Alcohol Abuse is dangerous for Everybody Essay

It is well known that alcohol abuse turns into a serious problem in our society because of several facts. More and more people, especially young people, drink a lot of alcohol; as a result, they don’t know when they have to stop and the alcohol use turns into an alcohol abuse. The question, which I ask myself, is: How is it possible that alcohol turns into a serious problem in our generation and which are the flash points? First of all, in every country are different age limits when people are allowed to consume alcohol. Some countries allow drinking beer and wine at the age of sixteen and all other alcoholic beverages at the age of eighteen. As an example in Switzerland, where I come from, the law allows us to start drinking at the mentioned ages. So Swiss people learn to deal with alcohol, everywhere in life, at a young age. Also, we are allowed to drink, so we get to know our limits faster. As you can see there is no allure to do something illegal by drinking alcohol with sixteen because it is allowed. In this way, we don’t drink to be cool; it is just all the time a part of parties, nice dinners or other special times in our life. Of course everybody has a story when we didn’t know when we had to stop drinking, but that happens to everybody and is a part of the process in learning to deal with alcohol in life. Even if we know it, we do sometimes abuse alcohol. Whereas, in the United States of America you aren’t allowed to drink alcohol till you are twenty-one. The law allows you to drive a car with sixteen, but not to drink alcohol. What I see all the time here is that people under twenty-one uses every chance to drink alcohol. If there is alcohol at a party, they use the chance and drink as much as they can in a very short amount of time. Just because they can drink alcohol illegal and this seems to be very exciting young people do it. At first they feel still okay, maybe a little bit dizzy, but after a certain time, they are completely passed out. As you can see most of them have no idea which effects alcohol have and just drink without thinking about it. Finally, they often exceed their own limits without knowing it. But because they’ve never learned to deal with alcohol, Americans do a lot of not willing alcohol abuse. This alcohol abuse can cause different bad effects in our lives. As a beginning, more and more people drink too much alcohol and then drive in their cars. People have accidents on the road caused by â€Å"drink and drive†. It is not familiar to everyone that a lot of people die in car accidents. It can be a friend, a family member or just a stranger, but it doesn’t matter who died, it just matters that you took the life of somebody. Another effect is that you may have drunk so much that you have to go to the hospital and they will pumping-out your stomach. And this is in no way healthy for your body! People can get angry and aggressive if they had drunk to much alcohol. As a result, they start to fight with no reason or get mad at others just because they feel another way when they drunk too much. Also, you can get in big trouble with the police after all these effects, which doesn’t look nice in your report. Another thing is you have to keep in mind that you don’t just endanger yourself, you endanger all people around you too. Even if you drive drunk or if you turn to another personality, when you get drunk, you may disarrange others and get them in trouble. Maybe you have to think about the people around you too. For example, if you are passed out, there are always people who care about you, so they will take care of you in such situations. And to disarrange people isn’t always what you want and you will regret it for sure the next day. As a conclusion, everybody in our society knows that alcohol is no longer just something to drink, which all of us enjoy because of a nice occasion. Alcohol gets more and more really dangerous for our society. However, some people do alcohol abuse and at the moment they do it, they never think about the consequences in their life caused by this abuse. But there are really bad consequences and they are not good for everyone. Our society has to think about this problem and try to do something against it, avoid it!

Home Birth Vs Hospitalized Births

In the early 1900's and for years before then, almost every single birth that occurred happened inside the home and was the norm. Now a days it's the opposite. In the late 1960's that percent dropped down to only 1% of births happening at home instead of a hospital. The dramatic change in at home births is caused by the advance in technology and medicine this world has experienced since then. Women have so many choices when it comes to giving birth now. They can decide how they want to have the baby, and where.Birth can happen anywhere; at home, in a birthing center or in a hospital. It's all up to the woman. A woman might want look into the risks and benefits of each before deciding which is for her. Although home births are still very rare, we have seen an increase since 2004 and many woman today are looking into the idea of home births. A woman who is having a healthy pregnancy so far with no complications or worries, might look into home births, otherwise giving birth at home cou ld be very dangerous if there isn't a nurse or midwife present.Woman who have any heart problems or high blood pressure should consider other options as well. Even if the partner does not fully agree with the idea of home birth, this option may not be for her. Some of the perks or benefits of giving birth at home is obviously, that the woman can have anybody in the room with her during this time such as friends and family. This making the process much easier with many people to help give encouragement and emotional support as well as people around to help with anything the mother might need and the midwife might require help with.Another benefit is the immediate bonding and breastfeeding to the child. The sooner the mother is allowed to hold her child and breast feed him or her, the faster the child receives important antibodies it needs to fight off any disease. â€Å"Home birth can be significantly easier on your bank account. The average uncomplicated vaginal at home births cost s 60% less then at hospital births† ( American Pregnancy Association).Although at home births are the most natural way to have a baby, there are  some risks. In a very large recent study investigators at New York Presbyterian Medical center reviewed data from about 13 million of 17 million births and found that babies who were born at home were ten times more likely to be still born and four times more likely to suffer from seizures and other neorlogical defects compared to the babies who were born in hospitals. Even though ten percent of all babies who were born still have survived, they have suffered many very major health problems.Most at home births do have a nurse or midwife available to deal with any unexpected situations during birth, many feel it is preferable to have a whole team of doctors and specialists ready and available for any situation at any given time. Birthing centers are the second most natural way to give birth for those looking for natural birth option s. Although some birthing centers are associated with and may even be located inside a hospital, birthing centers differ in the fact that they do not provide C- sections, or inducement with Oxytocin. This being considered a benefit to woman looking for natural ways to give birth.Another benefit of birthing centers are that although it may not look like a hospital and may very well be a house, there are always more nurses and a doctor on call for any complications that may arise so the woman can feel safer without having to give birth at home and deal with any repercussions. With birthing centers there is always that sense of control and safety without being hooked up to an IV and given medications. The baby will also benefit because he or she will not be taken away at any moment for medical examinations, everything happens in the room with the mother present.Cost also plays a factor in chosing a birthing home, because they will not use any medications on you and they do not keep you longer than need be, the cost is always cheaper than from hospital births. The only real risk about Birthing centers is that if you are a high risk mother, meaning your pregnancy isn't completely safe, your baby has a condition or you have a condition anything can happen. But every birthing center runs tests before they accept you anyway. So unless something wasn't caught when they run the tests on you, your pretty safe.â€Å"You can start by calling a birth center and talking to one of the caregivers about your health history. They'll ask you, for example, whether you have certain pre-existing medical problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes and if you've had a cesarean delivery or some other invasive uterine surgery. † (Baby Center) As mentioned before, hospitals can be an option for those women who do not mind getting medication, being induced or having C sections. Or maybe for a woman who doesn't think they can handle the pain without help from medications. Becau se natural birth and at home birth is not for every woman.The obvious benefits being that a woman may feel safer in a hospital setting. More doctors available and more specialists ready for anything can also be a benefit to some women. The feeling of being safe is the biggest benefit of a hospital birth. But the risks can be medications that can interfere or cause more damage than help. Maybe some women prefer not to have a huge needle inserted in their spine and they’re child being vacuum extracted. â€Å"In their rush to prevent problems that aren’t happening, hospital personnel may aggressively push procedures and drugs that can actually cause problems.Pitocin can cause uterine contractions so strong that they stress the baby and cause fetal distress. IV narcotic drugs can affect an infant so strongly that he might not breathe at birth†(Pathways of Family Wellness). So in conclusion, with so much knowledge around and so much technology and medicinal advanceme nts, it is good to know what kind of birth a woman might like. Because it is up to the woman to choose what is in her and her child’s best interest and what may sound good to one woman may not sound to good to another. Every woman must educate herself and choose whats best for her.

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Paper Example Street literature is a genre involving an insightful look into the ghetto life (Morris et al. 20). The stories of â€Å"Midnight: A Gangster Love Story,† â€Å"Midnight and the Meaning of Love,† and â€Å"The Coldest Winter Ever† all fall within this gangsta realism that makes readers experience the high price of ghetto life through the characters. Street literature typically involves people from the African-American descent, and the main characters are usually mid-teens to mid-20s in age. They are usually depicted as people who go through extraordinary struggles in life, and they survive through obstacles such as violence, racism, and severe poverty. The whole story is filled with ghetto language, and this is more formally known as the African American Vernacular English (AAVE). The setting is usually in urban areas, and hip hop culture is the dominant scenario. Themes usually revolve around prostitution, premarital sex, illegal sex, crime, drugs, abortion, viol ence, and other illegal activities. The three novels mentioned above circle around such themes, and they are set within the urban hip hop milieu. However, despite such seemingly negative backdrop, these stories could serve as cautionary tales, and one does not need to go through the same experiences to learn what the characters learn in their life's journeys. The morals involved in the narratives are usually insightful in terms of understanding the, and learning from, the high price of ghetto life (Wright 42-45). â€Å"Midnight: A Gangster Love Story† is authored by Sister Souljah. It discusses the life of Midnight, a Muslim black immigrant from Sudan. In the opening lines of the book, Midnight is described as a tall guy with a dominating personality. He is pure black, and even his eyes are jet black. He is also described as lean and muscular, and females want to always be near him. Midnight is such a strong character because he never feels intimidated or insecure. Midnight i s a fierce fighter inside and out. Being a fighter is one common characteristic among the main characters in the three street literature novels (Brooks and McNair 129-132). Midnight's young life goes through a process of being sheltered and protected under his father's care, to being vulnerable and open to the dangers of a foreign neighborhood. His character is developed by his experiences, and he bravely surpasses obstacles throughout his teenage years. First, due to hardship, he becomes home schooled, and he escorts his mother daily to and from her sweat shop job. Second, to develop himself, he learns martial arts, and he also becomes a talented basketball player. Third, to get over poverty, he begins to earn his own money through a fish market job, and he helps save up to purchase a bigger house for his family in a less dangerous neighborhood. He gets over hindrances towards his family progress and personal development, that is why even language barrier does not deter him from wi nning the heart of a Japanese beauty named Akemi. His character is shown even further development as he adheres to his strict Muslim principles while courting Akemi. It can therefore be said that surviving one hardship after another makes Midnight who he is in the novel, and makes him a striking protagonist in this street literature (A Gangster). As a further backgrounder, Midnight is a boy who flees Africa at

Case One (Stephen) (Refusal of treatment) Essay

Case One (Stephen) (Refusal of treatment) - Essay Example It will also be important to examine case law in this area to see when the courts have overridden the wishes of an individual and how this has been achieved. Through examining case law and with reference to legislation it should be possible to determine whether a doctor would have the power to override Stephen’s refusal of treatment. As there is no mention of the age of Stephen or whether he has any mental health issues, it will be necessary to consider the impact of the Children Acts and the Mental Health Acts, to determine whether these would assist Stephen in his refusal or whether a doctor would be entitled to force him to have treatment, irrespective of his wishes. The issue of consent has been encompassed into Art 5 and 8 of the Human Rights Acts (1998) (HRA), with the intention of giving respect to the autonomy of the patient. It has been noted by researches that doctors in general see consent as a legal requirement (Kessel, 1994). Human rights supporters have argued th at the protection offered to adults should also apply to mature minors, which appears to have been addressed to a minor degree within the HRA (Hagger, 2003). In order for consent to be recognised as valid the principle of informed consent has developed. Informed consent centres on the giving of sufficient information to a patient with regard to the complications that might ensure following the treatment, so that they can make an informed decision about the treatment. Actions for negligence have been successful in cases where the patient did not give informed consent (Faden and Beauchamp, 1986). An example of this is Sidaway v Bethlem RHG and others [1984]1, in which the patient had not been told of all the potential risks of the operation, and would not have given consent if they had known of these risks. Davis (2005) has argued that there should be a change in the law in relation to such matters, and that patients should be given the option as to how much information they would lik e to know about the procedure. Implied consent has occurred in situations where a patient has willingly allowed the medical professional to administer medication or injections. However, implied consent can be problematic as simple attendance at the surgery or hospital does not mean that the patient is consenting to treatment. Autonomy is important in the decision making process and many legislative changes have been made in order to ensure the autonomy of the patient. Researchers such as Faden and Beauchamp (1986) believe that a patient has to be fully informed of the probable outcomes of the treatment in order to reach an autonomous decision. They were concerned that on some occasions persuasion and coercion might be used by the medical profession or the family of the patient to appeal to the patient’s sense of reason. Internationally the Nuremberg Code 1947 and the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki 1964 have been established as a means of increasing patient autonomy. As mentioned earlier the HRA has also enshrined protection of the rights of adults and adolescents into the Articles, thereby increasing autonomous levels (Hewson, 2000). Many of the issues surrounding autonomy have been centred on the rights of the child, as evidenced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1991 where the aim was to give children the same rights as

Market analysis for Childrens Parties Services in the UK Essay

Market analysis for Childrens Parties Services in the UK - Essay Example This paper illustrates that a family business works with creating children parties making it stress-free for her parents. At these parties, everything that the client feel is necessary is provided. These include party suppliers, cakes, children’s costumes, and entertainers. Daisy entertainments market is wide and deals with all kinds of organization and communities dealing with children. Whether it is a large corporate or community with special needs, daisy entertainment crew is capable of adapting its services to suit the client's needs of the children. The team, which forms Daisy Entertainers, is energetic, in-house talented fun loving, loves children hence reliable and enthusiastic. Daisy's entertainment has a unique and simple party planning known as a party in a box. Party in a box includes everything the client requires for their child’s party as suggested by Daisy entertainments. These include filled party bags, napkins, invitations, table covers foil, cups, plat es, banners, party hats and latex balloons. However, all these facilities depend on customer’s choice and are delivered to the door anywhere in the UK. There are also various children themes from which entertainment programs are chosen. They include Disney princess, Hannah Montana, Spiderman, and the Night Garden. Daisy’s entertainers provide a wide scope of entertainment activities such as puppets, face painting, balloon modeling, magic, plate spinning among other. This organization can over a variety of things ranging from fun and lively children entertainers to catering services, birthday cakes, decorations, themed goody bags and set up services. The party is usually planned within the client’s requirements and budget. Children character entertainer; all types of children character entertainers are available at Daisy's entertainment and it is upon the client to make choice. They include games, magic, music, and puppets. The charges for character entertainers are  £195 for every two hours of fun.

Home Schooling vs. Public Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Home Schooling vs. Public Education - Essay Example Moreover, they are not able to relate with the parents of a child properly and they remain in dark about the weaknesses of their child. Comparatively in home schooling the teacher and the parents are able to devote their time to the child understanding the teaching style and the curriculum which best suits the student. The teacher can move at his own speed and guide the students about the other activities and explore his talents which are neglected in public schools. Another main advantage is that home schooling provides parents with a sense of security regarding their child’s wrong indulgence in bad activities. Harmful peer pressure, physical and mental mugging, threat of being bullied or involvement in drugs are some factors that children who go to public schools have to face. Comparatively in home schooling a child is saved from all this mental pressure and spends quality time with the teacher and the family which builds up the family relations and consequently the child wi ll learn and embrace the good values around him. Then there is the benefit of flexibility in time. Parents can set the timetable for their child’s study hours as some children have the tendency to work best in different times of the day and the teacher has the advantage to lay emphasis on the subjects the child is weak in or needs more attention. â€Å"An added benefit of home schooling is the freedom to encourage mastery. Students can be made to repeat materials correct and retake tests, and study longer in order to master materials because there is not an entire classroom of other children ready to go on† (Andrea D. Clements). Despite the benefits, there are disadvantages to home schooling as well. Home schooling takes and requires emotional,... This essay approves that children are given loads of homework and parents have to work with their children for hours to make them grasp the concept. If that is the case many parents then prefer home schooling if they have to cover the educational aspect on their own. Children at this age can easily be influenced by bad company. Disruptive and harsh behavior is evident in children going to public schools. Children going to public schools may be familiar with a lot of knowledge but understand very little and this is where kids being home schooled outshine them. Children with some disability are not properly treated by the peers or teachers in public schools whereas home schooling can provide the right kind of environment to those special kids and enhance their confidence. This report makes a conclusion that it is true to state that home schooling is not for everyone. It may not be appropriate for every family in every circumstance. A lot of money has to be invested in order to provide the resources for projects, field trips, tuition and children with home schooling lack in social development. Every day interaction is necessary in order to learn to communicate and handle different situations and at times the child may develop inferiority complex pondering over what qualities he is lacking by not going to a public school. Public schools have a fixed curriculum and grading system which enables the parents and the child to know where he stands. Public schools offer a broad range of extracurricular activities such as sports, plays and membership of different clubs. Public schooling gives the parents a chance to have a full time job and provide and cater for all the needs of the child.

Busines Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Busines Strategy - Essay Example Strategy Safari presents ten schools of thought which according to Mintzberg are classified into two broader areas of Descriptive schools as well as Perspective schools. Under these two broader areas, there are ten different categorization of the various schools of thoughts. Perspective schools of thoughts are those which consider that the companies based on their assessment of their current situation and resources attempt to formulate strategies whereas under descriptive schools of thoughts, organizations tend to take a historical view of the events which has caused the companies to reach at their present status and position. The ten schools of thoughts than are discussed according to their individual characteristics as well as assumptions in order to accurately define the respective schools of thoughts. This essay will attempt to critically analyse the underlying assumptions, perspectives as well as the paradigm stance of the Design School of Thought as discussed in Strategy Safari by Henry Mintzberg. Before discussing the design school of thought, it is of great importance that we must first attempt to initiate a debate on the concepts of resources and capabilities and how both the concepts have been utilized in the literature and their link with the design school of thought. Apparently, the strategies... Outside In perspective of the strategy formulation look at the market and the external situations as the major influence over the strategy making process within the organization and is largely opportunity driven while working on Positioning approach. This approach also allows firms to be more responsive to the changes taking place outside and convert them into opportunities. However continuous repositioning by the firms may keep their focus away from their distinctive competencies. However on the other hand, the inside out perspective of strategy formulation tend to take into account the resources of the firms and not the market as the chief source of strategy making within the organization. The focus of this approach has been on resources and capabilities of the firm and not on the external forces such as market. This approach is basically strength driven based on the internal capabilities of the firm with more emphasis on delivering and achieving more internal competencies. This approach also allows the firm to tap the opportunities in much better way as compared to the firms working on the basis of outside in perspective. The inside out perspective is what the key perspective of design school of thought is basically. Design School of Thought In its essence, Design school of thought see strategy as a conceptual process. It attempts to match the internal resources of the firm to the external environment in order to find a best strategic fit between the organisational resources and organisational strategies. The historical roots of this school of thought can be traced to the Harvard Business School as it appeared in the work of Selznick in 1957 when he first coined the word of

Classroom Management - Setting Expectations Assignment

Classroom Management - Setting Expectations - Assignment Example 2. Students who miss a day of school should see the Make-Up Work Folder located on the bookshelf next to the pencil sharpener. In this folder, students can find a detailed list of what notes and activities they need to make up. Handouts will be in the folder, but students must borrow notes from another student and copy them by hand to their notebook. Missed assignments are due within 3 school days of the student's return. 3. Required daily materials include a black or blue pen, a pencil, a designated 3-ring binder, and the course textbook. Any other daily materials will be listed on the classroom board, so students can view them as they enter the room and get any required materials before the bell rings. 4. Homework will be assigned daily Monday through Thursday and due at the beginning of class, whether the class reviews it then or later. All work is to be original. Some assignments will be based on completion; others will be graded item by item. 5. Students will use a 3-ring binder dedicated to this course to collect notes, maps, graphic organizers, and other classroom materials. Each item in the notebook, regardless of its type, will be called a document and given a consecutive number. The notebook will be collected and graded based on completion once each grading period and constitutes a large part of students' daily work grade. To communicate these standards to students, verbal and graphic methods should both be used. Also, the plan has to be communicated to parents as well as students (Wong, 1991, p. 170). Graphic methods include writing the rules and procedures for students on handouts that they include in their class notebook, as well as posting the rules on the classroom wall. Parents will be asked to read the rules and procedures established for the class, and then sign a note confirming they have knowledge of them. During the first days of class, students will hear explanations of the procedures and practice them (Wong, 1991, p. 177). To implement standard 5, regarding the class notebook, the teacher should produce samples of notebooks from previous years for students to view, and explain the different types of documents to be included. If possible, handing out a table of contents beforehand helps students' notebooks stay organized. The teacher must emphasize when documents for the notebook are being made, and differentiate them from daily class work that would be handed in. Consistent reinforcement during the first weeks will help students remember to include all necessary documents in the class notebook, allowing them to score a high grade on their daily work. Establishing high expectations for students provides them the immediate benefit of improved academic performance and allows them to realize their potential. Reference Wong, H. K. The first days of school: How to be an effective teacher. Sunnyvale, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications,

Is Hofstede's cross cultural work outdated ( international human Essay

Is Hofstede's cross cultural work outdated ( international human resources ) - Essay Example In Hofstede’s view, nations have separate cultures which an international business has to adapt to, in order to successfully conduct its business in a particular nation. Hofstede’s five dimensions of culture are defined in terms of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, individualism and long-term orientation. Although Hofstede’s theory of cross cultural dimensions has been subjected to criticisms, his cross cultural dimensions had been of practical applications in the international commerce. However, ever since the advent of globalisation, nations have stopped being watertight compartments with the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions attributable to individual nations in varying degrees having become outdated. It is proposed to place herein evidence based arguments to show that Hofstede’s cultural dimensions for the purpose of international commerce have become irrelevant or outdated in the wake of globalisation. Hofstede attempted to explain that cultures are shaped within nations. But when businesses transcends beyond national boundaries, these cultural dimensions become cultural interconnections. Now globalisation has become the order of the day and irreversible. Cultural attributes are likened to an iceberg in that only very few are visible to the eye. They are language, behaviours, customs, and norms. And traditions, beliefs, priorities, assumptions and values are only perceptible (Parker, 2005 p189). As already well known, Hofstede (1980) arrived at the above said dimensions based on his study of 88,000 employees of IBM from 72 countries. He expanded his study to ten more countries and three regions in his updated version (Hofstede, 2001).At the time of Hofstede’s original work in 1980, the world was not as complicated a place as it is today. In the last three decades, nations have become more permeable and heterogeneous besides undergoing disintegration or dismantlement like Soviet

Chemistry is a Part of Life Essay Example for Free

Chemistry is a Part of Life Essay For you to understand my personal importance placed on chemistry, you would first need to understand who I am in reference to chemistry. So for starters I am a Christian, second a human, third a survivor, and fourth a biochemist. These parts are what make chemistry personally important. Now that you know who I am in reference to chemistry, I now explain for understanding purposes why. As a Christian chemistry is an important part to me. I can only explain the significance using Genesis 2:7 – â€Å"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being,† (2011). Chemistry is all around us, in the air, the ground, and in the body. God took the elements in the form of atoms from the ground and used them to form man; he also used them to put life or air into the nostrils of man. I could only imagine the amount and types of elements God placed into the form of man. And because of scientific advances you and I could somewhat grasp the idea that â€Å"96% of the mass of the human body is made of four elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen; with a lot of that in the form of water,† (Schirber, 2009). However in the human body â€Å"we don’t look at them as single elements but as elements wrapped up into a compound,† (Schirber, 2009). The human consumes these same elements from the foods from the ground and the food from animals on the Earth. So clichà ©, you are what you eat. As a human this aspect of chemistry allows me to become a survivor. As a human I was able to survive, and through chemistry my survival has been sustained. This started June of 1992, I was not even a year old and as a toddler I was active, however my body would not allow me to play for extended periods of time like most toddlers. As a human my body was using its chemical signals to alert my brain that not enough oxygen was reaching other organs and such, so it forced me to rest more often than most. Later in June of 1993, my parents were told that I would need repair surgery for my heart valve. It seemed that my heart acquired a whole after birth that did not close as I aged, and with being an active toddler I put a strain on the whole opening making it increase in size as I engaged in physical activities. This damaged my mitral valve (the main valve to allow blood into the heart), and when doctors opened up for surgery they realized the extent of the damage on the mitral valve; it was beyond repair. Already for surgery the doctor made a quick and biologically sound decision to replace my lost heart valve with a titanium prosthetic heart valve. Reason for being a biologically sound decision is due to titanium’s medical benefits (Schank, 2012): * Strong * Lightweight * Corrosion Resistant * Biocompatible (non-toxic AND not rejected by the body) * Long-lasting * Non-ferromagnetic * Flexibility and elasticity rivals that of human bone This is when chemistry met biology for me. And 18 yrs. and 7 months after my surgery I am still ticking – the sound made by the titanium parts opening and closing as my heart beats. My biochemical encounter not only saved my life, but it also sustains it through the use of medicine that aids my blood in passing through the titanium mechanism. â€Å"Mechanical valves, which are made of biomaterials, may last a long time. However the patient with a mechanical valve must use an anticoagulant medication such as warfarin (Coumadin, Panwarfin) for the rest of life to prevent blood clots from forming on the valve. If a blood clot forms on the valve, the valve won’t work properly. If a clot escapes the valve, it could lodge in an artery to the brain, blocking blood flow to the brain and causing a stroke,† (Yi-Ren Woo, Carlos Rosario, and Prof. Pablo Cà ¡ceres; 2003).This is where chemistry, along with biology influenced me to become a biochemist. And my reason for choosing that profession is some on needs to come up with a way to make warfarin taste better as well as all the other cough and cold medicines for adults as well as children. So reader with this I hope you are able to understand that to me CHEMISTRY is IMPORTANT, because without it my life would not have begun, continued, or still sustaining today. Work Cited Schank, Craig. Titanium: The Medical Metal of Choice. Titanium Specialist†¦SuperAlloy.com. Super Alloy Inc.: 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. http://www.supraalloys.com/medical-titanium.php. Schirber, Michael. The Chemistry of Life: The Human Body. Live Science. 16 Apr. 2009.Web. 26 Apr. 2012. http://www.livescience.com/3505-chemistry-life-human-body.html. THE HOLY BIBLE. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, NIV ®. Biblica, Inc.: 2011. Print. Woo, Yi-Ren; Carlos Rosario; and Prof. Pablo Cà ¡ceres. BIOMECHANICS OF MECHANICAL HEART VALVE. Applications of Engineering Mechanics in Medicine. December 2003. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. http://academic.uprm.edu/~mgoyal/materialsdec2003/a03heartvalve.pdf.

Marketing Audit Of Primark Stores Limited

Marketing Audit Of Primark Stores Limited This report will start with an exhaustive examination of the internal factors of the organisation with a critique of its Marketing Mix. A SWOT Analysis will then be performed to get more evidence of where the company is standing now. The fourth part of the report consists of the auditing of external environment of the business with the help of a very effective tool which is PESTLE factors. To perform marketing audit in best possible manner another tool named Competitive Analysis will be employed which is also known as Porters 5 Forces Analysis. Here a broader view is adapted by looking at the fashion retail sector as a whole along with competition as faced by Primark Stores Limited. Marketing Audit of Primark Stores Limited A marketing plan clearly defines all the decisions relating to the marketing mix for the given product or service. Then each of the mix elements would be made into a plan at a further tactical level in the organisation to be implemented. The framework remains basic and unchanged at marketing and corporate level. It can be simply described as: Where are we now? (Audit) Where are we going? (Objectives) What are the alternative ways of getting there? Choosing the best option and developing an action plan (Tactics) Implementation and Control (Cravens and Piercy, 2003) The question of the report clearly indicates the researcher to focus upon the marketing plan, the implementation of which begins with a marketing audit. This report will attempt to do the marketing audit of Primark Stores Limited. Primark needs no formal introduction as being a value clothing retailer in UK; now more so when people are worried about the economy and employment. It has in total 207 stores across Europe in countries like Ireland (Trading as Penneys in Ireland), UK (145 Stores), Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany and Belgium (www.primark.co.uk). Primark outperformed MS this September with 17 per cent increase in profits and figure of  £233million (www.dailymail.co.uk). This Company is chosen for two other reasons as it being a prominent player in affordable fashion retail sector (www.gurdian.co.uk) and secondly the writer has worked in the retail sector and is hoping to secure a graduate placement in the same industry. Critique of Primarks Marketing Mix This Marketing Audit can prove useful in evaluation of the companys marketing, since evaluation compares results with expectations the findings should prove interesting and helpful. (Cravens and Piercy, 2003) Gillian and Wilson, 2003 suggest that a distinct competitive position as compared to other companies can be established and sustained through the manipulation of the elements of the marketing mix. In UK, services account for greater economic output as compared to manufacturing. In retail sector as well equal importance is placed on customer service and thus the 7 Ps of Marketing Mix are considered here. Primarks 7 Ps analysis is described below: Product: This is the first element of the marketing mix, the product is widely understood as the tangible and physical entity that is bought and sold. However there are three levels of a product namely the Core Product, the Actual Product and the Augmented Product. This is briefly explained in the diagram below: three_levels.gif Source: www.marketingteacher.com In case of Primark the Core Product is the Benefit that one gets by buying clothes and fashion accessories acceptance in society, protection from weather conditions, etc. The Actual Product will be clothes that are sold in stores and Augmented Product will be after sale services like refund and exchange. This also includes tools like Product Management, New Product Development, Product Life Cycle, Customer Life Cycle and Branding. It can be said that Primark has mastered its mix in an efficient way and this P has been added in the best possible manner. It has a product range comparable to any other clothes and fashion retailers. One can buy from socks to over coats and also home decoration products like bed sheets and so on. Price: Pricing consist various decisions and choices to price the product or service provided. This in broader sense includes terms of business, discount structures and pricing strategies. Pricing strategies can range from Value Pricing, Promotional Pricing, Psychological Pricing, Product Bundle Pricing and Geographical Pricing. The diagram below attempts to simplify the strategies: pricing_matrix.gif Primark without any doubt falls into Economy Pricing and that has been the key ingredient for the success of the company and also in making it more known brand name than its parent company which is Associated British Foods. It is undoubtedly a no frills low price retailer with cheapest rates in the market for majority of its products. Place / Distribution: This element refers to logistic and channel management, physical distribution of the goods and services. It is apparent from the pricing and policies of the company that it does not sell its products online. It has done very well in terms of the location of the stores in majority of town centers as well as high streets and Oxford Street Branch is one strong example of it. This is a key ingredient which Primark is suggested to re-evaluate as there is one more tool which is the most effective in todays retail environment which is e-retailing which can be used to its benefit with careful consideration. Promotion: Promotion is supposedly the most considered P among the other elements and in writers experience and the elements of Promotion Mix would form a very large chunk of the Marketing Budget of any retail company. Primark claims that it can deliver its products to the customer at cheaper rates which are thanks to their no promotions policy. (www.primark.co.uk) This can be claimed as the best strategy suited to a no frills retailer like Primark to maintain feasibility. People: As consistent with the concept of marketing itself, people form the most important part of any service offered to the customer. It consists of tasks like employee selection, training and motivation. Employees are the brand they are selling in many ways. Primark has struck a good balance with this P in the mix making the Primark team full with energy and team spirit. Rigorous recruitment process takes place to test the individuals patience and swiftness in serving customers. Physical Evidence: This can be said that the products itself are the major part of the physical evidence and looking at the things like packaging, layout, dà ©cor and ease of access, Primark can be said to have well designed layouts where products can be found with less effort. However as the case with many no frills companies, other retailer would get more score on this P comparatively. Process Management: Here the process management would cover right from when customer enters the store to when they leave the store. This experience would be considered process and this is also a weaker element in the marketing mix of Primark for it being a very busy place to shop at and at many instances good tend to be damaged if not selected carefully. (Hartley, 2004) Primarks SWOT Analysis Being one of the most frequently used tools, strategic importance of SWOT Analysis is many a times undermined. The outputs suffer at some occasions due to the superficial ways in which it is conducted (Gillian and Wilson, 2003). Its rigorous implementation however could greatly assist in two major purposes: To separate meaningful data from just interesting data. To discover what the company can do to exploit its competencies within its market segments in present and in future. SWOT-Analysis-sm.jpg Source: www.bizstrategies.biz Weihrich, 1982 also argue that using same inputs in TOWS pattern increases their recognition and fully integrates them into strategic planning process. Discussing Primarks SWOT: Strengths: Vast Product Range and Cheap Prices Part of Ethical Trading Initiative with workers rights taken care of. UKs second largest clothing retailer according to volume. (www.tnsglobal.com) Selling around 20 Own Brand Labels. Weaknesses: Bad name with allegations of child labour and worker rights. Criticised due to quality of clothes many times. Weak in terms of Augmented Product. (Figure in Section 2) Opportunities: Expansion in European countries. Improvement of Brand Image. Use of e-retailing. Threats: Competitors make use of Promotion element very well. Asdas own brand- George. Few shops degrading the name of the brand due to bad quality of service and unmaintained and shabby merchandising. Primark clothing.jpg Analysing PESTLE factors for Primark There is an argument that it is many a times not the customer but the external factors that decide what happens in the market. For example insurance companies are directly or indirectly involved with the design of smoke detectors and activists can demand of design change in dolls. (Salancik and Upah, 1978) For Marketing Audit to be realistic one of the binding necessities is to study the external trends. Amongst various approaches, analysing PESTEL factors is deemed best which include political, economical, sociological, technological, legal and environmental issues. Political Factors Government regulations in terms of worker health and safety. Primarks UK energy consumption is sourced against green power generated and sold into the grid by British Sugar. Economical Factors Economic turbulence might actually encourage the customer to buy cheaper clothes and save some money. In this way the economic factor has been a blessing in disguise for Primark. Sociological Factors UK Charity War on Want investigated and reported that the conditions of the workers in Bangladesh had not improved after all the problems with Indian Suppliers. Primark products are not considered to be very good in quality and thus rejected by many segments of customers. It is believed you will come across people wearing same t-shirt or other piece of clothing about 10 times in a day if it is bought from Primark. Technological Factors It is keeping ahead of the competition in a way by getting Entropy Software Platform developed by BSI Management Systems, which will enable global visibility and better management control in line with its ethical trade strategy. (www.bsigroup.com) Legal Factors It had to face legal issues regarding the child labour allegations. Its expansion in Europe might have undergone extensive legal checks to ensure it is abiding by the local laws. Environmental Factors It has to consider the environmental sustainability issues and it has also acted upon it by dumping plastic bags and giving away paper bags. Recent news shows that due to Throwaway Fashion in last five years, textile waste has rise from 7 percent to 30 percent. It is being called The Primark Effect. (www.dailymail.co.uk) Primarks Michael Porters 5 Forces Analysis Porter, 1980 emphasised that the first determinant of a firms profitability is the attractiveness of the industry in which it operates. The second determinant is competition. This led him to device five forces that determine the nature and intensity of competition within the industry which are described in the diagram below: Source: www.businessballs.com Based on: Michael Porters Five Forces of Competitive Position Model Threat of New Entrants Risk Very Low: High cost of setup. Power of the Supplier Risk Very Low: No single big supplier and less bargaining power of suppliers. Power of the Buyer Risk High: Competition in Market and no switching cost. Competitive rivalry Risk Moderate: Few low price retailers with similar vast range of products. Threat of the Substitutes Risk Moderate: Existing low price retailers but none that can be called a substitute. Conclusion This report started with an introduction to Marketing Plan and the first function of it which is Market Audit. Primark Stores Limited is chosen for various mentioned reasons. A critique of its Marketing Mix followed with a SWOT Analysis which gave a deeper insight into the companys current standing. Auditing of external environment of the business was then carried out with the help of PESTLE factors and Porters 5 Forces Analysis. It is apparent from the study that there are two areas namely its Brand Image and Online Presence that Primark need to work on and on the other hand it position is quite strong and its marketing mix very effective. This report concludes with a quote by Porter which summarises the whole study very coherently, 1998 Pp.142: Competitive Strategy means taking offensive or defensive actions to create a defendable position in an industry, to cope successfully with competitive forces and thereby yield a superior return on investment for the firm. Firms have discovered many different approaches to this end, and the best strategy for a given firm is ultimately a unique construction reflecting its particular circumstances. [Word Count: 2094 words]

POlitical Campaign Advertising Essay -- essays research papers

Since 1952, television has played a major role in presidential elections. Television allows candidates to reach a broad number of people, and personalities, to help push along their campaigns. Campaigns help the candidates just as much as the voters. The candidates get to be identified, and known to the voters, and the voters get to hear and see how a specific candidate identifies with their needs and wants. The best way to get this information out there is through the most used form of media, television.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When candidates develop a plan of attack for campaign advertising, they tend to aim for at least four types of commercials. One form or type of commercial is those which play on the fears of countrymen. Fear is a good emotion to play on, if your opponent is â€Å"unknown or untested† nationally. Instill in fear of the opponent is a good way to gain the upper hand in an election, because if people don’t feel their president can make safe and smart decision, nine times out of ten they will not want that person in office. In the past the â€Å"fear† factor, made people think what if? And in return they start to second guess who they want in office.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the election of 2004, the bush campaign ran an advertisement; whose focus was to act on the fear of Americans. The bush campaign ran an ad titled â€Å"Finish It† (1). This ad showed that the war in Iraq was necessary, and needed, and if John Kerry was elected to office the harmful acts against America would go unpunished. I didn’t particular like this ad, but I think the message was clear and a lot of Americans identified with this ad. The impact of this ad, caused myself and many others to think, that if we elect a new president in war time, what would happen to the people in Iraq, and more importantly what would happen to the troops.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another type of commercial that campaigns look to run is the â€Å"real people† ad, or the ads that show the candidate to be â€Å"just like everyone else†. These ads are used to connect with the people, and show how a candidate relates to the needs and wants of everyone. When people get the feeling that a candidate can relate to their needs and wants, they lean more toward supporting that candidate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Campaigns allow the candidate to reach out to prospective voters and get the issues o... ... there attitude. On the republican side you had an overwhelming amount of ads that made Senator Kerry seem like a person who you could not trust, and a person who only looks out for his own best interest. Where as on the democratic platform you have ad that show Americans rallying together, you have ads that appeal to a sensitive, family oriented nation that just want to feel safe and secure. The democratic ads are warm and caring, while the republican ads are cold and stern.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unlike ads of the past the ads displayed in the 2004 election were heavily focused on information and factual content. The voters are forced to make a decision on war, foreign affairs, and military issues. The scope and focus of the ads form both political parties were mainly to get voted in the ever so popular electoral swing states. I think the ad were obviously effective due to the outcome of the election. Political ad make all of the difference when it come to those state who are on the border and you never know which way the electorate will vote. And Negative ads play an even bigger role because people always forget the good things about a person and always remember the bad.

James madison and Slavery Essay -- Slavery Essays

James madison and slavery Slavery was a problem that faced all Americans in the years prior to the American Civil War. Many Americans wanted to bring about an end to it but were unable to come up with a workable plan. One person to try and find an answer to the problem was himself a slave owner; he was James Madison. The institution of slavery deeply concerned James Madison, even at the start of his political career. During his career, Madison held many important political offices; he used these offices to try to bring to an end this "evil" in his society. Some criticized him for not using his power to fuller advantage, but Madison had a plan for achieving his objective. It is difficult to determine where James Madison's idea that slavery was evil and should be done away with came from, however two events, only a few years before his birth may have been a factor. In June of 1737, a court of Oyer and Terminer ordered that a slave named Peter, guilty of "murthering his said master," be hanged.1 His head was cut off and placed on a pole near a creek for all to see. There is no evidence James Madison saw the head on the pole but, he must have heard about it for the creek was renamed, Negrohead Run. In 1745, a black female slave, Eve, was burned to death for poisoning her master, Mr. Peter Montague. Thomas Chew, sheriff and great-uncle of James Madison carried out Eve's sentence. Speculation exists that Madison's father was present and related the story to his son years later. These repugnant events may not have had an effect on Madison, but the efforts of his parents were a factor. The institution of slavery as Madison grew up with it combined "the perso nal ease of the master with a life long consideration of the servant."2 In his book, A History of the Old South, Clement Eaton describes many Southerners as having a guilt complex over slavery. Historians are uncertain whether James Madison had a guilt complex but he did grow up with a respect for the slaves on his father's farm. This respect stayed with Madison his entire life. His personal servant, Paul Jennings, related years after Madison's death that, [Mr. Madison] often told the story, that one day riding home from court with old Tom Barbour (father of Governor [James] Barbour), they met a colored man who took off his hat. Mr. M. raised his, to the surprise of old Tom; to whom Mr. M. replied, "I nev... ...artineau, Harriet. Retrospect of Western Travel, 2 vol. London: Saunders and Otley, 1838; reprinted 1948. Miller, Ann L., ed. Visitors to Mr. Madison: Accounts of Early Nineteenth Century Visitors to Montpelier. Unfinished edition of the Montpelier Monograph Series, ____. Alexander, Archibald. A History of Colonization on the Western Coast of Africa. Philadelphia: William S. Martin, 1869; reprint, New York: Negro University Press, 1969. Berkeley, Edmund, Jr. "Prophet Without Honor: Christopher McPherson, Free Person of Color." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 77 (April 1969): 180-90. Brant, Irving. James Madison, 6 vols. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc., 1941-61. Eaton, Clement. A History of the Old South: The Emergence of a Reluctant Nation, 3d ed. Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 1975. Grinnan, A. G. "The Burning of Eve." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 3 (January, 1896): 308-10. Ketcham, Ralph. James Madison: A Biography. New York: Macmillian Publishing Co., 1971; reprint, Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1990. Koch, Adrienne. Madison's "Advice to My Country". Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1966.

A Critique of Nelson Goodman’s Concept of the New Riddle

The development of the method of induction has been privy to the presentation and solution of riddles. At the initial level of its development, it has been privy to the old riddle of induction discovered by Hume. After the solution of the former riddle, however, a new riddle of induction was discovered by Nelson Goodman. In lieu of this, this paper opts to consider the development of the method of induction as a methodology defined by Hume and Goodman’s conception of the Inductive method.Induction refers to â€Å"a method of reasoning by which a general law or principle is inferred from observed particular instances† (Flew 171). The method of inductive inference may be considered as the primary means through which justifications are formulated to show the relationship of evidence towards particular assumptions (Norton 2). The process of induction, in this sense, may be seen to arise whenever we note that evidence lends support to a hypothesis while in the process failin g to establish its deductive certainty. It was such a formulation of the method of induction that enabled the conception of the first riddle. What follows is a presentation of the main arguments of the aforementioned riddle as formulated by David Hume.Hume argued that since no necessary connections exists between empirical phenomena, it is always possible that a future observation will prove our inferences wrong no matter how appealing it may have been or how richly supported by past observations. This problem, in the more recent formulations of the problem has been referred to as the uniformity principle [in this sense the lack of such uniformity].According to the argument, nature has no uniformity. If such is the case it thereby follows that there is no voucher that which ensure the consistency of man’s most refined predictions. It might be argued that such an assumption has never been denied in the formulation of predictions however there has been agreement regarding the r esults of such an agreement [or lack thereof] within the province of induction. To some, it means that induction is never valid or justified, while to others, it means that induction simply calls for different standards of validity (Landesman 164). The latter view strips the aforementioned riddle [Humean riddle] of its problematic context.This is evident if one considers that since the rules of deductive validity are inapplicable to induction, it cannot be a problem that inductive inference is unavoidably attended by the possibility that a future observation may prove it wrong (Goodman 4). The old riddle is then dismissed because it cannot possibly be the genuine problem of induction.Fact, Fiction, and Forecast present Goodman’s construal of what he refers to as the new riddle of induction. After refuting the old riddle of induction [the refutation of which is evident in the former paragraph], Goodman proceeds to outline what he takes to be the genuine problem of induction an d its tentative solution. The problem of induction, he writes, is a problem of demonstrating the difference between valid and invalid predictions (Goodman 4).According to Goodman, a prediction is valid if it conforms to a valid rule of induction, and a rule is valid if it yields valid predictions. He acknowledges that such an assumption is characterized by circularity however he notes that it is important to perceive such a conception of the problem in terms of the conceptions of justifications for arguments.   Goodman notes that inductive predictions based on past regularities work better than those based on any other alternative. If such is the case, the rules for formulating predictions must be constructed in such a way that they will coincide with common practices of inductive reasoning.This, on the other hand, is further developed by the quality of predictions, which it produces. This is clearly explicated by Rubenstein as he notes, â€Å"the centerpiece of a valid inductive logic [according to Goodman] is its reliance on past regularities, and the prescriptive mandate of inductive validity is inseparable from a descriptive account of how inductive judgments are commonly made† (39). This has been the result of Goodman’s dissolution of the old riddle of induction. What follows this is Goodman’s explication that the most promising solution of the aforementioned riddle is untenable. It is through the introduction of such untenability that Goodman presents what he perceives to be the new riddle of induction.Goodman presents two hypotheses that are to be addressed through the use of the inductive method. One says that all emeralds are green and the other says that all emeralds are grue, where grue is said to apply to all things examined before t just in case they are green but to other things just in case they are blue (Goodman 10). Both hypotheses seem to be equally well supported by the evidence: all emeralds examined prior to t have b een found to be green and grue. However, the two hypotheses are mutually exclusive. If emeralds are grue, they will be blue at t and thereafter, but if the alternative hypothesis is correct, they will be green. Thus, we are left with the paradox that Goodman christened the ‘new riddle of induction'.We cannot, after all, justify induction by appealing to past regularities. However, the reason, according to Goodman, is not the lack of the elusive uniformity principle, but the previously unrecognized ubiquity of regularities.   According to Goodman, regularities exist where one finds them. In relation to this Goodman states that one, however, finds them everywhere (12). If such is the case, it therefore follows that it is useless to base inductive validity on past regularities since it is not possible to predict and hence distinguish which regularities are valid and invalid.At this point, I would like to present a summary of the aforementioned discussion. In the aforementioned discussion, Goodman believes that the old riddle [the Humean riddle/the uniformity principle] has been dissolved and that induction is justified by past regularities. The only remaining difficulty he sees, however, lies in finding a rule for distinguishing between regularities that do and do not yield valid inductive predictions.As was noted in the above discussion, the possibility of such is not possible. This is evident if one considers that regularity necessitates the occurrence of acts of inductive inference. Therefore, the genuine problem of induction cannot be the distinction between the distinction of regularities that do or do not yield valid inductive predictions since the specification of such necessitates the formulation of inductive inferences.As I reckon, Goodman aforementioned conception fails to account for the process of induction. It is important to note that Goodman contends that induction begins with regularity. Rubenstein notes, â€Å"induction does not begin wi th regularity – it ends with it† (44). The failure to consider this leads Goodman to misconstrue the problem of induction.It is important to note that experience of reality does not necessarily start with regularities but rather with individual observations. The role of induction, in this sense lies in providing us with justified methods that allows us to posit the observations that we will account for as regularities. Goodman, however, failed to account for this.In addition to this, it is important to note that such a failure can also be traced to Goodman’s assumptions regarding the process in which individuals formulate inferences. Goodman's error is compounded when he makes a distinction between identifying regularity and projecting it. Once we have decided that our observations represent regularity, it is automatically projected in both temporal directions. This is, in fact, what we mean by applying the term regularity to our data.Furthermore, Stich and Nisbe tt contend that the â€Å"equilibrium with inductive practices† that Goodman posited as a necessary aspect in formulating a valid inductive methodology is â€Å"neither necessary nor sufficient for a rule of inductive inference to be justified† (194). They argue that such an assumption fails to consider that â€Å"human subjects regularly and systematically make invalid inferences† and that there an instance wherein human reasoning enables an individual to â€Å"accept invalid rules and reject valid one’s that ought to govern the inference at hand† (Stitch and Nisbett 194).In summary, the aforementioned paper presented Goodman’s arguments in relation to his conception of the new riddle in induction. Such a riddle, however, under scrutiny may be seen as based upon a mistaken assumption of the justification process of beliefs that necessitates the introduction of information garnered through the method of induction. This is evident, for exampl e, if one considers the manner in which observations enable the formulation of regularities and not the other way around. An analysis of Goodman’s supposed riddle of induction thereby leaves the reader wondering if such a riddle may be considered as a valid concern for the adherents of the inductive methodology.Works CitedFlew, Anthony.   A Dictionary of Philosophy.   London: Pan Books, 1983.Goodman, Nelson.   Fact, Fiction, and Forecast.   Massachussets: Harvard University Press, 1983.Landesman, Charles.  Ã‚   Skepticism: The Central Issues.   London: Blackwell Publishing, 2002.Rubenstein, Arthur.   â€Å"Induction, Grue Emeralds and Lady Macbeth’s Fallacy.†Ã‚   The Philosophical Quarterly 48.190 (Jan. 1998): 37-49.Stitch, Stephen and Richard Nisbett.   â€Å"Justification and the Psychology of Human Reasoning.’   Philosophy of Science 47.2 (Jun. 1980): 188-202.

Bank of America Essay

In a workplace where multiculturalism exists is a diverse and successful workplace. Diversity helps workers and customers to do business freely because majority of customers are comfortable to communicate with people from their own culture. Pacific City Bank a financial company, which is not a diverse bank, has employees from only one culture and this has made way for customers from the same culture to be comfortable to do business with them. From the higher level C.F.O to the vice president of the company everyone is from the same culture. It is positive fact for the customers from the same culture to feel comfortable to communicate and have safety when doing business, but there are many negative effects of not having diversity in a workplace. When your doing business in a multicultural country, it is not viable to stick to doing business only with one culture, as the potential of the company cannot be reached. Customers from other cultures would not be comfortable to do business, a s they cannot understand their language or might feel out of place to do business. Whereas Wells Fargo another financial company, which is majorly known for diverse workplace has more benefits compared to Pacific city bank. Customers are more comfortable to bank with Wells Fargo, as they feel comfortable with the choices of diverse people available to communicate with. Wells Fargo’s main goal is to make their customers comfortable while banking with them. By hiring diverse employees, their workers will understand basic methods on how to act in front of another employee or customer from different cultures. Wells Fargo respects other cultures and policies. The company’s council including the Chairman, C.E.O and other senior leaders meet quarterly to establish goals and set up directions when partnering with committee in the areas where there is diversity and market segment diversity. They ensure there is supporting infrastructure and inclusion- related behaviors as the â€Å"work of all† versus the â€Å"work of a few†.

Fi515 Chapter 1 Mini Case

MINI CASE a. Why is corporate finance important to all managers? Corporate finance is important to all managers because it provides managers the skills needed to identify and select the corporate strategies and individual projects that add value to their firm and forecast the funding requirements of their company and devise strategies for acquiring those funds. b. Describe the organizational forms a company might have as it evolves from a start-up to a major corporation. List the advantages and disadvantages of each form. The organizational forms a company might have as it evolves from a start-up to a major corporation are proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. The advantages of a proprietorship are: †¢Easy and inexpensive to form, †¢Subject to few government regulations, and †¢Income not subject to corporate taxation. The disadvantages of a proprietorship are: †¢May be difficult to obtain the capital needed for growth, †¢Unlimited personal liability for the businesses’ debts, and †¢Limited to the life of its founder. The advantages of a partnership are: †¢Relatively easy to establish, †¢Increased ability to raise funds, Prospective employees become attracted to the business if given the incentive to become a partner, †¢May benefit from the combination of complementary skills of two or more people, †¢Can be cost effective, and †¢Provide moral support and will allow for more creative brainstorming. The disadvantages of a partnership ar e: †¢Partners are jointly and individually liable for the actions of the other partners, †¢Profits must be shared, †¢Disagreements can occur, †¢May have limited life, †¢Has limitations that keeps it from becoming a large business, †¢Partners have to consult with each other before making decisions, and †¢Unlimited liability. The advantages of a corporation are: †¢Unlimited life, †¢Easy transferability of ownership interest, and †¢Limited liability. The disadvantages of a corporation are: †¢Earnings may be subject to double taxation, and †¢Complex and time-consuming set up. c. How do corporations go public and continue to grow? What are agency problems? What is corporate governance? Corporations go public and continue to grow by selling stock to outsiders or venture capitalists, attracting lending from banks or raising additional funds through an initial public offering (IPO) by selling stock to the public at large. Agency problems are conflicts of interest arising between creditors, shareholders and managers because of differing goals. Corporate governance is the relationship between all the stakeholders in the company. d. What should be the primary objective of managers? The primary objective of managers is stockholder wealth maximization, which means to maximize the fundamental price of the firm’s common stock and not just the current market price. 1)Do firms have any responsibilities to society at large? Yes, firms have responsibilities to society at large. Corporate social responsibility is operating a business in a manner that accounts for the social and environmental impact created by the business. This means a commitment to developing policies that integrate responsible practices into daily business operations and to reporting on progress made toward implementing these practices. 2)Is stock price maximization good or bad for society? Stock price maximization is good for society. Shareholders are members of society. Consumers benefit when companies develop products and services that consumers want and need, which leads to new technology and new products. Employees benefit generally when companies successfully increase stock prices, it opens up growth and addition for more employees. 3)Should firms behave ethically? Yes, firms should behave ethically. There is no room for unethical behavior in the business world. Most executives believe that there is a positive correlation between ethics and long-run profitability. Conflicts often arise between profits and ethics. Companies must deal with these conflicts on a regular basis. Failure to handle these situations properly can lead to huge product liability suits and even bankruptcy. e. What three aspects of cash flows affect the value of any investment? The three aspects of cash flows the affect the value of any investment are the amount of expected cash flows, the timing of the cash flow stream, and the risk of the cash flows. f. What are free cash flows? Free cash flows are the monies available for distribution to all investors after paying current expenses, taxes, and making the investments necessary for growth. g. What is the weighted average cost of capital? The weighted average cost of capital is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. . How do free cash flows and the weighted average cost of capital interact to determine a firm’s value? Free Cash Flow = Sales Revenues – Operating Costs and Taxes – Required Investments in Operating Capital. Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is affected by market interest rates, market risk aversion, cost of debt, cost of equity, firmâ €™s debt/equity mix, and firm’s business risk. Therefore, free cash flows and the weighted average cost of capital interact to determine a firm’s value by the following equation: Value=FCF1+FCF2+ †¦ +FCF00 (1 + WACC)1(1 + WACC)2(1 + WACC)00 i. Who are the providers (savers) and users (borrowers) of capital? How is capital transferred between savers and borrowers? Households and some foreign governments are the providers (savers) of capital. Non-financial corporation’s net users and U. S. governments are users (borrowers) of capital. Financial corporations are slight users (borrowers), but almost breakeven. Capital is transferred between savers and borrowers by direct transfer, through an investment banking house, or through a financial intermediary. j. What do we call the price that a borrower must pay for debt capital? What is the price of equity capital? What are the four most fundamental factors that affect the cost of money, or the general level of interest rates, in the economy? The price that a borrower must pay for debt capital is called the interest rate. The price of equity capital is the cost of equity equals required return equals dividend yield plus capital gains. The four most fundamental factors that affect the cost of money, or the general level of interest rates, in the economy are production opportunities, time preferences for consumption, risk, and expected inflation. k. What are some economic conditions (including international aspects) that affect the cost of money? Some economic conditions (including international aspects) that affect the cost of money are country risk and exchange rate risk. Country risk depends on the country’s economic, political, and social environment. Exchange rate risk is dependent on the non-dollar denominated investment’s value. l. What are financial securities? Describe some financial instruments. Financial securities are pieces of paper with contractual provisions that entitle their owners to specific rights and claims on specific cash flows or values. Some financial instruments are: †¢U. S. Treasury Bills  ­Sold by U. S. Treasury  ­Default-free risk  ­91 days to one year – original maturity †¢Money Market Mutual Funds  ­Invest in short-term debt; held by businesses and individuals  ­Low degree of risk  ­No specific maturity (instant liquidity) †¢Consumer Credit Loans  ­Loans by banks/credit unions/finance companies  ­Risk is variable  ­Original maturity is variable †¢U. S. Treasury Notes and Bonds  ­Issued by U,S, government  ­No default risk, but price falls if interest rate rises  ­2-30 years – original maturity †¢Municipal Bonds  ­Issued by state and local government to individuals and institutions  ­Riskier than U. S. overnment guides, but exempt from most taxes  ­Up to 30 years – original maturity m. List some financial institutions. Some financial institutions are commercial banks, investment banks, savings and loan, mutual savings bands, credit unions, life insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, and hedge funds and private equity funds. n. What are some different types of markets? Some different types of markets are physical asset markets, financial asset markets, spot markets, future markets, money markets, capital markets, mortgage markets, consumer credit markets, and world, national, regional and local markets. . How are secondary markets organized? Secondary markets are organized by location and the way that orders from buyers and sellers are matched. 1)List some physical location markets and some computer/telephone networks. Some physical locations markets are New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Some computer/telephone networks are NASDAQ, government bond markets, and foreign exchange markets. 2)Explain the differences between open outcry auctions, dealer markets, and electronic communications networks (ECNs). Auction markets are markets where participants have a seat on the exchange, meet face-to-face, and place orders for themselves or for their clients. The two largest auction markets for stocks are the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange. The New York Stock Exchange is a modified auction with a â€Å"specialist. † Dealer markets are markets where â€Å"dealers† keep an inventory of the stock (or other financial assets) and place bids and ask â€Å"advertisements†, which are prices at which they are willing to buy and sell. There are often many dealers for each stock. A computerized quotation system keeps track of bid and ask prices, but does not automatically match buyers and sellers. Examples of dealer markets are the NASDAQ National Market, NASDAQ Small Cap Market, London SEAQ, and German Neuer Market. Electronic communication networks (ECNs) are computerized systems that match orders from buyers and sellers and automatically execute the transaction. It is a low cost to transact. Examples of ECNs are Instinet (U. S. stocks owned by NASDAQ), Archipelago (U. S. stocks owned by NYSE), Eurex (Swiss-German futures contracts), and SETS (London stocks). p. Briefly explain mortgage securitization and how it contributed to the global economic crisis. Mortgage securitization is the pooling of various mortgage loans and their usage as collateral to issue securities. This process allows the originator of the mortgage loans to restructure its balance sheet by reducing the receivables and using the funds received from the sale of securities to invest elsewhere. Mortgage securitization allows the originators of the loans to diversify their risk besides enabling them to secure immediate liquidity for assets which would otherwise have face some difficulty in trading. http://www. economywatch. com/finance/high-finance/mortgage-securitization. html) Mortgage securitization contributed to the global economic crisis in many ways. †¢Homeowners wanted better homes than they could afford. †¢Mortgage brokers encourage homeowners to take mortgages even though they would reset the payments to amounts that the borrowers might not have been able t o afford because the brokers got a commission for closing the deal. †¢Appraisers were over-appraising house values and getting paid at the time of the appraisal. †¢Originating institutions (e. . , Countrywide) were quickly selling the mortgages to investment banks and other institutions. †¢Investment banks created CDOs and got rating agencies to help design and then rate the new CDOs with rating agencies making big profits despite the conflicts of interest. †¢Financial engineers used unrealistic inputs to generate high values for the CDOs. †¢Investment banks sold the CDOs to investors and made big profits. †¢Investors bought the CDOs but either didn’t understand or didn’t care about the risk. †¢Some investors bought â€Å"insurance† via credit default swap. When the mortgages were reset and the borrowers defaulted on them, the values of the CDOs plummeted. †¢Many of the credit default swaps failed to provide insurance beca use the counterparty failed. †¢Many originators and securitizers still owned sub-prime securities, which led to many bankruptcies, government takeovers, and fire sales including New Century, Countrywide, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and many more. PROBLEMS (2-6)In its most recent financial statements, Newhouse, Inc. reported $50 million of net income and $810 million of retained earnings. The previous retained earnings were $780 million. How much in dividends was paid to shareholders during the year? Dividends Paid= (Previous Retained Earnings + Net Income) – Recent Retained Earnings = ($780 million + $50 million) – $810 million = $830 million – $810 million = $20 million (2-7)The Talley Corporation had a taxable income of $365,000 from operations after all operating costs but before (1) interest charges of $50,000, (2) dividends received of $15,000, (3) dividends paid of $25,000, and (4) income taxes. What are the firm’s income tax liability and its after-tax income? What are the company’s marginal and average tax rates on taxable income? Taxable Income$365,000 Less: Interest Charges(50,000) Plus: Dividends Received4,500? $15,000(1 – 0. 70) = $4,500 Total Taxable Income$319,500 Tax Liability= $22,250 + ($319,500 – $100,000)(0. 39) = $22,250 + ($219,500)(0. 39) = $22,250 + $85,605 = $107,855 After-Tax Income: Total Taxable Income$319,500 Less: Tax Liability(107,855) Plus: Non-taxable Dividends Received10,500? 15,000(0. 70) = $10,500 Net Income$222,145 Marginal Tax Rate = 39% Average Tax Rate= Tax Interest Income/Taxable Operating Income = $107,855/$319,500 = 0. 33757 or 33. 76% (2-9)The Shrieves Corporation has $10,000 that it plans to invest in marketable securities. It is choosing among AT&T bonds, which yield 7. 5%, state of Florida muni bonds, which yield 5% (but are not taxable), and AT&T preferred stock, with a dividend yield of 6%. Shrieve’ s corporate tax rate is 35%, and 70% of the dividends received are tax exempt. Find the after-tax rates of return on all three securities. AT&T Bonds – $10,000 x 7. 5% = $750 Taxes = $750 x 35% = $262. 50 $750 – $262. 50 = $487. 50 AT&T Bond Yield = $487. 50/$10,000 = 0. 04875 or 4. 875% AT&T Preferred Stock – $10,000 x 6% = $600 Tax Exemption = $600 x 70% = $420 Taxable Income = $600 – $420 = $180 Taxes = $180 x 35% = $63 $600 – $63 = $537 AT&T Preferred Stock Yield = $537/$10,000 = 0. 0537 or 5. 37% Florida Muni Bonds – $10,000 x 5% = $500 Not taxable, so no tax deductions Florida Muni Bonds Yield = $500/$10,000 = 0. 05 or 5%

“College Is a Waste of Time and Money” by Caroline Bird Essay

In the essay â€Å"College Is a Waste of Time and Money,† Caroline Bird argues that college is a complete waste of time and money for people. She argues that most students are unhappy and unsatisfied with attending college. She believes that they go to college because it has become the thing to do or because of getting pressure from their parents or societies. Furthermore, she thinks that college is not a good financial investment because career financial success depends on other factors. She believes that people gain true knowledge and skill while working in real jobs and not in college. Bird believes that college has to be judged not by what other people think is good for the students, but how good it feels to the students themselves. To some college may be a reason to avoid adult responsibilities, gain independence or avoid intolerable home situations, but to others college is an institution offering higher levels of educational purpose that will help them succeed in their careers later on with multiple benefits. College can be financially expensive. Since it is very costly, many believe it is better to just get a job straight out of high school, not take any student loans, and start to save for your retirement right away. Though colleges have gotten more expensive, not all college graduates find high paying jobs. According to the article â€Å"College Costs Up, Little Debt Help For Occupy Wall Streeters,† it states that â€Å"colleges and universities continue to raise tuition far faster than inflation and churn out ever more indebted graduates, two reports released by The College Board today show. With states struggling to balance their budgets, the sharpest tuition increases this year were at public colleges; at four year state schools in-state tuition†¦ and despite the college expenses, college graduates aren’t able to find a good paying job†(Forbes). Finding a well paying job right after graduation may be hard during these tough circumstances, but that does not mean people should believe that college was useless to them just because they can not find an appropriate job for themselves at that moment. People must be determined, have good skills and a strong will in order to achieve a high paying job. Many people do not go to college because of all the expenses. Beside the tuition fees, there are many other expenses to consider. Many  private colleges publish a total cost of attendance of over $50,000 per year and around $15,000 of this amount is for room and board. According to the article â€Å"College Cost Crunch† it states that â€Å"The College Board reports that while the published rates for private college tuition and fees are in the range of $35,000, nearly half of all full-time undergraduate students attend a four-year college with published charges of less than $9,000 per year in tuition and fees. And most students do not pay the published rate. On average, public four-year colleges charge $7,605 per year for in-state students, and the average charge for 2-year colleges is $2,713. For lower income students, the costs are typically even less, and there are many options for financing the cost of college. Federal Pell grants are available up to $5,550 per year, and many states provide additional grants of $1,500-$2,500 per year† (Forbes). People believe that college is very expensive, but if they are able to do the right research and apply themselves for all these loans, grants and scholarship then this will reduce their tuition fees. It is very important for people to look at all their options carefully before making a decision that will have an impact on their career. The value of a college degree or certificate is very important today. The money and time people spend on college matters. College education is universally viewed as such a great investment that the cost and its return on investment are beneficial towards future careers. The impact of getting a job can be very difficult. In today’s economy, getting a job is pretty tough, and it is a lot tougher for those without a post-secondary education. The chances of getting a job without a post-secondary degree or certificate are very few. According to the U.S Dept. of Labor the over all unemployment rate is 9.1%. The rate of people with only a high school diploma is a little bit higher at 9.5%. But college graduates have an unemployment rate at only 4.5%. Unemployment for ages 18-25 with only a high school diploma is currently over 50%, but the jobless rate for those under 25 with a college degree is only 8%. It is very hard to argue that skipping college to start working early is a practical financial alternative when over half of the young people out of high school are unemployed. The benefits of college go beyond creating improved career choices. The average pay for a job with a college degree earns almost twice the average for those with a high school diploma. People with higher education will have a  lifetime work of $800,000 more in wages. The jobs available to those with a post-secondary education are more interesting because they have more mobility between jobs and they have more advancement opportunities within companies. In other words, a college degree or certificate will greatly enhance the ability to get a job people will enjoy. In addition to actually liking that job and getting paid more for it, they have benefits including more leisure time, more opportunities, better health, less dependence on government services, and having children that are far more likely to be successful in school. Of course, there will always be exceptions of highly successful entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs who were very successful without completing college, but most of CEOs in America have a college degree. In her essay, Bird believes that students should go to college because they want to themselves, not because someone pressured them in to it. The students should have an inside view of what’s good for them. If they feel college is not necessarily good for them, then people can not expect them to go through with it. They need to set their own goals in life whether it be getting an education or getting a job right after high school. Everyone should be able to make decisions for them self. In the article â€Å"Is College worth It?,† it states that â€Å"the main purpose of a college education is to teach work-related skills and knowledge, and it is to help a student grow personally and intellectually. College graduates place more emphasis on intellectual growth; those who are not college graduates place more emphasis on career preparation† (Pewresearch) Though college may seem pointless to others, it actually helps students grow intellectually while building new skills that prepares them for their careers. College is definitely a good investment. Despite its expensive cost, people should not make any excuses because there are so many ways and opportunities to reduce the tuition fees. The money students invest in going to college will come back in multiples when they land a higher paying job. College graduates with a degree will always have a secure future financially. Aside from the financial benefits of going to college, the education students receive and the experience they gain from going to college will make them a better rounded person. It not only helps students grow intellectually, but it helps them mature as a person. It strengthens their skills, builds confidence and prepares them for a career in the real  world. Those who believe going to college is a waste of time and money should really consider the benefits and values of having a college degree, unless of course if they are a true genius like Bill Gates, then by all means go for the American Dream! Work Cited Novack, Janet. â€Å"College Costs Up, Little Debt Help For Occupy Wall Streeters.† Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 July 2012. . Novack, Janet. â€Å"College Cost Crunch.† Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 28 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 July 2012. . â€Å"Is College Worth It?† Pewresearch.org. Pew Research Center, 15 May 2011. Web. 14 July 2012. . Caroline Bird. â€Å"College is a Waste of Time and Money.† The Norton Reader.1975

Justify a war Essay

If the character, Agamemnon, was seeking advice, which philosopher would he choose as best advisor and which of these; Socrates, Homer, Aristophanes, would he choose as least advisor? Why? First, it is necessary to remember that Agamemnon was a king. According the Homer, this man had extraordinary power and the highest social position. He had a great authority among his neighbors, which helped him to organize the army. However, Homer described him as a man who always needed the advice. Sometimes Agamemnon allowed his emotions to dominate over his wisdom and experience. He is powerful warrior and good command, but he is imperfect governor for peaceful life. If this character was seeking advice, he’d probably gathered all the wise men in his kingdom. Homer would likely tell him about the god’s will, which determined the actions of rulers. Socrates would call him to be the philosopher king – the wise ruler who thinks about the interests of the state in general and the common people on particular. And Aristophanes would probably be skeptical about the ideas of two previous speakers; he was known as the father of satire and his skepticism as for the issues of the wars, state governing and rulers was well-known all over ancient Greece. However, choosing the best advisor Agamemnon would probably choose Homer. Both Socrates and Aristophanes didn’t approve the idea of the war. Perhaps, their advices as for peaceful life and wise ruling could be useful fir Agamemnon, but he didn’t need such advices. It is known that every person hears what he or she wants to hear. Agamemnon the king seek the â€Å"casus belli†, the event to justify a war. The will of gods was the most appropriate philosophy for him, and the kidnapping of Helen was just the secondary reason. Homer. The Iliad. Richmond Lattimore, translator. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1951) 2 Compare and contrast Greek comedies and tragedies. Include choice of plays, production, plot subject material, audience participation, and costumes Aristotle was the first who compared Greek comedies and tragedies in his â€Å"Poetics†. â€Å"A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action that is serious†¦ in a dramatic, not in a narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, with which to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions† (Poetics, VI. 2) Both these genres had their beginnings in the Greek theater. The tragedy appeared in the middle of 6th century BC, the comedy followed the tragedy fifty years later (though these dates are very rough, we don’t really know much about these times). As for the choice of plays the tragedy is the serious play, which is based on the solemn issue of social, religious or personal nature. The comedy is the play humorous actions of characters solving the same personal, social and religious issues. The plot subject material was also different. â€Å"Tragedies were based largely on the myths or stories of the old narrative epic poems, of which only two main ones, the Iliad and the Odyssey, both written by Homer, survive. (Fornesca, 2010) â€Å" The first comedies were devoted to the god Dionysus, thus the plot of comedy was based on the festivals, the holidays in the wake of Dionysus In the center of tragedy usually was protagonist, the idealized figure who became the victim of fate. The center of the comedy usually is the figure who goes through all the troubles. The tragedies are focused on the feelings of pity and fear in audience; the aim of the comedy is the amusement and laugh. The characters of comedies and tragedies used different masks to show emotions. The clothes of tragic characters showed their social statuc and gender (women weren’t allowed to the stage). The clothes of comic heroes were different, initially they looked like satires, the disciples of Dyonisius. Rehm, R. Greek Tragic Theatre (1992) 3. How did Aristotle’s ideas about government and society differ from those of Plato? Which one fits the United States system of government best and why? Though Aristotle and Plato were closely linked, Aristotle was a pupil of Plato, they had different view, Aristotle criticized the ideas of his teacher. Political theory of Plato includes the description of ideal government for the utopian society. Based on the traditional for ancient Greece ethics of virtue, Plato created the prototype of communist or totalitarian state government. In the Dialogue â€Å"The Republic† he divided the ideal society on three groups: â€Å"rulers, auxiliaries and labourers. † (Gaarder 91) Rulers, according to Plato, should be the guardian class, they had to be educated and intelligent. The children in the guardian class should be learned how to rule from the early childhood. The consequence of this system is the absence of social mobility. This system is totally antidemocratic. However Plato was sure that every member of this utopian society can be happy knowing his in her position in society, as well as social function and the designated role. Aristotle disagreed with his teacher. He believed there is no single system of state government, which could be suitable for every society. The appropriate system of governing depends on the aims of the state. Aristotle described three good system of governing: monarchy, the power of aristocracy and the system he called polity, which corresponds to modern democracy. For every system Aristotle highlighted the weak sides. Thus, the monarch can become the tyrant who oppresses people, and the power of aristocracy can enslave the people they rule. As for polity both Plato and Aristotle both feared that this system of governing might lead to the rule of the ignorant many over the educated few. † It is clear that the modern system if governing in the USA corresponds to the views of Aristotle, and possible the fear of ancient philosopher wasn’t ungrounded. Gaarder, J. Sophie’s World ( Sofies verden Norw). Hardback & Paperback, 1991. 4 Using the play, â€Å"The Apology† define Sophist. According to that definition, was Socrates a Sophist? Give the reasons for your answer. The sophists were the group of philosopher contemporary to Socrates. Their task main was teaching the Athenian youth to create the convincing arguments and to convince the people. They taught their students to argue both sides on the issue. Their philosophy was the kind of relativism; they thought there is no truth, just the different and conflicting opinions. It the negative meaning sophist is the person who plays both sides. Plato in his â€Å"Apology† describes Socrates trying to convince the jury he was not the sophist. Perhaps the rhetoric of Socrates and the sophists had the common features; however sophists charged fees for their teaching, and Socrates stayed poor. The sophists used their knowledge for their own gain. They really taught their students to be prominent and to manipulate the people’s mind, the skills that could be used for political end, but enrichment was their primary aim, according to Plato. Plato thought that trading with the knowledge could be the field of bias and manipulation. He supposed sophists in telling their students the things that weren’t good for them. Unlike them, Socrates didn’t profit from his reaching. That is why Plato set Socrates apart from sophists. In many of Plato’s dialogues Socrates reveals the emptiness of their teachings. At least, the principal difference between Socrates and sophists was in attitude to knowledge. The sophists claimed that they gained access to special knowledge through the investigation and experience, and this knowledge could be taught. Socrates was confessed he knew nothing – he meant the more he learned the more he understood the infinitude of the knowledge. It is no wonder that sophists was among the people who accused Socrates and became the reason of his death. Rowe, C. J. â€Å"Plato on the Sophists as Teachers of Virtue. † History of Political Thought 4 (1983), 409-27.