Wednesday, November 27, 2019

buy custom First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America essay

buy custom First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America essay The 1st Amendment refers to the adjustments and reviews that were first done to the Constitution of the United States of America. The most conspicuous and outstanding aspect of the 1st Amendment was the enormous power, rights and freedoms that it vested on the citizens of the United States of America. Commonly known as the Bill of Rights, this 1st adjustment is recognized as one of the best document especially because of the extent to which its legislation resulted into individual entitlement to human and civil rights in the United States of America. The 1st Amendment to the Constitution of United States of America has been used as a reference material by many countries across the globe which is at the verge of realizing internal democracy and institutional reforms. The most intriguing aspect of the 1st Amendment is thus the fact that it enhanced entitlement of freedom of speech and expression and freedom to assemble in the Supreme document of the land. Before the amendment, the citizens of the United States of America suffered human rights violations in industries, and institutional structures such as the Criminal Justice System. With its passage, the 1st Amendment empowered the citizens to petition the state on issues revolving around human rights, freedoms and dignity. This included the rights of the citizens of the United States of America to petition the government to uphold the rule of law and to genuinely address the grievances of the people. The Bill of Rights as provided for in the 1st Amendment interestingly gave the American people significant level of power including that of petitioning the government to ensure provision and protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people. With its passage, the 1st Amendment marked the beginning of political, economic and socio-cultural emancipation of the American people from repressive forces in the governance structures of the United States. In conclusion, the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was peculiar in the manner in which it provided Constitutional insulation against violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the American people. Buy custom First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America essay

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Red Hen Case Study Essays

Red Hen Case Study Essays Red Hen Case Study Paper Red Hen Case Study Paper Red Hen Baking Company Red Hen Baking Company Case Study Company profile Randy George established Red Hen Baking Company in 1999. Red Hen Baking Company specializes in artisan bread and their mission is â€Å"to produce premium quality breads and pastries with traditional methods and carefully selected high quality ingredients. To do this while striving to minimize our impact on the environment, to support the growers and producers of our ingredients, and to provide the finest baked goods and service to our customers† (Our Mission). Red Hen Baking Company is able to achieve their mission by marketing their baked goods within 100 miles of the bakery and by delivering every day to stores and restaurants in the delivery area. Problem Opportunities Red Hen Baking Company is currently located in a building that is not suited for a bakery and the space is very limited. The building has low ceilings and it is too small to design an efficient production process. The current bakery only has a capacity limit of 2200 loaves of bread a day. In 2006 Randy George began to realize that he would soon need a larger location in order to keep up with the demand of his current customers. RHB’s business is seasonal. Holiday weekends see increased sales, often reaching their daily limit of 2200 loaves. The sales in the first half of 2007 are already 35% higher than sales during this same period in 2006 and days where production cannot meet demand are expected to increase in number. George would like to house the bakery in a new location that has high ceilings and is about twice the size of the Duxbury location. He would then be able to install a more efficient oven and design a more efficient production process. He would also be able to produce 3300 loaves on a daily basis, giving him ample room for growth. George also wants a location where he can sell breads and pastries directly to retail customers. If he adds pastries to his menu, George knows that he will have to hire a baker with pastry experience. George also knew that the ingredient cost will rise due to the cost of ingredients used in organic pastries. What has been a 15% cost could now be 25%. The problem George is facing involves the substantial costs involved with a move like this. Altogether, the build-out, the oven, and other moving expenses would cost about $300,000. The rent will also be about four times as much as the current rent expense at the Duxbury location, which comes to an additional $58,000 annually. He wonders whether the opportunity for growth is worth the financial strain. Relevant Credible Information Since the case is somewhat incomplete with no inclusion of a balance sheet to aid in decision making, we will instead base our proposed course of action on the information provided by the income statement. We are also taking into account the additional assumptions provided by the professor. Our analysis is based on financial ideas and information discussed in class, found in the text, and learned in previous classes. Assumptions * Assuming the current debt carries an interest rate of 12. 0% with current payments of $2,212 per month with an outstanding balance as of 06/30/2007 is $34,360. * The attached spreadsheet shows an amortization table which breaks down interest and principal for current debt. We found remaining months for the table by performing a present value calculation for the outstanding balance of $34,360. * Red Hen can take on additional debt as long as the EBITDA/Loan Payments is 3. 5x or greater. Assume any new loan will be at 9% and will be a 10-year amortizing loan. From our calculations, we assume that George is able to take on the new debt. * An amortization table was created for this new debt. We wanted to find an amount for the loan payment that could be plugged into the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (EBITDA/Loan Principal + Interest Expense). From the Income Statement on the spreadsheet, we have EBITD for January through June of 2007. Red Hen’s ratio before taking on the expansion is 5. 20, which is much higher than the required minimum of 3. 5. Analysis Our analysis attempts to answer the question, â€Å"What are the things a company must consider when analyzing a new investment or project? † According to the text, a firm’s first object ive when deciding to take on new debt should be that its return on net assets (RONA) should be greater than its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Since we are working with an income statement only and do not have an amount for net assets, we will instead use return on invested capital (ROIC), which measures how well a company is using its money to generate returns. Comparing a companys return on capital (ROIC)  with its cost of capital (WACC) reveals whether invested capital was used effectively. From our spreadsheet calculations we see that using our estimated operating profit provides us with a 19. 9% return on invested capital with only a 7. 2% weighted average cost for that same capital. If these numbers are even close to correct, George should definitely make the move. The actual numbers will differ from what has been estimated here, of course. Not all of the expenses will increase by 30% in response to 30% growth. Many of the expenses listed are fixed and do not change in relation to changes in production levels. Expenses that do change in this way would most likely be in the cost of goods sold section of the income statement. Depreciation will markedly increase with expansion. This has been accounted for on the income statement. As a tool for analysis, however, I have chosen to add a 30% markup to all other expenses that are specifically mentioned in the case study. Rent expense, interest expense, and depreciation have each been increased in accordance with information found in this article. What we see here is that the opportunity for expansion should be taken. George seems to be in good shape to make the move and should excel at the new location. Alternative Courses of Action An alternative decision George could make would be to not move from his current location. If George decided to stay in his cramped and inefficient facility, growth of RHB would not be able to support the demand of the customers. According to the analysis, RHB would increase sales at a consistent 30% annual rate. Staying in the same location, George would not experience the rapid growth in profit. In the long run, George would continue to have a steady base line of sales staying in the current location. Our Mission. (2011). Retrieved from redhenbaking. com/ Preve, Lorenzo and Virginia Sarria-Allende. Working Capital Management. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. Return on Invested Capital. Retrieved November 3, 2011 from http://news. morningstar. com/classroom2/course. asp? docId=145095;page=9;CN=COM [ 1 ]. See spreadsheet and note cell formula in formula bar. Oven is estimated to last seven years and building twenty. For simplicity, no salvage value was considered. [ 2 ]. Rent expense was expected to increase by $58,000 a year. Half of that amount has been added to the $12,000 they would have paid at the Duxbury location. Interest expense came from amortization tables.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Individual reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individual reflection - Essay Example The process was tough but I learned from the exercise however of figuring out what is the best performance management tool for Nokia. Especially when our part focuses on the underperformer which is not easy to determine which performance tools are appropriate to improve their performance. There are a lot of tools to choose from and along with it, are also our debates which should we use. These debates however crystallize our understanding about performance management and its use and relevance in a business organization. After so much debate, we have agreed that the most appropriate performance management tools for Nokia are BARS and 360 degree feedback. BARS, it is a simple performance evaluation method where a rating scale is developed indicating the employee’s abilities using a rating scale (Jacobs et al., 1980). According to Campbell, â€Å"The use of BARS provides two important tools to management; first, an accurate â€Å"snapshot† of the learning disabilities and strengths of the organization. We deemed BARS to be appropriate for Nokia because the goal was to identify areas of improvement where management can help. The BARS evaluation gives them a ready idea or â€Å"snapshot† whereby it can help to address performance issues. The second performance tool we chose is 360 degree feedback - A performance appraisal method where feedback is given by 6 different sources from within the workplace. These sources may include different managers, work colleagues, peers, customers and well as a self-assessment. 360 degree feedback is an appropriate supplement for BARS evaluation method because it provides the â€Å"reason† behind the less than ideal performance identified by BARS evaluation method. Combining the two methods of BARS evaluation and 360 degrees feedback allows several advantages in improving the underperformers of Nokia.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Hazardous Waste Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hazardous Waste - Essay Example The site initially belonged to Hooker Chemical who later sold it to Niagara Falls School Board for $ 1 in 1953. Hooker Chemicals were using the site for burying toxic waste. By the time of selling the site, Hooker Chemicals had buried 22,000 tons of toxic waste that they revealed in the sales agreement. However, construction projects and rainstorms on the site released the waste causing an environmental disaster. As a result, the inhabitants overflowed in to the waste. This characterized the infamous Love Canal case (Stoss and Fabian 1). The Ivory Coast case took place in 2006 at the capital city of Ivory coast, port of Abidjan. A tanker ship chattered by Trafigura oil and commodity shipping company disposed a 500 tone waste mixture of fuel, caustic soda, and hydrogen sulfide in the city. A local Ivorian contractor dumped the mixture around the city. Although Trafigura denied transportation and knowledge of improper disposal of any toxic waste, the gas emissions from the hazardous waste claimed 17 lives and injured many. As a result, the oil company paid $ 198 Million for cleanup to the Ivorian government in exchange of liability of prosecution (Amnesty International 1). In the Love Canal case, the government and Hooker Chemical were at fault. All these parties were aware of the eminent danger posed by the buried waste chemical yet they did nothing to avert the crisis. The US government had to relocate 800 affected families and indemnify them for their homes. The Occidental Petroleum paid fines worth $129 million for the Love Canal case. In the Ivory Coast case, the Trafigura Oil Shipping Company, the local Ivorian contractors were at fault for improper disposal of hazardous waste. Trafigura Oil Company paid $ 198 Million to the Ivorian government for clean up though it denied liability for dumping. The local Ivorian contractor got a 20 years jail sentence for improper disposal. The Comprehensive

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Graphics page Essay Example for Free

Graphics page Essay Whether they are interested in tennis, if they are a fan and what events or players would they like to visit if possible. (Interests) Whether or not the person is interested in purchasing such a product that I will be making, and if so why not? * Do they have any suggestions or preferences in what they would like to buy or view from this merchandise? Why is this? * Do they appreciate merchandise such as posters and banners to be colourful, jazzy, plain or dark? The persons coloured and style preferences perhaps. Do they prefer products to have lots of text information or do they not? If yes, what should the content be about? E. g. ) The product or the purpose? Â  What sort of images and logos would they prefer to view on these pages, and in what background? E. g. ) Artistic, photographic, computerized, etc what will create the best effects for people to appreciate it and be attracted to what it is aiming to the audience. Â  What sort of advertisement methods would most attract them to the product either to purchase it or to view it even? Information such as this provided in the questionnaire results will be very important for me to analyse and use when designing and making my merchandise. I will definitely need to consider it, otherwise there is no point in making these products in such ways that will not attract people, please them or catch their interest to follow the purpose of the poster. The reason for making something is for it to appeal to peoples preferences and the purpose of my tennis poster is to attract people to view it and realise the development of the state-of-the-art tennis stadium. The merchandise acts as examples of what they can purchase at this newly proposed stadium and helps to promote generally. Therefore, I will need to consider aspects such as colour, texture, size, special effects aswell as the type of imagery, content and textual styles I should use in order for it to be portrayed as worthwhile. Therefore the research is essential for this practical area of my project to be good and relevant.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Social Work :: Graduate College Admissions Essays

Social Work    It was the shrill ringing of my pager that jarred me out of the deep sleep I had been enjoying. The clock beside my bed read 3:30 as I fumbled around in the dark, reaching for the insistent pager. As I saw the code that flashed on its tiny screen, my heart sank. I thought of the sleet that had been falling as I had fallen asleep a few hours before, and of the warmth of my cozy bed. The very last thing I wanted to do at that moment was to get up and go out in the cold. Unfortunately, there was little choice; I was the only Crisis Companion available during the week between Christmas and New Year. Within a few minutes, I was dressed and en route to the hospital to pick up a woman and her small children, on the run from an abusive husband, and take them to our shelter several miles out of town. As both a hotline operator and Crisis Companion for a community organization called Avalon, I had been trained to be an active listener, crisis counselor, and advocate for survivors of domestic v iolence and sexual assault. I thought of all the training I had received, as well as the passion which had driven and encouraged my work with Avalon, as I neared the emergency room of the hospital and prepared to meet my newest clients.    Every 15 seconds a woman is battered. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men will be sexually assaulted during their lifetimes. 4 women in the United States are killed every day by their husbands or male partners. When I first heard these statistics in a Women's Studies course my Freshman year, I was astounded and thoroughly incensed. The more I read, the more committed I became to doing something which would bring about a positive change for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. It was then that I learned about and began working with Avalon, which was active on campus and in the community. Through its outreach programs, Avalon is dedicated to educating the community about the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence. It also offers a shelter, as well as advocacy and education, to survivors and their families.    As a volunteer for Avalon I have answered a crisis hotline, acted as a court advocate, helped clients apply for food stamps, and been on call in the hospital to work with women and children.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Chapters 11

That didn't make sense to me. Didn't the secrecy protect her more than it protected any of us? Riley hurried on before we had too long to examine his statement. â€Å"Of course, it doesn't matter now that they've decided to move on Seattle. We wil surprise them on their way in, and we wil annihilate them.† He whistled a single low note through his teeth. â€Å"Done. And then not only is the city al ours, other covens wil know not to mess with us. We won't have to be so careful to cover our tracks anymore. As much blood as you want, for everyone. Hunting every night. We'l move right into the city, and we will rule it.† The growls and snarls were like applause. Everyone was with him. Except for me. I didn't move, didn't make a sound. Neither did Fred, but who knows why that was? I was not with Riley because his promises sounded like lies. Or else my whole line of logic had been wrong. Riley said it was only these enemies that kept us from hunting without caution or restraint. But that didn't go along with the fact that al other vampires must have been discreet, or humans would have known about them long ago. I couldn't concentrate to work it out, because the door at the top of the stairs had not moved. Diego†¦ â€Å"We have to do this together, though. Today I'm going to lead you through some techniques. Fighting techniques. There's more to this than just scuffling around on the floor like toddlers. When it gets dark, we'l go outside and practice. I want you to practice hard, but keep your focus. I am not losing another member of this coven! We al need each other – every one of us. I wil not tolerate any more stupidity. If you think you don't have to listen to me, you are wrong.† He paused for a short second, the muscles in his face shifting into a new arrangement. â€Å"And you wil learn how wrong you are when I take you to her† – I shuddered and felt the tremor through the room as everyone else did, too – â€Å"and hold you while she tears off your legs and then slowly, slowly burns off your fingers, ears, lips, tongue, and every other superfluous appendage one by one.† We'd al lost a limb, at least, and we'd al burned when we became vampires, so we could easily imagine how that would feel, but it wasn't the threat itself that was so terrifying. The truly scary thing was Riley's face as he said it. His face was not twisted in rage, the way it usual y was when he was angry; it was calm and cold, smooth and beautiful, his mouth curled at the edges into a smal smile. I suddenly had the impression that this was a new Riley. Something had changed him, hardened him, but I couldn't imagine what could have happened in one night to create that cruel, perfect smile. I looked away, shivering a little, and saw as Raoul's smile shifted to echo Riley's. I could almost see the gears turning in Raoul's head. He wouldn't kil his victims so quickly in the future. â€Å"Now, let's get some teams figured out so that we can work in groups,† Riley said, his face normal again. â€Å"Kristie, Raoul, get your kids together and then divvy up the rest evenly. No fighting! Show me you can do this rational y. Prove yourselves.† He walked away from those two, ignoring the fact that they fel almost immediately into bickering, and made an arc around the outside edge of the room. He touched a few vampires on the shoulder as he passed, nudging them toward one of the new leaders or the other. I didn't realize at first that he was heading in my direction, because he took such a wide way around. â€Å"Bree,† he said, squinting toward where I stood. It looked like this took some effort. I felt like a block of ice. He must have smel ed my trail. I was dead. â€Å"Bree?† he said, softer now. His voice reminded me of the first time he'd talked to me. When he was nice to me. And then even lower, â€Å"I promised Diego I'd give you a message. He said to tel you it was a ninja thing. Does that make any sense to you?† He stil couldn't look at me, but he was edging closer. â€Å"Diego?† I murmured. I couldn't help myself. Riley smiled a tiny bit. â€Å"Can we talk?† He jerked his head toward the door. â€Å"I double-checked al the windows. The first floor is total y dark and safe.† I knew I wouldn't be as safe once I walked away from Fred, but I had to hear what Diego had wanted to tel me. What had happened? I should have stayed with him to meet Riley. I fol owed Riley through the room, keeping my head down. He gave Raoul a few instructions, nodded to Kristie, and then went up the stairs. From the corners of my eyes I saw a few people curiously watch the direction he was going. Riley passed through the door first, and the kitchen of the home was, as he'd promised, total y black. He motioned for me to keep fol owing and led me through a dark hal past a few open bedroom doors, then through another door with a dead bolt. We ended up in the garage. â€Å"You're brave,† he commented in a very low voice. â€Å"Or real y trusting. I thought it would be more work to get you upstairs with the sun up.† Whoops. I should have been more skittish. Too late now. I shrugged. â€Å"So you and Diego are pretty tight, right?† he asked, just breathing the words. Probably, if everyone were silent in the basement, they would stil be able to hear him, but it was pretty noisy down there right now. I shrugged again. â€Å"He saved my life,† I whispered. Riley lifted his chin, almost but not quite a nod, and appraised. Did he believe me? Did he think I stil feared the day? â€Å"He's the best,† Riley said. â€Å"The smartest kid I've got.† I nodded once. â€Å"We had a little meeting about the situation. We agreed that we need some surveil ance. Going in blind is too dangerous. He's the only one I trust to scout ahead.† He exhaled, almost angrily. â€Å"Wish I had two of him! Raoul's got too short a fuse and Kristie is too self-absorbed to get the big picture, but they're the best I've got, and I'l have to make do. Diego said you were smart, too.† I waited, not sure how much of our story Riley knew. â€Å"I need your help with Fred. Wow, that kid is strong! I couldn't even look at him tonight.† I nodded cautiously again. â€Å"Imagine if our enemies can't even look at us. It wil be so easy!† I didn't think Fred would like that idea, but maybe I was wrong. He didn't seem like he cared anything for this coven of ours. Would he want to save us? I didn't respond to Riley. â€Å"You spend a lot of time with him.† I shrugged. â€Å"Nobody bothers me there. It's not easy.† Riley pursed his lips and nodded. â€Å"Smart, like Diego said.† â€Å"Where is Diego?† I shouldn't have asked. The words just ripped out of their own accord. I waited anxiously, trying to look indifferent and most likely failing. â€Å"We don't have time to waste. I sent him south the second I found out what was coming. If our enemies decide to attack early, we need the advance warning. Diego wil meet up with us when we move against them.† I tried to imagine where Diego was now. I wished I were there with him. Maybe I could talk him out of doing Riley's bidding and putting himself in the line of fire in the process. But maybe not. It seemed like Diego was thick with Riley, just like I'd worried. â€Å"Diego wanted me to tel you something.† My eyes snapped to his face. Too fast, too eager. Blew it again. â€Å"Sounded like nonsense to me. He said, Tel Bree I've got the handshake figured out. I'l show her in four days, when we meet up.' I have no idea what that means. Do you?† I tried to force a poker face. â€Å"Maybe. He did say something about needing a secret handshake. For his underwater cave. Some kind of password. He was just kidding around, though. I'm not sure what he means now.† Riley chuckled. â€Å"Poor Diego.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"I think that kid likes you a lot more than you like him.† â€Å"Oh.† I looked away, confused. Was Diego giving me this message as a way to let me know I could trust Riley? But he hadn't told Riley I knew about the sun. Stil, he must have trusted Riley to tel him so much, to show Riley that he cared about me. I thought it would be wiser to keep my mouth shut, though. Too much had changed. â€Å"Don't write him off yet, Bree. He's the best, like I said. Give him a chance.† Riley was giving me romantic advice? This could not get weirder. I bobbed my head once and muttered, â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"See if you can talk to Fred. Make sure he's on board.† I shrugged. â€Å"I'l do what I can.† Riley smiled. â€Å"Great. I'l pul you aside before we leave, and you can tel me how it went. I'l keep it casual, not like tonight. I don't want him to feel like I'm spying on him.† â€Å"Okay.† Riley motioned for me to fol ow and then headed back to the basement. The training lasted al day, but I wasn't part of it. After Riley went back to his team leaders, I took my spot beside Fred. The others had been divided up into four groups of four, with Raoul and Kristie directing them. No one had picked Fred for a side, or maybe he'd ignored them, or maybe they couldn't even see that he was there. I could stil see him. He stood out – the only one not participating, a big blond elephant in the room. I had no desire to insinuate myself into either Raoul's team or Kristie's, so I just watched. No one seemed to notice that I was sitting out with Fred. Though we must have been somewhat invisible, thanks to talented Fred, I felt horribly obvious. I wished I were invisible to myself – that I could see the il usion so that I could trust it. But no one noticed us, and after a while I could almost relax. I watched the practicing closely. I wanted to know everything, just in case. I wasn't planning on fighting; I was planning on finding Diego and making a break for it. But what if Diego wanted to fight? Or what if we had to fight to get away from the rest? Better to pay attention. Only once did anyone ask about Diego. It was Kevin, but I had a sense that Raoul had put him up to it. â€Å"So, did Diego end up getting fried after al ?† Kevin asked in a forced joking tone. â€Å"Diego's with her,† Riley said, and no one had to ask who he meant. â€Å"Surveil ance.† A few people shuddered. No one said anything more about Diego. Was he real y with her? I cringed at the thought. Maybe Riley was just saying that to keep people from questioning him. He probably didn't want Raoul getting jealous and feeling second best when Riley needed him at his most arrogant today. I couldn't be sure, and I wasn't going to ask. I kept quiet, as usual, and watched the training. In the end, watching was boring, thirsty work. Riley didn't give his army a break for three days and two nights straight. During the daytime it was harder to stay out of the mix – we al were crammed so tightly into the basement. It made things easier in one way for Riley – he could usual y catch a fight before it got ugly. Outside at night, they had more room to real y work around each other, but Riley was kept busy darting back and forth to catch limbs and get them back to their owners quickly. He kept his temper wel, and he'd been smart enough to find al the lighters this time. I would have bet that this would spin out of control, that we'd lose at least a couple of coven members with Raoul and Kristie skirmishing head to head for days on end. But Riley had better control of them than I had thought possible. Stil, it was mostly repetition. I noticed Riley saying the same things over and over and over again. Work together, watch your back, don't go at her head-on; work together, watch your back, don't go at him head-on; work together, watch your back, don't go at her head-on. It was kind of ridiculous, real y, and made the group seem exceptional y stupid. But I was sure I would have been just as stupid if I'd been in the thick of the fight with them rather than watching calmly from the sidelines with Fred. It reminded me in a way of how Riley had dril ed into us our fear of the sun. Constant repetition. Stil, it was so dul that after about ten hours that first day, Fred produced a deck of cards and started playing solitaire. That was more interesting than watching the same mistakes over and over again, so I mostly watched him. After about another twelve hours – we were inside again – I nudged Fred to point out a red five that he could move over. He nodded and made the change. After that hand, he dealt out the cards to both of us, and we played rummy. We never spoke, but Fred smiled a few times. No one ever looked our way or asked us to join in. There were no hunting breaks, and as time went on, this got harder and harder to ignore. Fights broke out more regularly and with less provocation. Riley's commands got more shril, and he tore off two arms himself. I tried to forget the burning thirst as much as possible – after al, Riley must have been getting thirsty, too, so this couldn't last forever – but mostly thirst was the only thing on my mind. Fred was looking pretty strained. Early into the third night – one more day to go, and when I thought about the ticking clock it tied my empty stomach into knots – Riley cal ed al the mock fights to a halt. â€Å"Round it up, kids,† he told us, and everyone moved into a loose half-circle facing him. The original gangs al stood close together, so the practicing hadn't changed any of those al iances. Fred put the cards in his back pocket and stood up. I stood close to his side, counting on his repulsive aura to hide me. â€Å"You've done wel ,† Riley told us. â€Å"Tonight, you get a reward. Drink up, because tomorrow you're going to want your strength. â€Å" Snarls of relief from almost everyone. â€Å"I say want and not need for a reason,† Riley went on. â€Å"I think you guys have got this. You've stayed smart and worked hard. Our enemies aren't going to know what's hit them!† Kristie and Raoul growled, and both of their companies fol owed suit immediately. I was surprised to see it, but they did look like an army in that moment. Not that they were marching in formation or anything, but there was just something uniform about the response. Like they al were part of one big organism. As always, Fred and I were the glaring exceptions, but I thought only Riley was even the slightest bit aware of us – every now and then his eyes would scan across where we were standing, almost like he was checking to make sure he stil felt Fred's talent. And Riley didn't seem to mind that we weren't joining up. For now, anyway. â€Å"Um, you mean tomorrow night, right, boss?† Raoul clarified. â€Å"Right,† Riley said with a strange little smile. It didn't seem like anyone else noticed anything off in his reply – except for Fred. He looked down at me with one eyebrow raised. I shrugged. â€Å"You ready for your reward?† Riley asked. His little army roared in response.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Bandung: The Perfect Weekend

Bandung, the Perfect Weekend Getaway Have you been wondering to which holiday destination should you visit? Or are you dreading to have the perfect weekend getaway but don’t know any place? Trust me, you don’t have to worry anymore because the answer is Bandung! It is one of the sophisticated cities in Indonesia that has incredibly panoramic views, delectable food and satisfying services as Bandung is known to be a popular tourist attraction. Bandung has a breath-taking garden views.Tourists can enjoy and buy the beautiful and colorful flowers or even spend their time with their children or friends at the strawberries farms and to actually pick as many strawberries they want fresh from the stems. â€Å"Delicious food† are the first two words that usually be pop out in most of the Bandung visitors’ heads, as it is renowned to be the perfect city for culinary tourism. It has the sweetest, crunchiest even until spiciest mouth-watering meals. The most famous f ood in Bandung is â€Å"Kupat Tahu† and â€Å"Batagor†. Not to mention the latest most-talked theme park in Bandung namely â€Å"Trans Studio Bandung†.It is the perfect theme park for both adults and children. The place is designed so creatively like a city and most importantly, it is indoors! Not many theme parks are indoors. Therefore, visitors will not have to worry about the weather and able to have fun until the end of the day. How great it is. Moreover, children can also learn at the same time, since in the ‘Science Centre’, visitors are allowed to see many experiments and unique science facts that most people need to know. Like the different densities of different objects and liquids, and how we can have colorful shadows.There are also extreme rides like roller coaster, â€Å"Vertigo†, â€Å"Dragon Rides†, and â€Å"Giant Swing†. They are the heart-pounding rides that will make some of the visitors scream at the top of th eir lungs. At the end of the day, if you wish to remember the spectacular experience, visitors can always buy the high-quality Trans Studio souvenirs with reasonable price inside the theme park. Over all, Bandung will be an ideal to relax, shop, and most of all, for you to step back from your work and refresh your mind. If you come to Bandung, there is no way you will regret it!

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on Dance Toward Happiness

, too, can cross barriers, build bridges, and touch our hearts; and like beautiful music, a good story is timeless. In Persuasion, Austen uses music to define Anne’s character, to show her connectedness to people or her lack of it, and to show her gradual reawakening to life and to love. Anne’s great depth of character is illustrated by her appreciation of books and music, two things that give her deep and lasting pleasure. When confronted by Mary for being tardy in coming to her, Anne mentions that she had â€Å"a great many things† (41) to do in getting ready to leave Kellynch Hall. Most of her preparations are for her father and Elizabeth, but when talking about preparing her own possessions to be moved, the only items she mentions specifically are her â€Å"books and music† (41). Anne’s regard for books and music is also seen as Anne compares herself to the Miss Musgroves. The Miss Musgroves use music, but for purposes other than the purely artistic appreciation of it. They have a â€Å"grand piano forte and a harp,† but their time is not invested in playing them, but in arranging the piano and harp, along with â€Å"flower stands and little tables,† around â€Å"the old-fashioned square parlor† for the lates t fashionable effect: â€Å"the proper air of confusion† (42). In contrast, for Anne, playing the piano is a way to give â€Å"pleasure . . . to herself† (48) and... Free Essays on Dance Toward Happiness Free Essays on Dance Toward Happiness In Persuasion Jane Austen tells the story of Anne, a young woman who suffers terrible losses yet does not let these losses embitter her. But the death of her mother during Anne’s youth and the loss of her true love in her early adulthood certainly leave their mark on Anne. She survives with great strength of character, yet she withdraws from life. But Anne does not withdraw alone; she takes her music with her. Music has been called the language of the heart. It has an enduring quality, and it can cross barriers and build bridges. Music moves us. Words, too, can cross barriers, build bridges, and touch our hearts; and like beautiful music, a good story is timeless. In Persuasion, Austen uses music to define Anne’s character, to show her connectedness to people or her lack of it, and to show her gradual reawakening to life and to love. Anne’s great depth of character is illustrated by her appreciation of books and music, two things that give her deep and lasting pleasure. When confronted by Mary for being tardy in coming to her, Anne mentions that she had â€Å"a great many things† (41) to do in getting ready to leave Kellynch Hall. Most of her preparations are for her father and Elizabeth, but when talking about preparing her own possessions to be moved, the only items she mentions specifically are her â€Å"books and music† (41). Anne’s regard for books and music is also seen as Anne compares herself to the Miss Musgroves. The Miss Musgroves use music, but for purposes other than the purely artistic appreciation of it. They have a â€Å"grand piano forte and a harp,† but their time is not invested in playing them, but in arranging the piano and harp, along with â€Å"flower stands and little tables,† around â€Å"the old-fashioned square parlor† for the lates t fashionable effect: â€Å"the proper air of confusion† (42). In contrast, for Anne, playing the piano is a way to give â€Å"pleasure . . . to herself† (48) and...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Cholula Massacre by Cortes

The Cholula Massacre by Cortes The Cholula massacre was one of the most ruthless actions of conquistador Hernan Cortes in his drive to conquer Mexico. Learn about this historic event. In October of 1519, Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes assembled the nobles of the Aztec city of Cholula in one of the city courtyards, where Cortes accused them of treachery. Moments later, Cortes ordered his men to attack the mostly unarmed crowd. Outside of town, Cortes Tlaxcalan allies also attacked, as the Cholulans were their traditional enemies. Within hours, thousands of inhabitants of Cholula, including most of the local nobility, were dead in the streets. The Cholula massacre sent a powerful statement to the rest of Mexico, especially the mighty Aztec state and their indecisive leader, Montezuma II. The City of Cholula In 1519, Cholula was one of the most important cities in the Aztec Empire. Located not far from the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, it was clearly within the sphere of Aztec influence. Cholula was home to an estimated 100,000 people and was known for a bustling market and for producing excellent trade goods, including pottery. It was best known as a religious center, however. It was home to the magnificent Temple of Tlaloc, which was the largest pyramid ever built by ancient cultures, bigger even than the ones in Egypt. It was best known, however, as the center of the Cult of Quetzalcoatl. This god had been around in some form since the ancient Olmec civilization, and worship of Quetzalcoatl had peaked during the mighty Toltec civilization, which dominated central Mexico from 900–1150 or so. The Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Cholula was the center of worship for this deity. The Spanish and Tlaxcala The Spanish conquistadors, under ruthless leader Hernan Cortes, had landed near present-day Veracruz in April of 1519. They had proceeded to make their way inland, making alliances with local tribes or defeating them as the situation warranted. As the brutal adventurers made their way inland, Aztec Emperor Montezuma II tried to threaten them or buy them off, but any gifts of gold only increased the Spaniards insatiable thirst for wealth. In September of 1519, the Spanish arrived in the free state of Tlaxcala. The Tlaxcalans had resisted the Aztec Empire for decades and were one of only a handful of places in central Mexico not under Aztec rule. The Tlaxcalans attacked the Spanish but were repeatedly defeated. They then welcomed the Spanish, establishing an alliance they hoped would overthrow their hated adversaries, the Mexica (Aztecs). The Road to Cholula The Spanish rested at Tlaxcala with their new allies and Cortes pondered his next move. The most direct road to Tenochtitlan went through Cholula and emissaries sent by Montezuma urged the Spanish to go through there, but Cortes new Tlaxcalan allies repeatedly warned the Spanish leader that the Cholulans were treacherous and that Montezuma would ambush them somewhere near the city. While still in Tlaxcala, Cortes exchanged messages with the leadership of Cholula, who at first sent some low-level negotiators who were rebuffed by Cortes. They later sent some more important noblemen to confer with the conquistador. After consulting with the Cholulans and his captains, Cortes decided to go through Cholula. Reception in Cholula The Spanish left Tlaxcala on October 12 and arrived in Cholula two days later. The intruders were awed by the magnificent city, with its towering temples, well laid-out streets and bustling market. The Spanish got a lukewarm reception. They were allowed to enter the city (although their escort of fierce Tlaxcalan warriors was forced to remain outside), but after the first two or three days, the locals stopped bringing them any food. Meanwhile, city leaders were reluctant to meet with Cortes. Before long, Cortes began to hear of rumors of treachery. Although the Tlaxcalans were not allowed in the city, he was accompanied by s ome Totonacs from the coast, who were allowed to roam freely. They told him of preparations for war in Cholula: pits dug in the streets and camouflaged, women and children fleeing the area, and more. In addition, two local minor noblemen informed Cortes of a plot to ambush the Spanish once they left the city. Malinche's Report The most damning report of treachery came through Cortes mistress and interpreter, Malinche. Malinche had struck up a friendship with a local woman, the wife of a high-ranking Cholulan soldier. One night, the woman came to see Malinche and told her that she should flee immediately because of the impending attack. The woman suggested that Malinche could marry her son after the Spanish were gone. Malinche agreed to go with her in order to buy time and then turned the old woman over to Cortes. After interrogating her, Cortes was certain of a plot. Cortes' Speech On the morning that the Spanish were supposed to leave (the date is uncertain, but was in late October 1519), Cortes summoned the local leadership to the courtyard in front of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, using the pretext that he wished to say goodbye to them before he left. With the Cholula leadership assembled, Cortes began to speak, his words translated by Malinche. Bernal Diaz del Castillo, one of Cortes foot soldiers, was in the crowd and recalled the speech many years later: He (Cortes) said: How anxious these traitors are to see us among the ravines so that they can gorge themselves on our flesh. But our lord will prevent it....Cortes then asked the Caciques why they had turned traitors and decided the night before that they would kill us, seeing that we had done them nor harm but had merely warned them against...wickedness and human sacrifice, and the worship of idols...Their hostility was plain to see, and their treachery also, which they could not conceal...He was well aware, he said, that they had many companies of warriors lying in wait for us in some ravines nearby ready to carry out the treacherous attack they had planned... (Diaz del Castillo, 198-199) The Cholula Massacre According the Diaz, the assembled nobles did not deny the accusations  but claimed that they were merely following the wishes of Emperor Montezuma. Cortes responded that the King of Spains laws decreed that treachery must not go unpunished. With that, a musket shot fired: this was the signal the Spanish were waiting for. The heavily armed and armored conquistadors attacked the assembled crowd, mostly unarmed noblemen, priests and other city leaders, firing arquebuses and crossbows and hacking with steel swords. The shocked populace of Cholula trampled one another in their vain efforts to escape. Meanwhile, the Tlaxcalans, traditional enemies of Cholula, rushed into the city from their camp outside of town to attack and pillage. Within a couple of hours, thousands of Cholulans lay dead in the streets. Aftermath of the Cholula Massacre Still incensed, Cortes allowed his savage Tlaxcalan allies to sack the city and haul victims back to Tlaxcala as slaves and sacrifices. The city was in ruins and the temple burned for two days. After a few days, a few surviving Cholulan noblemen returned, and Cortes bade them tell the people that it was safe to come back. Cortes had two messengers from Montezuma with him, and they witnessed the massacre. He sent them back to Montezuma with the message that the lords of Cholula had implicated Montezuma in the attack and that he would be marching on Tenochtitlan as a conqueror. The messengers soon returned with word from Montezuma disavowing any involvement in the attack, which he blamed solely on the Cholulans and some local Aztec leaders. Cholula itself was sacked, providing much gold for the greedy Spanish. They also found some stout wooden cages with prisoners inside who were being fattened up for sacrifice: Cortes ordered them freed. Cholulan leaders who had told Cortes about the plot were rewarded. The Cholula Massacre sent a clear message to Central Mexico: the Spanish were not to be trifled with. It also proved to Aztec vassal states- of which many were unhappy with the arrangement- that the Aztecs could not necessarily protect them. Cortes hand-picked successors to rule Cholula while he was there, thus ensuring that his supply line to the port of Veracruz, which now ran through Cholula and Tlaxcala, would not be endangered. When Cortes finally did leave Cholula in November of 1519, he reached Tenochtitlan without being ambushed. This raises the question of whether or not there had been a treacherous plan in the first place. Some historians question whether Malinche, who translated everything the Cholulans said and who conveniently provided the most damning evidence of a plot, orchestrated it herself. The historical sources seem to agree, however, that there was an abundance of evidence to support the likelihood of a plot. References Castillo, Bernal DiÃŒ az del, Cohen J. M., and Radice B.  The Conquest of New Spain. London: Clays Ltd./Penguin; 1963. Levy, Buddy.  Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King  Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs.  New York: Bantam, 2008. Thomas, Hugh.  The Real Discovery of America: Mexico November 8, 1519. New York: Touchstone, 1993.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Case Study in B2B Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Case Study in B2B Marketing - Essay Example The company TCL has been stated to be quite established which provides its clients with a complete assortment of services related to marketing and advertising. The services entail advertising, website development, online marketing, direct marketing as well as public relations. The client list of the company consists of an extensive variety of companies ranging from furniture retailers, garden centres, local parks with theme and universities. The company is believed to have created a superior reputation for itself in terms of offering a dependable, consistent, proficient and gracious service. It is known to be engaged with the B2B marketing and thus the bulk of its respective business is believed to be attained with the help of reference selling or rather word-of-mouth suggestion. This advertising as well as marketing company has witnessed tough times in its business owing to the economic downturn which is making the company to entail certain required alterations in its marketing plan s for the reason of ensuring its survival in this environment. The marketing mix of the company TCL calls for the requirement of few alterations in order to meet up to the marketing aims ascertained by the company. The effectual and the competent formulation of a fresh or transformed marketing mix would need a lucid comprehension of the present marketing objectives or aims of the company. The company has been made to witness few challenges in terms of its existing business owing the recent economic downturn. The other grave challenge experienced by TCL has been measured to be the exceeding fragmentation of the market. The market in which the company operates has been found to be sectioned and consists of increased amount of small as well as

Friday, November 1, 2019

Accounting Statement Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Accounting Statement Analysis - Essay Example units purchased, sales thus scale of economy leading to decrease in operating expense (Gilbertson & Lehman, 2013). In the period 11 between 12, the decrease in trend was due to decrease in differed liability. Decrease in the period 12 between 13 was due to utilization of reserves to finance the company’s operations. During the period from 13 between 14, there was increase due to increase in long-term loan by a very big margin. This negative trend indicates that cost of goods sold is gradually increasing proportionately to sales. This may be due to increase in purchase price or carriage on stack. It can also be because of decrease in selling price(Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). Positive deviation in dividend payout indicates that the firm is paying more to its shareholders inform of dividend. This also indicates that the firm’s growth rate is adversely affected(Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2010). Net profit margin has a positive trend however, the firms overall profitability has a slightly negative trend because net profit margin and operational incomes positive trend has been fully offset by negative trend in other profitability ratios like gross profit margin (Graham et al., 2012). Long-term debt paying ability of the firm is negatively affected by decreasing trend in the following ratios; decrease in debt to equity ratio, decrease in debt to tangible assets, and further decrease in cash flow/ total debt ratio. This has been partly offset by increase in time interest earnings fixed charge coverage(Graham et al., 2012). This trend in Operation Cash Flow per Share indicates that cash flow attributed to each share of common stock has improved. However, the overall cash flow of the firm is declining due to payment of dividend that has increased as indicated by operation cash flow/ cash dividend from 2.51 to 1.51 leading to negative trend in cash flow for the period between 2011 and 2014(Graham et al., 2012). All of these ratios are in decline.