice game claims she is due for doubles; strangers discover that they have a mutual acquaintance and think that this must be more than a chance meeting; a friend plays the lottery obsessively or enters online contests with a persistent dream of winning. All these behaviors reflect how people perceive probability in daily life. People who lack an accurate sense of probability are easily drawn in by false claims and pseudoscience, are vulnerable to get-rich-quick schemes, and exhibit many of the behaviors mentioned above. The modeling and measurement of probabilities are fundamentals of mathematics that can be applied to the world around us. Every event, every measurement, every game, every accident, and even the nature of matter itself is understood through probabilistic models, yet few people have a good grasp of the nature of probability. Frequentists talk about probabilities only when dealing with experiments that are random and well-defined. The probability of a random event denotes the relative frequency of occurrence of an experiments outcome, when repeating the experiment. Frequentists consider probability to be the relative frequency in the long run of outcomes.[1] Bayesians, however, assign probabilities to any statement whatsoever, even when no random process is involved. Probability, for a Bayesian, is a way to represent an individuals degree of belief in a statement, or an objective degree of rational belief, given the evidence. Relation to randomness: In a deterministic universe, based on Newtonian concepts, there is no probability if all conditions are known. In the case of a roulette wheel, if the force of the hand and the period of that force are known, then the number on which the ball will stop would be a certainty. Of course, this also assumes knowledge of inertia and friction of the wheel, weight, smoothness and roundness of the ball, variations in hand speed during the turning and so forth. A probabilistic description can thus be more useful than Newtonian mechanics for analyzing the pattern of outcomes of repeated rolls of roulette wheel. Physicists face the same situation in kinetic theory of gases, where the system, while deterministic in principle, is so complex (with the number of molecules typically the order of magnitude of Avogadro constant 6.02 ·1023) that only statistical description of its properties is feasible. A revolutionary discovery of 20th century physics was the random character of all physical processes that occur at sub-atomic scales and are governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. The wave function itself evolves deterministically as long as no observation is made, but, according to the prevailing Copenhagen interpretation, the randomness caused by the wave function collapsing when an observation is made, is fundamental. This means that probability theory is required to describe nature. Others never came to terms with the loss of determinism. Albert Einstein famously remarked in a letter to Max Born: I am convinced that God does not play dice. Although alternative viewpoints exist, such as that of quantum de-coherence being the cause of an apparent random collapse, at present there is a firm consensus among physicists that probability theory is necessary to describe quantum phenomena.

William Shakespeares Othello as a Victim Essay -- Papers William Shak

William Shakespeare's Othello as a Victim Not All Works Cited Included In "Othello" Shakespeare shows that Othello is victimised in many ways, for instance; his race, his culture, his social position and naÃÆ'Â ¯ve. Othello's victimisation could also show Shakespeare's meaning of the term "tragedy". In other Shakespearean tragedies the lead character is shown as cunning, ruthless and manipulative, more similar to Iago than Othello. This could represent a change in Shakespeare's opinion of a true Shakespearean tragedy. The main cause of Othello's victimisation is his race. Unlike the other characters in "Othello" he is a Moor, a natural figure of hatred and disgust. In the play he is very rarely referred to as "Othello", but more often as; "moor" or "negro", Desdemona even refers to Othello as "my noble moor" not Othello. The event where Othello is victimised due to his race are vast, for example at the start of the play when Iago is talking to Roderigo, Othello's race is a major issue, "To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor-". Here evidence of racism is shown. There is also a case that this shows the imperial and colonial nature of Venice in the Sixteenth century. "Othello" can be seen to show the stereotypical contemporary Elizabethan belief of blackness and the barbarous nature of the "black" man as evil and devilish. Othello's race also helps to highlight his jealousy and gullibility, due to his race Othello is always subconscious of his weaknesses, his "tragic flaw". This may be a reason for why he befriends Iago, who would act as his link to the "white" world, informing Othello of the opinions white society. Othello... ...d social figures. In conclusion I feel that Othello is more "sinned against than sinning". This is not to say that he is a innocent, it most be remembered that he killed Desdemona, not Iago and that no matter how big a part Iago has it is still Othello's fault. But, Othello is victimised, he is portrayed as an "other", "if this be known to you, and your allowance". He is also presented as a savage, barbarian and a inferior, a parasite, living of the healthy Venetian state. But, this is all due to the fact that he is different, it has been noted that if you are different you will never be equal, "if you are different you will always be different" (Marx - CM 1848) and Othello's difference is no fault of his own. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Alfred Harbab. Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1970.

Information systems proposal Essay

In order for our nostalgic, brick and mortar record store to continue its success and remain afloat in today’s rough economy our first objective is to consider the right technology systems needed for our business. Information technology can help us in many ways. This includes keeping records of inventory, company payroll, sales, and tracking return customers. There are five types of systems in which would be helpful for us to look over and review. 1. Functional area IS- This system allows for automated payroll by tracking employee hours, tax rates, hire date, and personal information used by management. 2. Management information system- This system can produce reports summarized from transactional data. This will allow us to track inventory. 3. Transaction processing system- This is the point of sale terminal where customers purchase our merchandise, even at a self-checkout station. 4. Electric commerce system- This system gives us access to the web. With the web we are able to market and sell products electronically. 5. Enterprise resource planning- This system combines all functional areas within one database. All of the systems listed above will help the business even if some may pose a tiny drawback in certain areas. With our business being very physical, with a personal face-to-face customer experience, it would be best to have  many options that would benefit our business and our style of handling customers. Understanding these different systems will also help us improve our managing skills. The table below briefly describes the benefits and/or drawbacks within each system. System Benefits/Function Drawbacks Functional area IS Automated employee tracking (hours, personal info, etc.) Forged hours of work. Access to sensitive information Management information system Easy inventory tracking Transaction processing system Tracks all purchases made within the store Theft at self-checkout Electric commerce system Expand merchandise to the web for high profits Computer glitches, non-updated online stock Enterprise resource planning Easy access to all department data Access to sensitive information Although we run a very simple record store, it is extremely important to keep our technology and information systems updated. These are five different systems that are typically used in all stores that help management and employees serve their customers. Functional area IS. Tracking employee schedules and hours will help to pay the employees for their work or even prevent over paying them. A slight drawback may be forged hours of work where an employee could swipe out later than their worked hours. Management information system. This system provides easy inventory tracking. It makes summarized reports of all merchandise bought and sold from the store. This systems information could be automated  or manual, allowing employees or management to input data. Transaction processing system. This system is self-explanatory; it processes the transactions in the store. This is mostly done at the point of sale terminals operated by cashiers or at self-checkout stations. The only drawback I see would be theft. Automated self-checkouts may be too much for our store, but it would be good to keep it in mind. Electric commerce system. This system allows access to the web, allowing for electronic sales. Often times I have experienced online stores not being current with their online stock. This may go hand in hand with the management information system mentioned earlier. Enterprise resource planning. This system integrates all functional areas into one database. Easy access to any information needed would be helpful to management and employees. The only setback would be the ability to access unnecessary information that should only be seen by certain personnel. This system must definitely come with password access. In conclusion, implementing each of these systems at our record store will ensure proper operation from management and employees while still keeping our nostalgic, brick and mortar style. Understanding these systems is important, but upholding our flare of business is our key component. REFERENCES R. Kelly Rainer Jr. (2011). Information systems: Concepts and management. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, BIS220 website.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding Essay

â€Å"My Big Fat Greek Wedding† is a romantic comedy that explores cultural differences in a combination of romance and humor. The story revolves around Toula, a thirty-year-old Greek American single woman, who lives with her family in the suburb of Chicago. She works in her family’s business, a restaurant called â€Å"Dancing Zorba’s.† Toula is expected to marry from their ethnic background. However, she struggles with her strict father to convince him that she longs for something else in life. She enrolls in college and takes computer classes. She manages her aunt’s travel agency and starts dating Ian Miller, a white high school English teacher. They date secretly for a while, before she has the courage to introduce him to her family. Her father is angry over her dating a non-Greek. The overall of the story occurs when both sides try to adjust to each other. This movie relates a lot to the five themes of geography we have been studying. It relates to location because they live in the suburbs in Chicago, which is a place. A location is people and places are positioned variously on the Earth’s surface. Also, the father lived in Greece before coming over to the U.S. So therefore, location relates to this movie. It also relates to place, physical and human characteristics distinguish one place from other places. In Greece, you have a very religion type of country. Houses are made to represent the Parthenon, which to the Greeks, is the home of Athena. Rather in, Chicago, you have very modern houses that don’t symbolize really anything. It relates to relationships within places also because in the movie, the family’s house in Chicago resembles the Parthenon, which you wouldn’t exactly see in such a city. It can also relate to movement because the family is constantly on the phone with each other. With Greeks, you would normally have a huge family, so they are constantly talking on cell phones or driving to each other’s houses to gossip. Also, last but not least, it can relate to region. The Earth can be divided into regions to help us understand similarities and differences of people and places. For example, Greece and Chicago are divided because they are very two different places. I really enjoyed watching this movie in class. It was very humorous and I learned a lot. Before watching this movie, I didn’t know that when you marry, your job as a woman is to basically cook, clean, and have kids. That shocked me completely. I loved the movie, however it was very predictable. By the way they set up the movie, you could easily tell what was going to happen next. But the overall movie was great. I would definitely recommend this movie to my friends to watch, it’s a very good movie if you just want to have a good laugh.

Ma Vie En Rose essays

Ma Vie En Rose essays Societal pressures often shape the way people act. This is especially apparent in the differences between the behaviors of males and females. When males and females assume the job of parenting, these roles often persist in their relationship with their children. When one thinks of the typical family, specific roles for a mother and a father come to mind. Mothers are generally more nurturing and accepting, while fathers typically encourage masculine behaviors, with a tendency toward action, sports, and aggression. In the film Ma Vie en Rose, these roles are significant. Ludovic Farbres father initially encourages male behavior, while his mother is sympathetic to his desires to act like a girl. As the film progresses, however, Ludos parents experience a radical role reversal that has devastating effects on Ludo. Initially, Ludos mother accepts his differences, while his father discourages his feminine behavior. The viewer first sees Ludos feminine behavior when he comes to his familys housewarming party dressed in a pink dress and covered in makeup. The neighbors are stunned by this scene and Ludo is rushed inside. He claims that he wanted to be pretty, but all his father can say is never again. His mother interjects with supportive words, claiming that we search for our identity at this [Ludos] age. Soon after, the issue of Ludos long hair becomes apparent. His father pushes him to have it cut, ask him, dont you want to be like dad and your brothers? Ludos feminine actions, however, do not stop at his appearance. The next day, Ludo is caught acting out a marriage ceremony with his neighbor and friend, Jerome. While Ludos mother is initially perturbed, she defends Ludo in face of his fathers harsh words-what you did is very bad. Ludos father continues typical male behavior as he begins to believe that he...

Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Essays

Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Essays Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Paper Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Paper Bunkers Indoor Golf Center is a great place for people of all golf abilities to enjoy the game of golf all year. Bunkers brings 42 different golf courses from around the world to the people of Spokane. Anyone can play the most popular courses in as little as one hour, if they are playing by themselves or about three hours if playing a foursome. In addition to the great courses Bunkers will offer professional golf lessons, professional club fitting, a nine hole putting green, and four soft white sand bunkers for chipping practice. Bunkers is a great place to learn and enjoy the game. To ensure the business gets off on the right foot management has conducted a SWOTT analysis and a balanced scorecard. Strategic Management and Planning Strategic management is the process of creating and implementing decisions that will enable a company to achieve its long-term objectives. It is the process of specifying the companys mission, vision and objectives, developing policies and plans, often in terms of projects and programs that are designed to achieve these objectives, and then allocating resources to implement the policies, plans, projects and programs. Strategic management seeks to coordinate and integrate the activities of the various functional areas of a business in order to achieve long-term organizational objectives. (Wikipedia.org, 2009) To ensure Bunkers Indoor Golf Center is organized properly form the very beginning the company will utilize the four functions of management. These four functions are as follows, planning, organizing, directing and controlling. Strategic Planning is a process for determining what a business could become and how it can achieve that goal. It takes a look at the full potential of the business and tries to link the businesss objectives to the actions and the best way to achieve them. Strategic Planning offers a systematic process to ask and answer questions confronting a management team. The first step to great management is planning. This is the most important step as it will set the stage for everything to follow. Because Bunkers Indoor Golf Center (Bunkers) is a new company it is still working out the bugs; planning is always an ongoing process. The company plans everything from the type of advertising to the way it handles employee performance evaluations and everything in between. During the strategic planning stage management is busy identifying goals, objectives, methods, and the resources needed to carry out those methods, including employee responsibilities and dates for completion of tasks. During this planning stage the owners have employed several types of strategies; the first being a business plan, followed by program planning and strategic planning. In the business plan the owners will identify the growth of the business and set a plan for the first five years. This plan is the most important in the beginning because it is the one the banks look at to determine if the business has direction. It includes financial goals, hiring of additional employees, objectives, a mission and the keys to success. It is a large plan and is used as the blueprint for the other plans. As leaders create the business plan, the company will concentrate on the programs and strategies it will use to gain and retain customers. The programs consist of a discount program, complementary items for customers, and many other considerations. During this planning stage Bunkers tried to find programs that would be beneficial to the company and its customers and help it to retain existing customers and gain new ones. At this point, its owners are making the decisions regarding employee dress codes, code of conduct, the employee hand book, and deciding on the way it should evaluate employee performance. The owners will also decide what steps they would use during employee discipline, and what they could offer employees. Each part of the program planning stage opens the door to another. The strategy phase of planning is essential to the success of Bunkers. It includes the types of advertising, how to gain new customers, how to retain existing customers, how and where to market the business, as well as who to market to. The strategy phase is the most exciting because it offers a chance to be very creative and make new connections. This area of business is very competitive and requires a great amount of time and effort to acquire customers. This phase will be the most enjoyable and is one that can never be stopped, it is essential to continue growing. Knowing how to create and manage a strategic plan is essential to the success of the company both in the beginning and during its continued success. The business owner cannot afford to ignore the planning stages of the business and it is something that cannot ever be stopped. The overall success of any business can be contributed to the effort and dedication put into the strategic plan as well as the management of the plan. It is an essential part of the business and must be maintained and revised as the company grows. Mission Vision Statement An important function of the strategic plan is to create a mission for the company. In some cases this can be difficult, but rewarding to the company if done correctly and honestly. The mission statement should be a clear representation of the companys purpose. It should incorporate meaningful information that addresses concepts such as the moral/ethical position of the company, public image, the target market, products/services, the geographic area and expectations of growth and profitability. (Center for Business Planning, 2009) The vision statement is a different concept altogether, although sometimes confused with a mission statement. A vision statement is a description of a desired outcome that inspires, energizes and helps the company create a picture of the target. The best vision statements for result areas describe outcomes that are five to ten years away, although some look even further out. (Time Thoughts, 2008) To get the business off to a good solid start a mission statement was created. It was done so to give the owner, management, employees and the customers an idea of who the company is and what it wants to do. The following is the mission statement for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center. Bunkers Indoor Golf Center (Bunkers) is an oasis for all golf junkies of all abilities, from low handicappers and weekend golf warriors alike. Bunkers is dedicated to providing enthusiastic customer service and support to golfers who demand the best golf experience possible in an indoor environment. Bunkers is also dedicated to providing the largest and broadest selection of virtual golf courses in Spokane. Bunkers brings together a team of dedicated people who love golf and believe it is their job to help its customers to enjoy this great game even more. Every employee shares the same commitment to excellence, a commitment that will assure that each and every customer has a rewarding and enjoyable golf experience. This simple one paragraph mission statement sums up the company and its goals to help them better enjoy the game of golf. The mission statement gives the customers and employees a general guideline and can help them understand the motivation behind Bunkers. It is important that everyone involved with the company understand this and is ready to help meet and exceed the customers expectations. The vision statement is a completely different process all together. This statement drives the company forward to achieve its long term goals. Bunkers vision statement is relatively simple and direct. Bunkers is committed to making people happy by providing a consistently high quality experience that emphasizes the complete golf experience in an indoor setting. This vision statement is short to the point and shows the commitment that Bunkers has to strive to exceed the golfers expectations. Spokane is a small city and is home to several excellent golf courses. However, due to the logistics of the city, some of the more famous and exciting golf courses are difficult play. The owner has had the opportunity to play some of the countrys best courses and when talking to other golfers found that most weekend golfers would love to play these, but given their ability or finances they would not or could not play them. Bunkers has teamed up with the leading golf simulator company in the world (Full Swing Golf) to offer these famous courses to the golfers in Spokane. Without the cost or fear the golfers of Spokane can play 42 courses from around the world year around without leaving the city. In addition to the low handicappers and weekend warriors, Bunkers would like to work with the local school golf teams to offer a year around practice facility to help develop their skills. The schools can reserve tee times in the same manner as the general public but at a discounted rate. The passion for golf runs deep at Bunkers and as such would like the opportunity to expose as many first time golfers to the excitement the game offers. To aid in this Bunkers wants to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts and Big Brother and Big Sister Clubs. There are so many children that would never have to opportunity to experience golf; Bunkers feels it is necessary to reach out to as many as we can in an effort to promote the game of golf and to broaden the experiences of their life. Golf teaches many life lessons such as patience, determination and perseverance as well as teaching etiquette and promoting health (when walking a course). Todays youth can learn form golf and i t is a sport they can play their entire life. In an effort to meet the desires of all golfers, Bunkers will host virtual golf tournaments, complete with prizes, offer golf lessons, a putting green and soft white bunkers for chipping practice. The tournaments will consist of three rounds and golfers can play their rounds anytime during the week. This will give them the best opportunity to compete and enjoy the experience. Golf is a game that can be fun frustrating, to say the least it is the only game the owner loves to hate. It teaches so much and can be so enjoyable, fresh air, clean environment, polite people, and exercise. This is why Bunkers want to promote the sport year around. Spokane has long winters and as such the opportunity to play is limited to only a few months. Bunkers will be open seven days a week, 12 months a year. With this schedule golfers can keep their golf groove all year and get better and shoot lower scores. Understanding the wants and needs of the customers is essential to the long term success of any business. If a company stops valuing its customers or neglects to listen to their questions or concerns, the company will become stagnant and possibly end up shutting down. Having a road map to the follow in the form of a vision statement is essential to the long term grow and success of the company. The vision statement helps customers and employees see where the company wants to go and the tools it will use to get there and when it plans to do so. Just as important is the mission statement. It is the foundation on which the company is built. Without it the company would most likely not exist. SWOTT Analysis In an effort to create a successful business Bunkers management has conducted a SWOTT analysis. Management conducted the SWOTT and included economic, legal/ regulatory, technological, strategy, structures, resources and culture analysis. Economic SWOTT Economic factors play a large part in building of any business. As a strength to keep business loans to a minimum Bunkers will lease the simulators from Full Swing Golf (FSG). The company offers lease with the option to purchase after 24 months. The simulators are the largest upfront expense; however, the lease gives Bunkers the opportunity to allocate funds to other important categories. Bunkers has found a location that will be convenient to customers, the lease a full service lease that includes garbage, water, electricity and snow removal, it is also a graduated pay format, beginning at the , lowest monthly payment and increasing yearly until the payment meets the full cost. This will be important as the cost will remain low while in the early stages of growth. The need to hire employees that have a passion for golf is necessary, as such Bunkers would like to offer a competitive wage to keep employees excited about work and excited about the game. Washington has a minimum wage of $8.55 per hour. Bunkers intends to pay a starting wage of $10.00 per hour and increasing after a performance review at the six month mark. The business loan will be needed to build the enclosures for the simulators, the platform for the chipping green, the platform for the putting green, and the sand for the greens. Office supplies will also come out of the business loan, computer for the office, cash register/computer, and general office supplies. The weakness for the new business is the need for a business loan. The need to rely on outside funding is necessary; however, it can be a weakness as we will have to pay back a loan for several years. In addition the need for a loan to start, the economy will play a large part in the interest rates the business can get. The recent dip in the economy may force those that would be regular players to cut back or maybe not to play at all. This is the most frightening aspect of the business. To keep people playing we will offer specials and packages that will enable golfers to play regularly. The opportunity portion of the economic SWOTT is the most exciting. This is where Bunkers can be creative and make plans for growth. The opportunity for growth is great. Spokane is a golf friendly community and has long cold winters. The need for a place to keep the golf groove is necessary and offers the potential for growth. Bunkers will also increase customer visits by hosting tournaments and prizes for the winners. IN addition to tournaments, Bunkers will offer golf lessons, swing analysis, club fitting, and a small amount of Bunker logo items, most likely hats and shirts. The threat portion is the most frightening. To be realistic management had to think about the current economic situation and decide if now is the best time to open a business is. Management feels it is a good time. Other factors management took into consideration were will other similar businesses open and offer the same entertainment, will golf shops offer more simulators and simulator activities (swing analysis, club fitting), will employees offer free golf to friends and family, taking away from profits (we will set up family discounts to combat this), great summer weather will be large threat to the business. Legal/Regulatory SWOTT Bunkers would like to develop relationships with the children clubs of Spokane as well as the local school golf teams. The legal aspects of this will be in the creating of a contract that benefits both parties. To avoid having a city business license that is very expensive, Bunkers ahs decided to open the first location in the North Spokane area, it is a growing area ( residents and business are all moving north) where business licenses are less expensive. Starting the business with only a few employees will reduce the amount of payroll tax, unemployment tax and work comp cost. The cost of the permits as well as the time it take to obtain an alcohol permit is a weakness. This is time consuming, it include an in depth look into the past of the person applying for the permit. It takes months to obtain the permit and it is subject to random visits by the state. Bunkers will offer only beer and wine, however the permit is still the same for all businesses selling alcoholic beverages. In addition to the alcohol permit the state also requires the company to obtain a food handler permit. Costly and always requiring training for employees this is also time consuming as well as costly to the company as it has to pay the employees for the time they spend taking the tests. The opportunity to build relationships with the children clubs and schools is a a great opportunity. The contracts will help the children expand their horizons and also give them the opportunity to learn a new game or improve at it. The contracts will include stipulations that state Bunkers is not responsible for the care of the children and a parent or guardian must be present to allow play. The biggest threat to the Bunkers is injury to customers. All customers playing in the chipping area will be required to sign a release of liability. There is always the chance of sand in the eye or getting hit by a club or ball. Under aged drinking is another threat and will be dealt with according the state law. Strict rules will help elevate this problem. Parental guidance is also necessary to avoid injury and to keep the business from the liability of children. Technologic SWOTT Having a business that depends on technology can be exciting and frightening. Full Swing Golf offers the best golf simulator on the market. They are constantly improving the graphics as well as introducing new golf courses. To help increase revenue Bunkers will try to incorporate the newest courses, most recent graphic cards and the best projectors and screens available. As hardware is used it wears out and can slow game play. To combat this issue we will constantly maintain the equipment and run diagnostic test of the machines to ensure fast reliable use. Technology is finicky. Depending on it can be a weakness in its own. Slow computers, projector bulbs, damage to sensors can all create havoc in the business and reduce profits. Full Swing Golf offers maintenance plans to protect against los in revenue. In addition to the maintenance plans Bunkers will contract with Networks Rx a computer networking company to ensure our cash register/computer, office computers and simulators all work and are connected using quality servers and materials. Technology is always changing; this can be an opportunity and a threat. As technology changes we must change with it. New faster servers can create the best game play possible. New courses, new graphics and better graphic can help the company grow and will create lasting customers. Incorporating additional elements such as swing analysis, club fitting, and lessons can also be attributed to changing technology. The largest threat is a down computer system. Bunkers is dependant on technology to function. Having down system will prove a debilitating factor, without it the company cant function and will see a loss in revenue. This will prove fatal if it is a lasting issue. Having Networks Rx at our disposal will help alleviate these potential issues. The biggest trend in technology is always changing computer systems. Faster processors, better graphic cards, more memory in servers and new golf courses will be a great trend. The need to keep up with this is essential and can also be seen as a threat, weakness, trend and strength if utilized. Bunkers will be the place to go in the long cold Spokane winters. Strategy SWOTT Strategy is necessary to compete in a competitive market. Spokane does not have a indoor golf center, and word of mouth advertising, strategic fliers and a radio spots will be necessary to Bunkers growth. Using the school golf teams and the children clubs will be necessary to the word of mouth advertising and the growth of the business. In addition marketing the business, utilizing golf tournaments to increase the customer base will be a great strategy. Bunkers would also like to incorporate professional lessons, club fitting to entice customers. Bunkers is a place a golfer of any age can enjoy a full round of golf, a positive aspect of the courses elderly golfer and young golfers can play a round with out the strenuous effort. Bunkers is a ground up business and is in need of constant marketing and upgrading to keep people interested. That will be the most challenging portion of the business. The management team will need to be proactive when the weather changes and use promotions to keep player coming back during the summer months. Spokane summers are gorgeous and people will want to play outside. Management will need to promote the tournaments, climate controlled area, professional lessons to keep people playing indoors all year. Opportunities will be numerous in the strategy area. Holding tournaments that golfers can participate in any time during the week, professional lessons and club fitting will also be an area that will keep people coming back. Bunkers will use the positive image of working with the boys and girls clubs and schools to its advantage and as a strategic opportunity to gain a hold on the community. To keep customer happy and excited to play Bunkers will offer discounted rates depending on the number of golfers in the group. As always the threat of a new business opening and taking customers is always a threat. The perfect summer weather in Spokane can also be seen as a threat to the strategy Bunkers uses. As noted in prior sections the threat of golf stores using simulations in their shops may reduce the lessons and club fitting. The game play will always be a strong point of Bunkers as it is the main focus of Bunkers. The use of technology to create customer email lists will be a beneficial tool. Management will create the list and email specials, promotions and tournament results. In addition to the above listed uses of email Bunkers will also use this portal for suggestions comments and reservations. The use of email will also fit into the technology strengths and opportunity portion of the SWOTT. Structure SWOTT Bunkers management will seek the best most qualified employees possible. The strengths of this company is based on the golf experience of its management team. The owner and his family are avid golfer and have played some of the best courses in the country. To keep the business moving in the right direction nit is necessary to hire individuals that have a love for the game and like using technology. The application process will include phone calls to previous employers; letters of recommendation from school coaches (for students) and student must maintain at least a 3.0 gpa while employed. To maintain the best possible work force Bunkers will utilize regular performance reviews. Weakness will include hiring students. This is not a weakness in the traditional sense; this will be in the sense that management will have to plan for students to take time off for extracurricular activities like golf tournaments and other school and family activities. Technology is a large part of the business and as such it is imperative to hire those that have a love for technology and passion to keep customers happy. Opportunities to hiring students are to expand their knowledge of technology and to give them real world job experience. By requiring students to maintain a certain gpa will help them achieve long term goals and will help management create a positive atmosphere. Using student part time workers will help the company save money in benefits and unemployment taxes. In addition to broadening the horizons of the students we can help them learn technology skills and problem solving skills that will be beneficial to them as they mature. Threats of having employees are normal to all businesses. Management can reduce these by educating employees, utilizing safety rules, hiring positive, motivated trust worthy people will reduce threats as well. Hiring students may cause an increase in employee turnover. To reduce this we will educate, train them and offer positive enforcement to maintain eh best employees possible. Resources SWOTT Bunkers is owned by an avid golfer, and has access to country club professional golfers and high school golf coaches. In addition to the golf pros Bunkers has built in technology company in Network Rx, that can help maintain and trouble shoot office servers, and networks. Some of the funding will come in the form of bank business loan and personal holdings. The need for a business loans is a weakness for Bunkers. The need to tech support professionals to keep the company moving and to keep customers playing is a weakness to Bunker as well. Every golf simulator has proprietary software that only their technicians can repair. Depending on vendor technical support is costly, time consuming, can reduce the profits, and keep a system closed until the technician can fix it. Opportunities are great for Bunkers. Leasing the simulators on a lease to own helps the company save resource and still own the equipment at the end of the lease agreement. There are currently no indoor golf facilities in the Spokane area. An opportunity to grow and prosper is great in addition to give the people a great winter activity. Spokane is located in the Inland Northwest, one hour east of the Idaho Washington border and two hours south of the U.S. Canada border. Depending on outside tech support it costly and can take a great amount of time to receive new parts or for the technician to arrive to install or repair new parts. A positive trend for golf and Bunkers is the fact that there is always a new golfer. Everyday people try golf and Bunkers offers them a place to try it in a safe controlled environment. We will let children ages five and older participate with the participation or guidance of a parent or guardian. Culture SWOTT Golf has a culture of its own and Bunkers will try and maintain it to the best of their ability. Bunkers will offer a clean safe, environment for people to learn or advance their game. Management will build relationships with the children clubs in Spokane as well as the local golf teams and schools. Teaching children the game of golf can teach them things the can use their whole life, patients, perseverance and dedication. Golf is a game that one can play their whole life and Bunker looks forward to helping them start the right way. There are not too many weaknesses of this business from a culture standpoint. From a business standpoint, this business caters to only one demographic. By opening a business that offers entertainment to golfer only can be seen as shortsighted. However, golfers have the desire to play and in some cases it is a great place for good clean fun. The opportunity to expose someone to golf is something that Bunkers is excited about. Golf is a great game that anyone can play not matter age, color, or athletic ability. There is the chance that someone would never play a round of golf at an outdoor course, Bunkers offers them a place to try the game in a reduced amount of time. A person that has never played may not be excited about playing a game for three to four hours and not enjoying the game. Playing a full 18 holes in one to two hours is more enticing to beginners and people that are short on time. The threat of customers becoming bored with Bunkers is a threat management cannot take lightly. With technology constantly changing Bunkers can try to avoid this by updating courses as often as possible. Offering additional resources like lessons, club fitting, tournaments, snacks and beverages will help keep people interested and coming back. Balanced Scorecard The balanced scorecard is a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business and industry, government, and nonprofit organizations worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organization, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organization performance against strategic goals. (Balanced Scorecard Institute, 2009) The importance of the balanced scorecard is to improve performance by focusing on what matters, increase focus on strategy and results and to improve the communication of a companys vision and strategy. This company has thought about for several years. He has jotted down plans, ideas, drawn floor plans and talked with bankers and even scouted out locations. Over the years, he has had time to think about the business and how he wants it to operate. The owner has spent a great deal of time trying to get ideas together to make this a place people will want to visit. The owner has planned for the simulators (the main focus of the business), the bunkers, putting green and even how to run a fun, convenient tournament. Before the SWOTT and the Balanced Scorecard, he never put a great deal of thought into the actual numbers and financial goals. Until five weeks ago this was just a dream. Now it is becoming a reality. Over the years the owner worked for several companies and found some of them had great corporate values and it trickled down to the employees and made them feel like they were more than just an employee. That is a feeling the author wants to create for the employees of Bunkers. He found that by giving the employees some basic instructions and letting them make decisions makes them feel they are valued and they are not taken for granted. By doing these little things and not micromanaging a company can reduce employee turnover and reduce expense in training and retraining and utilize those fund in other manners. The long term goals are relatively simple, Bunkers wants to grow and open stores in cities nearby, thereby offering more people the chance to play in a convenient location. In addition to this he wants to link the locations for tournament play. The values of Bunkers are derived from various sources; some personal experiences and others are derived from other successful business models. The author is a business owner and feels he has created a strong employee culture, high employee retention, sound business practices and he feels these same qualities can carry over to Bunkers. The basic values the firm will use in this business are the same that many use in their daily lives: respect, patients, honesty, and integrity. These values have served the owner well personally and will do the same in any business setting. He has created a successful carpet cleaning business with these values and feels he can build Bunker with the same. The mission of any business is to grow and prosper. Bunkers wants to do the same. The firms mission is to create a place where people can come to meet friends, play, learn and enjoy the game of golf. The company want to create a fun comfortable atmosphere where people of any ability can come to play or learn the game that they love. All too often the owner hears people say they do not want to play golf because it takes too long, they cannot walk that far, they are nervous to spend the money on a round and not like it. Bunkers can change that, There are no long walks, no galleries watching and making them nervous, It is a great place to see if golf is for them, and for those that play and enjoy it it is a great place to play courses once thought to be playable once in a lifetime. There is something for everyone young, old, high handicapper or low handicapper; there is a course for anyone. The SWOTT analysis forced the owner to take a good honest look at the business. He was a little intimidated in the beginning, but soon found it to be a valuable part of the strategic plan. After completing the analysis he was even more excited to continue the process and change the weakness to strengths in an effort to build the best most efficient business possible. Bunkers is dedicated to providing quality, safety and fun in a controlled atmospheres. By following the SWOTT and the Balanced Scorecard Bunkers can avoid some of the pitfalls of opening and operating a ground up business. The SWOTT is a necessary tool and should be utilized by the management team of Bunkers Indoor Golf Center. Golf is a great game enjoyed by millions of people and Bunkers want to bring the fun to everyone year around.

Instant Sorbet in a Baggie - Freezing Point Depression

Instant Sorbet in a Baggie - Freezing Point Depression Have you made instant ice cream in a baggie? You can take any ice cream recipe and quick-freeze it using freezing point depression by adding salt to some  ice with some water. The same process may be used to quick-freeze sorbet: Instant Sorbet Ingredients The quantities of ingredients arent critical. You can use any fruit juice or fruit drink for the sorbet. The mixture to freeze the sorbet is ice with about half as much salt and a bit of water. 1 cup fruit juice2 cups ice1 cup salt1 cup water Make Instant Sorbet Pour the juice into a plastic baggie that has a zipper. Close the bag.Add the ice, salt, and water to a much larger bag.Place the bag of juice inside the baggie containing the ice, salt, and water.Shake, shake, shake the bag until the sorbet is the consistency you want. Remove the inner bag, scoop out your frozen treat and enjoy! How It Works Salt or sodium chloride dissociates into sodium and chloride ions. These ions act as impurities in the water lower its freezing point. Energy is absorbed from the environment (the sorbet) as the ice changes phase into water, which cant release the energy by solidifying back into ice. Therefore the sorbet keeps getting colder as the ice melts.

Ethical dilemma paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethical dilemma - Research Paper Example Therefore, they might base on it when making important decisions in their practice. However, like in other professions, there are different issues in the military, which pose a challenge to them in their ethical decision-making. Military personnel are expected to respect life, and uphold high moral standards (Snider, 2009). However, there are incidences, where the army is ethically challenged. I perceive the use of torture by the army as resulting from an ethical dilemma. When the army goes on a mission, they are exposed to insecurity and harm, danger, and attacks from their enemies. Therefore, the military have to be cautious and protective, while bearing in mind that the military standards expect the army to act ethically in all situations. Sometimes, the set military standards might conflict with the attitude of the military. This way, it becomes challenging for them to make an ethical decision. As identified, the military might torture their enemies in order to protect their othe r military colleagues, as a form of revenge, or in order to extract information from them, among other reasons. The military policy, which is important for handling this type of ethic and addressing its violation is found in the military code of ethics, and relates to the battlefield ethics. Here, all military personnel are expected to protect their fellow colleagues, the nation, the constitution, and civilians. The army is also required to cater for the captured enemies by providing them with first aid, and other basic human needs. Therefore, torture of enemy prisoners by the military is forbidden, and the army is expected to treat civilians in a humane manner (Cassey, 2009). Nonetheless, this regulation is not adequate, as it does not provide clear information on what how the army should act when faced with a dilemma. This regulation therefore, expects that the military respect life, including the life of their enemies. However, its failure to offer more provisions, which could ad dress complex issues that might arise, has influenced the military at the individual and group level. For instance, the army engages in torture in order to protect their colleagues. This might be done individually or as a group. Therefore, torture might be undertaken by the army for different reasons, some of which are in line with the code of ethics. Therefore, the regulation on this issue should have come out more clearly, with clear circumstances under which torture is prohibited. In this case, the military will follow their personal convictions. This issue also affects my practice. Therefore, I have a role to play to promote ethics among the military. Although various aspects factor in to cause the army to turn to torture, sometimes it is possible to act ethically without employing torture. For instance, in one study among the US army, findings showed that the army deployed for a long time experience mental health problems including depression and trauma (Ricks & Tyson, 2007). A lthough this might influence the decision-making of the military, it is important that they seek medical assistance when they exhibit these signs. Raising awareness on this among fellow colleagues would help to promote ethics in the military. In another research conducted among the navy, approximately two-thirds of the Marines interviewed, as well as half of the army agreed that they would not report their colleague, who engaged in torture and property destruction of civilians

Security Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Security - Assignment Example The solution should prevent IRS from spending a fortune on network infrastructure upgrades. Modernization of the E-File is an important step of IRS re-engineering its efforts to enhance enforcement, improve its services, and modernize work processes and technology (Chamberlain 15). This is achievable through the introduction of the modernized E-file. The modernized E-file should be an internet-based system that should use the standardized Extensible Mark-Up Language (XML) constructs. The main component of the modernized E-file is introduction of transmitters. The transmitters present in the modernized E-file will provide postmarks to all taxpayers for individual returns. The receipt present in the electronic postmark will provide the taxpayers with confidence that they have filed their returns on time. However, the date of the electronic postmark will be considered as the date of filling. This happens when the date of electronic postmark is prior to the endorsed due date and the return is gotten by the IRS after the recommended due date for filling. All the requirements for signing the tax return and completion of a paper of declaration and timely submission of the rejected timely filed tax return has to be followed to for the electronic postmark to be reflected the date of filling (Grayson and Warren 22). The electronic postmarks will be available to the taxpayers through the online filing. Markedly, when the transmitter creates the electronic postmark with the time and date, the information is recorded by the transmitter host computer. With the introduction of the electronic postmark, IRS can ensure that people do fill in their tax returns on time but they can submit them later. If the electronic postmark is before or on the recommended deadline of filing a tax return, but the IRS obtains the tax return after the deadline of submission, the IRs will treat the submission as timely

Security Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Security - Assignment Example The solution should prevent IRS from spending a fortune on network infrastructure upgrades. Modernization of the E-File is an important step of IRS re-engineering its efforts to enhance enforcement, improve its services, and modernize work processes and technology (Chamberlain 15). This is achievable through the introduction of the modernized E-file. The modernized E-file should be an internet-based system that should use the standardized Extensible Mark-Up Language (XML) constructs. The main component of the modernized E-file is introduction of transmitters. The transmitters present in the modernized E-file will provide postmarks to all taxpayers for individual returns. The receipt present in the electronic postmark will provide the taxpayers with confidence that they have filed their returns on time. However, the date of the electronic postmark will be considered as the date of filling. This happens when the date of electronic postmark is prior to the endorsed due date and the return is gotten by the IRS after the recommended due date for filling. All the requirements for signing the tax return and completion of a paper of declaration and timely submission of the rejected timely filed tax return has to be followed to for the electronic postmark to be reflected the date of filling (Grayson and Warren 22). The electronic postmarks will be available to the taxpayers through the online filing. Markedly, when the transmitter creates the electronic postmark with the time and date, the information is recorded by the transmitter host computer. With the introduction of the electronic postmark, IRS can ensure that people do fill in their tax returns on time but they can submit them later. If the electronic postmark is before or on the recommended deadline of filing a tax return, but the IRS obtains the tax return after the deadline of submission, the IRs will treat the submission as timely

Research proposal Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposal - Research Paper Example Results obtained from this research will help in informing parents of the safety measure they should use to avoid accidents in their homes. This is because some parents overlook the small things around the house, that end up causing accidents with toddlers (Nationwide Children’s Hospital). Happy and healthy children are the joy of every parent. The presence of a newborn baby in a home gives all the adults the responsibility of ensuring the home is safe for the child. All parts of the house that the baby can access need to be child proofed to ensure the safety of the child. In any typical home, there are various hidden and obvious child safety hazards. Parents must take the necessary steps to ensure that toddlers in the house are safe (Douglas, 2003). During the early stages of development, infants and toddlers are usually very curious and tend to touch, pull, push, and eat everything they come in contact with. Every household is bound to have an encounter with an infant and therefore, childproofing is a common experience. Nevertheless, accidents still occur because of the small things that we ignore because they do not seem to be dangerous. According to Wallin (45), identifying these small things will help in preventing future accidents from occurring thus ensuring a safe and healthy baby. There has been a lot of research done regarding the issue of Infant and Toddler safety at home. Most of the injuries that happen to children under the ages of five years occur in the home environment. Infants and toddlers spend most of their time in the house and their curious nature and lack of fear exposes them to dangerous situation (Ahmann, 105). As a result toddlers are the ones who suffer the most in cases of home related injuries. This calls for action that involves establishing preventive measures and keeping an eye on toddlers as they play to prevent the occurrence

The relation between Estate Taxation and Equitable Crowth Research Proposal

The relation between Estate Taxation and Equitable Crowth - Research Proposal Example The changing structure of the federal estate tax has significant impact on the state estate tax revenue as well as the economic growth within the United States of America. The reverting of the federal estate tax to the pre-2001 structure is likely to have serious impacts on the economic growth of the United States of America. Estate tax within USA is understood on the basis of administrative simplicity and compliance costs, revenue sufficiency, economic efficiency, and equity. These elements are the epicenters in analyzing the impact of estate tax on economic growth within the USA. Estate tax has significant impact on the economy based on savings and capital investments. The higher the estate tax, the less the savings and capital investments thus affecting economic growth. Lower estate tax rates encourage more investments whilst reducing the revenue that the federal or state government obtains from the estate taxation, thus leading to significant impacts on economic growth within the USA. Nonetheless, in order to understand the impact of estate tax rates on economic growth, there is a need for extensive and detailed research. In order to carry out a more detailed and in-depth research, the following provides background and hypothesis to be used as well as the literature review. Literature review is used in this paper to provide deeper understanding, validity, and reliability of the research. In addition, the research contains methodology that provides an overview of the procedure employed in ensuring that adequate research is conducted, enough data is collected, and an efficient and effective data analysis. The research analyzed the data using STATA statistical tool. The finding and data analysis section provide a deeper and in-depth understanding of the topic based on the collected data. The paper winds up with discussions, conclusions, and recommendations. Background and Hypothesis As Americans decide between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in this fall’s presidential election they choose between two men with divergent ideas about estate taxation. Right now, estate taxation policy puts a 35 percent tax rate after a $5 million exemption, a rate it has been at since 2010. It was that year that a loophole in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (the â€Å"Bush tax cuts† in political parlance) caused the complete elimination of the estate tax. In the preceding decade, there was a 45 percent tax rate with a $3.5 million exemption. President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress support reverting current rates to 2009 levels. Mr. Romney, the Republican challenger, favors completely eliminating the estate tax. If no action is taken before the end of this year, a policy even more draconian than Mr. Obama’s will kick in. Under the â€Å"default† plan, the rate would be 55 percent and the exemption $1 million. Figure 1 Estate tax 1997-2013 (projected) Year Estate Tax Exemption Top Estate Tax Rate 1997 $600,000 55% 1998 $625,000 55% 1999 $650,000 55% 2000 $675,000 55% 2001 $675,000 55% 2002 $1,000,000 50% 2003 $1,000,000 49% 2004 $1,500,000 48% 2005 $1,500,000 47% 2006 $2,000,000 46% 2007 $2,000,000 45% 2008 $2,000,000 45% 2009 $3,500,000 45% 2010 $0 0% 2011 $5,000,000 35% 2012 $5,000,000 35% 2013 $1,000,000 55% This author hypothesizes that estate taxation rates –

Does the rotation of auditors improve the quality of auditing Essay - 4

Does the rotation of auditors improve the quality of auditing - Essay Example It is worth mentioning that the role of audit rotation in improving the standards and the efficiencies of audit is duly considered as one of the major determinants of audit quality. It is strongly believed that longer tenure of an auditor links with lower quality of audit and in this context, it can be affirmed that the rotation of auditors require to be taken into concern in order to enhance audit quality on the whole. In this present day context, misrepresentations and frauds have emerged considerably that eventually imposes extensive impacts upon audit quality. The misrepresentations along with the frauds have been arguably caused owing to the augmenting interests of the stakeholders and also the owners belonging to various business organisations. ... Discussing the Principle Need for Rotation of Auditors Impact on Auditor’s Independence It is quite evident that the periodic rotation of auditors plays a decisive role in enhancing the auditing quality of the client company by a considerable extent. It can be apparently observed that the rotation of auditors can be conducted both internally and externally. The auditor’s rotation in both of these forms is duly considered to be one of the chief determinants of enhancing audit quality. This is owing to the reasons of preventing the auditor’s depending relation with the management team of the client organisations and differentiating between the auditing process conducted by non-capital market and capital market oriented corporations. In order to determine the impact of auditor’s rotation on the independence of the auditors, it can be affirmed that the sovereignty of the auditors remains much limited in the context of auditing due to the existence of a special trust affiliation prevailing between them and the management team of the client organisations. Thus, with this concern, it can be affirmed that the independence of the auditors largely rely upon the interrelation, which prevail between the auditors and the management team. Specially mentioning, the principle need for rotation of auditors impose considerable impact on auditor’s performances, making them perform both auditing along with consulting services and preserving the auditing process ethically, irrespective of having close interrelation with the management team of diverse organisations (Velte & Stiglbauer, 2012). Mitigation of Conflict of Interests Apart from depicting the principle need for rotation of auditors in limiting the independency of the auditors, it can also be affirmed that

Lift observation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Lift observation - Essay Example Modern lift design aims at providing passengers with more aesthetic enjoyment. The need for mobility within buildings has enhanced the design of lifts to create places of character and destination where people can meet. Lifts bring a sense of ease and pleasure among people. Ethnographic inquiry provides a seamless compatibility of ideas between the researcher’s own observations and other users; lift users. The perception of technical design determines how people interacted with lifts (Carroll, 2000). This research will consider how lift design enhances social interaction. As it has been the case, once people got into a lift, colleagues acted like strangers and dropped their voices to a hush. People rushed into corners and stood motionless. Passengers watched as floor numbers counted to their respective floors. These behavior and technological advancements in lift designs has prompted numerous researchers to study the inherent social interactions. The psychology of the architectural environment determines how the presence or absence of specific design features triggered lift habits (Honey, 2003). This study was based on observing lifts in The Shard; a high-rise building where lift usage is a necessity, and London Underground; where socio-cultural dimensions come into play. The quantifiable and unquantifiable dynamics of these spaces assist in gauging user behavior. Observations were divided into two parts to enhance the amount of data collected. In the first stage, I sat outside the lift banks watching people use the lifts while in the second stage; I travelled up and down trying to blend in with other users. Using the lifts brought about a clear understanding of the experience; from the users’ point of view. Population determined the level of social interaction. In London Underground, the population was higher than that in The Shard. The stations have barrier free access to and from street level. In The Shard, a security desk

Does the rotation of auditors improve the quality of auditing Essay - 4

Does the rotation of auditors improve the quality of auditing - Essay Example It is worth mentioning that the role of audit rotation in improving the standards and the efficiencies of audit is duly considered as one of the major determinants of audit quality. It is strongly believed that longer tenure of an auditor links with lower quality of audit and in this context, it can be affirmed that the rotation of auditors require to be taken into concern in order to enhance audit quality on the whole. In this present day context, misrepresentations and frauds have emerged considerably that eventually imposes extensive impacts upon audit quality. The misrepresentations along with the frauds have been arguably caused owing to the augmenting interests of the stakeholders and also the owners belonging to various business organisations. ... Discussing the Principle Need for Rotation of Auditors Impact on Auditor’s Independence It is quite evident that the periodic rotation of auditors plays a decisive role in enhancing the auditing quality of the client company by a considerable extent. It can be apparently observed that the rotation of auditors can be conducted both internally and externally. The auditor’s rotation in both of these forms is duly considered to be one of the chief determinants of enhancing audit quality. This is owing to the reasons of preventing the auditor’s depending relation with the management team of the client organisations and differentiating between the auditing process conducted by non-capital market and capital market oriented corporations. In order to determine the impact of auditor’s rotation on the independence of the auditors, it can be affirmed that the sovereignty of the auditors remains much limited in the context of auditing due to the existence of a special trust affiliation prevailing between them and the management team of the client organisations. Thus, with this concern, it can be affirmed that the independence of the auditors largely rely upon the interrelation, which prevail between the auditors and the management team. Specially mentioning, the principle need for rotation of auditors impose considerable impact on auditor’s performances, making them perform both auditing along with consulting services and preserving the auditing process ethically, irrespective of having close interrelation with the management team of diverse organisations (Velte & Stiglbauer, 2012). Mitigation of Conflict of Interests Apart from depicting the principle need for rotation of auditors in limiting the independency of the auditors, it can also be affirmed that

KKK (Ku Klux Klan) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

KKK (Ku Klux Klan) - Essay Example It was said that the Klan's first leader is the famous general N.B. Forrest, the Calvary Confederate leader. He is called the 'Grand Wizard' or the 'Imperial Wizard'. This is the title given to the Klan's highest leader and was assisted by lower ranking officials of the group. The whole southern country was mapped, organized, and subdivided into several sectors down to the lowest ranks and individual members. 1 Later in 1869, the group became perpetrators of lawless violence and recklessness throughout the continent. Ku Klux Klan members were seen mostly at night, covered in white. They hold silent parades and covered their horses with the same white robes. People regarded the Klan as Confederate soldiers returning from the dead. The Ku Klux Klan spread terror all over the entire land. Their main targets are the blacks, the carpetbaggers, and the scalawags. They effectively kept black men from voting and from joining the electoral process, so as to control the polls, its results and politics in particular. They promote terror through whipping and lynching. And because the Klan became so powerful and uncontrollable, its leaders, headed by General Forrest, ordered and sought to disband the group. He resigned from his position as the Grand Wizard. But then, a lot of its off-shoots still functioned, and it continued on for the next few years.2 The Birth of the Second Ku Klux Klan It was 1915 when the Klan was revived, thus giving birth to the second Ku Klux Klan faction. This group was formed by William J. Simmons, who is a former minister and a popular fraternal order promoter. In October of the same year, he had prepared to reveal the campaign to form the group, together with friends of the same mindset. The second Klan is still focused on restoring the supremacy of the white race. It is promoting fundamentalism as a religion and had a hand in controlling politics during those time, although it professed that it is not a political group. Some of the Klan's noted members were elected as government officials, mostly congressmen and mayors. The Klan still continued on performing extreme measures to counter its assumed enemies, and most of these cases were unauthorized by their central leaders. 3 The most noted and remembered extreme activity undertaken by the second Ku Klux Klan is the murder of three civil rights workers in the summer of 1964, in Mississippi. It was the most horrible crime they committed in the entire regime of the second Klan - it was an execution, not merely an assassination. But in 1930, Ku Klux Klan experience a decline in its members, especially when state laws prohibited the use of masks and the propagation of secret societies. This decline of interest on its members is mainly due to the massive corruption, the wrong doings, and the amassing of wealth for personal gains by its leaders through the influence group.4 The Klan as Hate Group The major example of hate groups working with leaders of several or subsequent affiliations and at the same time working under a common name but covering a lot of distinct factions is none other than the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was a hate group which did one too many illegal acts of intimidation and violence. The Klan was known to be responsible for the arson of the Black South Caroline Group of Churches, which is a predominantly black institution. The Klan