Saturday, December 28, 2019

Power Ambition and Honor - 810 Words

John Armour Hindman 4th 5/13/10 Power Ambition and Honor The fact is power corrupts, unless one knows how to use it. Everyone has ambition; it is the desire for achievement and the willingness to strive for its attainment. (1) Ambition can give us great things; strength, admiration and respect, but ambition as well as power has the ability to corrupt. Finally, honor, a title given to people who have completed a noble act. But some honorable, powerful and ambitious people go too far and forget about their morals, overrun with self desire. William Shakespeare was a famous playwright who wrote twelve tragedies in his time, two of which are very similar, Julius Caesar and Macbeth. Julius Caesar, a noble, honorable, and trusted man†¦show more content†¦This is proven when Caesar is shocked to see Brutus in the conspiracy against him as he says â€Å"Et, tu Brute? Then fall Caesar!†(Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1) as Brutus has always been loyal to Caesar. As well as the fact that Brutus selflessly killed his best friend for the g ood of Rome. Macbeth, as well, was an honorable man at the beginning of the play as he was a trusted and loyal thane. This is shown as the king trusts him to come visit him as well as make him not only the thane of Glamis, but the thane of Cawdor, after he has lead a winning battle for the king. This proves that both men are on honorable through the noble acts they have completed The Ambition of both men in the two plays could not have been more different. Brutus did not want power for himself but to keep power away from Caesar. â€Å"It must be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.† (Julius Caesar, act II Scene I) Brutus only reason for the murder of Caesar was for the good of the Roman people, not for his own self gain. Macbeth was the opposite, he strived for power at every chance he got, killing anyone who got in his way. First, Macbeth killed Duncan to become king, then Banquo and his son to make sure that they could not become king. Finally, Macbeth killed Macduff’s family while aiming for Macduff, showing that he had let his ambitions completely control him to theShow MoreRelatedAmbition: The Destruction of Shakespeare’s Macbeth Essay1182 Words   |  5 Pagesof this tragedy are power and betrayal. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare explores aspects of the human conscience. He p ays particular attention to our sense of right and wrong, innocence and guilt. Once Macbeth has a taste of power he is continually driven by his desire for it. His fear of having his power taken away from him drives him to continue to act ruthlessly in order to eliminate all threats of being found out for his treasonous deeds and to maintain his position of power. Macbeth has manyRead MoreAmbition In Hamlet Essay1048 Words   |  5 Pagesdisplaying remarkable honour and ambition. On the other hand, integrating two complex aspects of an individual’s life can work against any progress within an individual’s want to meet ends with family obligation or political ambition. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the inevitable integration of family honour and political ambition work in benefit to Fortinbras’ and young Hamlet’s desire to avenge his father’s death. Within the fathers of the play, Claudius finds his lack of family honor in the past affecting hisRead MoreCompare and Contrast Brutus and Macbeth1485 Words   |  6 PagesBrutus vs. Macbeth through Power, Ambition, and Honor â€Å"Absolute power corrupts absolutely,† unless one knows how to use it, it shall not corrupt. Everyone has ambitions, a strong desire of achieving great things, and some will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal. Honor is a title one receives through their noble acts; but some honorable and strongly ambitious people may go as far as to give up their noble title to accomplish their purpose. William Shakespeare is a well-known English poetRead MoreAmbition Over Morality. â€Å"Ambition Is One Of The Ungovernable1200 Words   |  5 PagesAmbition Over Morality â€Å"Ambition is one of the ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable.†(John Adams) A quote such as this gives great detail to the power ambition truly has. Ambition is without a doubt a key component in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, that drives Macbeth to the brink of insanity, causes him to kick morality to the side, and commit unfathomable wrongful acts in order to gain power. This is shown through direct verbalization from MacbethRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1441 Words   |  6 PagesConsequences of Ambition In human nature, ambition is a character trait that is most often associated with heroic, strong-willed individuals. To dare to fulfill one’s deepest desires can be perceived as a wonderful characteristic to acquire, but it can result in both positive and negative consequences. In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, the tragic hero, Macbeth, is portrayed as a victim of his own ambition which leads him to ruins. A well-respected general in the Scottish armyRead More The Nature of Ambition Essay1043 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout history, ambition has been a driving force both for individuals and society. Ambition is an eager and sometimes an exorbitant desire for elevation, honor, power, supremacy or simply the achievement of something. The origin of this word comes from the word â€Å"ambicioun† and explains the yearning for money and wealth or power in general. Ambition is basically an instinct. No matter what background or age you are, you are surely ambitious in any way. This eagerness is not only a drivingRead MoreBlood Imagery in Macbeth Essay1451 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth is the ultimate story of a fight between the forces of good and evil. It tells the tale of a tragic hero whose quest for power leads to his ultimate downfall. Macbeth starts out as an honorable warrior but changes when his ambition becomes uncontrollable. As he becomes increasingly paranoid, Macbeth uses violent means to eliminate threats to his Scottish throne. As the play progresses, blood continuously plays a part in the events as the murders become more frequent. William ShakespeareRead MoreAmbiguity Equivocation in Macbeth1097 Words   |  5 Pagesand the powers of evil. In the end, he twists the witches words to fit his own purposes, ignoring the possibility that the prophecies might have other, less fortunate meanings (equivocation). This voluntary m isinterpretation, committed in pursuit of power and ambition, leads Macbeth to perform certain actions which result in the death of the king, his own friends, Lady Macbeth s madness and suicide and eventually his own death. From the beginning of the play, Macbeth desires great power. AfterRead MoreFate Vs Free Will In Shakespeares Macbeth1260 Words   |  6 Pagesown free will, dishonorable desires, and ambitions. Although Macbeth’s bloodthirsty spree is incentivized by the witches’ prophetic reports, the witches speak too vaguely and equivocally to be considered at fault for Macbeth’s actions. The prophecies at hand, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter† and â€Å"Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor,† say nothing about seizing the throne through devious schemes or violent acts of regicide. The witches’ power over the situation is limited. They canRead More The Persuasive Antony of William Shakespeares Julius Caesar847 Words   |  4 Pagesthe truth to sway the crowds feelings. When giving his speech, Antony uses his skill as an orator through the use of verbal irony.   Antony tells the Romans that Brutus called Caesar ambitious.   That is only what was said; he was not a man of ambition.   Antony proves this by saying that Caesar turned the crown down and even wept for the poor of Rome.   Brutus is referred to as an honorable man.   Of course this is not true, but Antony uses the statement as verbal irony to sway the peoples minds

Friday, December 20, 2019

Breast Reconstruction Procedures For Women - 1221 Words

Dr. Sam Gershenbaum is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Miami with an office near the Brickell neighborhood. He performs breast reconstruction procedures for women who have had a mastectomy. With breast reconstruction surgery, Dr. G can provide women with natural-looking, shapely breasts. Types of Breast Reconstruction Procedures Available Near Brickell For some patients, reconstruction can begin during their mastectomy. Other patients may choose to have their breast reconstruction at some point after their mastectomy. Typically, breast reconstruction surgery involves several surgical sessions that are performed in stages. Breast reconstruction procedures performed near Brickell usually fall into one of two†¦show more content†¦He will make recommendations as to which type of breast reconstruction surgery will serve you best based on your body type, age, lifestyle, health and goals, etc. Please do not hesitate to ask questions during your initial consultation. Immediate vs. Delayed Breast Reconstruction Surgery Near Brickell You may be given the option to begin your breast reconstruction regimen during the same surgical session as your mastectomy. The benefit of immediate breast reconstruction surgery is that the breast skin is typically preserved, which usually produces nicer results. In addition, women wake up after their mastectomy with a breast mound. Although the first step of a breast reconstruction is often the most substantial, numerous steps are necessary to attain the final breast shape. Delayed breast reconstruction begins at some point after the mastectomy. A delayed reconstruction may be a better option for some women. A woman may choose to delay her reconstruction procedure if: She does not want to deal with having breast reconstruction surgery while she copes with treating the breast cancer. She has other health problems and issues that need to be addressed prior to her reconstruction. For example, if she smokes, she needs to stop smoking no less than 2 months before her breast reconstruction surgery. Smoking inhibits the body’s ability to heal itself. She needs to have radiation therapy. Radiation can causeShow MoreRelatedThe Treatment Of Breast Cancer1248 Words   |  5 PagesBreast Cancer Surgeries that Involve Removal of the Entire Breast A modified radical mastectomy – during this procedure, the surgical oncologist removes the entire cancerous breast, the lining that rests above the chest muscles as well as most of the patient’s lymph nodes that are located under her arm. In addition, patients may also need to have a portion of their chest wall muscle removed. A total mastectomy (simple mastectomy) – during this procedure, the oncologist removes the entire breastRead MoreDental Procedure For Breast Augmentation Procedures1589 Words   |  7 Pagesavailable from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), nearly 300,000 breast augmentations were performed in 2015, making breast augmentation procedures once again the top plastic surgery procedure performed in the Unites States. As such, many inexperienced and substandard plastic surgeons perform breast augmentation procedures frequently, and without much thought: Unfortunately, a poorly executed breast augmentation procedure can lead to a variety of negative outcomes. ARTISTIC VISION AND EXPERTISERead MoreWho Should Consider With Gummy Bear Breast Implants1246 Words   |  5 PagesConsider Adding Volume to Their Breasts with Gummy Bear Implants? Women who: †¢ are interested in increasing the size and contour of their breasts; †¢ women who would like to have breasts that are symmetrical (even) and/or appear more proportionate to their overall physique; †¢ do not smoke; †¢ have no contraindications to general anesthesia; †¢ are healthy; †¢ have no active infections; †¢ are not pregnant or breastfeeding; †¢ understand what can be accomplished with gummy bear breast implants; and †¢ are at leastRead More Plastic Surgery Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pagesareas. They should be physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations. An important thing is to have firm and elastic skin. â€Å"Loose, drooping skin won’t reshape to your body’s new contours, and may require an additional procedure to surgically remove the excess skin. It will leave visible scars; (Liposuction).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before you decide to go through liposuction try diets and weight loss programs. If you can’t loose a certain buldge then liposuction is a good alternative (ThighRead MoreThe Treatment Of Breast Implants Essay1498 Words   |  6 Pages Breast Implants In recent years, the demand for this ‘appearance medicine’ has increased rapidly, largely in response to unrealistic media images of ‘perfect’ faces and bodies alike. In Aotearoa New Zealand, doctors who are not qualified as surgeons may perform cosmetic procedures, including invasive surgery. As with any form of major surgery, there are certain risks and side effects linked with cosmetic surgery and variations betweenRead MoreDiseases of the breasts are a common occurrence in women about one out of eight women in the800 Words   |  4 PagesDiseases of the breasts are a common occurrence in women; about one out of eight women in the United States are affected by breast cancer, which is not gender specific, rarely occurs in men as well. The female breasts also called mammary glands are located between second and seventh rib, in front of the human chest, over the pectoralis major muscle, and consists of three types of tissues; glandular, fibrous and adipose tissues, including lymph vessels serving to drain excess fluid. Many women suffer fromRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Plastic Surgery Essay723 Words   |  3 PagesSociety today has brain washed both men and women in believing that considered beautiful one must look like models shown on magazine, television and in movies. This causes people to undergo plastic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, plastic surgery was first used in India as early as 800 B.C. Not only does it enhance self-image but also self concept. Reconstructive ways has also been done nearly more to children than adults. Plastic surgerys categorized as either cosmeticRead MorePlastic Surgery And Cosmetic Surgery1496 Words   |  6 PagesPlastic surgery has become an extremely popular trend throughout the past years of the American culture. There are many reasons why people get plastic surgery, however, our society is the first to judge an individual for getting a procedure done. The con troversy regarding plastic surgery is extremely relevant and has received major attention through celebrities, television, and social media. However, many individuals are unaware that there is a difference between both plastic surgery and cosmeticRead MoreWhy The World Want Plastic Surgery1480 Words   |  6 Pageshas two branches. There is cosmetic surgery, people use it to improve there appearance while on the other side reconstructive surgery treats serious health issues. When you hear the words â€Å"plastic surgery† you thing about nose jobs, face lifting and breast implants but most people forget that there are also reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery can be applied to various problems. Issues which are noticed from the present of birth are cleft lip and palat, birthmarks, craniosytosis (a rareRead MoreThe Effects Of Plastic Surgery1389 Words   |  6 PagesPlastic surgery in today’s medical world Plastic surgery can be defined as the specialty in the medical field that involves the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body. Plastic surgery can be separated into two groups: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. The thesis of this essay is to examine these two types of surgery and to examine the effect that it has on today’s medical world, and what causes people to seek plastic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes craniofacial

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Reflection on Accounting Financial Analysis Report †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Reflection on Accounting Financial Analysis Report. Answer: On the basis of the conducted study and based on the available Statistical Reports, I learned a lot. The creation of a business venture helped me hone the organisational and leadership skills which where inherent in me (Albornoz Rocco, 2013). My analytical skills were also developed. My understanding of the tourism industry and the business ventures which would best impact the industry were developed. I learned how to interpret the existent tourism scenario in Australia and develop the venture policies accordingly. I also understood how to predict the impact of the business ventures on the tourist count in the coming years. I learned how to select the best possible cohort of tourists and plan the travel tours so as to appeal to the targeted cohort. I focussed on removing the negative impacts of the impediments to the tourism industry as also on the selected business venture. I also learned how to identify the best possible type of business that would assist my chosen business venture (Rae, 2012). Finally I learnt how to connect the past trends with the present scenario in tourism and develop a business report which included all aspects of the business including food, lodging and booking facilities overall. References: Albornoz, C., Rocco, T. S. (2013). Revisiting entrepreneurship education literature: Implications for learning and teaching entrepreneurship. Rae, D. (2012). Action learning in new creative ventures.International journal of entrepreneurial behavior Research,18(5), 603-623.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Book Report On Thomas Jefferson (1066 words) Essay Example For Students

Book Report On Thomas Jefferson (1066 words) Essay Book Report On Thomas JeffersonBook Review on Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson by Norman Risjord is a biography of the third president of the United States that takes Thomas Jefferson from his youth through his later years in the early 19th century. The purpose of this book is to give a political and social overview of the Thomas Jeffersons life and career. It was written for both the student of American history and the casual reader interested in the genesis of the United States government, seen through the eyes of one of its founding fathers. The value of this book is that it shows that Jefferson was not a saint, yet he was one of the most intelligent presidents that the country has ever had. Risjord has given the book great value because he has framed Jefferson among his peers. Consequently, the book truly comes to life, and the reader is able to learn about Jefferson as well as his contemporaries James Madison, John Marshall, and John Adams. The scope of the book is all-inclusive. Risjord begins with Jeffersons birth on April 13, 1743 on his fathers plantation, Shadwell, in Goochland County on the western edge. The narrative continues on to show Jefferson graduating from William and Mary College, then entering politics in Virginians House of Burgesses in 1769. Jefferson married Martha Skelton on New Years Day, 1772. With the Virginia legislature from 1776 to 1779, Jefferson formed the groundwork for abolition of entail and primogeniture, for the establishment of religious freedom, and not for the public school system. Jefferson was of course the author of the Declaration of Independence, and because he had set this document in motion, he waited out the Revolutionary War to see if the colonies would win. If they had lost, Jefferson would have been hanged for treason against the King of England. He served as the minister to France from 1785 to 1789. At this time there was growing opposition to Alexander Hamilton and his policies, and Jefferson associated himself with a group called the Republicans, who were actually forerunners to the present Democratic Party. While Jefferson was serving as vice President from 1797 to 1801, he drafted the Kentucky Resolutions. He was elected President following a long deadlock with Aaron Burr in the House of Representatives. This happened mainly because Alexander Hamilton considered Burr the more dangerous man and he gave his support to Jefferson. Jeffersons election was a great victory for the democratic forces, but it was black Tuesday to the thousands of Federalists who believed that the Republican leader was an atheistic anarchist who feared that his administration would be that of a bloodyhanded revolutionist. Jefferson was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, a city that he had helped to plan. He became famous for the republican simplicity that he established there. During his first administration he achieved the Louisiana Purchase and oversaw the Lewis and Clark Expedition. During his second administration, Jefferson tried to enforce such measures as the Embargo Act of 1807, even though this brought a great deal of opposition. Once he retired from public life, Jefferson moved back to his beloved Monticello. It was at this time that he founded the University of Virginia and continued his activities as a scientist, architect, and philosopher-statesman. In his later years, Jefferson wrote about his view of the future, when he saw that the people would be enlightened by free education. Under a forward thinking democratic-republican institution, the people could govern themselves better than under any other system. .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 , .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .postImageUrl , .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 , .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:hover , .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:visited , .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:active { border:0!important; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:active , .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3 .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf5ef8f5279fdb1b48104aed26815b9e3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Reconstruction period EssayHis friend James Madison evoked these words when Jefferson died on the Forth of July in 1826. He lives and will live in the memory and gratitude of the wise and of the good, as luminary of Science, as a votary of liberty, as a model of patriotism, and as a benefactor of human kind. The style is controversial and the book offers insights into Jeffersons psychology as well as historical data. Risjord does well by his chapter headings, as they divide Jeffersons life into Vice President and President etc. And so they provide easy access. The bibliography is excellent, allowing for follow up on several of the texts to do more reading on, for example, the Louisiana Purchase. The illustrations are adequate: there might have been more of them, concentrating on Jeffersons political associates (Hamilton, Burr, and et al.). The author is relatively objective. Biographies of Jefferson since this 1994 edition have concentrated more on the darker side of Jeffersons life, such as the affair he had with his slave, but Risjord keeps primarily to the main facts of the third presidents life. If Risjord has a bias, it is that the earlier leaders of the U.S. showed more moral character than those today. This, however, is hard to see as a direct bias, as many of those who helped form the country in 1776 clearly had a great deal of character. In terms of his general intelligibility, Risjord is very readable. Risjord accuracy with the facts that he presents seems quite good. As has been mentioned, he doesnt deal with some of the more controversial aspects of Jeffersons life. In terms of my criticism, the book seems to be very valid. In referring to several other accounts of Jeffersons life, it appears that Risjord got all of the main facts correct. He did a commendable job of explaining Jeffersons election, with the Congressional dynamic between Hamilton and Burr. Risjord has accomplished what he set out to do, which was to present Jefferson as a person that readers could relate to as a politician, husband, father, as well as a man of higher learning. The author has made a contribution to the field of American history. This book is worth reading because it frames Thomas Jefferson within the context of his times. To explore this book is to experience the growth of America from a group of colonies to the United States and then on to the expanding nation that developed through the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Author Risjord has a great empathy for Jefferson, and this admiration shows through on every page. One comes away from this biography wondering where leaders of Jeffersons caliber are in todays political arena. If nothing else, Americans can take solace that this country was founded by, among others, Thomas Jefferson. Book Reports

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Gas And Electric Cars Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Gas And Electric Cars Essay, Research Paper As his auto warmed up that forenoon, Alan Wilson stared with astonishment at his gas gage. ? I can? t believe it? s on? EMPTY? once more, ? he ranted. ? I merely exhausted 20 vaulting horses last weekend! ? Alan sped off from his place toward the gas station before he had to be at work that forenoon merely to happen out that the gas monetary values had been raised once more. ? Why Don? T I merely fire my money? ? he said jokingly. Alan grabbed the nose and began the hebdomadal undertaking of make fulling up the gas armored combat vehicle on his 1970 Ford Maverick with a 302 and double fumes. ? I need to travel purchase one of those new Styrofoam pieces of debris that get 30 stat mis to the gallon, ? he mumbled to himself. Since the innovation of the auto, people have had to travel through this ordeal because we have no pick. We will write a custom essay sample on Gas And Electric Cars Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It has been over 80 old ages, and we are still utilizing gasolene as the primary beginning of power for our vehicles. With all of the new engineering created over these old ages, shouldn? T we have thought of something better by now? The truth is that we have. Electricity is a much cleaner, more efficient signifier of power that could be put to usage, but it hasn? T ( Bradley 444 ) . Is at that place any peculiar ground? Of class! Person will lose money. The thought of an electric auto has been embedded in the head of people for infinite old ages. Whether it be by a author, an discoverer, or a scientist, it has been thought about for some clip. Not merely would this thought be safer for the environment, it would salvage one million millions of people money. Unfortunately, gas companies haven? t preferable these thoughts over losing 1000000s of dollars in gross revenues. Although it may non be true, many conservationists believe that auto makers have been bought off by the gas companies in order to maintain their 1000000s fluxing in ( Sullivan 2 ) . How could an thought perfected old ages ago non hold caught on by now? The first working electric auto was created in the 1800? s before the first gas-powered auto. It wasn? T perfected until the 1970? s so gasoline took its topographic point in the average clip and we haven? T changed back until now ( Ramo 24 ) . In the past month or two, a few auto companies have begun to set half-electric half-gas powered autos on the market ( Ramo 25 ) . The work of fic tion is easy going a world. This may be a signifier of via media between the people of the universe and the gasolene companies. These autos are good designed. The gasolene helps the autos get up to rush and with hills, while the legion batteries keep the auto traveling when they are up to rush and non on a hill. They run swimmingly and the best portion is that a auto will acquire between 80s and 90 stat mis to the gallon ( Sullivan 3 ) . It is safe to state that most people would bask the thought of make fulling up their gas armored combat vehicles one time a month. Plus, Gasoline companies will non be put out of concern for two grounds: they will still do money on the full gas-powered vehicles, and they will still acquire money from these new? electri-gas? autos ( Ramo 25 ) . What is incorrect with a to the full electric auto though? For one, they merely travel at a top velocity of 65 Miles per hour for 2 hours. After the 2 hours, the batteries need to be recharged. With the gas-electric autos, a particular generator charges up the batteries while the auto is utilizing gas ( Bradley 445 ) . So every clip the auto is acquiring up to rush or drawing up a hill, the batteries are being charged by the generator. There is virtually no manner to run out of power on these autos provided the gas armored combat vehicle is kept full, and with merely necessitating to make full up the armored combat vehicle one time a month, this should be no job for the mean individual. To his astonishment, Jerry looked down at his gas gage and saw the needle about to the? E. ? ? Wow, I haven? T seen that in about 5 months, ? he smirked to his married woman. The trade name new bluish electric gas auto coasted into the local Chevron right next to a certain Ford Maverick. Alan could make nil but stare with covetous eyes cognizing precisely how great Jerry? s gas milage had to be with that new auto. Both work forces finished make fulling their armored combat vehicles and left. They neer saw each other once more for obvious grounds. Imagine having one of these gas electric vehicles, and believe about how much easier it would be to draw up to that gas pump cognizing that you will non be at that place once more for at rental a couple months. Eighty stat mis to the gallon ; sounds nice doesn? t it? In 10 old ages or so, when these new vehicles are more common, about everyone that goes to the gas station will no longer hold anything to fear.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

12 Crude But Funny South Park Quotes

12 Crude But Funny South Park Quotes South Park is not for the faint-hearted. It could offend the sensibilities of those who cant handle in-your-face, raucous humor. South Park humor is racist, sexist, chauvinistic, and offensive. Despite the vulgarity, South Park scores high with fans. What Makes South Park Such a Popular Series In the words of some die-hard South Park fans, it is the only intelligent show that takes jabs at hypocrisy and the pretentious world we live in. Be it politics, social structures, or family values, the animated series has something to say about everything. When you look at the world through the eyes of social misfits like Eric Cartman, you see how our beliefs are based on a bunch of misplaced values. South Park Characters Take for instance South Parks most loved (and most obnoxious) character, Eric Cartman. He resembles that kid at school whom everyone loves to hate. He is a narcissistic, foul-mouthed, devious kid who has little regard for society or people. Yet, Eric Cartman is known for his biting truth. Stan and Kyle are best friends, though they often disagree. Stan is a knowledgeable friend, and he often ponders life issues. Kyle is a Jewish boy, who, though proud of his roots, often displays self-doubt. Eric Cartmans anti-Semitic views are targeted to make Kyles life miserable. The whole TV series has profanity galore, with crude language, abusive words, and politically incorrect jokes that are projected as humor. Despite its negative energy, South Park has managed to create waves in viewership. South Parks debauched satire has won many awards, including five Primetime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. In 2013, TV Guide ranked South Park the 10th greatest TV cartoon of all time. Crude But Funny South Park Quotes   The humor is bizarre and often repugnant, but if you dont mind the politically incorrect language, you will have a wild time. Season 1, Episode 4: Big Gay Als Big Gay Boat Ride:Sportscaster Frank:  I havent seen an Englishman take a blow like that since Hugh Grant!Season 1, Episode 7: Pinkeye:Eric Cartman:  Kenny’s family is so poor that yesterday, they had to put their cardboard box up for a second mortgage.Season 1, Episode 2: Weight Gain 4000:Wendy: Dude, dolphins are intelligent and friendly!Eric Cartman: Intelligent and friendly on rye bread, with some mayonnaise.Season 5, Episode 11: The Entity:Jewish Kid: Is anyone else having problems concentrating on this? I just cant seem to concentrate.Eric Cartman: Maybe we should send you to a concentration camp.Season 10, Episode 7: Tsst!:Eric Cartman:  Ive lost almost 10 pounds now. You see what I mean? I totally know what its like to be a Jew in the Holocaust now.Season 4, Episode 6: Cherokee Hair Tampons:Eric Cartman:  Hippies. Theyre everywhere. They wanna save Earth, but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad.Bigger, Longer Uncut:Satan:  Without evil there could be no good, so it must be good to be evil sometimes. Season 17, Episode 10: The Hobbit:Stan:  There have been malicious rumors started at this elementary school that my beautiful fiancà ©e is a Hobbit. That is not funny and it is not true. Yes, she is heavier than most of her pictures show her to be. Yes, she gets her hair lasered off her body and yes, she has a friend named Gandalf, who happens to be a wizard.Season 16, Episode 12: A Nightmare on FaceTime:Eric Cartman:  Its Stans stupid Captain America costume, thats what throwing everybody off! Hows people supposed to get that Im the Hulk when Captain America is on freaking FaceTime?Season 1, Episode 4: Big Gay Als Big Gay Boat Ride:Chef:  You know what they say: You cant teach a gay dog straight tricks.Season 16, Episode 11: Going Native:Butters:  Youre all fake and stuck up, and none of you have the courage to tell Jimmy his jokes arent funny! The only kid here with a sense of dignity is Kenny, and the rest of you have heads up your butts!Season 4, Episode 3: Timmy 2000:MT V Announcer:  Youre watching MTV, the cool, brainwashing, 12-year-old-and-younger station that hides behind a slick image. Were so cool that we decide whats cool. And now MTV News. The news that is single-handedly dumbing-down our country, which is cool.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 213

Assignment Example The public health nurses role in delivering these interventions is to participate in the care-giving work when the patients affected by the disease seek medical assistance. The other role is to participate in the public awareness campaigns and demonstrate to people on how to live a healthy lifestyle. The regulatory guideline is to implement improved and enhanced heart disease prevention efforts. The actual ethical implication is to improve the health of all people through equity, in their all life stages (People & US Department of Health and Human Services, 2011).The American Heart association through federal funding is actual funder of these interventions while the U.S ministry of Health and Human Services acts as a potential funder of the interventions. As mentioned above, the primary intervention is to prevent and treat heart disease to prevent the deaths it causes among the U.S population. The secondary intervention is to hold public prevention campaigns to create awareness to people about the disease. The tertiary intervention is to engage other sectors to help to fight the disease. The basic elements of community health nursing practice include prevention and treatment of health problems. This relates well with the primary intervention which is to prevent and treat heart diseases. The other element is to promote healthful living. This can be achieved by empowering people through public health campaigns which relates with the secondary intervention. Rehabilitation and research is another element of community health nursing practice (Maurer & Smith, 2012). This relates with the tertiary intervention as other sectors can join to rehabilitate and conduct research of the disease. Florence Nightingale’s theory of nursing can b e used as a framework for community health nursing practice. This theory is a patient-care theory. It focuses on patient’s care rather than the nursing process (Selanders, 1993).  This is

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Mediation Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Mediation - Research Paper Example Man is also a social being. Because he belongs to the civilized society, man is expected to interact with his fellow human beings and form a variety of relationships like friendship. When man is required to make decisions, he may or may not solicit his friends’ opinions. â€Å"†¦in making decisions, people often consider all relevant information...† (Goodell, 2009) For man, a rational and social being, friends are important and so are their opinions which usually form part of man’s consideration. Since it is not a perfect world, man may have altercations with others. These can be trivial ones and/or serious fights. Whatever the dispute is, some form of mediation comes into play. In mediation, a neutral third party works with the people involved to resolve their dispute. (Kline, n.d.) â€Å"Unlike a judge or arbitrator, a mediator has no decision-making authority†¦[he] acts to facilitate the parties reaching their own solutions.† (Mediation v. Litigation, page 1) In mediation, the decision-making authority rests with the parties. (The Mediation Process, page 1) Thus, it is very important for the parties to take note of every variable before reaching an agreement. As mentioned earlier, being a social being as well as a rational one, it is common nature for man to hold his peers’ opinions as one of those variables. These people, who are not actually sitting around the table, can have a deep effect on mediation. (Rosenthal, 2009) One wonders just how strong a man is influenced by his peers’ opinions. Already, the strength of peer influence has been recognized and researched as evidenced by the studies done on peer mediation. In one article, researchers shared the results of their project â€Å"designed to investigate the effectiveness of a school-wide conflict resolution curriculum and peer mediation program.† (Daunic, et. al., 2000) The research was done in three middle schools.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Relevance of Standard Costing & Variance Analysis Essay

Relevance of Standard Costing & Variance Analysis - Essay Example The standard cost is a predetermined unit cost i.e. the price and standard amount of each resource to be utilized in manufacturing a product and providing a service. A variance is the difference of actual cost incurred and expected standard cost. The variance analysis involves breakup of total variance to explain how much variance is caused by difference in use of resources from the standard usage quantity and how much variance is caused by the difference in prices of resources from the standard costs (Scarlett, 2008, p.96). The standard costing can be advantageous only if the cost standards are carefully established and prudently used. The use of standards solely for placing blame can have negative impact on management and employees. The major advantages include better management planning, promotes economy by making the employees understand importance of cost reduction, setting selling price, management control, highlights variances in management by exception and simplify the invent ories’ costs reducing clerical costs (Weygandt, Kimmel & Kieso, 2009, p.495). Standard costing system was developed in accordance with the traditional manufacturing environment which has changed drastically in recent competitive environment. The critics of standard costing and variance analysis site the following reasons for its declining relevance: Changing Cost Structure: Provided that the standard costing is suited to the control of variable and direct costs but not fixed and indirect costs, the usefulness of standard costing has been questioned because the in recent times the overhead costs have become the relevant factory costs whereas the importance of direct labour costs has diminished. Inconsistency with JIT (Just-in-Time) Philosophy: JIT is an inventory system which works towards keeping zero inventories and reducing handling, warehousing and financing costs and time associated with tracking stocks and movements (Ajami & Goddard, 2006, p.357). This system has been wi dely adopted by American and European firms in the last decade. Although critics of standard costing and variance analysis assert that if performance of purchasing department is evaluated on the basis of purchase price variance then the purchase managers will be motivated to obtain materials at the lowest possible costs which can result in selection of many suppliers on the basis of lowest price, large quantity purchases resulting in larger inventories, low quality goods and indifference towards attainment of on-time delivery. This contradicts the JIT philosophy. Overemphasis on the importance of Direct Labour: The fact that direct labour has lost its importance in modern manufacturing and is a small proportion of the total factory costs, makes the standard costing irrelevant because most of the overhead costs are allocated to the cost centres on the basis of direct labour hours. To reduce their allocated costs the managers try to reduce the direct labour hours which diverts the att ention from controlling the rising overhead costs. This is not an inadequacy of standard costing rather a faulty application of it to rely on volume variances to control short term costs and performance evaluation. Inconsistent with Continuous Improvement Philosophy: The

Friday, November 15, 2019

History of Somalia: Pre-colonial, Colonial and Post Colonial

History of Somalia: Pre-colonial, Colonial and Post Colonial Chapter 1 Introduction The work pertains to the pre-colonial colonial and post colonial history of Somalia and the factors it does contain leading to the collapse of the state of Somalia. Furthermore research will demonstrate the fall out of the failure on the international and regional politics. It should be bear in mind that the Somali issue is complex in nature and hence at the end of the paper, the reader should understand the nature of Somalias tribulations. Note that one of the features of African politics is that it comprises what can be considered as the worst political weakness, that is: political disequilibrium, and state failure and Somalia are a case among others. Somalia is situated on the so-called Horn of Africa, with a total population of 15 to 17 million people and extending into the Indian Ocean, Somalias harbors are natural ports of call for traders sailing to and from India. So the coast of the region is much visited by foreigners, in particular Arabs and Persians. But in the interior the Somali are left to their own arrangements. It is bordered in the north by Djibouti, in the west by Ethiopia and in the south by Kenya. Chapter 1.1 Pre-colonial and colonial Somalia By the early 1800th European interests begins to crop up in Somalia, the coasts were used as a coaling station for ships to India. Somalia was an important port of call on the Indian trade route, but its aridity and hostility fueled hesitation on the colonization issue. In the 1880s, France, Britain, Italy and Ethiopia competed for the Somali territory, the four competitors agreed among them and shared the land, the northern part were shared among French and British(now Djibouti and Eritrea) and the coastal regions were annexed by Italian protectorate and Ethiopian. But their interests grew when the Suez Canal opened creating tension between Italy and Ethiopia, the repercussion of this tension were felt in the Ogaden region found between Ethiopia and the coastal part of Somalia; an active Italian region, which was finally granted tot eh Ethiopians. By 1920 the colonial compromises in Somalia began to weaken through upheavals in the British Somaliland, and in the Ogaden region by Fasc ist Italy. The World War II complicated the situation; as Italy violently acquired Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, then known as the Italian East Africa, which surrounded British and French Somaliland. Somalia got into a situation of constant colonial change until its independence in 1960. Chapter 1.2 Post-Independence Somalia and conflicts After independence, Somalia looked forward to reunite with three large Somali groups trapped in other states in French Somaliland, in Ethiopia and in northern Kenya. As Kenya and Ethiopia were in under the protection of the Western powers, Somalia turned towards the Soviet for help. But still Somalia kept a neutral stance in international affairs, but this soon changed when newly elected President M. Egal was assassinated (1969) and the accession to power by Siad Barre who sided on the Soviet side, he devoted himself to a brutal Marxist dictatorship and hence opposing clan ideology and the clan system; which was an inherent part of the Somali culture. In 1977 Somalia attacked Ethiopian garrisons in the Ogaden but his ally; that is the USSR soon turned on the Ethiopian side and Ethiopia used Soviet support to take back the Ogaden in 1978. Having lost its ally and with thousands of refugee coming back, Somalia headed towards a deep abyss where it still lies. To understand the collapse of the Somali state is a complex issue, but as a sum up of the issue it can be said that it was due to both, historical and cultural legacy. From a political point of view it can be said that during the 19th century, Somalia has been divided into five regions, namely: French Somaliland (Djibouti), British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia (Ogaden) and the Kenyan Northern Frontier District. But since its independence in July 1960, the main objective of the nationalist was to reunite the whole territory, thing which was difficult as it implied conflicts with its neighborhood. Such ideology represents also a constant threat to all the countries concerned, that is: Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. As a result, it weakened Somalias regional economic development and its diplomatic relations. Culturally speaking, it can be seen that Somalia is a complex body made up of several clan and sub-clans of nomads and pastorals. However the Somali believe that the clan system is their safeguard and protects them against foreigners, nevertheless, this belief is more complicated than it can appear. Moreover, above all they attach a deep affiliation to kinship and hence, for the Somali it can be sum up like the following: Families against families in a clan. Clan against clan in Somalia And Somalia against the World. The conflicts among clan is due spilling hereditary lineage and Siad Barre regime could maintain itself due to that Barre was able to play the game of rivalries between clans, furthermore, it is to be noted that major armed political groups are clan based. In the after effects of this disaster guerrilla groups, clan-based are formed in and around Somalia with the intention of bringing down Siads repressive and centralizing regime. By 1988 the result was a full-scale civil war, resulting in the overthrow of Barre in 1991. He joined his own clan, becoming one warlord among many in this increasingly chaotic nation. In 1991 the faction controlling the former British Somaliland confuses matters by declaring its independence as the republic of Somaliland. Unlike Somaliland, the south and central Somalia is under constant conflict and conquest by rival clans and establishment of de facto government(Ali Mahdi) but the question was not about how to rule but who rules as the tension revolved a round clan supremacy . Humanitarian turmoil reaches its peak and armed conflict generated food and health crisis but the situation is such that foreign intervention is difficult due to violent respons towards foreign aids. There is often a danger that fundamentalist peep into conflicts and tries to take advantage of the situation, the Islamic Courts Union confirmed the fundamentalists habit in Somalia extending its ideology. This Islamic fundamentalist group briefly tried to conquer Somalia. Chapter 1.3 Somalia economic overview â€Å"The economy has long been heavily dependent on livestock and agriculture. Stock rearing is practised throughout the country and accounted for about 40% of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] and 65% of export earnings in 2000, according to World Food Programme (WFP) estimates. Most of the farmland lies between the Jubba and Shabeelle rivers in the south of the country. The small manufacturing sector is based on the processing of agricultural products. In the south, the absence of a central government has meant that no economic data have been produced by national sources since 1990. In Somaliland, by contrast, the government collects tax and duties levied on trade.[1]† This can give an overview of Somali economy, hence its vulnerability and dependency on foreign economic aid especially in Puntland region where the data concerning the economic activity are almost absent. And this also brings in the ecological factor which is not in favor of the Somalis a clear example is the great droughts of 2006 which has caused a major humanitarian in Somalia, which touched nearly 1.5 million people, displacing 400,000 people due to a fall in crop production in practically all regions under cultivation[2]. But still, the Somalis economy is said to have flourished after the collapse; because the absence of a state and its institutions, has given birth to a laissez faire economy controlled by private sector. Private newspapers and enterprises mushroomed creating one of the best telecommunication systems in Africa, with an approximate GDP of $5.524 billion, and Somalia natural resources are: Largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, uranium, co pper, salt, petroleum and natural gas. It produce also agricultural product such as banana, livestock, fish, corn, and has established markets(United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman) to export its product and imports petroleum products, food grain, construction material, etc†¦ from countries like Brazil, India, Kenya, Djibouti, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman. Furthermore, Somalia also benefit from foreign economic aid especially from the United States of America, the European Union etc.[3] Its impact on the regional and international politics is more disastrous: it can be said in one paragraph which will clarify the rest; Somalia has been noted as a failed state in the international sphere, arms embargo imposed by the UN security council since 1992 till now, removal of humanitarian aid due to violence against the humanitarian aid volunteers, (particularly in Puntland state), and reinforcement of security in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean due to high piracy level in the zone, there is also the problem of mass migration of Somalis to Yemen. Chapter 2 State and State failure State A state is a set of components and institution that enable it to survive. The main pillars of the state are: the Government, territory and population. While population and territory are physical in nature government is institutional and most important, failing to establish one of the basic institutions, a country can be said to have failed. States function can be classified as ideal state functions and real state functions. Ideal state functions are divided into social functions and economic functions; social functions being: controlling the peoples fundamental rights and liberty and economic functions being provision of goods and services and income redistribution. But the real state functions are different, they are divided into state natural functions: that is power and coercion, social functions: for example protection of rights and liberty and economic functions that is limited to provision of goods and services. The state is presented as a tangible political entity; and the sta te has different characteristics: that is: Sovereignty; each state is sovereign and that is what creates the contract between the states prevents the interference of one state into another states matter. Territory: land and sea defined by a boundary. Nation: the concept of nation is very important, sometimes a nation leads to the creation of a state and sometimes a state leads to the creation of a nation. Somalia is a state with one nation but divided through cans. The Somali societys features match with the features of a nation that is same language, same culture, same religion, but different clans. Characteristics of a state are that it has also diplomatic recognition, internal organization and internal loyalty from the part of its population. [4] Chapter 2.1 Why a state? State has two sets of definition, the organizational definitions; that define the state as a set of governmental institutions making rules, controlling and supervising different element of the country. The functional definition depicts the state according to its social, economic, political and legal functions. The origins of the state dates back to the ancient civilization and the most antique form of state known is the Greek city state which evolved through time to give way to the modern nation state. State is a common word nowadays, members from each governing institutions claim that they can serve it and manipulate it, for instance, judges claim that they can discern its interests and politicians claim that they know how to run it. Liberals believed that the state should be a referee, Marxist sinister perception see the state as an â€Å"instrument† and relist perceive the state as a elitist organization of manipulators. A broader definition would be that the state is mainl y regrouping of all powers relations in society which acts as an automatic machine supervising the legal, economic, political and social elements of a country. Diverse thinkers view the state differently and below are the principal thinkers view of the state. Therefore, all the definitions show that a state is important and needed. 2 Locke rejects any notion of subordination and with it the relationship that it maintains in relations between men and relationships between men and inferior creatures. There is no difference between them inherent among men, there is no hierarchy: they are all free and equal in the eyes of God. The natural liberty requires both independence and equality; it makes the political authority to consent. Locke argues that men are originally free and equal and that the origin of Governments is a free association. It therefore opposes the theory of divine right monarchy and absolutism. Montesquieu developed in the spirit of laws theory of forms of government (monarchy, despotism, aristocratic republic, democratic republic). Its doctrine is based on separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial) and opposes the speculative theory of natural law. There is no noble savage, but various companies where several elements govern men: climate, religion, morals. Thomas Hobbes sees the state as an institution whose individuals are self-centered in nature. Left on their own, they can create a state of war, as he called it. Hence, Hobbes upholds an absolute ruler to control the state. The will of the sovereign is the will of god and law of the state is the will of the sovereign, thus the sovereign or Leviathan, as he called it establishes the contract between various institutions and among individuals so as not to create chaos. The ruler is above law, the Leviathan is the state. So what can be deduced is that Hobbes defined the state as a primitive, individualist and anarchical institution where conflict of interest among individuals prevails and leads to collapse of the state, hence state must be a harsh institution which looks towards its survival, otherwise it would be the state of nature? But Jean Jacque Rousseau does not see the state as such. For him, the state and power is the evil that corrupts the good man. Rousseau corrects Hobbes by saying that it is state of nature is not just the removal of the governing body it is also the removal of all societal features; that is culture, belief, religion and even understanding of ones own self. Therefore it can be deduced that according to Rousseau, the state is a set of societal features, that is culture, religion belief, rational view of others and ones own self and governing institution. Marxist, view the state as something totally different: (The state) is a product of society at a certain stage of development; it is the admission that this society has become entangled in an insoluble contradiction with itself, that it is cleft into irreconcilable antagonisms which it is powerless to dispel. But in order that these antagonisms, classes with conflicting economic interests, might not consume themselves and society in sterile struggle, a power seemingly standing above society became necessary for the purpose of moderating the conflict, of keeping it within the bounds of order; and this power, arisen out of society but placing itself above it, and increasingly alienating itself from it, is the state.[5] What Engels wants to explains is that the state is controlled by the economically dominant class, enabling it to maintain its control over the exploited classes. Although the state is usually the instrument of the economically dominant class, sometimes conflicting classes balance each other such that the state becomes somewhat independent. The state is part of the superstructure of society. Marx and Engels analyzed human society as divided into a material base and a superstructure that rests on it. The base is made up of the devices of production (machines, tools, and raw materials), the social classes, chiefly the exploiting and laboring classes, of the particular society, and the relations between these classes. The superstructure consists of political and cultural institutions, including the state, churches, schools, etc., as well as corresponding intellectual spheres: politics, religion, science, art, etc. The state is a major, if not the major, element of this superstructure as per the Marxists. As per principles of International Law, a state is a recognized and subject to international law only if it comprises of certain qualifications, that is: a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states.[6] Comparing these features to Somalia, it can be deduced that Somalia lacks two of these qualifications, that is; capacity to enter in relations with other states and it has a weak government controlling limited territory. Therefore, Somalia is a state without its full managerial capacity, but still it is a sovereign state and is recognize as such by the international community, as defined by the Declaration on principles of international law Elements: b).: Each state enjoys the right inherent in full sovereignty and element c).: Each state has the duty to respect the personality of other states[7] Chapter 2.2 State failure A state does not collapse one day or another, a state weakens fails and then collapse. A weak state still have control on the majority of the country but cannot solve major issue or is illegitimate in the eyes of some portion of the population. In fact the strength of a state is judge on the level of obedience and legitimacy accorded to it by the nation. State failure is an instable state experiencing civil war or invasion, then, the state collapse; this situation is the total paralysis of all institution of the state that is; legal, economic, military and political. State failure is a sensible but tangible issue in Africa, moreover, before defining state failure and its implication in Africa, first of all there must be a kind and close comprehension of the subject and its various facets. State failure is two words with various definitions, because circumstances and factors leading to state failure vary from one country to another. Before looking into the core subject, definitions of the word state is important, moreover, the definitions of state also vary. State failure concerns essentially the interrelationship between models of authority, political control and institution building in a country. What makes Africa the appropriate model to examine state failure, is that it has experienced shifts of government, that is, from colonial to post colonial or from democracy to autocracy. The shift of power, from colonial to independent has created political instability in most country and in some state failure. In the case of Africa and particularly, Somalia, when the term state failure is coined, it, means the there is a failure to control and to promote human prospering. Government is normally formed of various institution to promote Culture, economic stability, security, rights, liberty, justice and what is more important is to respect the concept of rule of law on the territory by all civilians. Hence these values are under the responsibility of a governing body which delegates the particular responsibilities to institutions like; the Army, Supreme Court, ministries, police force etc†¦ in respect of a Constitution[8]. There are some fixed and variable symptoms indicating a state collapse; fixed symptoms being common symptoms present in all cases and variable symptoms being particular to the specific Country. Examples of fixed symptoms are failure in the provision of national and international security and the preservation of order, failure in the implementation of the rule of law, no existence of; institutions of political freedom, channels of commerce and communication, lack of provision of an economic institution to promote growth and prospe rity, and no presence of basic services such as medical services, power, running water, and control of the environmental commons, and civil war. Variable symptoms, here in the case of Somalia, would be piracy, but the issue of piracy is subject to debate because the state failure is not the only causes of piracy in Somalia, ecological factors are responsible too. Therefore, a state is weakens when it loses control one of these institutions or all, in other words the state failed to provide basic functions for its citizen. But state failure or collapse, is not an instant event, it is rather an event of long lasting decay of the state due to internal or external factors, which will be explained later. Hence, the fall out of state failure is that the economy becomes weak, provision of education and heath care disappear, proliferation of crime and violence and it also generates opposing groups often engaged in armed conflict, creating humanitarian crisis and often genocide, population shift, refugee crises and food shortage. Chapter 3 Causes of the collapse Causes of the collapse can be divided and hence would be better understood, there are the founding causes and the contributing causes. Founding causes are those causes which are at the origin of the collapse of the state and contributing causes are as important as founding causes but have contributed to the collapse not originate it. The conflicts are to be divided into three categories; it must be beard in mind that all these factors have contributed to the collapse of the Somali state, but at different stages and different way. This chapter is an attempt to demonstrate how each causes has its importance throughout the failing process. The causes or factors of collapse are classified as such: Original cause(initiation of collapse) instable Contributing causes (declining factors) weak Final blow collapse Original causes: these factors can also be referred to as the initiation to the state collapse: that is the factors which rendered the state instable, but did not knock out the state. What is meant by instable is that; those factors created a state of tension in the country that gave little chance for Somalia to progress, socially, economically, politically. Original causes are; colonial division of Somalia into five parts and offering Ethiopia in particular a great portion of the territory[9]; and social division of the Somali society into small clan-based mini-states that lacked an organizational skill to regroup themselves into a state. These two factors could be considered as the core factors of the collapse of the state by causing the formation of a weak and deformed state. But another core factor can be added to this that is: wrong management of the national resources and the fact that Somalia lack effectively trained human resources to substitute colonial administration in running state institutions. The historical period for this condition is preceding the independence of Somalia in 1960. There are also the transitional causes which caused the state to collapse. Transit causes are mid causes; these are for example the Barre Socialist regime, and the final blow which lead to the downfall of Somalia. Chapter 3.1 Clan system It should be bearded in mind the cultural traditions of Somalia do not allow the country to be accustomed to building a modern state. The clan system in Somalia is both unite and divide, as explained above, the characteristic that unites, that it is a common form of social organization in Somalia. But the sharing feature is that: there is hostility between clans and sub-clans. The clans are divided into two categories: there are pastoral nomads and livestock mainly southern clans. But the conflict is mainly between pastoral nomadic clans and clans farmed. There are four major clans of noble families; the Darood, Hawiye, Isaaq and Dir,. Minority groups and low-caste clans included the Bantu of Somalia (being the largest minority group), the Benadiri, Rer Hamar Brawanese, swahili, Fumal, Yibir, Yaxar, Madhiban, Hawrarsame, Muse Dheryo and Faqayaqub. One third of the population, approximately two million people are from minority groups. Intermarriage between these groups and noble clans is limited. Some of these groups have limited access to all social services that are available, including health and education. Minority groups had no armed militias and continue to be victims of murders, tortures, rapes, abductions and looting of land and property. These groups have continued to live in conditions of great poverty and suffer numerous forms of discrimination and exclusion.[10] As indicated in the JFFMR[11] March 2004, the delegation met Omar Abdiaziz Daad: Daad Omar, former Minister of the reconciliation of President Siad Barre from 1986 to 1990, said he is a Marehan himself and the nephew of Siad Barre and next to Siad Barre, the son closest. Daad Omar left Mogadishu in 1991 and returned several times since. Daad Omar said he works as a mediator in central Somalia and has been accredited for the peace process in Kenya to the Darood clan. Daad Omar explained it is too difficult for Marehan to live in Mogadishu, they are designed to be high because many of them used to work for the regime of Siad Barre. He stated that all members of the clan would Marehan to blame for the suffering caused by the SiadBarre regime and they risk being killed. Omada Daad estimated 200 people Marehan clan live in Mogadishu today that are able to stay there only because they were married with members of stronger clans. Marehan An independent could not live safely in Mogadishu and manage a business. Daad Omar said that Marehan who had worked for the regime of Siad Barre could not return to Mogadishu. Even members of the family of a Marehan who had worked for Siad Barre would have had problems today. Any other clan member (eg a Hawiye and Habr Gedir) who had worked in the administration (including police) Siad Barre have no problems returning to Mogadishu today. But members of the Darood clan and Majerteen will not be able to live safely in Mogadishu, the Hawiye clans regard them as a challenge to their power â€Å" The complexity of the Somali clan system, it is difficult to identify the clan, but it is easier to identify them when they fall into political factions. This complex political structure, where there is only way to rivalry and competition for resources and territorial control, can not make a good organization policy. Good organization policy refers here to standard policies every country, that is, establishment of a modern state through democratic principles. But what was so undemocratic about the clan system? The answer is simple; the clan system that has long existed in Somalia, as well as conflicts between clans, but these conflicts has been an obstacle to the unification of Somalia under a local body[12] (after independence). An obstacle to the unification of Somalia that the issue of creating a modern state was another thing, it was more difficult with increasing conflict between the clan, where the modern nation-state was not the priority, the unification of the clans is paramo unt. But the intellectual elite choose the wrong option, they created the modern state in Somalia first and then tried to accommodate the clan, what followed was chaos! We can not find details of Somalia without being troubled by the importance of clan in the Somali culture, and it is so omnipresent that it is causing the conflict in Somalia. What brings the clan system as a basic factor for the collapse of the state is that, as mentioned above, it is an integral part of Somali culture, and furthermore, it has generated the de facto state by clan rivalries on then basis of clan identity. Siad Barre could remain so long at the head of Somalia because he used a policy of divide and rule and created rivalries between clans, favorising his own clan the main armed political groups as well that is;USC, SSDF, SNM, SPF, SDA, SDM. United Somali Congress (USC). The USC was created by the Hawiye clan in central Somalia around Mogadishu. Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF). The SSDF was created by the sub-clan of Darood Majerteen, who live in north-eastern Somalia. Somali National Movement (SNM). The SNM was created by the Issaq clan of north-west Somalia, it proclaimed the independence of Somaliland. Somali Patriotic Front (SPF). The SPF was established by the Ogaden sub-clan of Darood who live partly in the south and partly in central Somalia. Somali Democratic Movement (SDM). The SDM is the movement Rahanwein clan; they live in the south and west. Somali Democratic Association (SDA). The SDA is the advantage of living Dir clan in Somalias north-west. The question of invasion is also very important for the inter-clan conflicts. Unlike northern Somalia, also known as Somaliland, which consists of five districts, but primarily inhabited by people fro the Issaq clan, southern Somalia is not homogeneous. The regions south and central Somalia is under conquest and occupation of the armed forces different clan, who have no legitimacy on the cities and agricultural lands for which they fought and. Chapter 3.2 Colonial division of Somali territory The colonial history of Somalia do not let anyone believe that this nation can easily form an effective state, the question that comes to mind all the readers is that the colonial history of Somalia, how can be linked to the collapse of the state. The countries sharing the same culture with the various rival clans, and the problem does not stop there, the colonial powers divided the land into portions thereby creating a situation of standstill, paralyzing the nation. As mentioned at the beginning, Somalia was formed by the union of two former colonial territories, British Somaliland in the north and Italian Somaliland, which was more populous. But the colonial division affects the breakdown as follows: Somali irredentism and conflict with Ethiopia and Kenya. When Somalia was unified in 1959, before independence in 1960, only the British and Italian Somaliland, which has created the new Somalia, there were still some Somalis living in Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. In fact, this could be unified has been unified and the rest was considered that there was a Somali nation in these countries, Somalia and the whole is not united. And thats where the problem laid, Somali irredentism was much more important than solving the rivalries of clans that has brought the country to failure and collapse. The colonial history of Somalia do not let anyone believe that this nation can easily form an effective state, the question that comes to mind all the readers is that how can the colonial history of Somalia, be linked to the collapse of the state. The countries sharing the same culture with the various rival clans, and the problem does not stop there, the colonial powers divided the land into portions thus creating a situation of standstill, paralyzing the nation. As mentioned at the beginning, Somalia was formed by the union of two former colonial territories, British Somaliland in the north and Italian Somaliland, which were more populous neglecting portions of Somali in Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. Therefore, the colonial division affects the collapse as follows: Somali irredentism leading to conflict with Ethiopia and Kenya. When Somalia was unified in 1959, before independence in 1960, only the British and Italian Somaliland had created the new Somalia, there were still some Somalis living in Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. In fact, what could be unified has been unified and the rest was unconsidered, there was a Somali nation in these countries, Somalia as a whole was not united. And thats where the problem laid, Somali i rredentism was much more important than s Sainsburys: Competition With Other Supermarkets Sainsburys: Competition With Other Supermarkets J Sainsbury:  What will it take to make it ‘Great’ again? Contents (Jump to) Introduction Key Figures Products and Services Quality and Quantity Analysis Conclusion Bibliography Introduction The food and grocery retail sector is the United Kingdom’s largest employer, supplying 11% of all jobs in the UK, totaling in excess of 2.8 million people (IGD, 2004a) in a market that generates  £123.9 Billion in sales (IGD, 2006b). This traditionally British company dominated industry has been changed through the acquisition of ASDA by giant retailer Wal-Mart in late 1999, which then was the third largest supermarket with 229 stores and sales of  £8 billion. Wal-Mart’s entry into the UK food retailing sector and their low pricing retailing concept sparked a round of ‘full-scale food price wars’ as it embarked upon its strategy of gaining immediate market share increases (BBC News, 2001). This development represented a less than desirable market instance for J. Sainsbury’s, which at the time of the Wal-Mart invasion was number two in the UK market behind Tesco (BBC News, 2001). In fact, the troubles at Sainsbury’s were in progress before Wal-Mart’s entrance into the UK market as it lost its position as the number one food retailer to Tesco in 1995, and since ASDA’s acquisition by Wal-Mart the company has slide into third place (Food Business Review online, 2005). This examination shall seek to look into the overall United Kingdom supermarket industry as it relates to the large chains and identify factors acting upon as well as in it that have reversed the fortunes of Sainsbury’s from an internal as well as external standpoint. The question that said examination will endeavor to answer is â€Å"What will it take to make Sainsbury’s Great again?† The aim of this examination is to delve into the market forces, conditions, competitive influences and impacts within the United Kingdom grocery retail sector to gauge what has transpired since Sainsbury’s occupied the number one position in the market and why it has been supplanted. The historical perspective will provide an overview of how the market has changed from a consumer, competitive and internal standpoint of Sainsbury’s marketing, and market strategic planning and thus attempt to identify what the company either missed or failed to respond to with regard to the conditions that resulted in its losing significant market share and thus its leadership position. The objective is to uncover the salient and noteworthy market and competitive forces, inroads, developments and circumstances that enabled Tesco as well as ASDA to pass Sainsbury’s for the number one and two spots in the United Kingdom and what strategies, developments, changes and other factors which Sainsbury’s will need to consider and or implement to begin reclaiming significant market share. Key Figures As of October 2006 the Taylor Nelson Sofres study, which is also known as the TNSofres Superpanel, of the United Kingdom grocery retailing market showed the following (Answers.com, 2006) (Wikipedia, 2006): Table 1 – UK Grocery Retailing Market Share 13 August 2006 Table 2 – UK Grocery Retailing Market Share 2 January 2005 The foregoing indicates how much Sainsbury’s has slipped since the early 1990s when it was the undisputed market leader. An examination of accounting data for the company and or its competitors indicates that there is noting in this aspects that affects or has affected the abilities of the firms to either operate or obtain an advantage. The importance of market share, translates into customer traffic, the all important variable in generating sales. Products and Services The change in the UK grocery retiling sector to a more price competitive structure eroded Sainsbury’s advantage the existed prior to 1995, and the resulting price wars heated up with Tesco responding to the Wal-Mart / ASDA discounting strategy along with Safeway and Morrisons, which Sainsbury’s failed to respond to when this development hit the market (Food Business review online, 2005). This important misstep compounded consumer defections and eroded market share. Sainsbury’s heavy investment in private label brands did not provide the needed hedge as the consumer market shifted away from this prior initiative as they started buying lower price brand names offered by competitors (TNS, 2000). Another important factor in the decreased market share, which is a function of low store traffic is that Tesco, ASDA as well as Morrisons built or expanded to larger stores thus providing them the opportunity to stock non-food items thus making their locations more convenien t for one-stop shopping (Just Food, 2002). Sainsbury’s Savacentre format represented a subsidiary operation rather than a central format whereby it could not compete with the competitors’ number of stores in this format. The trend of grocery retailers into non food areas was not just a Wal-Mart innovation, as Carrefour also had moved in this direction. One stop shopping represents convenience for consumers, and this along with loyalty cards, big stores and lots of extras are what today’s more demanding consumer looks for, wants and expects. The preceding understandings as to the developments the occurred over time in the UK as well as in international grocery retailing segment are important to understanding not only what has happened to Sainsbury’s, but what it missed in terms of market developments and what it needs to concentrate on to return to its former greatness. Quality and Quantity Diversification has been the key to success for Tesco as well as ASDA in that their non-food items such as clothing, electrical items, appliances for the kitchen, soft toys and ceramics allow them to not only attract customers, it permits them to operate on lower margins in their food operations thus increasing the difficulty for Sainsbury’s (Food Business review online, 2005). The preceding diversification strategy represents the means via which Tesco as well as ASDA overtook Sainsbury’s, and thus indicates the path the company must take to not only hold its ground, but make up for lost customers. The preceding strategy permits these companies to offer a larger selection of items as a customer draw. The quantity of offerings represents a distinct advantage. The qualities of products as well as the environment in which they are sold are important points in attracting customers as well as keeping them, and is equal among competitors. Sainsbury’s 2005 Annual Report recognizes the preceding as the company stated â€Å"Our vision for Sainsbury’s is all about delivering great quality food at fair prices.† (Sainsbury’s, 2005). The company is committed to the importance of the low price position with regard to the UK market and has made this a center piece in its restructuring strategy (Sainsbury’s, 2005). In recognition of the importance of customer convenience, the company is expanding its non food mix which â€Å"†¦ includes items such as cards, gift-wrap, music and DVDs, and which for most customers are now a part of the weekly grocery shop† (Sainsbury’s, 2005). In this same vein, Sainsbury’s adds â€Å"Where space allows we will also sell clothing and home ware †¦Ã¢â‚¬  an d continues â€Å"We see a clear opportunity to grow sales by developing our non-food offer †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sainsbury’s, 2005). Analysis Key to understating where Sainsbury’s and the grocery retailing sector market is today, is understanding where it was yesterday and the events that led to the company’s decline. The supermarket wars are nothing new as are the minor developments that signal competitiveness. Price cutting discounters were in the marketplace as far back as the late 1980s, yet Sainsbury’s continued to gain market share in spite of this (BBC Online Network, 1999). Tesco’s successful bid for supermarket chain William Low in 1994 provided it with a presence in the Scottish market, but does not represent a singular event that aided in its surpassing Sainsbury’s in the marketplace. In addition, Tesco introduced a highly successful marketing campaign, as well as its loyalty card well in advance of Sainsbury’s, which helped it to improve upon customer loyalty and repeat store visits (BBC Online Network, 1999). Other developments included Tesco’s â€Å"†¦ ow n label discount lines, as well as supermarket bank accounts (BBC Online Network, 1999). Correspondingly, Sainsbury’s 1994 Annual Report indicated that their prices were 3% below the other large chains (Sainsbury’s, 1994, p. 4), however this in and of itself did not counter Tesco’s more customer centric marketing strategies which increased customer loyalty and attracted new ones. By 1995 it was official, Tesco had achieved the status of the number one grocery retailer. And while Sainsbury’s also operated Savacentre hypermarkets which sold a broad array of goods, including clothing, the company’s focus on expansion into the United States through its acquisition of the Giant food retailing chains and modest opening of 20 new U.K. stores ran contrary (Sainsbury’s, 1995, pp. 10-12) to Tesco’s focus of expanding in the large store multi product mix format in the U.K. Table 3 – UK Annual Grocery Retailer Sales 1998 – 2000 (TNS, 2000) % Share The SWOT analysis of Sainsbury’s reveals: (S)trengths The Sainsbury’s name and reputation represents a strong advantage and strength for this British company serving its domestic market as well as the fact that it has learned the lessons and importance of non-food items, larger stores and customer loyalty programs from the successes of its rivals which it has implemented in it restructuring strategies (Sainsbury’s, 2005). (W)eaknesses The company’s weaknesses are its lack of superstores to match the strength of ASDA and Tesco who are and have benefited from the increased number of non-food items these types of locations can carry and the lost customers the company must win back. (O)pportunities The well known format of pricing has been inoculated into the company’s structure through cost cutting and paring down personnel, thus putting it in the position to do battle on this front. In addition, the proven successful strategies in internal operations as well as winning customers as learned from rivals provides it with the position and structure to now attack these areas. Opportunities exist in the acquisition of key superstores from other smaller competitors as well as a strategic acquisition. (T)hreats Continued discounting, and new superstores by the company’s competitors represent its biggest threats as well as the potential acquisition of smaller chains by rivals to increase their store placements. A Porter’s Five Forces analysis of Sainsbury’s reveals the following: Rivalry Tesco and ASDA hold market share leads over Sainsbury’s, and their size, strength and placements in the market provides them with a strong positioning that the company must not simply match, but exceed in order to gain market share from them as well as smaller firms. The high rivalry in the industry makes the preceding proposition difficult as the format is based on pricing for which there is little room to maneuver. Threat of substitutes The threat of substitutes is low as the extremely high cost of entry owing to real estate, store and other relationships rules out new players in the market except through the acquisition of existing firms. In addition the high degree of managerial savvy to operate in this environment represents another inhibiting factor. Buyer power Buyer power is strong in that the stores in this sector control to a great degree their supplier relationships through long standing agreements or out right ownership and control. Supplier power Supplier power is weak as a result of the number of competitive firms in the market all having long established existing relationships. Changing to new firms means an intense round of cost cutting measures to either replace or fit in with the chains supplier structures. Barriers to Entry and Threat of Entry The barriers to entry in this industry sector are represented by the extremely high cost of either starting up, acquisition and securing qualified management and store manager talent. The threat of entry is extremely low for the same reasons. In addition, the market is full of top line players thus making it improbable that an outside firm would be interested in entering this extremely tough competitive environment. Conclusion What it will take to make Sainsbury’s great again is the continued commitment by management and employees to surpass the service levels offered by its rivals as the company has already embarked upon the immediate and long internal, location and non-food formats that have proven successful for competitors. The all important ingredient in the entire strategy and marketing mix is the customer, as pricing and product mix are keenly watched, modified and adjusted by all competitors to either maintain parity or achieve it. Store layouts, modern designs, non-food items, convenience, location and size are all key aspects of the company’s plan as contained in its Annual Report to achieve market position gains by 2008 (Sainsbury’s, 2005). These things being equalizers in terms of the company putting its facilities and locations on a par with competitors is not enough, in and of themselves, as the key to the industry sector are its customers and their weekly shopping habits and needs. Sainsbury’s must forge an increased personal relationship with its customers in terms of product selections, quality, locations, convenience and deft utilization of customer relationship management to identify spending and shopping patterns and craft unique loyalty programs that respond to individual customer preferences, needs and desires. In an industry with little to differentiate one firm from another, the difference is in the interpersonal relationships and contact with a company’s staff that spells an advantage. Friendliness, personable, helpful and most of all key customer relationship management to present offers, are factors that appeal to customers. Despite all of the investment in facilities, stock and the like, the grocery retailing industry is a service industry, as such is the most important front via which to attract, retain and increase store visits. All of the facility designs, stock and related aspects go with this formula, but, it is the customer shopping experience that is the key to winning their attitudes. Bibliography Answers.com (2006) ASDA. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.answers.com/topic/asda BBC Online Network (1999) Business: The Company File, A tale of two supermarkets. 12 April 1999. Retrieved on 26 November 2006 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/317325.stm BBC News (2001) UK poised for supermarket wars. 28 August, 2001. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1512847.stm Just Food (2002) UK: Food retailers lead the way in product, store innovation. 22 July 2002. Retrieved on 26 November 2006 from http://www.just-food.com/article.aspx?art=50664type=1 Food Business review online (2005) UK supermarkets: diversify or die. 5 April 2005. Retrieved on 26 November 2006 from http://www.food-business-review.com/article_feature_print.asp?guid=F7002651-4884-4DDA-BE2C-CAE9A7C11D3C IGD (2004a) Employment in the Food Grocery Industry. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.igd.com/CIR.asp?menuid=146cirid=1433 IGD (2006b) UK Grocery Retailing. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.igd.com/cir.asp?menuid=51cirid=114 Sainsbury’s (1994) Annual Report. Retrieved on 26 November 2006 from http://www.jsainsbury.co.uk/files/reports/ar1994.pdf Sainsbury’s (1995) Annual Report. Retrieved on 26 November 2006 from http://www.jsainsbury.co.uk/files/reports/ar1995.pdf Sainsbury’s (2005)Annual Report. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/ar05/files/report05.pdf TNS (2000) Sainsbury’s Case History. Retrieved on 267 November 2006 from http://superpanel.tns-global.com/superpanel/Library/retailer_casehist_sainsbury.asp Wikipedia (2006) TNS Superpanel. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TNS_Superpanel

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay --

France is a very large and well-known country. It is one of the largest European countries in land, after Russia and Ukraine. Twenty percent of France’s territory lies outside of Europe, known as â€Å"DOM-TOM.† The European territory of France covers 211,209 square miles. France is also one of the oldest states in Europe, founded in 843. French is the official language of England as well as 300 other countries. It is spoken by 270 million people worldwide. France has a population of 2.5 million citizens and twenty percent of the citizens live in the Parisian region. Paris, the capital of France, was founded by Celtic tribe, Parisians, and settled around 4,200 BCE. France shares borders with several other countries. Those countries include Belgium, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. France is 15,782 feet above sea level. The highest point is in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, between France and Italy. The lowest point is Rhà ´ne river delta, measuring only two meters above sea level. The Rhà ´ne is one of the major rivers of Europe, measuring 505 miles, starting in Switzerland and running through southeastern France. Near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, the Great Rhà ´ne and the Petit or Little Rhà ´ne. Some other river systems including Seine, Loire, and Garonne, divide the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Western France’s climate consists of a high amount of rainfall, mild winters, and cool to warm summers. The climate of inland France tends to be more continental with hot, stormy summers, colder winters and less rain. Some natural hazards in France include flooding, avalanches, windstorms, droughts, forest fires, and e... ...e’s most popular theme park is Disneyland Paris, with fifteen million visitors. Disneyland Paris was the second Disney park to open outside of United States, after Tokyo Disney Resort. Another tourist attraction is Europe’s oldest functional canal, Canal du Midi. The canal was built from 1666 through 1681 and is 150 miles long. It has sixty-three locks, 126 bridges, seven canal bridges, and one tunnel. France’s major transportation is rivers. Overall France has twenty-four rivers that add up to 300km in length. In addition to rivers, railway is also major way of transportation in France. There is a total of 40,300 miles of railway, mostly operated by SNCF, the French national railway company. The trains can travel up to 199 miles per hour. France also has 475 airports. The most popular airport is Charles de Gaulle Airport, located in the vicinity of Paris.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Ovarian Cysts During Pregnancy

Ovarian Cyst during Pregnancy What are ovarian cysts? Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures within an ovary. The term cyst refers to a fluid-filled structure. Therefore, all ovarian cysts contain at least some fluid. What causes ovarian cysts? Ovarian cysts form for numerous reasons. The most common type is a follicular cyst, which results from the growth of a follicle. A follicle is the normal fluid-filled sac that contains an egg. Follicular cysts form when the follicle grows larger than normal during the menstrual cycle and does not open to release the egg. Usually, follicular cysts resolve on their own over the course of days to months. Cysts can contain blood (hemorrhagic or endometrioid cysts) from injury or leakage of tiny blood vessels into the egg sac. Occasionally, the tissues of the ovary develop abnormally to form other body tissues such as hair or teeth. Cysts with these abnormal tissues are called dermoid cysts. What symptoms are caused by ovarian cysts? Most cysts are never noticed and resolve without women ever realizing that they are there. When a cyst causes symptoms, pain in the belly or pelvis is by far the most common one. The pain can be caused from rupture of the cyst, rapid growth and stretching, bleeding into the cyst, or twisting of the cyst around its blood supply. How are ovarian cysts diagnosed? Most cysts are diagnosed by ultrasound, which is the best imaging technique for detecting ovarian cysts. Ultrasound is an imaging method that uses sound waves to produce an image of structures within the body. Ultrasound imaging is painless and causes no harm. Cysts can also be detected with other imaging methods, such as CAT scan or MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging). How can the physician decide if an ovarian cyst is dangerous? If a woman is in her 40's, or younger, and has regular menstrual periods, most ovarian masses are â€Å"functioning ovarian cysts,† which are not really abnormal. They are related to the process of ovulation that happens with the menstrual cycle. They usually disappear on their own during a future menstrual cycle. Therefore, especially in women in their 20's and 30's, these cysts are watched for a few menstrual cycles to verify that they disappear. Because oral contraceptives work in part by preventing ovulation, physicians will not really expect women who are taking oral contraceptives to have common â€Å"functioning ovarian cysts. † Thus, women who develop ovarian cysts while taking oral contraceptives may be advised against simple observation; rather, they may receive closer monitoring with pelvic ultrasound or, less commonly, surgical exploration of the ovary. Other factors are helpful in evaluating ovarian cysts (besides the woman's age, or whether she is taking oral contraceptives). A cyst that looks like it's just one simple sac of fluid on the ultrasound is more likely to be benign, than a cyst with solid tissue in it. So the ultrasound appearance also plays a role in determining the level of suspicion regarding a serious ovarian growth. Ovarian cancer is rare in women younger than age 40. After age 40, an ovarian cyst has a higher chance of being cancerous than before age 40, although most ovarian cysts are benign even after age 40. CA-125 blood testing can be used as a marker of ovarian cancer, but it does not always represent cancer when it is abnormal. First, many benign conditions in women of childbearing age can cause the CA-125 level to be elevated, so CA-125 is not a specific test, especially in younger women. Pelvic infections, uterine fibroids, pregnancy, benign (hemorrhagic) ovarian cysts, and liver disease are all conditions that may elevate CA-125 in the absence of ovarian cancer. Second, even if the woman has an ovarian cancer, not all ovarian ca ncers will cause the CA-125 level to be elevated. Furthermore, CA-125 levels can be abnormally high in women with breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer. How are ovarian cysts treated? Most ovarian cysts in women of childbearing age are follicular cysts (functional cysts) that disappear naturally in 1-3 months. Although they can rupture (usually without ill effects), they rarely cause symptoms. They are benign and have no real medical consequence. They may be diagnosed coincidentally during a pelvic examination in women who do not have any related symptoms. All women have follicular cysts at some point that generally go unnoticed. A follicular cyst in a woman of childbearing age is usually observed for a few menstrual cycles because the cysts are common, and ovarian cancer is rare in this age group. Sometimes ovarian cysts in menstruating women contain some blood, called hemorrhagic cysts, which frequently resolve quickly. Ultrasound is used to determine the treatment strategy for ovarian cysts because if can help to determine if the cyst is a simple cyst (just fluid with no solid tissue, seen in benign conditions) or compound cyst (with some solid tissue that requires closer monitoring and possibly surgical resection). In summary, the ideal treatment of ovarian cysts depends on the woman's age, the size (and change of size) of the cyst, and the cyst's appearance on ultrasound. Treatment can consist of simple observation, or it can involve evaluating blood tests such as a CA-125 to help determine the potential for cancer (keeping in mind the many limitations of CA-125 testing described above). The tumor can be removed either with laparoscopy, or if needed, an open laparotomy (using and incision at the bikini line) if it is causing severe pain, not resolving, or if it is suspicious in any way. Once the cyst is removed, the growth is sent to a pathologist who examines the tissue under a microscope to make the final diagnosis as to the type of cyst present. Ovarian Cysts At A Glance Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures. Ovarian cysts form for numerous reasons. When a cyst causes symptoms, pain in the belly or pelvis is by far the most common one. Most cysts are diagnosed by ultrasound. The treatment of ovarian cysts varies from observation and monitoring to surgical procedures. Case Study: Ovarian Cyst during Pregnancy I am 35 and 13 weeks into my second pregnancy. Four weeks ago, I went to the hospital for pain in my lower right quadrant. A sonogram showed a cyst on my right ovary, about 15cm. The doctor has had me in bed since then, and I have had two more sonograms. It hasn't gone down. The doctors seem to think it is fluid-filled and not cancerous. Can cysts really go down on their own? How long should I wait to see if it will go down? Have you heard of any cysts this large during pregnancy, and do they pose a danger to the baby? Cysts (fluid-filled structures) can go down on their own, but it is unlikely a 15cm cyst in pregnancy will do so. Cysts are not that uncommon during pregnancy, affecting about 1 in 1,000 pregnant women. The vast majority of ovarian masses found during pregnancy are benign; the incidence of ovarian cancer is 1 in 25,000 births. Ultrasound can be helpful in determining if a mass is benign or malignant, but it cannot do so with 100 percent certainty. If ultrasound shows that the mass is strictly fluid-filled, without septation or thick walls, it is probably benign. The problem with large, even benign, cysts during pregnancy is that they may rupture or torse (twist on themselves). Either of these events leads to significant pain for mom and the potential for miscarriage or preterm labor and delivery for the baby. Large (more than 6-8cm) cysts are usually removed surgically if they do not decrease in size spontaneously over the course of a few weeks. In pregnancy, the best time to operate is in the second trimester, ideally around 14-16 weeks. Occasionally, a cyst may be dealt with via laparoscopy, but very large cysts often require a large, open incision. A 15 cm cyst is rather big, and the potential for complications like rupture is high. If it has remained for more than two weeks, I suggest you talk to your doctor about your option. Your doctor may have been just watching you for now, until you get out of the first trimester (the first 13 weeks of pregnancy). I have removed several masses this size during pregnancy, and all of my patients went on to deliver normal, healthy babies.