Criminal Activities On The Dark Web Essay - 1113 Words

A severe dilemma associated with the increasing availability of the World Wide Web is the use of the â€Å"Dark Web† as a means for criminal activities throughout the world. The â€Å"Web† consists of the Surface Web which allows access to popular sites like YouTube and Facebook, the Deep Web, which consist of private databases and libraries filtered out by common search engines like Google, and the Dark Web which is intentionally hidden for reasons of anonymity; whether for good or bad reasons. There are three main solutions that help fray criminal activities on the Dark Web: the use of specialized government agencies to regulate and police the Dark Web, the fixation of resources to combat more serious criminal activities: and conducting more research of the content and workings of the Dark Web. Further examining the need for more research of the Dark Web will help elaborate why the use of specialized government agencies and the fixation of resources on more serious cr imes should not be accepted has valid solutions. With the advancement of online anonymity tools, people world-wide can now use the Web to communicate and interact without leaving a trace of their activities or intentions. The ability to have full anonymity while using the Web has created what is call the Dark Web. The Dark Web was started originally with good intentions. For example, in the introduction section of the article â€Å"The Dark Web,† Marcia Clemmitt explains that the â€Å"Dark Web s ability to mask identitiesShow MoreRelatedThe Dark Web Is Not Accessible Without Special Browsers1709 Words   |  7 Pages The dark web, a hidden part of the internet, is unknown to most people. It has been used for many years without many people knowing. People use the dark web for many purposes, but it is mostly used for privacy. Due to the anonymity that it gives one, numerous people get involved in illegal situations. Websites range from chat rooms to drug markets. A person can view illegal government documents, buy heroin, or even watch people get murdered! Sounds like a perfect place for every person right? TheRead MoreEffects Of The Hidden Internet On The Digital Age1681 Words   |  7 PagesThe Dark Web: The Effects of the Hidden Internet on the Digital Age In the late 1990’s, the internet became a staple of society, a new â€Å"fad† that became integrated into modern culture. As more and more information was uploaded to this repository, data hubs formed, often around illegal materials such as copies of music and movie files. In 2001, a man named Ian Clarke revolutionized the internet by introducing â€Å"Freenet,† a service that allowed for anonymous access to the darkest reaches of the webRead MoreThe Iceberg Of The Internet1404 Words   |  6 Pagescrawlers to dig around. The surface web is anything that has been indexed by these crawlers, basically it’s anything that shows up in Google search results. Websites such as Wikipedia and Bing fall under the surface web category as well. However, some websites are designed specifically to block these crawlers, thus, making the website unreachable, and unable to be shown in search results. These websites are part of a different category known as the deep web. The deep web is really anything that can’t beenRead MoreMy Interest On Video Gaming833 Words   |  4 PagesMy interest in video gaming is what first brought the Dark Web in to my attention and I find myself not only fascinated but terrified by this network of information that lies under our current internet. I’ll introduce the deep web in it’s entire before I focused in on particular forums and elements such as the bitcoin, /b/, Silk Road, and Marianas web. I’ll address the effect that the dark web has on the war against drugs as well as why, even though authorities know that this form of drug peddlingRead MoreUnderstanding The Basis Of The Dark Web1494 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding the Basis of the dark web Sophia Sutton Florida Institute of Technology ABSTRACT The deep web is a network infrastructure that is set in a mesh topology, much like the surface web. The difference between the dark web and the surface web is the content, internet protocols and users. Most of the information that is served through the dark net is illegal. Law enforcement is working on coming up with better ways to track and shut down certain sites offering services such asRead MoreThe Dark Side Of Science1724 Words   |  7 Pagesgood things even internet has its own dark side. The Dark Web is basically just the world wide web that exists on darknets and overlay networks which use the public internet but may require special software and authorizations to access. It forms only a small part of the deep web: the part of the web not indexed by search engines (Greenberg.A,2014). Darknet users refer to the regular web as Clearnet due to its unencrypted nature. To understand how the Dark Web works we first need to understand whyRead MoreThe Internet And The Dark Web1329 Words   |  6 Pageslaw a decision by Congress to overturn new privacy rules for Internet Service Providers (ISP). This means that US ISPs will soon no longer need consent from users to share browsing history with marketers and other third parties. What is the Dark Web? The Dark web is a part of the commercial internet that is not accessible thru regular internet browser software (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox). Designed in 1995 by the United States Naval Research Laboratory of the Office of Naval Research (ONR)Read MoreThe Internet Is An Commodity For College Students1423 Words   |  6 Pagesthe deep web, This Time article elaborates: â€Å"Technically the Deep Web refers to the collection of all the websites and databases that search engines like Google don t or can t index, which in terms of the sheer volume of information is many times larger than the Web as we know it.† (Grossman, Lev, et al.The Deep Web. Time 182.20 (2013): 26.) Most search engines can only see what is referred to as the Surface web as is explained on OEDb.com’s short work, â€Å"The Ultimate Guide To The Deep Web, â€Å"In factRead MoreThe Internet And Its Effects On The World941 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst amendment right of fre e speech. While many countries have used internet censorship to control what the people see and can say, the Unites States would never be allowed to go that far. Internet censorship can be useful to help fight against criminal acts and not against people’s right to free speech. Well many bills have been made trying to stop privacy like SOPA and PIPA. According to Marty Schwimmer in his article, â€Å"The ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’ (SOPA) Violates the First Amendment† the majorRead MoreSale Of Credit Card Details Belonging1559 Words   |  7 Pagesdetails belonging to millions of clients. Credit card companies and banks should be able to know the kind of customer’s details that is already in the dark web and block those cards in order to avoid counterfeit use (Kandel, 2010). A majority of the cybercrime attacks against companies are usually planned through dark web message boards. Company web servers are flooded with traffic by hackers’ con trolled Computer networks up to a point when they become overloaded. This is also referred to as DDOS

Discussion on Social Media Isolating Society - 660 Words

Yukio Strachans article, Does social media cause a more isolated society, explores the perceived feeling of disconnectedness that is prevalent throughout the world, and in the United States in particular. The author is primarily disagreeing with the opinion of MIT professor Sherry Turkel, who posits the notion that social media and contemporary technology is responsible for the feeling of isolation and loneliness that inhabits many people today. As such, the author details many of Turkles concepts related to the notion that contemporary technology is causing loneliness, such as the fact that people desire intimacy yet are afraid of it. The bulk of the authors article, however, attempts to disprove Turkles claim that it is todays technology responsible for this sentiment. Strachan presents a protracted case study of a man in 1985 who used the television in much of the same way that Turkle claims contemporary technology is used by people specifically to distance himself from others, de spite the fact that he truly craves attention and companionship. Thus, the principle thesis of Strachans article is that social media and other modern technology is not responsible for the feeling of isolation in people, and that technology in general (not merely its latest applications) has caused this division among and within people. I do believe that Strachan is correct in her views. However, I also believe that her viewpoint is closely aligned with Turkle. Technology in generalShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Technology And Social Media952 Words   |  4 PagesTechnology and Social Media: Crucial to Society Social media is one of the most popular means of communication today. The general public uses social media to talk to loved ones, find long lost friends, and participate in online discussions. As technological capabilities have advanced over the years, so has the public’s reliance on social media. Debates have surfaced about whether the public is misusing social media. Many people are questioning whether social media is replacing human interactionRead MoreA World Without Borders Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagescentury’s advanced technology has revolutionized the world. Marshall McLuhan, a Canadian communications theorist educator, writer and social reformer, acknowledged a societal change since the phenomenal development of the World Wide Web. The theorist stated that â€Å"The medium, or process, of our time - electric technology is reshaping and restructuring patterns of social interdependence and every aspect of our personal life. It is forcing us to reconside r and re-evaluate practically every thought, everyRead MoreHow Social Networking Affects The Students And The Environment985 Words   |  4 Pagesus, and leading to an imminent sense of isolation in today’s society† (Nilles, 2012). The ‘real world’ in my considerations is decades ago we used to go in person to speak to someone yet now with enhanced technology we can address to someone with one click through social networking sites. We send wishes, information and condolences all through text and messages as before we used to go in person to send these thoughts. The basic social networking websites being accessed at school concludes to be aRead MoreMedia and Cultural Influences on Sexual Orientation1097 Words   |  4 PagesMedia and Culture Influence on Sexual Orientation Select a topic that interests you. Introduction. Media has great influence over the way people live their lives. The question is, do media or culture influence sexual orientation? Describe this social issue. Make the argument that this issue is important. Use anecdotal evidence (personal experiences) or statistical data to establish your arguments. Media and culture are important in America because they have great influence over people. TheyRead MoreCyberbullying And Its Effects On Society1690 Words   |  7 Pagesback at an individual who may be â€Å"different† or disliked for a physical or social trait (Willard, 2007). The main point of this paper is to understand the true meaning and differences between bullying and cyberbullying, how cyberbullying has an effect on students,and how to be aware or identify when someone is being bullied. Everyone has to be alert when you see someone, especially in your family, acting very shy in society or afraid of something. Bullying versus Cyberbullying The effects of anyRead MoreAn Ongoing Adolescence1116 Words   |  5 Pagesis a Japanese phenomenon that has been a prominent social issue for years. First coming to light in1998, Japanese physiatrist, Tamaki Saito introduced the mental health issue in his book Hikikomori: An ongoing adolescence (Senju 2013). Today, the issue is increasingly worrying for not only Japan, but other international countries as young to middle aged men and women continue to drive towards the trend of complete reclusive behavior and acute social withdrawal. As of today, over one million peopleRead MoreSexuality And Its Effect On Children Essay1003 Words   |  5 Pages Sexuality has always been a taboo topic of discussion in most societies. Whether it is talked about it casually among friends or for educational reasons, the subject of sex is bound to trigger some controversy. In contrast, with the exponential growth of technology, Internet, and social media, sexual images can be found with the click of a mouse. Here lies a great contradiction. If sex is so easily portrayed in media, why is so hard to talk about? Becoming educated about sexuality and achievingRead MoreThe Conflict Of Christopher Mills905 Words   |  4 PagesCuriosity peaked his interest one night as he hopped onto the social media platform. Succumbing to pressure, he decided to make a Facebook account. He typed in his name, birthdate, and location†¦ However, when it came time to choose an option for his gender, there were not just two, but also a myriad of options. It peaked his interested, so he began to count. There were over seventy. Christopher Mills had been introduced to the discussion of gender. Growing up, most children are introduced to twoRead MoreEssay on Introduction to Orientalism by Edward Said1478 Words   |  6 Pagesdone. He professes to be motivated here by Foucault’s notion of a discourse. Michel Foucault’s theories that have come to bear on this discussion are his ideas of the critical relationship under which the ontology of subject and object come to be known and how these associations may come to constitute knowledge. According to Foucault, the problem is not isolating any empirical conditions that may bring about this subjectivity, but to determine what the subject is and to what conditions it is subjectRead MoreRational Choice Theory Criminology1329 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals weigh the consequences of their acts before committing a crime. It was based was based on assumptions that Individuals can â€Å"choose legal or illegal means to get what they want, fear of punishment can deter them from committing crime, and society can control behavior by making the pain of punishment greater than the pleasure of the criminal gains† (Adler, Mueller, Laufer, 2013). In other words, crime is caused by the individual exercise of free will. The Classical School gave birth to theories

Heinz Case Study Free Essays

Company made a corporate move that framed the course of their future business model. In order to increase their competitiveness, Heinz had to come up with a business strategy that would rival competitors. According to the case study, the dominant corporate strategy has been Identified as a directional strategy, which was based on analyzing the company’s orientation toward growth. We will write a custom essay sample on Heinz Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was noted that the company needed to: 1) cut back on operations by simplifying their business model, 2) diversify the business to increase growth, and 3) grow nationally and globally through a merger which would also reduce debt. The first step in the strategy included streamlining their product selection which would refocus the company’s business model, while also offering more flexibility. Heinz had decided to allow their two main food platforms to be the highlight of the company: meal enhancers (which included condiments of all types) and meal and snacks (including frozen and shelf-stable goods and the same made for the food service industry). In doing so, they could focus more attention to detail on their successful products such as packaging and quality, Instead of spreading themselves thin by splitting powerless with struggling products and brands. The second strategy Included Increasing growth by diversifying business. Heinz did so by engaging In concentric diversification with the Del Monte Company. By creating a synergistic relationship with a like-minded food company, Heinz was able to take stock of their product lines, figure out strengths and weakness of each, and identify which of the products would benefit from a strategic fit with Del Mote’s input regarding approach and knowledge in production, marketing and/or sales. This allowed both companies to converge, growing both individually and together, thereby increasing profits and company growth. In fact, it was expected that as Whine’s revenue increased by twenty percent, Del Mote’s company would double in size. Lastly, the business merger of Heinz with Del Monte Foods has not only Increased wealth, but It has reduced the debt. By allowing Its shareholders to assume a 0. 45 share of stock In Del Monte for every share that they owned In Heinz, this also allowed Del Monte to acquire twenty percent of Whine’s debt. This essentially made those shareholders the majority owners in the new Del Monte. Additionally, more debt was alleviated when Heinz was able to condense dividends by thirty-three recent, which generated extra monetary flow. By 2004, Heinz was able to change its organizational structure which showcased its horizontal growth. They were able to venture into new markets through their band acquisitions from Del Monte, and created a strong presence in the following markets: North America, U. S. Foddering, Europe, Asia/Pacific, and smaller markets in Latin America, Africa, India, and the Middle East. Across the board, this resulted in profitable diversification In revenue. The appropriateness of this directional strategy seems to have worked In the Heinz Company’s favor. Instead of continuing to be weighed down by debt, and an over-bloated portfolio of products (all of which were not profitable), the merger helped to alleviate most of the problems. If they had chose to only focus on a of debt acquired by Del Monte. Also by not choosing a parenting strategy, they allowed for more of a partnership between companies instead of a one holding more power than the other. The directional strategy seemed to offer the best combination (portfolio attention and a synergy relationship) of the latter two strategies, which worked best for the goals that Heinz Company had in mind for their own personal growth. How to cite Heinz Case Study, Free Case study samples

Comment Hfrt free essay sample

Comment on how effective you find the presentation of two different points of view in the extract from Touching the Void, giving your reasons. Joeys Account At the beginning of Joeys account, he cut straight into the intense topic by using the line I hit the slope at the base of the cliff before I saw it coming. This left no time for the readers to react, the line l hit the slope immediately tells you that it was going to hurt very badly. The line before I saw it coming tells us the speed of it was very fast, e didnt even have the time to react before he has crashed straight in to the bottom of the cliff. Because of the fact that this is the first line of the extract, it will give the first impression that this text would be full of action and adventure. We will write a custom essay sample on Comment Hfrt or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Everything was still, silent. My thoughts raced madly. This quotation has a meaning in a meaning, the first part said, everything was still this shows that the atmosphere is very intense but also smooth because every thing is still. From what we read rebelliously, we know that Joe has Just fallen Off very steep cliff, so we know that its nearly impossible for Joe to feel smooth. Well unless his hurt himself so bad that he has lost his mind. The second part of the quotation said My thoughts race madly. We all know that when something is racing madly, it cant be either still or silent. Let me make an example, when sports cars are racing, we can hear the sound of the engine roaring and see it traveling in crazy speed, and this is exactly what is going on in Joeys head; but obviously its sounds not Fl racing cars. From this quotation we can see that Joe didnt know what to do and it was clearly that he was frightened and desperate to get out. I hung, head down, on my back, left leg tangled in the rope above me and my right leg hanging slackly to one side. This tells the readers the state Joe was currently in. Not good. l hung, head down, on my back these sentences are all broken up into small bits by commas. This showed how hopeless he was, death and him was Just one line apart. Left leg tangled in the rope above me and my right leg hanging slackly o one side. This line tells us that he already lost hope, he was tired, he didnt want to move, he couldnt move. Life is Just lifeless. But this also gives some hope to the audience, this mean he still did had a chance, he still could get out, its not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Vive broken my leg, thats it. Im dead. Everyone said it If theres Just two of you a broken ankle could turn into a death sentence If its broken If it doesnt hurt so mu ch, maybe Vive Just ripped something. This shows that he didnt want to believe it, e couldnt let himself believe it, and he knows if he broke his leg, he was going to die. He kept telling him self that he didnt break his leg. He didnt break his leg. He didnt break his leg. In the line, he told the readers that if there was only two climbers, and you break as lie get off the mountain. Simonys account title as an ankle. Your are EAI There is no way you can Compared to Joeys account, Simonys account makes the readers feel less intense and there is not much description. Simonys account is more factual

Pepe Jeans Brand Management Essay Example

Pepe Jeans Brand Management Paper This report aims to evaluate the brand image, positioning and brand value of a popular denim brand Pepe Jeans. Pepe is a renowned brand in the apparel industry and is amongst the top international jeans and casual wear brand. This report will also discuss the philosophy and essence of the brand, what it stands for the USP (Unique Selling Point) of the brand and how Pepe Jeans is perceived in the consumer mind. The purpose of researching the brand extensively is to help us understand the strengths and weaknesses of the brand from the point of view to verify its effectiveness. Pepe offers a wide range of products to its consumers and tries to cover the intended target market through its advertising and promotions. The brand is present across the globe in almost 100 countries with numerous loyal customers. A Brief History Headquartered in Madrid, Spain Pepe Jeans London, was started in a small market stall running only on weekends in West London by three brothers from Kenya Nitin, Arjun and Milan Shah in the year 1973. The brothers wanted to set up a British brand of jeans that would be known globally. The jeans that they sold were of good quality and fitting and within no time, the business started to boom. The brand was inspired by London street-wear style and was called Pepe because it was a short two syllable word that was really fast to remember. Pepe was the first brand which enforced that jeans should not be sold hung like a trouser for which they even had to fight with the retailers. By 1980, the brand was competing against the big rival brands like Levis, Lee, etc. for the No. 1 place in U.S. Pepe became UKs most successful jeans brand and even had Jason Priestly and the popular band The Smiths featured in their advertising campaign. Some of the campaigns were censored as Pepe ads usually t eased the boundaries of socially acceptable imagery and norms. This helped them gain the attention of the consumers in the ever expanding world of advertising. Pepe is the fastest growing label in the world and has grown to be more than a $500 million denim and casual wear brand. We will write a custom essay sample on Pepe Jeans Brand Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Pepe Jeans Brand Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Pepe Jeans Brand Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Brand Image According to Kotler (1988) and Herzog (1963), brand image is the perception of the brand regarding the values it carries in the mind of the consumer. Denims are perceived as a casual wear and the wearer carries an attitude whilst wearing it. Pepe has managed to make denim a style statement. Pepe Jeans is perceived as a premium and international brand which houses casual wear with the heart of London in the brand. The products offered are contemporary and innovative and the impression it leaves, is never missed. The brand image is not a thought on its own, it is engraved in the consumer mind by the marketers through the use of various marketing tools. Some other researchers like Ditcher (1985) define that the impression that the product creates as a whole and not by its individual characteristics is what forms the image of the brand. Pepe offers a whole wardrobe solution from jeans to skirts, to jackets, t-shirts, shirts, cargos, capris and a wide selection of accessories like caps, bags, wallets, belts and even socks. In the case of Pepe Jeans, the marketing and pricing has made the brand appealing to primarily youngsters. The brand has been practicing aggressive pricing i.e. they are competitively priced to their competitors and other international brands. The campaigns reflect that the brand is young at heart and promotes a rebellious attitude through its advertising. The concept is to be bold and ambitious which has helped the brand create a connection with both the sexes globally. As per Abraham (2005), to save the brand legal issues, the brand name should always be unique and distinct. The brand is called Pepe because it was a short two syllable word that was easy to remember and fast to sign on a cheque. Brand Positioning Positioning of a brand can be observed by evaluating how the brand appears when seen in contrast with its competitors. Brand positioning is controlled by the company and its marketing team. They concentrate on delivering and positioning the product in the right way to the intended target audience. All the efforts put together create the brand image of the company. (Park et. Al., 1986) Since its inception, the positioning of the brand was that, Pepe Jeans is all about international premium jeans and casual wear. To be a successful brand, the brand must keep in mind the offering its makes to its consumers and makes the product exclusive to set itself apart from the competitors (Friedman, 1993; Muse Hartung, 1973). The brand continuously developed new fabrics and silhouettes which all had a perfect finish. Pepe used this as a P.O.D. (Point of Difference) to promote itself as The premium jeans, inspired by Londons street wear. For a consumer to feel associated with what the brand wants itself to be perceived as, it is important for the brand to first build a relationship with the consumer (Aaker, 1991). All the retailers in the category are characterised in terms of maturity, capacity, and difference in price which leads to the common factor in all stores (Standard Poor, 1995). Pepe has differentiated itself by keeping the promise of being committed to quality products. They have strived to be best in the commercial aspect and by being the most service oriented. Brand positioning comprises of three important elements namely identifying the possible competitive advantages, leverage the strongest advantages and communicate them in an effective manner and lastly make sure that the message has reached the target group, all these factors combined together influence the buying behaviour of the consumer (Kotler, 1988). In connection with the brand, Pepe whilst positioning itself clearly identified themselves as a premium denim brand which the consumer would crave for and branded themselves with the same proposition. They created their USP from the simple fact that they manufactured the best quality denims which were inspired from London street wear. The brand stands for the youth and talks about being young, cool, creating a style statement, independent and self confident which exudes an attitude of the person who is wearing it. The second element is to identify their own strength which was inspired from Londons energy and street wear styles, every garment exudes an attitude and promoted this through their advertising. The third element is to segment the market and identify the appropriate target audience, having in mind what are the elements of your brand that are able to satisfy their needs and how you are related to this group. Pepe managed to identify and connect with all the three elements ma king it one of the most successful international brands. A successful brand should create an image for its product that, in the consumers mind is associated with the quality, the Unique Selling Point of the product and the superiority towards the competitor. (Vranesvic and Stancec, 2003) Brand Equity and Value A brand is the representation of ownership and product segregation manifested through names, logos and trademarks (Chernatony and Riley, 1998; Hankinson and Cowking, 1993). In the American Marketing Association (1960), the definition of a brand is a name or term, a symbol or design, or maybe a combination of the two which is intended to identify the product or service of the seller and enable them to differentiate it from its competitors. Brand equity expresses the value of a product compared to as if the same product didnt have a brand name. Therefore brand equity is based on the added value of the product because of the brand name. Equity consists of brand awareness and brand image (Aaker, 1991; Ailawadi et.al, 2003). Pepe over the years has successfully established itself in the consumer minds by constantly delivering high quality products and numerous advertising campaigns. Pepes brand value has been focused and been a trademark in the category recognised for the commitment and s ervice provided to the consumers. The brands are seen as corporate assets which have to be taken care of, invested in and have to be nurtured to grow. The brands are conceptualised as value enhancers which has led to the development of the concept of brand equity (Wood, 2000). Pepe has been marketed keeping a target audience in mind and has managed to create a bond of trust and a relationship with the consumers. Pepe as a brand name through the consistent performance and every growing demand in the market by opening new stores and a modern youthful urban image has created a sense of comfort in the consumer mind. As per Biel (1993), the concept of brand equity is very consumer-centered and it said that the consequence is focused more on output rather than input. The brands differentiating factor is that Pepe is much more than just a denim company, it offers a complete casual wear line with knits, wovens, non-denims and accessories under its umbrella. Pepe Jeans takes pride on the fashion forecasting abilities and setting trends with every collection they offer to their consumers. The consumers perception of the quality of the brand is what helps create brand equity.

Defining and Understanding Literacy

Defining and Understanding Literacy Simply put, literacy is the ability to read and write in at least one language. So just about everyone in developed countries is literate in the basic sense. In her book The Literacy Wars,  Ilana Snyder argues that there is no single, correct view of literacy that would be universally accepted. There are a number of competing definitions, and these definitions are continually changing and evolving. The following quotes raise several issues about literacy, its necessity, its power, and its evolution. Observations on Literacy Literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. Educational opportunities depend on literacy. Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace, and democracy., Why Is Literacy Important? UNESCO, 2010The notion of basic literacy is used for the initial learning of reading and writing, which adults who have never been to school need to go through. The term functional literacy is kept for the level of reading and writing that adults are thought to need in a modern complex society. Use of the term underlines the idea that although people may have basic levels of literacy, they need a different level to operate in their day-to-day lives., David Barton, Literacy: An Introduction to the Ecology of Written Language,  2006To acquire literacy is more than to psychologically and mechanically dominate reading and writing techniques. It is to dominate those techniques in terms of consciousness; to understand what one reads and to write what one understands: It is to communicate graphically. Acquiring literacy does not involve memorizing sentences, words or syllables, lifeless objects unconnected to an existential universe, but rather an attitude of creation and re-creation, a self-transformation producing a stance of intervention in ones context., Paulo Freire, Education for Critical Consciousness, 1974 There is hardly an oral culture or a predominantly oral culture left in the world today that is not somehow aware of the vast complex of powers forever inaccessible without literacy., Walter J. Ong, Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word,  1982 Women and Literacy Joan Acocella, in a New Yorker review of the book The Woman Reader by Belinda Jack, had this to say in 2012: In the history of women, there is probably no matter, apart from contraception, more important than literacy. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, access to the power required knowledge of the world. This could not be gained without reading and writing, skills that were granted to men long before they were to women. Deprived of them, women were condemned to stay home with the livestock or, if they were lucky, with the servants. (Alternatively, they may have been the servants.) Compared with men, they led mediocre lives. In thinking about wisdom, it helps to read about wisdom, about Solomon or Socrates or whomever. Likewise, goodness and happiness and love. To decide whether you have them or want to make the sacrifices necessary to get them, it is useful to read about them. Without such introspection, women seemed stupid; therefore, they were considered unfit for education; therefore, they weren’t given an education; therefore they seemed stupid.   A New Definition? Barry Sanders, in A Is for Ox: Violence, Electronic Media, and the Silencing of the Written Word (1994), makes a case for a changing definition of literacy in the technological age. We need a radical redefinition of literacy, one that includes a recognition of the vital importance that morality plays in shaping literacy. We need a radical redefinition of what it means for society to have all the appearances of literacy and yet to abandon the book as its dominant metaphor. We must understand what happens when the computer replaces the book as the prime metaphor for visualizing the self.It is important to remember that those who celebrate the intensities and discontinuities of postmodern electronic culture in print write from an advanced literacy. That literacy provides them the profound power of choosing their ideational repertoire. No such choice or power is available to the illiterate young person subjected to an endless stream of electronic images.

Journal Topic 2-A Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journal Topic 2-A - Essay Example This means that they easily change their cultural beliefs to match that of the majority. Racial or ethnic heritages are socially constructed and lead people of the same heritage to acting and undertaking activities in a certain way, or having a common way of life. National ethnic or racial identity of people of color is more likely to change than that of the white people. Though ethnic of racial identities are socially constructed, they are more flexible for the people of color than they are for the white. People of color make up the minority ethnic groups in America and therefore for them to attain the American nationality, they usually need to make changes to the group’s specific way of living and beliefs. They also need to adopt the whites’ ways and be assimilated to the white culture (Benshoff and Sean 60). They therefore adopt the white culture therefore losing their ethnic identities though the physical characteristics remain. The physical identities include the skin color and others like

Home buying process and its financial impacts Essay

Home buying process and its financial impacts - Essay Example Buying a house can be the largest amount invested or spent upon any asset by the individual and so a careful investigation is necessary about the pros and cons of a home buying process 1. What are some common opportunity costs associated with the selection of housing? While selecting a house which an individual wants to buy he/she takes into consideration the apartment or the house first and then the individual also takes a look at the residential area in which he plans to dwell. However selecting the option of housing means that the individual has to bear some underlying costs or in some cases has to let out some opportunities in his/her way. In one word it can be termed as opportunity costs undergone during the process of housing. While buying a house it is compulsory that a fair amount needs to be given out as down payment. The individual has to pay a considerable sum of money as security deposit even with the consideration of renting an apartment. In both the cases one has to let out the savings interest that could have been earned the money being kept in a bank. The brokerage fee is another cost involved looking for a house which could have been spent elsewhere. If the house selected is few miles away from the workplace the individual has to take the pain of a long journey every day. In case the individual is renting a house he is losing out the advantages of tax obtained from buying a house. But at the same time the person has to bear sufficient trouble to build a house of his choice and needs (Kapoor, 2009, p. 272). 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a home? Home Ownership has been considered as the rational form for housing with more than 70% of the British households having houses in their list of assets. Such ownership statistics for the year 1991 reveal 59% for USA and 40% for Switzerland. Home ownership is advantageous as houses are saleable assets. Increasing market value of homes has enhanced this merit. It also eliminates the trouble of monthly rental payments. Statistical evidences suggest that homeowners are much better than individuals renting an apartment. But the disadvantage is that few people have the money for buying a home and they go for borrowing options or mortgage. This is again a liability. Owning a home involves maintenance costs unlike renting where landlord bears all the cost for renting (Gordon, n.d). 3. How can the quality of a school system benefit even homeowners in a community who do not have school-age children? A recent study has shown that home owners send their teenage children to school more frequently than those parents living in rented apartments. Behavioral characteristics of homeowners have been attributed to this fact. Homeowners are mostly financial stable and from good background who do not tolerate bad behavior of their children. Again the findings reveal that residential stability has a positive impact on children’s education. There appears to be a positive rela tion between homeownership and educational outcomes. Renting individuals may change their houses quite often which in turn lead to changing schools keeping in mind the distance factor. This is not the case for home owners. Changing schools prove detrimental to a child’s education (Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing, 2010). 4. What factors affect a person's ability to qualify for a mortgage? Any bank or financial institution while mortgaging a house from an individual does a careful assessment of his/her gross income. The amount offered on mortgage depends a lot on the individual’s gross income. Hence first of all a person needs to be financially stable in order to qualify for mortgage. Sudden inheritance of a large sum of money can also be favorable for qualification. Some institutions also prefer to see the loan history of the individual before giving out the mortgage amount. This is done to prevent default risks. In recent times many mortgage product s have come up in housing markets easing the process of

Grand Theft Auto's Detrimental Impact toward Gamers Essay

Grand Theft Auto's Detrimental Impact toward Gamers - Essay Example This paper has brought out the fact that incarceration is one of the major consequences for youth and young adults arrested for committing violent crimes. The violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault (Delgado, 2001, p. 3). This, however has not appeased society nor has it abated one's fears of crime and its circumstances, which games such as grand thief auto have contributed to. Much attention has been paid to the propitious drop in the nation's crime rates, and more specifically, the murder rate. An increased rate of incarceration is considered one of the key factors behind this drop, although a number of notable criminologists disagree. Incarceration is one of the major consequences for youth and young adults arrested for committing violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault .(Delgado, 2001, p. 3) This decrease however has not appeased society nor has it abated one's fears of crime and its circumstances. Researchers continue to report that crimes are however densely populated in urban communities; and usually consist of black on black crimes. On the other hand, it is imperative that one accept that urban areas are not the only locations where crimes are committed. In fact, there are various types of crimes that continue to occur because of the violence in video games Since the early 1960s, research evidence has been accumulating that suggests that exposure to violence in television, movies, video games, cell phones, and on the Internet increases the risk of violent behavior on the viewer's part, just as growing up in an environment filled with real violence increases the risk of them behaving violently. In the current review this research evidence is critically assessed and the psychological theory that explains why exposure to violence has detrimental effects for both the short and long-term is elaborated. Finally the size of the "media violence effect" is compared with some other well-known threats to society to estimate how important a threat it should be considered (Huesmann). Evidence has shown that researchers examine the correlations between race and crime, as well as the discrimination that occurs when classification of crimes and its perpetrators come into account.(Knepper, 2000, p. 15) There is however not an objective definition of race given. Knepper continues to express that current statistical methods are not accurate nor due they portray the proper picture of current criminals and their circumstances. Knepper questions the idea of whether or not African Americans do in fact show a higher instance of criminality than others do, or are the statistics biased and skewed in nature. He concludes that there are currently four officials races used for classification: White, black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Asian and Pacific Islander and two official ethnic groups: Hispanic origin and not of Hispanic origin. This is also shown in the game Grand Thief Auto, which race is related to crime. Furthermore, it has been discussed that when it comes to crime certain racial groups are thought to commit certain crimes. From there, the death penalty is extremely racial because some people feel that individuals that are not of the white race are quickly sentenced to death. Fortunately, this is only a feeling among minority groups due to the fact that they are among the minorities. Statistics show whites are served the

Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady, Selina Hastings Analysis

Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady, Selina Hastings Analysis Humans are very complex beings. From sentience arrives emotions, both negative and positive, which create the beings we know as our friends, our enemies, and the rest of the world. In this rendition of the classic work Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady, Selina Hastings reinvents two characters from the medieval tale of King Arthur, including the King and Sir Gawain. In this legend, King Arthur meets a mysterious rogue knight when separated from his men on a hunt during the Christmas season. The knight hands him a riddle, What women desire most, in which he must solve in three days time, or else the rogue knight will slay him and take possession of his kingdom. Eventually, King Arthur encounters a woman who can accurately answer the riddle, although she herself is a disgusting old hag. What is even more horrendous is that she offers a high price for her services: The hand of a knight in marriage. Arthur reluctantly accepts, and defeats the rogue knights riddle. As Arthur arrives safely back to the castle, Sir Gawain agrees to become the ugly womans husband, for the honour of his king. Although initially unhappy, Gawains mood is altered for the better when his bride turns out to have been under a curse, and is actually a beautiful lady. In order to permanently rid her of the curse, Gawain gives his wife what all women desire, to have her own way. Throughout this tale, Sir Gawain is depicted to be a courageous, arrogant, immature, and loyal knight, effectively making him a multifaceted character. Sir Gawain is obviously a very courageous man. As stated, he is usually the first to come forward to the king when the king requires an undertaker for a quest. King Arthur had not even ventured into the details of the endeavour, when Sir Gawain burst out, Sire, I beg you, let me defend you! Grant me the quest' (Hastings 179). This proves his courage, since he seems to be willing to tackle any problem, even if the details are unclear. Sir Gawain only further proves his mettle when he proposes to the Loathly Lady, who is able to make the other knights sit as Stills as statues, [and] hardly able to believe their eyes (Hastings 179). Madam, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] will you honour me with your hand in marriage' (Hastings 179) was the line possibly well-rehearsed by Gawain, but however, to be able to speak it so fluently and so convincingly under the hideous gaze of the Loathly Lady is certainly a feat not to take lightly. Based on the above examples, Sir Gawains courage is a force to be reckone d with, as it seems to be able to overrule his common sense. Being at foundation a man, it seems he has a less knightly characteristic: an overwhelming sense of arrogance, displaying his multifaceted personality. When King Arthur finally explains the quest, Gawain looked stunned, but his spirit never faltered (Hastings 179). Upon hearing the fact that he must propose, he faltered, as he and his pride were prepared for battle, not for something as unexpected as a marriage to an abhorrent bride . As a result of being the only volunteer and as a victim of knightly chivalry, he was forced to marry the Loathly Lady, and as a consequence of the self-embarrassment, his pride suffered. In shock of his actions, he moved through his wedding in a trance. After the wedding, he thought to himself, Was he to spend the rest of his life shackled to a creature more hideous than the demon of a nightmare (Hasting 180). Upon his courage intercepting his mind and causing him to propose to the Loathly Lady, his inner sense of pride was disintegrating. In order for him to be so dismayed, he must have had inner thoughts that he would court a beautiful young lady, instead of an ugly old hag. Upon realizing the reality of his situation, he must have noticed the cons of having such an unappealing bride, in which every solution resulted in having to hide the Loathly Lady, therefore deducting an aspect of adulthood, demoralizing him and stripping him of what little may have been left with his arrogance. Due to this episode, Gawains pride as a member of the round table was temporarily diminished. His courage and arrogance may be explained by another trait he houses: his immaturity as the youngest Knight of the Round Table in the castle of Carlisle. When the king explains he does not know how he may save his honour, Sir Gawain leapt up, scattering the ivory chessmen at his feet (Hastings 179). As he was the only knight the rush to the kings aid, it is clear he lacks experience, since no other knight had done the same. Another contributing factor is the fact that he is very superficial, only studying appearances instead of personalities. When The pair [Gawain and the transformed Loathly Lady] were so happy and so much in love (Hastings 181), it is obvious that their love cannot be anything deep, since they only met the day before the quote, so their love is a shallow, sexual love, rather than a deep romantic love. Being young, immaturity is unavoidable. His final trait, which is the most obvious of all characteristics among a group of knights, is their loyalty, more specifically to their king. As previously stated, he is always the first to come forward (Hastings 179). Along with being courageous, this statement may also represent loyalty, as he takes it upon himself to help the King in whatever way he can. After hearing the quest Gawain had replied Take me to her, Sire, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] I will marry her tomorrow.' (Hastings 179), which continues to prove his strong sense of loyalty, which prevents his arrogance from allowing him to refuse, and keeps his courage at a constantly effective level. Sir Gawains loyalty keeps a constant hold upon him. The knight, Sir Gawain is a multifaceted character, since he is loyal as he is arrogant and courageous as he is immature. He obeys all orders given to him by the king, but his sense of pride is at the same time corrupted by the arrival of his loathly wife. His courage is tested to the limit when he marries the Loathly Lady, but when the Loathly Ladys curse was broken, it shows how shallow Gawain really is, displaying immaturity. By incorporating a mix of positive and negative traits into the composition of Sir Gawains personality, Selina Hastings has effectively recreated the complex character of a human being. It illustrates the nature of human life, as nobody is perfect.

The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd Essay examples -- Essays Papers

The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd Dr James Sheppard lived together with his sister Caroline in King's Abbot, a small village. He was a great doctor and when somebody died he looked to see what had happened. Mrs Ferras died on the night of the 16th - 17th September. Dr Sheppard drove there. After he had analysed the body he drove home again where he talked about the death of Mrs Ferras with his sister. Caroline pretended to know everything about the death. She thought Mrs Ferras had killed herself because she had killed her husband last year. That day Dr Sheppard met Roger Ackroyd, a good friend of his, by chance. Roger invited Dr Sheppard to his house at 7.30. He also told Dr Sheppard that it was very important. That evening Roger told James that Ralph Paton, his nephew, was in London. But James had seen Ralph this afternoon. When Roger heard that, he was very angry and pretended that he didn't know that. The next morning Caroline told him that she had seen Ralph Paton with Flora Ackroyd. They had been walking together. Dr Sheppard went into the garden. Minutes later pumpkins flew past his ears and a face looked over the fence. After the new man had excused himself he introduced himself. His name was Hercule Poirot, the new neighbour. When James walked into his house again Caroline told him that she had heard that Ralph Paton had said to a girl Mr Ackroyd had to die. Then James walked to Roger's house. When Dr Sheppard entered Ackroyd's house on this day he heard ...

How to Survive High School Essay

Maybe your friends from middle school are going to a different high school, or even if you know other freshmen, you might not know many upperclassmen. This is why it is very important to attend freshman orientations. These are helpful not only because you learn your way around the building and get to meet some of your teachers, but you also get to meet fellow freshmen. When you talk to people at orientation, you’ll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. They’re all new to the school and don’t know what to expect either. Talking to your classmates about a common concern could even spark a new friendship. Secondly, you should learn more about your teachers. Some freshman teachers are nice and kind at times. However, in order to avoid their negativity, you must go by all of their rules. Different teachers will have different expectations. Learn what they are and don’t make your high school experience rough, by trying to make your own rules. Some rules will seem unfair and some will seem stupid, but if you go by them, you will find that life is much easier. You don’t have to be a teacher’s pet to do this, and you just don’t have to be a rebel either. Just remember, in all cases, think things through before you act. Sometimes it will save you a lot of trouble in the end. Thirdly, you should maintain a good reputation. Having a good reputation at high school is very important. You should always take responsibility for your actions, and choose them wisely. We remember people by their actions as much as we remember their hair color. While embarrassing moments are unavoidable and nothing to be ashamed about, dishonest or vicious behavior is well within your control. Last but not least, you should always be yourself. I know everyone says it, but if you’re not yourself, who else are you going to be? Everyone has their quirks which makes them unique. There’s nothing interesting about a high school full of clones. Embrace your uniqueness. To enjoy your time, always be who you are. Opportunities are going to present themselves, and who knows where these opportunities might lead. Don’t ever change who you are just to fit in. You’ll never be as happy pretending to be someone you’re not when you could be yourself. As you can see, high school is only what you make it. Following my advice will only make your freshman year a lot better. These are a few tips on how to you can survive your freshman year in high school.

How to Use a Scientific Calculator

How to Use a Scientific Calculator You might know all the formulas for math and science problems, but if you dont know how to use your scientific calculator, youll never get the correct answer. Heres a quick review of how to recognize a scientific calculator, what the keys mean, and how to enter data correctly. What Is a Scientific Calculator? First, you need to know how a scientific calculator is different from other calculators. There are three main types of calculators: basic, business, and scientific. You cant work chemistry, physics, engineering, or trigonometry problems on a basic or business calculator because they dont have functions youll need to use. Scientific calculators include exponents, log, natural log (ln), trig functions, and memory. These functions are vital when youre working with scientific notation or any formula with a geometry component. Basic calculators can do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Business calculators include buttons for interest rates. They typically ignore the order of operations. Scientific Calculator Functions The buttons may be labeled differently depending on the manufacturer, but here is a list of common functions and what they mean: Operation Mathematical Function + plus or addition - minus or subtraction Note: On a scientific calculator there is a different button to make a positive number into a negative number, usually marked (-) or NEG (negation) * times, or multiply by / or à · divided by, over, division by ^ raised to the power of yx or xy y raised to the power x or x raised to the y Sqrt or √ square root ex exponent, raise e to the power x LN natural logarithm, take the log of SIN sine function SIN-1 inverse sine function, arcsine COS cosine function COS-1 inverse cosine function, arccosine TAN tangent function TAN-1 inverse tangent function or arctangent ( ) parentheses, instructs calculator to do this operation first Store (STO) place a number in memory for later use Recall recover the number from memory for immediate use How to Use a Scientific Calculator The obvious way to learn to use the calculator is to read the manual. If you got a calculator that didnt come with a manual, you can usually search for the model online and download a copy. Otherwise, you need to do a bit of experimentation or youll enter in the right numbers and still get the wrong answer. The reason this happens is that different calculators process order of operations differently. For example, if your calculation  is: 3 5 * 4 You know, according to the order of operations, the 5 and the 4 should be multiplied by each other before adding the 3. Your calculator may or may not know this. If you press 3 5 x 4, some calculators will give you the answer 32 and others will give you 23 (which is correct). Find out what your calculator does. If you see an issue with the order of operations, you can either enter 5 x 4 3 (to get the multiplication out of the way) or use parentheses 3 (5 x 4). Which Keys to Press and When to Press Them Here are some example calculations and how to determine the correct way to enter them. Whenever you borrow someones calculator, get into the habit of performing these simple tests to make sure youre using it correctly. Square Root: Find the square root of 4. You know the answer is 2 (right?). On your calculator, find out whether you need to enter 4 and then press the SQRT key or whether you hit the SQRT key and then enter 4.  Taking the Power: The key may be marked xy or yx. You need to find out whether the first number you enter is the x or the y. Test this by entering 2, power key, 3. If the answer was 8, then you took 23, but if you got 9, the calculator gave you 32.10x: Again, test to see whether you press the 10x button and then enter your x or whether you enter the x value and then press the button. This is critical for science problems, where youll live in the land of scientific notation!Trig Functions: When youre working with angles, keep in mind many calculators let you select whether to express the answer in degrees or radians. Then, you need to determine whether you enter the angle (check the units) and then sin, cos, tan, etc., or whether you press the sin, cos, etc., button and then enter the number. How do you test this: Remember the sine of a 30-degree angle is 0.5. Enter 30 and then SIN and see if you get 0.5. No? Try SIN and then 30. If you get 0.5 using one of these methods, then you know which works. However, if you get -0.988 then your calculator is set to radian mode. To change to degrees, look for a MODE key. There is often an indicator of units written right up with the numerals to let you know what youre getting.

Charter Communication Company Case Analysis

Charter Communication Company Case Analysis Introduction The growth and sustainability of Charter Communication Company lie in the implementation of its objectives and business strategies. The objectives and business strategies of the organization must align with the market trend and market target (David, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Charter Communication Company: Case Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Charter communications is a leading company that manufactures Internet and broadcasting cable, it provides high-speed connections to corporate organizations, government agencies and home user. The company has its headquarters in the United States. The mission of Charter Company is to offer value to all customers. The company will achieve its goal by providing quality product and services at fair prices. The strategies of the organization align with its internal and external conditions. Objectivities and Strategies of Charter Communications Inc The objectives of Charter Communications build on quality service to meet customer’s satisfaction. The objectives are highlighted below To provide high-speed Internet, digital connections to its customers. To become the leading manufacturing company in the telecom industry. To provide affordable products and service to its customers. To maintain its quality and transform the world with digital technology. Charter Communications International has a projected 5.5 million client base. The company relies on its business strategy to satisfy its clients. The objectives of the organization can be achieved with an effective business strategy. The performance of the organizations is attributed to the correlation between its objectives and business strategies (Bygrave Zacharakis, 2010). The strategies include Commitment to its customers: The Company provides customer support to its clients. The organization is committed to the improvement of its products and services. Their custome r support team is efficient and always ready to render its service to its customers. The internal factor of success can be used to strengthen its external factors of success. An updated information unit will assist customers to make choices from its list of products and services. Efficient Employees: The Company utilizes its internal strategy to position the organization as a leading service provider. Their efficient and productive employees provide quality service to her numerous clients. The organization synchronizes its operations and market synergy to meet customers demand. A strategy to improve its opportunity To maintain its growth, Charter Communications manufactures compelling broadband products with lower cost of transactions to meet customers satisfaction. The company achieves this feat by sourcing its raw materials from low-cost sites. The production cost will be reduced and thus, its sales will be lower than similar products. The company provides its sales points at dif ferent locations to reduce the cost of transactions. Customers will choose a favourable location to save cost. Customers are willing to patronize a particular company when the cost of business transactions is reduced (Rao et al., 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A strategy to mitigate threats The notable threat is the competition from similar manufacturing companies. Similar products flood the market, thus, reducing the sales of Charters products. However, the management of Charter Communications utilizes product differentiation to overcome this threat. The quality of its products and services provides the competitive advantage to mitigate this threat. The low-cost of production encourages customers to patronize Charters broadband products and equipment.  The advantage of a competitive profile matrix transcends its components; it compares market strengths a nd weakness of competing firms. The variables for the analysis include the quality of products, management, prices, to mention a few. A competitive profile matrix can be used to analyze a companys internal and external conditions. The analysis compares the success and failures of different companies (Rao et al., 2008). The analysis is presented in a matrix format. The format includes a rating section, which indicates the firms response to success. The weight section indicates the relevance of the variables of change to the company. The weighted score can be compiled by multiplying the variable success with its weight. The total weighted score section is the sum of each factor for success. Competitive profile matrix Charter company Verizon communication Cox communication Key success factors Weight Rating Weight score Rating Weight score Rating Weight score Customers care services 0.2 2 0.4 3 0.6 2 0.4 Advertisements 0.1 3 0.3 4 0.4 3 0.3 Price competitiveness 0.2 3 0.6 3 0.6 4 0.8 Network coverage 0.1 2 0.2 4 0.4 0.3 0.3 Streaming speed 0.1 2 0.2 4 0.4 3 0.3 Mobile banking 0.3 1 0.3 1 0.3 1 0.3 Product Differentiation 0.4 2 0.3 1 0.2 2 0.1 Service delivery 0.5 3 0.1 2 0.1 1 0.1 Total 1.0 2 2.7 2.6 Average score 2.075 Minor weakness Major weakness Minor strength Major strength The analysis shows a strong rating between the competing firms. Charter Communications recorded high success in its customer support services. The advertisement ratings show higher value. Its service delivery is a competitive advantage for the organization. The company’s weakness in mobile banking reduces its growth. Similar firms such as Verizon and Cox Communications recorded high ratings in their network coverage. The ratings dropped significantly with their product delivery services.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Charter Communication Company: Case Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn M ore External factor matrix External factor matrix assesses the business trends of a company. The analysis reveals the threats and the opportunities of an organization. The external factor matrix comprises of a list of external factors, which influences the success of an organization. The components of the external factor evaluation include cultural, political, and economic factors. The external factor evaluation matrix of the Charter Communication Company is presented below. An external factor evaluation matrix Weight Rating Weight score Globalization trends 0.11 4 0.44 Government policy 0.12 3 0.36 Foreign exchange rates 0.15 1 0.15 Taxation 0.12 2 0.24 Political situation 0.14 2 0.28 Economies of scale 0.10 3 0.30 Per-capita income 0.05 3 0.15 Growth of economy 0.08 4 0.32 Inflation 0.05 2 0.10 Stock market trends 0.08 2 0.16 Total 1.0 2.5 Average 1.75 Minor threat Major threat Minor opportunity Major opportunity The evaluation matrix for Ch arter Communications shows a strong rating in global trends and a poor rating in its exchange rates. The economies of scale, government policies, pre-capita and taxation recoded average in the rating. The success factors in the organization determine the growth of the organization and measures the strengths and weakness of the company. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the strengths, weakness, opportunities and the weakness of the Charter Communication Company. The objectives and strategies of the organization provide the platform for effective management of each production unit. An effective business plan influences the critical success of the organization. The competitive profile matrix can be used to reorganize the organization. The challenges faced by the organization can be reduced using the analysis in this report. A comprehensive report includes the objectives, strategies, internal and external matrix evaluation of the organization.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Bygrave, D., Zacharakis, A. (2010). The portable MBA in entrepreneurship. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. David, F. (2011). Strategic management: Concepts and cases. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall / Pearson. Rao, P., Rao, A., Sivaramakrishna, K. (2008). Strategic management and business policy: Texts and cases. New Delhi, India: Excel press.

The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal Essay - 2

The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal - Essay Example The sale and use of cigarettes should be made illegal. Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive substance that causes major health problems to its users. Lung cancer increases the risk of lung cancer by 23 times in men and 13 times in women (Cdc, 2012). It also causes 10 other cancers including bladder kidney, and pancreatic cancer. Smoking decreases men’s sperm count and it causes infertility. The regular use of cigarettes is a risk factor that increases the chance of coronary disease. There is empirical proof that states that half of all regular smokers will die from its use. This fact implies that nearly 650 million people or 9.28% of the population will die from smoking. Cigarette smoking is even more dangerous among teenagers and pregnant women. Cigarette smoking is an epidemic that is hurting the youth in America. It is estimated that approximately 80% of all smokers begin to smoke cigarettes before the age of 18. The health dangers of smoking are greater for teenagers because their bodies are still developing. The incidence of teen smoking in the U.S. is extremely high as 30% of high school students are cigarette smokers (Cavnett, 2010). One of the reasons smoking is so dangerous among teenagers is because it causes oxygen deprivation. â€Å"Oxygen deprivation can damage and kill brain cells that are not replaced or repaired later in life† (Cavnett, 2010). Since the brains of teenagers are still developing smoking can inhibit the developmental process due to damage to brain cells. Pregnant women that smoke are irresponsible and are endangering an innocent life that is supposed to be protected by its mother. Smoking among pregnant women is a serious problem that deserves the immediate attention of our society. â€Å"Nearly one-quarter of all pregnant women in the United States are smokers, with more than half refusing to quit during their pregnancy† (Mozes, 2012). Making

Plato Rebuplic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Plato Rebuplic - Essay Example describing the four types of constitution he specified them in this order – first, there is the constitution praised by most people, namely, the Cretan or Laconian. â€Å"(4)(544 c) the second was oligarchy, the third democracy and the last one was genuine tyranny. In trying to weigh the happiness or wretchedness of people within a certain government one could investigate the justice or injustice that is practiced. (545 a pg. 215) he goes on to explain that nothing is permanent be it a city, the government or a constitution – everything has to face dissolution and decay. (546 a, pg 216) Plato explains that both plants and animals have gestation periods that are fixed and represented by circles and says that if a seed is sowed during the fertile part of the cycle, it grows well to maturity; but unfortunately, if it is sown during the barren period of the cycle, it either does not germinate at all, or it becomes an inferior crop. (pg. 216, 8) The same thing is applied to humans. In ignorance of the above fact, if humans join their brides or grooms during the wrong period, their offspring would not be good natured non fortunate. (545d, pg 217) Therefore rulers chosen from among such descendants would be inferior and would not be good rulers. Whenever they go there would be inequality, disharmony, hostility and war. (547a, pg.

Unit3 - Individual Project - Project starting, Planning, Executing and Essay

Unit3 - Individual Project - Project starting, Planning, Executing and Closing - Essay Example Sales department in the process requires additional personnel due to their extensive work in the organization. The hiring process however must be a competitive one so as to obtain the best brains that can participate in the market research and analysis. Therefore, the company will advertise for the positions and applications made through the human resource manager. Qualified candidates will be shortlisted and notified for the interviews date. The interviews are then done in phases through a panel selected by the company so that biasedness is minimized and every one given an equal chance in the job select (Cleland & Gareis, 2006). After the interviews, suited candidates are selected and taken under reviews again so that best out of the best can be determined before recruitment takes place. Sales department is quiet critical in the success of the company as it is the department that ensures revenues are conveyed in the organization. Its activities in the market determines what manufacturing department will produce since it establishes the equilibrium in supply and demand for the company (Hasen, 2012). Hence for any extra unit that the corporation will produce, sales department must work more hard for it to be sold in the market hence need for training of the personnel. The department is also concerned with identifying the market niche of the various markets so as to establish new customers to the company’s product and its development to increase productivity and revenues to the firm while acquiring a bigger market share to the company. This can only be achieved by well trained personnel in the modern science so that they can undertake an extensive research on issues and have a broader knowledge of the market segmentations and operations. (Mathur, 2006) To achieve this, the personnel must be trained to be well equipped with the research methodologies as the success of the company achieving the goals and objectives solely lies with the sales department and

Cultural Industries and Globalisation Essay Example for Free

Cultural Industries and Globalisation Essay This essay will aim to include my understanding and perception of the cultural industries, how it developed into the creative industries and how globalisation has impacted this sector through looking specifically at exampled from Sheffield. Originating from the 1940s the Cultural Industries was known as The cultural Industry taken from a book written by Adorno and Horkheimer called Dialektik der Aufklarung from the chapter Dialect of Enlightenment. They thought of the Creative Industry as art with special, exceptional forms of Human creativity (Hesmondhalgh 2007). By the late 1960s the Cultural Industry became comodified and was intertwining with other industries such as film, television and music as these were socially popular, the cultural Industry was re-named The Cultural Industries. Through new service industry growth and new labour, the Cultural Industries was turned into The Creative Industries in the 1990s and is still known as this in current society. The creative Industries are those Industries that are based on individual creativity, skill and talent (DCMS). These creative industries include 13 categories: Advertising, architecture, arts and antiques, computer and video games, crafts, design, designer fashion, film, and video, music, performing arts, publishing, software, TV and Radio. From when the cultural/ creative industries were first produced they have achieved huge industry growth rates for example: between 1997 and 2001 the UKs creative industries grew by 8% per annum, with the most popular sector being TV and Radio and around about 122,000 organisations traded in the creative Industries since 1997( Montgomery, J 2007). This service Industry growth is mainly down to Globalisation which is defined as the world becoming more interdependent and integrated (Moynagh and Worsely, 2008). Globalisation links with economic power and consumption for mass markets and making them become global. They do this by customizing products, making them innovative and unique, and by using sub-contractors hope to get the products known globally. For example; in the fashion industry a designer will create a product that they want to produce globally to a specific target market, once they have created the product they will need to manufacture the product, ship the product and make it available for a global market to purchase. They will do this by having products made in countries such as Turkey or China as this method is cheaper and quicker, and have it shipped over to other companies to make it global. Through the virtual innovations such as the internet, and communication systems, the product can be marketed globally. Globalisation also involves the global integration of production factors and services. ‘National industries ‘selling abroad are increasingly giving way to the organisation of production and distribution on a global scale, sourcing materials, labour, services etc. across borders with little or no attachment to particular places (Brown et al 2000). There are many Pros and Cons regarding Globalisation, due to its features and tensions. Globalisation features; to name a few include aspects such as transportation and distribution: getting the goods to the destination from the manufacturers as quick as possible, Growth of Cities: Many Cities are moving from rural areas to urban areas through the growth of industries and trade, Free trade: to allow companies to trade without government barriers or trade policy, Multi Nationals: Different nationality companies will be working along side one another in one country and Global Culture: the development of standardisation and the idea that everything will start to look ad feel the same. Although this means that buying and selling overseas will become more integrated and connected through fast distribution and manufacturing, it also creates problems known as tensions of globalisation. A few of these tensions are; Poverty: Globalisation may mean that in poorer countries there are increases in sweat shops where poorer people are made to work long hours top help manufacture products to help the fast trade of Globalisation. In poor Asian economies, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia, large numbers of women now have work in garment export factories. Their wages are low by world standards but much higher than they would earn in alternative occupations (Bardhan, P 2006). Economic Growth: many traders have fled poorer countries in order to gain more trade in multi-national, urban areas. Oligopoly: There will no longer be one current market brand leader, as everything will be integrated and manufactured the same, causing competition in market brands. Global vs. Local: The idea that local economies will be decreasing through products no longer being unique, through the speed of communication, how fast the brand becomes global. An article by Shah, A 2009 says: Following a period of economic boom, a financial bubble—global in scope—has now burst. The extent of this problem has been so severe that some of the world’s largest financial institutions have collapsed and local manufactures have been bought out by their competition at low prices. This demonstrates the impact that globalization has had on small businesses and how competition between organizations is becoming increasingly tougher. These features and tensions need to be considered in order to gain an understanding of the impacts of Globalisation and the positive and negative points that need to be considered in terms of the struggling economies and inequalities that may occur in parts of the world. Globalisation also works off economic, political, social, cultural and environmental aspects and entails better communication; through social networking sites, developing relationships; through computer and internet innovations which link people together, and the decline in human contact; people are no longer conducting meetings as they can have video conferencing with people on the other side of the world. One example of a globalised cultural Industry in the UK would be The Stonehenge, a World Heritage Site which is known as a place for worship and healing. This tourist attraction sees thousands of visitors pass it every year, visiting from all over the world. The world Heritage sites include The great Barrier Reef, Great Wall of China, Galapagos Islands and many more, their missions include is to promote public awareness of the sites and encourage international cooperation in the conservation of the World heritage sites (unesco. rg). After looking into globalisation; its positive and negative aspects in gaining a deeper understanding of the subject, I can now establish an understanding of how globalisation has impacted Sheffields Cultural Industries and weigh up affects it may have had on this industry. The growth of the Cultural Industries meant that in the UK a huge amount of employment was generated, which was extremely beneficial to Sheffield as it meant that 7. 2% of people were working for the creative Industries, this ame at a good time following the collapse of the steel industry after Britain let a failed trip to Japan to buy machinery to cater for the Steel industry needs. After a strike from the workers the Steel Industry closed in Sheffield and meant a loss of 50,000 jobs were incurred. Today in the Sheffield region of South Yorkshire, the Cultural Industries employment rates are above 20% of the average employment, rating above hotels and catering, and below the retail and education industries. It is continuing to expand through the Cultural Industries Quarter located in the city centre which contains BBC Radio Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, Perishable Works, and Exchange works. A quote from a BBC News report 2006 shows: All very much in keeping with the new Sheffield. The area near the train station has been re-dubbed the cultural quarter, a loose collection of creative and multi-media firms with the Showroom Cinema and Workstation Cultural Industries Business Centre at its heart. The CIQ is a non-profit organisation with a wide ranging powers to support and promote the growth of the cultural industries in Sheffield (CIQ Agency 2006). These establishments are all in short distance from each other creating a business community, a range of building sizes, university connectivity and transport links (CIQ Online 2006). Other creative industries around the city include; Botanical Gardens, Peace Gardens, Sheffield Museum and art Gallery and the Crucible. One organization that was established though the cultural Industries Quarter is the Workstation, a creative Business Centre combined with the Showroom Cinema, an independent picture house showing contemporary, classic film, and film from different cultures. It is now an internationally significant cultural centre which hosts annual events and festivals such as The Childrens Film Festival, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, Sensoria Festival of Music Film and Celluloid Screams. The Showroom regularly hosts festivals and creative events which give a chance to meet experts from different media, learn new skills and cultivate new ideas. Globalisation has had huge affects from the Cultural Industries being successful through the determination of the company becoming globally recognised. According to a journal article written by Brown et al 2000, it states that there was a four stage development plan to move the CIQ from being local, regional, national to internationally known by 1) Nurturing local music/ cultural businesses, 2) create a tourist attraction to bring people to Sheffield and 3) Using these points to create a better image of the city. The creative director of the CIQ stresses that â€Å"We dont want it to be seen as a Sheffield centre, but a national one†. Through working on these plans Sheffields Cultural Industries Quarter have seen visitor numbers up to 500,000 per year which is proven to be a success. Through speaking to the manager of the Showroom in Sheffield, it is clear that through times of the recession and the credit crunch the independent cinema has to market its events and showings carefully to ensure that the visitors are still attending. As the venues most frequent visitors are older people who tend to have a lot of disposable income, they already have a captive audience. However, to gain awareness they have to capture various other market groups to expand its global awareness for example; they can target different ethnic groups and communities through showing different nationality and religious films to attract the certain audience. To conclude, through researching the Cultural Industries and how it has developed through time into the Creative Industries I now have a deeper insight into the background knowledge of the subject and can link it to globalisation and how they have positive and negative affects on one another. From researching Globalisation and the pros and cons it brings to the economy, I can now realise that Globalisation can create as much poverty as it can capital, and the affects it has on local businesses, trades, and workers. The Cultural Industries Quarter in Sheffield has impacted from globalisation through the development and infrastructure of its diverse buildings and content. For example; the showroom has attracted audiences internationally as well as regionally through its specific showings at the cinema and it continues to grow by making Sheffield a Music City by building more buildings to help expand the Cultural Industries Quarter. Finally, globalisation has shaped a mass market for the global economy as a whole and has profoundly meant that the cultural Industries are expanding and recognisable.

Issues That Are Facing The Maldives Environmental Sciences Essay

Issues That Are Facing The Maldives Environmental Sciences Essay 36. String of Pearls Scattered Over the Deep Blue Indian Ocean . The first glimpse you get of this fascinating atoll formation confirms two unique aspects of the Republic of Maldives. Not only does it consist of the most beautiful tropical islands, but 99% of its 909,000 km is covered by the sea. 1190 islands are spread over 26 atolls, ring like coral formations enclosing a lagoon, which gives the Maldives its unique paradise like appearance. They stretch about 820 km from North to South, 130 km at the widest point and do not exceed a length of 4.5 miles or an altitude of 6 feet above sea level. No more than 200 islands are inhabited, the rest include 87 tourist resorts and uninhabited islands, some of which are used for drying fish or other agricultural activities. The capital Male, the seat of government and the centre of trade, commerce, business, health and education, is located in the middle of the atoll chain, a small island buzzing with the sounds and activities of about 75,00 0 people which is about one third of the population. 37. Atoll Formation. The atolls of the Maldives are formed from coral structures, separated by lagoons. The atolls are in fact part of a greater structure known as the Lacadives-Chargos Ridge, which stretches over 2000 km. The islands are low lying with the highest point at approximately 8 feet above sea level. Faru or ring-shaped reef structures form the atolls and these reefs provide natural defense against wind and wave action, on these delicate islands.1 38. The Geographical Structure of Maldives. Maldives geography based upon a group of 26 coral islands which are formed by approximately 1190 coral reef islands, and there are 20 administrative atolls along with Male which is the capital island of them all. It is a neighbour of Sri Lanka and is situated southwest of it. The view of Maldives from the air is splendid because of the beautiful patterns it makes in the clear blue sea. Maldives has numerous islands among which only 200 of them have people living there. The north-south stretch of this country is approximately 824 km and from east to west it is about 129 km. Maldives is more blue water than the land because more than 99% of it is sea. 39. There have been many devastating encounter of gale storms in the year 1812 and 1955, and the scientists have also said that the islands of Maldives are in danger due to the rise in the sea level caused by global warming. To safeguard the country from such natural calamities, the government has build up artificial breakwaters and other safety measures with the help of Japan, and has started purchasing land in India, in the event of excessive population displacement.2 Present Environmental Issues. 40. Introduction. Maldives is actively involved in bringing environmental issues to the forefront of the global political agenda, the role played by Maldives in the international arena. The environment of Maldives comprises a delicate and complex series of ecosystems that are unique to the tropical world and many have found it a pleasure of gaze upon. The Maldives has rich biodiversity and the coral reef ecosystem is one of the most productive ecosystems with linkages ranging from microscopic plankton to the giant sperm whale. However, the rapid socio-economic development and fast growing population have greatly contributed to the degradation of the environment. 41. Beach Erosion. Beach erosion is a very widespread problem. Either due to natural causes or man made changes, such as construction of coastal infrastructure; changes in the natural sediment balance; and up drift impoundment of sand behind coastal structures built without pre-filling. The process of coastal erosion and accretion is extremely complex with interrelations to climatic, geological, oceanographic, biological and terrestrial processes affecting the growth and stability of the reefs and island structures. As the beach systems are highly dynamic in nature, the prevailing seasonal conditions may gradually shift the shape as well as the position of the island by strong beach erosion and accretion on either side of the island. 42. Coral Mining. Over a six year period the volumes of coral landed in Male rose from 7,000 to 400,000 cubic feet. Brown Dunne 1988 carried out biological surveys on mined reefs and evaluated the impacts of coral mining in the Maldives. 43. Dredging. Dredging is normally associated with harbor deepening, land reclamation, and mining for construction material. 44. Land Reclamation. Reclamation which in the Maldives usually means the creation of new land. Such activities occur on both large and small scales and are usually associated with human population centres and as a byproduct of harbor dredging. 45. Population Growth. The annual population growth rate between 1977 and 1985 was 3.2% per annum. Between 1985 and 1990 was 3.4% from 1990 and 1995 has dropped to 2.75% per annum. At present 25.7% (62,793) of the population live in Male.3 46. Biodiversity. Biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in from and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystems ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption. 47. Deforestation. The destruction of vast areas of forest (eg., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth. 48. Greenhouse Gas. A gas that traps infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydro fluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere. 49. Groundwater. Water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs. 50. Pollution. The contamination of healthy environment by man-made waste. 51. Salination. The process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops. 52. Soil Degradation. Damage to the lands productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides of fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products. 53. Soil Erosion. The removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing and desertification.4 Environment Assessment. 54. Background. The environment is characterized by numerous fringing coral reefs and lagoons, which contain rich biodiversity. The atolls vary significantly in shape and size. The 26 geographical atolls are grouped into 20 administrative regions, also referred to as atolls. The Maldives coral reefs are globally significant being the 7th largest in world and covering an area of 8920 km. Protecting the environment and natural resources is critical to sustainable livelihoods and the Maldives economy. Fishing directly employs and 11% of the work force, while 20% of the population is dependent on fisheries for the majority of its income. High quality eco-friendly tourism inn the Maldives accounts for around 33% of GDP and is based on the Maldives natural assets including unique geography and coral reefs. 55. Climate Change and Coral Reefs. Coral reefs play a key role in the lifestyles of Maldivians through natural protection of the islands and serve as a major resource for the Maldives economy from tourism and fishing industries. 56. Waste Management. Solid and hazardous waste management is recognized as a critical environmental issues. There are no provisions for collection, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes. 57. Freshwater Availability and Quality. Rainwater harvesting is the primary source of drinking water. Groundwater accumulates in rainwater recharged aquifers which lie at a depth of 1-1.5 meters below the surface where they are highly vulnerable to:- Contamination from inadequate sanitation facilities and other human activities. Solid waste run-off. Over exploitation. Saline intrusion through soil erosion and flooding (storms, tsunami etc). 58. Biodiversity Loss. The main threats to biological diversity in the Maldives are habitat destruction and overexploitation. Habitat destruction arises from coastal development activities such as harbour development and land reclamation. Run-off from pesticides and fertilizers used in agricultural activities is becoming an increasing problem and threatens the eutrophication of coral reefs. 59. Air Pollution. Ambient air quality is currently not monitored in Male and the available indicators of air pollution include:- An increase in vehicle numbers. The rising quantity of imported fuel. A positive trend in recorded respiratory disease. The number of buildings constructed over the years. Impacts of Sea Level Rise in Male. 60. As sea level rises, the thickness of the freshwater lens decreases, and the volume of freshwater decreases. Also sea level rise would increase the likelihood of storm over wash of the islands, causing increased incidence of saltwater contamination of the freshwater lenses. 61. Tourism industry relying heavily on the marine ecosystems is also under threat from the impacts of climate change. 62. The islands of Maldives are reef-based and coral reefs serve as natural breakwaters. With damage to the coral reefs comes the bigger danger of loosing the natural protection of the islands from the waves and currents. 63. Fishery is also expected to suffer from the impacts of climate change. 64. There is also an urgent need for the development of resources to adapt to possible impacts of climate change. Major Policy Responses and Initiatives. 65. In order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the Maldives has started pilot projects on alternate sources of energy: Solar power has been used to power telecommunication sets, navigational aids and government office buildings and mosques in the islands. The main constraint to the widespread use of solar energy is the lack of technical backup and high installation costs. While wind is a regular feature of the Maldives, existing wind speeds are considered marginal for electricity generation, unless high towers are erected at high capital costs. Supplementing conventional energy supply by alternate energy sources, wherever viable, has been included in the energy sector objective and strategy in the National Development Plan. 66. Various programs have been designed and implemented in areas such as coastal protection, freshwater management and coral reef protection. 67. A United Nations Environment Program mission visited the Maldives and recommended training of local personnel to monitor and evaluate impacts of expected environmental changes and the development of strategies that would permit sustainable development. 68. Maldives is a party to the UNFCCC. The Maldives signed he Convention on 12th Jun 1992 and ratified the same on 9th November 1992. The Maldives played a very important role with AOSIS in the negotiation process that started in Berlin and culminated in Kyoto. The Maldives, though disappointed with the low targets agreed for in the Kyoto Protocol, looks for early implementation of the Protocol. The Maldives was the first country to sign the Kyoto Protocol on 30th December 1998. The first National Communication of the Maldives to UNFCCC was submitted at the 7th Session of the Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC held in Marrakesh in 2001. The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, National Mitigation Plan, Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Options are included in the national communication of Maldives.6 69. President Nasheed had said that the climate change has reached a critical phase and would soon become not just an environmental threat but a security concern too. The UN inter governmental panel on climate change said that within the next century, the sea level will go up by 59 CMS and this would merge most of the islands of Maldives.7 1. http://www.maldiveisles.com 2. http://www.maldiveisle.com. 3. http://www.fao.org 4. http://www.maldivesvacationpackages.net. 5. http://www.fao.org. 6. http://www.indexmundi.com. 7. http://www.adb.org.

HOW DOES THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL FACTORS ON AGRICULTURAL V :: essays research papers

The location of agriculture at all scales is the result of the interaction between physical, cultural and economic and behavioural factors. Farming in Great Britain has been characterized by technological changes in recent decades which has led to massive increases in yields and improved stock rearing. Much of this change is due to the application of scientific research in plant and stock breeding and improved mechanization. But even today agriculture relies heavily on the physical environment. All crops require a specific range of temperature, moisture, soil ands drainage conditions and these factors can be modified by the farmer but only to a limited degree. If we accept that a farmers choice of land usage is controlled by the physical environment, we must identify the optimum conditions and limits to production of any one crop . This will help to identify the spatial pattern of environmental controls. This was central to the ideas explored by McCarty and Lindberg in the Mid West of the USA and gave rise to the Optima Limits Model in 1966. Away from the optimum physical conditions become hostile and production/ yields decline. The optimum is the area where yields are highest and variability best, where soils are fertile, temperature and rainfall ideal and ground surface level for cultivation. Farmers will take account of physical conditions at a local scale when considering which crops to grow. For example, the Moray coast in NE Scotland between Elgin and Lossiemouth is a rich agricultural area where winters are relatively mild and summers averaging 17oC, rainfall occurs throughout the year and is typically 600mm. There are a variety of soils but mainly glacial sandy loams on the higher ground and alluvial soils where there were once areas of open marshy conditions. A variety of crops are grown, both cereal and root crops. However, there are limitations to agriculture in this area. The main problem is that of wind erosion, the sandy loams are light soils which dry out quickly with high infiltration rates. During early spring or late autumn strong winds can pick up the soil and cause localized wind erosion. Despite this being a well-known problem there are few conservation measures; the only evidence being improving the structure of the soil using manure. There have been no attempts to re-establish hedgerows. Wetness limitations occur such as at Plewlands Farm to the north of Gordonstoun and at Begrow Farm to the west towards Hopeman.