Assessing Reliability and Credibility of Cam

Assessing Reliability and Credibility of CAM Research is an important part of finding the appropriate CAM therapy that will help the patient’s symptoms. The information that is obtained during research could be full of opinions and not facts. Since we want factual information instead of opinions it is important that we are sure the information we are looking at is a reliable and credible source. Criteria for Reliability and Credibility CAM therapies are being used more today than in years past. The use of CAM has become helpful for many patients to elevate symptoms of their ailment. When studying which CAM therapy is right for the symptoms that are presented we need to be sure that the source of information is reliable and credible. There are several things we can ask ourselves to ensure the information we are using is reliable and credible. These criteria should be considered: 1)Does the source provide (Harris, Robert, June 15, 2007): a. Author’s name b. Author’s title and position c. Author’s organizational affiliation d. Date of the document 2)The documentation provides the information we are looking for (Harris, Robert. June 15, 2007): a. Facts b. Opinions c. Arguments d. Statistics e. Narratives f. Descriptions 3)Has there been cited information within the document that we are reviewing (Montecino, Virginia, August 1998). 4)What type of website is the information provided on (Montecino, Virginia, August 1998): a. A personal page b. Special interest site c. Professional site d. News or journalistic site e. Commercial site 5)Does the website contain information that is (Harris, Robert, June 15, 2007): a. Fair b. Objective c. Quality information . Lacking hidden motives Website for Review The website that I am going to use for review is a website regarding fish oil: http://healthlibrary. epnet. com/GetContent. aspx? token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21684#P3. The website homepage is from http://www. iherb. com/default. aspx?. The homepage offers information on herbs, supplements, conditions, drug interactions, homeopathy, and it has a medical library that you can look up all kinds of information. Consumer’s Attitudes and Beliefs about CAM Consumers are skeptical of using CAM therapies to heal the symptoms that are present or to help prevent symptoms of different diseases from appearing in their health. For some consumer’s their religious beliefs or beliefs they have been raised with do not support the use of CAM therapies. Cases where a consumer’s beliefs do not support the use of CAM the consumer would not even consider the possibility of using CAM therapies. Consumers have set opinions and attitudes about different things within their lives. For some they hold these opinions and attitudes to a stern heart and cannot be persuaded to change for any reason. Consumer’s that are set in their opinion and attitude often will not even consider change even with facts in front of them that the change can be a good change. Conclusion about Website For the purpose of this paper I have focused my research on fish oil. The webpage on fish oil has been reviewed by EBSCO CAM Medical Review Board in April 2009. The author of the source is not revealed; with the webpage being reviewed by the EBSCO CAM Medical Review Board it can be considered a reliable and credible source. If the information provided on this webpage is not correct information the Medical Review Board would not support the information. According to the website the page was last updated April 1, 2009, therefore the information is a year old and not extremely outdated. The webpage provides factual information and discusses studies that have been done on fish oil. The beginning of the webpage gives alternative names for fish oil, which can be helpful to the consumer when being sure they are not allergic to another name of fish oil. The webpage has 271 references where the information has been gathered for the purpose of this webpage. Throughout the webpage it allows the person reviewing the information to click on different terms for a further explanation of the term that has been used. The webpage allows the researcher to see and click on different proposed uses of fish oil to review. The information on other proposed uses is useful when looking at other possible symptoms of diseases that the consumer may have, in some cases the use of fish oil could help the consumer with more than one ailment. Through the review of this webpage I would consider it a reliable and credible source of information. Increase Credibility The website I have reviewed on fish oil seems to be a credible website. The information is full of factual information along with studies that have been conducted regarding the use of fish oil. The website even has a disclaimer regarding the use of fish oil, which many websites that discuss different CAM treatments does not include. The website could contain testimonials from consumers that have already used fish oil for the different aliments it helps. The testimonials could give consumers first hand information from consumers that have already used fish oil for the symptoms that the consumer doing the research is trying to elevate. I do not know of any other way that the site could increase the credibility any more than it already has contained within the website. Conclusion CAM can help consumer’s improve symptoms they may be experiencing and in some cases help to prevent a disease by the use of different CAM therapies. Consumer’s read information about different CAM therapies but the consumer needs to be sure that the information they are reading is from a reliable and credible source. Information obtained on the internet can be placed on the internet and contain nothing but opinions. Ensuring that the information is factual and reliable is something a consumer should consider before using any type of CAM therapy. Following the criteria discussed within this paper can help consumers be sure that the information they have found and are considering is credible and reliable, and most of all information that can be used when making decisions on their health. References Harris, Robert. (June 15, 2007). Evaluating Internet Research Sources. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from: http://www. virtualsalt. com/evalu8it. htm iHerb. com. (2010). Fish Oil. Retrieved April 25, 2010 from: http://healthlibrary. epnet. com/GetContent. aspx? token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21684#P3 Montecino, Virginia. (August 1998). Criteria to Evaluate the Credibility of WWW Resources. Retrieved April 25, 2010 from: http://mason. gmu. edu/~montecin/web-eval-sites. htm

Being Human

As we all know that we are all human beings with uniqueness. Each one of us has different and unique traits, personalities, features and is in total different from an animal or any creatures on the earth. This means to say that we as a human being cannot be like another animal or machine on earth. We have our own set of feelings, habits, likes and dislikes, etc. In fact it can be said that we are probably the only creatures on earth that give priority and importance to relationship and love. However, since these aspects are basically the study of mind we cannot claim that love does not exist among other creatures.Many of us who are used to having pets at home understand the extent to which an animal can express love. However, we cannot judge of the concepts of sin, reasoning, self-awareness, critical thinking, individuality, emotions, empathy, etc. in case of animals. Individuals with psychological problems, sadistic personality disorder, transgressive behavior, cannibals and murdere rs can therefore be considered as being inhuman. There are also instances when human beings under the effect of drugs, neuroscience, introspection, and experiences cause irreversible changes in their traits and characteristics.There are several literatures that talks about the stories of people who were inhuman. There are people who are more â€Å"humane† than the humans around them. This, perhaps, is what really the meaning of being human. There are many people today who are arguing that the present trends in science and technology has kept man and god together. For instance, technologies such as cloning and stem cells have brought in the capability to create a whole new organism. Human beings or for that matter any organism is a result of natures cloning.However, today manmade cloning is a subject of controversy and has raised several ethical questions. There are several arguments made for and against cloning. Some have put forth valid arguments stating the immorality of cl oning. Others use the religion argument saying it goes against God's intention (McCoy n. pag). For any technology to progress and produce beneficial results it is essential that we look at the positive impacts that these technologies may have on the society. There are several researchers who have tries to divine the word being human. For instance, â€Å"Rev. Mitsuo Aoki, Ph.D has said that â€Å"The greatness of aging is to enable you to realize for the first time the deeper meaning of that it means to be human. Not the religious, not that, but more human and it's only in this process of aging that this quality of being human is realizable. You begin to understand the nature of faith, the meaning of hope. And so hope is not about something you achieved, but the life that is always shining in front of you†¦ Is beckoning you. And you only understand that in the process of aging. It's amazing what has been manifested in this process. That beyond all these things is something we call love†¦love. † (KGMB9) Different group of people define this term differently. For instance, â€Å"the constructivists state that Human Nature is a simple cultural artifact†. Sociobiologists, however, are determinists. They consider that human nature – being the inevitable and inexorable outcome of the inhuman ancestry – cannot be the subject of moral judgment†. Human dignity is indeed used to indicate that all human beings have intrinsic worthiness. Every human deserves unconditional respect and is not related to any difference in age, sex, anthropological origin, health, political boundaries, religion, or personal history.In other words it can be said that these are exclusively human. According to the Catholic thought â€Å"human dignity† is linked to an array of human life issues. For instance, it includes health care ethics. In other words catholic moral thoughts are the basic tradition’s understanding of common justice, th e common good, and the right to life and the right to health care in all aspects (Ascension Health). We as human beings have the right to choice and can select what we want in our life. This is not true in the case of animals.Self organizing is another aspect of human beings that is rare in other animals. We live as a social being and participate in the political system. The term being human can be easily understood if we know the meaning of being inhuman. Inhuman means lacking kindness, pity, or compassion or being cruel to other human beings, nature, or any organism. These acts are easily recognizable and are to a greater extent disliked by the majority of us. Besides, the ability to communicate to each other using different languages, the educational background, the society and the impact of religion makes us more human.Morality and immorality is the term that is used to define if a human being can be considered being human or inhuman. Additionally, the concepts of mortality/immo rtality mirror on the promises of life and the predictability of death. It is throughout human development, even for early man called the Neanderthals, this concept has been dominant and in some cultures it is believed that life after death is a reality. The present state of knowledge of the human being is one which has been developed using the special skills and intelligence of human beings.However, it is more by the materialistic thinking of modern technological science. We as human beings need to be more compassionate towards other creatures, nature and think of the development in a sustainable manner. It is also important to realize that we are human beings and not machines. Often times, in today’s run for success and fame, people are not realizing the basic needs of self, family as well as other related organisms. Cooperate world is more like using humans as machines to make profit, to achieve targets and generally think of the human body as being merely an elaborate mac hine which is a real problem.It is essential to realize that we as human beings need to be human to ourselves and other fellow human being with all the non-material aspects of the human being- thinking, feeling, attitudes, emotions, mores, imagination, etc. Work cited Ascension Health. Principle of Human Dignity (2007) KGMB9. The Deeper Meaning of Being Human†¦ Love (2008) McCoy, L. Lloyd's pro cloning essay. (1998).

Chains and Sustainable Development Essay Example for Free

Chains and Sustainable Development Essay Those of us who preach the gospel of agriculture with evangelical zeal find the text compelling and convincing. We are regularly possessed by the spirit only to look around and see out colleagues, in other sectors, in country management, or even our senior management doubting, yawning or subtly edging towards the door. We face the implicit query, â€Å"If agriculture can do such great things, why have they not yet happened? †1 The past decade has been one of agro-pessimism. The promises that agricultural development seem to hold did not materialise. This pessimism seemed to coincide with pessimism about Sub-Saharan Africa. Especially for Sub-Saharan Africa the hope was that economic development would be brought about by agricultural development. After the success of the green revolution in Asia, the hope was that a similar agricultural miracle would transform African economies. But this hope never materialised, agricultural productivity did not increase much in SSA (figure 1), and worse, the negative effects of the green revolution in Asia became more apparent, such as pesticide overuse and subsequent pollution. Also in Asia the yield increases tapered off. The sceptics put forward several arguments why agriculture is no longer an engine of growth2. For instance, the liberalisation of the 1990s and greater openness to trade has lead to a reduction in the economic potential of the rural sector: cheap imported Chinese plastic buckets out compete the locally produced pottery. On the other hand, it does mean cheaper (imported) supplies. With rapid global technical change and increasingly integrated markets, prices fall faster than yields rise. So, rural incomes fall despite increased productivity if they are net producers3. The integration of rural with urban areas means that healthy young people move out of agriculture, head to town, leaving behind the old, the sick and the dependent. It is often also the men who move to urban areas, leaving women in charge of the farm. This has resulted in the increased sophistication of agricultural markets (and value chains) which excludes traditional smallholders, who are poorly equipped to meet the demanding product specifications and timeliness of delivery required by expanding supermarkets. The natural resource base on which agriculture depends is poor and deteriorating. Productivity growth is therefore increasingly more difficult to achieve. Finally, multiplier effects occur when a change in spending causes a disproportionate change in aggregate demand. Thus an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent. But as GDP rises and the share of agriculture typically decreases, the question is how important these multiplier effects are, especially when significant levels of poverty remain in rural areas, which is the case in middleincome countries. The disappointment with agriculture led many donor organisations to turn away from agriculture, looking instead to areas that would increase the well-being of poor people, such as health and education. Those organisations that still focused on agriculture, such as the CGIAR, were put under pressure to focus more on reducing poverty, besides increasing agricultural productivity. However, since the beginning of the new century, there seems to be a renewed interest in agriculture. A review of major policy documents5, including the well-publicised Sachs report and the Kofi Annan report, show that agriculture is back on the agenda again. The most influential report, however, has been the World Development Report 2008 of the World Bank6. This report argues that growth in the agricultural sector 1 contributes proportionally more to poverty reduction than growth in any other economic sector and that therefore alone, the focus should be on the agricultural sector when achieving to reach MDG 1. A reassessment of the role of agriculture in development seems to be required. This policy paper addresses several timely though complex questions: †¢ First, how can or does agriculture contribute to economic development, and in particular how does it relate to poverty? †¢ Second, the agricultural sector has changed considerably in the past decades: what are the main drivers of this change? †¢ Third, what is the relationship between economic or agricultural growth and pro-poor development? †¢ Fourth, how does agriculture relate to other sectors in the economy? †¢ Fifth, who is included and who is excluded in agricultural development, specifically focusing on small farms? †¢ And finally, if agricultural development is indeed important to economic development, then why, despite all the efforts and investments, has this not led to more successes? 2. Agriculture and economic growth This section presents a number of factual observations describing how the agricultural sector changed in terms of productivity, contribution to economic growth, and indicating the relevance of the agricultural sector for poverty alleviation in different regions. Background: some facts In the discussion of the role of agriculture in economic development, a leading question is how agriculture contributes to economic growth, and especially to pro-poor growth. There seems to be a paradox in the role of agriculture in economic development. The share of agriculture contributing to GDP is declining over the years (see figure 1). At the same time, the productivity of for instance cereal yields has been increasing (see figure 2). It seems that as agriculture becomes more successful, its importance declines in the overall economy. Of course, other sectors in the economy can be even more successful, such as the Asian Tigers. Chains and Sustainable Development. (2016, Sep 07).

A Dream Family Vacation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Dream Family Vacation - Essay Example Despite the cost implications, the wildlife, including all flora and fauna, and the people will make the vacation worth. The East Africa vacation would provide the family with the much needed relaxation. The coastal beaches will present an opportunity to swim in the ocean; in warm water heated by the sun. The warm equatorial temperature will play a critical role in making the vacation perfect, away from the snowy American weather. East Africa occurs at the equator and thus enjoys perfect weather all year round. The natural African wild will be sure to give the refreshing look of nature and the natural clean environment sure to relax every part of the body. Therefore, the vacation guarantees wholesome relaxation. Visiting East Africa would provide the family with an opportunity to witness the seventh wonder of the world – wildebeest migration. The Great Wildebeest, Migration as it is known, refers to the migration of over 2 million animals from a national park in Tanzania throu gh the famous Mara River into a national reserve in Kenya in search for greener pastures. It normally takes place between the months of July and October. This migration has made some of the internationally accredited media such as BBC set camp in the region to constantly report on the developments and the life in the region. Associating with such international stars in witnessing the life in the wild would be an honor for the family. Migrating together with wildebeests are zebras, gazelles and elands. This vacation will therefore present an opportunity to see different wild animals in their natural habitat at the same time. Other than the wildebeests’ migration, the vacation will provide an opportunity to witness carnivorous animals in action. As the wildebeests cross into the Kenyan wild, the crocodiles in the Mara River hunt them down. Because of their large numbers, it would be difficult for them to be missed by the crocodiles. Thus, the family can be sure of witnessing th e crocodiles hunting the wildebeests live. In the plains, the family would also witness lions and leopards hunt down their prey. The vacation being during the wet season in the region will be perfect to see herbivorous animals come out in the plains to graze. Therefore, witnessing carnivorous animals hunting them down is almost sure as it happens in the open plains. The wildlife reserves in Kenya and Tanzania provides an opportunity to also see various kinds of wild animals. During this vacation, we will hire experienced tour guides who will take us round the wildlife reserve and specifically to spots where we would see different wild animals. During such wet seasons, wild animals would be within visibility. This would therefore be an opportunity to see most of the wild animals we only see on television. We will see lions, leopards, gazelles, buffaloes, giraffes and snakes. It will also be an opportunity to see different birds including flamingoes, ostriches, marabou stork and crane birds among others. With a majority of these animals only found in Africa, including the giraffe, elephant, impala and marabou stork, this vacation will set us apart from our neighbors who would not have seen these animals live. We, on the other hand, would have had the privilege of not only seeing these animals, but seeing them in their natural habitat. The black rhinoceros is one of the endangered species of wild animals in East Africa that we will see. Other endangered species of wild animals in the region that we could see include the cheetah, African elephant, African lion and Grevy’s zebra. Taking this vacation would provide a chance to see these animals before extinction. The East African wild comes with an endowment of vegetation that would add onto our

Patriot Act Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Patriot Act - Research Paper Example The Department of Justice designed and developed the drafts for this new law. This legislation is intended to fortify the measures and reinforce the available tools to deal with domestic and international terrorism. It also provides a number of new techniques to the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors (Jenks). Under these interventions, the US agencies can identify and prosecute terrorist networks at the national and international levels. Central to the US PATRIOT Act is its unique feature of streamlining communications between the different agencies addressing terrorism and terrorist activities. This Act has simplified the task of investigation and surveillance, by introducing less involved procedures. Funding for the victims of terrorist acts and the families of such victims has been substantially enhanced under the provisions of this exemplary Act. Moreover, it provides ample funds for reconstructing infrastructure and business that had been destroyed or damaged by terrorism (Fritscher). This Act has been sub – divided into 10 sections or titles. These titles consist of several sections that explain the provisions of that particular title. A concrete definition is provided in the titles and sections to the federal government. The aim of this delineation is to clarify the powers conferred upon the enforcement agencies, with regard to the investigation of terrorist activities. It is important to note that the provisions of the US PATRIOT Act also contain several checks and balances that are aimed at preventing the abuse of power (Fritscher). Argument 1 The USA PATRIOT Act establishes special scrutiny measures for foreign jurisdictions. Thus, enforcement officials can prosecute international terrorist organizations and foreign financial institutions. It also empowers them to deal with certain classes of international transactions and accounts, if these are suspected of being put to criminal use. This Act r equires all international financial service agencies to monitor their transactions and to report any instances of money laundering. The Act further strengthens measures to prevent the misuse of the US financial system for personal gains, by corrupt foreign officials (USA PATRIOT Act). In addition, it provides mechanisms to repatriate stolen assets to the country to which they belong. Prior to the enactment of the US PATRIOT Act, the law enforcement agencies of the US had found it very difficult to take direct action, in order to prevent acts of terrorism or to monitor terrorist activity in the country. It was believed in many quarters that substantial alterations had to be made to the existing laws, if the contemporary terrorist organizations were to be dealt with in a competent manner (Patriot Act 2001). These terrorist organizations, such as the notorious al Qaeda, were very well organized and had access to the highly sophisticated contemporary communications technology. The propo nents of increased domestic surveillance have rightly claimed that the harm caused by the possibility of breach of the rights of the US citizens was insignificant. This was in comparison to the immeasurable harm that terrorists could inflict upon the nation, by taking advantage of the absence of domestic surveillance. Such surveillance is indispensable if another terrorist attack of the

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

Research Paper Example All these are geared towards promoting food security. However, genetically modified foods have raised great debate in the recent past over their impact on human health. The two main areas of concern are risk to human health and risk to the environment. This paper seeks to look at the health benefits of genetically modified foods and also the disadvantages of these foods. Pathogens, herbivorous insects, and parasites have significantly reduced crop yields all over the world. Given the fact that the population is increasing, traditional crops cannot sustain the world population because of the above threats. GM crops have been introduced to help abate this problem. Examples of crops grown in this case are virus resistant genetically modified papaya and insect resistant crops having Bacillus thuringiensis gene. This has been successful in the United States; insect resistant GM maize is grown on an area of about 10.6 million hectares and represents 35 percent of all the maize grown in the country. The resistance has also been enhanced to include bacterial and fungal pathogens. With reduction in crop loss due to pathogens, insects and parasites, more yields can be achieved and this can reduce malnutrition (Key, Ma and Drake 292). Another issue that has caused reduction in the crop yields is abiotic stress which includes low or high temperatures, drought, and salinity. It is projected that in the coming years these losses will increase due decline in water resources and desertification. Salinity and drought are expected to increase salinization of arable lands. This calls for adoption of new technology that will ensure there is crop survival. There have been attempts to produce abiotic stress resistant genetically modified foods. However, there has been no break through yet and the research is still at laboratory level. In

Auto world case study- Service Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Auto world case study- Service Marketing - Essay Example Empathy- personalized attention to loyal and regular customers. Separate database maintenance will be established for regular customers who come for routine check up of their cars and no need for them to stand in a queue. Assuming that manual service writing has been replaced with computerized system of entering service orders and creation of database of regular customers with oil and maintenance routine has been put in place at Auto World, the service blueprint will be worked out as follows: (Appendix 2) (Bitner, Ostrom and Morgan 2008) The new service strategy for enhancing service would be to segregate the routine and emergency service customers on the basis of maintained database. As a result, routine customers will be asked to fill a form and let go after taking their cars. Emergency customers would have to detail the service writer about the problem and then place the order. As stated already, cars and their servicing are marked by greater intangibility and thus, bettering this component of the business will definitely bring benefits to Carol. Recovering from service failure will encompass timely deliveries, increased attention to customer expectations and deciding upon who should be involved at which stage and in which process of service delivery (Boshoff 1997). As obvious from case facts, annoying behavior of employees has been a key factor in the failure and bad experience of service in Auto World (Lovelock, Wirtz & Chew 2009). As such, tangible offering will have to be coupled with more of intangible aspects to deliver an optimum service and product mix. One bad service experience in car servicing is error in delivering the worked upon car. For instance, whether manual or computerized entry system, a car was to be delivered to the customer on a specific date but when the customer asked the service agent to confirm the date, it was told incorrect by error. As a result, the customer had to wait

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 28

Homework - Essay Example Therefore, being the recipient of the word of God, Prophet Muhammad remains the religious role model of Muslims. The Quran also stated categorically that the messenger of God is an excellent model for all (Quran 33:21), thus imploring on the Muslims to take Prophet Muhammad as a Religious and Political Role Model (Tarif, 257).Prophet Muhammad is known to have spent all of his time fighting injustice and greed, while identifying with the poor and the less advantage throughout his life. This gives a vital tenet of leadership on his part, which all Muslims ought to follow. Therefore, he demonstrated political leadership through fighting for injustice and for the poor and oppressed, and thus becomes a Religious and Political Role Model for Muslims. Prophet Muhammad lived his life demonstrating both religion and political leadership, and he was successful in both (Tarif, 118).Therefore, he remains a Religious and Political Role Model for Muslims, considering that he received authority; which was the word, from

Pre-sentence Investigations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pre-sentence Investigations - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that a pre-sentence investigation usually consists of three elements.   These elements, according to the article â€Å"Presentence Investigation†, include an interview with the defendant; a review of the defendant’s criminal record; and a review of the specific facts of the crime. The interview could be the most important element that would save one’s client from being needlessly harangued in the courts.   According to Auten, Hasbun, and Mebane, â€Å"Having a well-prepared client can have a substantial impact on the sentencing outcome†.   It is of elemental priority that one’s client is absolutely prepared for any kind of questions that could come to light in the presentencing interview.   One’s client should be regaled in an innocent light as possible, in order to ensure that the client gets the shortest sentence possible.   After all, now that the client has been convicted as having bee n guilty, the presentencing interview can go a long way in terms of deciding whether the client stays in jail for 2 months or 2 years.   Depending on the seriousness of the crime, whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony—and also upon federal and state sentencing guidelines—there are many variables which can affect the sentencing.   Therefore, the presentencing interview cannot be underestimated.   It is an integral part of representing one’s client and this opportunity should not be wasted.  Ã‚  

Ethics In Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics In Business - Assignment Example Government safety regulations have both a positive and a negative side. As for the former, the safety regulations offer due protection to the customer. Once manufacturers desire to have their goods consumed by a certain set of consumers, the said goods must pass through certain verifiable safety standards that are meant to ensure that the end user is at no risk, however, from the consummation of such goods. will be an essential thing to the customer. The process of passing the goods through all the desired standards may prove expensive to the manufacturers. This is mainly because of the extent of inspection required by the authorities. In terms of safety, I would argue that business is meeting its requirements and expectations of the clients. The strict legal measures enacted to protect the consumer have really assisted in maintaining strict safety procedures, according to me. In terms of quality, pricing and labeling and packaging, there are businesses (most) that do not meet this s tandard. The main reason for this, perhaps, is the strict competition that is forcing marketers to apply all necessary mechanisms to ensure the goods are purchased. Today, advertising is not positive and socially desirable due to the gross deceptive techniques that are applied to it. Many advertisements have grown to be ambiguous, use extensively concealed facts, are exaggerated and tend to appease people psychologically. The end result is the bias that tends to deny the consumer the necessary truth while purchasing a product.

The Scarlet Ibis Essay Example for Free

The Scarlet Ibis Essay Answer the following questions honestly and thoughtfully. Be sure to write in full sentences and completely answer each question. Save your answers in your Network folder as Scarlet Ibis Questions. 1. How did you feel at the end of the story? Elaborate and explain in detail. 2. Does Doodle and or his brother remind you of anyone real or in other stories youve read or films you might have seem? Explain why or why not. 3. Have you had any personal experiences which help you to relate to this story? Describe an example from your life or another person’s. 4. What is a caul? Why did Aunt Nicey think the caul was important? Explain and support your answer. 5. What is significant about Doodle’s interaction with the bird the scarlet ibis. Find specific quotes from the text to support your answer. 6. In what way does the narrator’s pride help and also hurt Doodle? Provide textual evidence of both from the text. 7. The author, James Hurst, grew up in the southern part of the United States. How can we tell that the story took place in the South? Use at least two quotes from the story to support your answer. 8. What literary devices does Hurst use to tell his story? How do these devices help make the story effective? Offer textual support. 9. Does the story end the way you expect it to? Why does the author choose this ending? What effect does this conclusion have on the reader? 10. How would you like to have seen the story conclude? Be specific.

Psychological Disorders Essay Example for Free

Psychological Disorders Essay 1. Does Katherine’s description meet the clinical criteria for a panic attack? Substantiate your  answer. A panic attack is described as an unexpected period wherein the person suffers intense fear that occurs without warning or any reason.   It is characterized by shortness of breath, palpitations, chest discomfort, trembling, choking feeling, intense sweating, nausea, dizziness, feelings of being detached from oneself, fear of going crazy, dying fears, numbness, and cold or hot flashes.   For an episode to be considered a panic attack, the person has to meet four of the symptoms.    In Katherines case, she described four of the symptoms to having a panic attack.   She said that she felt dizzy, had difficulty breathing, was feeling nauseous, and felt like she was detached from herself.   From this, I believe Katherine had a panic attack. 2. Does Katherine meet the criteria for a dissociative disorder? Explain. Dissociative disorders are related to anxiety disorders in the sense that they are also reactions to stress and anxiety factors.   A dissociative person often exhibits changes or losses in consciousness, memory, identity or environmental perception.   In this case, the anxiety factor is clearly the visit to the parents house.   For some unknown reason, the visit awakened buried memories.   Although Katherine did not exhibit memory loss or shift, she experienced a change of perception in her environment. Based on how Katherine described her symptoms, I believe shes suffering from a dissociative disorder.   Although Katherine does not display the usual memory loss and split  personality symptoms typical of dissociative disorders, she has, however, described that she felt  separated from her physical self, like she was outside looking in.   She said that even if she was aware of driving the car, Katherine also felt like a different being who was just looking at another being driving the car.   This seems to be a case of Depersonalization disorder. 3. What other disorders does Katherine appear to have? Analyze. Its not clear whether Katherine was abused at a young age.   But based from the way Katherine pictured her father coming up from behind her to assault her, it would seem that a similar event had occurred to her in the past.   Either her father did the same to her as a child, or a man who resembles her father or has qualities similar to her father had done the same to her.   As a result Katherine developed an acute stress disorder long after the traumatic event occurred. She went into panic on her way to her parents house.   Apparently, the drive to her parents triggered unpleasant feelings.   Perhaps the assault on her person happened in her parents house or in the nearby vicinity.   Her avoidance of her parents, her admission of feeling estranged from them, and not letting them know about her plans support this assumption.   Katherine uses avoidance to keep the panic attack at bay.   Her avoidance is typical of others who are suffering from acute stress disorder.   Katherines troubled sleep, irritability, and nightmares are the result of a traumatic event that she probably has buried in her consciousness.

Postmodernism and Poststructuralism in Literature

Postmodernism and Poststructuralism in Literature In what ways do postmodernists and poststructuralists complicate our understanding of reality and its representation in literature and culture? Postmodernism is a shift of emphasis from content to form or style; a transformation from reality into images[1] which is what will be explored in the following essay and also the ways in which postmodernists and poststructuralists complicate reality. Focusing on how it is represented in culture. The theorists that will be focused on in regards to exploring this question are Derrida and Baudrillard with emphasis on the gulf war. Jacques Derrida is one of the major figures in the intellectual life of our time[2] Through his intervention texts are perceived in a different way, he discusses the conflicting relationship between an authors expressed intentions [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] and what the text actually describes.[3] Paying attention to ideas that are inconsistent with its overt statements.[4] Therefore, his theory of deconstruction brings to light [the] suppressed textual conflicts concerning what is ideal, primary or original[5] he focuses on the hierarchies between speech and writing; and nature and culture.[6] An important term when discussing Derrida is differance. Differance arises from his appropriation of Saussures concept of the sign[7] It is used in relation to the oppositions between presence and absence because differance is neither present nor absent but instead it is a kind of absence that generates the effect of presence.[8] The term is neither identity or difference but a kind of differentiation that produces the effect of identity and of difference between those identities.[9] Derrida invents this term to show the alternative understanding that refers to the passage of the infinite, endless differentiation[10] Differance means both to differ and to defer[11] Therefore, it is the unresolved deferral of the identity one might have ascribed to a particular term for example an entirely fixed meaning for the word dog never definitively arrives.[12] Derridas famous statement there is no outside of the text[13] does not mean that there is anything in the world but words on a page or books because Derrida redefined the term text. text means the indefinitely deferring movement of differentiation.[14] Rather than Derrida asking what is there, he interrogates the tangles in which we become entwined when we ask what there is.[15] Human beings tend to project something original which is represented or hypothesized by them, this is referred to as origins which is already enmeshed in language [16] The way we talk about origins, and what is secondary to them, produces the effect that there seems to be an origin.[17] Derrida always depicts origins textually and it is suggested that there may or may not be a beyond to the plays of language, the replies to his famous statement there is nothing outside of the text[18] are mostly in agreement that there is surely something outside of the text such as blood, rain, trees, and bodies, they believe that Derrida denies reality in favour of words[19] this response to his statement misunderstands what Derrida means when he refers to text. For him, the text means differance, spacing, relationality, differentiation, deferral, and delay.[20] By saying that there is nothing out of the text is stating that there is always relationality and differentiation but whatever is imagined as reality, it is argued that differentiation is critical.[21] The critics that object Derridas theories, they suggest the feeling of anger and emotion because emotion is not a text, some critics do defend Derrida but still fail to grasp what he means, for example, they state that it is impossible to describe anger without metaphors [and] linguistic meanings- we have always entered the world of language, [22] and that language constructs the reality in which we live in. Other critics argue that emotion is already differential[23] therefore, they believe that Derrida emphasises that we are always in the world of language, whether people refer to the rain or sun we never stepped out of language to touch the thing itself.[24] However, this explanation is a misunderstanding, according to Derrida a suggestion of rain in itself that I am, however, unable to experience except in the world of language and meaning.[25] This is a deconstructive way of talking because it projects an original world that people believe we cannot access, trapped in some prison of language[26] This raises the issue of a world that we cannot access, Catherine Belsey definition of the real, One can only think of language as a network, a net over the entirety of things, over the totality of the real[27] the real can be a place of traumatic events that should never be confronted, even in dreams[28] the real surrounds us it is a condition of human beings but it is something that is lost to us. constituted by culturally constructed images of reality.[29] A theorist that explores the loss of the real and the replacement of it is Baudrillard. His theory suggests thats simulation and simulacra replaces the real with a copy, no more mirror of being and appearances of the real[30] The real disappears because it is made up of miniaturized units, from matrices, memory banks, and command models.[31] Therefore, it can be reproduced multiple times, it is nothing more than operational. Thus, it is no longer enveloped by an imaginary [so] it is no longer real at all, it is hyperreal[32] The age of simulation begins with a liquidation of all referentials, by artificial resurrection in [a] system of signs.[33] Baudrillard suggests that this becomes a question of substituting signs of the real for the real itself[34] this process is to deter every real process by its operational double Baudrillard describes it as a perfect descriptive machine which provides all the signs of the real[35] therefore, the real is not needed to be reproduced ever again. He goes on to say that to simulate something is to feign to have what one hasnt [36]however, he suggests that to do this is not to simply feign because feigning always leaves reality intact [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the difference us always clear, it is only masked;[37] but simulation on the other hand threatens the difference between what is true and what is false between the real and the imaginary because the simulator produces true symptoms[38] so simulation is a play of illusions and phantasms[39] Moreover, Baudrillards the gulf war did not take place suggests that the war that took place during January and February 1991 was a TV gulf war.[40] It is a perfect example of Baudrillards theory. a hyperreal scenario in which events lose their identity and signifiers fade into one[41] suggesting that the medias representation as purveyor of reality[42]what viewers saw on the TV was for the most part a clean war with lots of pictures of weaponry, including the amazing footage from the nose-cameras of smart bombs.[43] Baudrillard insists that technological simulacra neither displace nor der the reality of war[44] instead becoming an integral part of the operation. Technology allowed the boundaries between simulation and reality to become blurred[45] Baudrillard argues that under these conditions the virtual has overtaken the actual[46] and it functions to deter the real event and leaves only the simulacrum of war[47] however, as he points out this does not mean it is unreal in the sen se that it does not have real effects[48] therefore, the real vanishes into the virtual. The event of war had become obscene and insupportable[49] like every real event. Therefore, we are confronted with a virtual apocalypse, a hegemony[50] which is ultimately more dangerous than real apocalypse[51] in turn our virtual had definitely taken over the actual and we must be content with this extreme[52] because we are no longer in a logic of the passage from virtual to actual but in a hyperrealist logic of deterrence of the real by the virtual[53] Derrida misunderstands Baudrillard by stating that he finds it interesting that simulacra of images, television, the manipulation of information, reportage[à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] nullified the event[54] he agrees that something like this or something analogues happened[55] however, he quickly asserts his disagreement by suggesting that this should not make us forget-and the event unforgettable- that there were deaths[à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] that no logic of simulacrum can make us forget.[56] Baudrillard does not deny that there were any deaths in the war, Baudrillard is suggesting that the media controlled the way in which people viewed the war, how they were exposed to it and desensitised to it through its representation. Another example of simulation would be Existenz[57]. The film played with the idea that a digitally created simulation could invisibly and seamlessly replace the solid, messy analogy world of our everyday life[58] The film the Matrix[59] also gives an idea of a simulation where social control was nearly complete[60] therefore, by opposing the imagery with the real as two different narrative registers in the same film [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] Hollywood narrative, even in the most outlandish form, asserts all the more stridently its status as reality[61] Overall, Theorists such as Derrida and Baudrillard complicate our understanding by suggesting that what we know to be reality is in fact not what we think. Baudrillard believes that our reality is replaced by a simulation that we have to come to accept, this simulation is controlled by outlets such as the media Derrida suggests that language does not construct our reality like critics have previously stated but instead suggests that we project an origin of an original world which we cannot gain access to. Films mentioned above also show how we can live in a world of simulation instead of the real which we try to gain back but never achieve. Bibliography Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations, Julie, Rivkin, Michael, Ryan, Literary Theory: An Anthology, 2nd Edition (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2004) Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, 1st Edition (Australia: Power Publications, 1991) Belsey, Catherine, Culture and The Real, 1st Edition (London: Routledge, 2005) Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, 1st Edition (UK: Granta Books, 2005) Evans, Mikhail, The Singular Politics of Derrida and Baudrillard, 1st Edition (Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) Iwata, Hiroo, Dr. Strange Device Or; How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Media Art, The Journal Of The Institute Of Image Information And Television Engineers, 66 (2012), 219-222 Sarup, Madan, An Introductory Guide to Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism, 2nd Edition (Hertfordshire: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1993) [1] Sarup, Madan, An Introductory Guide to Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism, 2nd Edition (Hertfordshire: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1993) [2] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, 1st Edition (UK: Granta Books, 2005) p.xi [3] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 28 [4] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 28 [5] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 28 [6] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 29 [7] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 29 [8] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 29 [9] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 29 [10] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 31 [11] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 31 [12] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 31 [13] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 33 [14] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 33 [15] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 33 [16] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 34 [17]Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 34 [18] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 34 [19] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 34 [20] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 34 [21] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 34 [22] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 35 [23] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 35 [24] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 35 [25] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 35 [26] Deutscher, Penelope, how to Read Derrida, p. 35 [27] Belsey, Catherine, Culture and The Real, 1st Edition (London: Routledge, 2005) p, 49 [28] Belsey, Catherine, Culture and The Real, p. 49 [29] Belsey, Catherine, Culture and The Real, p. 52-54 [30] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations, Julie, Rivkin, Michael, Ryan, Literary Theory: An Anthology, 2nd Edition (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2004), pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [31] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp.365-337 (p. 366). [32] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [33] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [34] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [35] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [36] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [37] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 366). [38] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 367). [39] Baudrillard, Jean, Simulacra and Simulations. pp. 365-337 (p. 369). [40] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, 1st Edition (Australia: Power Publications, 1991) p.2 [41] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 2 [42] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 2 [43] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 3 [44] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 4 [45] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 4 [46] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 8 [47] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 8 [48] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 9 [49] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 9 [50] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 27 [51] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 27 [52] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 27 [53] Baudrillard, Jean, The Gulf War Did Not Take Place, p. 27 [54] Evans, Mikhail, The Singular Politics of Derrida and Baudrillard, 1st Edition (Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), pp. 54-55 [55] Evans, Mihail, The Singular Politics of Derrida and Baudrillard, pp. 54-55 [56] Evans, Mihail, The Singular Politics of Derrida and Baudrillard, pp. 54-55 [57] David Cronenberg (dir.), Existenz (Alliance Atlantis Communications, 1999). Momentum Pictures, 1999. [58] Iwata, Hiroo, Dr. Strange Device Or; How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Media Art, The Journal Of The Institute Of Image Information And Television Engineers, 66 (2012), 219-222 [59] Wachowski Brothers (dir.), The Matrix (Warner Bros, 1999). Warner Home Video, 2007. [60] Iwata, Hiroo, Dr. Strange Device Or; How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Media Art. [61] Iwata, Hiroo, Dr. Strange Device Or; How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Media Art

Jack The Ripper :: essays research papers fc

Jack the Ripper   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack the Ripper killed five women between the 31st of August 1888 and the 9th of November 1888. They were murdered in Whitechapel and Spitalfields in the East End areas of London, England. The killer was never caught and because of this there are hundreds on his personality and motives. No other killer in the British history rivaled that of the gruesome, mocking, utterly superior Jack the Ripper, a multiple murderer whose arrogance and boldness deified the entire police department of London and held in terror a great city for as long as he cared to roam its streets and slay at will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mary Ann “Polly'; Nichols, aged 42, was the first of the Ripper victims, according to dedicated Ripperologists. Her body was found on Buck’s Row by a patrolling constable at 3:15 a.m. on August 31st 1888. The ripper had slashed her throat twice, and her abdomen had been savagely cut exposing the intestines. Her vaginal area had also been mutilated. The woman approximately five feet two inches tall with brown graying hair, brown eyes, and several missing teeth. Mary Ann Nichols had a drinking problem and spent most of her life making her earnings as a prostitute. She was a sad, destitute woman, but one that most people liked and pitied.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Annie Chapman, known to her friends as “Dark Annie';, was a 47 year old homeless prostitute. Suffering from depression and alcoholism, she did crochet work and sold flowers. Eventually she turned to prostitution despite her plain features, missing teeth and plump figure. She was found murdered on Saturday, September 8, 1888. Hey throat was cut and she had been very mutilated. Her abdomen had been cut open and the intestines had been removed and placed on her shoulder. The contents of the pelvis including her female organs and the bladder had been removed. No trace of these parts was found. The incisions were cleanly cut, the work obviously of an expert who had knowledge of anatomy and physiology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elizabeth Stride was born on November 27, 1843 in Gothenburg, Sweden. She was a well-liked woman who people nicknamed “Long Liz';. While she may have occasionally prostituted herself, for the most part she earned a living by doing sewing or cleaning work. She had blue eyes and wavy brown hair. She was also plump and missing several teeth. She was found murdered on Sunday, September 30, 1888.

Sichuan, China: An Earthquake that Brought Together Local, National, an

The Sichuan province in mainland china has had a long history of seismic activity. On May 12th, 2008 the village of Wenchuan County located in Sichuan province was struck by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the State Council Information Office, the causalities from this disaster were approximately 70,000, with approximately 10,000 confirmed to have been school children, whose deaths resulted from 7,000 collapsed classrooms and 18,000 more individuals, were reported missing (Teets, 330). The earthquake which struck Wenchuan County resulted in bringing together relief efforts from local, national, and international communities. A few examples are: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Volunteer crews, Military efforts, Sichuan airlines, Red-Cross and many donations from international communities. These relief efforts, a result of strong government communication also, led to strengthening the devastated village and the nation of China. The involvement in recovery effor ts strengthens civil society’s individual capacity through mass networks of volunteers and donors, learning new skills in project management, and demonstrating to the government potentially positive roles the community can do. Relief efforts by groups help to build trust and connect potential volunteers and donors on behalf of foreign governing institutions. This essay aims to discuss these efforts in greater detail and provide numerous examples of successful recovery projects in Sichuan province. The earthquake which devastated Wenchuan County was a result of stress built up between the colliding Indian plate and Eurasian plate tectonics. This disaster left more than 4.8 million residents homeless in this village, ironically the 2008 Beijing Summ... ...struction efforts: the emergence of civil society in China?." The China Quarterly 198 (2009): 330-347. Vià ±a, Andrà ©s, et al. "Effects Of Natural Disasters On Conservation Policies: The Case Of The 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China." AMBIO - A Journal Of The Human Environment 40.3 (2011): 274-284. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Ying, Liang, and Wang Xiukun. "Developing A New Perspective To Study The Health Of Survivors Of Sichuan Earthquakes In China: A Study On The Effect Of Post-Earthquake Rescue Policies On Survivors' Health-Related Quality Of Life." Health Research Policy & Systems 11.1 (2013): 1-21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Mar. 2014 Zhang, Xia, et al. "The NHV rehabilitation services program improves long-term physical functioning in survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake: a longitudinal quasi experiment." PloS one 8.1 (2013): e53995.

DAWN Social Justice Group :: essays research papers

DAWN The social justice group DAWN (disabled woman’s network Ontario) is a province wide organization of woman with all types of disabilities. They are a feminist organization which supports woman in their struggle to control their own lives. Dawn Ontario is controlled by women with disabilities. The members include woman with disabilities and non-disabled woman. Also included are lesbians, bisexual woman, aboriginal woman, Franco-Ontarian woman, and woman from many other ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Woman of all ages, from teens to seniors, are active members of DAWN. They believe that disabled woman have the right to direct their own lives. They also believe that woman with disabilities: have the right to access the services and supports available to all woman; have needs which are different from those of men with disabilities; know best what their needs are; have a right to freedom of choice in all aspects of their live; and can be proud of their dis abilities and have the choice to self-identity. As a group DAWN at Ontario: keep current on issues facing women with disabilities; provide role mode for girls with disabilities; develop resources for girls with disabilities; help start and support DAWN groups across Ontario; speak for the rights of woman with disabilities to make sure they can take part in woman’s groups, activities, events and services; work with other woman’s and disabilities groups; produce resources about health care for woman with disabilities; lobby for the government on issues affecting woman with disabilities. Issues such as employment, training, education, transportation, housing, health care, and others. On June 17, 1985 17 woman with disabilities from across Canada gathered together to discuss issues of concern. From this meeting, DAWN of Canada was formed. Disabled woman organized across the country, keeping in touch by mail and phone, and finally they received funding from the secretary of state for some special projects. Disabled woman have been persevering since then to build up DAWN on a local and national level. In 1992 DAWN Ontario was formed. Since then they have put out many brochures and the like for information throughout Ontario. They also have worked with other groups such as Employment Equity Coalition; the Coalition Against Depo Provera; and the Coalition Against Extra Billing in Ontario. DAWN is a great

Marketing Principles Assignment Essay

Introduction For this coursework assignment I will demonstrate that I required a good knowledge and understanding of the concepts and process of marketing by carrying out the task given. This will be showed with examples of theory applicable to a company of my choosing. For this task examples will be related to Apple Inc. organization. Incorporated in January 1977 as Apple Computer, Inc. todays Apple Inc. designs, produces and markets media and mobile communication devices, personal computers, portable media players and sells a variety of related software. Apple’s products and services include the iPad tablet computer, iPhone handset, Mac computer and iPod music mp3 player, the iOS and OS X operating systems. The company also sells and delivers music, movies, books and applications using the iTunes Store and Mac App Store. The company headquarters are located in Cupertino, California, USA. Worldwide there are 390 Apple retail stores with reported revenue in 2012 of $36.0 billion. Marketing wise the company is been voted many times as the winner of CMO Survey Award for Marketing Excellence. Apple’s three points marketing philosophy namely Empathy, Focus and Impute have made it possible for the company to become one of the world’s most valuable brands. Task 1 Task 1a. According to the American Marketing Association (October 2007) marketing is defined as â€Å" the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. The CMA – Canadian Marketing Association defines marketing as â€Å" a set of business practices designed to plan for and present an organization’s products or services in ways that build effective customer relationships.† The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines marketing as â€Å" the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably† â€Å"Broadly defined, marketing is asocial and managerial process by which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return† (Hasell, 2012) These definitions show the importance of management in marketing and how important is for a business to know the consumers needs and wants. These definitions also show the importance of communicating a message to create the awareness that would create monetary value in return. The management process of identifying, anticipating and satisfying the consumers’ needs and wants it’s called a marketing process. This process is made of four steps: 1. Analyze the company situation 2. Develop a marketing strategy 3. Make decisions in terms of marketing mix 4. And how to implement and control the marketing strategy. Examples of Apple Inc. marketing process: -Apple is using SWOT and PEST models to analyze the company situation. -Apple is targeting more the middle upper income professionals. -Apple builds up anticipation before launching a product. -Apple included a customer service phone number in the iPhone phone book for customer direct contact with Apple in case of technical problems. Task 1b. There are a few marketing concepts that an organizations can adapt. Each one of these concepts has advantages and disadvantages. These marketing concepts are: Product related – is when a company could focus on perfecting a product  and its quality. The disadvantage for being product orientated is that a company can lose site of what consumer may want and need when focusing on creating one perfect product. Production related – a company could focus on the mass production of a product. The advantage for being production-orientated is that a production line in place could bring more profit because of the low cost on producing the same product. Although low costs are possible because customers have different needs, changing the line for a different product it’s costly. Sales related – a company could try to focus on selling what it produces. The disadvantage is that the company does not know what the customers’ needs are. Market related – a company could focus on customer needs before developing a product. The disadvantage is that information could be obtained from customers who do not know what they need. With so much interest on what the customer needs, the product development can be overlooked. Societal related – a company could focus on the natural and social environment and the customer needs The disadvantage of being societal orientated is that it is rarely possible to satisfy all customers’ needs and stakeholders. The first three marketing concepts, product, production and sales, are focusing on the product. The last two concepts, market and sales, focus on the consumer. Although they all are focus differentiated, all five concepts have one single goal in common and that is to make profit. Market orientation is about collecting and dissemination of information from customers. Apple Inc. has adopted the market concept together with product orientation. Having adopted both orientation with emphasis on quality and future customers needs it allowed the organization to anticipate the need for a new product, set higher prices and make more profit. But being marketing orientated it is costly. A company has to invest in the development of the product, market research, in surveys, databases, analysts and product changes. Although it is costly to be marketing orientated there are benefits for adopting this concept. For example: – The Apple’s iPhone is at his fifth generation. Introduced in 2007, it was a product of innovation and market research. The development of the product took three years and with the collaboration between Apple and Cingular Wireless is  estimated to have cost $150 millions. According to Forbes magazine (08/2012) â€Å"†¦something that didn’t exist five years ago, has higher sales than everything Microsoft has to offer. More than Windows, Office, Xbox, Bing, Windows Phone, and every other product that Microsoft has created since 1975. In the quarter ended March 31, 2012, iPhone had sales of $22.7 billion; Microsoft Corporation, $17.4 billion.† Task 2 Task 2a. A business organization marketing decisions are influenced by macro and the micro environmental factors. Businesses can cover the inside factors with a SWOT model analysis and the external factors can be assessed by doing a PEST model analysis. The advantage of doing these analyses is the identification of opportunities and knowing where the organization is at that moment. Apple Inc. 2013 SWOT analysis: – Strengths: brand reputation and own retail stores. Combined with a strong financial performance and innovative capabilities Apple can be first on the market satisfying new customer’s needs. – Weaknesses. Apple products have higher prices. Conscious people my find them to expensive and competitors can take advantage of this factor. Recent changes in management could lead to misunderstandings between Apple In. departments and could slow down the process of making marketing mix decisions for the 4 Ps (product, price, place and promotion). – Opportunities. High demand for the iPhone 5 and the iPad products and the growth of tablet and smartphone markets. Competition mistakes like the Microsoft introduction of Vista software. Apple took full advantages of how bad was the Vista program having PC users downgrading back to XP and migrating to Apple. This can best be seen in the â€Å"I am a Mac I am a PC† ads (2006-2008). – Threats. New competitors like the Huawei in the UK phone market. Strong dollar will affect exports. Apple Inc. macro environment is analyzed using the PEST model (political, economical, social and technological). These are factors that the organization has little or no control over them and can either support or  hinder Apple’s marketing decisions. For example, in the case of the political factors a tax increase usually means a price increase. This will reduce the purchasing power of the consumer and subsequently reduce profits. Recession is an economical factor. The consumer buying confidence is usually low and high priced Apple products are seen more as a commodity than a necessity. Task 2b. Satisfying customers by treating them alike is rarely possible because they have different needs. Segmentation is about understanding and satisfying these needs by separating consumers in groups with the same needs. One of the advantages of segmentation is that the organization can position the product better within a chosen segment. Poorly done segmentation can group customers in the wrong segment. The bases for segmentation are demographic, geographic, psychographic, behavioristic and geo-demographic. Some of the characteristics for demographic segmentation are sex, age, income, and education. Geographic segmentation is based on the location of potential customers. Psychographic is based on customers’ personality and lifestyles. Behavioral segmentation is based on the consumers’ actions. Geo-demographic is a combination of the geographical and demographical segments. There are three types of targeting methods and these are: Undifferentiated – for all publics Concentrated – focus on a specific group Differentiated – for different group types To recommend segmentation criteria and targeting methods for two different products I chose Apple’s iPod and the iPhone. For both products Apple Inc. should pursue the demographic and psychographic segmentation criteria. This will allow the organization to separate and target consumers based on the amount of money they have to spend and on what they would like to spend. – For the iPod (mp3 music player) Apple should pursue the concentrated method. This will allow them to focus on those customers who like to listen to music  on the go, organize songs and ultimately buy music for the iPod with the help of additional music platform like the iTunes. – For the iPhone, Apple should pursue the undifferentiated method. With so many different features the iPhone can be used by anyone for personal and business use. Task 2c. Buyer behavior affects how organizations market their products. Cultural, Social, Personal and Psychological are the four major factors influencing buyers’ behavior. To appeal consumers’ preferences, marketing mix strategies are developed by the organizations for the target market. Positioning is a strategy with what an organization can influence the buyer behavior. The strategy could include product use, product user, price, quality, product features, product class, competitors, benefits and cultural symbol. Apple Inc. products are perceived as high priced products with some buyers’ perception of them as over priced products. To counteract this perception Apple should reposition the iPod and the iPhone products using a strategy emphasizing products use, quality, performance and features. Task 3 Task 3a. To have sustainable competitive advantages Apple Inc. products development start with generating ideas. For example, the development of the iPhone product started with the idea of interacting with a computer without a keyboard. Usually a company can have many ideas for a product and screening them is necessary. Apple Inc. screens them through evaluations on the bases like the market needs, costs and resources. Apple market research concluded that the iPhone will have no competition for its features and the benefit will out way the cost of development. The next step of the product development was the physical transformation of the concept. Testing of the Apple products is done within the company using the employees. Normally companies test their new products with consumers but Apple prefers this type of testing because of the need of keeping the product features a secret from the competitors. After the evaluation of new ideas from the employees the iPhone was produced for the market. Task 3b. To make products available to the consumers Apple Inc. has three choices of distributions: 1) Selling directly to consumers. This channel of distribution is advantageous and a preference for Apple In. for the opportunities arising from interacting directly with the customer. Apple has their own retail stores with knowledgeable sales people who can make it very convenient for a customer to buy Apple products. Another way is selling directly through their website. Both options can be advantageously used for market research for better anticipation of new customer needs. 2) The second channel of distribution is selling the products through retailers. The advantage this channel provides is the promotion getting through retail advertisements. Many retail stores will place Apple products separately from the competitors in plain view for a customer to see it first and also use Apple products more for store advertisements. 3) This channel is selling through the wholesalers and retailers and is the least advantageous. For the last two channels (2 and 3) the disadvantage for Apple is that in both cases if the chain is disrupted, Apple products will not reach the customers. Task 3c. One of the most important elements of the marketing mix is Pricing. Pricing generates turnover for the organizations. The other 3P’s elements in the marketing mix are costs for the organizations. A number of pricing strategies can be adopted by an organization. For this task I have chosen to discuss three of them for their advantages and disadvantages. 1. Cost based price strategy is when a company sets prices based on the cost of the other 3P’s. The advantage of choosing this strategy is that because it’s the most realistic and the mark up its easier to set before the final pricing decision.. The disadvantage is that in a volatile industry where costs are always changing no set price can be set and the mark up is the final pricing decision. 2. Competition based price strategy is where a company can set a lower, the same or a higher price in comparison with competitors. The advantage is that a competitive lower price can be set to attract potential  customers. This strategy disadvantage is that it is unknown the production cost of the competitors and the company may operate at a loss. 3. Customer based pricing strategy is used when a company determines the price based on what is believed consumers are prepared to pay. The advantage of this strategy is that the price satisfies the customer price preference. The disadvantages with this strategy are that customers might give false impressions and the cost of production is knot known by them hence the company might run at a loss. Customer based pricing strategies are: Penetration Pricing – launching a low price product to increase market share Price Skimming – charging a higher price to maximize profits Loss leaders – a price set low to attract and encourage customers purchasing other products Predatory Pricing – setting a low price deliberately to restrict or prevent competition (in UK this type of price setting is illegal) Psychological Pricing – making the product believed to be cheaper than it really is. (Instead of  £1.00 it set at  £0.99) Apple Inc. uses the price skimming strategy. This strategy works for them because the company segments and target customers more effectively. The advantages with price skimming are that it creates the impression of prestige around Apple products and also in case of setting the price to high it could be lower easily. It also offers an insight on what the customers are willing to pay. Although this strategy has its advantages, in the computing and smartphone industry Apple has many competitors now and price skimming might be risky with the next product introduction. Consumers have many choices now and price preference is lower. Because of changes in consumers price preferences Apple Inc. should pursue the use of penetration pricing strategy in to attract new customers and increase the market share. Although the market share will increase the risk is that it is possible to still make lower profits. Task 3d. Promotion is one of the 4P’s and comprises of sales promotions, advertising, direct marketing, personal selling and public relations. These five elements make the promotion mix and are also known as the marketing communication elements. The usage of all five elements at one time is known as Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC). To achieve and maintain long-term customer relationships Apple uses components from the IMC and the AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) concepts. Advertisements and promotions are used to capture the consumer attention, his interest and desire to own an Apple product. Public relation is used to deal directly with customers about product issues. Apple uses direct marketing by emailing marketing messages on Valentines Day or Christmas to registered customers. Personal selling is used in Apple retail stores. Personnel can also inform customers about the products they inquiring about. One of the Apple sales promotions is â€Å" Buy a Mac and get a free iPod Touch†. Apple Inc. interest is to maximize the company impact on the consumer for maximum profits and the IMC concept is a very important tool in the company marketing strategy. Task 4 Task 4a. Known as the Four P’s, the traditional marketing mix basic elements are Product, Price, Place and Promotion. The mix of these four elements done right will result in meeting its marketing objectives for a company and satisfy its customers. Factors like marketing is far more customers orientated now and in developed countries the service sector dominates the economic activity have contributed to the addition of new Ps to the traditional marketing mix. The additional three Ps are Physical Evidence, Process and People and together with the four basic elements make the 7Ps of the Extended Marketing Mix. To understand the relevance of the extended marketing mix to service marketing first one must understand the characteristics of service. There are five characteristics of service marketing and these are: 1. Intangibility – services cannot be seen, taste and feel before they are bought. 2. Inseparability – a service is produced and consumed at the same time. 3. Perishability – a product can be stored for future use whereas a service cannot. 4. Variability – service standard  will vary because of people. 5. Ownership – in comparison with a product a service can only be used and not owned. In service marketing the service is the Product and is intangible. Marketing Price, like product is also invisible. Place is where the service is consumed and unlike a product where it is found in retail stores, a service is found in accommodation places such as the hotels, restaurants, airplanes. Service Promotions can be an extension of the original service. For example a hotel may offer an extra night stay, discount prices for other services found within the hotel or outside but the original price offer is still the same. What is seen during the consumption of service is referred to as the Physical Evidence. Consumers expect a good standard and presentation of the environment where the service is consumed and businesses will focus on the quality layout presentation. How the service is carried out or delivered is the Process. In many cases process is associated with customer service. In the transport industry often carriers do lack on the quality of it because of delays that may or may not have to do with the employees. The employees are the People and final element in the extended marketing mix and are the ones delivering the service. The extended marketing mix its relevant to all businesses that give priority in meeting the needs of customers and its more particular relevant to the service industry. Task 4b. The seven marketing mix variables are highlighted above. The traditional 4Ps are for product marketing and all 7Ps are for service marketing. Two segments of interest for this task are the hotels in hospitality industry for their lodging services and the airlines in the industry of transport for their transport services. In the hotel industry, in terms of process and physical evidence, a regular room is provided for customer accommodation and the customer may have to pay extra for other services like a massage or a drink at the hotel bar. In terms of process apart from regular room cleaning sheets and towels and concierge services a customer will not get much else for his money. In comparison the business customer will experience something totally different. A Business may reserve the entire hotel or the best room with the best view, 24-hour room service, free access to the spa and other things considered luxurious. Although the product sold is the same for both C and B, because of additional services and a differentiated process, it differs and the price is usually the first one to tell which one is which. In the airline industry, businesses provide transportation in the economy class and the business class. In the economy class in terms of physical layout, after the journey some customers wished they left their legs at home and kids never existed. Whereas in the business class, a customer can park his car, watch his favorite movie while drinking champagne. Again the product has not changed because customers in the economy and business class are moved from point A to point B with the same airplane in the same amount of time. The understanding is that businesses can afford to pay more when it comes to buying services and airlines will charge more for extra. Task 4c. Globalization and Unions between different countries around the world have made it possible for national businesses to enter international markets. When entering the international markets businesses could find many opportunities but the challenges are different and on a higher scale than the ones faced in a domestic market. Domestic marketing is the production, promotion, distribution and sale of goods and services nationally while international marketing is the same but for customers needs in a global market. In the last quarter of 2012, domestically, Apple Inc. revenue accounted for 40 per cent with 60 per cent revenue from the international markets (Niu, 2013). 40 per cent revenue for Apple means that it dominates in the domestic market. This is possible for Apple because the company has to deal with only one set of customers on which it can concentrate more effectively. Other factors contributing to this positive revenue are that Apple uses of the same policies and strategies and requires lesser financial resources. The other sixty per cent revenue for Apple, thinking in term of global it is small revenue for the company. This has to do with the fact that international marketing is more complex and more risky. It requires more financial resources than domestic marketing. Internationally, Apple  Inc. has to deal with different markets, different languages and different types of consumers with different tastes. In countries with laws and regulations of their own, for Apple it is more challenging and requires more commitment from the company in applying the marketing principles. Conclusion In this coursework assignment I tried to my best abilities to demonstrate that I acquired a good knowledge and understanding of marketing principles by applying the theory to Apple Inc. by carrying out the tasks given for the assignment. Overall my understanding now is that marketing is with us every day, next to us and even in us people. Consciously or subconsciously we are marketing ourselves as individuals every day to others. Marketing has an impact on everything and it cannot be avoided. For businesses, marketing is a strategic war plan for getting peoples attention to maximize profits. In this war business tend to aim at peoples emotions. Marketing is a discipline and is defined by social participation. But the most important thing learned I believe is that consumers’ needs and wants are always changing and marketing needs to change accordingly. References American Marketing Association. (2007). Definition of Marketing. Available: http://www.marketingpower.com/AboutAMA/Pages/DefinitionofMarketing.aspx. Last accessed 16th May 2013. Apple. (2013). Apple Info. Available: http://www.apple.com/about/. Last accessed 12th Jul 2013. Apple Press. (2012). Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results. Available: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/10/25Apple-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-Results.html. Last accessed 12th Jul 2013 Campbell, M. (2012). Apple to open up to 35 new retail stores in 2013. Available: http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/31/up-to-35-new-apple-stores-set-to-open-in-2013. Last accessed 11 Jul 2013. Canadian Marketing Association. (n/a). Definition of Marketing. Available:

My Ambition to Become a Aeronautical Engineer

Aimless life is no lesser than a sin . Many people have no definite aim in life. They are like travellers going ahead without any destination. Someone has truly said that â€Å"Changes do not happen when circumstances improve it happens when we decide to change to ourselves . ’’Such people who lead an aimless life do not believe in hard work but, always depend on destiny. It is true that God has written our destiny but it is we who have to achieve it through hardwork.It is you, if you do not work efficiently you won’t achieve the best results of it. A person who has his goals set will never astray. He won’t be mislead by other temptations. He’ll be the master of his luck. He does not believe in destiny. He loves his work and he’ll be efficient towards it, and his energies won’t go waste. His health does not fail him. But, for people who have aimless lives won’t change his mood to change his track. If you have an ambition, you c an pursue it all your life and you are never tired.It drives you on and on quite tirelessly. It is necessary to decide in life that what you aspire to become. An engineer, a doctor, lawyer, scientist, philosopher or anything different from it. The whole world is open before a young man and he should make up his mind about his career/profession as soon as possible. Most of the people work to achieve money and fame, but why do people forget that they need to serve their country first. They need to pay their motherland.People should love their work. For them work should be their life. It is true that in this present world money is necessary but too much will pave a wrong path for you. That is why, I strongly desire to become an I. A. S. officer [Indian Administrative Service]. I want to thank my motherland first to give me such a beautiful land to live. I want to serve her upon my best. I know that an I. A. S. officer does not receive that amount of money to have luxurious lives.But I envisage that someone has truly said that â€Å"If your whole day has been good, then you are on the wrong path†. This means that if you have all the luxuries of life you will lose your simplicity and I being an officer want people to inspire from what I become. â€Å"Hate the sin, but not the sinner†. Do not ignore people who don’t be efficient towards their work, hate their habit. Atlast, I would only say that put up aims in your life at an early age, you’ll never astray and seek your aims with wonders and happiness of life.

Casino Industry Essay

Find out why the Macau gambling scene is so important -The company intends to use the proceeds from this sale to pay off part of their debt -â€Å"The stock has traded significantly higher since the announcement of the deal, but we believe that this is a huge missed opportunity for the company in a new, booming market and will hurt the company over the long-term as competition continues to expand in this area† (2). -Caesars is the largest casino operator in the U.S -Properties include: Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and several other states More on the Macau opportunity, this may be a little outdated: -Only major casino company without a location Macau -â€Å"Caesars bought the 175-acre site in 2007 for $578 million, with plans to develop a hotel and casino, but the company did not apply in the early 2000s for one of the limited number of gambling licenses in Macau, and it never gained a gambling concession from the Macau government† (2) -â€Å"As of July 31, 2013, growth in Macau has increased to over 20% on a year over year basis boosted by an increase in the number of Chinese visitors to the country’s only legal casino gambling hub. July’s 29.5 billion patacas ($3.7 billion) revenue was the third strongest figure this year, according to government data, as more middle-class gamblers visited Macau, eclipsing the growth in the number of high rollers. The slowdown in China’s economic growth has kept away some wealthy customers, who often spend 1 million yuan ($160,000) per bet, but it failed to push away Macau’s appeal for China’s rapidly expanding middle-class and their higher disposable incomes† (2) →what are pacatas Why Maccau Is Attractive for Casino Industry -The number of visitors to Macau rose 4.2 percent during the first half of the year (in 2013) -â€Å"Visitors form mainland China, who account for two thirds of the total numbers, soared 20 percent in July year over year numbers. High rollers account for about 70 percent of gaming revenues, but the share of the middle-class gamers is growing at a much faster rate and Macau’s casinos are trying to diversity entertainment options to attract more of these visitors† (2) -Minimum table bets start at around 300 patacas  ($38), compared to a year ago when offering bets for 100-200 patacas ($20) -â€Å"In the end, investors should not have seen the sale of this property as a catalyst for the stock, but instead as the huge missed opportunity to diversify the company’s core business and expand into an explosive new market† (2) -because the stock price went up when they sold Macau location -Macau casinos and hotels are now showing strong September gaming revenue -à ¢â‚¬Å"At the current rate, gambling revenue for the month of September so far is tracking 25.7% higher than the same month a year ago. Macau generates annual gambling revenue topping $38 billion, larger than any other casino district in the world, about five times the annual take of U.S. gambling in Las Vegas† (3) -Macau, a special gaming district on China’s southern coast, is the only place in China where gambling is legal – -â€Å"We believe that the run up in CZR shares has been on the coattails of the other gaming and hotel companies and that the buying has been way overdone. Investors should loko for the stock to pull back substantially after the recent rally† →research if all of this stuff is still true The most Recent Quarter- Focusing On the Important Aspects of This Business -Most recent quarter is Q2, net revenue was reported by Caesars as $2.2 billion -A decline in casino revenue was â€Å"largely offset by increases in F&B, rooms, and managed revenue† -â€Å"The company attributes this decline to a combination of macroeconomic conditions, competition, and a shift in marketing strategy. The company has lost market share in gaming to competition, despite the company’s positioning with the World Series of Poker brand† (4) ^ this is about gaming competition -Alpha research believes that revenue and profits have peaked and will be on the decline next year (2014), they were correct -Income form operations: $125.3 million in 2013, down $63.8 million compared to the prior year, 33.7% decline was driven by higher asset impairment charges (learn more on this) -â€Å"Adjusted EBITDA declined 8.2% to $470.5 million and property EBITDA declined 4.9% to $492.8 million compared with the year-earlier period† (4) -Investors should focus on the lower gaming revenue -â€Å"Casino revenue in Las Vegas declined approximately 15.5% year-over-year, primarily due to loss of market share and visitors and weaker gaming volumes† (4) -The same trends are occurring in the Atlantic City region -Gaming revenue was down due to lower visitation driven by primarily new competitive threats -CZR market volume in Atlantic city has declined, and market share has declined overall →my suggestion is that they should look more to online gaming, because technology and internet are booming, maybe consider joining with another casino industry- why is competition doing better -The company is facing increased competition in certain areas like Louisiana/Mississippi, Tunica, and Las Vegas and Atlantic City -Find specific competitors -Problem: â€Å"The company’s investments in current properties and new construction may prove to be too little, too late, as the projects have become increasingly costly over the last two years† The Debt Burden→ get more up to date information -At the quarter end (Q2 2013) for Caesars Entertainment, Inc. was $23.7 billion. -Debt, net of $1.8 billion of cash, was $20.9 billion -Total debt repurchased was only around $275 million during last quarter -Reports of a possible bankruptcy, have been increasing since Moody’s downgraded the company’s credit rating to one of its lowest levels in April 2013 -Cash flow growth is not expected to increase in 2013, â€Å"as a result of a demand drop fueled by customers spending less at casinos† (5) -Major concern because competitors gaming revenue are continuing to thrive -â€Å"The company has consistently poured money into new construction and the remodeling of existing structures, but significant measures need to be taken in order to improve the company’s current capital structure. If the company cannot spur major cash flow generation over the course of the next year, the company will be facing some major problems in early 2015 -Why is January 2015 important? Because that is when $4.4 billion of mortgage-backed securities are scheduled to mature for CZR (figure out more what this means) â †’ opportunity, cash flow generation, how? Competitors are outbeating them -Recent report from July 2013, Caesars planned to beef up its product  offering in Las Vegas and enter in the Maryland casino market, breaking group in Baltimore Major Areas of Concern for the Future: (direct quotes) -No unique value proposition built on approach, scale, geographic reach, brands and loyalty -Not positioned to drive value creation and significant revenue upside -Huge investments made in trying to expand core of business—declining revenues in many areas of business will lead to serious problems if the capital structure is not re-vamped by 2015 -Not executing on development pipeline, expanding domestic distribution and social/mobile gaming platform—the company claims that social gaming has a bright future, but the uncertain regulatory condition on a state and federal level pose a serious threat to the future of this revenue source -Failure to capitilze on pipeline while competitors continue to thrive on an international level (failure in Macau and Korea are significant) -Failed focus on managing costs and improving capital structure -Sustained economic recovery has not provided an additional tailwind to the efforts of the company COMPETITORS: EPS Change (%), Sales growth % CZR: -92.74, .16 WYNN: -1.34, -2.19 LVS: 18.29, 18.28 MGM: -165.10, 16.71 →large concern is the significant decline in EPS and sales growth over the recent history for CZR and at such a fast rate -â€Å"Considering the country has been seeing an economic recovery, consumer spending on gaming and entertainment in Las Vegas has not kept up. With no exposure to Macau, CZR will continue to underperform its peers in the future. The company’s current strategy is failing domestically and trying to transition to anything internationally is impossible. The EPS Change of -92.74% and 0.16% Sales Growth is just the beginning of a negative trend for Caesars. With massive amounts of debt and important maturity dates approaching, investors should look for a significant decline in shares as nervousness continues to build.† (5) -Based on the cash flow and margins, the quality of the most recent CZR earnings quarter was very poor overall -Negative cash flow per share: company is borrowing a significant amount of money to keep operating, and at some point the banks will stop lending and want to be repaid –bad position -â€Å"Cash is king† and companies that don’t generate cash are not around for a long time Problem: no cash flow -major debt obligations are due in 2015 and they have no cash, running out of time USE ALL THE CHARTS FROM THIS PDF! Very good for 2013 competitors, etc Potential Bankruptcy: -Important to look to the Book Value/ Share of CZR -this indicates the dollar value remaining for common shareholders after all assets are liquidated and all debtors are paid Financial Strength -Look at PDF -Use of leverage can be a double-edged sword for companies -â€Å"In the case for CZR, it has tried to generate returns above its cost of capital, for investors benefits. However, with the added risk of the debt on tis books, CZR is a company that has been hurt by this leverage and is unable to generate returns above the cost of capital. The company’s losses have been and will continue to be magnified by the use of leverage in the company’s capital structure, while they continue to renovate existing properties and continue with new construction domestically. With $20.91 B of long-term debt and a large debt to equity ratio of 1.04, Caesars will need to significantly overhaul their capital structure if they want to compete and survive in this highly competitive industry† (6) →compute d/e current ratio for 2014, google their financial statements Problem: too much debt, no cash -ROA: -4.44%, the company cannot operate efficiently based on the firm’s generated profits from total assets