Smoking and its effect on society free essay sample

Many people believe that they are in control of their own lives. They believe that their lives are based upon choices they make as individuals. For me on the other hand it is different. I have given my choice away. Throughout my entire life I have been waiting to attain a feeling of independence and a sense of power over my decisions. However, over the past couple years I have succeeded this power, this choice to an addiction that impacts individuals and families all over the world. In high school I was a three sport athlete whom had the opportunity to play at the college level in both soccer and basketball. But like I previously stated I gave my choice away when I began the treacherous addictive habit of smoking cigarettes. When I wake up every day I make a list of things I need to get done that day, I never write down smoke a cigarette but in the back of my mind there is always a plan for smoking a â€Å"bogie†. We will write a custom essay sample on Smoking and its effect on society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Imagine waking up every morning and needing a drink of anything you can get your hands on just so you can breathe. This is what I deal with on a daily basis. I am constantly thirsty, out of breathe, and congested. My day is run by when to smoke one. I have a cigarette when I wake up, drink coffee/red bull, after a meal, on the drive to class, on the drive home from class, while I’m doing homework, after sex, when I get bored, and before bed. I smoke a little more than ten cigarettes a day, so let’s do the math for how much I spend in a year for cigarettes. If we round it to half a pack a day, that means I smoke a pack of cigarettes in 2 days. If there are 365 in a year, that’s 182. 5 packs I smoke a year. In today’s economy cigarettes in New York go for $10 a pack, that’s the cheapest you can buy a single pack of Newport’s, which are my cigarette of choice. So if you multiply 182. 5 times 10, that’s $1825 a year I spend on cigarettes. To put this number in perspective for you, the tuition costs here at Clinton Community College for a full year is 3,960. So for one semester it’s $1,980. Essentially this means that if I wasn’t addicted to nicotine I could just about pay for a whole semester of college each year rather than buy 182. 5 packs of cigarettes. For now a pack every two days isn’t a death sentence, but if it’s one thing that is true about addictive habits it is that they only get worse. On this pace within years I could be gradually progressing my addiction to the point where I smoke a pack, maybe even two a day. At this point I struggle sometimes to even find the cash to get a pack, so I can only imagine the financial hardships that await me if my disease progresses. My finances aren’t the only part of my life that is impacted by my nicotine addiction, my health has also suffered an extreme amount. Throughout my whole life I have been the kid yelling one more; one more throw, one more kick, one more shot. Even though I have always dealt with a mild case of asthma, sensational has been the only word to describe my athletic performance between the lines on a field or court. My senior year in high school I ran a 5:40 mile, today I would be lucky to run for 5 straight minutes let alone almost complete a mile during it. Coming out of high school I was recruited by the Plattsburgh Men’s soccer coach to play center half back, which if you know anything about soccer is basically the position which requires the best athlete with the best conditioning on the entire team. In the spring of 2009 I tried my first cigarette. At first I hated it, made me cough, feel sick, and smelt horrible. But then I kept smoking them, soon I began to crave the high of smoking one. Whether it was morning, noon, or night when I wanted one I had to have it. Eventually the summer came and since I was recruited by SUNY Plattsburgh I was required to get myself in to tip top shape before I went up there for preseason. Instead I fed into my addiction and smoking cigarettes led to less energy, which led to partying more than I ever had my entire life. This new phase of my life where every other night there was a graduation party just furthered my habits. It was a phase that to this day I still believe opened doors I was never able to close. By the time preseason had come around I was in the worst shape id ever been in. There were certain expectations I was supposed to meet and I couldn’t have been further from that point. Instead of being a freshmen stud starting on a college soccer team, I became a reserve who could not even go on away trips with the team. My addiction of smoking not only took a toll on my health that year, but also my life. I had failed to meet one of the goals I had worked so hard for my entire life. At this point I came to a realization that cigarettes were my kryptonite, they made me weak and were slowly but surely killing me. A person who hasn’t dealt with addiction will say why don’t you just stop, it’s a choice just don’t do it. What these people don’t understand is that I not only don’t have a choice but I am not one bit in control of anything, nicotine owns me, runs me and fuels me. I am one of many Americans either directly or indirectly effected by smoking. Our society has been very progressive in encouraging people to refrain from smoking. The biggest weapon used is just flat out information. Just reading over these facts makes me want to throw my pack in the toilet as we speak. There are more than 4,800 chemicals in cigarette smoke, and 69 of them are known to cause cancer (Kenny, 2012). Also 90% off lung cancer deaths and 80-90% of emphysema and chronic bronchitis deaths are due to smoking (American Lung Association, 2014). Smoking decreases the life of the average male by 13 years (American Lung Association, 2014). The average male in the U. S. is expected to live until 77. By smoking my entire life I am decreasing my life expectancy from 77 years to 63 years, scary to think about. A scary fact to hear is about second hand smoke. Smoking at home, in your backyard, or alone in your car is one thing because it is mainly only effecting yourself. Smoking in public however is a whole separate issue. In one year there are approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 46,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers annually due to second hand smoke (Facts about Smoking and Tobacco Use, 2014). Those are people who die because of cigarette smoke and they aren’t even the ones smoking them, pretty cruel way to die. Smoking has greatly affected our society since the appearance of these statistics. Work places, public parks, and many other places have all out lawed smoking there, and if they haven’t outlawed it they have designated smoking areas away from the majority of people. Over the past 50 years our society has changed its perception of smoking. Years back the social structure of the world made it out to be a cool thing to do. If you didn’t smoke you were an outcaste, you would almost be looked down on. Back then it was a common thing to smoke in people’s homes, in movie theaters, even on planes and in restaurants. I can remember when I was a kid my family would go out to eat and we would have to say non-smoking section so we wouldn’t choke on our food while eating because of all the smoke. They used to promote smoking by having celebrities be their icons of the product to draw attention of the fans, or used mascots like a cowboy to signify manliness and strength, and some companies even stooped so low as to use animals as their mascots in order to make smoking friendlier towards children. Society truly does dictate what is considered a norm and what is considered to be irregular or strange. Today all of those things are illegal because a majority of the people believe those methods to be dishonorable and misguiding. The social structure of our society is constantly changing and maybe one day society as a whole will realize how harmful smoking is to the individual as well as the group and outlaw it completely. In this paper I have talked about my addiction to nicotine because it is a problem I deal with on a daily basis. This addiction of mine has effected many areas of my life including work, relationships, health, school, even self-esteem. Through writing this paper I have realized what a financial toll this habit has already taken on my wallet, thousands of dollars have been stolen from me by my addiction. In addition and more importantly, this addiction has already possibly taken years off of my life which is an eye opener that one cannot turn their back on. In conclusion smoking cigarettes has not only impacted my life, but is a nasty habit that effects the lives of individuals and families all over the world.

Islamic Seljuk Turks essays

Islamic Seljuk Turks essays The Islamic Seljuk Turks and the European Christians considered the crusades to be holy wars because the Christian military was trying to recapture the Holy land from the Muslims. The crusades were undertaken between the 11th and 14th century. Different motives influenced those who journeyed to the Holy land, and they were not all religious ones. The church offered many incentives to encourage men to take the Cross. The word crusade refers to any war fought by divine command or for a primarily religious purpose. The Crusades were considered to be holy wars because the Christian crusaders invaded the Holy land. These Crusades applied solely to the European efforts to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims. Jerusalem was a sacred city to Christians because it was seen as the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Popes and Kings, eager for new land and wealth, encouraged crusaders. The crusades came from all over Europe. Most crusaders were knights and soldiers, but ordinary people also set out hoping to gain Gods approval. The Crusades may have been seen as holy wars, but they were lasting terror and misery to the near East. There were eight major Crusades that took place during 1096 to 1270. In 1921, Muslims captured the city of Acre and the Holy land was lost to Christians forever. Although the Crusades brought no lasting results in terms of military conquest, they were important in the development of trade. The reestablishment of traffic between the East and West, which after having been suspended for several centuries, was then resumed with even greater success. These trade routes generated a beneficial contact between the cultures. Many merchants from the cities of Venice and Genoa bought spices, sugar, cloth and cotton. Other merchants from Sicily and Aragorn traded Tunisian gold and Algerian wool and animal skins. Popular goods traded from the Middle East were su...

Black Death Muslim and Christian Responses

Imagine yourself alone on a street corner, coughing up bloody mucous each time you exhale. You are gasping for a full breath of air, but realizing that is not possible, you give up your fight to stay alive. Youre thinking why is this happening to me? That is how the victims of the Black Death felt. In five short years, the plague killed between 25 and 45% of the populations it encountered. So how different were the Christian and Muslim responses? In 1348 Christians who were followers of Jesus Christ and Muslims who followed the teachings of Muhammad came face to face with the Black Death. In truth, Muslims and Christians responded in many different ways. Even the way the blamed others for the cause of the plague and religious views about the disease were very much different. In a similar manner both religions acted completely out the norm, they basically set aside their spiritual beliefs for a moment. One of the similar responses between the Muslims and Christians were acting out of the ordinary. According to document five both religions were finding non-religious alternatives to prevent the Black Death. In some cases, the Christians would try to sleeping on their backs to prevent the plague, while the Muslims would even avoid going outside. In addition they both drank a solution of Armenian clay to cleanse the body and built fires hoping that this would purify the contaminated air. Based on document nine both the religions united together to pray and they went back to their religious ways. These documents prove that each religion in some cases stepped out their religious backgrounds to try to prevent the Black Death. Religious views played a big part on the different ways the Christians and Muslims responded to the Black Death. The Christians basically thought the plague was their fault. They believe that they’re being punished for their sins they’ve imputed against God. On the other hand the Muslims are taking the plague lightly. They believe that â€Å"a Muslim should devoutly accept the divine act. The Muslims also believe that this occurrence is a blessing from God. In addition document two explains the Black Death Mortality by comparing each religions death rate. The mortality estimate Phillip Ziegler calculated for the Muslims shows that about 33% of the Middle Eastern population have deceased. While the Christian population in Europe mortality rate was only 31%. This document proves that the Muslims population decreased greater than the Christians. During the era of the Black Plague, the Christian community held a lood-thirsty lead hand in the fact of the matter, while the Islam society didn’t blame the epidemic on others and or try to solve the rampant disease with violence. According to document seven the Christians blamed the Jews for causing the Black Death; they believe the Jews poisoned the wells. The Muslims didn’t blame anyone for the occurrence of the Black Death, based on document ten. This proves that the Muslims believed that the plague was meant to happen, like document four said, â€Å"the plague is a blessing from God. †

The inequality of miniorities in the criminal justice system. What Term Paper

The inequality of miniorities in the criminal justice system. What type of stereotypes and unfair justice do miniorities face by - Term Paper Example This research essay will have a detailed analysis and discussion on the inequality of minorities in the criminal justice system in USA and how to have a balanced approach without any bias for the offenses committed despite their color and creed. Introduction United States of America can be defined as a nation of diverse culture comprising of white ethnic immigrants, native Americans, Latinos, African Americans and Asians. As per Russell—Brown (2009), slave codes are those set of laws that ruled the life of African slaves as early in 1600s. Under slavery law, majorities of the African Americans were the victims, and their ordeal came to an end due to the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. More rights of the blacks were recognized due to the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865. According to Free (1996), immediately after the elimination of slavery in USA, â€Å"Black codes â€Å"were legislated in many of the US states in an endeavor to employ the legal system to be dominated by the White supremacy with Jim Crow laws, which stipulated separate facilities for blacks, particularly in cars, rail , schools ,bathrooms , etc. (Hartley, 2010, p.112). As per Browne-Marshall, in 1896, in Plessey v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court of USA sanctioned the policy of â€Å"separate but equal† all but legitimate White supremacy. The enactment of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 which banned racial discrimination in employment , in public places ,which was trailed by Voting Rights Act of 1965, which gave legal acknowledgement to the rights of Black voters.(Gabbidon ,2010,p.66). Though discrimination is banned through Civil Rights Act of 1964, many empirical evidences like Mauer (1994), Tonry (1995), Free (1996), Donziger (1996), Walker (1999), and Walker et al (2000) have shown that racial discrimination prevails virtually in every phase of USAs criminal justice system even today. (Hartley, 2010, p.112). The Main objective of this research essay is to dis cuss about the inequality witnessed by the minorities in the criminal justice system of the U.S.A and to discuss about the type of stereotypes, and unfair justice do minorities face by the treatment of the United States court system in an exhaustive manner. â€Å"Discrimination of Minorities in the American Criminal Justice System† As per Walker, Spohn & DeLone (2000), racial disparities in the United States criminal justice system have long been given attention by the researchers who have found that there has been evidence of discrimination shown to ethnic and racial minorities at every phase of the criminal justice system. Footed upon by the debate posed by Marxist and conflict criminologists, scholars have tried to answer the query whether the law does, in reality, operate to the advantage of a dominant upper class and to the disadvantage of an immobilized lower community. Critics also have raised the question, whether the criminal action of that community which control or own the means of economic production are comparatively impervious from criminal prosecution? (Cullen & Wilcox, 2010, p.475). As per labelling theory of criminal justice, offenders are being treated as if they were criminal, which had the effect of unwanted outcomes on

Analysis of the Book Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya Essay

Analysis of the Book Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya - Essay Example The essay "Analysis of the Book Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya" analyses the actions of the main character Antonio of the book "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya. In his search for identity, Antonio struggles to find his personal belief and value system. The paper investigates Antonio’s religious quest and discusses the juxtaposition of Catholicism, paganism, magic, mythology, and superstition in the novel. Antonio has a somewhat conflicting childhood, with his mother belonging to the Luna family who are mostly farmers and priests and who wants him to become a priest as well. Whereas his father belongs to the MÃ ¡rez clan, a family where roaming the earth and the freedom it gives are encouraged. Antonio is raised as a Catholic, which he adapts to so unquestioningly that at the small age of six he already decides to become a priest when he grows up. However, despite being Catholic, both his parents not only love but also reverse the curandera Ultima. Thus, she is someone w ho holds fast to the traditions of the people and is a healer, though not a witch, albeit she is accused of being so. Most of the people do not know how to react to her, as she has really good healing powers, almost to the point of people suspecting witchcraft. The first time doubts are raised in Antonio’s mind about his Catholic faith is when his friend tells him about the golden carp, a pagan god. The first thought that comes to his mind is if the God the Catholics pray to is the true God or not.

Product Life Cycle Essay Example for Free

Product Life Cycle Essay Definition: Products come and go. A company’s challenge is to hold on to its customers longer than it holds on to its products. It needs to watch the market life cycle and the customer life cycle more than the product life cycle. Someone at Ford realized this: â€Å"If we’re not customer driven, our cars won’t be either.† One selects marketing tools that are appropriate to the stage of the product’s life cycle. For example, advertising and publicity will produce the biggest payoff in the introduction stage of a product; their job is to build consumer awareness and interest. Sales promotions and personal selling grow more important during a product’s maturity stage. Personal selling can strengthen customers’ comprehension of your product’s advantages and their conviction that the offering is worthwhile. Product Development and Life-Cycle Strategies: In the face of changing customer needs, technologies and competition, product innovation or the development of new products has become vital to a companys survival. Introducing new products, however, is not sufficient. The firm must also know how to manage the new product as it goes through its life cycle: that is, from its birth, through growth and maturity, to eventual demise as newer products come along that better serve consumer needs. This product life cycle presents two principal challenges. First, because all products eventually decline, the firm must find new products to replace ageing ones (the problem of new-product development). Second, the firm must understand how its products age and adapt its marketing strategies as products pass through life-cycle stages (the problem of product life-cycle, strategies). We therefore look initially at the problem of finding and developing new products, and then at the challenge of managing them successfully over their life cycles. Innovation and New-Product Development: Given the rapid changes in taste, technology and competition, a company cannot rely solely on its existing products to sustain growth or to maintain  profitability. The firm can hope to maintain market and profit performance only by continuous product innovation. Product innovation encompasses a variety of product development activities product improvement, development of entirely new ones, and extensions that increase the range or number of lines of product the firm can offer. Product innovations are not to be confused with inventions. The latter are a new technology or product which may or may not deliver benefits to customers. An innovation is defined as an idea, product or piece of technology that has been developed and marketed to customers who perceive it as novel or new. We may call it a process of identifying, creating and delivering new-product values or benefits that were not offered before in the marketplace. In this chapter we look specifically at new products as opposed to value creation through marketing actions (such as product/brand repositioning, segmentation of current markets). We also need to distinguish between obtaining new products through acquisition by buying a whole company, a patent or a licence to produce someone elses product and through new-product development in the companys own research and development department. As the costs of developing and introducing major new products have climbed, many large companies have decided to acquire existing brands rather than to create new ones. Other firms have saved money by copying competitors brands or by reviving old brands. These routes can contribute to a firms growth and have both advantages and limitations. In this chapter, we are mainly concerned with how businesses create and market new products. By new products we mean original products, product improvements, pnxhict modifications and new brands that the firm develops through its own research and development efforts. Risks and Returns Jri Innovation Innovation can be very risky for a number of reasons: 1. New-product development is an expensive affair it cost Tate Lyle around  £150 million to develop a new sugar substitute; pharmaceutical firms spend an average of . £100-50 million to develop a new drug; while developing a super-jumbo project could cost billions. 2. New-product development takes time. Although companies can dramatically shorten their development time, in many industries, such as  Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, aerospace and food, new-product development cycles can be as long as 10-15 years. The uncertainty and unpredictability of market environments further raise the risks of commercialization. Roots had to withdraw Manoplex, a heart drug, less than a year after its launch in the United Kingdom, after a trial on 3,000 patients in the United States and Scandinavia suggested an adverse effect on patient survival. The pharmaeeudeals division lost about  £200 million on the drug, which cost nearly  £100 million to develop over a period of 12 years, and about S20 million was spent on promoting and marketing it. 3. Unexpected delays in development are also a problem. History is littered with grand pioneering engineering projects which have failed to satisfy the original expectations of bankers, investors and politicians. The Seikan rail tunnel, connecting the island of Hokkaido to mainland Japan, was completed 14 years late and billions of pounds over budget; the S10 billion cost of the Channel tunnel, which opened on 6 May ] 994, a year later than originally planned, is more than double the  £4,8 billion forecast in 1987. 4. The new-product success record is not encouraging either. New products continue to fail at a disturbing rate. One recent study estimated that new consumer packaged goods (consisting mostly of line extensions) fail at a rate of 80 per cent. The same high failure rate appears to afflict new financial products and services, such as credit cards, insurance plans and brokerage services. Another study found that about 33 per cent of new industrial products fail at launch. Despite the risks, firms that learn to innovate well become less vulnerable to attacks by new entrants which discover new ways of delivering added values, benefits and solutions to customers problems.

Sports Narrative - Track State Champion :: Personal Narrative Essays

Personal Narrative- Track State Champion With shaky knees, I hesitantly made my way up the large white steps. With the back of my hand, I brushed away a few salty tears of relief. As I stood at the top of the podium and looked up into the packed stadium, my mind drifted back to everything I had gone through to achieve this moment, the day I became a state champion. The start of the 2002 track season found me concerned with how I would perform. After a disastrous bout with mononucleosis ended my freshmen track season, the fear of failure weighed heavily on my mind. I set a goal for myself in order to maintain focus and to push myself like nothing else would. My goal for my sophomore track season was to become a state champion in the 100 meter hurdles. I worked hard everyday at practice and went the extra mile, like running every Sunday, to be just that much closer to reaching my goal. The thought of standing highest on the podium in the center of the field, surrounded by hundreds of spectators, overcame my thoughts of complaining every time we had a hard workout. When I closed my eyes, I pictured myself waiting in anticipation as other competitors names were called out, one by one, until finally, the booming voice announced over the loudspeaker, "...and in first place, your 2002 100 meter hurdle champion, from Hotchkiss, Connie Dawson." It wa s visions like these that drove me to work harder everyday. As the season progressed, competition started getting fiercer. I was up against girls running at a 5A level, yet, I was able to hold my own. Finally there came a tiny light at the end of the tunnel; it seemed as though I was getting closer and closer to accomplishing my goal. Along with my undefeated title came a huge target painted on my back. I religiously checked "Rocky Preps" every day to see if the competition was gaining on me. It seemed that every time I had improved, there was someone right behind me, running their personal best too. I trained during the weeks before regionals like I had never trained before. Each day my stomach became more twisted with knots that looped around every part of my stomach. I don't think I had ever been that nervous in my whole life.

Kimberly McCullough

Kimberly McCullough Colorado Christian UniversityCollege of Adult and Graduate StudiesBUS-301A, Business FinanceProfessor MurphyApril 18, 2018 Analyzing Your Financial RatiosIn Chapter Case â€Å"Question 1. I will provide, the current ratio measures a company's ability to pay short-term obligations. The quick ratio of S;S, which is an indicator of a company's short-term liquidity. be sure to show your work in calculating the ratios including the ratios of the company. (In Chapter 3, page 8, Finkler, S. 2017). When it comes to their financial planning at S & S Air, Inc their financial manager will be able to understand. In Chapter Case 1, with S&S Air, Inc. with this business working capital management they must work with certain banks about their contribution to their goals and their success in their business. S&S Air, Inc.2016 Income Statement S&S Air. Inc.2016 Balance Sheet Light Airplane Industry Ratios Capital Budgeting The case study presents two corporations (A and B) with different revenue values and expenses as well as variable depreciation expenses, tax rates and discount rates. When it comes to my mom and dad's business applying suitable expenditure controls to ensure that investments outlays conform with. When it comes to capital budgeting my parent's business they are determining the viability to long-term investments on purchase or replacement of property. (Dlabay, L. 2008, Chapter 3, pg.12-13)Ratios and Financial Planning at S&S Air, Inc.†Calculations Chapter Case â€Å"Conch Republic Electronics†Conch Republic Electronics is a midsized electronics manufacturer located in Key West, Florida. The company president is Shelley Conc, who inherited the company. When it was founded over 70 years ago, the company originally repaired radios and other household appliances. Over the years, the company expanded into manufacturing and is now a reputable manufacturer of various electronic items. Before launching a new series, the company need to go through the following steps as to ensure a smooth production of this new series. 1.1 10 Steps Before Launching New ProductsAs a business grows the question of the introducing new products/services arises. Launching new products/services means taking risks and managing change. Growth and change must be managed at the same time as on-going business operations. Maintaining momentum is challenging for small businesses with limited resources. (Mayo, H. 2017). QuestionsWhat is the payback period of the project?What is the profitability index of the project?What is the IRR of the project?What is the NPV of the project?All the cases are Excel-based?First, The Cost of Research & Development Second, for them to calculate networking capital for the next first two years their new smart phone company their smartphones prices generate erosion cost (negative side effect) to the existing smart phone. The loss from the total revenue of existing smart phone. The net incremental revenue of new smart phone is equal to the total revenue of new smart phone minus the total revenue loss from the existing smart phone.The Revenue Loss of Existing Smart Phone Comes from Two Parts.Part one: the sales units will be reduced, and the original price revenue on these sales unites will be gone (the sales units of the existing smart phone will fall by 30,000 units per year, and the price of the existing smart phone is $380 per unit). Part Two: In Conch Republic Electronics finding of the sensitivity of change in quantity of the remaining units will be sold at a lower price (the price of the existing units will have to be lowered to $ 210 each), and the price difference is a source of revenue. Take First Year for Example: The calculation of net incremental revenue of the second year is like the first year. Starting from the third year, there is no revenue loss of existing smart phone attributed by the new smart phone, because the production of the existing smart phone is terminated. The incremental revenue is just the revenue of new smart phone. (Brigham, E. 2016, Chapter 5 pg. 9-10)Third, when it comes to In Conch Republic Electronics cost they had to take their profitability and their credit worthiness. As a smartphone company they know that knowing the cost of capital it can make better decisions on its future investments and other such financing options. (Midgley, K. & Burns, R. 1997) The calculation of net variable cost of the second year is like the first year. Starting from the third year, there is no variable cost decrease of new smart phone. The net variable cost is just the variable cost of new smart phone.Four, when it comes to Conch Republic Electronics company they have to consider regarding asset acquisitions in other investments brought. Because it is a smartphone company calculating the fixed cost is just new smart phone's fixed cost. Chapter Case â€Å"Stephenson Real Estate Recapitalization† In this report I will be discussing the work in an AJD real estate office from different aspects: Market surveying, the standard operating procedures that be followed in the market, suggestions to improve the work of AJD office. (Huber, W. 2009, Chapter 5, pg. 10-12)1.2 Definitions:Real estate is â€Å"Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; (also) an item of real property; (more generally) buildings or housing in general. Also: the business of real estate; the profession of buying, selling, or renting land, buildings or housing. It is a legal term used in most of the formal deals in this field. (Davis, M. 2012, Chapter 5, pg. 2-10)†Stephenson Real Estate Recapitalization†In order for Stephenson's Real Estate recapitalization they have to effectively recapitalizing the companies by increasing the proportion of debt in the capital structure. Since Stephenson is an all-equity firm with 15 million shares of common stock outstanding, worth $35.20 per share, the market value of the firm is $528 million (= 15 million shares * $35.20 per share). Stephenson's market-value balance sheet before the announcement of the land purchase is:Because of the purchase, the firm's pre-tax earnings will increase by $27 million per year in perpetuity. These earnings are taxed at a rate of 40%. Therefore, after taxes, the purchase increases the annual expected earnings of the firm by $16.2 million {($27 million) (1 – 0.40)}. (Peiser, R. & Hamilton, D. 2012) Therefore, the net present value of the land purchase is $19.6 million.After the announcement, the value of Stephenson will increase by $19.6 million, the net present value of the purchase. Under the efficient-market hypothesis, the market value of the firm's equity will immediately rise to reflect the NPV of the project. Therefore, the market value of Stephenson's equity will be $547.6 million (= $528 million + $19.6 million) after the firm's announcement.Assessments and Measures Direct Versus Indirect Measures of AssessmentThe difference between direct and indirect measures of student learning has taken on new importance as accrediting agencies such as WASC have required the use of direct measures to be the primary source of evidence. Indirect measures may serve only as supporting evidence. (Linneman, P. 2010)Embedded and Add-On AssessmentEmbedded assessments are tasks that are integrated into specific courses. They usually involve classroom assessment techniques but are designed to collect specific information on program learning outcomes. (Claus, F. 2009)ConclusionWhat I have learned? This subject gave me an overview of key marketing concepts and techniques as they apply in a variety of organizations and in both conventional and online environments. Also, this subject helped me to develop my knowledge and understanding of the core role of marketing in determining the growth potential.ReferencesRoss, S., Westerfield, R., & Jordan, B. (2017). Essentials of Corporate Finance (9th ed.). Dlabay, Les (2008) Business Finance (1st Editio) Finkler, Steven (2017) Finance & Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers (5th Edition) Book – Softcover Mayo, B. Herbert (2017) Basic Finance: An Introduction to Financial Institutions, Investments, and Management Brigham, F. Eugene (2016) Fundamentals of Financial Management (14th ed.) Publisher: Cengage Learning Huber, Wait (2009) Real Estate Finance – (7th edition) Davis, Maria (2009) Accounting for Real Estate Transactions: A Guide for Public Accountants and Corporate Financial Professionals 2nd Edition Peiser, Richard & Hamilton, David (2012) Professional Real Estate Development: The ULI Guide to the Business Linneman, Peter (2010) Real Estate Finance & Investments: Risks and Opportunities Clauss, J. Frances (2009) Corporate Financial Analysis with Microsoft Excel Midgley, Kevin & Burns, G. Ronald (1979) Business Finance and the Capital Marketn.

Alexander Technique

The famous Athenian comic playwright Menander (342-291 B. C. ) once said â€Å"health and intellect are the two blessings of life. † This was the standpoint of his almost realistic depiction of a situational character as a stand-up comedian wherein mind and body were overjoyed upon Menander’s satires. Probably the best aspect of Menander’s hilarity was his insightful mental and physical gestures that captivated the spontaneity which he conveyed to the audience.The conveyance of mental and physical gestures have indeed become the therapeutic norm of the Australian actor and Shakespearean orator Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) who then discovered a technique of effective vocalization through mental and physical easement and control known as the ‘Alexander Technique’. In this regard, this paper will discuss several studies on the Alexander Technique which has been known and adopted by most stage and movie performers and has been publicly recomm ended to be used as therapy. What is Alexander Technique?According to the electronic journal, ‘The Complete Guide to Alexander Technique’, the Alexander Technique (AT) was developed in the early 1900’s by Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) to release his chronic laryngitis tension for best vocal performance which he later developed as a complete mental and physical therapy. Based on the personal experience of renowned health columnist of the New York Times Jane Brody, the Alexander technique is a method of adjusting body postures to relieve her damaging stresses, like relieving her neck tension, occasional pain, and even crippling spasms (Brody, 1990).Moreover, according to Anne Rickover’s Life Bridge Coaching, the Alexander Technique can be helpful to everyone, especially those who are engaged in the delicate harmonization of the mind and body [like actors, dancers and musicians], as well as to injured musicians. Today, the mastery of this technique is required in various arts and music schools across Europe, America and Australasia. (Rickover, R. , 2007). Rationale of method According to Nicholas Brockbank, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, the functions of mind (mental) and body (physical) are the primary coordinates in using the Alexander Technique.Thus, the coordinative functions are the basic method of application or usage. The discovery of functional coordinates [as a method] was regarded by Frederick Matthias Alexander when he felt his voice or vocalization was â€Å"vacillating† (Brockbank, 2007). In front of a mirror, Alexander observed the inconsistency of his voice to his mind setting. Moreover, the mind and the body were â€Å"indivisible† human faculties from which the way people think the way they acted was the primary cause of their physical ills (Brockbank, 2007).Brockbank concluded that the method of coordinating mind and body are elements of â€Å"physical habits† that Alexander Techn ique adopts the method of functional coordinates (Brockbank, 2007). Application of method Upon Frederick Matthias Alexander’s discovery and adoption of the method, he was inspired and encouraged to share it with performing artist, most especially with the musicians and the vocalists, which he thought were stressed during the rehearsals with the added anxiety (stage fright) in front of the audience.To cite, the mental and physical movement must be applied with proper coordination and function [as the presence of mind and body] that eventually meets and sets aside the complex of stress that may result to Repetitive Strain Injury (which becomes a medical term known as RSI), which is a common injury of singers, musician, and dancers (Brockbank, 2007).The Alexander Technique has developed as an effective and applicable method in coordinating the mental and physical functions and are used by most of the performing artists like Paul McCartney, Yehudi Menuhin, Sting, Julian Bream, Ja mes Galway, and the conductor, Sir Adrian Boul (Brockbank, 2007). It has also been integrated into the curriculums of various schools such as the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, The Royal College of Music in London, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and other schools of music, universities and colleges around the world (Brockbank, 2007).Findings, descriptive procedures, and relevance The descriptive procedures in applying the method of Alexander Technique are found to be similar to the method of â€Å"Ergonomics†. Several â€Å"naturalists† [or those using the natural cure and therapy] believe that what Frederick Matthias Alexander discovered was a â€Å"self-taught† procedure which he incidentally applied and thought as his own method. In which case, the naturalists acknowledges Alexander’s discovery as an applied natural science.Meaning, Alexander theorized and practiced the application of Ergonomics method in which several me thods of natural cure were only limited to countries like Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of European countries. Moreover, according to Mark Hyman’s journal, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, the natural cure through therapy has long been practiced by the Egyptians, Africans, Chinese, and the Malays. Among of the indigenous and famous natural cures are Acupuncture, Acupressure or the Thai massage, aromatherapy, Reiki, and what is commonly known today as methods of â€Å"Reflexology† or Physical therapy (Hyman, 2008).According to Holly A. Sweeney, a certified Ergonomist, the only method that is being recognized in Alexander Technique is that the functional use of mind and body coordinates without external physical manipulation. In addition, the power of thinking (mind) has some degrees or level of dictation to what the physical (body) self shall do or to do (Sweeney, 2007). Based on Sweeney’s findings, the term â€Å"ergonomics† i s derived from the two Greek words â€Å"ERG† (meaning to work) and â€Å"NOMOI† (meaning natural laws).The study of Ergonomics focuses on human capability towards work, in which the connection or link to work shall meet the â€Å"demand† or performance of human capability that has the following fundamentals: (1) All work activities should allow the worker take on equally healthy and safe postures, (2) Muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available, and (3) Work activities should be carried out with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement which applies specifically to the head, trunk, and upper limbs. (Cortlett, 1983; in Sweeney, 2007).It may be deduced from the findings of Sweeney that Ergonomics is very much interrelated technique to Alexander’s, considering the fact that Ergonomics also covers all â€Å"stress-out† methods, which is also known as stretching at the sudden spa sm of body joints and muscles while at work. However, the recognition of Alexander Technique [although parallel to Ergonomics] has been carried out by the unique method of â€Å"exercising out† the stress from the vocal chords of the singer and larynx of musicians [using pipe instruments] through coordination of â€Å"psycho-physical† functions (Sweeney, 2007).In addition, the functional â€Å"psycho-physical† coordination invokes the prowess of the performer with a sudden â€Å"gush† of esteem and self-confidence that conveys the good physical posture and perfect vocalization (Sweeney, 2007). Conclusion Natural cure is indigenous and partly an evolutionary medicine that complements the continuous development of medical sciences. Indeed, what has been quoted by Menander (342-291 B. C.), that â€Å"health and intellect are the two blessings of life†, has been proven by the theory and practice of Frederick Matthias Alexander. The Alexander Technique is a natural therapy that must impart furtherance of developmental studies as a restorative healing method that adheres to preventive medicine. The medicinal value indicates the benefits, usefulness, and cost efficiency. However, the practice of the Alexander Technique may only be limited and relevant to occupational work of renowned expertise.The practice of Alexander Technique could be more beneficial, appropriate, and therapeutic when valued at the large-scale advocacy of treatment. Over the years, the accompanying development of medical science has brought in trial and error of scientific exploits. The medical malpractice in diagnostic and hospitalized treatment still occurs around the world, although the incidents are few and not alarming. The paranoia may not only be a post-surgical trauma but a social stigma. Practically, no one wants to be hospitalized.This mainly due to the large costs of hospitalization, scarcity to healthcare benefits or medical welfare (specifically in p oor countries), the surging prices of medicines, and the anxiety to medical treatment or â€Å"medical phobia†. It can be then deduced that various forms of natural healing, like Alexander Technique, could be rationalized into a broader social perspective as a preventive alternative medicine rather than always resorting to hospital cure. References Brody, J. (1990). ‘Personal Health’. New York Times electronic magazine.Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9C0CE0DB1031F932A15755C0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Brockbank, N. (2007). ‘What did Alexander Discover – And why is it Important? ’ . Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www. alexandertechnique. com/articles2/brockbank/. Hyman, M. A. (2008). ‘Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine’. InnoVision Issue Vol. 14, No. 3. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www. alternative-therapies-digital. com/alternative-therapies/20070506/?sub_id =DLuKONBMDWMwD. Rickover, R. (2007). ‘Life Bridge Coaching’. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www. lifebridgecoach. com/lbcmain. htm. Sweeney, H. A. (2007). ‘Applying Ergonomic principles in the Workplace: How the Alexander Technique can help’. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www. alexandertechnique. com/ergonomics. htm. The Complete Guide to Alexander Technique (2008). Electronic Journal of the Institute of Alexander Technique in Nebraska and Toronto. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http://www. alexandertechnique. com/.

Free Essays on Terroris, What America Is Doing

Americans are used to be oblivious to the fact that there are some people in the world that just can’t get over the fact that they hate others. Israel has been constantly attacked by a group that calls themselves the Palestinians for over 20 years (Corbin). Suicide bombers would terrorize the people of Israel for that last 15 years and no one in America could ever feel the pain the Israelis did suffer. Terrorist was an untouchable word in American society. ‘It won’t happen to us,’ was the mindset that most people had. Not one American was openly scared of chemical nuclear or biological warfare. ‘That is on their soil, the Middle East is too far from me.’ Ignorance was bliss false security was comfortable to the average American. As long as McDonalds was open and they could drive a gas guzzling car, the average American was a happy person. Well some people are mad because they do not like our fattening and unhealthy fast food chains and the gas there the Americans are so used to using run of their oil. This is what sparked a flame in one mans mind to have the united states attacked for their constant domination of their country. So, on September 11th there was a strike on American causing over 3600 people to die (Corbin). Americans clime innocence bit that is not what the radical groups see. Now terrorism is on the mind of every one in America and The American government is combating it head on. What exactly is terrorism anyway and how does America plan o attacking the problem? There seems to bee more then one problem and more then one way to attack it. Part of the job of the elected officials in America is to decide who is a threat and how they will be dealt with. Before any answer can be reach one thing had to be done in the fight agent terrorism. That is what exactly is terrorism and how do we measure the severity of the terrorist acts. There is not just one type of terrorism, there are several, none of witch really fal... Free Essays on Terroris, What America Is Doing Free Essays on Terroris, What America Is Doing Americans are used to be oblivious to the fact that there are some people in the world that just can’t get over the fact that they hate others. Israel has been constantly attacked by a group that calls themselves the Palestinians for over 20 years (Corbin). Suicide bombers would terrorize the people of Israel for that last 15 years and no one in America could ever feel the pain the Israelis did suffer. Terrorist was an untouchable word in American society. ‘It won’t happen to us,’ was the mindset that most people had. Not one American was openly scared of chemical nuclear or biological warfare. ‘That is on their soil, the Middle East is too far from me.’ Ignorance was bliss false security was comfortable to the average American. As long as McDonalds was open and they could drive a gas guzzling car, the average American was a happy person. Well some people are mad because they do not like our fattening and unhealthy fast food chains and the gas there the Americans are so used to using run of their oil. This is what sparked a flame in one mans mind to have the united states attacked for their constant domination of their country. So, on September 11th there was a strike on American causing over 3600 people to die (Corbin). Americans clime innocence bit that is not what the radical groups see. Now terrorism is on the mind of every one in America and The American government is combating it head on. What exactly is terrorism anyway and how does America plan o attacking the problem? There seems to bee more then one problem and more then one way to attack it. Part of the job of the elected officials in America is to decide who is a threat and how they will be dealt with. Before any answer can be reach one thing had to be done in the fight agent terrorism. That is what exactly is terrorism and how do we measure the severity of the terrorist acts. There is not just one type of terrorism, there are several, none of witch really fal...

Personal development record Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Personal development record - Coursework Example environment issues incorporated in the module presented not only the responsibilities of an engineer but that the profession has great influence in several areas in the society. The site visit and guest talk added value and made the profession a real life experience. The aims and objectives of the module were well presented in the consecutive lectures. All lectures were relevant to the module towards molding of civil engineers. Lack of procurement case studies that assist in critical thinking of real life situations made the lecture slightly difficult to understand. Some lectures presented in power point slides like the Guest lecture required that they be availed to students with more emphasis on assignments to aid student be critical thinkers. The learning approaches used in the module were classroom lectures, guest talk, site visit, and group discussions. The classroom lectures were vivid and relevant to the topics of study. Through the guest talk and site visit, issues of concern in construction practice were well understood. Acquiring professional accreditation from engineering bodies such as The Institution of Structural Engineers, The Institution of Highway & Transportation, ICE, and Joint Board of Moderators among others at no cost. Professional attributes cover engineering knowledge, application, management and leadership, independent judgement, commercial ability, health safety and welfare and sustainable development. The module was well presented although interfered with reticence of individuals. At the same time, research and writing of own notes makes one get a better understanding of the subject. A career talk can be organized for the future classes, conducted with professional engineers from engineering institutions and companies. This will motivate the learner to have vision for the career. Visits incorporated in the module enhances better understanding of the module The lecture enabled me learn that a procurement route is a way of making sure

Islam Religion Field Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Islam Religion Field - Research Paper Example It is partially due to the very reality that faith in the Supreme Being is in the basic human instinct, which could not be denied or ignored altogether. â€Å"The critical difference between a religious and non-religious person is the acceptance of the transcendent, or otherworldliness, as the first reality. The transcendent provides a vehicle for meaning outside life itself and because, to the religious person, it has ontological primacy over the material world it provides a solid grounding.† (Prevos, 2005:3) Hence, religion gives meaning to human life, by making people oriented with the morality, ethics, values and systematic patterns of acting, reacting and behaving while entering into interaction with the social and natural environment. Thousands of religious belief systems exist on the face of the mother-earth, which maintain several similarities and differences from one another in nature, scope and teachings. In the long list of countless beliefs, Abrahamic faiths, inclu ding Judaism, Christianity and Islam, are quite distinguishing ones from the rest, and seek inspiration from one and the same light. Not only this that the Holy Scriptures of these three faiths narrate the same tales, but also all the three share one and the same mythology including the Oneness of God, existence of the holy prophets, angels, heaven and hell, Day of Resurrection and life after death., and reward and punishment on the concrete foundations of the deeds and misdeeds performed and committed respectively during their stay on earth as mortals. Although the Abrahamic religions are similar to one another in different ways, the followers of these faiths abhor each other and observe serious reservations on the basis of the misconceptions they have developed for one another without conducting any in-depth research on the philosophy and doctrine of purported rival faiths. It is therefore all the three Abrahamic faiths appear to be at daggers drawn against one another, where slig htest space of displaying tolerance towards one another has turned out to be a dream particularly during the contemporary times. The same was the situation with me, as being the true follower of the Christian faith, I viewed Islam as the religion consisted of extremists and fundamentalists, which condemned and censured people’s mixing up with the Jews and Christians as well as developing cordial social and corporate relationships with them at any cost. I also view the Muslims as hard-hearted nation, which looks down upon the others by declaring them pagans, atheists and infidels. Keeping in mind all these reservations, I decided to attend a religious gathering arranged and organized by the Muslims for some spiritual and moral purpose, so that I could have personal experience of the teachings and behavior adopted and observed by the Muslims. Though I had developed the very idea that interviewing some religious person at an Islamic center might bring some alteration in my estab lished onion about the Muslims, yet attending of the gathering brought revolutionary changes in my views about the community I had maintained serious reservations in past, and I returned from there carrying new image about Islam and Muslims at large. Last week I visited a mosque, situated in my city during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month according to the Islamic calendar. The month is reserved for fasting, and the Muslims keep fast the entire month from dawn to the sunset. However, the Shiite Muslims break their fast after ten minutes of sunset, as they argue that the sunset completes after seven to ten minutes of the apparent disappearance of the sun. Somehow,