Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Comparison between MLA and APA Formatting

Comparison between MLA and APA Formatting In the world of academia, sharing of knowledge plays a key role in development of a given area of knowledge. For instance, a researcher will look for information from existing researches in order to develop his thesis. As a result, referencing is an integral part of academia. Consequently, this paper seeks to shed light on how to utilize Internet resources in research and what to look for when researching and also show comparison between MLA and APA formatting.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between MLA and APA Formatting specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More APA formatting is highly used in referencing works cited in social science. In APA, the research work should be written in an essay form that is comprised of four main sections namely; the title page, abstract, main body and references. The title page must consist of the title of the paper, the name of the person who wrote it and the institution in which the writer is a student. Since the abstract seeks to explain the contents of the paper, it should contain the major points within the body. Then the main body of the research work should follow suit. It should contain a brief introduction, body and conclusion. Finally references should be provided in order to form a reference list and can also be used to build the in-text reference (Stolley par. 4). Other than APA, one can also opt to use MLA as his referencing style. The two styles are different. The following are some of the differences between MLA and APA. MLA (Modern Language Association) does not use headings and subheadings in their essays while APA (American Psychological Association) has several levels of headings and subheadings. When it comes to in-text citations, MLA uses signal phrase i.e. authors name then page number in brackets. For example; According to Charles Darwin, the world is evolving at alarming rate (50). Alternatively there can be no signal phrase with autho r name and page number in brackets (Rusell, Brizee Angeli 24). For example; it is seen that, â€Å"the world is evolving at an alarming rate† (Darwin 50). On the other hand APA uses signal phrase with author name then date in brackets i.e. Darwin (1998), noted that the world is evolving at an alarming rate or alternatively use of phrase with direct quote i.e. Darwin (1998) has indicated how â€Å"world has evolved at an alarming rate† (p.50). Another difference is block quotation where in MLA, the block quotations are used when the quotation is more than four lines long in the original text while in APA block quotations are used when quotation is more than forty words. Also it is worth to note that in MLA formatting both names of the author(s) are written in full starting with the last name and then the first name separated by a coma while in APA the author last name is written in full but the first name is designated with initials.Advertising Looking for essa y on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In MLA, the sources that are used to cite the research work are known as the works cited while in APA the very sources used to cite the research work are known as the reference list. However it should be noted that different articles have different formatting therefore it depends on the choice of the writer whether to use APA or MLA (UC Berkley Teaching Library Internet Workshops). A number of factors should be considered when utilizing Internet resources. First, one should always analyze the topic and search with a focused vision and this involves creating tools that would help in the process of searching. Such tools include directories and search engines. Second, it involves evaluating the web pages in order to ensure quality and authenticity of the research work. Third, the author should determine the style sheets for citing resources (i.e. MLA or APA). This should put into consideration both print and electronic. Last but not least an individual is expected to make a glossary of web and internet. When using Internet resources for research work, one should always open a new tab when searching for a different article. This is important because it makes it easier for the referencing work and also helps in avoidance of repetition of facts in the essay. An individual is expected to look for the bibliography of the research topic in order to obtain the reference list that will also be used in citation of the in-text (Stolley par. 7). Russell, Tony, Allen Brizee, and Elizabeth Angeli. MLA Formatting and Style Guide. The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 4 Apr. 2010. Web. Stolley, Karl. MLA Formatting and Style Guide. The OWL at Purdue. 10 May 2006. Purdue University Writing Lab. 28 January 2011.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between MLA and APA Formatting specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn Mo re UC Berkley-Teaching Library Internet Workshops. Tutorial Table of Contents, 2005. Web.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Using the Snowflake Method to Write a Novel

Using the Snowflake Method to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method to Write a Novel In the annals of ‘unhelpful writing tips offered to first-time novelists,’ Neil Gaiman’s oft-quoted opinion takes the cake: â€Å"You sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It's that easy, and that hard.†If you’ve never written a novel before (and you don’t have an MFA in creative writing), it's only understandable that you’re daunted by the prospect of writing a book. This uncertainty is precisely why outlining systems, such as The Snowflake Method, are so appealing to developing writers.If you want to find out how to use the snowflake method, feel free to skip ahead to this section. But if you have a moment, let’s first look at the basics of this popular approach.What is the Snowflake Method?The Snowflake Method is an approach to writing that encourages starting with the simplest premise possible. From there, you systematically expand it to include plot and character details. Develop ed by American author, physicist, and writing coach Randy Ingermanson, the method's end result is a comprehensive character bible and scene list with which an author can begin the first draft.â€Å"My power flurries through the air into the ground. My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around† -   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Let It Go† from  Disney’s FrozenGiven Ingermanson’s background as a computational physicist, it should come as no surprise that his method was inspired by a mathematical principle known as a fractal. In particular, he references the Koch Snowflake to demonstrate how your story grows with each subsequent stage of the planning process.It's probably no surprise to you to learn that every writer uses a different outline. If you're curious about the general outlining process, we dive deeper into the topic in this post  on how to outline a novel. (Feel free to grab the free book outline template in there as well!) But for now, let's talk about the ad vantages of this particular method.What are the benefits of the snowflake method?Fans of Ingermanson’s method tend to enjoy how structured the process is. Not only does he lay out practical steps for outlining, but he also gives an idea of how long each step should take. For example, he suggests spending an hour on the very first step of honing a single-sentence story summary. Later on, when writing a character bible, he recommends spending a few hours on each character.Has the snowflake method worked for you before? Let us know how you find applying this to your own writing in the comments below!

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations Essay

Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations - Essay Example The essay "Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations" overviews some of the contributions from the Prehistoric, Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilizations that still influence the modern world. For instance, the economic, that we practice in the modern times, is majorly influenced by the pre-historic times. Basic pottery and articles used in the homes of people are the contributions of the pre-historic civilizations. There are various contributions that the Egyptian civilization made in terms of humanistic grounds that are widely practiced in the present times. Despite the initial lack of alphabets, Egyptians were able to invent the art of expression through writing. Egyptians also made a groundbreaking contribution to astronomy. They created a calendar on the basis of prediction of an eclipse that was followed by sowing seeds and harvesting the crops. In addition, Egyptian civilization contributed in the field of medical as they were able to preserve the dead bodies by using compounds and mixtures. In this similar manner, they were able to undertake surgery. Mesopotamian civilizations left the tool i.e. art of creating artifacts that are used to represent the ideas and technology of the past for future generations. The irrigation system used in the present times has the base from the Mesopotamian civilization. Through the above assessment of different contributions from the three civilizations, it can be stated that present times are full of comforts and tools that were created in the past by our ancestors.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

NIKE Stock Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

NIKE Stock Analysis - Research Paper Example The paper presents SWOT analysis that helps the company identify various parameters for strengths and weaknesses in a business scenario. Diversification procedure requires an established in the most viable way. This will make sure that the risk attribute is no longer a problem in any undertakings. The analysis of the company and its business depicts a variety of shoes products that displays at the company’s platform. Footwear and other athletic products and accessories make up a large part of the company’s priority areas. Other key products line includes the athletic apparel, sporting equipments, athletic shoes and other internationally recognized sports gear. The strategic analysis of Nike revolves around the strong point derived by the quality products offered by the company. In the footwear products and the apparel, a lot of innovation encompasses such moves and the final products of such innovation are a high quality tailor product that engages the user. The marketi ng inclination of Nike products reaches a substantial market segment. The advertising procedure employed by the company reveal many product features that correspond to the actual product components. A hugely weighty issue to put in to consideration is the quality of Nike's products. The quality achievement by Nike involved a lot of market research at the inception stage. This created a stable market grounds that has continued to ensure a high demand in the mainstream products. There is a revealed competitive strategy enjoyed on a exceptionally strong point.The concentration of the company in to a large product offering is indifference. Differentiated strategy works well with Nike. The company encounters a lot of competition. Companies like Abercrombie & Fitch offers to compete products in the same field of business. Nike engages in product variation. This aims to see to it that its products meet every day specific needs of its customers. The long-standing culture of the company requ ires a through products review so that a high and top priority is concentrated to the home products.A high corporate culture strengthens the company’s long-term existence in its business industry. Employee loyalty and product branding necessitated a need for company branding. The achievement of such a task had an overhaul in the overall marketing strategy of the firm. Coffee cups branding and engrossing â€Å"Nike† influenced the product line of products. This further increases a high sense of promotion to the corporate company image. Nike’s headquarters does not appear like a normal office. It is branded the name â€Å"campus† to create a positive sense to the employee’s welfare. The players in the industry cohabitate in an extraordinarily way Growth Strategy of the Firm Nike’s strategy of growth focuses on the sale increment by â€Å"40% by 2015†. The demands for the products produced by Nike are attributable to technological advanc ement. An example can be the Nikeplus.com that has about three million followers or members. There is still a focus to concentrate much on women’s product since there is an emerging demand in today’s world. This is because of women involvement in major sporting activities than ever before.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Philippine Poetry Essay Example for Free

Philippine Poetry Essay Even before the foreign invaders came to the Philippines, the Filipinos already had their own cultural traditions, folklore, mythologies and epics. There were substantial writings by early natives that Jesuit historian Fr. Pedro Chirino noted: All of the islanders are much given to reading and writing. And there is hardly a man, much less a woman who did not read and write. Epics are stories that are written in poetic form. They are usually described to display such tremendous vitality, color and imagination. Epic stories are tales about love and adventures of native heroes. The heroes adventures are usually about how they become endowed with powers from the gods, battle monsters, triumph over formidable armies, ride the wind, travel on flying shields and protect the earliest communities of the islands. Through the years, epic poems have grown and matured. Early historians like Padre Colin, Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga and Antonio Pigafetta have all attested to the existence of these epics. At the arrival of Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1565, it was reported, the natives presented him with a dramatic play. During festivities and special occasions, epic poems and songs area performed. Most often, these epic poems (folk epics or ethno-epics) were titled after the names of the hero involved, except for some which carry traditional titles like the Kalinga Ulalim; the Sulod Hinilawod; the Maranao Darangan; or the Bicol Ibalon. Old Time History, as stories about folk heroes of long ago are referred to, is used to study the lifestyle and beliefs of the people of that time. They were also referred to as lost, because they were soon forgotten by natives influenced heavily by Spanish and western colonization. It has been said that during the early days of the Spanish intrusions, the priests destroyed all existing records of paganism, as well as all forms of writing and art work regarding the ancient Philippine folk heroes. This has been proven to be false due to the fact that the early epic poetry is still known and used at present as reference in studies of the past especially the lifestyle, love and aspirations of the early Filipinos. This valuable inheritance from the past must be preserved for this can be used as a proof for national identity. It is from these that a Filipino can feel heroic, truly pulsating with splendor of a magnificent and authentic cultural force. Being composed of thousands of islands, it is no wonder that the country is rich in culture and tradition with various influences in different parts of the nation. As a result, the Philippines has become a melting pot of nations and is a source of a rich variety of culture and stories. The following are some examples of the epic poetry found in the country.

Friday, November 15, 2019

hip hop Essay -- essays research papers

Have you ever heard someone say, "I hate all music."? Lately though music has been criticized for corrupting teen's minds. Hip Hop is being blamed for all the crimes and murders in cities all over America and heavy metal is being blamed for giving teens only dark images and thoughts in their minds. First we must ask what Hip Hop is to us or to others, who simply don’t know or may never feel our movement in society. This form of poetry and story telling has took growth from within a deprived New York neighborhood during 1970s is spread worldwide, even non-english speaking countries strive on our message to help their culture the light. Hip Hop has taken my generation in open arms and speaks the truth to those, who listen. We are more motive and attentive , better focus I believe then any generation before us. In the United States we take pride in ourselves as being the freest nation in the world. Unfortunately, there are times in our history in which certain groups have been unrightfully deprived of their freedom. This can be said for Americans who endured years of ignorant and another century of unawareness. Is which I think started the late 1970s signaled a new era of rhythmic and linguistic wealth: rap music. Hip hop and in particular rap music gives people on the margins of society a powerful voice to express political discontent. While political discontent is expressed through all the elements of hip hop, rap music has bec...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Emily Dickinson vs. Robert Frost Essay

Darkness is usually associated with fear or the unknown. As children, we are afraid of the unknown under our bed that darkness brings, which, in turn, makes our imaginations run wild, creating monsters, ghosts, and of course, the occasional boogeyman. Even as adults, we still have an antipathy to drive at night or go walking alone in the darkness. So it only makes sense that darkness is used in all forms of art to symbolize some kind of fear, unknown thing or place, or a mournful state. Within the world of poetry, the contrast of light and dark can be seen in hundreds of poems, including â€Å"We Grow Accustomed to the Dark† by Emily Dickinson and â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† by Robert Frost where the darkness symbolizes something much deeper than just fear. Both poems, â€Å"We grow accustomed to the Dark† and â€Å"Acquainted with the night† use the elements of Light and Dark as symbols within the speakers’ lives. In â€Å"Acquainted with the night† the speaker talks of darkness as his past experiences, most of them not good, and perhaps the depression that accompanied them. He says, â€Å"I have walked out in the rain and back in the rain,† meaning he has been through events, emotion, and sorrows through his life several times, but has managed to come through each one. He talks of how he has seen lugubrious moments when he says, â€Å"I have looked down the saddest city lane.† However, he is either ashamed or just unwilling to elaborate on his experiences in the line, â€Å"I have passed by the watchman on his beat and dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.† The speaker’s depression is so deep; he feels he has no hope or way of recovering. This is said in the line, â€Å"I have outwalked the furthest city light.† When the speaker gives descriptions of â€Å"the sound of feet† and â€Å"an interrupted cry,† it gives the reader a sense of blindness and furthering the speaker’s darkness and uncertainty of his life. The light that is shed by the â€Å"luminary clock† or the moon shows the prolonging of time that the speaker has to wait for something, possibly hope, to renew the â€Å"light† in his life. The speaker in â€Å"We grow accustomed to the dark† talks of similar things. He talks of problems most face throughout life and difficult decisions that are unavoidable. The darkness in this poem, much like Robert Frost’s, does not talk of literal darkness, but emotional darkness of the speaker. However, he  does not talk about dark as life in general. In the line â€Å"As when the Neighbor holds the Lamps to witness her Goodbye,† Dickinson saying that other people may hold â€Å"light†, meaning hope, faith, or happiness, but sometimes darkness is inevitable. He articulates that when good things are taken away from a person’s life, he must adjust his perception to the â€Å"darkness.† This is said in the line â€Å"Then-fit our Visions to the Dark-. † Then, when he talks of the moon having to sign, he says that not even the moon, usually the brightest light at night, cannot give him hope. He says that brave people will search for things but only fail. That people try to run away from the darkness within them and try to deny it. But in the line â€Å"And sometimes hit a Tree† shows that even when you run from a problem or try to deny it, there will be other problems you run into. However, this halt in moving on only makes that person stronger and wiser, learning from his mistakes. He says the only way to find oneself when there is no light or goodness is to move forward and adjust. The two poems are structured very differently. While Emily Dickinson uses short phrases with long sentences, Robert Frost uses whole sentences that flow easily. In â€Å"We grow accustomed to the dark,† the short words or phrases clumped together add emphasis and description. These cut phrases symbolize inner conflict or struggle within the speaker. The line â€Å"As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp† is one of the few lines that does not have a dash at the end. This is because the light illuminates the darkness, destroying the struggle. Dickinson adds these descriptive phrases to give more imagery to the poem. But still, each phrase and stanza fits with the next, adding to the whole picture of a lightless midnight. An example of the preponderance of dashes and their symbolizism is seen in the line â€Å"Or Star-come out-within-. † This line is about the mental darkness with no solution or â€Å"light† and the amount of dashes adds emphasis to the hopelessness in the search for light. â€Å"Acquainted with the Night,† Frost uses sentences that flow lightly from one to another. This gives the poem an effect of movement. It is read like a story, making it easy for the reader to connect things within the poem. Frost also uses a very steady rhyming scheme to draw the poem all together as whole. The rhyming at the end that corresponds to the beginning brings the reader back to the start of the poem, similar to a  circle and symbolizes the speaker’s recurring sadness. Everyone experiences dark times in his life-some more than others-with what seems like a never ending battle. These two poems, with two different experiences of darkness, tell us that there have been people who went through the same darkness we may be going through. Their dominance through the seemingly maelstrom night gives us hope for a better day. Dickinson and Frost have shed some light into an increasingly darkened world.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Global Opportunities for Pounder Bicycle Company Essay

Business firms struggle to remain global in scope and these organizations are faced with several challenges in there contemporary business dealings and there is a requirement for such firms to struggle for there continued existence. Research indicates that business environment keeps on varying as these organizations endeavour to sustain their market share as well as provide quality products/services to there clientele. Business environment entails both internal and external features that may influence upon the expansion and general performance of the business. Contemporary firms are required to construct economic and political links that typically take the structure of transfer of goods, finances and populace across national boundaries. This phase of relationships has in the process witnessed combined sharing of information and philosophies that has led to enhancement in the swiftness of change, ambiguity, uncertainty, and impulsiveness in day to day business undertakings (Lee and Carter, 2005). This paper will therefore examine Australian business environment and particularly examine the current political, economic, social-cultural, technological and legal environmental factors that impacts business entry to Australia. It will further examines the concept of globalization with relevance to Pounder Bicycle Company’s competitors, overall market size, marketing strategies, market entry strategies, project costs and the benefits that the company will attain if it will succeed in Australia. Australia Environmental Analysis Political  Political factors may have a direct and indirect effect on the performance of the Pounder Bicycle Company. Some of the decisions made by the Australian government may impact negatively on the operations of Pounder Bicycle. For instance, the decision to minimize the production and marketing of high performance bicycles to countries believed to be a threat to Australian local industries. This will definitely have huge implications to the company particularly in the marketing of bicycles in Australia. Economic Every business organization including Pounder Bicycle Company is affected by economic factors. Fiscal policy rates, inflation, interest rate policy, cash exchange rates, monetary policy and consumer factors among other economic factors set forth in Australia may have an impact on the company’s undertakings in Australia. Research indicates that the Australian climate of the economy dictates how the consumer behaves in the economy. Australian economy is reported to be in a boom thus there is increased speculation that the company’s customers can obtain the bicycles comfortably i. e. comfortable with the prices of the array of bicycles. Opportunities for the company however exist since Australia government opts cycling of tourists meaning there is market for the bicycles because it supports the economic growth of Australia (Austroads, 1999). Social-Cultural Forces within the Australian community such as family, friends and media will have an impact on how Pounder’s Bicycles will perform in the market. Research reveals that in Australia, many customers have been misinformed to believe that bicycles from Australia only are of quality and of high quality thus those coming from outside Australia may be of low quality. Such social factors affect the customer’s attitude, opinions and interests on how they will approach the Pounder’s bicycles in Australian market. Technological The way Pounder Bicycle Company will operate its business will also depend on technology changes. The internet will boost the company’s chances to meet new markets in Australia and extend its global outreach. However, it can be noted that the company will not require high technological inventions since it will manufacture traditional bicycles and market the bicycles in Australia. Legal  The way the company will operate in terms of operating rules of law in Australia will matter a lot. The company will be engaged in legal business practice of marketing bicycles which is permitted by Australian law. Therefore Pounder Company will not be against the Australian law thus it will be an ideal opportunity for the company to market its bicycles in its new market i. e. Oceania Australia (Cycling Promotion Fund, 2006). Industry Analysis Australia is one of the most powerful nations in the world boasting of a well-built society, politics, customs and economy. It has contributed significantly to the entire economy of Europe and the entire world today over the past. Right from the beginning of European incorporation, it has been a main contributor to the expansion of the European Union and it is looked upon as one of the pillars of the continent and the European Union at large. Australia is vigorously concerned in almost every phase of the European Union and the most outstanding ones are; provision of political leadership, military relations, economies, diplomacy and policy making. Sale of bicycles in Australia is a popular market since many of the individuals living in Oceania use bicycles to travel to workplaces and learning institutions among other places. Research indicates that bicycles in Australia are popular means of transport since many people believe that the use of such bicycles are of great benefits particularly health benefits i. e. by riding bicycles to various places it is a way of exercise thus individuals have no need to go to gyms for further practise. The growth of bicycle industry can be traced back to 17th century in Australia which by then bicycles were the most popular and convenient way of transport in the country. Good economy, stable exchange rates, flexible import duties, better trade tariffs and more importantly, the single currency used by the two countries are factors that promotes international marketing. Europeanization has directly affected the governments of the member states; this means that the developments that Australia has gained so far in culturally and domestically are linked to the European Union’s progress (Hill, 2005). The comments by the Minister of Transport of Australia and Regional Services Mr. John Anderson that the enhancement of the total of secure cycling in Australia will improve the Australian well being automatically indicates that the bicycle industry in Australia is popular and therefore Pounder Bicycle Company has the opportunity to utilize such ready markets in Australia. The minister further believes that a raise in cycling will advance transportation access for lots of the local people in Australia, amplify levels of personal health and also trim down the greenhouse emanations, air contamination and traffic jams. Further more, cyclists and non-cyclists will gain from lesser health expenditure in the society, a smaller amount of traffic on Australian infrastructure and more importantly enjoy cleaner air (Cycling Promotion Fund, 2006). Therefore with such reasons and intentions by the Australian government it implies that cycling is more encouraged and thus Pounder Bicycle Company can venture in Australia since it will face no hostility or lack of market for the bicycles since the government of Australia encourages individuals to use bicycles in their day to day activities. Further, the size of bicycle market in Australia is reportedly to be approximately over a billion dollars at retail level per year; adults in this case are highest buyers or owners of the bicycles as compared to children. Also there are a variety of bicycles being sold by different companies who manufacture bicycles in Australia; many have emphasized on the comfort and speed of such bikes. Therefore with such industry trends in Australia Pounder Bicycle Company will have the opportunity of selling traditional bicycles to Australians since research indicates that such types of bicycles are on the decline (Cycling Promotion Fund, 2006). Market Pounder Bicycle Company should not concentrate on the Australian bicycle market but instead should identify particular market segments which will record high sales of traditional markets. Therefore the company will have not to compete in the entire market but rather identify its strongest segments that will ensure success of the company in Australia. Pounder Bicycle Company should utilize encirclement strategies for winning the competitors in Australian bicycle market. Such a strategy is also referred to as envelopment strategy and it is considered subtle, moderate and a bit non-offensive but dangerous way of offending the rival. Pounder Bicycle Company can utilize two ways using his approach. First, the company can introduce broad range of bicycles that are alike to the competitor’s bicycles and each of these bicycles will get a share of the same market the competitor is currently in. In the long term, the rival will be demoralized, undermined and depressed thus the competitor at large may opt to give up the market. Such technique will ensure that full scale confrontation is avoided between the company and the target competitors in Australia (Brassington and Pettitt, 2000). The second approach that the company may utilize is that approach of market niches rather than concentrating on bicycles themselves. In this approach, the market share is liberated from the target competitor via the expansion of market niches that surround it. With such strategies therefore the company can achieve substantial market share which will eventually leads to success of the company in the long-run (Brassington and Pettitt, 2000). Market Entry Since Pounder Bicycle Company has opted to go international i. e. enter Australian market several market entry strategies are available to the company to utilize. However, such entry strategies differ with cost, risk and the degree of control which can be put into effect over them with particular regards to security of markets i. e. whether it will be successful. Pounder Bicycle Company should utilize the indirect method of entry to Australian market: Under indirect exporting market entry strategy, an exporter can access foreign market free from risks of doing it directly. It will involve Pounder Bicycle Company using independent organizations within the Australia’s domestic markets. The company can do this through various ways; for example, a domestic based export merchants, who will take the title of the bicycles and sells them in Australia, domestic based export agents who sell and market the bicycles on behalf of the company and co-operative organizations who act on behalf of the company. Pounder Bicycle Company should utilize such strategy by either choosing to use one of the above methods of indirect exporting because of the following advantages; communication is very much easy because the exporting company is domestically based and the risks of investing are much lower than coming up with full market in the host country i. e. in Australia (Kotler, Armstrong, Saunders, and Wong, 1999). Project Costs and Financing The whole project of entering the Australian market will require Pounder Bicycle Company to have substantial amount of resources in order to ensure the success of the firm in its business endeavours. The cost of entering the market for instance may be high thus necessitating the company to look for alternative way of sourcing funds. Further the cost of materials to manufacture enough bicycles to be sold in Australia may be high. The company therefore can utilize its own resources i. e. its savings although it should not exhaust all the financial resources in such venture because business entails risk taking. Therefore, the company should opt for loans from financial institutions in order to combine such funds with the internal financial resources that it has. Clear financial forecasting as well as financial cash budgets should be prepared by the company’s management in order to spend the financial resources effectively and wisely. HR Issues and Organization Structure Pounder Bicycle Company will be faced by issue of workforce diversity which is the spread of human labor across the entire globe irrespective of their area of specialization and skills entailed. The existence of the globalization concept have been realized when diverse patterns in workforce are put into consideration. Pounder Bicycle Company will also employ people from the host country i. e. Australia thus the firm will have to adhere to rules and regulations set forth for businesses in Australia regarding employer-employee relationships (Hoyer, 2001). The most excellent means Pounder Bicycle Company can openly develop its financial performance in the industry is to employ, choose and train the right personnel. The most excellent strategic exercise to realize this goal is to carry out what is usually termed as job-fit practice. Such practice is practical to the company since the workforce to be recruited will not be required to undertake further extensive training but carry out their responsibilities right away applying their skills gained somewhere else. Organizational effectiveness can only be achieved if the management of the company is be able to incorporate good leadership, motivation, a well defined organizational structure, forming group dynamics and setting up good structures for communicating in the workplace. Pounder Bicycle Company should formulate a flexible organization structure in the sense that they should be ready to cope with change without affecting their productivity especially when it intends to go international (Cullen and Parboteeah, 2005). Strategic Benefits to Pounder Bicycle Company An analysis of business environment will help the company to know of all the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that the company will face in there quest to expand to Australian market. Therefore the company will be able to consider the following factors: The speed of entering the Oceania market, flexibility/free and exit barriers, the costs to be incurred when entering Oceania market, the risks inherent in the course of entering the market, period of payback/how quick the firm can start earning the returns or proceeds from such investments and the company’s long run goals among other factors will be clearly known in advance. With ascertainment of the above factors therefore, Pounder Bicycle Company will be able to identify its strategic benefits form any opportunities that exist in the Australian market. For instance, the company will benefit from large market share since there is high demand of bicycles in Australia thus the company will realize substantial revenues because of high sales. The company will also strategize well in Australia thus being able to compete effectively with its both local and international competitors (Lovelock, 2006). Conclusion Business environment keeps on changing because of globalization and the concept of international businesses. Businesses therefore are faced with a lot of threats as well as have a lot of opportunities brought about by such aspects of business world. To attain greater investments and better market opportunities in the international market, it is necessary that primary and secondary market research is done (Cullen and Parboteeah, 2005).

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on Politics

The argument that I chose to analyze is one of Cynthia McKinney and her thoughts on the terrorist attacks on September 11th and America’s â€Å"War on Terrorism†. Cynthia deals with a few different arguments in one passage. I do not know if it is possible to say that her argument is both good and bad but I think some aspects of her argument are good and some very bad. My assessment will show you why I feel this way. In her argument she accuses the President and his administration of knowing about the attacks, but keeping quite about the attacks for reasons of personal financial gain. Cynthia also contends that others knew about the attacks such as our elected officials and the media and need to be held accountable. She also states that the â€Å"War on Terrorism,† is a gateway of rights violations that target different races by committing racial profiling. In Cynthia’s first claim, that the President had personal financial gain her conclusion statement is: Persons close to the Administration (Bush’s) are poised to make huge profits off America’s new War. McKinney supports this conclusion with four premises. Premise number one: Former Bush sits on the board of the Carlyle group (Established in 1987, The Carlyle Group is a private global investment firm that originates, structures and acts as lead equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, and growth capital financings). Premise number two: The Los Angeles Times reports that on a single day, Carlyle earned $237 million selling shares in United Defense industries, the Army’s fifth largest contractor. Premise number three: The stock offering was well timed; Carlyle officials say they decided to take the company public only after September 11th. Premise number four : The stock sale cashed in on increased congressional support for hefty defense spending, including one of United ... Free Essays on Politics Free Essays on Politics The argument that I chose to analyze is one of Cynthia McKinney and her thoughts on the terrorist attacks on September 11th and America’s â€Å"War on Terrorism†. Cynthia deals with a few different arguments in one passage. I do not know if it is possible to say that her argument is both good and bad but I think some aspects of her argument are good and some very bad. My assessment will show you why I feel this way. In her argument she accuses the President and his administration of knowing about the attacks, but keeping quite about the attacks for reasons of personal financial gain. Cynthia also contends that others knew about the attacks such as our elected officials and the media and need to be held accountable. She also states that the â€Å"War on Terrorism,† is a gateway of rights violations that target different races by committing racial profiling. In Cynthia’s first claim, that the President had personal financial gain her conclusion statement is: Persons close to the Administration (Bush’s) are poised to make huge profits off America’s new War. McKinney supports this conclusion with four premises. Premise number one: Former Bush sits on the board of the Carlyle group (Established in 1987, The Carlyle Group is a private global investment firm that originates, structures and acts as lead equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, and growth capital financings). Premise number two: The Los Angeles Times reports that on a single day, Carlyle earned $237 million selling shares in United Defense industries, the Army’s fifth largest contractor. Premise number three: The stock offering was well timed; Carlyle officials say they decided to take the company public only after September 11th. Premise number four : The stock sale cashed in on increased congressional support for hefty defense spending, including one of United ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Trying to Self-Publish

Trying to Self-Publish This post is also available in a podcast:  https://soundcloud.com/hopeclark/trying-to-self-publish (or click on image at bottom of page). Saw this phrase twice recently, on two different blogs. Trying to self publish. Those words irritate me like fingernails on a chalk board, fork tines on china, grinding teeth.  You get the point. But probably not in the manner I mean . . . the manner I want to hammer home. And I love to hammer home points.People are entitled to self-publish. Of course they are. Ive self-published. Im a hybrid with my nonfiction being self-published (The Shy Writer Reborn) and my fiction traditionally published (The Carolina Slade Mystery Series), and if Carolina Slade ever gets dropped But Ill tell you one thing . . . I wont TRY to self-publish her. Ill go out there, jump in with both feet and damn well DO it. Whats with this trying business? I grasp TRYING to traditionally publish, because there are so many gatekeepers who have to give you that magical nod for it to happen. You TRY because someone else opens the door for you. If they dont open the door, you dont publish, at least with them. Okay, makes sense. But you dont TRY to self publish. I didnt TRY squat when I self-published. I made up my mind to self-pub and did it. Its like being pregnant. You are or you arent. You self-pub or you dont. I think because we have options with self-publishing, you know, without all the gatekeepers telling us what we can do, we call it trying. But when I looked up TRYING in the dictionary, the  crankier I got at those who say they TRY to self-publish. TRY: 1) to make an effort to do something : to attempt to accomplish or complete something. 2) to do or use (something) in order to see if it works or will be successful. 3) to do or use (something) in order to find out if you like it. Thats straight out of Merriam-Webster, honey. In The Shy Writer Reborn, I harp on removing words like BUT, ONLY, NOT, NEVER and JUST from your vocabulary when speaking of your writing abilities and efforts. Its self-deprecating. From The Shy Writer Reborn, page 41: Ever catch yourself studying someone successful, not necessarily rich and powerful, but someone maybe only a few notches above your common quest. In seconds, you allow a sense of discouragement to drape over your shoulders, oppressing you with the idea you cant be that good. You see a familys portrait, love their captured laughter, then hate the fact you are no longer close to your sister. You bite into a cake made in heaven and kick yourself for stopping at the bakery instead of making your pie from scratch. You read a published book in your genre, in a setting youve used, possibly centered around a character not too far distant from your own, and you curse about being too inept a writer to do as well as that author. We hobble ourselves so that others cant point fingers first. If we know we are less than stellar, nobody can surprise us with accusations. Its a way of protecting ourselves from rejection. Id like to add the word TRY to that list of words that hold us back. Avoid disclaimer words. People gravitate to confident people. They dont want to be around people who are TRYING to be good. They want to be around good people. They dont want to read books from people who TRIED self-publishing. They want to be around those who confidently published their book. A favorite saying of mine is simply this: OWN WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO. Pick your path then strike out without looking back. Stomp that trail. March to your drummer. Sling  your writing  into the bright sunshine using all the power and talent you have. Sling it hard. You want the world to read every word. This work is your legacy. You dont try to publishyou publish. You dont try to write wellyou write well. You dont try to promote your workyou promote your work. If you think youve written and edited something worth publishing . . . If you think youre ready to see your work in print . . . If you think youre ready to sell your work with confidence, then do it. Do it loud, hard, with passion. Be not afraid to let the human race know what youve done. The minute you say you are TRYING to do something, I hear hesitation and self-doubt as do agents, readers, publishers, editors, and more. Im telling you, owning who you are and what you do is powerful, and more than a few people will look twice at you, wanting a taste of that youre drinking, because whatever it is, it makes you appear more alive than they are. You can TRY or you can DO. Readers can tell the difference.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Art and Architecture of Africa-Pictures Assignment

Art and Architecture of Africa-Pictures - Assignment Example The function of the object: the masks were worn during ceremonies such as circumcision, initiation and funeral ceremonies. They were a sign of authority and were also worn by the Bwadi ya Kifwebe association which was a policing society that provided control and behavior in the community. The function of the object: these sculptures were made to complement the reliquary containers and were ancestral representations that were memorized and addressed in times of need through relics that were preserved in the attached container (Kowalski, pg12). The function of the object: the object was used in Mukudj dances that were commissioned by the community leaders in memory of a great person or the visit of an honorable individual in the community (Bingham, pg33). The function of the object: they were placed on the top of the baskets containing the bones of the ancestors to act as guardians of the bones and at the same time ward off the evil spirits (Dowling, pg50). Kowalski, Marek Arpad. Art and history: incidental notes on carvings of the Fang tribe in the collections of the National Museum of Ethnography in Warsaw. Warsaw: National Museum of Ethnography in Warsaw, 19751976.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Accounting Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Accounting Assignment - Essay Example The culprit can be seen to be the ballooning of expenses. It should be noted that depreciation and amortization registers 165% growth while other selling and administration expense records higher growth of 178%. To make matters worse, finance costs more than tripled at 355% from 2003 to 2007. Turning to the balance sheet accounts of the business organization, it should be noted that the mounting finance costs can be traced to the ballooning of assets which is unmatched by the growth in equity. This indicates that the company’s acquisition of asset is financed by the more costly liabilities. Logically, when Best resort to its creditors to finance the acquisition of its assets, it incurs the obligation to pay interest at specific intervals thus boosting its finance cost. The company’s cash account grew weakly at 18% during the seven-year period. Table 2 highlights the financial ratios of Best from 2003 to 2007 utilizing the selected data provided. In terms of profitability, the year 2007 saw a decline both in return to assets and return to ordinary shareholders. It should be noted that this decline indicates the company’s inability to create net income which adds to shareholder wealth and value to its assets. From the high return of shareholder’s equity ratio of .25 in 2006, this slumped to .12 in 2007 meaning that for every dollar invested in the company’s stocks, a shareholder gets 12 cents in 2007 compared to the 25 cents in 2006. Asset turnover also declined from 0.53 to 0.47 signaling lower asset utilization and possibly an inability to maximize the company’s resources. Profit margin ratio is also in decline from .18 to 0.09. The decrease in profitability ratios from the good performance in 2006 can be an indication of company’s difficulty of providing profits to its stakeholders. Consistent with the observation above, the company’s debt to