Survival Tips For Small Businesses Essay Paper Example For Students

Survival Tips For Small Businesses Essay Paper Youmay be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you may be a localmerchant with 150 employees; whichever, however orwhatever youve got to know how to keep your businessalive during economic recessions. Anytime the cash flow ina business, large or small, starts to tighten up, the moneymanagement of that business has to be run as a tight ship.Some of the things you can and should do includeprotecting yourself from expenditures made on suddenimpulse. Weve all bought merchandise or services wereally didnt need simply because we were in the mood, orperhaps in response to the flamboyancy of the advertisingor the persuasiveness of the salesperson. Then we sort ofwake up a couple of days later and find that wevecommitted hundreds of dollars of business funds for an itemor service thats not essential to the success of our ownbusiness, when really pressing items had been waiting forthose dollars. If you are incorporated, you can eliminatethese impulse purchases by including in your by-laws aclause th at states: All purchasing decisions over (a certainamount) are contingent upon approval by the board ofdirectors. This will force you to consider any impulsepurchases of considerable cost, and may even be areminder in the case of smaller purchases. If your businessis a partnership, you can state, when faced with a buyingdecision, that all purchases are contingent upon theapproval of a third party. In reality, the third party can beyour partner, one of your department heads, or even one ofyour suppliers. If your business is a sole proprietorship, youdont have much to worry about really, because as anindividual you have three days to think about yourpurchase, and then to nullify that purchase if you think youdont really need it or cant afford it. While you may thinkyou cannot afford it, be sure that you dont short-changeyourself on professional services. This would applyespecially during a time of emergency. Anytime you commityourself and move ahead without completely investigatingall the angles, and preparing yourself for all thecontingencies that may arise, youre skating on thin ice. We will write a custom essay on Survival Tips For Small Businesses Paper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Regardless of the costs involved, it always pays off in thelong run to seek out the advice of experiencedprofessionals before embarking on a plan that could ruinyou. As an example, an experienced business consultantcan fill you in on the 1244 stock advantages. Gettingeligibility for the 1244 stock category is a very simpleprocess, but one with tremendous benefits to yourbusiness. The 1244 status encourages investors to putequity capital into your business because in the event of aloss, amounts up to the entire sum of the investment can bewritten off in the current year. Without the 1244classification, any losses would have to be spread overseveral years, and this, of course, would greatly lessen theattractiveness of your companys stock. Any businessowner who has not filed the 1244 corporation has in effectcut himself off from 90 percent of his prospective investors. Particularly when sales are down, you must behard-nosed with people trying to sell you luxuries for yourbusiness. When business is booming, you undoubtedly willallow sales people to show you new models of equipmentor a new line of supplies; but when your business is down,skip the entertaining frills and concentrate on the basics. Great care must be taken however, to maintain courtesyand allow these sellers to consider you a friend and callback at another time. Your companys books should reflectyour way of thinking, and whoever maintains them shouldgenerate information according to your policies. Thus, youshould hire an outside accountant or accounting firm tofigure your return on your investment, as well as theturnover on your accounts receivable and inventory. Suchan audit or survey should focus in depth on any or everyitem within your financial statement that merits specialattention. In this way, youll probably uncover any potentialfinancial problems before they become readily apparent,and certainly before they could get out of hand. Many smallcompanies set up advisory boards of outside professionalpeople. These are sometimes known as Power Circles andonce in place, the business always benefits, especially intimes of short operating capital. Such an advisory board orpower circle should include an attorney, a certified publicaccountant, civic club leaders, owners or managers ofbusinesses similar to yours, and retired executives. Settingup such an advisory board of directors is really quite easy,because most people you ask will be honored to serve. .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 , .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .postImageUrl , .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 , .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:hover , .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:visited , .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:active { border:0!important; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:active , .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570 .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6e4714792bf177dc63a0bddc1d80a570:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Struggle With Self Confidence EssayOnce your board is set up, you should meet about once amonth and present material for review. Each meetingshould be a discussion of your business problems and aninput from your advisors relative to possible solutions. These members of your board of advisors should offer youadvice as well as alternatives, and provide you withobjectivity. No formal decisions need to be made either atyour board meeting, or as a result of them, but you shouldbe able to gain a great deal from the suggestions you hear. You will find that most of your customers have the moneyto pay at least some of what they owe you immediately. Tokeep them current, and the number of accounts receivablein your files to a minimum, you should call them on thephone and ask for some kind of explanation why theyrefalling behind. If you develop such a habit as part of youroperating procedure, youll find your invoices will magicallybe drawn to the front of their piles of bills to pay. Whilemaintaining a courteous attitude, dont be hesitant, or toomuch of a nice guy when it comes to collecting money. Something else thats a very good business practice, butwhich few business owners do is to methodically build acredit rating with their local banks. Particularly when youhave a good cash flow, you should borrow $100 to $1,000from your banks every 90 days or so. Simply borrow themoney, and place it in an interest bearing account, and thenpay it all back at least a month or so before its due. Bydoing this, you will increase the borrowing power of yoursignature, and strengthen your ability to obtain neededfinancing on short notice. This is a kind of business leveragethat will be of great value to you if or whenever your cashposition becomes less favorable. By all means, join yourindustrys local and national trade associations. Most ofthese organizations have a wealth of information availableon everything from details on your competitors to averageindustry sales figures, new products, services, and trends. Ifyou are given a membership certificate or wall plaque, youshould display these co nspicuously on you office wall. Customers like to see such seals of approval and feeladditional confidence in your business when they see them. Still another thing often overlooked: If at all possible, youshould have your spouse work in the business with you forat least three or four weeks per year. The important thing isthat if for any reason you are not available to run thebusiness, your spouse will be familiar with certain peopleand situations about your business. These people shouldinclude your attorney, accountant, any consultants oradvisors, creditors and your major suppliers. The long-termadvantages of having your spouse work four weeks peryear in your business with you will greatly outweigh theshort- term inconvenience. Many couples shareresponsibility and time entirely, which is in most cases evenmore desirable. Whenever you can, and as often as youneed it, take advantage of whatever free businesscounseling is available. The Small Business Administrationpublished many excellent booklets, checklists andbrochures on quite a large variety of businesses. Thesepublications are available through the U.S. GovernmentPrintin g Office. Most local universities, and many privateorganizations hold seminars at minimal cost, and oftenwithout charge. You should also take advantage of theservices offered by your bank and local library. Theimportant thing about running a small business is to knowthe direction in which youre heading; to know on aday-to-day basis your progress in that very direction; to beaware of what your competitors are doing and to practicegood money management at all times. All this will prepareyou to recognize potential problems before they arise. Inorder to survive with a small business, regardless of theeconomic climate, it is essential to surround yourself withsmart people, and practice sound business management atall times.

Black is My Favorite Color essays

Black is My Favorite Color essays In the short story, the main character, Nat Lime, loves to being with black people, but they do not love to be around him. All of his life he has lived in a predominately black neighborhood and he loves to be around black people. The only problem is that he is a white Jew and in the 1960s blacks could not trust any white men. He has spent his entire life trying to prove to people that he is not the average Jew and does not consider himself to be different from anyone. In the story he interacts with several different blacks that turn him away and eventually cause him to feel pain physically and emotionally. Nat Lime fails with black people socially, politically, economically, religiously, and psychologically; it just his faith. Nat Lime as a huge problem socially more then any other characteristics, with blacks. Since Mr. Lime is the minority in the neighborhood, he tries extra hard to fit in. He goes to the block parties they have every so often and even tries to be friends with some of the children his age. Buster is one of the children that he forced himself upon. Nat Lime would tries to make him his friend by inviting him to the movies. Buster could not offered to go to the movies so he excepted his invitation. After a few trips to the movies Buster was disgusted by the fact that Nat Lime, a Jew, was trying to buy his friendship. That is a prime example on how he tried too hard to be friends with blacks. Nat Lime also has a problem of picking the wrong people to be friends with. Instead of him being friends with some who has experessed the same feelings he has about race, he picks those who do not want to be bothered, by anyone. Another example is mrs. Ornita Harris, the woman that he thought was the love of his life. Mrs. Harris, a black woman, dated Mr. Lime for a while but was scared to commit. Mrs. Harris just like Buster did not want a white man helping her with her problems. She had a cheap on a ...

Behavior Change Plan to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease

Behavior Change Plan to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Behavior to Prevent a Reoccurrence of Coronary Heart Disease James J. Speen Introduction Justification for choosing the health behavior I am a 57 year old male, diagnosed with diabetes mellitus II, and cardiovascular disease stemming from atherosclerosis. In March of 2006, I experienced an acute angina pectoris attack while testing for a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do. The angina attack led to an emergency department visit at a local health facility and ultimately culminated in a quadruple coronary artery bypass graph (CABG). My healthcare providers are continually stressing the importance of making healthy choices and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent a reoccurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Further, supporting my physician’s opinion, Ferris, Kline, and Bourdage (2012) state that â€Å"biopsychosocial health displayed no direct relationship to CHD risk, but positively predicted a healthier lifestyle. A healthier lifestyle was related to lower levels of CHD risk.† Over the past 6 months, I have strayed from my regimen of healthy eating and daily exercise and am beginning to feel the negative effects of weight gain, sore joints, and decreased endurance during physical activity. It is now behavior modification time. This will be accomplished by discontinuing my current unhealthy behaviors and resuming a healthy lifestyle consisting of a regimen of eating heart healthy foods and exercise. Justification for the behavior change plan I used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model, as outlined in our textbook, Health Psychology A Biopsychosocial Approach (Straub, 2012) to evaluate my current behavior. First, I determined that continuing my behavior would eventually lead to another CABG or even worse my death. Secondly, after considering my doctor’s views regarding CHD prevention through lifestyle modification; I chose to comply with my healthcare provider’s advice. And finally, I rea lized that I am the only one who can manage my controllable health risk factors. Method Materials and Procedure I monitored my pre-change caloric intake, blood glucose, and physical exercise levels for seven days. My caloric intake and amount of exercise was recorded using the MyFitnessPal mobile application. Blood glucose levels were measured each day with a OneTouch Ultra 2 blood glucose meter. Glucose measurements were performed twice each day at 6:00a.m. and at 10:00p.m.. This data was used to establish my base line cardiac healthy lifestyle compliance. After this period, I enacted a behavior change plan to regain control over my controllable cardiac health risk factors. I added the use of a H o Medics model KS-701 digital dietary scale to accurately measure my food portions and increased the amount of water that I consumed daily. Additionally, 1 hour of cardiovascular and strength training exercises was added to the daily regimen. Caloric intake and exercise activity were recor ded using the MyFitnessPal mobile application and blood glucose was measured with the OneTouch Ultra 2 blood glucose meter. Nutritional data consisting of caloric intake, carbohydrates, fat, protein, cholesterol, sodium, sugar, and fiber from the MyFitnessPal application along with blood glucose data, was imported into an Excel spread sheet for data comparison and analysis. Average daily values for each category were computed for both the pre-behavior change and behavior change periods.

Skoda Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Skoda - Case Study Example Volkswagen's experience assisted in fixing most of the mechanical problems that Skoda had initially experienced. Skoda UK sells Skoda cars through its network of independent franchised dealers and its most current popular models are the frabia, octavia, superb and the roomster. Its' market share is at 1.7% making it a very small player in the market for cars (The times 100 134). However it has managed to fit in the highly competitive market and fragmented market. It attributes this on it's concentration on owners experience rather than making large sales. It has regarded 'the human touch' from design through to sale. One of its identifiable and quantifiable strength is the willingness and ability of the Skoda's driver to recommend Skoda to a friend. It utilizes this strength to market its brand image as well as laying plans for future strategic development. According to the audit report in the times 100 (134), Skoda faced a crisis due to the oudated perception of the brand. The car had an image of low quality, design, materials and assembly which negatively affected its owners. This is due to the fact that people associated car ownership to the image. In 1999, Skoda managed to change its negative image and Skoda cars were no longer considered of low quality. Despite its effort of improving its image, the vehicle did not have a strong appeal ot the public. Analysis of case To improve its performance in the competitive car market, Skoda UK's management needed to assess its brand positioning. Brand positioning means establishing a distinctive image for the brand compared to competing brands. Its by so doing that it would manage to grow from a small player to a bigger player. From the audit report it obtained after a market research, Skoda UK was put into a good positionto take advantage of new opportunities and respond to threats. According to JD Power survey, Skoda has been in the top five car manufacturers for the past thirteen years. In Top Gear's 2007 customer satisfactionsurvey, 56,000 viewers gave their opinions on 152 models and Skoda was voted as the number 1 car maker (The Times 100 134). Skoda's Octavia model aloso won the 2008 Auto Express Driver Power best car. Skoda attributes the results to its strategic management strategy which foccused on building cars that their owners would enjoy. This was different from simply maximising sales of a product. Strategic management is a process in whih it guides a business so that it can compete and grow in its market. According to the Audit report provided, Skoda has a 1.7% market share making it a small player in the market for cars. The weakness was partly due to outdated perceptions of the brand. This can be attributed to its poor marketing strategies that it used. The company should have therefore focused on improving its image to improve the clientele base. Recommendations Skoda should focuss on the Niche segment by developing a B plus or economical cars which are financially friendly to customers earning below 3000 RMB. This is due to the fact that, most customers are not in a position to afford the car at its current price. It is therefore advisable that, the company considers the low income earners by developing and producing economical cars. Skoda should also

Historical Example of Labor Supply and Demand Essay

Historical Example of Labor Supply and Demand - Essay Example Following this depression, demand for labor in the United States declined, and employers retrenched workers in order to remain operational. As a result, employment in the United States hit 25% while other countries around the world recorded unemployment of up to 33% (Cravens, 2009). Moreover, the persistent decline in labor demand led to an increased level of labor supply, with few employment opportunities available in the labor market. The labor market trends experienced during the Great Depression were explained by the economic performance of the United States and that of the world in general. Stock market failures around the world meant that consumption and investment were adversely affected. Business operations deteriorated and the need to hire labor declined significantly. On the same note, the profit motive exhibited by firms had to have a negative effect on labor demand and supply in the light of the

Community Health Partnerships Essay Example for Free

Community Health Partnerships Essay Community: Social groups of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. A social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interest and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exist ( Stanhope Lancaster, 2012). Community Health: Refers to the health status of a defined group of people, or community, and the actions and conditions that protect and improve the health of the community. Those individuals who make up a community live in a somewhat localized area under the same general regulations, norms, values, and organizations. For example, the health status of the people living in a particular town, and the actions taken to protect and improve the health of these residents would constitute community health (Green Ottoson, 1999). ). Community Health is the meeting of collective needs by identifying problems and managing behaviors within the community itself and between the community and the larger society (Stanhope Lancaster, 2012). Community as Client: The concept of community as client is based on the assumption that community nursing practice is â€Å"community oriented,† seeking â€Å"healthful change for the whole community. The community is a client only when the nursing focus is on the collective of common good of the population instead of on individual health (Stanhope Lancaster, 2012). Community Health Partnerships: defines as voluntary collaborations of diverse community organizations, which have joined forces in order to pursue a shared interest in improving community health. Community Health Partnerships differ from traditional community organizations in their mix of public and private members and they diverge from grass roots organizations with their inclusion of multiple constituents and stakeholders. (McKenzie Smeltzer, 1997) Lay community members have a vested interest in the success of efforts to improve the health of their community. Lay community members who are recognized as community leaders also possess credibility and skills that health professionals lack. Therefore, successful strategies for improving  community health must include community partnerships as the basic means, or key, for improvement (Stanhope Lancaster, 2012). Overall impression of participating family’s community and environment is an inner suburb of New York City named Hackensack, New Jersey, a city in Bergan County, New Jersey. Located 12 miles north west of Midtown Manhattan and about seven miles from the George Washington Bridge, from a number of locations, you can see the New York City skyline. The Metropolitan campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University borders the Hackensack River. The city is known for a great diversity of neighborhoods and land uses existing in very close proximity of each other. Within its borders are a massive medical center, a trendy high-rise district about a mile long, classic suburban neighborhoods of single family homes, stately older homes on acre-plus lots, older two –family neighborhoods, large garden apartments complexes, industrial areas, the Bergan Count Jail, a tidal river, and Hackensack River County Park. Cultural Diversity and Vulnerable Populations present in the Community: The racial make-up of the city was White, African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic or Latino. My participating family consists of an African American woman C.R. 68 years young whose family lineage is African American and Dutch, shares a lovely suburban two- family home with her daughter K. R. who is 48 years young and her life partner S. M. who is thirty nine years young and a native of the British Virgin Islands. It is my understanding from the family that same sex households are most certainly part of the community as well as interracial couples. The home is very nicely decorated, well-kept and the grounds are well manicured. The fact that the younger ladies are a same sex couple makes them part of a vulnerable population. I asked â€Å"if there were any prejudice or pressure they feel from the neighborhood regarding their lifestyle†? They both responded there is no pressure or prejudice put upon them. I must mention the time I have begun to spend with them, talking and observing their behaviors with one another, I have to say,† there is more love between the two of them than some heterosexual couples have in their little finger for each other† and they are not embarrassed by their life style nor do they hide who they are. They are both beautiful people inside and out. Aspects of the Community that could affect residents’ health: The  factor in the community that could affect health is the fact that there are many industrial areas surrounding the communities. The chemicals, fumes, and gases that ar e put into the air of the community and inhaled by all potentially could be of danger to the community. The County Jail and the potential of escaped criminals pose a threat to the community; Flooding is a potential threat during hurricanes and storms. Reproductive and Sexual Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health is relevant to the community in that the goal is to maintain and improve health and well-being. LGBT individuals encompass all races and ethnicities, religions, and social classes. Eliminating health disparities and enhancing efforts to improve health are necessary to ensure that LGBT individuals can lead long healthy lives (healthy 2020), REFERENCES: Green, L.W., Ottoson, J. M. (1999). Community and Population Health, (8th ed.) Boston: WCB/McGraw-Hill McKenzie, J. F., Smeltzer, J.L. (1997). Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs: A Primer; (2nd ed.), Boston: Allyn Bacon. Stanhope, M., Lancaster, J. (2008) (8th ed,). Population-Centered Health Care in the Community. St. Louis, MO. http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics

Water Transportation in the Jacksonian Era Essay example -- essays pap

Water Transportation in the Jacksonian Era Water travel assisted heavily with transportation of goods and people from the American north-east to the west, which would eventually create a separation from the south. Before any canals were even built, there was a great demand for better transportation to and from the west. During this time of exploration, something was necessary in order for settlement to progress. After the canals were built, people living in to north grew exceedingly wealthy from the trading benefits of the canals. This wealth would eventually create economic differences with the southern United States(Drago 178). During the Jacksonian Era, in America, there were many changes happening, one of which was western expansion. During this time, Louis and Clark had already explored the west, but people were dying to be able to trade, and live there. With the grueling journey that would effect anyone trying to reach the west, came a new notion, of a canal that reached from Lake Erie on towards the east. This canal could transport people, as well as goods back and forth from the newly explored territory. Eventually this dream successfully became a reality. The chief builder of the Erie Canal was DeWitt Clinton, a powerful man who was to become the governor of New York. In 1816, Clinton petitioned New York legislature to let him build the canal, which was a success(Erie). The construction of the canal took about eight years, however many hardships such as floods, and malaria plagued construction. Many people also said that the canal was too short, as it originally only stretched from the Hudson to Lake Champlain. People wanted a canal that would take them all the way from Erie to Champlain. Although this created even more problems, the canal was completed successfully in 1825(Bourne 118). While all of this was going on, the ideas for another major canal were just coming together. The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, was just beginning near the time the Erie’s construction finished up. The C&O canal would mostly be used to transport coal to Cumberland, Maryland. The building of the canal ended on June 11, 1850, at Cumberland. Although not the economic giant that the Erie was, the C&O canal reached it’s peak in 1870, during which tolls often topped $1,000(Drago 71). After the construction of the canals was finished, there was a gre... ...d many slaves, so they thought slavery was justified. In conclusion, water travel benefited many northerners, but did not help those living in the south. Eventually, this difference resulted in the south become less economically strong, ending a long trade relationship with the north, which would soon evolve into the War Between the States, or the Civil War. Bibliography Bourne, Russell. Floating West. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992 Bourne, Russell. Floating West. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992. page 76. Bourne, Russell. Floating West. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992. page 83. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Canal Days in America: The History and Romance of Old Towpaths and Waterways. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Canal Days in America: The History and Romance of Old Towpaths and Waterways. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972. page 48. Drago, Harry Sinclair. Canal Days in America: The History and Romance of Old Towpaths and Waterways. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1972. page 166. â€Å"Erie Canal.† Electric Library. 9 Jan. Hadfield, Charles. The Canal Age. New York: Frederick A. Praeger Publishers, 1968.

Discuss Hamlet’s attitude to death and the afterlife Essay

Discuss Hamlet’s attitude to death and the afterlife, giving an indication as to how both contemporary audience and modern audiences might view it. â€Å"Hamlet† deals with situations, which require a single-minded response. However, by the end of the twentieth century a large percentage of people were unfamiliar with church worship and words of the bible, which makes modern interpretation of it much more difficult which Elizabethan and Jacobean audience of Shakespeare’s time on the other hand had strong beliefs in religion, includes specifically the afterlife. Hamlet shares the views of the contemporary audience and we must therefore try to understand his religious perspectives in the way that contemporary audiences would have done. To the modern audience the religious ideas and beliefs of Hamlet may seem strange 1 â€Å"There is never an ideal production of Hamlet; any interpretation must limit. For our decade I think the play will be about the disillusionment which produces apathy of the will so deep that commitment to politics, to religion or to life is impossible†¦ Hamlet is always on the brink of action, but something inside him stops the final committed action. It is an emotion which can encounter in the youth today. † I agree with this statement but I think that it is Hamlet’s conscience that holds him back from killing Claudius rather than mere disillusionment. For the Shakespearean audience, a religious theme would have been established at the very beginning of â€Å"Hamlet† when the ghost fades â€Å"on the crowing of the clock† and Marcellus says: â€Å"Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes Wherin our Savior’s birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long: And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad. The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow’d and so gracious is that time† No spirits are allowed to walk the earth in the day. â€Å"The Crowing of the cock† could also be a religious reference to St Peter’s denial of Christ before the crucifixion, all of which would have been readily understood by a less secular audience than a modern one. When Laertes discovers that Hamlet killed his father, Polonius, his reaction is in complete contrast to Hamlet’s when he discovers what happened to his father. Laertes is prepared to go to Hell to avenge his father’s death and is more concerned about getting his revenge than what happens to him. The final result of Laertes’ decisiveness is the death of Hamlet. Laertes gets his revenge, but at great cost. In a traditional revenge tragedy the search for revenge would predominantly lie with the hero of the play. However, Shakespeare makes Hamlet very aware of the consequences of his actions, which is why this is not the typical revenge tragedy that Jacobean audiences were familiar with. This is because Shakespeare wanted to show that Hamlet has a morality that rises above vengeance. Laertes takes on the role of the character who demands vengeance regardless of the consequences. Hamlet, as I have already suggested, is very much a thinker and considers the consequences of his actions. He procrastinates about taking revenge throughout the play and ironically it is Claudius who suggests the fencing match and the poisoned wine, which ultimately allows Hamlet to honour the Ghosts wishes and kill Claudius. When Hamlet’s father’s ghost first appears to him, he wonders whether or not to accept it at face value. This is because Shakespeare has acknowledged the church belief that no soul could ever return from the grave so all in reality were evil spirits or devils who are attempting to entrap mortals into their power. On first seeing the ghost Hamlet says: â€Å"Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn’d, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com’st in such questionable shape That I will speak to thee. I’ll call thee Hamlet†¦ â€Å"

Emerging Trends Essay

Communications technology is progressing at light-speed, seemingly shrinking our world, as we can now communicate and conduct business in real time around the globe. Through innovations such as high-speed modem technology, businesses and people can share new ideas with friends and colleagues from the farthest lands. As more people and businesses strive to globalize, existing communication technologies are overloading, as they have approached the limitations of today’s available hardware. To gain higher speed access to the available information over the Internet, there are many factors one must research, as they ultimately work together. These factors include hardware, choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP), as well as a modem, which will be used to send and receive the data via the Internet. The intent of this document is to review the latest high-speed technologies for improving information access using the Internet. By understanding these new technologies, one can make a more informed decision when choosing their hardware and ISP. Choosing Hardware for Individual Needs: Computer Choices To gain faster Internet access requires choosing a faster computer that best suits one’s needs. In determining the type of computer to purchase, one should first determine the application in which it will be used most. Applications such as word processing, computer games, and Internet access, all require various hardware and operating systems. Today, there are three main choices for computers, which include laptops, PCs, and hand-held devices. â€Å"Until recently, we only needed to decide on the type and speed of the processor that we wanted in our new computer, since most of the Intel Pentium based computers had a data bus with a maximum speed of 66 MHz† (PC World, 2000, July, p. 33). â€Å"With the release of the new Intel 100 MHz bus architecture, this has changed, as the new line of Pentium II and Pentium III processors use this new bus instead of the older 66 MHz bus† (PC World, 2000, July, p. 33). Needless to say, a PC equipped with this much power will su rely increase the communication speed between the processor and components in the computer. The main advantage of a notebook computer, versus a desktop, is the size and portability. Due to their smaller size, notebooks are the computer of choice for people that have limited space in their office or home. â€Å"A typical notebook computer will contain either an Intel Celeron, Pentium III, or AMD K6 processor, which all range in speed, while the more common speeds vary from 600 MHz to 850 MHz† (PC World, 2000, July, p. 37). The price of a standard notebook computer typically ranges between $1200 to $1900. Introduced in 1996, handheld computers, also known as Palm Pilots and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), have been gaining in popularity. These devices are portable and are no larger than a palm-size calculator. One of the most popular models on the market today is the Visor, offered in three models, ranging from $149 to $249 (Businessweek Online website, November 15, 1999, p. 192). While the speed of a handheld computer may vary, according to one source, the Palm Vx model runs slightly faster than other handhelds. â€Å"It runs with a 20mhz processor versus the 16mhz found in other models† (Palmgear website, 2000). Most palms come with standard applications like an address book, calculator, and a date book. Newer palms will also allow the user e-mail capabilities, using a memo pad similar to the Windows notepad. Since Internet access is now available as an option for handheld computers, they are a viable choice for consumers. Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Next, one needs to decide on an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and whether it is for personal or business use. Today, many companies offer free Internet Service to consumers and businesses. Broadband Digital Group (BDD) offers free dial up service at no additional cost, and is available nationwide. Another free ISP is Bluelight.com, which allows customers to shop online and receive various discounts on items purchased with Kmart. Free ISPs are economical and provide many of the services of fee based ISPs, such as sending and receiving email, web surfing, and online shopping.   Although some people find free ISPs to be economical, there are some disadvantages. Free ISPs represent less than 13 percent of the market, and are used as an alternate means to connect online (Fusco, 1999, pars. 4-6). With this, the customer is provided with Internet access, but not the quality service that is provided by most fee-based ISPs. In some cases, free ISPs do not provide consumers with high-spee d delivery, which results in slower connection speeds. According to a recent report by Patricia Fusco, fee-based Internet access service providers are among the elite and provide high quality, high speed, and wireless services. The top rated ISPs are, AT&T WorldNet, EarthLink, Inc., MSN, America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy. All of these services can provide consumers with high-speed service, good customer service, and technical support (Fusco, 2000a, pars. 2-10). There are, however, some disadvantages with fee-based ISPs, as the monthly billing fees can range from $7.00-$40.00 per month. In addition, providers such as AOL, Prodigy, MSN, and CompuServe have monthly billing plans that must be applied to a customer’s major credit card or telephone bill. Payment by check is also an option, however, your ISP provider applies a surcharge. Fee based ISPs benefit people and companies who have a need for high capacity, high-speed, and a broad range of features. Providers like AT &T and MSN offer wireless service plans, so consumers have the option of accessing the Internet through their laptops or personal PDAs (Fusco, 2000b, pars. 4-6). In determining which ISP is best, one should consider cost, speed, availability, and technical support. The content of the ISP’s website, personal services, and customer satisfaction should also be considered. Choosing a High-Speed Modem Technology: Cable vs. DSL Of course, there is much more to achieving high-performance Internet access than just choosing a fast computer and an Internet Service Provider, as one will also need a connection capable of handling all of this bandwidth. Recently, there are new emerging technologies that will allow you to access information over the Internet at blinding speeds. Today, one can choose between new high-speed subscriber lines, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Cable Modem, which enables one to access information over 10 times faster than the 56K modem. To utilize DSL will require a DSL-capable modem, which connects to the phone lines already present in the home. Installing DSL is a bit tricky. Although there are installation kits available, it is easier to have the phone company install the service, since installation requires a few components needed for avoiding interference while using the modem and telephone at the same time. The cost of installing DSL runs between $50-$100, while the monthly service fee averages about $80 per month, and includes an ISP (PC World, 2000, May, p. 106). DSL is not yet offered in all areas, however, a recent survey from The Yankee Group estimates that 21% of US households will have access to DSL shortly (PC World, 2000, May, p. 104). Cable Modem is another high-speed solution for accessing the Internet. Cable Modem technology offers similar performance as DSL, yet the technology is a bit different, as it utilizes the existing television cable in the home. Like DSL, Cable Modem access will require a special modem and can be installed by the consumer, or by a local cable company. Expect to pay approximately $100 for the installation, while the monthly service fee averages about $50 per month (PC World, 2000, May, p. 106). The Yankee Group estimates that 41% of US households will have access to Cable Modem technology, which is limited to those households already equipped with cable television services (PC World, 2000, May, p. 104). 87% of Cable Modem users and 86% of DSL users are satisfied with the performance, according to a PC World survey (PC World, 2000, May, p. 116). While the monthly service fees are more for DSL, as compared to Cable Modem, the fees are expected to normalize as the technology becomes more widespread. In reviewing these high-speed technologies, the choice begins to shift from choosing between DSL and Cable Modem, to choosing between either of these two, along with any of the new computers. Summary This study reveals that to gain high speed connectivity, any of the new computer hardware choices are adequate. The key to high speed information access is now governed by your connection, where this situation was revered just a few short years ago. DSL and Cable Modem both offer substantial performance improvements over conventional 56K Internet access. Either choice enables high-speed Internet access, which will be a vital component as more and more on-line information begins to congest the information pipeline. To truly gain high speed Internet access, one must incorporate either of these new modem technologies, along with their choice of hardware, which should be based on one’s individual needs. References Businessweek Online website. (November 15, 2000) The Palm is Mightier†¦, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: www.businessweek.com Fusco, P. (1999, December). Jupiter: Free ISPs won’t replace dial-up access (16 paragraphs). InternetNews – ISP News Archives, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: www.internetnews.com Fusco, P. (2000a, May). AT &T Wireless Debuts Free Wireless Internet (15 paragraphs) InternetNews – ISP News Archives, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.internet.news.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_356751,00.html Fusco, P. (2000b, September). J.D. Powers Ranks Big Six ISPs (19 paragraphs). InternetNews – ISP News Archives, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.internetnews.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_460761,00.html Overton, R & Goavec, P. (May 2000). PC World – Broadband or Bust, Volume 18, Number 5. 102-108, 112, 116 Palmgear website. (Copyright 2000, internet.com Corp), [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: www.palmblvd.com

Understanding Delphi Class (and Record) Helpers

Understanding Delphi Class (and Record) Helpers A feature of the Delphi language added some years ago (way back in in Delphi 2005) called Class Helpers is designed to let you add new functionality to an existing class (or a record) by introducing new methods to the class (record). Below youll see some more ideas for class helpers learn when to and when not to use class helpers. Class Helper For... In simple words, a class helper is a construct that extends a class by introducing new methods in the helper class. A class helper allows you to extend existing class without actually modifying it or inheriting from it. To extend the VCLs TStrings class you would declare and implement a class helper like the following: type TStringsHelper class helper for TStrings public function Contains(const aString : string) : boolean; end; The above class, called TStringsHelper is a class helper for the TStrings type. Note that TStrings is defined in the Classes.pas, a unit that is by default available in the uses clause for any Delphi forms unit, for example. The function were adding to the TStrings type using our class helper is Contains. The implementation could look like: function TStringsHelper.Contains(const aString: string): boolean; begin result : -1 IndexOf(aString); end; Im certain youve used the above many times in your code - to check if some TStrings descendant, like TStringList, has some string value in its Items collection. Note that, for example, the Items property of a TComboBox or a TListBox is of the TStrings type. Having the TStringsHelper implemented, and a list box on a form (named ListBox1), you can now check if some string is a part of the list box Items property by using: if ListBox1.Items.Contains(some string) then ... Class Helpers Go and NoGo The implementation of class helpers has some positive and some (you might think of) negative impacts to your coding. In general you should avoid extending your own classes - as if you need to add some new functionality to your own custom classes - add the new stuff in the class implementation directly - not using a class helper. Class helpers are therefore more designed to extend a class when you cannot (or do not need to) rely on normal class inheritance and interface implementations. A class helper cannot declare instance data, like new private fields (or properties that would read/write such fields). Adding new class fields is allowed. A class helper can add new methods (function, procedure). Before Delphi XE3 you could only extend classes and records - complex types. From Delphi XE 3 release you can also extend simple types like integer or string or TDateTime, and have construct like: var s : string; begin s : Delphi XE3 helpers; s : s.UpperCase.Reverse; end; Ill write about Delphi XE 3 simple type helper in the near future. Wheres MY Class Helper One limitation to using class helpers that might help you shoot yourself in the foot is the fact that you can define and associate multiple helpers with a single type. However, only zero or one helper applies in any specific location in source code. The helper defined in the nearest scope will apply. Class or record helper scope is determined in the normal Delphi fashion (for example, right to left in the units uses clause). What this means is that you might define two TStringsHelper class helpers in two different units but only one will apply when actually used! If a class helper is not defined in the unit where you use its introduced methods - which in most cases will be so, you do not know what class helper implementation you would actually be using. Two class helpers for TStrings, named differently or residing in different units might have different implementation for the Contains method in the above example. Use Or Not? Yes, but be aware of the possible side effects. Heres another handy extension to the above mentioned TStringsHelper class helper TStringsHelper class helper for TStrings private function GetTheObject(const aString: string): TObject; procedure SetTheObject(const aString: string; const Value: TObject); public property ObjectFor[const aString : string]: TObject read GetTheObject write SetTheObject; end; ... function TStringsHelper.GetTheObject(const aString: string): TObject; var idx : integer; begin result : nil; idx : IndexOf(aString); if idx -1 then result : Objects[idx]; end; procedure TStringsHelper.SetTheObject(const aString: string; const Value: TObject); var idx : integer; begin idx : IndexOf(aString); if idx -1 then Objects[idx] : Value; end; If youve been adding objects to a string list, you can guess when to use the above handy helper property.

Saudi Females Experience Between the United States and Saudi Arabia Research Paper - 1

Saudi Females Experience Between the United States and Saudi Arabia - Research Paper Example ent of Saudi Arabia, thousands of Arabian youth have moved to the US to study under the scholarship named â€Å"King Abdullah’s Scholarship Program.† Half of these people are young ladies, who the government, in an attempt to empower the female gender in line with the global requirements. Some came at a tender age, after completion of their secondary education, while others came at an advanced age of their youth, at tender ages of their marriages. An argument can be raised that the variations in the experiences among these scholars lie on their age. However, the reasons for coming to study could also be a reason for the reactions. This paper focuses on the experiences of the female Saudi Arabia women in the US, by reviewing literatures done by various scholars and newspaper articles. The inception of â€Å"King Abdullah Scholarship Program† was supposed to give as many Saudi Arabian citizens education opportunities as possible, all over the world. According to Newswire, (2007) students who were to benefit under the scholarship would be provided with full tuition fees, a living stipend, books and computer allowances. The purpose of this move was to make sure that no student who qualified for the program was left out due to financial constraints. Applications for the programme are either done directly or student nomination through a professor. Since the inception of the program, has been successful if the number of Saudi Arabians who have benefited through the program is anything to go by. Statistics reveal that in 2010, 1984 high school students were selected to join in the program to pursue bachelors’ degree, while 6736 students were chosen to join masters’ programme, as doctorate degree beneficiaries were a total of 1283 (Newswire, 2010). The high number of people being chosen to join the programme is an indication of its success and citizens’ willingness to study. The United States and United Kingdom colleges and universities are classified as some of

Environmental Archaeology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Environmental Archaeology - Essay Example Most studies, since the ancient times, have indicated that increased human activities on the environment have led to environmental degradation and transformation. However, this paper presents environmental, archeological view that lack of human activities on the environment leads to land degradation and transformation. Since the ancient periods, it is highly believed that increased human activities on the environment have caused environmental transformation and degradation. Almost all human activities have either positive or negative effect on the environment. For example, all types of pollutions are because of human activity. The pronounced sources of pollution are water pollution, air pollution, and farming (Chambers, 2004). Farming is one of the main causes of environmental degradation and pollution. This is because most farmers are determined to practice only one form of animal husbandry, and produce a single crop. This is believed to fuel the loss of biodiversity since natural f orests are cleared to create space for these human activities. Clearing of land exposes the soil surface to rainfall and surface run-offs, which causes soil erosion (Chambers, 2004). In addition, cleared forests reduce the amount of natural habitat available for wildlife. Unlike the traditional assumptions that increased human activity leads to environmental degradation and transformation, â€Å"culture-centric† perspective on the environmental archeology argues that lack of human activities leads to environmental degradation and transformation (Chris, 2003). Deforestation caused through human activities, such as logging and burning, is at times beneficial to both plants and animals. Animals, plants, and trees naturally recover from burnt forests if the space is not occupied by human settlements. Birds such as woodpeckers survive well in freshly burned areas more than thickets where they feed on insects that occupy the burned area (Hall & Harry, 2006). In addition, seed dispe rsion is enhanced through human activities such as the search for food. Trees like lodgepole produce serrotonous cones. These cones are fused shut, and they only burst when burnt. Wildfires set by human burn these cones, thereby spreading their seeds into burnt areas with little competition (Hall & Harry, 2006). After 20 years of growth, the burned area soon becomes fully occupied by medium-height lodgepole pines. An example of such area is Yellowstone National Park (Chambers, 2004). This, therefore, indicates human activities such as deforestation can enhance dispersion of seeds from one area to another, thus the spread of plant and tree species. Human’s ability to confine wild animals into specific areas has also created order in the environment. Wild animals are an integral part of the natural environment, and their existence creates a balance in the ecosystem. However, due to dynamic environmental degradations and transformations, human realized the need to conserve the w ild animals in parks and zoos to protect them from drought and poaching among other factors (Rashid et al, 2005). Through conservation, animals are protected from the loss of habitat, climatic changes, hunting, natural calamities, pollution, over-exploitation, pesticides, and toxic chemicals (Rashid et al, 2005). This has ensured successful utilization of available natural resources by regulating the rate of competition among the animals, and protecting them from external threats (Rashid et al, 2