Does Zodiac Sign Matter - 988 Words

Does your Zodiac sign matter? A lot of people ask what astrology is and what the Zodiac signs are. They also ask whether they can trust what the zodiac signs say about them. Zodiac signs, horoscopes, or Astrology had been topics that created arguments between lots of people. A lot of people believe in zodiac signs and their descriptions about the people’s characteristics. Other people think believing in Zodiac signs is just like believing in superstitions. Believing is Astrology might not sound right, but according to a lot of things it also can be as much right as it might sound wrong. In order to actually know why zodiac signs matter, people first have to know what are the zodiac signs, what astrology is and what it means. People have to look out at Astrology from different perspectives; they have to look at it throughout history, science, and peoples’ observations. According to Cambridge University Dictionary, Astrology is â€Å"the study of the movements and positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars in the belief that they affect the character and lives of people.† Studying the stars, planets, moon, sun are some of the basic things students learn in schools. But when it comes to believing that these (sun, moon, planets, and stars) have or can effect on people’s lives and characters, yes it is hard to believe that. However if people actually take some time reading about their Zodiac signs or read about astrology, they will find out that some of the characteristics onShow MoreRelatedThe Zodiac Of A Zodiac1273 Words   |  6 Pages The zodiac calendar is an astrological theory that leads a path from the sun, moon, and planets creating a â€Å"belt† shape. This pathway follows around the earth into twelve sectors, each of which are associated with a sign, a symbol and a personality type. 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The strategic role of the Royal British Navy in the First World War Free Essays

string(34) " was saved by virtue of the navy\." Introduction The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom (UK) is the oldest part of Britain’s combat forces and is often referred to as the â€Å"Senior Service†. The Naval Service is comprised of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Fleet Air Arm and reserve forces. From the 18th century up to the end of World War II, the Navy was the world’s principal and most powerful navy. We will write a custom essay sample on The strategic role of the Royal British Navy in the First World War or any similar topic only for you Order Now Therefore it played a very important role during the period in keeping Britain’s position as the ultimate ‘superpower.’ The Royal Navy used various strategies and tactics such as the Antwerp, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and the Zeebruge campaigns. The involvement of various sections of the Royal Navy helped to make sure of victories against serious enemies and opponents of British interests (Benbow 2011). This paper discusses the role of the Royal British Navy during the First World War by analyzing the war tactics they used in varying campaigns both on land and on sea. In the first place, the Royal Navy was crucial from a defensive point of view, a point made all the more acute by the fact that Britain is an island nation that is relatively isolated geographically. In terms of the home front, therefore, the navy was the first and more imperative line of defence. It must be considered, as an adjunct to this, that the wealth and power of Britain relied in large part on his expansive Empire, which could not have been protected by means other than naval power. It might be argued, of course, that Britain had established effective naval supremacy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 (Benbow 2011; Halpern 1994). However, despite the nation’s best efforts in conflicts such as the Seven Years War, among others, the state of affairs in 1805 had in actual fact been reversed to a significant extent by the turn of the 20th century. By the time of WWI, Britain’s navy was fairly outdated and its competitors were on the ascendant (Benbow 2011). The changing status quo by WWI made the burden on the navy heavier than ever. It still remained its 19th-century reputation as the ultimate military power and it had massive capacity to move soldiers and vessels across large international spaces territories. It still, moreover, had the capability to prevent rivals from doing similar strategic moving of troops and equipment (Halpern 1994). The floating gun vessels in particular were a devastating tool in the arsenal that frequently made it impossible for foreign leaders to act against Britain. The crucial fact was that the Royal Navy was able to stymie the efforts of foreign powers, making certain that there was always a supply of tradecrafts and raw materials so that Britain’s factories could make and distribute their products overseas. The Laissez Faire economic model that Britain adopted as the basis of its trading would not have been possible without the authority of the Royal Navy (Friedman 2001; Halpern 1994). It is clear , therefore, that regardless of apparent historical supremacy, the navy as important as ever in economic and defensive terms during WWI. Another aspect of the Royal Navy’s powerful role was control of communications and supply lines, so that it was possible to link up the Empire and control activities across the globe. Throughout the whole period, the Royal Navy’s war preparation and entry into the First World War demonstrates its state-of-the-art operation. This ability, however, arose not just through the navy itself but also the vast and sophisticated underpinning of expertise and strategy. For example, the Royal Navy was backed by a comprehensive research programme into maritime history, careful studies of allied and defensive maneuvers, and knowledge of politics and power in various regions across Europe and beyond (Friedman 2001). An important part of this was that Navy’s role in reconnaissance and observation. It was able to procure information about the capabilities of rivals, for example, whether political, military, or economic. The strategic role of the navy is best discussed in the context of contemporary events. The Germans marched into France and Belgium in August 1914 and desperately needed a â€Å"flying column†. At this time, Britain had between 20 000 to 30 000 navy reservists but could not make sure that all these reservists played a full role. Those parties in charge of strategy concluded that there were enough reserve soldiers to create two groups that would form vital brigades. So, in Britain the Naval Brigades and the Royal Marines Brigade were set up. The brigades became publicly recognized as the RND (Royal Naval Division) and soon after they were sent to Ostend, where they took part in a fierce battle in Antwerp. This battle demonstrates a number of different things about the strategic important of the navy. On the one hand, it indicates a clear purpose: the opposing of a German threat on the continent which, if unimpeded by the reservists, might have become a serious threat. The Marines were among the only British forces participating at the battle of Antwerp, and they brought about Germany’s withdrawal of a large proportion of their troops from the French front in order to capture of Antwerp (Stephenson 2011). However, the extent to which these soldiers struggled in due to poor training and shortages of proper equipment suggests that at this stage the Royal Navy was of limited strategic value. Thus, the Belgium army, which was comprised of mainly six divisions, was overcome by the Germans at Liege and the River Gate and had to retreat to the stronghold city of Antwerp (Halpern 1994). Had the Royal Navy been more adept in the first place this might never have occurred. However, the strategic role of the navy in this instance was salvaged to an extent when Winston Churchill, astutely realizing the important of Antwerp, bolstered the city using the Royal Navy Division. In this way, a key strategic position, in terms of Allied shipping, was saved by virtue of the navy. You read "The strategic role of the Royal British Navy in the First World War" in category "Essay examples" This point is made all the more compelling by the fact that the Belgians were forced to withdraw their forces from the fray on 6t October 1914, opening the path to a German victory. The intervention of the Royal Navy therefore came at a critical moment, heightening its importance (Grove 1987). The tactics of the Royal Naval Division on this occasion also suggests strategic relevance. An innovative plan was devised by which the troops dug trenches so that they could position themselves strategically during the battle. The aftermath of the battle is also worth mentioning. On 11 October 1914, the residual divisions of the Royal Navy Division arrived back home in England and immediately commenced their training camp in Blanford in Dorset (Jolly 2000). Crucially, they brought with them Belgian experience and the innovation of British armed forces. Changes were made to the training to better prepare the Naval Division as well as the Marine substitutes, that in the future would be selected and serve in Royal Marine battalions. Thus, through the navy’s combat experience and later role in Britain, the capability of the armed forces was enhanced. The French believed the Germans were on maneuvers in Belgium and sent some ships to trouble the German cavalry which were by now in North of Dunkirk. This maneuver was successful, which managed to give the impression that it was the central army. The British forces began to move ahead towards Brasa and captured Fort Zain. They also stopped efforts by the Turks to obstruct the river so the Turkish forces retreated from Brasa. Then, General Sir Arthur Barrett, the commander of the British army, deployed regiments to the city and the British forces established a strong occupation on 23 November 1914 (Knight 2006). The triumphant campaign allowed the majority of the British troops to return home, leaving only a small garrison. This episode is more than mere narrative. It reveals that for certain periods the Royal Navy was rendered almost redundant in a military sense due to a lack of conflict at sea. This is suggested by the fact that on 28 August, marines were located on ships during t he battle of Heligoland, with no lives lost. Later, however, at the Battle of Coronel in November, the British forces experienced a loss of 196 soldiers. One of the last encounters at sea was in 1914 during the Battle of the Falkland Islands in December. The importance of the navy was brought back into focus when, towards the end of 1914, the deadlock between the Western and Eastern Fronts ceased (Friedman 2011). This allowed the British Navy to establish and consolidate maritime control and superiority, but it was not practical to have the opening of a similar instance as Trafalgar. The British administration therefore needed to begin searching for an alternative that would conclude the war. During December 1914, the strategic importance of the navy on the Western Front became apparent. The British government had responded to a request for assistance from Russia, which was struggling to fight the Turks in the Caucuses. On 2 January 1915, the Secretary of State for War, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener agreed to demonstrate British strength to support Russia (McMillan 2013). Kitchener could not take any troops from the Western Front, so he turned to naval capacities for active involvement. As a result, the best location for action would be the tapered strip of water from the Mediterranean into the Sea of Marmara. The purpose and plan, masterminded by Winston Churchill, was to avoid the Turkish capital, First Lord of the Admiralty. Churchill created a complicated structure of a ‘third Allied front’ which gave tremendous assistance to Russia. The Royal Naval Division, moreover, went on to form an important part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary force (MEF), was wh ich also included the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), the 29th Division (British Army) and the Royal Naval Division (RND) (Dupuy 1967). Responsibility for the division was given to General Sir Ian Hamilton, The marines’ first conflict was in March 1915, where they targeted Turkish citadels and 22 individuals lost their lives while several others were injured. On 25 April the Plymouth Battalion with a group of 2nd South Wales Borderers landed on â€Å"Y† beach where a number of soldiers lost their lives (Churchill 1940). However, these successes were not without setbacks, and it should not be concluded that the Royal Navy was unequivocally of strategic value in these cases. There had been an early problem when the navy initially landed on 25 April and this had given Turkey chance of help to organize their defenses from Germany especially on top of cliffs that gave a direct view of the neighboring beaches and into the interior of the land (Dupuy 1967). On 28th April, the Chatham Battalion landed on the Anzac shoreline in order to safeguard a beach, and they stayed there until 12th May despite many deaths and casualties. On the 29th April, the Admiralty gave control of the Royal Navy Division to the British War office and it became the 63rd Royal Naval Division. The 63rd also had control of the RM training division located at Blanford (Herwig 1987). During May and June, Royal Marines participated in warfare at the 2nd and 3rd Battles of Krithnia. Additionally, there was action at Achi Baba on the 12th June. The MEF held their initial position at Gallipoli to try and find a conclusion to the struggle (Herwig 1987). One point of important to note about this episode is that the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), along with the Royal Navy, experienced various levels of difficulties and higher levels of casualties. This prompted MEF’s withdrawal from Gallipoli, moreover. Winston Churchill’s administration has received severe criticism for the large number of lives lost over this period, and it can reasonably be questioned whether such as campaign can be deemed of strategic value. One might even say it was a strategic folly in human terms; and as Osbourne (2004) points out, the fact that Churchill stepped down from the Admiralty as a result is damning. Following the activities of this period, more action then took place in the sea rather than on land. The Battle of Jutland was the largest wartime conflict that occurred at sea during World War I. The battle commenced on 31st May 1916 when Germany fired against the British Battle Cruiser regiments. Royal Marines proved their strategic value here, as they were involved in 10% of the most important naval attack on crafts (Osbourne 2004). This proportion comprised mainly RMA whose job during this time was to operate guns. As it got bigger, the battle looked like it was getting out of control. The next day, British demolisher vessels attacked and sunk the Pommern. However in total, the Germans lost 11 ships while the British lost 14 ships, which suggests strategic folly in numerical terms (Osbourne 2004). In May the same year, RMLI brigades arrived from Gallipoli and were repatriated to France where new resources and weapons were organised. In addition, they were given more manpower and upgraded weapons to machine guns. In July, the RM Company was joined by companies called Howe and Anson the 188th Brigade of the re-titled 63rd RND (Herwig 1987). This group moved to a fairly quiet region of the Western Front. At this point, because of new weapons technology it was necessary to safeguard the line using three trench positions. Common Trench warfare was intended for use in heavy infantry but that was not commonly experienced through the commando tactics of RMLI (Friedman 2011). These battalions became a vital element to the Battle of Ancre Heights near Beaumont Hill. There were financial implications for this battle, as well as many casualties. On 17th April 1917 the 1st and 2nd regiments participated in armed combat at Miraumant and also during the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe later that m onth. During this armed effort, troops from the 63rd Division took over captured Gavrelle, led by General C. Lawrie. Immediately afterward, the 63rd Division also participated in the Battle of Arleux (Friedman 2011). The RND marched to various regions including Arras and Ypres during the winter weather, carrying heavy army equipment. In Ypres, the battalions trained very hard to prepare for a key offensive on the German border, north of Ypres. When it happened, the attack would take the forces to the strategic location of the Paddebrek stream, in the north region of the canal (Randier 2006). Because of significant losses earlier that year the 1st and 2nd RMLI contingents joined together to increase their masses numbers. However, at this point, there were some signs that the war was moving towards an end and the Germans begun realizing that their momentum begun to slow down. Finally, on 8th August the British put into place their counter plan to impact on German troops, disturbing all levels of hierarchy in the army, including the German High Command. This appeared to be a possible chance for victory, although it is vital to point out that victory was not guaranteed. On 2nd to 3rd September 1918, the 1st and 3rd Armies fought at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant, alongside the 63rd (RN) division in the Third army (Morison 1942). On 27th September to 1st October 1918, the 1st and 3rd Armies also engaged in combat at the Battle of the Canal du Nord. During this time, the 63rd RN group was once again a component of the third Army (Stephenson 2011; Osbourne 2004). As has emerged through this essay, the strategic value of the Royal Navy was mixed. Many historians viewed Gallipoli as a catastrophic tragedy, facilitated by confusing tactics and problems that allowed the enemy to prepare for the attack (Stephenson 2011). However, despite awful circumstances, the Marines still managed several successes demonstrating that they were a significant force on the ground in the capacity of infantry. Many of the experiences acquired by soldiers in World War I were valuable resources that were applied again in the experiences they would go through in WWII (Stephenson 2011). This essay has detailed the many triumphs of the Royal Navy; however, of them all the Zeebruge campaign was arguably the most important in strategic terms (Koerver 2010). After dealing with frightful conditions and dreadful weather, the Marines still managed to carry out their responsibilities and sabotage the canal (Stephenson 2011). Their accomplishments led to an unintentional benefit of giving a confidence boost and momentum for all British soldiers involved in the conflict in other places (Knight 2006). As a final, but by no means insignificant point, the importance of the Royal Navy as a blockading force deserves a mention. The efforts of the marines and the navy kept Germany surrounded, creating barrier to many trade routes and ports, causing starvation and eventually defeat. This contributed to higher levels of bankruptcy, as Germany exhausted its finances trying to keep up with Britain (Stephenson 2011; Osbourne 2004). In conclusion, is clear that the Royal Navy was an indispensible strategic tool during WWI. It had the capacity to fight effectively in different environments and landscapes, as has been outlined in the narrative sections of this essay. It was also useful in observing and introducing a wide range of tactics, strategies, and military equipment to Britain, which helped to evolve many modern aspects of warfare that are still with us today (Knight 2006). Its versatility on land and sea, moreover, which has been outlined throughout this essay in description of campaigns, was enormously useful. In concrete terms, the most essential raids that consolidated included Antwerp, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli, and Zeebruge, all of which involved the Royal Navy. Of course, it certainly had its shortcomings, and some of its failures and blunders have been discussed. However, this is an inevitable part of the operations of any force. In the end, while the Germans lost the war for a wide range of reasons, the impact of the British Royal Navy was certainly one of them; it was undoubtedly of great strategic value. Reference List Benbow, T Naval Warfare 1914-1918: From Coronel to the Atlantic and Zeebrugge. (Newbury: Amber Books Ltd, 2011) Churchill, W The Second World War. Vol. 2, Their Finest Hour ( Houghton Mifflin Company, 1949) Dupuy, T. N. The Military History of World War I: naval and overseas war, 1916-1918. (New York: Franklin Watts, 1967) Friedman, N., Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines, and ASW Weapons of All Nations: An Illustrated Directory (UK: Naval Institute Press 2011). Grove, E. Vanguard to Trident, (London: Naval Institute Press/The Bodley Head, 1987) Halpern, P. A Naval History of World War I. The Standard Scholarly Survey. (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1994) Koerver, H. J. German Submarine Warfare 1914 – 1918 in the Eyes of British Intelligence, (Reinisch: LIS 2010) Herwig, H. H. Luxury Fleet: The Imperial German Navy,1888-1918. (Oxon: Routledge, 1987) Joll, R. Jackspeak. (UK: Maritime Books, 2000) Will Knight, UK unveils plans for a new submarine fleet. New Scientist (Environment) 2006, McMillan, M. The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914(London: Profile Books Ltd, 2013) Morison, E. Admiral Sims and the Modern American Navy. (UK: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1942) Osbourne, E. W. Britain’s Economic Blockade of Germany, 1914–1919. (London and New York: Routledge 2004). Randier, J. La Royale: L’histoire illustree de la Marine Nationale Francaise. (Brest: Editions de la Cite, 2006) Stephenson, D. With our backs to the wall: Victory and defeat in 1918. (UK: Penguin, 2011) How to cite The strategic role of the Royal British Navy in the First World War, Essay examples

Established With The Aim Of Making Profits-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: How To Established With The Aim Of Making Profits? Answer: Introduction Business organisations are established with the aim of making profits. A business organisation undertakes various activities such that it can earn revenues or make profits for long-term sustenance of the business(der OMU-Theorie, 2008). For every business organisation a goal is defined, according to which vision and mission statements are set. The scope of this essay includes description regarding an organisational structure of a new hotel business in Sydney, Australia. The essay describes the organisational structure, internal and external forces that impacts the organisation, risks confronting the business, activities that will enhance performance of the business and key business functionalities(Catthoor, 2013). Analysis The hotel set up for purpose of catering to guests and tourists visiting Sydney, Australia. The hotel will be set up 7 kilometers from central city location and will have 30 rooms. It will aim to cater to low budget travellers, who are willing to travel the country at low costs. The organisation structure will be headed by me, the owner or proprietor and I will act as the CEO or head for the same. Below CEO will be finance, human resource, sales and marketing, operations department(Buelens, 2011). Finance department will be responsible for billing, payout of salaries and maintaining of accounts. Human resource department will be hiring staffs and employees, training them and allocating appropriate responsibilities to them. Sales and marketing department will conduct various promotions for the hotel and carry out events such to promote the brand name. Operations or maintenance department will be responsible for handling customers, rooms and breakfast orders. There will be a total of 2 0 employees for various department to manage functionalities. The operations department will employ most number of employees as it will cater to customers and attend to them. HR department will appoint personnel for each and every department such that they are able to carry out responsibilities well. The hotel being set up in Sydney will be impacted by major macro environmental forces as political influence, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental influences(Dcosta, 2012). Politically Sydney is stable with democratic government structure, which is conducive for conducting businesses. Economically Australia is stable, with stable inflation rate, growth rates and market structure, hence people have affordability to stay at hotels. Australia is socially advanced and westernized similar to other world nations, hence a lot of people travel. Technologically the country is advanced, hence the hotel will be listed with major ecommerce portals and create a website of its own. Legal and judicial system of Australia is quite transparent that offers immense potential for conducting business with ease. Australia has significant environmental regulations hence the hotel will adopt sustainable energy sources. The hotel will also aim to reuse some of its treated wastewater for s anitation purposes by installing filtration plants. The macro environmental factors for the hotel reflects that there are large amounts of opportunities that can easily be explored by it. Almost all factors are conducive for the hotel to conduct its business. It can easily obtain any sort of financial aid also from financial institution or banks such as to cater to its immediate needs. Another integral macro environmental analysis can be done using Porters five forces analysis(Porter M. , 2008). Such analysis can be undertaken analyzing bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of sellers, threats of new entrants, threat form substitute products and industry rivalry. The hotel established will face severe competition and threat from homestays and boutique hotels. Bargaining power of customers will be considerable higher as they can easily switch from one hotel to another(Porter M. E., 2008). Suppliers does not have much power over hotel businesses as they gain regular business from them. Hence, supplier bargaining power is considerably low for this case. Threats from new entry is high as Sydney is gradually becoming one of the most sort after location around the world, attracting large numbers of tourists and visitors each year.; Internal analysis of a business can be conducted using SWOT analysis, which is an abbreviated form for strength, weakness, opportunity and threat. Strength for the hotel will away from hustle-bustle of the city and available at considerable low costs. A major strength of the hotel is the low costs at which it will be operating. As it will have lesser number of head count, it can easily lower rates for its rooms unlike other large chains. Weakness is that it is a newly established hotel and will have less brand recognition. Opportunity for the hotel is to expand its capacity and accommodate new guest in more rooms(Hay, 2006). Later the hotel can consider expanding to other cities or towns. Threat faced by the hotel is in regards to large number of international and national hotels entering low costs space. Though there are weaknesses and threats for the hotel there is immense amount of opportunity for the hotel to expand and establish its business. Every business faces some or the other type of risks, such risks needs to be ascertained, diagnosed and treated. A risks can either be averted or mitigated however, most critical aspects is to recognize such risks prevailing in businesses(Knight, 2012). The hotel business has immense risk associated with uncertainty. Apart from seasonal risks, hotels face risks from customer choices, less demand, salary payments even in low seasons and so on. While some risks as customer choices can be catered to by means of target marketing and other factors, low demand cannot be attended to. There are certain macro level risks faced by the hotel as well that can only be averted. Macro level risks as those from natural calamities, or countrys economic crisis, or lowering of mortgage rates, unemployment and so on. Thus, the previous risk has been mitigated while the latter is avoided solely(Arena, 2010). Business practices that can enhance organisational performance are appropriate and ethical marketing along with employee satisfaction schemes. Marketing is the heart and soul for any organisation, without which an organisation might fail to establish itself. While marketing is integral, the hotel needs to adopt recent trends in marketing as internet marketing, ecommerce marketing and social media advertisement in order that large target audiences can be catered to(Broadbent, 2009). Marketing enhances business scope hence is critical for sustainability of the organisation. Employees comprises of key stakeholder for any organisation hence it becomes critical that they have appropriate job design with satisfaction and motivation levels. Job design of each employee, their pay scales and other factors needs to be ascertained in an appropriate manner such that they develop long-term commitment towards the organisation. Such long-term commitments will enhance employee satisfaction and reten tion, lowering employee turnover rates. This will overall affect productivity within the organisation, leading to satisfaction of customers. Thus, organisational performance will increase overall basis(Chandrasekar, 2011). The most critical function of the firm that can help attend performance of the organisation is its operational activity. For any hotel it becomes critical that various functions as room maintenance, welcoming guests, serving meals and other functionalities are conducted in an appropriate manner(Rasula, 2012). Operations department is the key driving segment for the hotel, which can yield organisational performance. All strategies and directive of the organisation is aimed at enhancing productivity of the organisation. Better organisational productivity will lead to more revenue earning and sustainable business model. Thus, goal of the organisation needs to be aimed at achieving highest levels of performance. Recommendations and Conclusion The hotel needs to adopt the professional organisational structure and develop codes of conduct. Appropriate strategies along with work policies will allow the organisation to cater to its aim and achieve its goals. The hotel can further develop its marketing endeavors such that it is able to attract large number of customers towards the hotel. Apart from low costs strategy the hotel can aim at providing exclusive services and free pick and drop to airport for attracting more customers.; Reference Lists Arena, M. A. (2010). The organizational dynamics of enterprise risk management. . Accounting, Organizations and Society, 35(7), 659-675. Broadbent, J. . (2009). Performance management systems: A conceptual model. . Management Accounting Research, 283-295. Buelens, M. S. (2011). Organisational behaviour. . McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Catthoor, F. W. (2013). Custom memory management methodology: Exploration of memory organisation for embedded multimedia system design. Springer Science Business Media. Chandrasekar, K. (2011). Workplace environment and its impact on organisational performance in public sector organisations. International Journal of Enterprise Computing and Business Systems, 1-19. Dcosta, A. (2012). Components of a PESTLE Analysis. . Bright Hub Inc. der OMU-Theorie, F. .-T. (2008). Organisation, Management. Unternehmensfhrung. Hay, G. J. (2006). Object-based image analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). In Proc. 1st Int. Conf. OBIA , 4-5. Knight, F. (2012). Risk, uncertainty and profit. Courier Corporation. Porter, M. (2008). The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Porter, M. E. (2008). On Competetion. United States of America: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. Rasula, J. V. (2012). The impact of knowledge management on organisational performance. . Economic and Business Review for Central and South-Eastern Europe,

Will The World Starve Essays - Population, Environmental Issues

Will the World Starve? Looking out a window upon a barren desert, a dry wasteland unfolds as a carpet to nowhere. Abandoned cities dot the horizon, as the ruins speak volumes to the once populated extravagance of a country which lived on wealth and opportunity. The vision just described is not one out of a Hollywood movie script, but one that is not only possible but probable. Currently, the world population numbers over six billion, with China alone cradling over one-sixth of the world's total population. With the world population increasing at a rate of one hundred million a year, the numbers are expected to hit ten billion by the end of 2040. Most scientists agree that the maximum number of people that the earth can sustain is fifteen billion, leaving the earth in a quandary before the end of the twenty-first century when the total world population is expected to reach a staggering sixteen to eighteen billion. The consumption of the world's natural resources due to this exponential growth could result in worldwide famine, a complete breakdown in the world market, uncontrollable outbreaks of disease, and widespread crime and disorder. Currently, the ratio of land which can be used for agricultural endeavors is estimated to be one in nine acres. The world's produce producer is only a small sliver of a total land mass apple pie sliced into nine equal, yet tiny slices and as the amount of soil suitable for agriculture dwindles, the slice with which the world relies on continues to shrink. Considering the little amount of available farmland, it should be expected that there would be more of an effort to conserve this vital resource, but unfortunately the issue has not yet risen to a level of global importance. The amount of fertile topsoil is becoming more and more unusable for agriculture. Water, used for the irrigation of the world's life giving crops, contains naturally dissolved minerals and over time the minerals from the irrigated water supply collect in the topsoil. After many years of constantly farming a particular region, the soil begins to become less and less fertile. This process, known as salinization, has affected many of the farms around the world. Once this process is complete, the soil becomes totally useless for any kind of farming. Over long periods of time, salinization, combined with the erosion of the topsoil due to wind and rain, starts to cause the world's farmlands to exponentially dissipate. Ethiopia is a prime example of how salinization, combined with overgrazing and erosion, has affected every aspect of the economy. Food shortages, lack of domestic trade products, and low incomes for farmers and agricultural workers are all bi-products of a land ravaged by overuse and abuse. With the people scrambling to find a quick fix solution to this problem that has been building for decades, the economy along with the people's only domestic food source, is slipping further and further into a seemingly unrecoverable disaster. The earth's industry is expected to produce enough manufactured materials to support the world's current six billion people. The list of finished products includes food (from agriculture), clothes and all other luxuries which most of the world has become accustomed. If most scientists are correct, the maximum capacity of which the world can sustain is estimated to be fifteen billion people. Maximum capacity is described as the amount of people that can be sustained without causing a complete breakdown in society. Numerous scientists have speculated that many of the world's natural resources used to support current life such as clean water and air, gasoline, oil, and even coal will almost be completely depleted up by the end of the century. With decimated natural resources, a lack of topsoil, and a completely over-populated planet, anthropologists have agreed that the end of the century, if not before, will culminate in a complete breakdown of industry in the world market. With this extinction of resources looming, it is obvious that new methods of energy and topsoil conservation need to be discovered. Speculation has been made that it is too late to turn back the dependence which humans have developed for natural resources. How can anyone be expected to turn away from their gas-powered cars and their electric houses? If, however, the current rate of consumption continues, then there is no doubt what the future will hold. Since 1950 half of the world's trees have been cut down and every day six square acres of rain forest are lost to the hum of a

Types of Bankruptcy

Types of Bankruptcy Introduction Bankruptcy refers to a federal court process in which repayment arrangements are made to allow an insolvent debtor to clear the outstanding debts. Bankruptcy is often declared when a company or an individual is so deep into debt that starting afresh is the only reasonable option. This paper compares and contrasts the five types of bankruptcy proceedings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Types of Bankruptcy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Different Types of Bankruptcy The first type of bankruptcy is referred to as liquidation. It can be accessed by individuals, matrimonial couples or business partners. The group or individual seeking to apply for this bankruptcy proceeding must first attend an interview conducted by an agent of a credit counseling agency. The agent is obliged to appear in court during the bankruptcy proceedings. Unlike the other types of bankruptcy, the applicant is delegated a trustee wh o is expected to oversee the selection of assets that are to be excluded from the bankruptcy. Apart from the assets selected for exemption, the remaining assets are to be sold, and the proceeds used to settle the outstanding debts. The second type of bankruptcy involves municipalities that want to adjust their debts. It is contained in chapter nine of the United States bankruptcy code. This type of bankruptcy is different from the rest because it only is suited for municipalities. Municipalities in this respect include towns, cities, school districts, and counties. The third type of bankruptcy applies to business corporations and is referred to as reorganization. Unlike in liquidation where a trustee is allocated, this type of bankruptcy allows the corporation to design its own restoration plans. These plans for reformation can comprise measures that try to restore the productivity of the company, consolidate debt and begin repayment. Unlike liquidation, the reorganization type of b ankruptcy does not seek to purge all arrears immediately. On the contrary, a suitable payment plan is formulated to enable the business to keep all or most of its essential assets while paying its debts. The strategy for reorganization is ultimately ratified or dismissed by the court. The fourth type of bankruptcy involves fishermen and family farmers who have access to regular sources of income. Unlike liquidation, the applicant does not lose any of his assets.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The applicant is instead allowed to repay his debts out of his prospective earnings. A debt repayment plan is designed in a format that the applicant can observe. This bankruptcy is similar to the fifth type of bankruptcy since the debtor is allowed to design a plan for repayment in both cases. It is similar to liquidation with respect to the concept that a trustee is allocat ed to oversee the repayment. The fifth type of bankruptcy covers individuals who are not necessarily fishermen or farmers, but who must have regular sources of income. It resembles the previous type of bankruptcy since both types deal with people who have regular sources of income. However, unlike the previous, this type of bankruptcy is not restricted to specific professions. Like in liquidation, a credit counselor must be consulted. However, in this case, the work of the counselor is to establish the applicant’s ability to restructure his own debt payment plan. The fifth type of bankruptcy compares with the fourth and third since they all allow the applicants to retain their assets. Unlike liquidation, the insolvents do not acquire instantaneous absolution from debts. Conclusion There are five different types of bankruptcy outlined in the United States bankruptcy code. These types of bankruptcy apply to different individuals and companies and vary according to income, profe ssion and level of debt. It is advisable that each individual or organization examines the different bankruptcy types before settling on one.

Calibrating a pressure gauge using an air-operated dead-weight pressure gauge tester for air gauges

Calibrating a pressure gauge using an air-operated dead-weight pressure gauge tester for air gauges INTRODUCTION: Calibrationis the set of operations that establish the relationship between the values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument and the corresponding values realized by standards. The result of a calibration allows for the determination of corrections to be made with regards to the indicated values. It may also help in determining other metrological properties such as the effect of influence quantities. The results of a calibration are usually documented and referred to as calibration certificate or a calibration report. Necessary adjustments are made to the instrument after calibration so that it always indicates readings corresponding to given values of the quantity measured. When the instrument is made to give a null indication corresponding to a null value of the quantity to be measured, the set of operation is called zero adjustment . The Calibration Process The first thing to consider in calibrating an instrument is its design. In order to be able to cal ibrate an instrument, the design of the instrument has to be capable of measurements that are â€Å"withinengineering tolerance† when used within certain conditions and over a reasonable period of time. The criteria used for assigning tolerance values vary according to regions and according to type of industry. Manufacturers of instruments assign a general measurement tolerance and suggest the calibration interval as well as the optimum environment for use and storage of the instrument. The user of the instrument on the other hand assigns the actual calibration interval, on the instrument’s likely usage level. For example, if a manufacturer states that an instrument needs to be calibrated after usage for 8-12 hours of use 5 days per week is six months, that same instrument in 24/7 usage would generally get a shorter interval. The assignment of calibration intervals can be a formal process based on the results of previous calibrations. Calibration process versus cost G enerally, the process of calibrating an instrument is a difficult and expensive one. As a rule of thumb, the cost for ordinary equipment support is generally about 10% of the purchasing cost of the instrument on a yearly basis. Exotic devices such asscanning electron microscopes,gas chromatographsystems andlaserinterferometerdevices can be even more expensive to calibrate. When the instruments being calibrated are integrated with computers, the integrated computer programs and any calibration corrections are also under control. The calibration paradox Successful calibration has to be consistent and systematic. At the same time, the complexity of some instruments requires that only key functions be identified and calibrated. Under those conditions, a degree of randomness is needed to find unexpected deficiencies. Even the most routine calibration requires a willingness to investigate any unexpected observation. Theoretically, anyone who can read and follow the directions of a calibra tion procedure can perform the work. It is recognizing and dealing with the exceptions that is the most challenging aspect of the work. This is where experience and judgement are called for and where most of the resources are consumed. THEORY Principles of Operation Of Dead Weight Testers Pressure is defined as force per unit area i.e.

To what extent does political participation reflect a bias in favor of Essay

To what extent does political participation reflect a bias in favor of the privileged - Essay Example This is particularly reflected in political participation. Inherent Inequality Ideally, political exercise is open to all. The constitution and the collective laws of any democratic government ensure this. Here, most people are eligible to seek public office or be involved in electing people to public positions. For some communities, even those who do not know how to read and right are not excluded to participate. Unfortunately, the electoral process in democracies today is characterized by competition, wherein political participation is â€Å"circumscribed by unequal access to both resources and the decision-making process.†1 Equality would have been easier to practice in the brand of direct democracy adopted in Greece, wherein all citizens are entitled a voice in policymaking. But the circumstance today – one about political participation through representation – is radically different. The rules and dynamics of choosing representatives are no longer as straigh tforward as those in the past. Resources are needed in order to get represented and this aspect tilts the balance to those who have more than others. This is highlighted by the predomination of individuals and private enterprises in political exercises with their capability to influence all policy networks. Elitism In the United States, political representation is especially biased towards the elite. The manner in which individuals are elected, demonstrates a process wherein the privileged enjoy extreme advantage. For example, there are no laws that regulate private expenditures for partisan political purposes. The system currently treats private funding in the American elections as part of the egalitarian value of freedom to support the candidate of one’s choice. The argument is that when one restricts the use of money, it is tantamount to restricting the rights to liberty and free speech. This is demonstrated in the way candidates in the US can buy advertising airtime in th e media. Private money in this instance is translated into a very important political resource, severely disadvantaging those individuals and parties that do not have the means or cannot raise them in time. Chapman classified the privileged between the socio-economic elite and the political elite. She explained that the latter tend be dominated by the former and that in most likelihood property, income, occupation and education are those that would render people from this class more likely to enter politics.2 Another variable that underscore the bias of the current democratic political participation in the US is the conservative view on politics. This is manifested best by the American Electoral College system, wherein popular vote is disregarded in favor of certain groups and individuals. The Founding Fathers of the American Constitution were known to have noted the fickleness and selfishness of the masses and, hence, entrusted the power to elect the American President in the hands of the learned and the capable. This is rationalized, wrote Sullivan, Piereson and Marcus, by the idea that universal transformation of human nature is too much to expect and that political representation should be given only to the virtuous or the â€Å"more highly educated and more responsible segments of the public.†3 And so when Al Gore won the popular election, George W. Bush was elected

Crosscultural communication and classroom ecology Essay

Crosscultural communication and classroom ecology - Essay Example Prhps surprisingly, it dos not mn trting ll qully. For xmpl, qulity of opportunity will not ncssrily b nsurd if thos who spk nglish s thir scond or third lngug r ssssd qully ginst thos who spk it s thir first nd only lngug. Th formr my nd dditionl cr nd tching if ssssmnt ginst othrs in thir yr is to hold mning. In this rspct, simply rmoving obstcls from th pth of ll studnts my not b nough to provid ll with qulity of opportunity. Positiv ction (somtims rfrrd to s 'positiv discrimintion') my b ncssry. This involvs crting th circumstncs in which qulity of opportunity cn xist, rthr thn lving it to chnc. For physiclly- disbld studnt, prcticl chngs to th school nvironmnt r ndd (such s rmps instd of stps). pupil struggling with ttntion dficit disordr cn find this disdvntg diminishd or limintd if thy r std s clos to th tchr s possibl nd surroundd by positiv rol modls. For clssroom tchrs, thr r fw qustions tht cn b focusd on priodiclly to bring ttntion to th issu of qul opportunitis. Th gol is not to work slvishly to th nd for qulity of opportunity but to dvlop nturl instinct for 'sussing out' whn pupils my b indvrtntly disdvntgd. This might b rsult of th work you hv skd thm to do or of thir intrctions in your clssroom. W ll hv prjudics - it's prt of intrcting with humns. But bing wr of your prjudics prvnts thm from dominting, or dvrsly ffcting, your tching). Cn you think of tim whn you hv unintntionlly discrimintd ithr for or ginst pupil Think bout your prsnttion to clsss, th rsourcs you us nd th tsks you xpct of pupils. Cn you think of circumstncs in your lssons whn ll pupils would hv flt prticulrly mpowrd Might thr hv bn occsions whn som my hv flt dismpowrd Wht fctors might hv contributd to this Is thr vidnc of bullying or 'scpgoting' in your clss(s) r you ctivly bl to promot inclusion (Mlon,2005) Hv you vr tlkd to your pupils bout how thy viw qul opportunitis in your clssroom Dpnding on th g of thos you tch, this cn b n xtrmly ffctiv wy of gining insight into wht it's ctully lik bing tught by you. Do thy hv n id of wht it mns to b discrimintd ginst Tll thm how importnt it is tht thy fl includd nd providd for. Your profssionl judgmnt will tll you if thir viws hv bn distortd. Non of this involvs bcoming so proccupid with nsuring qulity of opportunity tht th tsk in hnd (i.. tching) gts nglctd. It is bout bing wr, nd bout mking subtl chngs in prctic whn ncssry. Th widr pictur of your tching nd not b ffctd. ftr ll, you lon cnnot b rsponsibl for qul opportunitis in your school. But your wrnss of th issu could mk ll th diffrnc to th pupils in your cr. Th thnic mk-up of our ntion hs chngd, nd th mk-up of our univrsitis hs chngd, too. W hv mor intrntionl studnts, nd our domstic studnts r vrid in thnic, socil, conomic, rligious nd culturl bckgrounds. Our job s tchrs is to hlp ll studnts lrn, to mk th clssroom whr ll studnts fl wlcom, rspctd, qully bl to prticipt, firly trtd. It is vry importnt to mk ll studnts fl wlcom.In th minuts bfor clss bgins you cn crt informl xchngs with studnts tht mk thm fl lss nrvous or isoltd.B sur to mk prsonl contct with studnts from undrrprsntd groups so tht thy know thy r noticd nd wlcom.B xplicit with your clss tht you pprcit th divrsity of th studnt body.void trms tht cn sm to b drogtory or slurring.It is vitl to trt studnts s individuls.Don't strotyp studnts nd don't ssum tht womn won't do wll in mth or tht mn don't lik potry or tht thlts rn't intrstd in cdmics.Don't ssum tht studnts from

Family Practices Essay Example for Free

Family Practices Essay Parents have the big responsibility of rearing their children in the best way they can. They have a lot of investment towards their children to bring them up in the most righteous way. Parents impart knowledge, values and even some of their known practices which they grew up with. There are so many common practices imparted to us by our parents. These practices revolve maybe on simple things such as eating together during dinner and saying a prayer before we sleep. Our family believes in the power of herbal medicine that would be able to heal our illnesses. Herbal medicines are kind of medicines that come from plants (Bupa’s Health Information Team, 2007). An herb is a plant that is commonly used because of its flavor, scent and medicinal properties. Many of these herbs are processed and are available in the market is various forms such as tablets, capsules, teas, etc. but there are still some herbal medicine that may cause threat is people’s health. Some may cause health problems and some may not interact well with other drugs (â€Å"Herbal Medicine†, 2009). The Western hemisphere has long abandoned the used of the herbal medicines due to the advancement of technology and healthcare that is able to provide a single medicine that will cure illnesses. Many people, professional and lay individuals, do not know that plants may be able to provide useful health benefits. The benefits of the plants are in the form of alternative and complementary medicines and many people consider it as irrelevant part of folk times (Ernst, 2000). This nontraditional health practice has been passed on my family through generations. Not only able to preserve our family solidarity but our health as well. References Bupa’s Health Information Team. (2007, August). Herbal Medicine. Bupa. Retrieved January 20, 2009 from http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/herbal_medicine.html. Ernst, E. (2000). Herbal Medicine: A Concise Overview for Professionals. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Herbal Medicine. (2009, January 13). Medline Plus. Retrieved January 20, 2009 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herbalmedicine.html.

Gawain :: Essays Papers

Gawain Passage Analysis An anonymous author around the fourteenth century wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The story is set in the time of King Arthur and deals with two major plot devices that are common in such tales: the beheading contest between Gawain and the green knight and the attempted seduction of Gawain by the lady. The passage contained in lines 928-993 occurs shortly after the lord of the castle invites Gawain into his home and offers him a meal. The section focuses on the introduction of the lady who will later try to tempt Sir Gawain to sin. The author describes her in such ravishing splendor that the reader can imagine how hard it would be to resist her advances. The hag by her side is also introduced here as a direct contrast to the lady. In this way, the lady's and the hag's respective physical characteristics are further enhanced by the presence of each other. Similar to other stories written in this period, the hag in this story has magical elements that are not revealed until much later. The lady of the castle comes to Gawain only after dinner and prayers are attended to by herself and her lord for she "Longed to look on the knight"(Norton, 222). Prior to her appearance, the lady has been secluded away in the church closet with her maids. From the very first words written about her, she is described as a very attractive person. The author goes on to describe her hair, face, and manner of dress, all of which only lend more brilliance to this vision. The passage is a testament to her comeliness and will later be important in the story since it sets the foundation for the obvious attraction Gawain feels towards this woman from whom "He claims a comely kiss, and courteously he speaks; / They welcome him warmly, and straightaway he asks / To be received as their servant, if they so desire"(222). The lady later admonishes Gawain the next morning when he fails to kiss her as a chivalrous knight should. The lady's appearance is only enhanced by the presence of the hag at her side. The magical element of the hag has also been introduced in such other literary works as "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell" and in "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. In each of these stories, the hag turns out to be something other than what she seems. Gawain :: Essays Papers Gawain Passage Analysis An anonymous author around the fourteenth century wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The story is set in the time of King Arthur and deals with two major plot devices that are common in such tales: the beheading contest between Gawain and the green knight and the attempted seduction of Gawain by the lady. The passage contained in lines 928-993 occurs shortly after the lord of the castle invites Gawain into his home and offers him a meal. The section focuses on the introduction of the lady who will later try to tempt Sir Gawain to sin. The author describes her in such ravishing splendor that the reader can imagine how hard it would be to resist her advances. The hag by her side is also introduced here as a direct contrast to the lady. In this way, the lady's and the hag's respective physical characteristics are further enhanced by the presence of each other. Similar to other stories written in this period, the hag in this story has magical elements that are not revealed until much later. The lady of the castle comes to Gawain only after dinner and prayers are attended to by herself and her lord for she "Longed to look on the knight"(Norton, 222). Prior to her appearance, the lady has been secluded away in the church closet with her maids. From the very first words written about her, she is described as a very attractive person. The author goes on to describe her hair, face, and manner of dress, all of which only lend more brilliance to this vision. The passage is a testament to her comeliness and will later be important in the story since it sets the foundation for the obvious attraction Gawain feels towards this woman from whom "He claims a comely kiss, and courteously he speaks; / They welcome him warmly, and straightaway he asks / To be received as their servant, if they so desire"(222). The lady later admonishes Gawain the next morning when he fails to kiss her as a chivalrous knight should. The lady's appearance is only enhanced by the presence of the hag at her side. The magical element of the hag has also been introduced in such other literary works as "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell" and in "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. In each of these stories, the hag turns out to be something other than what she seems.

Metapath Case Report Essay

1. PURPOSE The purpose of this briefing note is to provide recommendations for Metapath Software Corp. (â€Å"Metapath†) on its financing offers received in September 1997. These two offers came from 1) a fund consortium led by Robertson Stephens Omega Fund (â€Å"RSC†) and Technology Crossover Ventures (â€Å"TCV†) and 2) CellTech Communications (â€Å"CellTech†), a vendor of wireless technology which had recently gone IPO. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Metapath has made good progress in developing its business since its inception – generating $6.4m revenue in the September quarter of 1997 with representation of three large customers. However, with the ambition to win a good chance of IPO within the next two years, more capital needed to be raised to gain traction in customer acquisition and smooth out current quarter-to-quarter revenues. Metapath has received two offers as at September 1997 and they are discussed as follows: RSC and TCV consortium offered to buy $11.75 million of stock at a $76 million pre-money valuation (â€Å"Series E Preferred†). The proposed stock instrument was a participating convertible stock (â€Å"PCPT†). This instrument functions the same as the convertible preferred stock in the event of a qualified public offering whereas in the event of a sale, RSC and TCV consortium not only receives the face value of the consideration, but also gets the equity participation. CellTech offered Met apath’s shareholders to receive common stock at closing in CellTech at $115 million. 3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS The problems associated with the offers from RSC and TCV consortium are listed as follows: Proposed stock instrument is extremely dilutive to the founders in the event of a sale where the liquidity preference will reduce  the amount of funds available to the other four tranches from previous investments. If the Metapath goes public, the percentage of ownership for C & D tranches will be further diluted, after RSC and TCV consortium exercises its liquidity preference. The problems associated with the offers from CellTech are listed as follows: CellTech’s liquidity and financing issues. Strategic/Business fit between CellTech and Metapath. 4. ANALYSIS Comparing the term sheet of the offer from RSC and TCV consortium to that of CellTech, RSC and TCV’s PCPT had a much more dilutive impact to Metapath upon exit. Under liquidation, the term sheet stipulates that the Series E investors is entitled to claim its initial investment of $10.75 million plus any accrued but unpaid dividend. Any proceeds after this claim will then be distributed to all common and Series E Preferred shareholders on an as-converted pro-rata basis. This double dipping means that RSC will not only recover its initial investment of $5 millions, but also enjoys the convertible benefits. As a result, if the sale occurs before 2000, the profitability for A-D tranches will be negatively impacted by the ‘preferred’ characteristic in the Series E. However if the sale occurs after 2000, A and B tranches will be gradually redeemed on an annual basis, which will leave C and D tranches to be mostly impacted adversely by the preferred characteristic in the Series E stock. Under the circumstance of an IPO, tranches C, D and E will convert to common at their negotiated prices while A & B will be redeemed. However, on the flip side, the price offered by RSC and TCV consortium was $6, which was significantly higher than the first three rounds of financing (tranches A,B and C) at $1.05 and final round (tranche D) at $1.62. PCPT instrument was created to enable the consortium to mitigate the risks in the event of a sale/liquidation that would be of the founders’ interests and  value destroying. CellTech’s valuation of $115 million was certainly attractive for a company like Metapath with a revenue run rate of $25.6 million. However, this represents approximately 30% of the totally capitalisation. The willingness from CellTech to sacrifice such a large amount of capital indicates that either CellTech genuinely believed that Metapath would contribute significantly to the synergies to the NewCo or there could be asymmetric information hidden from the management. It signalled CellTech’s underlying business might have limited upside. This issue needs to be further investigated if offer is accepted from CellTech. In addition, CellTech’s balance sheet indicated ongoing liquidity and financing risks. As we can see from the table below, the company continued to face liquidity pressure where its cash ratio and quick ratio deteriorated over the course from 1995 to 1997. CellTech had six consecutive quarters operating loss, which indicated that its unhealthy operating cash flow ratio. Doubts were raised whether CellTech was a good strategic fit to Metapath’s business model. This is due to the fact that CellTech’s products were mostly hardware-based and installed in the field with cellular base stations, whereas Metapath’s products largely consisted of software running on standard server platforms in the wireless switching office. The only benefit gauged regarding this point was that some of CellTech’s engineers could potentially be useful to Metapath’s development group. 5. CONCLUSIONS The recommendation for Metapath is to take the offer from RSC and TCV consortium. Even though CellTech has performed well since the IPO and bullish views from the stock analysts, its potential information asymmetry issues and liquidity risk could harm the value of Metapath post acquisition. The limited strategic fit is also of our concern, which might constrain Metapath’s growth potential. With our ambition to lead Metapath to IPO, we see RSC and TCV consortium as a better fit in this case. Tranches A and B’s  interests will be protected through their initial capital structures. Tranches C and D’s interests will be diluted; however it enables Metapath to continue its growth momentum with limited downside.

The Role of Strategic Leadership

Over time the concept of leadership has changed. In a contemporary learning environment, leadership has demonstrated the need to overcome recurring challenges to allow room for the development of great qualities that make up an effective leader. Not everyone can be in leadership positions; however, as aspiring young leaders develop a new comprehensive and collaborative framework they will improve their leadership practice. This is not to say that they will be effective leaders.I feel that experience is key in many ways because through the leadership simulation it has allowed me to evolve and improve on the whole concept of the responsibility of being and effective leader. Throughout my years in education I saw many schools experiencing the need for improvement in as far as leadership is concerned. The principles of leadership simulation continue to enhance leadership growth and development in the 21st century. We now know what the role of a leader is about.Many times I felt, from pas t experience in dealing with more then one administrator, that we have always lacked this one thing; that is, effective communication. Participating in the simulation period has really allowed me to be more open to suggestion during my quest for more leadership experience. I have weak points that I need to address. However, being in athletics has made me more tolerant and more outspoken. In addition, I still need to learn a few things about leadership because there is always room for improvement.Throughout my experience while taking this leadership course I have learnt that leadership revolves around the central role of providing problem solution in order to achieve set objectives. It gave me a clear understanding of the unique styles of different types of leaders as well as learning the type of leader I am. In my experience through the simulation periods I felt there was a need for each participant to be involved as much as possible. This would allow them to grow as individuals thr ough people they don’t know and never seen.Even though we all had different theories of how things should have been done I felt that we accomplished a lot together. My understanding of the leadership course is that it demonstrates the general concept of the leadership framework. Leadership framework that offers problem-based experience that engages participants in addressing real world problems and situations in a learning environment. I know that principals and school leaders are expected to encourage critical, creative and strategic thinking in an environment that is collaborative.I am aware of strategic pedestal that leaders use to influence the effects on the school success. This will only through creative analysis of strategic base within the limits of school policy as well as solving organizational problems of schools. I felt that the leadership courses builds on the principles of problem solving as well as critical thinking skills in a realistic world that is typical o f collaboration, consultation and interactive simulation.Ultimately, as a school leader over the athletic department it is my responsibility to demonstrate experience and expertise in making decisions that may influence the success of the athletic program. Strategic leadership addresses effective management and planning so as to achieve an organization’s goals or a group’s targets. Scholars define strategic leadership as a person’s ability to expect, envision, maintain flexibility, think strategically and work with others to create a viable future for the organization (Ireland &Hitt, 2005).According to strategic leadership theory organizations are a reflection of their top level managers, and most especially the executive. The experiences, knowledge and values of the top executive shape the organization’s destiny. It is important that top executives collect important data in order too make wise decisions for their organizations. My experience as a high sc hool athletic director has taught me the importance of a leader’s knowledge, values and experiences in helping him or her make better decisions for advancing the organization’s objectives.Through my vast experience I have been able to note events and situations that tend to repeat themselves over the course of time so that I am better able to prepare for their reoccurrence. Also, the knowledge I have gained over the years through studies, work and other sources has directly or indirectly shaped the direction of my decisions. Again most of my decisions have been determined by my values; the primary value being service to others. As the high school athletic director, I deal with coaches and athletes on a daily basis since I run the athletic program.My decisions are therefore key to the progress of the athletic program. My knowledge, values and experiences impact the direction that the program takes because these factors determine my decisions for the program. Through the leadership course I have developed an appreciation for the importance of effective communication as a tool that any good leader should perfect in order to ensure the progress and future of his organization. I have developed an appreciation for the relation between good communication and effective collection of data that is critical to decision making for leaders.When a leader is able to effectively communicate with his team then he is in a position to effect quality operation of the organization. However when the leader is not able to effectively communicate his vision to his team then chances are that the organization’s future may become uncertain citing inability of the team to stir the organization towards what the leader has identified as the direction that the organization ought to take. In other cases conflict and animosity may occur due to bad communication.Conflict within a team breeds disharmony among the team members which effectively reduces cooperation. This ther efore retards the organization’s growth. As a high school athletic director, I have responsibility of stirring the program towards success. Having noted that there is a need to improve communication in school administration, and with my new found knowledge about the importance of effective communication, I will strive to improve communication between me and the coaches, athletes and school administrators.Thanks to the leadership course and the simulations I am better able to deal with these people, in tune with my leadership style. As a leader I can therefore say that I am in a better position, thanks to the leadership course to effectively lead the athletic program to ensure its development and survival. The concept of leadership has changed over time, so that leaders of today have more advanced and unique expectations than those of the past. Different individual have different leadership styles.What is to note however is that, no matter the variation in leadership style, co mmunication is key to effective leadership. Strategy, critical thinking and a problem solving attitude are also prerequisites to effective leadership. References Ireland, R. D. , & Hitt, M. A. (2005). Achieving and Maintaining Strategic Competitiveness in the 21st Century: The Role of Strategic Leadership. Retrieved August 7, 2010 from, http://www. nwcor. com/NWCOR/Content/Readings/Chapter 13-StrategicLdrshp- AME CLassic. pdf

10 Facts on Health Economics for a Presentation

10 Facts on Health Economics for a Presentation Health Economics is one of the interesting topics to study. It is defined as the branch of economics concerned with issues related to the effectiveness, efficiency, value and behavior in producing and consuming, health and healthcare. Due to its broad scope, your instructor may ask you to create a presentation on a related topic of your choice. You can always check our 20 topics on health economics for a presentation to find a topic that best suits you or you can scroll down to check the following ten facts for inspiration. There is a current debate as to whether healthcare is a want or need. Health care becomes a want depending upon one very important factor, which is if a person is either earning handsomely or just the bare minimum. If a person is earning generously, they will try to avoid going through pain and discomfort using any means possible. On the other hand, those earning less will try to avoid expensive health care in any way possible. However, health care becomes a necessity for people who are aging, especially those living on their own. Health economics is a way to improve existing health systems or create new structures altogether. A certain value can be added to the health system if each resource is allocated in a smart and efficient way. The reason why health economics needed an extra category under the umbrella of general economics is because health care takes a huge chunk out of a country’s economy. In the United States, health care is a huge concern as it consumes over 16 percent of the country’s GDP. As the population of USA increases every year, more people require health care services. Not only does this exponential growth of health care requirements affect the government budget, it also affects the profitability of private sectors. Health is generally considered to be one of the basic human rights by the World Health Organization. While this seems like a very accurate statement, economically attaining absolutely free health care system is a huge strain on a country’s economy. Once again, optimizing health economics is one of the most effective methods to minimize costs. Adverse Selection is a very basic principle that a student of health economics must learn. This is when either the buyer or the seller of health care insurance has prior information about each the other which they obscure from one another for personal benefit. In simpler terms, it is when the buyer of the policy hides key facts about their medical history or the seller unethically finds out information that will lead them towards rejecting applications of people whose medical history is costly. Basically, if the seller or the buyer manipulates asymmetrically acquired information in a way that it benefits them on account of the other party, this is considered to be adverse selection. Health care costs have skyrocketed in the United States and this has been a huge topic of discussion amongst many sectors. According to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention’s health statistics, health care costs have doubled since the year 2000 as it has grown from 1.2 trillion dollars to 2.3 trillion dollars. According to various national surveys, the cost of health insurance, out of pocket costs and national health expenses are rising as each year passes by. According to the CIA, the US stands at a surprisingly 43rd rank when it comes to life expectancy in the entire world. Similarly, it stands at a disappointing 167th position in the world in terms of infant mortality. A study also found out that the USA’s percentage of stopping preventable deaths is declining in great numbers as compared to the healthcare system of Japan and Australia. The size of the hospital affects the cost of treatment due to several very important reasons. A larger establishment can have a larger network of specialized medical units. This compartmentalization can lead to efficient treatment and, more importantly, extra throughput of treated patients. Through basic economics, the cost of treatment drops because the supply increases due to a larger efficient system. Moreover, a larger institute can afford to buy supplies in bulk quantities. All of this boils down to the ethical code of the hospital. To ensure that the system is not manipulated, medical establishments that create supply-monopoly and perform unnecessary treatments for profit can be held accountable and punished by the law if their misconduct is exposed. According to various studies, the supply of labor can be increased if there is improved healthcare provided. However, this has its side effects too. If the economic growth is incapable of withstanding the sudden influx of labor, there will be no profit in the per capita output. The results can actually be very devastating as the unemployment rate will increase. Generally speaking, health economics is not immune to the overall economic growth of the country. Therefore, if the healthcare system is improved in a poor society, it will have adverse effects such as rise in population, increase in poverty, and poor health of the population. If a balance is created between the overall economic growth and health economics, the results can be very opposite. Improved health of the employees can result in a substantial bump in the production efficiency and the cost per unit drops accordingly. If the overall health conditions of an area improve, that can also start housing projects as people will become more prosperous. A good health program increases the overall morale as well, motivating entrepreneurs to start small businesses. Health economics is an extremely important study because it is the very connection between the basic health and the resources required to sustain it. Resources do not just mean money, though; they can also be the amount of people, material and time. These resources are not infinite and, therefore, they need to be allocated and managed systematically. Once you decide on a topic from these, do not forget to check out our guide on how to write a presentation about health economics to come up with an excellent presentation which your instructors will grade you generously for. Resources: Bhattacharya, J., Hyde, T., Tu, P. (n.d.). Health Economics. Gruber, J., Newquist, H. P. (2011). Health Rare Reform: What it is, why its necessary, how it works. New York: Hill and Wang. Health Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2016, from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/33/1/67.long Sloan, F. A., Hsieh, C. (2012). Health economics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. COUNTRY COMPARISON :: LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html Drummond, M., Drummond, M. (2005). Methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Is the US Population Behaving Healthier? (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2016, from nber.org/papers/w13013

Seismic Response of Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings with Different Dissertation

Seismic Response of Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings with Different Ductility Classes Using EC8 and EC2 - Dissertation Example The paper tells that over the years gradually there have been greater advancements in the various concrete structures and measures that can be applied for the construction of buildings. In the present times, thus, the strength theory is significantly considered in building constructions. Load factors have been found to be necessary for the determination of the concrete structures used for the construction purposes. The strength theory focuses on the ultimate strength design that makes use of inelastic strains thus distributing the stress of loads uniformly. The concept of reinforced concrete was first initiated in Japan during the 1950s. However in the initial times, the use of the RC buildings was not considered as significant, a situation that has modified in the present times. Considering natural calamities like the earthquake, it is essential that the constructed buildings are based on such materials that are capable of resisting such calamities. Ductility or robustness of the co ncrete structures plays a significant role in this regard. However obtaining the necessary concrete structures might require the application of advanced technologies that at times may be difficult for developing countries to achieve. Reinforced concrete materials are easily available as well as they are economical in nature. Its characteristic stiffness provides efficient support to the constructed buildings in situations of earthquakes. Damages, to a great extent, can be reduced through such measures. (Dowrick, 2009, p.367). Structural Eurocodes represent the technical rules needed to be followed while selection and construction of buildings. There are a number of such Eurocodes of which Eurocode 2 is associated with the design of the concrete structures and Eurocode 8 is associated with the provisions of design for earthquake resistance of structures (Beckett & Alexandrou, 1997, p.2). These Eurocodes are essential for the determination of the ductility of the concrete structures t hus enabling the buildings to be tolerant to earthquakes, which is a primary concern of the current study. Thus a general overview on the RC constructions reflect that it is necessary to involve such concrete structures in building constructions for the safety and protection of the buildings from earthquakes that also depend on the ductility of the structure. 1.2. Aim & Objectives: The primary aim of the current study is to learn about the seismic response of reinforced concrete frame buildings with different ductility classes using EC8 and EC2, these being the two of several forms of Eurocodes involved in construction of buildings. In order to conduct the above mentioned study, the following objectives have been set such that a detailed analysis and understanding may be achieved. The objectives are: To learn about the behavior of RC structures under a seismic load To conduct a seismic analysis of the RC structures using methods like the Equivalent Static Method, and Response Spectr um Method To enhance the analysis involving case studies on 4-storey- 3-bay RC buildings with different levels of ductility To conduct a design check on the structural elements of the constructed buildings To make some recommendations while concluding after the study and analysis 1.3. Methodology: The study involves a qualitative research based on secondary sources. Qualitative research techniques do not involve any numerical figures for the study but focuses on a detailed understanding of the concerned topic based on experiences and opinions of different individuals (Creswell, 2003, p.18). Secondary sources are referred to the sources that are not novel but are derived from studies conducted earlier by different authors or experimenters (Hamilton, 2005, p.4). The present study has focuses on secondary sour

Position Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Position Paper - Essay Example This paper will serve to look into the reasons as to why animal testing should not be tolerated and should be banned altogether from use in our highly advanced 21st century society of animal rights activists. According to NAVS, the reason that animals became the de-facto choice for testing of human products was really quite simple, the animal body closely resembled that of humans. For the early scientific community, that was the only criteria they needed in order to justify animal testing. The first documented use of animal experimentation dates back to the 4th century. But our modern society no longer has a need to use animal testing now that we understand the human and animal body a lot better than our ancestors ever did. Many doctors agree animal experimentation should be taken with a grain of salt, because it is outdated, inaccurate, and an unnecessary evil needing to come to an end. Fergie Woods M.D. states, â€Å"Animals tend to react differently than humans to drugs, vaccines , and experiments which can consequently be very harmful to humans’ health.† A clear example of the huge difference in results between animal and human testing can be seen in the conflicting results of Thalidomide testing during the 1960's and 1970's. Although the sedative had no visible and long term effect on the animals it was tested upon, it caused massive physical damage upon the human babies whose mother's were unlucky enough to have taken the drug during the pregnancy. Of the mothers who had taken Thalidomide, at least ten thousand children were born throughout the world with severe deformities (Woods). Then there is also the Digitalis case wherein the dogs who took the drug were found to have elevated levels of blood pressure. However, the drug did not have the same effect during human testing. Rather, the drug helped to lower the human heart rate whenever necessary. Another example of the inconsistency between human and animal reaction is digitalis, a drug whic h can be credited in saving countless cardiac patients’ lives by lowering their heart rate. When digitalis was tested on dogs, it raised their blood pressure to dangerously high levels (Woods). NAVS members point out in a study Mark Levin, Ph.D. presented results regarding the inaccuracy of animal models in drug testing. Levin found that in twenty-eight new drugs tested for liver toxicity in rats, seventeen were shown to be safe. Of the drugs cleared during testing, eight proved to be safe for human use and six were found to be toxic to humans. In another study, spanning over ten years, the FDA found out of one hundred and ninety-eight new medications developed, one hundred and two were either recalled or had side effects not predicted in animal tests (NAVS). Since the results of animal testing these days no longer confirm the same effects to be probable in humans, the need to test drugs and other medical related items on animals has become an archaic and moot point. It no lo nger serves in man's best interests. â€Å"Experimenting on animals in order to understand the drug or disease response in humans is an archaic and scientifically invalid research method†, states NAVS. Animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) argue that the cruelty animals endure during

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 14

Research Paper Example The real GDP growth of china again reduced to 7.8% and GDP hits approximately 8.23 million US dollars in 2012. According to International Monetary Fund China’s PPP in 2012 was 12,382.559 billion US dollar. According to World Bank’s report China’s PPP in 2011 was 11,290 billion US dollar. The country’s PPP in 2010 was 10085.71 billion US dollars. According to the IMF report it was estimated that Greece would achieve a GDP of 254,978 billion US dollar but finally had achieved a growth of -5.70%. According to the report of UN Greece had achieved a GDP of 299,001 billion US dollar at a growth rate of -6.7%. In 2010 the GDP of Greece was 271.112 billion at a growth rate of -3.5%. Since last few years Greece is going through several economical problems. On the other hand China is becoming one of the strongest leading economies globally. China is the second largest and strongest economy in the world (Deshpande & Nurse, 2012). The higher GDP growth rate, increasing GNP and increasing PPP is the evidence of China’s economical development. On the other hand, decreasing GDP growth rate, decrease in per capita income of people which has identified in this study clearly states the Greece is undergoing several economical problems. Greek government debt-crisis and European Sovereign-debt crisis is the key reason behind the economical problems of Greece. The Greek government debt crisis is a part of European sovereign-debt crisis. It is a structural weakness of the economy of Greece that coupled with banking and tax unification of the monetary union of Europe. Due to these kinds of problems Greece is going through several challenges. In terms of China, the Nation is experiencing a higher average growth rate of 10% over the last 30 years. Higher GDP growth, increasing per capita income, high disposable income of people and Higher GNP states that the country is becoming one of the strongest economies. According to reports of

Rephrase Completely Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rephrase Completely - Essay Example tickets with much lower costs with their business model mirroring that of SWA with only a single type of airplane being used thus lowering their total maintenance costs. In addition, JetBlue has also been successful in its cost management strategy by plying their aircrafts to longer distances and also boarding more passengers in a single flight. This strategy has enabled them to gain more profits by covering the fixed costs in the higher number of tickets sold. The low fares offered by the airline per available seat-mile is the lowest fare provided in the whole of the US. Apart from the cost leadership, JetBlue further distinguishes itself from SWA in other facilities offered to the passengers. SWA has only been able to offer the low air fares by compromising on certain passenger amenities. However, JetBlue has been able to provide high-class services to its passengers even while offering low fares. Some of the facilities offered which distinguishes JetBlue from its competitors include comfortable leather seats; several facilities for entertainment such as individual screens and radio channels. Thus JetBlue has been able to successfully integrate the lower costs of structure and operations with high-class facilities and service provided to the passengers. In addition to these, better services and low fares are also available even during ticket procurement. JetBlue deploys live agents in the ticketing department as it has realized that several customers prefer to speak to agents directly while purchasing their tickets. They also offer home sourcing fo r aged customers who are unable to commute or buy tickets online. Such measures have increased their productivity and emerged as a cheaper alternative to outsourcing and has also contributed to better face value among its customers. Adopting the integration strategy has given a competitive advantage to JetBlue which offers low cost and a relatively better service value While such integrative measures can create a

Duality in Waiting For Godot

Duality in Waiting For Godot Beckett is known to have commented, I had little talent for happiness.- This sentence in itself is absurd, like the most famous drama of Beckett: Waiting for Godot. But what exactly absurdity means? The original or dictionary meaning of absurd is Out of harmony. utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false.But the word has a different meaning when it is used int he theatre of the absurd. Marking the difference between a good play and an absurd play, Martin Esslin opines: If a good play must have a cleverly constructed story, these have no story or plot to speak of : if a good play is judged by subtlety of characterization and motivation, these are often without recognizable characters and present the audience with almost mechanical puppets; if a good play has to have a fully explained theme, which is neatly exposed and finally solved, these often have neither a beginning nor an end; if a good play is to hold the mirror upto nature and portray the manners and mannerisms of the age in finely observed sketches, these seem often to be reflections of dreams and nightmares if a good play relies on witty repartee and pointed dialogues, these often consist of incoherent babblings. Waiting for Godot is chock-full of pairs. Theres Vladimir and Estragon, the two thieves, the Boy and his brother, Pozzo and Lucky, Cain and Abel, and of course the two acts of the play itself. With these pairs comes the repeated notion of arbitrary, 50/50 chances. One thief is saved and other damned, but for no clear reason. If Vladimir and Estragon try to hang themselves, the bough may or may not break. One man may die, one man may live. Godot may or may not come to save them. In the Bible, Cains sacrifice was rejected and Abels accepted for no discernible reason. Its minor, but Estragons line in Act I: My left lung is very weak [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦]. But my right lung is sound as a bell! More pairs, more arbitrary damnation. Even the tone of Waiting for Godot is filled with duality: two person arguments, back-and-forth questions, disagreement-agreement, questions and (often inadequate) answers. The tree is the only distinct piece of the setting, so were pretty sure it matters. Right off the bat youve got the biblical stuff; Jesus was crucified on a cross, but that cross is sometimes referred to as a tree, as in, Jesus was nailed to the tree. That Vladimir and Estragon contemplate hanging themselves from the tree is likely a reference to the crucifixion, but it also parodies the religious significance. If Jesus died for the sins of others, Vladimir and Estragon are dying for nothing. But we can also think of the two men not as Jesus, but rather as the two thieves crucified along with Jesus. This fits quite nicely with gospels tale as Vladimir tells it; one thief is saved and the other damned, so Didi and Gogo are looking at a fifty-fifty chance. The uncertainty that stems from inconsistency between the four gospels is fitting, too, since Vladimir cant be certain if Godot is coming to save either one of them. Furthermore, Vladimir reports that he was told to wait for Godot by the tree. This should be reassuring it means the men are in the right place. As Estragon points out, theyre not sure if this is the right tree. And, come to think of it, they cant even be sure if this is a tree or not. It kind of looks like a shrub. The tree could be the tree of life. So the trees random blooming would suggest that it is something of a tree of life. And, according to the proverb, that means a desire has been fulfilled. Moreover the trees sprouting leaves could be an ironic symbol pointing out that, far from fulfilled desires, hopes have been deferred yet another day much like Vladimirs ironic claim in Act II that things have changed here since yesterday when, clearly, nothing at all has.. While Vladimir and Estragon wait for Godot, they also wait for nightfall. For some reason (again, arbitrary and uncertain), they dont have to wait for him once the night has fallen. The classic interpretation is that night = dark = death. The falling of night is as much a reprieve from daily suffering as death is from the suffering of a lifetime. Theres also the issue of the moon, as its appearance in the sky is the real signal that night has come and the men can stop waiting for Godot. Estragon, in one of his wicked smart moments, comments the moon is pale for weariness [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] of climbing heaven and gazing on the likes of us. Though the man remembers nothing of yesterday, he does in this moment seem to comprehend the endless repetition of his life. And if the moon is weary just from watching, imagine what that says about the predicament of the men themselves. Carrots and turnips are in one sense just a gag reel for Vladimir and Estragons comic bits. But I was interested in their disagreement over the vegetable: Funny, Estragon comments as he munches, the more you eat, the worse it gets. Vladimir quickly disagrees, adding that, for him, its just the opposite. On the one hand, this could be a completely meaningless conversation the point is simply that Vladimir is in disagreement, playing at opposites, adding to the bickering duality between himself and Gogo. On the other hand, the carrot could be about the meaning of life. It could be a hint as to the differences between the way Vladimir and Estragon live their lives. Vladimirs subsequent comment, an addendum to his carrot claim, is that he gets used to the muck as [he goes] along. He resigns himself to banality. Estragon, on the other hand, wearies as time passes much like the weary moon he observes in Act II. When Pozzo later dishes about smoking, he claims that a second pipe is never so sweet [as the first]. But its sweet just the same. This is a third and distinct answer to the carrot question. When Lucky is commanded to dance in Act I, Pozzo reveals that he calls his dance The Net, adding, He thinks hes entangled in a net. You would think a guy tied up on a rope leash would feel confined enough. Of course, the image of Lucky writhing in an imaginary net is a lasting image for the play as a whole, and especially for the plight of Vladimir and Estragon, who, as weve said before, are confined in a prison or perhaps a net of their own imaginations. There seems to be no shortage of inane props in Waiting for Godot, and these three have one thing in common: they are all absurd objects on which the men have developed irrational dependences. Lucky cannot think without his bowler. Pozzo needs his vaporizer to speak. Estragon seems condemned to forever take his boots on and off, as does Vladimir with his hat. This is another great combination of the tragic and the comic; the situation is hilarious for its absurdity, but dismal at the same time. Estragon is repeatedly repelled by smells in Waiting for Godot. Vladimir stinks of garlic, Lucky smells like who knows what, and Pozzo reeks of a fart in Act II. It seems every time Estragon tries to get close to a person, he is repelled by their odor. It looks to us like smells represent one of the barriers to interpersonal relationships. Estragon isnt just repelled by odors hes repelled by the visceral humanity of those around him. Theres something gritty and base about the odor of a human body, and for Estragon its too much to handle. There are several interpretations of Waiting for Godot, the two most well-known are the religious one and the political one. The religious interpretations posit Vladimir and Estragon as humanity waiting for the elusive return of a savior. If this is the basic idea, then this makes Pozzo into the Pope and Lucky into the faithful. The faithful are then viewed as a cipher of God cut short by human intolerance. The twisted tree can alternatively represent either the tree of death, the tree of life, the tree of Judas or the tree of knowledge. Political interpretations also abound. Some reviewers hold that the relationship between Pozzo and Lucky is that of a capitalist to his labor. This Marxist interpretation is understandable given that in the second act Pozzo is blind to what is happening around him and Lucky is mute to protest his treatment. The play has also been understood as an allegory for Franco-German relations. An interesting interpretation argues that Lucky receives his name because he is lucky in the context of the play. Since most of the play is spent trying to find things to do to pass the time, Lucky is lucky because his actions are determined absolutely by Pozzo. Pozzo on the other hand is unlucky because he not only needs to pass his own time but must find things for Lucky to do.