9 Steps for Displaying a Living Christmas Tree

9 Steps for Displaying a Living Christmas Tree Some people  really hate to buy a tree only to turn around and throw it away. You may be one of them.  Displaying a potted  living Christmas tree  can perk up the season and can provide a tree for your yard or landscape a few days after the holiday, to commemorate an extra-special season.  A containerized Colorado blue spruce  is especially good for preserving if you live in an area where it thrives. Your local nursery can advise you on the type to purchase for your landscape. It  is not hard to keep a potted tree alive long enough to  plant,  but you need to be careful in following these recommendations exactly to improve the  trees survival chances. For one, it can be inside  only  from four to  10  days. You also need to expect to give the tree several days of your attention before and after bringing  it  inside.   Advance Prep Local nurseries will have potential conifers that can be purchased several months in advance for delivery near Christmas.  If you live in a climate where the ground  freezes, you  need to dig  a planting hole during moderate temperatures because the tree needs to be planted shortly after Christmas. No matter the climate, youll want to know where the tree will go to  ensure that it will thrive  (with the proper soil, sun, etc.). Caring for a Living Christmas Tree Your tree will come in a container with soil or as a bare-root tree that is  balled in burlap (b-n-b). If its a b-n-b tree, youll need mulch and a bucket to bring it indoors.  But first, you start in the garage. Gradually  over time, introduce your living tree from outside to inside. Take three or four days using the garage or enclosed porch for acclimatization. A tree that is dormant and exposed to immediate warmth will start to grow. You want to avoid any quick resumption of growth.  Youll also need to reverse the acclimation process exactly to plant the tree after the holiday  celebration.While the tree is on your porch or garage, check for insects and insect egg masses.Visit your nearest lawn and garden supply store and purchase a spray with an anti-desiccant or anti-wilt chemical to minimize needle loss. Use it while the tree is in the garage. This particular product also prevents  the loss of valuable moisture  for the tree coming into a climate-controlled home.  When finally taking the tree inside, locate your tree in the coolest part of the room and away from heat ducts, to keep the tree moist.Place the tree in its container in a large galvanized tub or a comparable item, keeping the  root ball  intact. Stabilize the tree in the tub in a straight and vertical position using rocks or bricks.  This tub confines water and needles into a more manageable and cleanable space. It will also contain any mess you might have and limit problems associated with a live tree inside the home.   If it is a b-n-b tree, place it in a smaller container inside the tub, if it doesnt fit the tub snugly. Fill any empty space around and on top of the root ball with mulch to retain as much moisture as possible.  Water your tree in its container directly as often as necessary to moisten the roots, but do not get them soggy. Never overwater beyond moist.Leave your tree inside no longer than seven to 10 days (some experts suggest only four days). Never add nutrients or fertilizers, as they may initiate growth, which you dont want to occur in a dormant tree.Carefully introduce tree back outside using the reverse procedure of keeping it in your garage for a few days, and then plant it in the ground.

How Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Works

How Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Works In the quest for ever-improving fuel efficiency and emissions reduction, an old and very promising idea has found new life. HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) technology has been around for a long time but has recently received renewed attention and enthusiasm. While the early years saw many insurmountable (at the time) obstacles whose answers would only come as sophisticated computer controlled electronics were developed and matured into reliable technologies, progress stalled. Time has, as it always does, worked its magic and nearly every problem has been solved. HCCI is an idea whose time has come with nearly all of the parts and pieces of technology and know-how in place to make a real go of it. What is HCCI? An HCCI engine is a mix of both conventional spark-ignition and diesel compression ignition technology. The blending of these two designs offers diesel-like high efficiency without the difficult- and expensive- to deal with NOx and particulate matter emissions. In its most basic form, it simply means that fuel (gasoline or E85) is homogeneously (thoroughly and completely) mixed with air in the combustion chamber (very similar to a regular spark-ignited gasoline engine), but with a very high proportion of air to fuel (lean mixture). As the engines piston reaches its highest point (top dead center) on the compression stroke, the air/fuel mixture auto-ignites (spontaneously and completely combusts with no spark plug assist) from compression heat, much like a diesel engine. The result is the best of both worlds: low fuel usage and low emissions. How Does HCCI Work? In an HCCI engine (which is based on the four-stroke Otto cycle), fuel delivery control is of paramount importance in controlling the combustion process. On the intake stroke, fuel is injected into each cylinders combustion chamber via fuel injectors mounted directly in the cylinder head. This is achieved independently from air induction which takes place through the intake plenum. By the end of the intake stroke, fuel and air have been fully introduced and mixed in the cylinders combustion chamber. As the piston begins to move back up during the compression stroke, heat begins to build in the combustion chamber. When the piston reaches the end of this stroke, sufficient heat has accumulated to cause the fuel/air mixture to spontaneously combust (no spark is necessary) and force the piston down for the power stroke. Unlike conventional spark engines (and even diesels), the combustion process is a lean, low temperature and flameless release of energy across the entire combustion chamber. The entire fuel mixture is burned simultaneously producing equivalent power, but using much less fuel and releasing far fewer emissions in the process. At the end of the power stroke, the piston reverses direction again and initiates the exhaust stroke, but before all of the exhaust gases can be evacuated, the exhaust valves close early, trapping some of the latent combustion heat. This heat is preserved, and a small quantity of fuel is injected into the combustion chamber for a pre-charge (to help control combustion temperatures and emissions) before the next intake stroke begins. Challenges for HCCI An ongoing developmental problem with HCCI engines is controlling the combustion process. In traditional spark engines, combustion timing is easily adjusted by the engine management control module changing the spark event and perhaps fuel delivery. Its not nearly so easy with HCCIs flameless combustion. Combustion chamber temperature and mixture composition must be tightly controlled within quickly changing and very narrow thresholds that include parameters such as cylinder pressure, engine load and RPMs and throttle position, ambient air temperature extremes and atmospheric pressure changes. Most of these conditions are compensated for with sensors and automatic adjustments to otherwise normally fixed actions. Included are individual cylinder pressure sensors, variable hydraulic valve lift and electromechanical phasers for camshaft timing. The trick isnt so much as getting these systems to work as it is getting them to work together, very quickly, and over many thousands of miles an d years of wear and tear. Perhaps just as challenging though will be the problem of keeping these advanced control systems affordable. Advantages of HCCI Lean combustion returns 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency over a conventional spark ignition engine.Cleaner combustion and lower emissions (especially NOx) than a conventional spark ignition engine.Compatible with gasoline as well as E85 (ethanol) fuel.Fuel is burned quicker and at lower temperatures, reducing heat energy loss compared to a conventional spark engine.Throttleless induction system eliminates frictional pumping losses incurred in traditional (throttle body) spark engines. Disadvantages of HCCI High cylinder pressures require stronger (and more expensive) engine construction.More limited power range than a conventional spark engine.The many phases of combustion characteristics are difficult (and more expensive) to control. It is clear that HCCI technology offers superior fuel efficiency and emissions control compared to the conventional tried-and-true spark ignition gasoline engine. Whats not-so-certain yet is the ability of these engines to deliver these characteristics inexpensively, and, probably more importantly, reliably over the life of the vehicle. Continued advancements in electronic controls have brought HCCI to the precipice of workable reality, and further refinements will be necessary to push it over the edge into everyday production vehicles.

The New Deal - Critical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The New Deal - Critical Analysis - Essay Example Roosevelt’s address was then followed by that of Hoover’s in 1936 that was more or less an overt display of animosity between the republicans and democrats but it also contained significant details regarding the New Deal. As promised by Roosevelt, the New Deal was meant to steer the American economy out of recession but naturally, the entire conservative faction opposed it, as it infringed upon the inalienable constitutional right of the people that there right to liberty. Despite the pressing issue of recession at hand, the speeches seemed more or less like a duel between the Democratic and Republican ideology, perhaps in this regard Hoover generated a much more aggressive response. Hoover compared the government under Roosevelt and the ‘New Deal’ as the European movement at that time; an oppressive regime that shackled the American citizens and was also deemed worse than the bondage of Egyptian. (p. 182) Such extreme analogies clearly gives an unbiased re ader or listener the idea that it was meant to undermine the support Roosevelt had garnered over the years and would definitely overshadow the positive sides of the New Deal, if there were any. Reading Roosevelt’s speech, getting the government involved in the regulation of economy not only has its advantage but as Hoover saw it, this created a greater barrier because corruption and lack of checking on government can cause them to use the wealth for their own benefits. However, in this regard Hoover’s reign was marred by such unethical practices as pointed out by Roosevelt. However, this only affirmed the aforementioned point that both speeches were like onslaught on both parties rather than actually suggestions for reforms to help the nation out of the recession spiral. An interesting aspect of Hoover’s speech that was ostensible even with a quick perusal was that his ideology and propositions largely rested upon abstract views, which held its appeal vastly amo ngst the population that was driven by its idealistic sensibilities. As further highlighted by Huey Long in his 1935 address, Hoover’s abstract thoughts and even more abstract plans to help the American society was exactly why Roosevelt won support and eventually assumed the responsibility of the state. Long stated, â€Å"It is not out of place for me to say that the support which I brought to Mr. Roosevelt to secure his nomination and election as president - and without which it was hardly probable that he would ever have been nominated – was on the assurances which I had that he would take the proper stand for the redistribution of wealth in the campaign.† (p. 175) On the other hand, Herbert Hoover just made vague allusions to an ideal American society unlike, Roosevelt’s firm assurances and promises to adopt the right steps in order to redistribute wealth. Long’s speech actually provides the views of an individual who at first backed Rooseveltâ €™s election but later on opposed some of the shortcomings of his New Deal that hardly had any impact on the current problems that deepened the crisis stemming from the unfair distribution of wealth, therefore it provides an interesting perspective not only on Roosevelt’s policy but sheds great light on the standard of living of the American citizens. Therefore, Long’

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice - Essay Example The case was categorized as a second degree murder because Mary Barnett was charged with intentional murder without premeditation. I have been asked to be on the jury to review the testimony and claims of the defendant, prosecution, and witnesses, and to come up with a fair verdict. Caroline Hospers’ statement clearly indicates that Mary Barnett was addicted to liquor products, and she could never carry out the duties and responsibilities of a good mother. In other words, Barnett had been following a bad lifestyle mainly because she lived without a husband. Hospers’ argument that Barnett went to visit her fiancà © ‘just to party and have a good time’ with him cannot be taken into account because it is Hospers’ personal view only (Chaffee para 4). Perhaps, Barnett and Caroline might not be in good terms, and therefore Hospers’ observation that ‘the baby was not taken care of properly’ should not be considered in order to support prosecution arguments (Chaffee para 4). Officer Mitchell tells that Barnett intentionally left her baby to get to California in time and she was aware that she would not be back for a while. Referring to Barnett’s initial responses, Mitchell asserts that Barnett was really informed of what she was going to do when she planned to leave the baby unattended in the apartment. Taking care of the baby was not the first priority of Barnett because she was extremely excited to visit her fiancà © at that time. Although Barnett had tried to arrange a babysitter for Alison, she could not find one, and therefore she just decided to leave her baby in the apartment for a few days. While analyzing the view of Dr. Parker, a professional psychiatrist, the defendant is competent to stand the trail on the charges she was accused of because Barnett developed depression and anxiety problems only after the shocking death of her daughter. According to Dr. Parker, Barnett â€Å"was mentally competent on

Essay Example for Free

Essay The objective of this paper is to compare the major players in the beverage/soft drink industry, Pepsi Co. Coca Cola Co. This paper will give you sound information on which company to invest in as well as taking a deeper look at both companies over all. My analysis will be made based on the company’s income statements, horizontal, vertical analysis, balances sheets and financial statement ratios. This along with other information should give you a clear picture of which company is the best company to invest in. Researching this analysis is needed find the soundest corporation for investment. Out of the myriad of sodas, Coca Cola and PepsiCo. are the most recognized name and the most known rivalry in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola owns the somewhat disputed title as being the best cola brand worldwide. Some on the other hand know PepsiCo as the rival brand because Coca Cola has had such great marketing and advertising. In 2004, PepsiCo achieved marginally growth rate in net profit and sales, where Coca Cola has maintained profit margin. The PepsiCo. presented lower short-term liquidity risk to investors compared to Coca Cola. Coca Cola and PepsiCo. There was low long-term solvency risk with PepsiCo’s risk being marginally greater than Coca Cola’s. PepsiCo’s overall asset in my opinion was more proficient than Coca Cola. These and other companies help investor confidence and market share with their sales margins. PepsiCo stock is dividend-generating stock, but Coca Co la has had a higher yield and payout. Coca Cola has had a superior profit margin and dividends are lucrative to investors in this industry but PepsiCo’s diversification, low short-term liquidity risk, low long- term solvency risk, make it a proficient asset application for PepsiCo stock look like a better investment. The competition between these two soda giants is strong. Having said that, there is still a point where price is not the issue but taste. Some people swear by the taste in this loyal brand market. These two corporations have concentrated on cultivating brand management through applicable advertising, marketing campaigns. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, â€Å"Coca-Cola remains the best globally recognized brand across all industries for ages, while PepsiCo’s brand ranked number 26 in year 2008.† PepsiCo has been able differentiate itself from competitors by tapping into other markets like chips and healthy alternative foods. While PepsiCo is known for their soda, their expansion is clear in showing there is a need for other things being non-soda. The time for vitality comes with diversification because there are true signs of a shift in consumption. The decrease in soda consumption raises PepsiCo. has positioned it to continue to remain profitable for its shareholde rs. The income statement of PepsiCo’s COS to sales percentage slightly rose from 43.31% in year 2004. Coca-Cola’s five-year average COS to sales percentage was only 35.26%, much lower than PepsiCo. Coca Cola was able to achieve a higher gross profit margin with lower COS to sales percentage. PepsiCo is the consequence of its tougher pricing structure. â€Å"PepsiCo arguably has the most diverse set of distribution systems of any consumer product company, including direct store delivery (DSD) at Frito-Lay and our bottling partners, warehouse delivery for Quaker products, and warehouse delivery and chilled DSD at Tropicana. The reach and scale of these systems provide considerable cost efficiency and system effectiveness in driving value. Our systems deliver product freshness and quality for the consumer; generate cash flow for our retail customers, and pro- vide economic value for PepsiCo. Our products respond very well to merchandising, and need to be replenished ofte n because they sell so quickly. By having our DSD associates deliver products and stock the shelves themselves, we save retailers money by doing this labor for them, and help make sure our products are fresh, available and displayed to our advantage.† http://www.pepsico.com/Download/2004-Annual-English.pdf According to the Business Insider, Coca Cola has 42% of the market share while Pepsi Co. has 31%. The annual revenue for two companies is $35.2 billion and $57.8 billion respectively. Coca Cola spending roughly $2 billion on advertising while their rival spend around $1.1 billion. http://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-vs-pepsi-timeline-2013-1?op=1 â€Å"PepsiCo is the largest food-and-beverage company in the United States, and the second-largest in the world, after Nestlà ©. If PepsiCo were a country, the size of its economy—sixty billion dollars in revenues in 2010—would put it sixty-sixth in gross national product, between Ecuador and Croatia. Many studies point to the ubiquity of high-calorie, low-cost processed foods and drinks as one of the major drivers of this condition. Snacks, in particular, play a role in childhood obesity, which is growing even faster than obesity in adults. Americans consume about fifty gallons of soda a year, more than four times the a verage per-capita consumption sixty years ago. Americans also ingest about thirty-four hundred milligrams of sodium per day, twice the recommended amount; sodium has long been linked to high blood pressure. almost half of PepsiCo’s business is overseas (thirty per cent of it in developing countries), foreign markets eventually tend to follow U.S. trends. The markets of the future may well be in â€Å"packaged nutrition†Ã¢â‚¬â€in enriched products like PepsiCo’s SoBe Lifewater, which contains vitamins, and in its pricey Naked line of fruit juices and smoothies, which contain antioxidants. Another growing category is â€Å"functional† foods and beverages, like varieties of the sports drink Gatorade, which PepsiCo markets for specific physiological or metabolic attributes. (Thanks to Gatorade’s new â€Å"fit series,† you can drink G1 Prime before you work out, G2 Perform during your workout, and G3 Recover when you’re cooling down.† http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/16/110516fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=2 The above quote taken from the New Yorker shows that diversity in such a highly competitive beverage market, diversity is needed. Coke depends on the consumption of their product. That is still their main source of revenue for the company. It could be said that maybe PepsiCo is too diverse. I would say I see this as an example of ensuring a proper return to the investor and keeping the integrity of the company. PepsiCo displayed advanced long-term affluence risk due to its higher debt to equity ratio of 1.24 and higher long-term debt to equity ratio of 0.68 on average, compared to Coca-Cola’s 0.90 and 0.29. The soda industry is wide and there are always new players but PepsiCo has managed its debt obligations more so than Coca-Cola by the measure of times interest earned ratio. PepsiCo had a better average return on common equity of 33.92% than Coca-Cola’s 30.29%, whereas both companies had similar return on assets with Coca-Cola’s 16.54% average only being slightly better. PepsiCo and Coca Cola are the leaders in the caramel color soda market. There earning regardless of the company you select show the investor that their staying power is evident. References Books Brigham, E, F, Erhhardth, M, C (2005). Financial Management Theory and Practice. Eleventh Edition. South Western Publishers Thomas, A, (2002). Introduction to Financial Accounting. Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill. Websites Kulawik, A (2009), The development of Coca Cola Advertising Campaigns, retrieved on November 29th, 2010 from, http://images.nexto.pl/upload/publisher/All%20Free%20Media/public/the_development_of_coca-cola_advertising_campaigns_(1886-2007)_demo.pdf Andrew (2002), A brief Pepsi History retrieved on November 29th 2010 from, Day, J (2008), Theme: Analyzing Financial Statements, retrieved on 30th November 2010 from Gattis ,C,G.(2009).Using Financial Ratios http://bluepointstrategies.com/uploads/White_Paper_-_Using_Financial_Ratios.pdf [30th November 2010]

The Controversy Over Internet Censorship Essay example -- Television M

The Controversy Over Internet Censorship   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For many people, using the Internet has become practically a new way of life, especially for college students and the like.   Various types of information can be accessed at the touch of a button: anything from encyclopedias, to surveys and essays, to articles from magazines, and adult sites.   Anyone who pays for their Internet service is usually offered space for his or her own web page, and even many free services provide space for personal web pages.   All of this available space can be used for any number of reasons: posting newsletters for community groups, advertising for businesses, or just voicing one’s opinion.   For those of us who know how to use this information, or at least how to find what we need out of it, it’s a very good thing. But what about children?   If adults can access this information with such ease, what’s stopping kids from checking it out too?   Who decides what’s appropriate for kids and whatâ€⠄¢s not when their parents aren’t constantly leaning over their shoulders?   And what about posting things that may be offensive to other people, no matter what age they might be?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With easy access to the Internet and the multitude of Internet services providing all this free web space, many people decide to take advantage.   A person may have a very strong opinion about a subject and feel the need to voice that opinion on a personal web site, whether it is for the purpose of talking about his or her self, or informing others of a particular issue.   What happens when it’s an opinion that some think is funny, yet others find hurtful and offensive?   Can sites like this be censored in order not to offend people?   But what about the people who find it amusing?   Isn’t t... ...hould take in to consideration the thoughts and feelings of others who may be offended, and should also be aware of the influence their information can have on children and others.  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works Cited Legislation to Repeal the Internet Censorship Provisions of the Communications Decency Act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Electronic Privacy Information Center.   19 Jan. 1997. Is There a Right to Speech that Advocates Illegal Acts or Violence?   Electronic Frontier  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Foundation.   Racist Speech on College Campuses.   Electronic Frontier Foundation.   Marriott, Michel.   "Rising Tide: Sites Born of Hate."   New York Times.   18 Mar 1999.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     

Phidias & Associates Essay

In the best interest of the productivity and success of Phidias & Associates, I’d like to suggest the adoption of a corporate strategy already in use by NASA and other leading countries across the world. Corporate napping is an exceptionally cost-effective and efficient way to improve the accuracy, alertness, and speed of workers by as much as 34%. The conversion of Phidias & Associates to a nap friendly zone would enhance the experience of around 92% of employees. Immediate improvements in energy, creativity, problem-solving, and job satisfaction would be in the bright future of this company. The first step to realizing the reality of this advancement is the addition of a nap room to the offices of Phidias & Associates. What other room in our building can offer such impressive gains for our country? A nap room doesn’t need to be elaborate. Many companies utilize a sound proof room, several couches, and a dimmer switch to provide a place for employees to recharge and renew. Rather than rearranging the office space, I’ve discovered an even easier alternative for the company to immediately begin reaping the benefits of corporate napping. The company MetroNaps rents and sells individualized EnergyPods to high-paced future-thinking organizations like Phidias & Associates. For only $12,485, we could purchase an EnergyPod. There’s also the option to rent EnergyPods for only $10/per employee/per month. A productivity boom is only a small investment away! In addition to a place to nap, our employees will require one other change to fully embrace this advancement. In America, a strong negative stigma surrounds the concept of napping in the workforce. This judgment is holding back our country’s and company’s potential for success. Other countries, like Japan, and some of our own country’s top leaders, like Thomas Edison and John Kennedy, utilized napping for its purpose-the restore energy. A few brief informative meetings and distribution of educational materials could change the mindset of Phidias & Associates to view napping as a tool for our company’s growth. Ten and twenty years ago, large and successful companies modernized their facilities by adding fitness centers. Realizing that physical and mental health extends beyond the benefits of exercise, corporate napping is what’s missing from our organization. By becoming a leader in the industry, we can harness the secret gains of this largely unknown trick to boosting productivity. Nap rooms benefit the executives, the employees, and the advancement of Phidias & Associates. Please consider the lofty paybacks of installing a nap room and e-mail me your reply.

English Rhetoric Essay

I find it really rewarding to be in the medical practice. Choosing to care for patients, for people who are unable to take care of themselves or lack the knowledge on how to get over their own sickness is something that nurses can be proud of. To care for someone you don’t even know is a profession that is suppose to encourage people to join in medical profession. To ease the pain of cancer patients should serve as an incentive for nurses to help them combat such disease. However, in the 1report released by the America’s AIDS Commission, nursing shortfall points to the state’s funding failure. The report is trying to point out that there has been financial deficiency in nursing education which is the reason why the state is somehow hard up in combating the AIDS epidemic. The report which says’ â€Å"federal funding for nursing education has remained constant instead of increasing†, and â€Å"financial aid for nursing education is a patchwork for scholarships†¦Ã¢â‚¬  seem to be less reliable. There were no data to support the statement. There were no survey results, no research and study figures to prove that the state’s funding failure is the main reason for the continuing decline of the supply of nurses. The report failed to look into the other reasons for the shortfall-cultural and social issues could be reasons. It could be that the younger generation of America is more interested in careers related to finance and marketing. It could be that the entertainment and tourism industry has better advertising technique in encouraging students to be part of the profession. Yes, financial concerns could have been a factor but to prove it right, there should be figures to support the argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With regards to the nurses’ knowledge and skills on the care for AIDS patients, the same article, â€Å"AIDS Update†, points to the need of nurses of 2â€Å"continued updating about the disease.† The report made its point-adequate information and continued education about AIDS. It is just that the recommendations seem to be redundant to get to the main point. The first recommendation says â€Å"the health care community mount a coordinated effort to ensure that all its members are adequately informed about AIDS†. The other recommendations call for the health care providers, professional organizations, hospitals and other health care facilities and nursing organizations. If the reader has to analyze the statements, they could be sum up into the first recommendation, thus seemingly made one recommendation. If the author is trying to point out there are many ways as solutions to what they call â€Å"knowledge gap†, I found only one base on my analysis on the article.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the article entitled â€Å"Patient Teaching: Food Safety Tips†, a July issue of the Nursing Journal, I found a simple yet practical food safety tips for AIDS Patients. The tips are presented on the nurses’ perspective but point to the do-it-yourself instructions for patients. Instructional materials must as clear and concise as this one. The patients themselves can understand and follow the instructions with the nurse’ minimal supervision. This way, the AIDS patients are encouraged to care for themselves. Their morale and self-esteem could at least be lifted because they will realize that they can do something to fight against their disease. They could at least prove that they are not that of much burden to their nurses since there are things that they can do for themselves. What was so striking in this article is that the author has paid attention to the anticipated questions of the reader. The use of the if–and-then sentences has been used to answer such anticipated questions. The use of the word â€Å"should† on every instruction was so important to denote that such action is required. It also means that the instructions offer no alternatives to it. Also, that it must be followed to the least detail, no more no less.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   AIDS patients and HIV positive individuals deserve care not only by their nurses and doctors but also from the community. In fact, they need extra care because of their special conditions. They are prone to emotional distress, frustrations and self-pity. They are more likely to be loners and hesitate to associate themselves with others. These are the reasons why they need support from the people around them. This is the only way they can have the courage to go on with their lives. It helps when someone in the group of these patients go out into the world to campaign for support and to disseminate information about the disease. It matters to people that facts would come from someone who have experienced or is experiencing the same disease. If a well-known or respected individual speaks of AIDS, he could somehow catch attention and his testimony could somehow be credible to people. When Earvin Johnson decided to be part of this campaign, there arouse certain level of energy from the victims. Solomon Herbert said, 3â€Å"Johnson opted to retire from basketball†¦and decided to use this opportunity to help others rather than maintain a low profile about his condition.† Whether we like it or not, it is not common to person to strive for something without inspiration. It is but common to look up to somebody for role model, for inspiration. Johnson has won the hearts of many, not only the AIDS victims but also the possible victims-the younger generation. â€Å"I decided to do the book because education-especially for young people is our best weapon in the battle against AIDS† (Johnson). Helping is a matter of giving time and inspiration for the victims. Money doesn’t matter much, rather emotional investment is of much importance the way Johnson and the other did. Caring for AIDS victim doesn’t have to be in way that someone should not be in a way that they will feel that you pity them. Caring, like Johnson did, has to focus more on time. Like Johnson, investment has to be on emotional aspect, not on financial. Like Johnson who has shared his talents, his energy and love for others, AIDS victims and non-victims must have the spirit of sharing. It pays to invest more on love for others rather than for material investments for yourself because it investing on love is more profitable. Like Johnson, people have loved him not merely because of basketball but because of the heart he has for the young ones and the people, who like him is an AIDS victim. REFERENCES Herbert, Solomon J., Magic Johnson: He’s Got Heart, Black Collegian Sep/Oct92 Vol.23 Issue 1, page84, 5p, 2c A.I.D.S Update, More Nurses Needed, Says the President’s A.I.D.S. Commission, Nursing88, May Issue, pages 30-31 A.I.D.S. Update, Patient Teaching: Food Safety Tips, Nursing93, July issue, page 22

Ikrandraco - Facts and Figures

Ikrandraco - Facts and Figures Name Ikdrandraco (Ikran dragon, after the flying creatures from Avatar); pronounced EE-krahn-DRAY-coe Habitat Rivers and lakes of Asia Historical Period Early Cretaceous (120 million years ago) Size and Weight About 30 inches long and a few pounds Diet Fish Distinguishing Characteristics Moderate size; distinctive bill structure; possible throat patch for holding fish About Ikrandraco Ikrandraco is an odd choice to honor the Ikran, or mountain banshees, of Avatar: this early Cretaceous pterosaur was only about two and a half feet long and a few pounds, whereas the Ikran from the hit movie are majestic, horse-sized, flying creatures that the Navi ride into battle against their human antagonists. Once you get past its name, though, Ikrandraco avatar may have been a truly unique pterosaur: some paleontologists claim that it had a pouch on the underside of its distinctively shaped bill in which it stored recently caught fish, which would make it similar to the modern pelican. However, not everyone is convinced by this putative anatomical feature of Ikrandraco (made of soft tissue, a throat pouch would have no chance of surviving in the fossil record), nor by the hypothesis that this pterosaur skimmed over the surface of lakes and trapped wiggling prey in its submerged lower jaw. The fact is that it can be difficult to infer the everyday behavior of a 120-million-year-old reptile by analogy with modern birds, and the possibility remains that Ikrandraco fed in more conventional fashion, like other pterosaurs of the early Cretaceous period, simply diving into the water and swallowing its fill of fish.

Critical Success Factors (CSF) Analysis

Critical Success Factors (CSF) Analysis Critical Success Factors (CSF) analysis is one of the more difficult strategic management tools to understand, and is even harder to use effectively in real-world management. If properly applied, however, CSF analysis does provide a robust and very practical assessment for strategic planners and can be very effective. As with most management tools, CSF analysis is probably more effective when used together with another, complementary  tool such as SWOT or PEST analysis, because the best use of the CSF analysis is as  a tool for planning and exercising control techniques over processes, rather than as an environmental assessment tool. What Are Critical Success Factors If business and management researchers had an easy answer to that question, perhaps CSF analysis would not be such a challenge to learn to use well. In the most general sense, CSFs are the small number of activities that absolutely must be undertaken effectively for the company to have success. What those specific activities are is a source of confusion, because they are entirely dependent on the unique circumstances of the firm. That has not, however, stopped researchers from trying to develop a definitive, universal list of CSFs that can apply to any company. In a study done about five years ago (K.J. Fryer, J. Antony A. Douglas, â€Å"Critical success factors for continuous improvement in the public sector†, The TQM Magazine, vol. 19, no. 5, 2007), researchers reviewed 29 separate studies on CSFs and interviewed a number of organizations, and came up with a chart that tells us exactly nothing about which success factors are indeed â€Å"critical† (see Table 1): Table 1. CSFs and Their Importance Depending on Business Sector Success Factor Percentage of studies and businesses surveyed which defined the factor as â€Å"Critical,† by business sector: Mixed Sectors Manufacturing Service Public Sector Management commitment 100% 86% 100% 100% Training learning 67% 57% 100% 75% Supplier management 67% 43% 67% 50% Customer management 60% 57% 57% 50% Quality data measurement reporting 47% 14% 33% 50% Corporate quality culture 47% 57% 67% 50% Communication 27% 29% 0% 75% Teamwork 20% 29% 0% 50% Employee empowerment 73% 71% 67% 50% Process Management 47% 29% 33% 75% Organizational structure 47% 57% 100% 50% Product design 27% 29% 0% 25% Ongoing monitoring assessment 20% 14% 0% 50% The problem of choosing appropriate CSFs is immediately apparent; management commitment is an obvious choice, but it seems rather at odds with what we learn in management studies that a factor such as â€Å"Employee empowerment† would be fairly important to many different business sectors, while factors that should complement that – Communication and Teamwork – are not considered very important at all, and somewhat incredibly are apparently completely ignored by service-sector businesses. Wanna know more? Go here: Critical Analysis Writing SWOT Analysis Five Forces Analysis The ADL Matrix and Gap Analysis Buy a Great Paper Online But of course, this single example should be taken with a grain of salt; as they say, your results may vary, and if there is one valuable takeaway  from it, it is the suggestion of success factors that may be considered as a starting point, regardless if they are eventually found to be actually â€Å"critical† or not to a specific organization. It is also important to remember that CSFs are not fixed; they can and probably should change as the circumstances of the business change. For example, other studies have found that it is both common and relatively beneficial for firms facing financial or other crises to shift their CSFs to ones with more short-term effects and change the focus back to a more long-term perspective once the immediate difficulties are resolved. Developing Using the CSF Analysis The interesting thing about using the CSF analysis is that the process of determining what your organization’s critical success factors really are is essentially the whole point. Once the CSFs are identified, steps to see that they are managed properly can be developed using different tools or good old experience and imagination; in many instances, simply identifying what may be a critical success factor and carefully examining why it is indeed â€Å"critical† to the firm suggests the way in which it should be handled. While there are some data management and other analytical tools that can help in selecting CSFs – for example, DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) software applications – the majority of the process is good old-fashioned intuition and discussion. But there are a number of conventions that should be followed to give the selection and analysis process the best chance of success. First, CSFs should be assessed in a â€Å"top-down† fashion; the analysis is not one that is ideally-suited for ‘horizontal’ or ‘collaborative’ organizational structures. Success factors should be judged according to the relevance to the business as a whole, then individual business units or departments, then down to the individual level; if at some level the success factor is not â€Å"critical†, then it needs to be reassessed. The reason for this is that the number of CSFs should be kept to an absolute minimum. This prevents conflicts in objectives and processes and helps to prevent a dilution of effort among too many factors. Second, to avoid overlooking any factors that should be considered â€Å"critical†, potential CSFs should be assessed according to the â€Å"five sources of organizational success†, a methodology developed in the early 1980’s by MIT researcher John Rockart. Industry CSFs are conditions and operational circumstances that are common to firms within the same sector. Peer CSFs are critical success factors for one’s competitors; this obviously requires an accurate and detailed competitive analysis to be done as a prerequisite to the CSF analysis. Environmental CSFs are related to the firm’s political, economic, and market environment, and can be identified by  a method such as a PEST analysis. Temporal CSFs are success factors that are only important at particular times – such as in crisis situations as described earlier – and are most likely to change. And finally, Managerial CSFs are success factors relevant to the management of the fir m at different levels; identifying these may seem to run counter to the â€Å"top-down† process, but in reality actually helps to focus it by revealing internal conflicts in objectives.

Police Corruption, Misconduct, and Brutality Essay

Police Corruption, Misconduct, and Brutality - Essay Example The reason for this is associated with the fact that the nature of police work is a fertile ground for growth of corruption. Walker and Katz (2011) note that, police corruption is as old as policing itself and is not limited to the present day. His argument is supported by Sherman, who argued that police corruption has been in existence as long as have there been the police. Goldstein also cites that corruption is prevalent to policing and that the nature of police work is bound to force police officers to tempting bribes. The first police corruption was reported in 1970s in New York by Knapp Commission, from which two types of corrupt officers were identified. These include the grass-eaters and meat-eaters. It was observed that grass-eaters are very submissive and accepts any kind of bribe offered to them. Meat-eaters, on the other hand, are so aggressive and will always look out for opportunities to exploit for their own financial gains. However, research reveals that most corrupt officers in the US are grass-eaters. Some forms of police corruptions having been reported are those ripping off drug dealers or dealing drugs themselves. Others receive bribes to cover evidence while others have been convicted for covering their own acts of torture, brutality and murder (Dempsey and Forst, 2010). One case involving police corruption is that Joseph Miedzianowski, a former Chicago police officer who has entered the history books as one of the most corrupt corps in America’s history. During his 22 years of work as an officer in Chicago, Miedzianowski was accused of having planted guns and drugs on suspects, brutally tortured them with hot coat hanger and even hit them using lead-knuckled gloves, steeling their drugs, and other possessions. During his trial, he was also accused of fixing criminal cases against his gang members, and secured their release from prisons for sexual rendezvous with girl friends. He was also convicted of having assisted wanted criminal s flee the state, supplied guns, and ammunitions to gang members. The other count leveled against him in court was that he betrayed his workmates by undermining investigations of his gang members and telling them to burglarize the homes of corps’ and steel their guns (Lighty, 2003). Outcome of the case Despite initially denying the charges, Miedzianowski later confessed of having been guilty of the charges and was convicted for 10 counts including conspiracy, drug and racketeering in April 2001. The federal judge then sentenced him to life imprisonment (Lighty, 2003). My position regarding the outcome I agree with the charges handed to Miedzianowski. The reason being, investigations conducted proved beyond the reasonable doubt that the accused was involved in the alleged corruption and misconduct. Therefore, handing him life sentence was the best since it will make other police officers and citizens stop engaging in corruption, knowing very well that if convicted, they may al so be incarcerated for life. Police Misconduct in USA Police misconduct refers to illegal and improper actions on the part of the police officer. Police officers are expected to adhere to ethical principles set to them. In addition, police officers should be role models in showing exemplary behavior to the rest of society. Police officers should understand that they are not above the law; they can be prosecuted when they engage in improper behavior. In most cases, police conduct arises due to abuse of

Pacific Precision Financial Situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pacific Precision Financial Situation - Essay Example Pacific Precision's increasing NWC can be examined by looking at the components of this financial measure. Appendix 1 shows how this is computed for the years 2002-2004. What becomes apparent is the increase in days' sales outstanding and days' sales of inventory. The increase in days' sales outstanding indicates the inefficiency of the company in collecting its accounts receivable. Having its sales tied up in accounts receivable for a longer period means that it doesn't have adequate cash to cover its immediate obligations. Meanwhile, the increase in days' sales in inventory shows that Pacific Precision is not very efficient in moving its inventory into sales. This has negative implications-the company incurs holding cost of inventory and its current asset becomes bloated with less liquid resources. These two ratios simply imply that the company's inefficiency makes it less liquid and hindering it from paying its current creditors, and thus, a higher NWC. 2. 2. What is your assessment of Pacific Precision's profitability Keeping in mind that there are many ways to measure profitability (net income, ROS, ROE, ROA, EVA, etc.), what observations would you make about adequacy One of the ultimate measures of Pacific Precision's profitability is its computed return on equity (ROE). It should be noted that the main goal of a business organization is to maximize shareholder value which is, in turn, measured through the ROE. In order to gain an adequate assessment, the company's ROE must be benchmarked with the other players in the industry. Appendices 2 and 3 show the computed ROEs of Pacific Precision and its competitors from 2002-2004. It should be noted that Pacific Precision's ROE is in an uptrend during the period under consideration. During 2002, the company records a 12% ROE which mounts to 13.34% and 18.18% in 2003 and 2004, respectively. This becomes a good indication of the company's performance as it reflects its ability to enhance its profitability. However, in the benchmark analysis, it can be seen that the company is performing worse than its two competitors. In fact, Company #2 even manages to record an ROE of 20.7% during 2004. Even though Pacific Precision's profitability is improving, it should be noted that it lags behind other industry players. 3. It appears that Pacific is increasingly dependent on short-term debt. What is driving this use, and is it in your estimation a relatively minor or a serious issue for management Over the past years, Pacific Precision has been becoming overly dependent on short-term debt. One reason that the case states is the company's previous attraction to the low interest rates on yen short term loans. However, interest rates have increased making these short term debts escalates. The dependence on short term, debt can also be attributed to the company's inefficiency in managing its working capital. As stated