Tuesday, November 26, 2019

What to Do if You Get Sick in College

What to Do if You Get Sick in College Being sick in college is not the most pleasant of experiences. You likely have no one taking care of you, like you would  at home, while at the same time your responsibilities and obligations continue to pile up as youre stuck in bed. So just what are your options if you get sick in college? Let Your Professors Know If you are a student in a small class, have a big day in class (meaning you have a paper due or presentation to give), or have any other responsibilities where your absence will be both noted and problematic. A quick email letting your professor know youre sick while promising to follow-up with them about how to make up the assignment (including a gracious request for an extension), should only take a few minutes to write but will save you quite a bit of time later. Take Care of Yourself True, you have that midterm to take, a huge event your cultural club is planning, and the concert you and your roommate have had tickets for months. It may be frustrating, but you need to take care of yourself first and foremost. The last thing you need, after all, is to just get even sicker just  because you didnt take care of yourself. It may seem impossible at first, but there really are ways to get more sleep in college. Let yourself sleep! Healthy eating in college can be a challenge- but it also can be accomplished. Think of what your mother would want you to eat: fruits and veggies, things with nutrition, healthy liquids. Translation: no, a donut and a Diet Coke wont work for breakfast, especially when youre sick. Grab a banana, slice of toast, and orange juice instead. Sometimes, common over-the-counter medications like aspirin and DayQuil can make a bad cold or flu manageable. Dont be afraid to ask a friend or roommate to grab you something while theyre out and about! Get a Check-up at the Campus Health Center If youre sick for more than a day or two, have really bad symptoms, or otherwise just dont feel right, utilize what your campus has to offer. Make an appointment- or just walk in- to the campus health center. They can check you out while also offering advice and medication to get you back on your feet. Keep Checking in With Your Professors If youre missing a day of lecture in your chemistry class, you can usually grab notes from a friend or get them online. But if youre missing a few days, especially when theres intense material being covered or discussed, let your professor know whats going on. Tell your professor that youre really sick and  that you might need a little help catching up. Its much, much easier to be in touch early on than try to explain later why you havent been to class, havent been in touch, and havent turned in your assignments. Prioritize Your To-do List If youre sick for more than a day or two, you will likely fall behind on at least something- life in college moves very, very quickly. Take a few moments to write down a little list of what you have to do and then prioritize. Getting to the health center for a Strep Throat test? Priority! Updating Facebook with pictures from last weekends Halloween party? Not a priority. Take care of the most important things now so you can do the other things you want and need to do later. Major Illness or Extended Sick Time If your sick day or two turns into a major illness or youre sick for long enough that your academics suffer, you might need to take more drastic measures. Always Let Your Professors Know Whats Going On Even if you just shoot them a quick email letting them know that youve been really sick for a week and are trying to figure out whats going on, that email is much better than complete silence. Ask them what they need from you, if anything, to justify this much-missed class (a note from the health center? copies of your hospital paperwork?). Additionally, check your syllabi or ask your professors directly about what their policy is if youve missed something major, like a midterm or paper deadline. Check in With Your Campus Health Center If youre sick for more than a day or two, definitely go see the campus health center. On top of a check-up, they can verify with your professors that, indeed, you do have a nasty case of the flu and need to be out of class for another day or so. Keep the Faculty up to Date Check in with your academic adviser, an academic support office, the dean of students office, and/or the dean of faculty office. If youre missing a lot of class, are sick, and your academics are suffering, youll need some help from the campus administration. Dont worry, though: this doesnt mean youve done anything wrong. It just means youve been sick! And everyone from your adviser to the dean of faculty has dealt with sick students before. Life happens in college; people get sick. Just be smart about it and let the appropriate people know so that, as you begin to recover, you can have the support you need academically instead of having to stress  about your situation.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

House-Sitting Puts Ink in the Travel Writers Pen

House-Sitting Puts Ink in the Travel Writers Pen Staying for extended stretches in exotic and culturally rich places for free? Then being paid for pieces you’ve written about your stay? Sounds unreal, but the reality is anything but: over the past several years I’ve spent one- to two-month periods in Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, the Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with my sweetheart Alice, without paying a cent for lodging. With some careful prep, and an open eye and mind for stories when you get there, you can set yourself up for exciting travel- and even some green from writing about that excitement. Finding the Opportunities For the past few years,  mindmyhouse.com  has been our house-sitting site of choice. The site provides descriptions and photos of the properties, dates and length of stays, and what the homeowner wants you to do in exchange for staying at their home. MindMyHouse emails listings almost daily, and they are truly from all over the world. Some owners want you to do things like manage multiple Airbnbs or groom their herd of buffalo, but most of them want someone to take care of pets, water plants and keep the house secure. The Net, Cast Wide To be doable, you have to have work that allows you to leave your house for relatively long stretches of time. The Internet has opened the floodgates for such â€Å"solopreneurs.† Both Alice and I have been freelancing out of our home for years. Of course, house-sitting means someone probably has to take care of your home as well. We have a cat who needs attention, as well as a garden, and we’ve found house-sitters on MindMyHouse who have done fine jobs. We wrote a small manual of the idiosyncrasies of our house so that there aren’t any surprises and have made sure the bills are set up to be paid in advance. One sour surprise is when the Internet is spotty in the house-sit home, or worse, out for days at a time. That’s happened to us in the Bahamas, and that didn’t help with some deadlines. However, that does allow for time to engage in travel writing. Look for Angles, Before, During and After Look for story angles in advance to see if there’s any editor interest. I pitched stories about biking to the lava flow on the Big Island and on things to do in Hilo before we spent time there, and later had the pieces published in the Los Angeles Times and the San Jose Mercury News. At the same time, it’s smart- and fun- to be open to story ideas that crop up. When we stayed in the Grenadine Islands, we found out that there’s a rum distillery on St. Vincent and took a private tour there. Haven’t placed that story yet, but I did place a fun one on looking for whiskey on an island of rum. Always have your camera at the ready when you’re out and about, as you’re likely to find sights for your lenses that most short-visit tourists wouldn’t. And I never travel without a notepad, making sure to type up my scrawled notes about people, places and things within a day or two of scrawling them, when my memory is fresh. Your Office Is the World Even if you have to take care of ill or psychologically-damaged pets (a couple of times for us), or a psychologically-damaged owner (once, and that was enough), the opportunities for travel writing as a house-sitter are deep. House-sitting puts you in a great position to see splendid sights- and then set them on the paying page.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Are we prepared Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Are we prepared - Essay Example r management programs that meet the requirements of state license bodies and the JCAHO, the main issues of concern are whether the plans fully address the requirements of the community and those of the health facility (Aguirre, &Quarantelli, 2008). In Merrillville, Indiana, where I work, there is the white code plan for disaster management. As a midnight nurse, I encounter a lot of challenges at work especially during winter where the weather gets at its worst with winter floods. Sometimes I am mandated to work during the day while waiting for relieve. Despite the plan being function on some occasions and meeting the licensing requirements, there are still loopholes and areas that need to be addressed in order to enable the plan meet the needs of the stakeholders in the facility. First, a disaster planning committee has to be established to supervise the execution of the plan. The committee should have representatives from the various departments of the facility as well as specialists in disaster management (Uscher-Pines, 2009). There is also need to acquire the latest tools and equipment to accompany the disaster plan. Finally, the plan needs to be amended to include a disaster recovery

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Finding Books (Search Assignment) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finding Books (Search Assignment) - Essay Example The capability to manage combat stress is a fundamental feature of excellent mental health in soldiers. Consequently, the difference between performance in training and performance under anxiety is imperative, and each service member ought to be exposed to combat instruction under stress. One of the most ordinary mental disorders is Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and according to this article it is apparent that the disorder was formerly not understood. This article specifies that PTSD might lead to mental breakdown in service members, and as combat progresses, the mental disorder is becoming increasingly predominant. This article also specifies that the causes of Post traumatic stress disorder include physical fatigue, exposure to traumatic images as well as the horror experienced in the battle field. The scope of the disorder is prevalent, and may be treated by administering regimes of relaxation and rest (Peter, 2005). By employing the CRAAP evaluation system, it is apparent that this article is contemporary. This is because it was published in 2005, and the links are efficient, and the old sources are also pertinent. The information is applicable to the topic, because it grants the causes, history of the condition, as well as ways of treating PTSD. This article is also reliable, because it is published in an encyclopedia that involves with the military and the consequences of ill health on the military. The precision and the rationale of the information presented in the article are also verified, since the anticipated audience includes students and the public. In conducting this research, I was able to understand how psychiatric disorders occasionally develop as service men and women get exposed to complicated combat zones. I was also able to comprehend how PTSD affects not only the individual sufferer, but also their families. In conducting this research, I was able to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Maori Culture Essay Example for Free

Maori Culture Essay Abstract The Maori, which means ordinary or common, arrived in New Zealand in the 14th century. Polynesian by descent, they came from the mythical land of Hawaiki, believed by many experts to be a combination of places, including Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii and the Cook Islands. Upon arriving in New Zealand, the Maori dubbed the picturesque land Aotearoa, or land of the long white cloud. The Maori Culture The Maori like many other Pacific Islanders started their journey in a canoe. Living on an island afforded the Maori with a unique and diverse culture that is still evident in Modern day New Zealand. In the next few pages I will give you a brief glimpse of the Maori way of life then and now. I will discuss the belief and value system, gender roles, healing the sick and also the impact of Colonialism on the Maori way of life. There are three basic beliefs and values of the Maori. I nga wa o Mua, Whakapapa and Mana. I nga wa o Mu. Maori believe that ancestors and supernatural beings are ever-present and able to help the tribe in times of need. The Maori world view is to look in front of us to the past for guidance as that is where we came from. It was because of this philosophy that the Maori did not conveniently forget about the Treaty of Waitangi once it was signed. Through facing the past they can learn from past mistakes and not repeat them. This concept is totally reversed in other cultures, who try to encourage them to forget about the past and to put things behind them Whakapapa Whakapapa translated means genealogy. The Maori believe that everything and everyone are connected and therefore a part of their Whakapapa. Whakapapa includes genealogies of spiritual and mythological significance, as well as information about the persons tribe and the land he or she lives on. The Whakapapa is passed down orally in the form of stories. One of the most famous stories is story of the creation of Aotearoa. Aotearoa was pulled from the sea by the demi god Maui. Maui was the last of five brothers and was known to be clever. He hid in the canoe of his brothers and when they would not give him bait to fish he took his magical hook and slashed his face and smeared the blood on his hook so that his blood would attract the fish. Smelling the blood the god of the sea gave Maui his biggest fish. Maui asked his brothers to not cut up and eat the fish until proper arrangements had been made to appease and thank the gods for their gift. While Maui was on land trying to pull the boat to shore his brothers started to cut the fish because it started to move. That is why Aotearoa the fish and the mountains and the valleys are where Maui’s brothers tried to cut the fish. Mana According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Mana is â€Å"Among Polynesian and Melanesian peoples, a supernatural force or power that may be ascribed to persons, spirits, or inanimate objects. Mana may be good or evil, beneficial or dangerous, but it is not impersonal; it is never spoken of except in connection with powerful beings or things. The term was first used in the 19th century in the West in connection with religion, but mana is now regarded as a symbolic way of expressing the special qualities attributed to persons of status in a hierarchical society, of providing sanction for their actions, and of explaining their failures†. The Maori believe in three forms of Mana. The first type of Mana is the Mana that you have when you are born. This Mana comes from your Whakapapa and can attribute to the rank and status of your descendants. This Mana is not only the ancestor themselves but also the deeds that they did and the skills, traits and abilities taught to them by their tupuna (elders). The second type of Mana is Mana given to you by other people. Today there are people who seek Mana and deliberately go around trying to gain Mana by telling people about their own importance. There is a Maori saying: â€Å" The Kumara does not talk about its’ own sweetness.† But Mana seekers do exactly that. Humbleness is a very highly valued trait in the Maori world. Many of the great leaders are very humble people, hence part of their greatness. The Maori people sing their praises, thereby heightening their Mana. You will never hear the great leaders singing their own praises. It is not that they are trying to be humble; it is that they just are. The third type of Mana is Mana from the group. The best example I could come up with is the Mana of the marae. The marae is the sacred courtyard that you must be formally invited to enter for the first time. The marae is where challenges are met and issues are debated. When you stay on a Marae all are treated well and fed great food. When the visitor leaves they tell everyone about the great time they had thus increasing the Mana of the marae. If they tell everyone they were treated ill and unkind then the Mana of the marae decreases. Traditional Maori folklore focuses on oppositions between pairs, such as earth and sky, life and death, and male and female. From the time of creation the original couple, Rangi (sky) and Papa (earth) were locked in sexual union until the god Tane was able to push them apart and provide for the creation of human life. So as you can see opposition existed before the creation of human life according to Maori traditional stories. It then would suffice that opposition would exist throughout Maori culture. Premarital sexual relationships were considered normal for Maori adolescents. Both males and females were expected to have a series of private relationships before they married. When Maori females became sexually active, they were to publicly acknowledge this so that they could become tattooed. Tattooing marked their ritual and public passage into adulthood. It was also considered extremely attractive and erotic. Tattooing among the Maori was highly developed and extremely symbolic. Maori facial tattoos were created by two methods. One was by piercing and pigmenting the skin with a tattooing comb. The other was by creating permanent grooves in the face with a chisel-like instrument. . Females were also tattooed in Maori society. Female facial tattooing was known as ta ngutu. Designs were placed on the chin and lips. When it comes to sickness and healing in Maori culture things were very different before Colonization. In traditional times before the colonization of New Zealand, Maori saw science and religion as the same entity and believed that illnesses were caused by supernatural sources. Maori had a good concept of anatomy, physiology and the use of plants for healing; however there was an undefined distinction between the mind and body. Maori believed an evil spirit or a type of witchcraft would attack an individual to cause ill-health as a punishment for breaking the tapu (sacred restriction) of the family that the spirit belonged to. This type of illness was called mate atua (disease of the gods) since there was no obvious physical cause. The individual would experience pain, weakness, loss of appetite, malaise, fever and occasionally delirium due to possession of the spirit. When Captain James Cook colonized New Zealand in 1830 he brought with him, evasive plants and animals as well as guns, alcohol and diseases that the Maori were previously exposed to. New Zealand’s isolation meant that the Maori people lacked immunity to bacterial and viral infections that were common in other countries. The Maori found that their healing methods were ineffective against the new diseases and had to rely on the medicines of the missionaries. The effectiveness and popularity of the missionaries’ medicines assisted in the conversion of Maori to Christianity. It appeared to the Maori that the Christian god had superior powers and this attributed to the health and prosperity of the Europeans. The fundamentals of Maori society, culture, religion and medicine became strained as religion was involved in their everyday lives and many of their beliefs were based upon it. The people began to lose their Mana due to the shift of religion and the spread of Western knowledge undermining the tohunga’s ( spiritual leader) authority The downfall of the whare wananga (school of learning) was also due to conflict between Maori religion and Christianity. In 1907 the Tohunga Supression Act was passed due to concern being raised over the practice and safety of some tohunga. Maori healing was seen as ‘dangerous’ by Western modern medicine as it was not scientifically proven. The Tohunga Suppression Act was repealed in 1962 however this had little significance as some tohunga had practiced throughout the 20th century especially in remote rural areas of the country. Tohunga are still significant in current Rongoa Maori however modern tohunga have not been trained in traditional methods giving them a position of authority and prestige however they are still recognized as experts in their field. Many modern tohunga showed potential in their childhood by spending time with their elders and learning tribal and cultural lore. They then became an apprentice under an established tohunga to learn their expertise Current Maori healthcare is based on a holistic model that incorporates the physical, emotional, family and spiritual aspects of health. Each aspect must be treated or used to ensure full recovery of a patient. The current function of modern tohunga is varied. Conventional medicine is incorporated into the tohunga’s practice however traditional methods of karakia (chants) and inoi (prayer) are still extensively used. Native plants for medicinal purposes are widely used however application of uses varies between each practitioner. References 1. Franklin- Barbajosa, Cassandra. Tattoo: Pigments of Imagination. National Geographic News. March 7, 2008. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0412/online_extra.html 2. Maori.org.nz. http://www.maori.org.nz/ 3. Moriori. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9053755/Morior 4. The Legend of Maui. http://www.sacredtexts.com/pac/maui/maui04.htm 5. The Definition of Mana. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mana 6. Maori Colonization. http://www.heritagehistory.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=erasFileName=britain_11.php

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Eulogy for Grandmother :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Grandmother The phone call came at 6:45 on the evening of the 16th. At 8:58 I sent out an e-mail message to friends about my Grandmother's death. Many of those friends are former and current church members of congregations I have served as pastor. By the next morning I was receiving e-mail messages back. The ones from former and current church members had a common theme. In addition to expressing their sympathy they all said that they felt they had known my grandmother: "We remember your grandmother from the stories you would tell us of her." That is the nature of memories. They can be collective, shared, or private. They may be special moments - remembrances of her as a sister, a wife, a mother, or a friend. But, when we share those memories they become a part of someone else. The memories become the possession of others. When the Bible tells us to be kind to foreigners in our midst because we were once slaves in Egypt it assumes we have made that memory our own. We were once slaves in Egypt. The sacred memory has been passed down to us. Today, I want to share just a few memories of my Grandmother. She was a determined woman. Yes, she was a woman who could be patient, but that was restricted by the limits of her determination. When I was small she decided it was time to clean the attic. She had asked my Grandfather to place the wagon underneath the attic window so she could drop the stuff she wanted to be rid of. Well, my Grandfather was busy with other things. One day she decided she had waited long enough. She went to the attic and opened up the window and began to hurl items from the window. Imagine my surprise to items raining from the sky. Imagine my Grandfather's surprise upon his return. Then there was the time she was after my Grandfather to clean out the chimney. My Grandfather was up working in the fields when a chimney fire broke out. I was still a baby and my mother picked me up and went running next door to Aunt Mid's house. My Grandmother called the fire department (instead of calling for my Grandfather). My grandfather saw the fire trucks coming up the road from town - followed by cars of just about everybody who lived along the way! My Grandfather saw to it that the chimney stayed clean after that. Eulogy for Grandmother :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Grandmother The phone call came at 6:45 on the evening of the 16th. At 8:58 I sent out an e-mail message to friends about my Grandmother's death. Many of those friends are former and current church members of congregations I have served as pastor. By the next morning I was receiving e-mail messages back. The ones from former and current church members had a common theme. In addition to expressing their sympathy they all said that they felt they had known my grandmother: "We remember your grandmother from the stories you would tell us of her." That is the nature of memories. They can be collective, shared, or private. They may be special moments - remembrances of her as a sister, a wife, a mother, or a friend. But, when we share those memories they become a part of someone else. The memories become the possession of others. When the Bible tells us to be kind to foreigners in our midst because we were once slaves in Egypt it assumes we have made that memory our own. We were once slaves in Egypt. The sacred memory has been passed down to us. Today, I want to share just a few memories of my Grandmother. She was a determined woman. Yes, she was a woman who could be patient, but that was restricted by the limits of her determination. When I was small she decided it was time to clean the attic. She had asked my Grandfather to place the wagon underneath the attic window so she could drop the stuff she wanted to be rid of. Well, my Grandfather was busy with other things. One day she decided she had waited long enough. She went to the attic and opened up the window and began to hurl items from the window. Imagine my surprise to items raining from the sky. Imagine my Grandfather's surprise upon his return. Then there was the time she was after my Grandfather to clean out the chimney. My Grandfather was up working in the fields when a chimney fire broke out. I was still a baby and my mother picked me up and went running next door to Aunt Mid's house. My Grandmother called the fire department (instead of calling for my Grandfather). My grandfather saw the fire trucks coming up the road from town - followed by cars of just about everybody who lived along the way! My Grandfather saw to it that the chimney stayed clean after that.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Prestige Telephone Company Essay

1.Identify the costs that are relevant to the analysis to discontinue Prestige Data Services: Relevant costs in the analysis by Prestige Telephone Company decision to discontinue Prestige Data Services include: fixed costs which must be absorbed by the parent company (Prestige Telephone) upon shutdown; outstanding Prestige Data Services debts; costs of retraining retained employees; costs associated with outsourcing data services previously provided by Prestige Data Services; opportunity cost of using space rented to Prestige Data Services; marketing costs attributed to acquiring additional Prestige Data Services customers; costs of increasing promotional activities of Prestige Data Services. In addition, Prestige Telephone Company should consider the qualitative cost of reduced employee morale which may result upon shutdown of Prestige Data Services. Maintenance costs 2.Justify why each of the costs in item 1 is relevant: The costs listed above are all relevant because they each vary with the shutdown decision. ââ€"  Fixed costs which must be absorbed by the parent company (Prestige Telephone) upon shutdown: Payroll, billing, collections, and other corporate services were provided by Prestige Telephone in return for an amount from Data Services based on wages and salaries. These fixed costs allocated to Prestige Data Services must now be accounted for by the parent company. ââ€"  Costs of retraining employees: If employees are retained by Prestige Telephone, wages and salaries that were previously incurred by the Data Services line will hit Prestige Telephone’s budget. Also, new skills will be required of employees retained by the company as well as accompanying training expenses. ââ€"  Costs associated with outsourcing data services previously provided by Prestige Data Services: Prestige Telephone will still require the services Prestige Data Services supply and thus will need to outsource them. Since Prestige Telephone was using a price cap based on estimated data usage in 1999, they were effectively getting discounted data service rates from the subsidiary. If Data Services is shut down, the company might incur much higher service expenses. ââ€"  The maintenance cost is relevant because if Data Services is  shut down the company will no longer incur this costs, thus it needs to be considered as a cost the parent company can eliminate. ââ€"  Opportunity cost of using space rented to Prestige Data Services: If Prestige Telephone decides to shut down the Data Services Company, the parent company will lose the $8000 monthly rental fee paid by the current subsidiary. Additionally, Prestige Telephone must consider the opportunity cost of renting the space to another company or service that may provide them with more income. ââ€"  If Prestige Data Services is shut down, marketing costs attributed to acquiring additional Prestige Data Services customers and promotional activities will no longer be necessary. ââ€"  Termination of Prestige Data Services employees as a result of shut down may reduce the morale of any retained employees or employees of the parents company. Prestige might experience decreased productivity or increased turnover as a result. 3.Identify the costs that are NOT relevant to the analysis to discontinue Prestige Data Services: Costs not relevant to the decision are sunk costs such as the costs of training Prestige Data Service employees, investments in the IT infrastructure, and any owned Prestige Data Services Equipment. In addition, the fixed portion of the electricity costs is not relevant. Depreciation costs are also not relevant. The leases for computer equipment are non-cancelable and therefore may be considered sunk costs because Data Services is expected to cover the costs associated with the leases prior to being shutdown. However if Prestige Data Services is unable to pay off the leases, these costs will become relevant because the parent company, Prestige Telephone would be responsible for debts owed. 4.Justify why each of the costs in item 3 is NOT relevant Fixed cost: Costs of equipment and fixtures are incurred whether or not Prestige Data Service continues to operate. Even if the subsidiary company is shut down, these fixed costs must still be taken into consideration. Some costs, such as electricity, whether used or not, will be charged for a certain basic amount every month and therefore should not be considered relevant. Depreciation is not relevant because cost of equipment is a sunk cost. There is no significant salvage value for the equipment. 5.Identify the revenues that are relevant to the analysis to discontinue Prestige Data Services: Revenues relevant to the analysis to discontinue the operation are commercial sales revenue which includes computer use and other. 6.Justify why the revenues in item 5 are relevant: The revenues in item 5 differ across alternatives. In other words, these revenues are directly tied to Prestige Data Services. If the production capacity of Prestige Data Services decreases to zero, all the revenue resulting from these operations will also decrease to $0, which decreases the subsidiary’s contribution to its parent company. 7.Identify the revenues that are NOT relevant to the analysis to discontinue Prestige Data Services. The revenue of Prestige Telephone and the revenue from intercompany Sales are not relevant to the decision. 8.Justify why the revenues in item 7 are NOT relevant. As we explained in item 6, all revenues from Prestige Data Services will change depending on the decision. As the production capacity is varied, all the revenues will vary. These changes show the expected overall effect on net income. Revenue at Prestige Telephone will not vary based on the decision to shut down Prestige Data Services because Prestige Telephone’s revenue is not tied to the operations of the subsidiary. From the perspective of the Parent Company, Intercompany Sales are a revenue stream for the subsidiary, but an equal cost to the Parent, thus it doesn’t affect the balance sheet of the parent company. 9.Is Prestige Data Services really a problem to the parent company. Justify your answer. Prestige Data Service is not a problem to the parent company. This is primarily because: —Prestige Telephone will need to absorb Prestige Data’s relevant fixed costs. —Prestige Telephone will have to pay higher rates for services previously provided by Prestige Data Services. Regardless of possible sunk costs such as equipment leases ($95,000), Prestige Data Service positively contributes to the parent company. Additionally, if Prestige Data Services were to charge Prestige Telephone the same rates ($800 per service hour) it charges for commercial services, the company would not be operating  at a loss. If these commercial rates are considered competitive then the subsidiary is saving its parent money. Furthermore, there are several strategies that can be implemented to increase the business value of Prestige Data Services, such as reducing computer usage. 10.Prepare monthly income statements for January, February, and March which support your answer to item 9.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Marketing Mix of Mcdonalds

Marketing Mix Marketing mix must focus on the product, pricing, promotion, and placement of item in order to make it successful. Marketing strategies must feature customer orientation, input, and accessibility in the fight to the top of the market. McDonald's is no different. An example of this is illustrated with a comparison of McDonalds and Wendy's. At first glance, they may appear to have roughly the same marketing mix and target markets. Both are fast food and provide similar products. However, looking closer, one can recognize that McDonald's primary target market is children ages 3-11 and their parents. McDonald's understood that the parent was making the purchasing decision, most likely based on price. What McDonald's marketing executives did was ingenious. They put a $. 50 toy in with the hamburger, french fries, and drink and gave it a special name, the â€Å"Happy Meal†. Then McDonald's marketed the Happy Meal to the kids. If you have you ever asked your child where to buy a Happy Meal, they will tell you that there is only one place you can buy one, and that is at Fun McFactsWhen Was Your McDonald's Favorite Introduced? 1955 – Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, shakes, soft drinks, coffee and milk 1963 -Filet-O-Fish 968 -Big Mac and Hot Apple Pie 1973 -Quarter Pounder and Egg McMuffin 1974 -McDonaldland Cookies 1977 -Breakfast Menu 1978 -Sundaes 1979 -Happy Meals 1983 -Chicken McNuggets 1986 -Biscuit Sandwiches 1987 -Salads 1998 -McFlurry Desserts 1999 -Breakfast Bagels 2000 -Chicken McGrill and Crispy Chicken 2001 -Big N' Tasty 2003 -Premium Salads, Newman's Own ® salad dressings and McGriddles 2004 -2004 Chicken Selects ® Premium Breast Strips McDonald's. McDonald's has Ronald McDonald, playgrounds or PlayPlaces, â€Å"Happy Meals,† and fun advertisements with brightly colored â€Å"Fry Guys† or the â€Å"Cheese Burgerler†. Contrastingly, Wendy's targets a more adult market and the restaurants represent a more mature atmosphere with carpet floors and Dave Thomas advertisements. Wendy's does have children's meals that offer a toy, but overall the atmosphere attracts a different demographic group. McDonald's restaurants have a variety of strategies that apply to product, placement, promotion, and price that makes them one of the most successful, well-recognized organizations in the world. Product Strategies McDonald's marketing strategies should be looked at historically in order to see the larger picture of the firm's success. There have been so many strategies since the inception of the firm that it is difficult to account for them all, the two most memorable are the development of the â€Å"Golden Arches† and â€Å"Ronald McDonald†. These two icons have given customers a mental image of what to look for when they want quality food for a low price fast. The firm revolutionized the fast food industry and positioned itself as the market leader with low-priced, quality food and provided an entertaining atmosphere for the children. These things were what that the market wanted at the time and the firm answered in spades. The perceived secret of McDonald's success is the willingness to innovate, even while striving to achieve consistency in the operation of its many outlets. For example, its breakfast menu, salads, Chicken McNuggets, and the McLean Deluxe sandwich were all examples of how the company tried to appeal to a wider range of consumers. The long history of innovation and experimentation resulted in new profit centers like Chicken McNuggets and the breakfast menu. Innovation and experimentation also produced some disappointments like the McLean Deluxe, but inevitably experimentation in limited outlets provides McDonald's a way to retain its key strengths-quality and consistency-while continuing to evolve. The use of franchising, again, provides various perspectives that, in turn, lead to innovation for products and solutions. Franchisees agree to operate their restaurants in the â€Å"McDonald's way† but there remains room for innovation. Many ideas for new menu items come from franchisees responding to customer demand. Developing new products is crucial to any business even those that successfully relied on a limited menu for many years. As consumer tastes change, menu innovation injects enthusiasm allowing the firm to explore markets previously overlooked or ignored. The â€Å"Egg McMuffin†, for example, was introduced in 1971. This item enabled McDonald's to accommodate consumers of the breakfast market. Filet-o-Fish, Drive-thrus, and Playlands were all products or concepts developed by franchisees. McDonald's tries a few new concepts simultaneous in different parts of the country to find the most promising new menu item. Those with the most potential could be rolled out further, while the ineffective ideas could be left to die quickly. This strategy may be expensive, but the potential to unleash new areas of growth in a maturing market seems to be right in line with what McDonald's has always done. In addition to the local flavors that have been created in the US, McDonald's international restaurants have been conforming to local, regional, and ethnic tastes, too. In a recent McDonald's case study this was explained further: â€Å"For example, ‘Maharaja McBurger' is a vegetarian burger marketed in India. The special requirements for ‘Kosher' foods are followed in Israel. Similarly, McDonald's offers ‘Halal' food in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. During promotions, McDonald's also introduces several other products. For example, its ‘Prosperity Burger' is popular in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore at the time of the Chinese New Year celebrations. In order to respond to the growing phenomenon of health consciousness, McDonald's has moved in favor of lean ground beef, 100% vegetable oil, 1% low-fat milk, low sodium, and low fat This product strategy shows that McDonald's is interested in becoming part of the culture and is looking for ways to appeal to the market internationally. McDonald's menu is based on five main ingredients: beef, chicken, bread, potatoes and milk. Their main products are hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and beverages. In addition, they serve a variety of breakfast items and desserts. Every McDonald's is uniform; you know exactly what you will get no matter what store you go in to. Although McDonald's has thousands of restaurants around the world, it standardizes menus and operating procedures in these restaurants to insure consistency throughout. To maintain consistency in the current menu while the firm tests new products to expand the product line, McDonald's relies on test marketing new menu items in pilot locations. New products are rigorously market tested so that the franchisee will have a reasonable idea of its potential before it is dded to the menu. The introduction of new products, which have already been researched and tested, considerably reduces the risk for the franchisee. The franchisees additionally benefit from the extensive national market research programs that assess consumer attitudes and perceptions. What products do they want to buy and at what price? How are they performing compared to their competitors? This approach allows the firm to id entify which items are likely to prove popular with consumers while ensuring that the company can deliver new products with consistent quality nationwide. McDonald's already has a history of doing this so it will not require major changes to its operations strategy-at least initially. If the product line-up gets too large, then the task of maintaining quality becomes exponentially harder. The trick is to consider how to eliminate some of the existing menu items when you introduce new ones, while making sure the staff is fully trained in how to execute these products successfully. McDonald's serves the world some of its favorite foods – Fries, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, and the Egg McMuffin. To this end, McDonald's had done well with a limited product range. Declining per unit sales and competitors gaining ground, may indicate that McDonald's menu needs a face-lift. One way to do that is by inserting a couple of new, highly promoted menu items. This would refresh the product menu and provide new, satisfying experience for dinner consumers. McDonald's has the opportunity to apply its core competencies of rigorous adherence to quality standards and continual promotion of experimentation in new venues. Imagine McDonald's opening a new casual dining restaurant under a different name, like Mac's, and sliding away from the fast food industry. The firm could franchise that concept nationwide and target the market of consumers who have grown past fast food. McDonald's, or Mac's, meticulous approach to operations would ensure that consumers everywhere would experience the same dining experience at each restaurant. This consistency presents a wonderful advantage for consumers who don't want to be surprised with a bad meal. Consumers would expect the same as they do currently with McDonald's-the Big Mac in Minneapolis is the same as the one in Beijing . Placement Strategies McDonald's focuses on store placement and are always looking for the best locations. This strategy created some weakness in the last 10 years because it seemed that too many stores were put in some areas, cannibalizing sales from the other McDonald's. The company has also made convenience a focus, not only through how fast it serves customers, but also in the location of its outlets. Freestanding restaurants are positioned so that you are never more than a few minutes away by foot in the city or by car in the suburbs. In addition, McDonald's is tucking restaurants into schools, stores, and more . Because McDonald's has pretty well saturated the U. S. arket, it's only real opportunities for growth lie abroad, where the competition is not so cutthroat or by introducing new restaurant concepts under brands other than McDonald's. The organization's overall objective is to increase market share. In this instance, the focus is purely on localization with different strategies for different countries. Pricing could not possibly be standardized across the globe without aliena ting many countries with poorer economies, thus defeating the initial objective. McDonald's set an appropriate price for their product by looking at its competitors in each country. McDonald's is attempting to localize marketing communications due to the realization that it couldn't possibly appeal to all countries at the same time. The firm sees the necessity to â€Å"brand globally, act locally†. For example, in China it was recognized that advertising on television would be a waste of money because commercials between programs are generally ignored. Instead, McDonald's uses newspapers and magazines to promote its image. Similarly, in East Asia, McDonald's targets children in order to gain optimum results. Of course, the ultimate message (brand) is the same; the medium is what is strategically modified. Pricing Strategies McDonald's strategy is to offer quality food quickly to customers at a good value. The pricing structure for McDonald's over years has supported this message. The company strives to differentiate itself from other fast food restaurants by offering a variety of menu items that appeal to a variety of people from those who just want great hamburgers, to those who just want a quick healthy meal. McDonald's differentiates itself by offering a dollar menu, combination meals, and a free toy with Happy Meals McDonald's, over the years, has also ran many promotions to increase traffic or product sales. For instance, the most recent roll out has been the 2004 Chicken Selects premium Breast Strips. Right now, you can go to your local McDonald's and â€Å"try them free. † With this new product is offered a variation of the â€Å"usual† sauces for the Chicken Nuggest – a Chipotle Barbeque sauce is most commonly advertised. Another promotion was the â€Å"Campaign 55† where diners could buy a featured sandwich, like the Big Mac in April, for 55 cents when purchased with fries and a drink. This campaign wasn't as successful as the fast food giant found would have hoped. Many other promotions with food, toys, collectibles, videos, and other prizes have been used by McDonald's restaurants over the past 50-plus years. These promotions, some better than others, have helped to keep McDonald's growing and gaining in the fast food world. Value has been an area in which McDonald's has strengthened over time, not only with customers, but within their distribution, channel management, and logistics strategies as well Distribution, Channel Management, and Logistics. A company the size of McDonald's requires the value chain to be increasingly important. Not only does McDonald's want to add value for the customers, but also the firm looks for ways to improve the operations that makes McDonald's a more efficient business. Promotion Strategies McDonald's knows that some customers go to its stores to take a quick break from their day's activities and not because McDonald's made the food ten seconds faster than their competitors could. Therefore, McDonald's marketing executives then put together the phrase, â€Å"Have you had your break today? † They continued to develop this idea with â€Å"You deserve a break today,† and now are in the â€Å"I'm Lovin' It! mantra. â€Å"I'm Lovin' It! † doesn't seem to have as much punch as the earlier catch phrase, which still seems to be the favorite. McDonald's sees the use of these catch phrases and the use of the Golden Arches as a very successful way of differentiating the restaurants from other fast food competitors. McDonald's has taken price competition out of the picture because the customer feels they have gotten quality, convenience, service, and value – and McDonald's still makes you feel like you are getting a break in your hectic day. Creating catch phrases are only one kind of promotion, and McDonald's uses many kinds of promotions to keep the restaurants at the top of the industry. With the rise of health consciousness it has become more difficult McDonald's to compete because their reputation brands them as cheap food served fast . The firm's response to obesity claims against the organization and other unfavorable public sediment is to add healthier items to their menu and promote and offer health-conscious alternatives to the â€Å"would you like fries with that† legacy. In addition, McDonald's has modernized their advertisements, pamphlets, and website to include nutritional information and addressing diet restrictions. Breaking the unhealthy association is difficult on its own, but with media and movies such as â€Å"Supersize Me† adding to the fray, McDonald's has had to look for alternative strategies to keep consumers happy. Another promotional strategy McDonald's uses is the huge investment in sponsorship. This is also a central part of the image building process. Sponsorship of the 1998 football World Cup, the Premier League and the European Championships increases awareness of McDonald's brand . However, McDonald's still follows Ray Kroc's community beliefs today, supporting the Tidy Britain Group and the Groundwork Trust, as well as local community activities. McDonald's has become a known community partner with Ronald McDonald Houses across the nation for the use of families whose children are hospitalized and getting treatment far from home. This organization has created an image of partnership and community investment with these and other kinds of philanthropic activities . Rob Leavitt, ITSMA e-zine editor, reported in the June 2004 edition that Larry Light, McDonald's Chief Marketing Officer, railed against those claiming brands must have only one identity that appeals to increasingly fragmented audiences. Leavitt also reported, â€Å"Identifying one brand positioning, communicating it in a repetitive manner, is old-fashioned, out-of-date, out-of-touch brand communication,† he said. A brand is multidimensional. No one communication, no one message can tell a whole brand story. † According to Light, marketers that continue to follow a simplistic mass marketing approach are committing â€Å"brand suicide†. Determining which way to market McDonald's and its products is a very important decision that can either cause products to fail or take flight. These same decisions must be made in regards to the ma rketing of the company as a whole. Strategy is the name of this game.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Machiavelli Philosophy Paper The Prince Essay Example

Machiavelli Philosophy Paper The Prince Essay Example Machiavelli Philosophy Paper The Prince Essay Machiavelli Philosophy Paper The Prince Essay Essay Topic: The Prince Machiavelli’s book â€Å"The Prince† is an amazing book. It does not give information or stories that you can pick up on the streets. It is a book full of meaning itself. A lot can be learned from this book especially when it comes to leadership. It is already in the book’s title itself â€Å"The Prince. We have our own ideas on what are the qualities and attributes of a great leader but in Machiavelli’s book is different. According to the book of Machiavelli â€Å"The Prince, one who would lead a nation must know how to control and make a high powered government but not only a simple power that anyone could have but a supreme power that must have authority against people in a certain community. I strongly agree to the part that it was mention in that book that a certain person who will build a community must not be religious but it is said that a Prince must have a council of wise men. A prince shall not only decide on his own which is really amazing that we do not only have to based on what we think but the opinion of others. The Prince wants to separate politics from religion but it does not mean that wise men cannot be wise. Everyone must consider the possibilities of a certain decision whether it is small or big. The prince must have a double Morality. Which means knowing what is right from wrong and balancing it. It’s not that simple making decisions especially when someone is on the line. Making final decisions are risks that are very hard to tolerate. That is why every King, Prince or any form of leader must have morality in which is knowing the difference of having a good behavior and a bad behavior. Anyone can have both whether they are just a ordinary person or a person that has a position. It always depends on what situation we are facing because we can do things differently in our own ways but the question is, can we balance every grudge that we are holding on? A question that a prince or even any kind of leader that m

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Reasons for US intervention in Syria

Reasons for US intervention in Syria Why does the United States feel the need to intervene in the current Syrian unrest? On November 22, 2017, Russian president Vladimir Putin unveiled plans for a Syrian peace congress, intended to finally end the six-year civil war inside Syria. To get to this point, Putin conducted talks with Turkish President Recep Erdogan  and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, after conferring with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Although Putin did speak about the proposed actions with Saudi Arabias King Salman, Israels Benjamin Netanyahu, and US President Donald Trump, neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia has a role in this as-yet-unscheduled congress. It remains to be seen whether the Syrian opposition will. Civil War in Syria The conflict in Syria is along sectarian lines, with the majority Sunni party backed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, and the Shia Alawite party led by Assad backed by Iran and Russia. Extremist Islamist forces have also entered the fray, including the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah and the Islamic State. Arguably, the main reason the civil war in Syria has lasted as long as it has is that of intervention by external powers, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States. Perhaps as many as half a million people have been killed during the conflict- estimates vary widely. At least five million refugees have fled Syria to neighboring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Russias armed intervention in 2015 and the military defeat of the Islamic state in Syria has led to the near-collapse of Assads opposition. US President Trump canceled the CIA program that supplied the rebels in July of 2017. Why Did the US Want to Intervene? The main reason for US intervention in Syria was the apparent use of chemical weapons by Assad outside the Syrian capital Damascus on August 21, 2013. The US has blamed the Syrian government forces for the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the attack, an accusation vehemently denied by Syria. A second chemical attack apparently took place on April 4, 2017, in Khan Sheikhoun, where 80 people died and hundreds suffered symptoms consistent with being exposed to nerve gas. In retaliation, US President Trump ordered an attack on a Syrian airfield where military sources suspected that the nerve gas had been launched. The use of chemical weapons is banned by international conventions, although the Syrian government is not a signatory. But in 2013, it was the prospect of appearing irrelevant that spurred then US President Obama into action, after two years of seeing US influence in the Middle East slowly erode with the changes brought about by the Arab Spring. Why is Syria Important? The US had other reasons to play a role in the Syrian crisis. Syria is one of the pivotal countries in the Middle East. It borders Turkey and Israel, has a close relationship with Iran and Russia, plays an influential role in Lebanon, and has a history of rivalry with Iraq. Syria is a key link in the alliance between Iran and the Lebanese Shiite movement of Hezbollah Lebanon. Syria has been at odds with US policies in the region practically since its independence in 1946 and has fought several wars with Israel, America’s top regional ally. Weakening Assad Weakening the Syrian regime has been a long-standing goal of successive US administrations down the years, with multiple layers of sanctions in place against the regime in Damascus.   But, a push for regime change would require a massive invasion using ground troops, an unthinkable option given the war-weary US public. Plus, many policymakers in Washington warned that a victory for Islamist elements among the Syrian rebels would be equally dangerous for US interests. It was also unlikely that a limited bombing campaign lasting a few days would really impair Assad’s ability to use chemical weapons again. The US would most likely have had to target a wide range of Syrian military facilities to significantly degrade Assad’s fighting capacity, sending a clear message that more damage could be inflicted at a later stage. Containing Iran, Reassuring Allies Much of what the US does in the Middle East has to do with its antagonistic relationship with Iran. The Shiite Islamist regime in Tehran is Syria’s chief regional backer, and Assad’s victory in the fight against the opposition would be a major triumph for Iran and its allies in Iraq and Lebanon. This, in turn, is unpalatable not only for Israel but also for the Gulf Arab monarchies headed by Saudi Arabia. Assad’s Arab foes would not forgive the US for handing Iran another victory (after invading Iraq, only to enable an Iran-friendly government comes to power). Trump Administration Policy Although it is currently unclear what the proposed peace congress will accomplish, US President Trump has signaled that he will maintain a US troop presence in northern Syria, the strongest remaining bastion of the Syrian opposition. Given the situation as it is today, it is far less likely today that the US goal of regime change in Syria will happen. Given Trumps relationship with Putin, it is also unclear what the current US goal is in the region.   Cold War Between Iran and Saudi Arabia Sources: Anonymous. 2017. Syria war: US launches missile strikes in response to chemical attack. BBC News. 7 April 2017Anonymous. 2017 Russia, Iran and Turkey agree to hold Syrian congress. Al-Jazeera. 22 November 201DeYoung K and Sly L. 2017. U.S. moves toward open-ended presence in Syria after Islamic State is routed. The Washington Post, 22 November 2017.Sanger DE, Schmitt E, and Hubbard B. 2017. Trump ends covert aid to Syrian rebels trying to topple Assad. The New York Times. 19 July 2017. Wintour P. 2017. Putin brings Iran and Turkey together in bold Syria peace plan. The Guardian. 22 November 2017.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Film Kal Penn Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Film Kal Penn - Research Paper Example Kal Penn, born in New Jersey in the year 1977, grew up in traditional Indian family. Both of his parents were gujarattti immigrants from India. Most of his roles in his films seem to address racial discrimination. Since his parents were immigrants, he faced racial discrimination from the people in his surroundings. His passion was acting since his childhood. Playing this role in his films may help curb the problem of racial discrimination in America. Films are a form of communication where the information reaches the audience when watching. Kal Penn later involved himself in acting both in school and after school. After landing in television shows like Buffy the vampire slayer, spin the city, and Sabrina the teenage witch, his biography shows us that the work was challenging. His work was sporadic and limited to ethnic roles. At first, he was reluctant at his work to a point where his friends advised him. From this point, he proceeded to change his name (Holder2005 85). This implies the resistance Kal Penn was getting from the audience. Changing his name made his job offers increase by 50%. This implied that Kal Penn could not get job offers because his name was for an Indian. Additionally, the film industry and the media seem to be highly practicing racial profiling. They most likely offered job opportunities to the American dwellers. Again, in his romantic film; American Desi, which explored race and identity of young ethnic group, shows his efforts to explore in the field of racial profiling. Most people face discrimination in love because of their skin color, ethnic group, or religion. The fact that Penny is an Indian actor can make him face discrimination from the Americans. This film illustrates racism practices by the young people. Arguably, Kal Penn seems to fight racial profiling because he turns down his role as a teenage terrorist cast as Ahmed Amar, which he

Friday, November 1, 2019

Research and Development Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Research and Development Skills - Essay Example Poor image classification leads to poor study results. The research aims at ascertaining the principle behind image classification and as well as focussing on higher achievements to be made with regard to factual findings on the same. The main problems associated with image classification, is the failure to ascertain and clearly present picture. Considerable progress has been made in the 21st century with the development of artificial satellites. This has progressively improved the research on earth observation and environmental The development on image classification has been brought about with regard to research groups like Silicon Valley, NASA Research Centre, GTE and others leading to the development of Fourier transform techniques bringing about notable enhancement with classification of imagery data. This brings about the concept of research enhancement to considerably bring to record other spatial and planetary data needed to make out new findings. With regard to ethical issues, the research ensures adherence to the set ethical standards set with respect to electromagnetic properties researches. The search for perfect data should not deceive through data alteration, circumvention of existing laws and the transgression of reasonable and legitimate expectation of