July 3 free essay sample

July 3, 2007, was the day that took the life of my cousin Stacy. She was 19 years old when her car was struck by another, and burst into flames. At her funeral –rather, the celebration of her life— there were more than 1,000 people, and not enough chairs. The amount of people that she impacted was unbelievable. Stacy and her family moved here when she was starting 8th grade. This was when we started getting close. Stacy, my sister, and I would hang out after school and work on our homework, though most of the time we would find each other laughing until we were sick. My family on my father’s side is all very close in age. The oldest is 21, and the youngest is 13. The impact Stacy left on all of us is something that we could learn from. Stacy was always there when you needed her. Like the time when I was having a fight with my sister, she was there to stand by my side. We will write a custom essay sample on July 3 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Stacy would comfort me with her kind words, and even scripture. When she was making you feel better, she would tell jokes to lighten up the situation, and put a smile on my face. Stacy taught me not to criticize, because no matter how much you may not like a person, there is always something good about them. â€Å"Don’t be judgmental!† she would say. â€Å"They were put on this earth for a reason.† And by saying this, she makes an excellent point. Stacy touched people in her lifetime, and sets a positive role for someone to follow. The fact that she impacted that amount of people in her 19 years of life is astonishing. Just like Stacy, I strive to make people happy by putting smiles on their faces. She told me, no matter what, I could put a smile on her face, and I am always there to make her laugh. July 3rd, 2007 is a day we will remember, but it’s a day of remembrance, and someone whom I reflect.

Text Message Scams

Text Message Scams The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning of a dangerous new breed of identity theft scams known as â€Å"smishing.† Similar to â€Å"phishing† scams - authentic-looking emails that appear to be from the victim’s bank, government agencies, or other well-known organizations - â€Å"smishing† scams are text messages sent to mobile phones. While the risks of smishing scams are potentially devastating, the defense is simple. According to the FTC, â€Å"Just dont text back.† How the Scammer Sets the Trap The scarily convincing smishing scams work like this: You get an unexpected text message appearing to be from your bank informing you that your checking account has been hacked into and deactivated â€Å"for your protection.† The message will tell you to reply or text back in order to reactivate your account. Other smishing scam text messages may include a link to a website you need to visit in order to resolve some non-existent problem. What a Smishing Scam  Text Message Might Look Like Here is an example of one of the scam texts: â€Å"User #25384: Your Gmail profile has been compromised. Text back SENDNOW in order to reactivate your account.† What’s the Worst That Can Happen? Do not respond to suspicious or unsolicited  text messages, advises the FTC, warning that at least two bad things might happen if you do: Responding to the text message can allow malware to be installed that will silently collect personal information from your phone. Imagine what an identity thief could do with the information from an online banking or credit card management app. If they don’t use your information themselves, the spammers may sell it to marketers or other identity thieves.You might end up with unwanted charges on your cell phone bill. Depending on your service plan, you may be charged for sending and receiving text messages, even scams. Yes, Unsolicited Text Messages Are Illegal Under federal law, it is illegal to send unsolicited text messages or email to mobile devices, including cell phones and pagers without the owner’s permission. In addition, sending unsolicited text or voice mail or telemarketing messages using a mass auto-dialer, so-called â€Å"robocalls,† is illegal. But There Are Exceptions to the Law In some cases, unsolicited text messages are allowed. If you have established a relationship with a company, it may legally text you things like statements, account activity alerts, warranty information or special offers. In addition, schools are allowed to text informational or emergency messages to parents and students.Political surveys and fundraising messages from charities may be sent as text messages. How to Deal With Smishing Scam Messages The FTC advises not to be fooled by smishing scam texts messages. Remember this: None of the government agencies, banks, or other legitimate businesses will ever request personal financial information via text messages.Take your time. Smishing scams work by creating a false sense of urgency by demanding an immediate response.Never click on any links or call any phone numbers in an unsolicited text or email messages.Don’t respond in any way to smishing messages, even to ask the sender to leave you alone. Responding verifies that your phone number is active, which tells the scammer to keep trying.Delete the message from your phone.Report the suspect message to your cell phone service carriers spam/scam text reporting number or general customer service number. Complaints about text message scams can be filed securely online using the FTC’s  complaint assistant.

The Rise and Fall of the Borgia Family

The Rise and Fall of the Borgia Family The Borgias are the most infamous family of Renaissance Italy, and their history normally hinges around four key individuals: Pope Calixtus III, his nephew Pope Alexander IV, his son Cesare and daughter Lucrezia. Thanks to the actions of the middle pair, the family name is associated with greed, power, lust, and murder. The Rise of the Borgias The most famous branch of the Borgia family originated with Alfons Borja from Valencia in Spain, the son of a middling family. Alfons went to university and studied canon and civil law, where he demonstrated talent and after graduation began to rise through the local church. After representing his diocese in national matters, Alfons was appointed secretary to King Alfonso V of Aragon and became deeply involved in politics, sometimes acting as envoy for the monarch. Soon Alfons became Vice-Chancellor, a trusted and relied upon aide, and then regent when the king went to conquer Naples. While demonstrating skills as an administrator, he also promoted his family, even interfering with a murder trial to secure his kin’s safety. When the king returned, Alfons led negotiations over a rival pope who was living in Aragon. He secured a delicate success which impressed Rome and became both a priest and a bishop. A few years later Alfons went to Naples - now ruled by the King of Aragon – and reorganized the government. In 1439 Alfons represented Aragon at a council to try and unite the eastern and western churches. It failed, but he impressed. When the king finally negotiated papal approval for his hold of Naples (in return for defending Rome against central Italian rivals), Alfons did the work  and was appointed a cardinal in 1444 as a reward. He thus moved to Rome in 1445, aged 67, and changed his name to Borgia. Oddly for the age, Alfons was not a pluralist, keeping only one church appointment, and was also honest and sober. The next generation of Borgia would be very different, and Alfons’s nephews now arrived in Rome. The youngest, Rodrigo, was destined for the church and studied canon law in Italy, where he established a reputation as a ladies man. An elder nephew, Pedro Luis, was destined for military command. Calixtus III: The First Borgia Pope Hulton Archive / Getty Images On April 8th, 1455, a brief time after being made a cardinal, Alfons was elected as Pope, largely because he belonged to no major factions and seemed destined for a short reign due to age. He took the name Calixtus III. As a Spaniard, Calixtus had many ready-made enemies in Rome, and he began his rule carefully, keen to avoid Rome’s factions, even though his first ceremony was interrupted by a riot. However, Calixtus also broke with his former king, Alfonso, after the former ignored the latter’s request for a crusade. While Calixtus refused to promote King Alfonso’s sons as a punishment, he was busy promoting his own family: nepotism was not unusual in the papacy. Indeed, it allowed the Popes to create a base of supporters. Rodrigo was made a cardinal at 25, and a slightly older brother the same, acts which scandalized Rome because of their youth, and ensuing debauchery. But Rodrigo, sent to a difficult region as a papal legate, was skilled and successful. Pedro was given an army command, and the promotions and wealth flowed in: Rodrigo became second in command of the church, and Pedro a Duke and Prefect, while other family took a range of positions. Indeed, when King Alfonso died, Pedro was sent to seize Naples which had defaulted back to Rome. Critics believed Calixtus intended to give it to Pedro. However, matters came to a head between Pedro and his rivals over this, and he had to flee enemies, although he died shortly after of Malaria. In aiding him, Rodrigo demonstrated a physical bra very  and was with Calixtus when he too died in 1458. Rodrigo: Journey to the Papacy German School / Getty Images In the conclave following Calixtus’s death, Rodrigo was the most junior cardinal. He played a key role in electing the new Pope – Pius II – a role that required courage and gambling his career. The move worked, and for a young foreign outsider who had lost his patron, Rodrigo found himself a key ally of the new pope and confirmed Vice-Chancellor. To be fair, Rodrigo was a man of great ability and was perfectly capable in this role, but he also loved women, wealth, and glory. He thus abandoned the example of his uncle Calixtus and set about acquiring benefices and land to secure his position: castles, bishoprics, and money flowed in. Rodrigo also earned official reprimands from the Pope for his licentiousness. Rodrigo’s response was to cover his tracks more. However, he had many children, including a son called Cesare in 1475 and a daughter called Lucrezia in 1480, and Rodrigo would give them key positions. Rodrigo then survived a plague and welcomed a friend as Pope, and stayed on as Vice-Chancellor. By the next conclave, Rodrigo was powerful enough to influence the election, and was sent as a papal legate to Spain with permission to approve or deny the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella, and thus the union of Aragon and Castile. In approving the match, and working to get Spain to accept them, Rodrigo earned the support of King Ferdinand. On returning to Rome, Rodrigo kept his head down as the new pope became the center of plotting and intrigue in Italy. His children were given routes to success: his eldest son became a Duke, while daughters were married to secure alliances. A papal conclave in 1484 demurred from making Rodrigo pope, but the Borgia leader had his eye on the throne, and worked hard to secure allies for what he considered his last chance, and was aided by the current pope causing violence and chaos. In 1492, with the death of the Pope, Rodrigo put all his work together with a huge amount of bribes and was elected Alexander VI. It has been said, not without validity, that he bought the papacy. Alexander VI: The Second Borgia Pope Hulton Archive / Getty Images Alexander had widespread public support  and was capable, diplomatic and skilled, as well as rich, hedonistic and concerned with ostentatious displays. While Alexander at first tried to keep his role separate from family, his children soon benefited from his election, and received huge wealth; Cesare became a cardinal in 1493.  Relatives arrived in Rome and were rewarded, and the Borgias were soon endemic in Italy. While many other Popes had been nepotists, Alexander was promoting his own children and had a range of mistresses, something that further fuelled a growing and negative reputation. At this point, some of the Borgia children also began to cause problems, as they annoyed their new families, and at one point Alexander appears to have threatened to excommunicate a mistress for returning to her husband. Alexander soon had to navigate a way through the warring states and families which surrounded him, and at first, he tried negotiation, including the marriage of a twelve-year-old Lucrezia to Giovanni Sforza. He had some success with diplomacy, but it was short-lived. Meanwhile, Lucrezia’s husband proved a poor soldier, and he fled in opposition to the pope, who then had him divorced. We don’t know why he fled, but accounts claim he believed rumors of incest between Alexander and Lucrezia that persist to this day. France then entered the arena, competing for Italian land, and in 1494 King Charles VIII invaded Italy. His advance was barely stopped, and as Charles entered Rome, Alexander retired to a palace. He could have  fled  but stayed to use his ability against the neurotic Charles. He negotiated both his own survival and a compromise which ensured an independent papacy, but which left Cesare as both a papal legate and a hostage†¦ until he escaped. France took Naples, but the rest of Italy came together in a Holy League in which Alexander played a key role. However, when Charles retreated back through Rome, Alexander thought it best to leave this second time. Juan Borgia Alexander now turned on a  Roman family  who stayed loyal to France: the Orsini. The command was given to Alexander’s son Duke Juan, who was recalled from Spain, where he had earned a reputation for womanizing. Meanwhile, Rome echoed to the rumors of the excesses of the Borgia children. Alexander meant to give Juan first the vital Orsini land, and then strategic papal lands, but Juan was assassinated and his corpse thrown into the Tiber. He was 20. No one knows who did it. The Rise of Cesare Borgia Mondadori / Getty Images Juan had been Alexander’s  favorite  and his commander; that  honor  (and the rewards) were now diverted to Cesare, who wished to resign his cardinal’s hat and marry. Cesare seemed the future to Alexander, partly because the other male  Borgia  children were dying or weak. Cesare secularized himself fully in 1498. He was immediately given replacement wealth as the Duke of Valence through an alliance Alexander brokered with the new French King Louis XIII, in return for papal acts and aiding him in gaining Milan. Cesare also married into Louis’ family and was given an army. His wife became pregnant before he left for Italy, but neither she nor the child ever saw Cesare again. Louis was successful and Cesare, who was only 23 but with an iron will and strong drive, began a remarkable military career. The Wars of Cesare Borgia Alexander looked at the condition of the Papal States, left in disarray after the first French invasion, and decided military action was needed. He thus ordered Cesare, who was in Milan with his army, to pacify large areas of central Italy for the Borgias. Cesare had early success, although when his large French contingent returned to France, he needed a new army and returned to Rome. Cesare seemed to have control over his father now, and people after papal appointments and acts found it more profitable to seek out the son instead of Alexander. Cesare also became Captain-General of the churches armies  and a dominant figure in central Italy. Lucrezia’s husband was also killed, possibly on the orders of an angry Cesare, who also was rumored to be acting against those who badmouthed him in Rome by assassinations. Murder was common in Rome, and many of the unsolved deaths were attributed to the Borgias, and usually Cesare. With a substantial war chest from Alexander, Cesare conquered., and at one point marched to remove Naples from the control of the dynasty who had given the Borgias their start. When Alexander went south to oversee the division of land, Lucrezia was left behind in Rome as regent. The Borgia family gained great amounts of land in the  Papal States, which were now concentrated in the hands of one family more than ever before, and Lucrezia was packed off to marry Alfonso d’Este to secure a flank of Cesare’s conquests. The Fall of the Borgias As the alliance with France now seemed to be holding Cesare back, plans were made, deals struck, wealth acquired and enemies murdered to take a change of direction, but in mid-1503 Alexander died of malaria. Cesare found his benefactor gone, his realm not yet consolidated, large foreign armies in the north and south, and himself also deeply ill. Furthermore, with Cesare weak, his enemies rushed back from exile to threaten his lands, and when Cesare failed to coerce the papal conclave, he retreated from Rome. He persuaded the new pope to re-admit him safely, but that pontiff died after  twenty-six  days and Cesare had to flee. He supported a great Borgia rival, Cardinal  della  Rovere, as Pope Julius III, but with his lands conquered and his diplomacy rebuffed an annoyed Julius arrested Cesare. Borgias were now thrown out of their positions, or forced into keeping quiet. Developments allowed Cesare to be released, and he went to Naples, but he was arrested by Ferdinand of Arag on and locked up again. Cesare did escape after two years  but was killed in a skirmish in 1507. He was just 31. Lucrezia the Patron and the End of the Borgias Print Collector / Getty Images Lucrezia also survived  malaria and the loss of her father and brother. Her personality reconciled her to her husband, his  family, and her state, and she took up court positions, acting as regent. She  organized  the state, saw it through war, and created a court of great culture through her patronage. She was popular with her  subjects  and died in 1519. No Borgias ever rose to become as powerful as Alexander, but there were plenty of minor figures who held religious and political positions, and Francis Borgia (d. 1572) was made a saint. By Francis’ time the family was declining in importance, and by the end of the eighteenth century it had died out. The Borgia Legend Alexander and the Borgias have become infamous for corruption,  cruelty,  and murder. Yet what Alexander did as pope was rarely original, he just took things to a new extreme. Cesare was perhaps the supreme intersection of secular power wielded to spiritual power in Europe’s history, and the Borgias were renaissance  princes  no worse than many of their contemporaries. Indeed, Cesare was given the dubious distinction of Machiavelli, who knew Cesare, saying the Borgia general was a grand example of how to tackle power.

Marketing Concept and recommendation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing Concept and recommendation - Case Study Example Abercrombie & Fitch engage in gender segregation. They cater for all cloth-needs of the male gender and the simple ones to the female population of their market. Females with large bodies do not find the clothes that fit them and, therefore, feel uncomfortable visiting the stores. It has sent a feeling of rejection and buyers would prefer going to other shops. Among the issues Abercrombie & Fitch face include income segregation, lawsuits and attaining sustainable market. These barriers can hurt children and make them feel like they need to change themselves to gain acceptance in the places (Grinberg, 2012). Abercrombie & Fitch is engaging on income segregation. It may be a good thing to set the prices highly for a certain market but not go public about the same. By the CEO going public, it meant that Abercrombie & Fitch do not want to interact with the poor and their kids. It has a bad effect on the sales in that even the rich people who have close ties with some poor members of the society would not buy the product. It brought about a taint in their public image. Thus the public finds the products offensive and disrespectful. Therefore, it is a weakness to company’s progress. Abercrombie & Fitch should thrive to grow a sustainable market where economics shock will not throw them out of the market. Also, success it is created by having relations with the public and letting them understand that you care and wish them well. Not understanding the consumer base, as it is happening, is a weakness in the business progress. Abercrombie & Fitch marketing strategy has dealt a blow to the consumer market. People do not feel comfortable purchasing in these stores and would not come with or recommend friends. They are beginning to purchase at other stores where they feel comfortable. Additionally, the lawsuits on the company depict a picture of an employer that does not care about employee welfare. The improper hiring and firing taints its public

Effect of cold stress on photosynthesis in barley Essay

Effect of cold stress on photosynthesis in barley - Essay Example Consequently, it may be referred to as the process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy and stored in sugar bonds in green plants. Basic photosynthetic knowledge notes that green plants breath in carbon dioxide during the day and combines the said molecules to those of water molecules especially hydrogen in the synthesis of nutrients. Consequently, in green plants, photosynthesis involves the use of the chlorophyll green pigment that is found in the leaves or stems of such plants. As resultant by-product for the photosynthesis process is usually oxygen. In this context, plants are usually termed as essential purifiers of air. However, since photosynthesis is a process that takes place in the presence of sunlight, it does not occur during the night (Eaton-Rye, Baishnab & Thomas 66). As such, plants take in oxygen during the night and release carbon dioxide. As a topic, the study of photosynthesis is particularly of interest to farmers and scientists. Factors that ma y affect the rate of photosynthesis Basically, there are three main factors that are known to have an effect on the rate of photosynthesis. They include: i. Light intensity ii. Carbon dioxide iii. Temperature In this discussion, I will illustrate how each affects the rate of photosynthesis. i. ... From this graph, it is evident that there is a significant increase in rate of photosynthesis between point A and B. however, after point B, the rate begins to decline and later becomes constant up to point C. Within these two points (B and C), there is no effect on photosynthesis rate even with an increase in the intensity of light. Consequently, too much light intensity may damage the chloroplast of leaves: hence, the strategic arrangement of leaves in a plant without any overlaps (Kalman 25). ii. Carbon dioxide: The rate of photosynthesis linearly increases with an increase in the concentration amount of carbon dioxide available to a plant. Scientifically, the earth is composed of a varying carbon dioxide amount of between 0.03% and 0.04%. Therefore, a high concentration of it will lead to higher photosynthetic rates. However, this increase is up to a particular point, from which it begins to decline and ultimately becomes constant. This is as shown in the graph below. In this gra ph, points A to B indicate an increase in rate of photosynthesis, while points B to C indicate the decline and constant level of the same. iii. Temperature: With this factor, the higher the rate of temperature the greater will be the photosynthesis rate. Since photosynthesis is a chemical process, its rate will increase with higher temperatures as most of the other chemical process. However, the increase in temperatures beyond 400C, will lead to the rate of photosynthesis beginning to decline or slow down. The reason for this is that enzymes responsible for photosynthetic chemical process are sensitive to temperatures hence, destroyed at high/extreme temperatures levels. Consequently, it should be

SIA Airlines Essay Example for Free

SIA Airlines Essay QUESTION:The industry analysis is necessary in the strategic marketing planning in order to identify the opportunities and threats in the competitive environment. Choose the airlines as an industry to apply the Michael Porters five forces model and discuss how one established airline like SIA should respond to the competitive environment, after analyzing the industry. SIA is internationally recognised as one of the worlds leading carriers. The company had recognised that in this highly competitive market, any advantage gained by one airline over others will be short-lived, and ideas that are new will become commonplace in a matter of months. As such, SIA noted the importance of having to always stay at the forefront both in service and technology. This strategy of SIA focuses primarily not on reducing costs, but on enhancing quality or service and preventing any customer problem from arising. SIA has succeeded most uniquely with this type of strategy in the airline industry, a strategy commonly employed in service businesses that command premium prices with high margins, businesses in which there are a high degree of repeat business, with word-of-mouth praise by customers as one of the most important marketing channel. Internally, three cost items account for half of SIAs operating cost: fuel, aircraft depreciation and wages. There is little that can be done with respect to fuel cost except for judicious hedging. As for aircraft cost, SIA is universally acknowledged as being second to none in securing the best prices and purchase terms from aircraft and engine manufacturers. That leaves wages. The airlines fixed wages amount to less than $800 million a year, roughly one tenth of total operating expenditure, a modest proportion indeed. Variable wages comprise the rest, consisting mainly of profit-based bonuses and crew allowances based on actual hours of flying by pilots and cabin attendants. The recent wage cuts were a result not of lavish recruitment or over-indulgent pay rises in the past, but of the cumulative damage wrought by terrorism, war and SARS, and the need to stay competitive as other carriers undergo major restructuring of their cost structures. Externally, the industry analysis has a direct effect on a companys strategic competitiveness and above-average returns. While companies, in this case, our very own SIA, cannot directly control the elements of the general environment, it can influence and will be influenced by factors in the airline industry and competitor environments. The intensity of competition in the airline industry and its profit potential are a function of Michael Porters five forces model of competition: the treats posed by new entrants, the power of suppliers, the power of buyers, product substitutes, and the intensity of rivalry among competitors. Studying these forces allows SIA to find a position in the airline industry where it can buffer itself from the power of the forces in order to increase its ability to earn above-average returns. Threats posed by new entrantsNew entrants to an industry typically bring to it new capacity, a desire to gain market share, and substantial resources (Wheelen and Hunger, 7th Ed, pg 61). New entrants to an industry can raise the level of intensity of the competitiveness among companies, thereby reducing its attractiveness. The threat of new entrants largely depends on the barriers to entry obstructions that make it difficult for a company to enter an industry (Wheelen and Hunger, 7th Ed, pg 62). High entry barriers exist in some industries (e.g. shipbuilding) whereas other industries are very easy to enter (e.g. estate agency, restaurants). Key barriers to entry include the need to gain economies of scale quickly, the need to gain technology, large capital and investment requirements, high customer switching costs, lack of access to industry distribution channels, the likelihood of retaliation from existing industry players, and potential saturation of the market. Despite all the numerous barriers to entry, new companies sometimes enter industries with higher quality products, lower prices and substantial marketing resources. It is the management strategists job to identify such threats from potential new competitors and to monitor the new rivals strategies, so as to counterattack as needed, and to capitalise on existing strengths and opportunities. Budget airlines such as Air Asia have been emerging in recent times which represent the emerging point-to-point budget model symbolized by Southwest, JetBlue, EasyGroup and RyanAir. With the economy still on its way to recovery, travellers are still reluctant to spend. The low carrier model works best in short-haul point-to-point market where price is extremely important and the deciding factor is price. The advantage of the low-cost model is that it fits well with current consumer demand as budget flights are cheap and offer more attractive deals to such travellers. One important factor for the emerging budget airline is that travellers main concern is to reach a destination. There is always a group of travellers with just this simple need to be satisfied. Those travellers have no need for in-flight or ground-level services. In face of growing competition, SIA would be launching their very own budget carrier called Tiger Airways. I believe that this is a good strategic move by SIA to tackle the threat from the new budget airlines that are entering the industry currently. Power of suppliersSuppliers are the businesses that supply materials other products into the industry (Wheelen and Hunger, 7th Ed, pg 64). Suppliers can affect an industry through their ability to raise prices or reduce quantity of supply. The cost of items bought from suppliers (e.g. raw materials, components) can have a significant impact on a companys profitability. The bargaining power of suppliers affects the intensity of competition in an industry especially when there are a large numbers of suppliers, when there are only a few good substitute raw materials, or when the cost of switching raw materials is costly. If suppliers have high bargaining power over a company, then in theory the companys industry is less attractive. Companies should pursue backward vertical integration to gain control or ownership of suppliers. This strategy is effective when suppliers are unreliable, too costly, or not capable of meeting a companys needs on  consistent basis. Companies can negotiate more favourably with suppliers when backward vertical integration is a commonly used strategy among rival companies in an industry. Boeing and Airbus dominate the whole airline industry because they are the two major suppliers of aircrafts. There are no satisfactory substitute products available to airline companies as aircrafts are the only form of commercial air transport. Airlines are not a significant customer group for the two suppliers because they can supply aircrafts to governments/military as well. Boeings and Airbuss aircrafts are critical to the airline companys marketplace success because aircrafts are the most important resource in the airline industry. This in turn leads to high bargaining power of Boeing and Airbus they can increase prices and reduce the quality of their aircrafts, without any retaliation by any airlines including SIA. However, another major supplier of SIA is Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), which provides ground-handling and in-flight catering services at Changi Airport. It is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and now has about 80 per cent market share. It is a fine example of vertical integration undertaken by SIA to gain ownership of supplies. SIA was also very successful with other airline-related companies such as SIA Engineering Company which are now large groups of companies based all over Asia, with profits around the $200 million level, a significant proportion contributed by associate companies. Power of buyersBuyers are the people or organisations that create demand in an industry (Wheelen and Hunger, 7th Ed, pg 64). When the buyers are concentrated or large, or buy in big volume, their bargaining power represents a force affecting the intensity of competition in an industry. Buyers affect an industry through their ability to force down prices, bargain for higher quality or more services, and play competitors against each other. The bargaining power of buyers is higher when the products being purchased are standard or undifferentiated. Whenever the bargaining power of buyer is substantial, rival companies may offer extended warranties or special services to gain customers loyalty. Air travellers and transportation companies purchase a large portion of the airline industrys total service. The sale of tickets to air travellers and cargo space to transportation companies account for a significant portion of the airline companys annual revenues. Buyer groups experience low switching costs as they can choose one airline company over another, depending on which offers better deals. When there are low switching costs, competitors can attract travellers through pricing and service offerings. As such, buyer groups have high buying bargaining power companies in the airline industry have to be more focused on the needs and desires of their customers in order to better serve and satisfy them. SIAs KrisFlyer gives its members more rewards and privilege that come with travelling so as to gain customer loyalty and to entice repeated sales. This is just one, but excellent, way of better serving and satisfying travellers who have considerable power. Product substitutesSubstitutes are products that appear to be different but can satisfy the same need as another product (Wheelen and Hunger, 7th Ed, pg 63). In many industries, companies are in close competition with producers of substitute products in other industries. For example, tea can be considered as a substitute for coffee. According to Porter, substitutes limit the potential returns of an industry by placing a ceiling on the prices companies in the industry can profitably charge (Wheelen and Hunger, 7th Ed, pg 64). In other words, it means that the presence of substitutes put a ceiling on the price to be charged before the consumers will switch to the substitute product. The presence of substitute products lowers the industry attractiveness and profitability because of the limited price levels. The competitive strength of substitutes is best measured by the market share those products obtain and those companies plans for increased capacity and market penetrationSubstitutes to aircrafts include sea and land transports which are much cheaper alternatives. However, they pose no serious threats to the airline company because air transport is still considered as the faster and most effective way to reach a destination. Nevertheless, with rapid advancements in technology, new and better modes of  transport may gradually emerge as better alternatives to aircrafts. In view of this, airlines such as SIA should keep developing strategies to differentiate itself along dimensions that travellers and transportation companies value, so as to reduce any substitutes attractiveness. The intensity of rivalry among competitorsThere are many airline companies in the industry. As a result, intense rivalries are common. The companies are generally aware of competitors actions, often choosing to respond to them. Due to the 911 incident and SARS, the airline industry has been experiencing slow growth which makes rivalry even more intense as companies battle to increase their market shares by attracting competitors customersSome airline companies are viewed as having few differentiated features or capabilities. Rivalry intensifies when a number of airline companies offer the same level of service. In view of this, travellers will then make the decision based on price. What SIA can do to counter the intense rivalry is to take competitive actions and competitive responses in efforts to be successful. The most important thing is of course to differentiate itself from competitors offerings in ways that travellers and transportation companies value and in which SIA has a competitive advantage. ConclusionAs can be seen from the above industry analysis, with threats posed by budget airlines; high bargaining power of Boeing and Airbus; high bargaining power of air travellers and transportation companies; and lastly, intense rivalry among competitors in the airline industry; SIA has to continuously improve itself in order to stay competitive in the airline industry. In fact, the company is doing that very well. It has been fast in reacting to the changes in the industry environment, as evident from their current strategies of introducing a budget airline, cutting costs, focusing attention on business class travellers and implementing long haul flights. Following such moves, will SIA then be able to continue staying ahead of competitors and be ensured of its position as one of the worlds leading carriers for many years to come? The answer remains to be seen. References Thomas L. Wheelen and J David Hunger (2000) Strategic Management And Business Policy 7th Edition Prentice Hall InternationalFred R. David (2001), Strategic Management Concepts And Cases 8th Edition. Prentice Hall InternationalMary Coulter and Stephens P. Robbins (1999) Management 6thEdition, Prentice Hall InternationalJ. David Hunger and Thomas L. Wheelen (2003) Essentials of strategic management, Prentice Hall InternationalCharles W.L. Hill and Gareth R. Jones (2002) Strategic management : an integrated approach 2nd Edition, Houghton MifflinPhilip Kotler (2003) Marketing Management 11th Edition, Prentice Hall International

Inner Asia as a Separate Entity :: miscellaneous

Inner Asia as a Separate Entity The concept of â€Å"Eurasia† is easily identified: it is the combine bodies of both the European and Asian landmasses. However, a concept of â€Å"Inner† or â€Å"Outer† Eurasia is no so easily defined. Whether sub-regions are delineated by culture, geography, politics, or religion is yet to be decided. Denis Sinor and David Christian are two authors that attempted to clarify the discrepancy of an â€Å"Inner Asian† border. Borders can be formed a number of ways. Rivers, mountain chains, and other geographic infrastructure can form visible boundaries. Australia is clearly its own continent based on its geography. However, borders can also be formed simply on the common characteristics of citizens’ culture. Inner Asia is a region that many westerners know little about. Both â€Å" ‘logocentrism’ (the bias towards literate sources and literate societies) and ‘agrocentrism’ (the bias towards agrarian, urbanized civilizations)† have shaped western knowledge (or lack thereof) of this region. The Outer, sedentary civilizations of Eurasia were based on agrarian societies, whereas the Inner civilizations weren't permitted this luxury, due to geographical circumstances. Therefore, "economic self-sufficiency" was a must for the sparsely populated Inner Asian societies. The peoples of Inner Asia survive one of two ways: by migrating to food sources (usually accompanied by raising livestock), and by subsistence-level farming. These lifestyles, Denis Sinor claims, form a border between Inner and Outer Eurasia. The civilizations of Inner Asia were never able to become immensely populated. This is because neither subsistence-level farming or nomadism result in large excesses of food, which is a necessity for a large population. Because of this, a unified army that could conquer surrounding (possible more fertile) areas could never be formed. The small amount of farming that is done in Inner Asia was in the steppe; the other zones, â€Å"the arctic tundra, the forest region (taiga), and the desert [cannot] provide food for a population large enough to muster the political power necessary to initiate conquest.† Sinor suggests that Inner Asia is inarguably a unified region. However, "the links which usually hold together or create cultural entity - such as script, race, religion, language - played only a very moderate role as factors of cohesion". Instead, a common way of life is the main similarity that marked Inner Asia as decisively separate from Outer Asia. In order to survive, Inner Asian peoples had to either provide for themselves completely (which was difficult, as mentioned above), or to trade with more well endowed societies for what goods they could not produce.

Comaparison of crisis in congo with bangladeshi textile

The videos ‘crisis in Congo' and ‘fault lines' have a tremendous resemblance to Colonialism. The difference being that it is much more indirect and manipulative form in which the exploiter not even takes the responsibility for exploitation. This smarter and indirect approach not only helps them escape when they are questioned about their moral responsibility but also enables them to continue these atrocities without ever being questioned.Walked defines Colonialism as – â€Å"Colonialism is the establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a set of unequal relationships between the colonial power and the colony and often between the colonists and the indigenous population. † It also says that colonialism existed from 16th century till mid 20th century. What It actually means Is that from 16th till mid 20th century colonialism existed In a direct and perceivable form.In that sense, the exploitation was honest as the exploiter directly came to another territories and bore the responsibility for exploitation. Also there was a clear line between the exploiter and exploited. But after the outcry in the name of democracy and human rights all over the world and specially in the western countries, the colonialism came out in a much more evolved and concealed way. Due to developed trade channels and the ease of transport and communication the exploitation Is now carried out by capital hungry Mans or capitalist forces and not exclusively by countries.It Is also not about the acquisition of land but direct acquisition of resources without even setting a foot in these resource rich lands. One more difference which is very subtle in nature is that the line between the exploiter and exploited is blurred . This is because of the indirect nature of this exploitation model that not only poor people but even governments are tricked Into thinking that these trade p ractices or so called ‘help' from foreign will provide the much needed employment and development In these underdeveloped nations wherein these practices are Just disguised exploitation model.So by not understanding these unfair advancement of Mans and developed nations ,the native government also becomes their partner in crime. The video ‘Crisis in Congou is about the exploitation of a whole nation by a host of exploiter Rwanda, Uganda, united States Government and the corrupt dictators. The roots of this exploitation are in Rwanda genocide which Is essentially about ethnic differences between the ‘Hut' and â€Å"Tutsis' people but the exploitation Itself has nothing to do with these differences. Interestingly the division of these two ethnic groups was made political during the colonial rule of Germany.This spark of division later escalated into a full scale civil war between these two groups in Rwanda. Some Hut men who fled to Congo during the Civil wars became ‘Genocidal Militant' and hen the Congolese people sought refuge In Rwanda they mixed up with the refugee population and carried out terrorist activities against Rwanda which In their Patriotic Front or RPR government to launch a Revenge attack on Congo refugees where million of peoples were killed Just because the Rwanda government sought few militants hidden in these innocent population.Now starts a whole story of exploitation of Congo. Congo is a resource rich land and all these resources are in heavy demand across various modern industries. If there were to be a fully functional government in Congo the capitalist forces in the developed nations will eave much difficulty accessing these resources so the United States helped install a series of dictators which were easy to manipulate rather than a whole government and thus straightened their interests. The other governments such as UK and France played a similar role but from a different side.They made sure that there is eno ugh supply of arms and ammunition to these combating forces so that Congas political instability and their gains are assured. The native Congolese who were powerful never thought about their own people and chose to support a war which could have easily died in the absence of these catalysts. But soon these capitalist forces realized that the military war is costly to sustain so to further increase their profit margin they employed a much more heinous and lower level of warfare which is now known as ‘Rape War'.They would publicly rape women inferno of their men and communities. They implemented this physiological warfare strategically and systematically across the lands. Since the men were not able to save their women, a deep feeling of helplessness and weakness crept inside the people which made them more easy to control. Now these people would not even think of human rights because they no ore felt human. Result was that there was no one to resist the capitalist forces when t hey are filling up their pockets with the resources.The second video ‘Fault lines' is about Mans like Walter exploiting the human resource of underdeveloped nations. They are also using a similar exploitation scheme in which their direct accountability to exploitation can not be traced. They have made their supply chain so complex that to a distant observer it seems as if Walter clothes are coming from thin air. Reality is they are trying to hide their unfair trade practices through obscurity.In the disguise of a socially and morally responsible organization they are carrying out worst trade practices such as child labor, dangerously insufficient work environment, absence of worker's rights and no accountability whatsoever towards any mishap during production. In order to increase their profit margin they are encouraging a concept called sub-contracting in which a direct supplier who is unable to fulfill his contract will pass a piece of work to some other contractor. These su b-contractor have small unregulated areas which they ignorantly call factories' which in reality is Just a shack in someone's backyard.In case of any accident such as fire accident these places act more like concentration camp wherein people easily get killed unable to get out. The following table depicts a comparison of the two videos in tabular format – Categories Video 1 -Crisis in Congo Video 2 -Fault lines Exploiter forces and Dictators Mans like Walter, Old Navy etc Mass Congolese population Bangladesh workers in textile industry Country of Exploitation Democratic Republic of Congo Bangladesh Exploited for(resources) Mineral such as gold, diamond, tin, copper, cobalt, tungsten etc Cheap Human Resource MethodCataloging military warfare and rape war through political means and otherwise Irresponsible trade practices -Employing a 5-6 layer wide supply chain in production Disguise used Developed nations and UN acting as benevolent mediators were actual perpetrators Walter p osing as ethical and socially responsible organization was implementing unfair trade practices indirectly Catalytic agents Local political elites, dictators and genocidal militants 1st level supplier and loose regulations by Bangladesh government Benefits to exploiter Sustained war translates to political instability which means limitless excess toCongolese resources for outsiders with zero accountability towards local people A long supply chain means no accountability towards any worker as there is no direct connection Results Beastly living conditions to people of Congo , weakening of spirit of people due to rape war and physiological warfare, spiked increase in HIVE positive population, millions of people dead Dangerously insufficient working conditions, inadequate compensation to workers, zero accountability towards workers suffering accidents, child labor, death of workers, financial difficulties to victim's family

Sanjivani Medical Times

RNI NO. :DBLBIL/2001/4088 VOL 8, ISSUE 5, APRIL 2011 A Star Media Group Publication INDIA’S AYUSH AND HEALTH TOURISM JOURNAL SKIN LASERS Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN) (Deptt. Of AYUSH, Min. of Health & F. W. , Govt. of India) 61-65, Institutional Area, , Janakpuri, NEW DELHI – 110 058 Tel: 011-28520430, 31, 32; Fax: 28520435 E-mail: ccryn. [email  protected] com Website: www. ccryn. org CCRYN is actively engaged in Research, Development, Promotion, Propagation, Education, Training, Publication etc. Grant-in-aid for Clinical and Literary Research 1 100% Grant-in-aid is given to Yoga & Naturopathy Institutes for conducting research. 2 Grant is provided for translation, publication of ancient Yoga texts and other standard literature based on modern scientific research. Grant-in-aid for TCPC and PCC 3 More than 140 Yoga & Naturopathy Hospitals all over India including remote areas and North Eastern Region are given grant under Treatment-cum-Propagation Centre (30 Bed Hospital – Rs. 9. 00 lakh P. A. ) and Patient Care Centre (20 & 10 Bed Hospitals – Rs. . 00 lakh & Rs. 3. 00 lakh P. A. ) Central Research Institute (CRI) 4 Free land has been taken over from the Government of Karnataka and Haryana for 100 Beds Research Hospital and construction is under progress. Free land of 10 to 20 Acres is being allotted by Govt. of Manipur, Orissa, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand. National Campaign on Yoga & Naturopathy for Holistic Health being conducted all over India. Publicatio ns 1 2 3 4 5 12 Research Monographs since 2005. CDs on Naturopathy & Yoga Therapy in Hindi, English and Tamil. 8 books in Hindi & English. More than 30 brochures, leaflets and booklets in Hindi and English for free distribution. Yogic Prakritik Jeevan, quarterly magazine, in English and Hindi. Yoga & Naturopathy OPDs since 2005 1. 2. 3. 4. Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi RML Hospital, New Delhi Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Fellowship for Ph. D. Scholars since 2006 at Rs. 6,000/- P. M. for 3 years. Yoga Fitness Classes at Delhi-12: 1 Headquarters – 6, Udyog Bhawan – 2, AIIMS – 4 Paramedical Diploma in Naturopathy & Yoga Therapy (DNYT)–2 years from 2011 The yearly financial assistance for the course is Rs. 5. 00 Lakh. Scholarship to the BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogis Sciences) students from 2011: 1 Rs. 5000/- will be given to 110 students from the first year for pursuing the Course outside their State. Other Achievements: 1 The Council has organized several All India level Seminars/Workshops on Yoga & Naturopathy. 2 It is actively participating in various Arogyas and Health Melas. (Prof. Dr. B. T. Chidananda Murthy) Director NEWS ISSUES NEWS MEDICAL RESEARCH Ghulam Nabi Azad noted that the AYUSH systems of medicine are of great antiquity he Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad chaired the meeting of Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi to specifically discuss the activities of Department of AYUSH. Cutting across party lines the Consultative Committee members lauded the progress made by the Department of AYUSH in the short span of sixteen years since the inception of separate Department for Indian Systems of Medicines and Homeopathy in 1995. Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad noted that the AYUSH systems of medicine are of great antiquity and the Department has been making significant strides in providing an enabling environment to develop these systems with its infrastructure of National Institutes, Research Councils, Pharmacopoeial Laboratories, the Public Sector Undertaking of Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical T Secretary, Department of AYUSH Anil Kumar drew the attention of the members to the new initiatives taken by the Department in the XIth Plan Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad Mauritius Patient at Eye – Q for Lasik Eye Surgery Dr. Vibhuti Sharan MBBS, MS (Ophthalmology) Corporation Limited as also the National Medicinal Plants Board. The Minister highlighted that mainstreaming of AYUSH systems has become a successful strategy in the National Rural Health Mission. He also elaborated on the efforts made by the Department towards ensuring quality control of drugs. The Minister however pointed out the acute shortage of doctors in rural areas and elicited views of the Members in itigating the situation by utilizing the AYUSH doctors to fill the felt need at grass root levels. The Consultative Committee members shared the concern of the Department over some key issues like low capacity reflected in vacancies; pending Utilisation Certificates from States; weak drug enforcement machinery; collaborative research and building quality – drugs, therapies, hospitals, laboratories, teaching colleges. The Members requested the Health Minister to ensure empl oyment and utilization of trained manpower of AYUSH. e-Q, symbol of excellence in eye care and largest chain of super specialty eye clinics across Northern India today executed a special Lasik eye surgery for three patients of the same family who had specially flown down from Mauritius to receive the treatment. Speaking about his Lasik surgery at Eye-Q, Mr. Patoo Jor Roshan said â€Å"I have particularly travelled to India to get my Lasik eye surgery done. I was referred to Eye-Q by a friend who underwent Lasik eye treatment to correct poor eyesight at Eye-Q and has experienced remarkable difference. † E Devi Shetty Targets Medical Tourism In Cayman Isles FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD Without operation Cure Cataract, Glaucoma, Myopia, Hypermetropia & incurable eye diseases of Retina (Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Colour blindness) & different types of eye cancer. Inventor : Em. Prof. Dr. M. S. Basu Senior Ayurvedic Eye Specialist International & National Awardee Dr. Basu with H. E. President, Ex-vice President, Home Minister of State, GOI, Ex-Health Minister, GOI, Ex-Chief Minster, U. P. , Ex-Petrolem Minster, GOI. ‘Minimal Invasive RoboticHeart Surgery NOW ! FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD†¦ Emeritus Prof. Dr. M. S. Basu adds a new chapter in Medical Science by curing Retinoblastoma patient successfully Patients of poor vision, referred by AIIMS-Delhi, Shankaralaya Netralaya-Chennai, Gandhi Eye Hosp. , Aligarh etc. have been cured successfully. Spectacles get removed up to +8. 50 No side effects Recovery of vision within 5 minutes EXPORT COUNCIL PATENTED BY PATENTED BY GOVT. OF INDIA W. T. O. EXPORT LIC. OF GOVT. OF INDIA TM REGN. FROM GOVT. OF INDIA S. S. I. REGD. GOVT. OF U. P. G. M. P. CERTIFIED ISO 9001:2000 For Franchises, only BAMS, BUMS, DHMS,MBBS, & Qualified Optician may be contact Dr. Basu Eye Hospital & Centre to Cure Without Operation 23-B, Ekta Nagar, Bareilly (U. P. ) India. Ph. +91 9997722223, +91 98370 06102, +91 93196 23728 EW DELHI: Safemedtrip has unveiled latest and state of the art ‘Minimal Invasive Robotic Heart Surgery Programme' in the country. This programme will be helpful to the patients, who are suffering from Heart Disease as they will be benefiting from its ‘Minimally Invasive Robotic Heart Surgery Programme' with its latest advances in heart surgery techniques. Robotic Heart Surgery programme is quite affordable at Safemedtrip affiliated hospitals. N NEWS ISSUES Pregnant lady doctors forced to work at AIIMS NEWS PRODUCT LAUNCH country's biggest medical institute, and fighting for our basic rights,† said a senior resident from the Neurosurgery Department on the condition of anonymity. â€Å"We have been using our other unpaid leaves as we are not getting the maternity leaves which are paid leaves. I reach office at 8 in the morning and work till 6 in the evening, and sometimes we have night duty too. This behaviour is completely inhuman,† said another lady doctor from Gynaecology Department on the condition of anonymity. Due to the confounding behaviour of the administration, few of the residents have already left the institute and their job with it, as it was getting impossible for them to work at this stage of pregnancy. â€Å"Two ladies joined last month on a regular basis and wanted maternity leave and the institute is creating hassles. Despite the DGHS order we could get 2+2 (or 3+1) months (unpaid and paid) maternity leave till January this year for most residents. The problem has assumed serious proportions now with recent hassles by AIIMS administration,† said Dr Debjyoti Karmakar, President, Residents Doctor Association (RDA) Sonakshi Sinha New brand ambassador for Fem bout 40 senior resident doctors, who are pregnant, forced to continue with their duties as the administration allegedly isn't allowing them any time off Among other things, AIIMS is also renowned for its pregnancy care. But that only benefits the patients. It appears that the institute is rather callous when dealing with maternity issues of its own employees. At least 42 senior resident doctors who are pregnant are currently working in various departments of the institute. â€Å"I am coming to the hospital even in the 37th week of my pregnancy. We had applied for leave months ago, but the administration is not responding. At this point of pregnancy, all women are asked to take complete bed rest. But here, we are working in the A n the occasion of 100th International Women's Day, Fem, the leading & most trusted beauty brand from the House of Dabur, announced the signing of Bollywood heartthrob Sonakshi Sinha as the new brand ambassador for the brand FEM. The agreement was signed on Tuesday by Ms Sonakshi Sinha and Dabur India Ltd Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sunil Duggal. The first campaign for Fem bleaches featuring Ms Sinha will be launched shortly. O

Aquinas Five Ways Essays

Aquinas Five Ways Essays Aquinas Five Ways Essay Aquinas Five Ways Essay St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Selection from his Summa theologiae (Summary of theology), ca. 1268 Part 1, question 2, article 3 (sometimes abbreviated ST 1.2.3) Available online: newadvent.org/summa/1002.htm#3 The writing style and presentation of the medieval philosophers and theologians is quite different from how essays are written today. Thomas begins by introducing a topic (called the Questionâ„ ¢), which in this case is the existence of a God. He then examines a number of more specific issues or questions within that topic (called the Articlesâ„ ¢). Below we are looking only at the third article in this Question, the issue of whether God exists. Thomasâ„ ¢s method of presentation is to consider various positions or views on that issue; these are positions he will ultimately reject, and so he calls them Objectionsâ„ ¢ to his thesis. (Again, the objections below are not Thomasâ„ ¢s position; they are positions popular or otherwise known during his day.) After the objections are presented, Thomas presents a contrary view, usually called the Sed Contraâ„ ¢, which is the latin for what is translated below as On the Contrary. Again, this is not Thomasâ„ ¢s position; i t is just a contrary position to show that debate exists on the issue at hand. Next, Thomas gives his own position on the matter, called the Respondeo, which is the latin for what is translated below as I answer that. When Thomas says I answer that he is giving his own considered position on the issue. Here below, he presents his view of the Five Ways to show that a God exists. Finally, Thomas offers replies to the original Objections, considering them in light of the position he endorses. Question 2: The Existence of God Article 3. Whether God exists Objection 1. It seems that God does not exist; because if one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the word Godâ„ ¢ means that He is infinite goodness. If, therefore, God existed, there would be no evil discoverable; but there is evil in the world. Therefore God does not exist. Objection 2. Further, it is superfluous to suppose that what can be accounted for by a few principles has been produced by many. But it seems that everything we see in the world can be accounted for by other principles, supposing God did not exist. For all natural things can be reduced to one principle which is nature; and all voluntary things can be reduced to one principle which is human reason, or will. Therefore there is no need to suppose Godâ„ ¢s existence. On the contrary, It is said in the person of God: I am Who am. (Exodus 3:14) I answer that, The existence of God can be shown in five ways. The first and more manifest way is the argument from motion. It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion. Now whatever is in motion is put in motion by another, for nothing can be in motion except it is in potentiality to that towards which it is in motion; whereas a thing moves inasmuch as it is in act. For motion is nothing else than the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality. But nothing can be reduced from potentiality to actuality, except by something in a state of actuality. Thus that which is actually hot, as fire, makes wood, which is potentially hot, to be actually hot, and thereby moves and changes it. Now it is not possible that the same thing should be at once in actuality and potentiality in the same respect, but only in different respects. For what is actually hot cannot simultaneously be potentially hot; but it is simultaneously potentially cold. It is therefore impossible that in the same respect and in the same way a thing should be both mover and moved, i.e. that it should move itself. Therefore, whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God. The second way is from the nature of the efficient cause. In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes. There is no case known (neither is it, indeed, possible) in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself; for so it would be prior to itself, which is impossible. Now in efficient causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, because in all efficient causes following in order, the first is the cause of the intermediate cause, and the intermediate is the cause of the ultimate cause, whether the intermediate cause be several, or only one. Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect. Therefore, if there be no first cause among efficient cause, there will be no ultimate, nor any intermediate cause. But if in efficient cause it is possible to go on to infinity, there will be no first efficient cause, neither will there be an ultimate effect, nor any intermediate efficient cause; all of which is plainly false. Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name of God. The third way is taken from possibility and necessity, and runs thus. We find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be, since they are found to be generated, and to corrupt, and consequently, they are possible to be and not to be. But it is impossible for these always to exist, for that which is possible not to be at some time is not. Therefore, if everything is possible not to be, then at one time there could have been nothing in existence. Now if this were true, even now there would be nothing in existence, because that which does not exist only begins to exist by something already existence. Therefore, if at one time nothing was in existence, it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist; and thus even now nothing would be in existence† which is absurd. Therefore, not all beings are merely possible, but there must exist something the existence of which is necessary. But every necessary thing either has its necessity caused by another, or not . Now it is impossible to go on to infinity in necessary things which have their necessity caused by another, as has been already proved in regard to efficient causes. Therefore we cannot but postulate the existence of some being having of itself its own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others their necessity. This all men speak of as God. The fourth way is taken from the gradation to be found in things. Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But moreâ„ ¢ and lessâ„ ¢ are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways something which is the maximum, as a thing is said to be hotter according as it more nearly resembles that which is hottest; so that there is something which is truest, something best, something noblest and, consequently, something which is uttermost being; for those things that are greatest in truth are greatest in being, as it is written in [Aristotleâ„ ¢s] Metaphysics II. Now the maximum in any genus is the cause of all in that genus; as fire, which is the maximum heat, is the cause of all hot things. Therefore there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection; and this we call God. The fifth way is taken from the governance of the world. We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result. Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they achieve their end. Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call God. Reply to Objection 1. As Augustine says (Enchiridion xi): Since God is the highest good, He would not allow any evil to exist in His works, unless His omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil. This is part of the infinite goodness of God, that He should allow evil to exist, and out of it produce good. Reply to Objection 2. Since nature works for a determinate end under the direction of a higher agent, whatever is done by nature must needs be traced back to God, as to its first cause. So also whatever is done voluntarily must also be traced back to some higher cause other than human reason or will, since these can change or fail; for all things that are changeable and capable of defect must be traced back to an immovable and self-necessary first principle, as was shown in the body of the Article.

Carlos Villaluz Francisco Essay Example for Free

Carlos Villaluz Francisco Essay Carlos Villaluz Francisco, born in 1914, was the son of Felipe Francisco and Maria Villaluz of Angono, Rizal. Francisco studied at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts. Before the war, he did illustrations for the Tribune and La Vanguardia, and later, with Victorio Edades and Fermin Sanchez painted sets for the Manila Grand Opera House, and the Clover Theater. He was also a member of the â€Å"Thirteen Moderns† a group formed in 1938. After WWII, Francisco taught at the University of Santo Tomas, simultaneously working in film-making with Miguel conde, as the scriptwriter for â€Å"Ghenghis Khan, Putol na Kampilan† (Broken Sword) and â€Å"Tatlong Labuyo,† (Three Wild Roosters). He also designed costumes for â€Å"Romeo at Julieta,† (Romeo and Juliet) as well as â€Å"Prinsipe Tenoso,† (Prince Tenoso) â€Å"Ibong Adarna,† (Adarna Bird), â€Å"Siete Infantes de Lara,† and the Juan Tamad series. Francisco belonged to the first generation modernists who, with Edades and Galo B.  Ocampo, constituted the pioneering triumvirate which attempted to change the direction of Philippine art from the tenacious influence of the Amorsolo school in new and fresh idioms of visual expression. In the struggle for modern art, Francisco was one of the artists/protagonists in the center of the fray. His painting :Kaingin† (Swidden), a modernist composition with strong design and rhythm, won him the first prize in the historic first national art exhibition of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) held at the National Museum in 1948. Francisco, along with Edades and Ocampo were commissioned to do a number of murals for lobbies and for private residences such as that of the architect Juan Nakpil. These murals featured stylized figures in flowing curvilinear lines: nymphs dancing or playing the flute, often against a background of tropical vegetation. Through these works, the artists contributed towards developing a Filipino imagery, drawing inspiration from the the customs and traditions of the Philippine people, as well as from familiar environments. In the quest for a Filipino modernist idiom, Francisco, who chose to be based in his fishing village of Agono, observed Philippine folk aesthetics and researched Philippine histon,, customs, and traditions. He arrived at an idiom which was both Filipino and Asian. Francisco employed bold folk colors, flowing rhythmic lines and decorative patterns often covering the entire field of the painting. He evoked the communal life of Philippine gatherings and celebrations. His images of women were drawn from mythology. uch as Mariang Makiling; from history and legend, such as Princesa Urduja; from customs of the past, such as the maiden carried on a hammock across the mountain in Antipolo; and from contemporary folk, such as the woman preparing fish for sinigang. Fisherfolk were among his favorite subjects since he lived in a fishing village. He showed his closeness to the folk in paintings such as the â€Å"Camote Eaters,† his last and unfinished work. Francisco’s first important mural was done for the 1953 International Fair held in Manila. On the theme of 500 years of Philippine History, its scope covered the legendary origin of the Filipino with the first man and woman Malakas and Maganda springing from the primal bamboo, up to the administration of then incumbent President Elpidio Quirino. The mural was finely executed in wood by the Paete woodcarvers. Foreign visitors to the Fair were impressed by Francisco’s mural which received full Newsweek, but local sentiment was lukewarm and the work was promptly carelessly disposed of after the fair. Francisco’s major masterpiece is the mural for the Bulwagang Katipunan of the Manila City Hall, commissioned by Manila mayor Antonio Villegas during his administration. â€Å"Filipino Struggles through History† chronicles the history of Manila from the first great Rajahs of Tondo, the Spanish colonial period, Balagtas, Rizal and the Revolution of 1896, up to the American colonial period which becomes the history of the entire nation itself. In this work Francisco often integrated several historical episodes, in smaller scale, under one period. The episode groups, however, are not static but flow into each other by means of various linking devices, such as a winding river, flames branching out, or clouds coiling in spirals. The murals are marked by artistic vigor and inexhaustible inventiveness, a lively characterization of the numerous historical figures, and unifying all, a strong sense of design. Andres Bonifacio’s figure makes a compelling visual impact as he is shown forging forward, leading the Katpunero with their long bamboo spears, rifles, and bolos. Among the many dynanic scenes is the encounter between Limahong and the Spanish soldiers as they thrust their weapons at each other. A smaller mural is the Pageant of Commerce in four sections: two sides on the history of Philippine trade, from commercial relations with China and Arabia to the Manila Acapulco alleon trade: a section on the development of modern industry in factories, travel and communication; and the central one of a Filipino couple in native costume, the woman slipping a coin into a bamboo alkansya, with the spirit of commerce hovering above. Francisco also did the murals on the Life and Miracles of St Dominic for Santo Domingo Church, 1954; and the Stations of the Cross for Far Eastern University, 1956. He worked with Victorio Edades and Galo B.  Ocampo on the mural of Rising Philippines for the Capitol Theater and murals for the Golden Gate Exposition, the State Theater, the houses of Pres Manuel Quezon, Ernesto Rufino, and Vicente Rufino. Francisco’s Kaingin won first prize in the 1948 painting competition of the Art Association of the Philippines. He received the Patnubav ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila in 1964. He was proclaimed National Artist in painting in 1973. Carlos Villaluz Francisco. (2016, Dec 12).

Subsidies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Subsidies - Research Paper Example It will investigate whether the tax system serves as a subsidy to the sector or not. In Pakistan there are a large number of cafes and restaurants that apply charges on the Bills. Sometimes the rates of these charges are really high which makes it difficult for the common middle class man to have a meal in such restaurants. The study will try to explore whether this tax system is making a division in the class or not and is promoting a society which supports a class system or not. One of the major reasons for investigating this area is that Pakistan is a third world country with a majority of people in the middle class. There still exist a large numbers of places where only rich people reside. These places are the ones that apply huge tax rate on the bills. The study will investigate the correlation between tax and class;whether higher tax invites higher class. Studying the tax structure has been the interest of all countries as it is linked to the development of the country. Bargain et al, (2011)reports the progressive nature of the tax structure by saying‘The tax structure in almost all the countriesis progressive’. This progressive nature of tax structures has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. Chaudhri (1965) in the research article ‘Taxation in Pakistan: A Critical Appraisal’ state the disadvantages of tax system by saying that ‘whatever money is collected is looted by the rulers or spent on unnecessary luxury items’. Qualitative research methodology will be applied because it will answer ‘how’, ‘what’, ‘why’ questions. For example, what are the benefits of tax system?Why tax system is applied? How tax system benefits the industry? etc. The research will also employ Quantitative research methodology because a set of interviews and questionnaires will be prepared. These interviews and questionnaires will cover the views of the owners of different cafes and restaurants. The results will be based on their responses and