Thursday, October 31, 2019

Keeping the elderly in their home vs nursing home placement Essay

Keeping the elderly in their home vs nursing home placement - Essay Example vels of investigation, the major concerns emerge in terms of public health care and questions of whether the individual or government should be responsible for funding nursing home residents. Achieving a substantial approach to the question of nursing home care will aid the nation by contributing to socio-political debates regards health care costs. One organization that supports this issue is the National Family Caregivers Association. This organization greatly considers the importance of supporting individuals that aid people in at-home living situations. One of the major things I learned in researching this subject was the strong change that has occurred for at-home care. With technological advancements, seniors now have many increased options for caregivers and other such aid that allow them to refrain from nursing home care. Prior to the investigation I would have further question cost issues between caregivers and nursing

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis Research Paper

The Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis - Research Paper Example There are various interesting issues about the North American market for The Coca-Cola Company in terms of its volume growth or declines for the period. For instance, in the second quarter of 2012, there was a volume growth of 4% at the global level. In the same aspect, in the quarter it turned to 5% in accordance with the year-to-date ratings. Therefore, this suggests that there was a growth of volume by 1% for North America in the succeeding quarter and year-to-date affecting even the international volume that leapt to 5%. Alternatively, in the following second quarter, there was a growth of 3% of net revenues with another 7% of net revenues in the comparable currency (Onkvisit, 2004). This means there were significant growths in the quarters and the net revenues of comparable currency. There was also the operating income standing at 7% with the net revenue of 6%. However, the met revenues have a possibility of decline if there are no checks in the growth of the operating income. It is also essential to note there are varying drivers of profitability during the quarter at The Coca Cola Company. This has also led to, interesting long-term, impact in terms of profits and eventual success. For example, there is the maximization of returns through close monitoring of profits and minimization of losses. In the prospect of maximization of returns, the company ensures that it gives its shareholders a large portion of their volume sales. (Hannaford, 2007). Alternatively, another driving factor is marketing in the context of distribution and donation of both macro and micro profits. In distribution channels, there is the direct and indirect selling type that gives the beverage company an edge of its competitors such as Pepsi and Nestle among others. Therefore, the long term effect of these profits is expansion and increased production in new markets across the world. The Earning per Share results for the quarter in comparison to historic results and long-term growth t argets have interesting information. For instance, in the third quarter, the EPS was a headwind of 5% with comparable net revenue of 7%. This eventually deflated to $ 0.50% in the same third quarter from net revenue of 4%. Similarly, there is also the comparable EPS that stands at 2% from the normal $0.51 in the year-to-date financial analysis (Rich et al 2009). However, if compared to the historic results and the long-term targets, there are various disparities. The historic results posted an EPS of $1.65 from comparable net revenue of 2% and 5% respectively in the third quarter. This means that there will be an increase of volume growth in the context of net revenue and comparable operating income. Furthermore, it would also reflect on the currency neutral of net revenues that affect the financial analysis of Earning per Share. The Coca Cola Company has made tremendous achievements of growth leading to acquisition of other feasible emerging markets. On that account, the emerging m arkets include Thailand, South Africa, India and China that have displayed a notable consumption of the company’s products (Pacek & Thorniley, 2007). This has led the beverage company to make heavy investments in terms of marketing expansion and distribution network. Similarly, there will be an establishment of new bottling plants that generate profits to equal to the net value of the company. Alternatively, the Coca Cola Compa

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Research Outline: Effects of DV on Children

Research Outline: Effects of DV on Children This dissertation will examine the evidence for the claim that witnessing domestic violence causes serious and lasting harm to children. As it would not be feasible to conduct primary research on this topic at the researchers current level of training, given the significant ethical issues involved in working with children and families in this context, it will consist of an extensive critical review of the literature on this topic. This body of evidence will be systematically reviewed to establish the current state of knowledge regarding: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The strength of the link between exposure to domestic violence and childrens à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Trauma symptoms à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Development à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Social functioning à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Internalising (eg. depression) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Externalising (eg. aggression, disruptive behaviour) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Academic performance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The existence of mediating or moderating factors determining the level of damage caused by witnessing domestic violence, including à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Temperament à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Social support à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Genetic factors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The prevalence of exposure to domestic violence in childhood. Preliminary review of the literature The prevalence of childhood exposure to domestic violence Intimate partner violence is disturbingly common in the UK: an analysis of recent data gathered by the NHS for various purposes found a lifetime prevalence rate of some experience of domestic violence of 13-31% among the general population of British women (Feder et al, 2009). In the US, Dong et al found (2004) that 24% of respondents (n = 2,081) indicated that they had been exposed to domestic violence while under the age of 18. These figures indicate that a high proportion of children will, at at least some point, witness acts of violence between (most commonly) their parents or caregivers in the home or another family setting. However, the usefulness of lifetime prevalence figures like this in assessing the real impact of domestic violence on children is rather questionable: these results do not distinguish adequately between individuals who witnessed a single incident, or very infrequent mild violence, and those who were repeatedly exposed to serious violence. More detailed data is required to address the question of how common prolonged exposure really is. A further problem with the analysis of data for the prevalence of childrens exposure to domestic violence is the high level of co-occurrence with other forms of maltreatment. A large US study (3,777 males and 4,411 females) found that 12.3% of men (n = 482) and 15.9% of women (n = 703; chi square of difference 15.9, p Witnessing parental aggression: its effects on child development There is strong evidence that aggression and violence between the childs parents or caregivers can have serious negative consequences even if the child is too young to understand: in particular, it has been suggested, very reasonably, that domestic violence negatively impacts the quality of maternal care as poor management of emotions and conflicts may transfer from the couple relationship to the mother-infant one (eg. Krisknakumar Buehler, 2000). Indeed, women who are in violently abusive relationships may even express more negative attributions about their unborn child while pregnant (Theran, Levendosky, Bogat, and Huth-Bocks, 2005), creating the conditions for an emotionally distant parenting style which can lead to a poor attachment between mother and infant. Of four studies of children aged 3-6 reviewed by Wolfe et al (2003), all but one found moderate to strong effects on internalizing and externalizing symptoms as a consequence of witnessing domestic violence; Levendosky et a l. (2002) also found a significant level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a similar population, and Bogat and her colleagues described clinically significant trauma symptoms in one-year-old infants exposed to family violence (2006). Interestingly, however, in a sample of 7865 British children aged 5-16, Meltzer and his colleagues found that Witnessing severe domestic violence almost tripled the likelihood of children having conduct disorder but was not independently associated with emotional disorders (2009:491). The picture is yet further complicated by the finding that at least some mothers who suffer domestic violence in fact appear to compensate for this in ways which increase their availability to their children, showing heightened sensitivity and responsiveness (Letourneau, Fedick and Willms, 2007:649). Domestic violence and adolescent outcomes Given the complexity of the picture of the effect of witnessing domestic violence (and of having a caregiver who is a victim or perpetrator of it) which has already emerged, it is to be expected that the impact of this form of maltreatment on the eventual outcomes of children who are affected by it will also be far from easy to determine. High levels of conduct disorder and other adjustment and attitudinal problems in the adolescent children of battered women have been extensively described (Fantuzzo et al, 1991; Holden and Ritchie, 1991, and numerous later studies); these conduct problems have, however, bee n found to be amenable to interventions to improve mothers own support, and management of their children (eg. Jouriles et al, 2001). McFarlane and her colleagues found, worryingly, that in a sample of 330 children (including black, white and hispanic ethnicities), the mean internalizing behavior score for boys 6-11as well as girls and boys 12-18of abused mothers were not signific antly different from the clinical referral norms (2003:202), suggesting that the impact of witnessing serious domestic violence is enough to lead to clinically significant symptoms including suicidality and self-harming behaviours in adolescents. This indicates that, although the mechanisms by which it causes such great damage are as yet unclear, witnessing domestic violence which is either serious or prolonged needs to be treated as a major traumatic incident in a childs life. However, the prevalence of exposure like this is so great that intervening in the vast majority of cases where harm is being caused would be impossible; we are, furthermore, learning ever more about the factors which determine whether or not these experiences take a lasting toll, both biological and social. Domestic violence and the biology of trauma While only a small fraction of the children who suffer maltreatment are, as it were, fortunate enough only to witness domestic violence and not be subject to other forms of maltreatment, even in these cases evidence has been found that both [hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal] axis and sympathetic nervous system functioning were found to differ between children exposed to domestic violence and comparison children (Saltzman, Holden and Holahan, 2005), suggesting that exposure to this form of trauma has lasting biological as well as emotional consequences. While the exact effect of the kinds of changes which Saltzman and his colleagues found on later functioning is unknown, findings like this give cause for serious concern that exposure to domestic violence in early life may have consequences which include functional, particularly social, impairments which are difficult (although not impossible) to overcome. They may, too, have long term health effects: the prolonged effects of biological stress responses observed in PTSD sufferers have been linked to a variety of serious chronic illnesses (Boscarino, 2008), suggesting that children who witness violence may be at risk of ill health long after their exposure itself has ended. Future research seems likely to confirm that the hypersensitivity to verbal conflict displayed by the one-year-old (ie. pre-verbal) infants studied by DeJonghe and her colleagues (2005) has a neural basis; this high level of sensitivity may itself predispose individuals who were exposed to domestic violence as young children to displaying high levels of arousal in conflict situations, contributing to the emergence of aggression and conduct problems in later life. Rationale for undertaking this research It is clear from the preliminary review of the literature which has been presented above that exposure to domestic violence is a serious child welfare issue: it affects a large number of children, is frequently combined with other forms of maltreatment, and has been shown to have long-term negative effects on both psychosocial functioning and, more tentatively, on physical health. As such there is an obvious rationale for assessing the current state of research into this topic: there is now a large volume of work on this issue, although it has only been explored empirically since the 1980s, and new techniques such as the use of biomarkers and neuroimaging continue to add dramatically to our understanding of the risks and mechanisms of harm associated with witnessing domestic violence. Producing a broad systematic review of the aspects of this topic of greatest relevance to social policy and professional social work practice will help to inform responses to this grave threat to the we llbeing of thousands of children in the UK, and contribute to the formulation of effective responses to the challenges which family violence poses today. Outline research strategy As has been mentioned above, the research strategy which will be adopted here is that of a critical review of the literature, based on a structured search of major journal databases. This strategy is the most appropriate one due in part to the challenges of conducting experimental or observational research in families where domestic violence occurs; given the researchers lack of training in managing the care and welfare of vulnerable children and adults, a methodology of this kind would not be appropriate. As such, an approach which does not pose these ethical and practical problems has been adopted. A structured literature search methodology will be used to search the PUBMED, OVID and Web of Science databases; the terms used will be selected in order to identify literature which deals primarily with exposure to violence without the copresence of other forms of maltreatment. Due to the broad scope of this review, a meta-analytic approach would not be appropriate: where appropriate, meta-analyses of studies on this topic will be included, along with discussion of the individual studies included in them. Particular attention will be given to critical analysis of the effectiveness of the studies attempts to exclude the effect of confounding variables, including exposure to other forms of maltreatment and verbal aggression in the home, social factors and other issues.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Scenario Planning Essay -- Business, Strategic Organizational Plannin

Nowadays business leaders need to understand environment which is going to be more complex. Organisations are open system so that organisations need to adapt environment which they operate in. Matridakis, Hogarth and Gaba (2010) argued that traditional tools did not fit well to new complex environment. Although complex environment and level of uncertainty cannot be explained by forecasting, most of the traditional method including strategic planning and organizational development method are tried to use past trends and forecast future. Therefore, scenario planning gets more recognition from the manager whose company operates in such kind of volatile, uncertain environment. Kahane (1992) (Cited in Charmack et al 2001) scenario planning is an effective method for understand critical future uncertainties and investigating drawbacks of the organisations. There are so many aspect and definition of scenario planning. â€Å"Scenarioâ€Å" means an outline or synopsis of a play. The word scenario is derived from the Italian word scena, scene, that comes from the Latin scaena. According to Schwartz (1998:6) scenarios present alternative of future. Kahn and wiener (1967) defined â€Å" Scenarios are narrative description of future†(Cited in AC/UNU Millennium Project) Porter (1985) defined scenarios â€Å"an internally consistent view of what the future might turn to be – not forecast but one possible future outcome† There is big argument on the scenarios, whether it is static or dynamic. Becker (1983) defined that scenarios are people imaging for future like photo. Although Wack (1985), Schoemaker (1991), van der heijden (1996) supported dynamic view of scenarios and they stated that Scenarios are the process of evolution that was linked to strategic devel... ... In conclusion, scenarios are related to future, according to some of the authors scenarios have a static vision, but for the others scenarios include dynamic aspects. Scenario planning is process of positioning plausible scenarios. Some of the author in this field using different name for scenario planning such as scenario thinking, scenario based planning. It includes two sides, first scenario development and then strategy development. O’brien (2003) stated that scenario planning is a soft problem structuring method and qualitative approach. Schoemaker (1997) stated that scenario planning allows more subjective element and macro environment variable than computer simulation programs. Also these methods include system dynamics and risk analysis. It is easy to conclude that scenario planning is a managerial tool of strategic thinking (Bood and Postma 1998).

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Different Forms Of Ownership

A business that is carried on by a sole proprietorship is owned by one person, who also usually runs and manages the business. There may or may not be people working in the business these are referred to as employees of the business and the owner is the employer. The sole proprietorship receives all profits and is legally required to bear and satisfy all losses personally. The sole proprietorship is personally liable for debts of the business. So that, the sole proprietorship has unlimited liability to repay amounts owing, or debts, of the business.For example, if the business incurs debts resulting from a warranty claim, then the individual will be held responsible for those debts, and any claims will be made against the individual’s personal assets. As well, sole proprietorships are taxed under the personal tax system. The sole proprietorship it is easy to set up and may only require registration of the business name and is free to run the business as he or she thinks best a nd is not answerable to a boss. As for the name of the business, the name of the owner or any other name may be used.Normally, a sole proprietorship business requires a small amount of capital to start with, compared with other forms of business entities. Examples of sole proprietorship businesses are tailor shops, beauty saloons, restaurants, launderettes and mini market. Partnership is an association of two or more persons or entities that carry on business as partners. The partners usually run and manage the business. However, there may be a silent partner who does not take any part in the running of the business even though they have contributed capital to the partnership.In a partnership, each partner is personally liable for all debts incurred by the business; in the event of the firm’s failure, each partner’s personal assets are jeopardized. In the partnership, the partners should have a legal agreement that sets forth how decisions will be made, profits will be shared, disputes will be resolved, how future partners will be admitted to the partnership, how partners can be bought out, and what steps will be taken to dissolve the partnership when needed. There are two basics forms of partnerships, general and limited.In a general partnership, all partners have unlimited liability, while in a limited partnership, at least one partner has liability limited only to his or her investment while at least one other partner has full liability. Examples of partnership are law or accounting firms, medical or dental practices In partnership that are many kind of partner, for example: Ostensible Partner: Active and known as a partner. Secret Partner: Active but not known or held out as a partner. Dormant Partner: Inactive and not known or held out as a partner. Silent Partner: Inactive (but may be known to be a partner)Nominal Partner: Not a true partner in any sense, not being a party to the partnership agreement. However, a nominal partner holds him o r herself out as a partner, or permits others to make such representation by the use of his/her name or otherwise A company is a separate legal entity formed under the Corporations Act 2001. Commonly, its owners are called shareholders and their ownership interests are represented by shares in the company. The separate legal status of the company has many implications for the entity. First, the company can enter into contracts, incur debts and pay taxes independently of its owners.The owners pay individual taxes only on the company profit paid out to them in the form of salaries, bonuses and dividends. The shareholders are not liable for the company’s debts once the shares they hold have been paid for in full. For example, if a company issued $1 shares, with 60 cents payable on application and the remaining 40 cents payable by future installments, the shareholders’ liability in the event of the company collapsing would be remaining 40 cents on each share they own. This feature is known as limited liability; that is, their obligation is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on their shares.As a separate legal entity, a company has many of the rights, duties and responsibilities of a natural person. It can, through its agents, buy, own and sell property in its own name and engage in business activities by entering into contracts with others. It has legal status in a court and can sue and be sued, is legally responsible for its liabilities, and must pay income tax just as a natural person does. Different type of business ownership has different type of characteristics, what is the different between each other?The major different characteristics of each other are tax consideration, liability, duration, ease and cost of set up. Tax Consideration The sole proprietorship any income to the business is treated as income to the business owner and all income is reported on individual tax return, and is taxed in the year it is received. Business deductions a re permitted. While in partnership, a Partnership Agreement can allocate the profits or losses in any ratio agreed to between the partners but if there is no Agreement, the profits must be allocated equally.Business deductions are taken by the partnership before the income is distributed to the partners and claimed on their personal tax returns. The profit of a company is taxed to the company when earned, and then is taxed to the shareholders when distributed as dividends. This creates a double tax. The corporation does not get a tax deduction when it distributes dividends to shareholders. Shareholders cannot deduct any loss of the corporation. Liability In Sole proprietors have unlimited liability and are legally responsible for all debts against the business. Their business and personal assets are at risk.In Partnership, partners are liable for all the debts of the business and the full amount of these debts can be collected from one or more of the partners rather than the debt be ing equally shared. Partners can also be held liable for acts committed by one of their partners in the normal course of business. Owners of a Company have the liability protection of a corporation. That is because, the company exists as a separate entity much like a corporation. A company member cannot be held personally liable for debts unless they have signed a personal guarantee. Ownership interestsOwnership interests in a company may be sold to third parties without disturbing the continued operation of the business. A sole proprietorship or partnership, on the other hand, cannot be sold whole Duration The sole proprietorship remains in existence for as long as the owner is willing or able to stay in business. When the owner dies, the sole proprietorship no longer exists. The assets and liabilities of the business become part of the owner's estate. A sole proprietor can freely transfer a business by selling all or a portion of the assets of the business.In partnership the busin ess organization ends with death, incapacity, withdrawal or bankruptcy of any partner, unless otherwise agreed to in a Partnership Agreement. In company form a continuity of life, it has the power to exist forever and, therefore, is unaffected by the death of an owner or manager or by the transfer of ownership interests. Ease and cost of set up The sole proprietorship and partnership it is easy to set up and may register a trade name to promote its products and services. While in company, a company must be registered with the Registrar of Companies.Company cost more to set up and run than a sole proprietorship or partnership. For example, there are the initial formation fees, filing fees and annual state fees. However, these costs are partially offset by lower insurance costs. Flexible Beside that, a partnership may be relatively more flexible in the decision making process than in a corporation. But, it may be less so than in a sole proprietorship. That is because sole proprietorsh ip management is able to respond quickly to business needs in the form of day to day management decisions as governed by various laws and good sense.Capital Rising A corporation has many avenues to raise capital. It can sell shares of stock and create new types of stock, such as preferred stock, with different voting or profit characteristics. Partnership difficult to rising additional capital but easier than sole proprietorship, that is because, sole proprietorship are the only owner, therefore can’t sell any shares to fund business growth, and banks are more skeptical about lending money to sole proprietorships. There are several advantages to being a sole proprietorship.First, the sole proprietorship entity is a quick, inexpensive and easy form of business to establish, and can be inexpensive to wind down. In this type of business, there are no specific business taxes paid by the company. The owner pays taxes on income from the business as part of personal income tax payme nts. A sole proprietor has complete control and decision-making power over the business, and is therefore free to choose the direction of the business and it strategies and policies.Sale or transfer can take place at the discretion of the sole proprietor. Sole proprietorship can control all the asset and money of business and can take  money out of company for personal use at any time, as long as make sure the business bills are paid. Sole proprietorship is relative freedom from government control. The further advantage is that the owner claims all the profits of the business. There are several disadvantages to being a sole proprietorship. Sole proprietorship’s business is not a separate legal entity. Therefore, if the business is involved in any form of legal dispute, the individual owner has unlimited liability, which means the sole proprietor of the business can be held personally liable for the debts and obligations of the business.Additionally, this risk extends to any liabilities incurred as a result of acts committed by employees of the company. The sole proprietorship relatively limited viewpoint and experience that is because sole proprietorship is limited by the skill, time and investment of the individual owner. Sole proprietorship are unstable business life, the enterprise may be crippled or terminated upon illness or death of the owner. There are several advantages to being a partnership. First, the partnerships are relatively easy to set up however time should be invested in developing the partnership agreement.Partnership files informational tax return. Partnership income is reportable and taxed on partners’ personal income tax returns. The main advantage of a partnership over a sole proprietorship is that the partnership combines the skills, talents, and knowledge of two or more people, and all partners have equal rights in the management of the partnership business The main disadvantages of partnership are partnership is charac terized by unlimited liability. Therefore, the partners are fully responsible for all business debts and obligations, irrespective of their involvement in the entity.The partnership form has a limited life therefore it may end with death, incapacity, withdrawal or bankruptcy of any partner. A great number of partnerships find themselves involved in disputes because of disagreements concerning profit sharing or decision making for the business. Partnership is limited financial therefore it may only borrow money or use partners’ savings. Must be dissolved and reformed to admit additional partners wishing to invest. A further disadvantage is known as mutual agency. Mutual agency is every partner acts as an agent for the partnership and for every other partner.Therefore, a partner can represent the other partners and bind them to a contract if he or she is acting within the apparent scope of the business. Partnership is relative difficulty in obtaining large sums of capital. This is particularly true of long term financing when compared to a corporation. However, by using individual partners' assets, opportunities are probably greater than in a proprietorship. The main advantages of forming a company is the limited liability protection provided to its owners. Because a corporation is considered a separate legal entity, the shareholders have limited liability for the corporation's debts.The personal assets of shareholders are not at risk for satisfying corporate debts or liabilities. Companies are attractive investment. The built-in stock structure of a corporation makes it attractive to investors. The company form has a continuity of life, it has the power to exist forever and, therefore, is unaffected by the death of an owner or manager or by the transfer of ownership interests. Other advantages of company is taxation, owners of a company only pay taxes on company profits paid to them in the form of salaries, bonuses, and dividends. The company pays taxes, at the company rate, on any profits.Companies also have the ability to raise large amounts of capital through public share offerings. Companies have a set management structure. The owners of a company are shareholders, who elect a Board of Directors, which then elects the officers. Other than the election of directors, shareholders do not participate in the operations of the company. There are several disadvantages to the company form of business structure. First, the company is more expensive and time-consuming to establish. Companies are monitored by federal, state and some local agencies, and as a result may have more paperwork to comply with regulations.Company set up cost are expansive that is because company have to pay many fees to set up the business there are the initial formation fees, filing fees and annual state fees. Beside that, paperwork is a huge component of the company formalities that must followed. For example, business bank accounts and records must be maintain ed and kept separate from personal accounts and assets. . In company may result in higher overall taxes. C corporations have potential double-tax consequences — once when the company makes its profit, and a second time when dividends are paid to shareholders.S corporations can mitigate this tax issue. Company is disclosure of names of corporate officers and directors. Most states do not require that names of shareholders be a matter of public record; however, many states require that the names and addresses of corporate officers and directors be listed on one or more documents filed with the Secretary of State. The proper corporate formalities of organizing and running a corporation must be followed, to receive the benefits of being a corporation. I preferred form a sole proprietorship. Sole proprietorship business has many advantages suitable to form in Malaysia.First, a sole proprietorship is the most basic of all forms of business ownerships. Many small businesses are sole proprietorships. Next, a sole proprietorship is easy to establish compare to partnership and company. Sole proprietorship doesn’t have to do anything special or file papers to set one up. Sole proprietorship typically requires few if any legal documents and minimal record keeping. Beside that, sole proprietorship may register a trade name to promote its products and services. The sole proprietorship is not a taxable entity.Income from the organization is simply added to the owner’s personal income to determine taxable income. Sole proprietorship only one person involved in the business therefore it is easy to dissolve if and when the person decides to stop operating as a business. A sole proprietorship is the least expensive type of business structure to establish. There is no need for a lawyer or for an excessive amount of money to be set aside in order to pay a number of fees. Corporations are much more expensive to start up. Therefore, sole proprietorship can be st arted fairly easily with minimal capital requirements. Different Forms of Ownership A business that is carried on by a sole proprietorship is owned by one person, who also usually runs and manages the business. There may or may not be people working in the business these are referred to as employees of the business and the owner is the employer. The sole proprietorship receives all profits and is legally required to bear and satisfy all losses personally. The sole proprietorship is personally liable for debts of the business. So that, the sole proprietorship has unlimited liability to repay amounts owing, or debts, of the business.For example, if the business incurs debts resulting from a warranty claim, then the individual will be held responsible for those debts, and any claims will be made against the individual’s personal assets. As well, sole proprietorships are taxed under the personal tax system. The sole proprietorship it is easy to set up and may only require registration of the business name and is free to run the business as he or she thinks best a nd is not answerable to a boss. As for the name of the business, the name of the owner or any other name may be used.Normally, a sole proprietorship business requires a small amount of capital to start with, compared with other forms of business entities. Examples of sole proprietorship businesses are tailor shops, beauty saloons, restaurants, launderettes and mini market. Partnership is an association of two or more persons or entities that carry on business as partners. The partners usually run and manage the business. However, there may be a silent partner who does not take any part in the running of the business even though they have contributed capital to the partnership.In a partnership, each partner is personally liable for all debts incurred by the business; in the event of the firm’s failure, each partner’s personal assets are jeopardized. In the partnership, the partners should have a legal agreement that sets forth how decisions will be made, profits will be shared, disputes will be resolved, how future partners will be admitted to the partnership, how partners can be bought out, and what steps will be taken to dissolve the partnership when needed. There are two basics forms of partnerships, general and limited.In a general partnership, all partners have unlimited liability, while in a limited partnership, at least one partner has liability limited only to his or her investment while at least one other partner has full liability. Examples of partnership are law or accounting firms, medical or dental practices In partnership that are many kind of partner, for example: Ostensible Partner: Active and known as a partner. Secret Partner: Active but not known or held out as a partner. Dormant Partner: Inactive and not known or held out as a partner. Silent Partner: Inactive (but may be known to be a partner)Nominal Partner: Not a true partner in any sense, not being a party to the partnership agreement. However, a nominal partner holds him o r herself out as a partner, or permits others to make such representation by the use of his/her name or otherwise A company is a separate legal entity formed under the Corporations Act 2001. Commonly, its owners are called shareholders and their ownership interests are represented by shares in the company. The separate legal status of the company has many implications for the entity. First, the company can enter into contracts, incur debts and pay taxes independently of its owners.The owners pay individual taxes only on the company profit paid out to them in the form of salaries, bonuses and dividends. The shareholders are not liable for the company’s debts once the shares they hold have been paid for in full. For example, if a company issued $1 shares, with 60 cents payable on application and the remaining 40 cents payable by future installments, the shareholders’ liability in the event of the company collapsing would be remaining 40 cents on each share they own. This feature is known as limited liability; that is, their obligation is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on their shares.As a separate legal entity, a company has many of the rights, duties and responsibilities of a natural person. It can, through its agents, buy, own and sell property in its own name and engage in business activities by entering into contracts with others. It has legal status in a court and can sue and be sued, is legally responsible for its liabilities, and must pay income tax just as a natural person does. Different type of business ownership has different type of characteristics, what is the different between each other?The major different characteristics of each other are tax consideration, liability, duration, ease and cost of set up. Tax Consideration The sole proprietorship any income to the business is treated as income to the business owner and all income is reported on individual tax return, and is taxed in the year it is received. Business deductions a re permitted. While in partnership, a Partnership Agreement can allocate the profits or losses in any ratio agreed to between the partners but if there is no Agreement, the profits must be allocated equally.Business deductions are taken by the partnership before the income is distributed to the partners and claimed on their personal tax returns. The profit of a company is taxed to the company when earned, and then is taxed to the shareholders when distributed as dividends. This creates a double tax. The corporation does not get a tax deduction when it distributes dividends to shareholders. Shareholders cannot deduct any loss of the corporation. Liability In Sole proprietors have unlimited liability and are legally responsible for all debts against the business. Their business and personal assets are at risk.In Partnership, partners are liable for all the debts of the business and the full amount of these debts can be collected from one or more of the partners rather than the debt be ing equally shared. Partners can also be held liable for acts committed by one of their partners in the normal course of business. Owners of a Company have the liability protection of a corporation. That is because, the company exists as a separate entity much like a corporation. A company member cannot be held personally liable for debts unless they have signed a personal guarantee. Ownership interestsOwnership interests in a company may be sold to third parties without disturbing the continued operation of the business. A sole proprietorship or partnership, on the other hand, cannot be sold whole Duration The sole proprietorship remains in existence for as long as the owner is willing or able to stay in business. When the owner dies, the sole proprietorship no longer exists. The assets and liabilities of the business become part of the owner's estate. A sole proprietor can freely transfer a business by selling all or a portion of the assets of the business.In partnership the busin ess organization ends with death, incapacity, withdrawal or bankruptcy of any partner, unless otherwise agreed to in a Partnership Agreement. In company form a continuity of life, it has the power to exist forever and, therefore, is unaffected by the death of an owner or manager or by the transfer of ownership interests. Ease and cost of set up The sole proprietorship and partnership it is easy to set up and may register a trade name to promote its products and services. While in company, a company must be registered with the Registrar of Companies.Company cost more to set up and run than a sole proprietorship or partnership. For example, there are the initial formation fees, filing fees and annual state fees. However, these costs are partially offset by lower insurance costs. Flexible Beside that, a partnership may be relatively more flexible in the decision making process than in a corporation. But, it may be less so than in a sole proprietorship. That is because sole proprietorsh ip management is able to respond quickly to business needs in the form of day to day management decisions as governed by various laws and good sense.Capital Rising A corporation has many avenues to raise capital. It can sell shares of stock and create new types of stock, such as preferred stock, with different voting or profit characteristics. Partnership difficult to rising additional capital but easier than sole proprietorship, that is because, sole proprietorship are the only owner, therefore can’t sell any shares to fund business growth, and banks are more skeptical about lending money to sole proprietorships. There are several advantages to being a sole proprietorship.First, the sole proprietorship entity is a quick, inexpensive and easy form of business to establish, and can be inexpensive to wind down. In this type of business, there are no specific business taxes paid by the company. The owner pays taxes on income from the business as part of personal income tax payme nts. A sole proprietor has complete control and decision-making power over the business, and is therefore free to choose the direction of the business and it strategies and policies. Sale or transfer can take place at the discretion of the sole proprietor.Sole proprietorship can control all the asset and money of business and can take  money out of company for personal use at any time, as long as make sure the business bills are paid. Sole proprietorship is relative freedom from government control. The further advantage is that the owner claims all the profits of the business. There are several disadvantages to being a sole proprietorship. Sole proprietorship’s business is not a separate legal entity. Therefore, if the business is involved in any form of legal dispute, the individual owner has unlimited liability, which means the sole proprietor of the business can be held personally liable for the debts and obligations of the business.Additionally, this risk extends to any liabilities incurred as a result of acts committed by employees of the company. The sole proprietorship relatively limited viewpoint and experience that is because sole proprietorship is limited by the skill, time and investment of the individual owner. Sole proprietorship are unstable business life, the enterprise may be crippled or terminated upon illness or death of the owner. There are several advantages to being a partnership. First, the partnerships are relatively easy to set up however time should be invested in developing the partnership agreement.Partnership files informational tax return. Partnership income is reportable and taxed on partners’ personal income tax returns. The main advantage of a partnership over a sole proprietorship is that the partnership combines the skills, talents, and knowledge of two or more people, and all partners have equal rights in the management of the partnership business The main disadvantages of partnership are partnership is charac terized by unlimited liability. Therefore, the partners are fully responsible for all business debts and obligations, irrespective of their involvement in the entity.The partnership form has a limited life therefore it may end with death, incapacity, withdrawal or bankruptcy of any partner. A great number of partnerships find themselves involved in disputes because of disagreements concerning profit sharing or decision making for the business. Partnership is limited financial therefore it may only borrow money or use partners’ savings. Must be dissolved and reformed to admit additional partners wishing to invest. A further disadvantage is known as mutual agency. Mutual agency is every partner acts as an agent for the partnership and for every other partner.Therefore, a partner can represent the other partners and bind them to a contract if he or she is acting within the apparent scope of the business. Partnership is relative difficulty in obtaining large sums of capital. This is particularly true of long term financing when compared to a corporation. However, by using individual partners' assets, opportunities are probably greater than in a proprietorship. The main advantages of forming a company is the limited liability protection provided to its owners. Because a corporation is considered a separate legal entity, the shareholders have limited liability for the corporation's debts.The personal assets of shareholders are not at risk for satisfying corporate debts or liabilities. Companies are attractive investment. The built-in stock structure of a corporation makes it attractive to investors. The company form has a continuity of life, it has the power to exist forever and, therefore, is unaffected by the death of an owner or manager or by the transfer of ownership interests. Other advantages of company is taxation, owners of a company only pay taxes on company profits paid to them in the form of salaries, bonuses, and dividends. The company pays taxes, at the company rate, on any profits.Companies also have the ability to raise large amounts of capital through public share offerings. Companies have a set management structure. The owners of a company are shareholders, who elect a Board of Directors, which then elects the officers. Other than the election of directors, shareholders do not participate in the operations of the company. There are several disadvantages to the company form of business structure. First, the company is more expensive and time-consuming to establish. Companies are monitored by federal, state and some local agencies, and as a result may have more paperwork to comply with regulations.Company set up cost are expansive that is because company have to pay many fees to set up the business there are the initial formation fees, filing fees and annual state fees. Beside that, paperwork is a huge component of the company formalities that must followed. For example, business bank accounts and records must be maintain ed and kept separate from personal accounts and assets. . In company may result in higher overall taxes. C corporations have potential double-tax consequences — once when the company makes its profit, and a second time when dividends are paid to shareholders.S corporations can mitigate this tax issue. Company is disclosure of names of corporate officers and directors. Most states do not require that names of shareholders be a matter of public record; however, many states require that the names and addresses of corporate officers and directors be listed on one or more documents filed with the Secretary of State. The proper corporate formalities of organizing and running a corporation must be followed, to receive the benefits of being a corporation. I preferred form a sole proprietorship. Sole proprietorship business has many advantages suitable to form in Malaysia.First, a sole proprietorship is the most basic of all forms of business ownerships. Many small businesses are sole proprietorships. Next, a sole proprietorship is easy to establish compare to partnership and company. Sole proprietorship doesn’t have to do anything special or file papers to set one up. Sole proprietorship typically requires few if any legal documents and minimal record keeping. Beside that, sole proprietorship may register a trade name to promote its products and services. The sole proprietorship is not a taxable entity.Income from the organization is simply added to the owner’s personal income to determine taxable income. Sole proprietorship only one person involved in the business therefore it is easy to dissolve if and when the person decides to stop operating as a business. A sole proprietorship is the least expensive type of business structure to establish. There is no need for a lawyer or for an excessive amount of money to be set aside in order to pay a number of fees. Corporations are much more expensive to start up. Therefore, sole proprietorship can be st arted fairly easily with minimal capital requirements.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Relevance of Sociology for the study of Law Essay

If societies are based upon agreed upon laws, then they are very much interrelated subjects. They are symbiotic, interwoven, interconnected. When someone commits a crime against another person or their property, they will have to face the consequences in a court of law. Or reduce it to a smaller group such as a tribe. Even amongst members of a tribe, there are laws that may only be verbal, or perhaps not even as formal as that. They are followed because children see them in the form of examples as they grow up. Within each tribe, culture or society, some form of punishment is enforced when a cultural norm is broken. Law can be analyzed sociologically as a method of doing something. Law can be studied as a social process, instrumented by individuals during social interaction. Sociologically, law consists of the behaviors, situations, and conditions for making, interpreting and applying legal rules that are backed by the state’s legitimate coercive apparatus for enforcement. The sociology of law (or legal sociology) is often described as a sub-discipline of sociology or an interdisciplinary approach within legal studies. While some socio-legal scholars see the sociology of law as â€Å"necessarily† belonging to the discipline of sociology, others see it as a field of research caught up in the disciplinary tensions and competitions between the two established disciplines of law and sociology. Yet, others regard it neither as a sub-discipline of sociology nor as a branch of legal studies and, instead, present it as a field of research on its own right within a broader social science tradition. For example, Roger Cotterrell describes the sociology of law without reference to mainstream sociology as â€Å"the systematic, theoretically grounded, empirical study of law as a set of social practices or as an aspect or field of social experience†. The sociology of law became clearly established as an academic field of learning and empirical research after the Second World War. After World War II, the study of law was not central in sociology, although some well-known sociologists did write about the role of law in society. In the work of the Talcott Parsons, for instance, law is conceived as an essential mechanism of social control. In response to the criticisms that were developed against functionalism, other sociological perspectives of law emerged. 1. Critical sociologists developed a perspective of law as an instrument of power. 2. However, other theorists in the sociology of law, such as  Philip Selznick, argued that modern law became increasingly responsive to a society’s needs and had to be approached morally as well. 3. Still other scholars, most notably the American sociologist Donald Black, developed a resolutely scientific theory of law on the basis of a paradigm of pure sociology. 4. Equally broad in orientation, but again different, is the autopoietic systems theory of the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann, who sees law as normatively closed, but cognitively open system. The essential insight underlying all sociological approaches to law is that law is a social phenomenon that should, therefore, be studied sociologically. Beyond this core unifying orientation, sociology and law, otherwise known as the sociology of law, or law and sociology, consists of a variety of different approaches, assumptions, and attitudes. This internal proliferation of approaches is the product of diversity at two different levels. 1. First: sociology and law are contrasting bodies of knowledge. Sociology is a social science focused on the study of society, and like all such disciplines its overarching goal is the gathering of knowledge. Law, in contrast, is a practical activity that focuses on completing certain fundamental tasks, including promulgating and enforcing rules, responding to disputes, and maintaining order. 2. Second: each of these contributing bodies of knowledge is in its own way internally driven, with sociology divided among various competing schools of thought and law divided among practitioners and theorists (adhering to competing schools of thought). When sociology and law are brought together, the differences between them, and the internal divisions that characterize each, are manifested in the combination of the two. In the United States, the primary academic influences in bringing sociology to law were philosophical pragmatism, sociological jurisprudence, and legal realism; the key figures were Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Roscoe Pound, and Karl Llewellyn. These schools of thought and figures were leaders in the critique of formalistic approaches to the law that dominated at the end of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Under formalist views, law was a gapless, logically coherent self-contained system that could be discovered and applied exclusively through cons ideration of legal concepts, principles, and rules, without regard to social context or consequences. The figures identified above argued, to the contrary, that law was the product of social forces, that it was neither gapless nor  systematic, that one could not move mechanistically from principle to application (choices had to be made), and that judges were influenced by the social background in their interpretation and application of law. Most important: they argued that law, far from being autonomous and self-standing, was above all else an instrument to serve social needs. An important social-political influence on their thought was the social programs of the New Deal, which resorted to law as the key mechanism for implementing social policy. It follows this cluster of views that the efficacy of law, and its social consequences, must be carefully evaluated. Hence the call for the application of sociology to law. The early agenda for sociology ranged from studying the gap between â€Å"law in the books† and â€Å"law in action,† to discovering the social influences on the making, the application, and the interpretation of law, to learning whether law is effective in achieving social policy, and how it can be made more effective when it is not. Many sociological studies of law, from the study of crime to influences on judicial decision-making, were conducted to meet this call. Under the influence of sociologist E. A. Ross, law came to be understood as a mechanism of social control, and the thrust of many studies was to make law more efficient and effective in accomplishing this task. A backlash against this jurisprudence-dominated agenda gradually developed from the sociological standpoint, which decried the instrumental use of sociology as a â€Å"handmaiden to law.† As the science of society, the application of sociology to law, it has been argued, should take place in the context of general theories about society, with proper attention paid to epistemological and methodological concerns. The classical sociological theories about law—famously including 1. Émile Durkheim’s view of law as the essential element integrating modern society, 2. Max Weber’s ideal-type analysis of the kinds of law found relative to kinds of societies, and 3. Karl Marx’s characterization of law as determined by economic forces, serving the dominant class all possessed these qualities. 4. A modern sociological theory of this type of law is Donald Black’s view, which assumes a positivistic stance of measuring law in quantitative terms, and articulates a series of â€Å"laws† of legal behavior based upon patterns he observes relating to factors like degree of social stratification. A different current source of criticism of the  jurisprudence-influenced approach to sociology and law comes from critical schools of sociolegal theory, including â€Å"critical empiricists† and â€Å"post-empiricists,† which reject positivism and many of the epistemological underpinnings of classical sociology (including the fact/value distinction). Adherents criticize sociology and law as currently practiced as a conservative tool that serves to preserve the status quo by enhancing the efficiency of law and by failing to scrutinize and reveal the institutional structures and ideological beliefs about law circulating in society which perpetuate (class-based, gender-based, and/or race-based) oppression and domination. Sociological approaches to law, according to this view, must reject the agenda set by jurisprudence, and instead seek to expose all forms of domination perpetuated through law. Sociology and law thus encompasses divergent perspectives on law. Despite significant internal schisms, a growing community of scholars and body of discourse has developed around the combination of sociology and law, united by the shared commitment to view law as a social phenomenon that must be examined in sociological terms. Functions of law * Social control * Dispute resolution * Social change Social control: There are two basic processes of social control: 1. the internalization of group norms and 2. control through external pressures. In Chtonic societies, social control is ensured by the fact that socializing experiences are very much the same for all members. Even in larger societies, social control rests largely on the internalization of shared norms. Formal social control is characterized by: (i) explicit rules of conduct, (ii) planned use of sanctions to support the rules, and (iii) designated officials to interpret and enforce the rules, and often to make them. Law does not have a monopoly on formal mechanisms of social control. Control through law is usually exercised by the use of negative sanctions and not by positive rewards. A person that obeys the law does not receive an award. Mechanisms of social control through law: (i) Criminal sanctions, (ii) civil commitment, and (iii) administrative licenses. Criminal sanctions: the purpose of sanctions: Retribution (denounce unlawful conduct) Deterrence (both specific and general), Rehabilitation of the offender. Civil commitment: medicalization of social problems, such as drug abuse, alcoholism, etc. Administrative law: administrative regulations is used as a means of social control. Dispute resolution: Types: By the parties themselves: physical violence, family feud, lumping it, avoidance, etc. By adjudication: ADR: negotiation (without the help of any third party), mediation (third party helps disputants), and arbitration (third party makes a final and binding decision, which is enforceable). Hybrid resolution processes: rent a judge (like arbitration, but with a retired judge), med-arb (issues not solved by mediation are sent to arbitration where the mediator becomes arbiter), and mini trial (if there is no settlement before the â€Å"sentence† the adviser gives her opinion about the likely outcome if the dispute were litigated). Adjudication: a formal method of conflict resolution, where a third party –the courts- intervenes –even if not wanted by the parties- and renders a decision which is enforceable. Social change Law is both a dependent and an independent variable, i.e., an effect and a cause of social change. The question is not whether law changes society or whether social change alters law, but rather, what level or under what circumstances change is produced. Examples of social changes as causes of legal changes: Soviet Union, China, and other radical revolutions. Examples of legal changes as causes of social changes: adultery, sexual assault, etc. Problems of interaction between sociologists and lawyers Sociologists study everything about the law, except for rules –institutional structures, processes, behavior, personnel, and culture. Lawyers and sociologists don’t speak the same language. There is a special rethoric of law. It has its own vocabulary, an arcane writing style, and a form of irritating citation. There are also differences in professional culture. Lawyers are advocates. They are concerned with the identification and resolution of the problems of their clients. Sociologists consider all evidence on a proposition and approach the problem with an open mind. Lawyers are guided by precedents and past decisions control current cases. In contrast, sociologists emphasize empirical research. Lawyers and law professors tend to believe that they have a monopoly over law. This is as if physicians thought that they had a monopoly over the bodies. The pronouncements of law are predominantly prescriptive: they tell people how they should behave and what will happen to them if they don’t. In sociology, the emphasis is on description, on understanding the reasons why certain groups of people act in a certain way in specific situations. The law reacts to problems most of the time. The issues and conflicts are brought to lawyers by their clients outside the legal system. In sociology, issues and concerns are generated within the discipline on the basis of what is considered intellectually challenging, timely, or of interest to funding agencies. These differences are due in part to the different methods they use.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Fulfilling Your Academic Goals †English Essay

Fulfilling Your Academic Goals – English Essay Free Online Research Papers Fulfilling Your Academic Goals English Essay The more you learn, the more impressed you get by all the possibilities there are available for an individual in order to fulfill his or her academic goals. All through my high school years I wanted to become a classical musician. I spent hours practicing my instrument and I decided to take a step further by joining a more demanding musical in order to improve my technique. By that time it seemed that my life was determined, I was to become a violist and perform countless musical pieces all through my adult life. However, as I gained more experience in the musical field I realized that what I wanted was an experience to perform major symphonic works and chamber music, which I already had the chance to do. As time passed by and the time for making my college applications approached, I had second thoughts about my intended major and I decided to join a university without declaring any major. It can be seen in my academic record that I have been in different fields, trying to figure out what fitted me the best. Despite the fact that my academic life seemed promising, considering that I performed well under different areas of study, I felt empty. I could not find something that filled me and made me fell a more complete individual. I needed some time to reflect on my strengths and find an area of study in which I could free myself and study with motivation and complete dedication. Finally in 2002 I decided to study science back in my hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It felt good, I started with great motivation managing to dominate the classes and making a good impression to the faculty members. However, I was still uncertain about where to take that education further. Medicine was on my mind during the first semesters, but it did not seem the final decision. A less comfortable time came during the second semester of the 2003-2004 academic year. By that time I had already completed 3 semesters with great grades, however I saw everything ahead of me far away, which seemed as a recurre nce of past feelings of uncertainty that I had experienced before studying science and affected me negatively. However, inside me I know I am not meant to be a failure, I had already accomplished great things and I knew I could do even more. Therefore, medicine presented to me as a complete career in which I could immerse and learn from. It offers me a big challenge to complete, and a satisfaction in which I only found in music before. It has the ability to give me a big sense of utility, meaning that I am able to provide a human being with perhaps the most important physical necessity there is: health. Music gave me the opportunity to cultivate human culture and ensure the continuity of great musical compositions, however, medicine can give me a more direct opportunity to work with people by treating them in times of need, intending to help them to improve their health directly, which I think is a satisfaction that only medicine can offer as a career. Therefore, by combining an unmatched sense of utility for the well being of others, and a continuous academic challenge, I find medicine a n excellent field for me, since I have always wanted something to fill me as an individual, rather than just working for economical survival. Research Papers on Fulfilling Your Academic Goals - English EssayStandardized TestingHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaCapital PunishmentPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyGenetic EngineeringResearch Process Part OneBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

Monday, October 21, 2019

Romanticism in the scarlet letter essays

Romanticism in the scarlet letter essays Romanticism can be defined as a literary movement marked especially by emphasis on the imagination and the emotions and by the use of autobiographical material. The years from 1810 to 1865 marked the period of romanticism. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, is a piece of literature from the Romantic period. Intuition, supernatural occurrences, and nature reflecting the emotions are all techniques of Romanticism used in The Scarlet Letter. The power or faculty of knowing occurrences without conscious reasoning is intuition. Pearl asked Dimmesdale, Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, tomorrow noontide? (104). She asked him the aforementioned question because she believes he has also sinned and should have been on the scaffold with them seven years ago. Pearl has made an A out of eelgrass. Hester wonders why she has made it and asks if she knows what her A means. Pearl replies, It is for the same reason the minister keeps his hand over his heart. (132). Pearl senses that Dimmesdale also has an A, and he keeps his hand over his heart to hide his shame of being an adulterer. When talking about supernatural occurrence, in reference to Romanticism, it is when something out of the ordinary happens. It is done! The whole town will awake, and hurry forth, and find me here! (100). This is supernatural because Dimmesdale is screaming at the top of his lungs, expecting the whole town to wake and see him upon the scaffold. The only two people who take notice are Hester and Pearl; they later join him on the scaffold. We impute it, therefore, solely to the disease in his own eye and heart, that the minister, looking upward to the zenith, beheld there the appearance of an immense letter the letter A marked out in lines of dull red light. Not but the meteor may have shown itself at that point, burning duskily thro...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Characterization of Zaroff In Richard Connells T Essays - Fiction

Characterization of Zaroff In Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game" 1) In "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, the antagonist, General Zaroff, can best be described as sadistic, arrogant, and manipulative. 2) The worst trait of Zaroff is his arrogance. 3) He claims that he is superior to other people of different races and that because he is strong, it's his job to abolish the weak. 4) This idea is expressed when Zaroff states, "...Life is for the strong, and, if need be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure... I hunt the scum of the earth - sailors from tramp ships - lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels- ..." 5) This shows that Zaroff not only acts arrogantly, but also is sadistic. 6) His demented mind forces him to believe that it is moral to hunt all living creatures, when in fact, he's actually committing murder. 7) The worst part is that Zaroff considers his hobby of hunting other humans amusing. 8) Another trait of Zaroff is that he is extremely manipulative. 9) In other words, he can get other people to do exactly what he wants them to do without that person realizing that he is getting brainwashed. 10) For example, the general pretends to be very civilized and generous thus, people start to trust Zaroff, but as soon as Zaroff's victims feel comfortable around him, he forces them to play his "game". 11) This usually ends up in death for General Zaroff's poor captives. 12) Therefore, we can see that the antagonist in the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" is not only sadistic and arrogant, but also manipulative.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Written assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Written assignment 2 - Essay Example On the other hand, the media emphasizes on the negativity of global warming without considering any possible benefits from global warming. Considering the negative and positive sides of the issue, I can claim that global warming is more of a myth than a reality. This paper will, therefore, discuss factors that make global warming to be more of a myth than a reality. Carbon dioxide from industrial processes and industrialization has been considered as the main cause of global warming. Although industrial carbon dioxide has been linked with global warming, there are no known facts on the effects of carbon dioxide on increase in global temperature. Carbon dioxide composes about 3% of the atmosphere at normal condition. The atmospheric component of carbon dioxide is insignificant compared to other gases such as nitrogen and oxygen that compose the atmosphere. From this comparison, it is evident that carbon dioxide cannot cause a major change in the atmosphere as well as changes or effects that can be caused by other gases. The fact that carbon dioxide is not sufficient to cause a major change in global climate nullifies the possibility of global warming. If global warming resulted from other atmospheric gases, then it would be possible to realize the effects of global warming. Any effect resulting from the expected global warming is attributed to human activities such as industrialization and deforestation. Industrialization has been considered as the main factor that leads to increased carbon dioxide rate in the atmosphere. On the other hand, plants assist by eliminating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Deforestation, therefore, creates an imbalance between the carbon dioxide added into the atmosphere and the amount of carbon dioxide eliminated from the atmosphere. Global warming is a myth that people have been made to believe. The effects of carbon dioxide also contribute to the controversy of the issue. It

The Legacy of the Prophet and the Society Assignment

The Legacy of the Prophet and the Society - Assignment Example In his book, Shadid notes that the face of Islam in the Middle East has changed from one perceived to be wary and violent to a peaceful one. Thanks to Islamic activists who have undergone great transformation helping the poor and providing solace through their social activism. Hashemi also records that the argument in The Legacy of the prophet was mainly based on the change in political Islam. This political change represents the modern Islam and is characterized by advocacy for democracy and non-violence. These Islamic movements have demonstrated a shift from the older militant process to a more democratic process. The modern Islam advocate for moral Islamic commitment and community loyalty, economic justice and a place for women in society, and advocate for a state governed by Islamic Sharia. These would translate into a modern society. Kurzman notes that there are three models of Sharia: Liberal sharia, silent Sharia and interpreted sharia. Some of the issues raised in The Legacy of the Prophet are representation of the models presented by Kurzman. This is particular with the â€Å"interpreted sharia†. According to the model, sharia is welcome to interpretation. The fact that modern Islam advocate for democracy and liberalization links them to â€Å"interpreted sharia† model. Model is seen as liberal allowing for re-interpretation of sharia. The model also depicts sharia as divine. This aspect is evident in the modern Islams when they advocate for a state governed by Sharia which is divine  

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Accounting - Essay Example d rebounded from the 2008 crisis through an increase of its inventory turnover from 13.51 in 2008 to 19.06 in 2010, Toyota increased from 10.63 in 2008 to 11.73 in 2010. Honda had a decrease from 7.17 in the year 2008 to 7.08 in 2010. Based on FIFO numbers, ford had an increase on its inventory turnover from 2008-2010 by 4.3 and Toyota by 0.89. Turnover drop based on reported and FIFO numbers for Ford remained constant. Ford had highest gross margin increase from 2008-2010 of 11.63% based on reported numbers. Toyota and Honda companies had same increase of 1.41 from 2008-2010. Similarly, ford had the highest increase in profit margin by 17.66 %, Toyota by 6.08% and Honda by 5.44%. Based on FIFO numbers, ford profit margin increased from 2008-2010 by 17.72%, Toyota by 5.9% and Honda by 5.98%. Ford was majorly affected by adjustments from LIFO to FIFO. Adjustments caused ford inventory increase from 3.57% to 4.10%. Gross margin increased from 12.43% to 12.49%. Consequently, the profit margin increased by 0.06%. This adjustment also affected where its inventories increased by 0.19%, had no effect on gross margin but profit margin increased by

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Analyzing an Art Work by Lisa Holzer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analyzing an Art Work by Lisa Holzer - Essay Example The essay "Analyzing an Art Work by Lisa Holzer" explores Lisa Holzer's artwork. Lisa Holzer is no exception to this demonstration made by the artists at the New Museum. As an artist, Lisa appears to have shifted to a digital aesthetic, blending text, photographs and digital mark making and layered allusive compositions. Rather than retrospective, the predictive Triennial model makes a thirty-five-year commitment to exploring the future of our cultures through the modern art. The third iteration of the Triennial, ‘Surround Audience' was co-curated by Lauren Cornell, a curator of the New Museum and artist Ryan Trecartin. The objective of Surround Audience is to make an exploration of the much-connected world in the art form, identity, the sense of self and the larger social role. The culture in our today’s world has become more porous. A new consideration of the current and potential role of art in the porous culture is surfacing. Artists have made efforts to respond to t he change in culture in different ways, some through critical interrogations, calculated appropriations and others poetic or surreal statements. Artists, their artwork and the audience may be thought of as being subjective, cultural, structural or postmodern. Under the personal category, artists can be thought of as naturally talented or emotionally compelled individuals with intentions that are significantly influenced by the free play of the imagination. Artists under the structural category know and make use of formalist language.

Comparative literature between Ophelia (from Hamlet) and Juliet (from Research Paper

Comparative literature between Ophelia (from Hamlet) and Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet ) as tragic heroines - Research Paper Example e a heroine, the treatment of these innocent characters is comparatively atrocious since their lives are terminated to signify the loss of their heroine traits. What do these two women tragic heroine? This essay purports to give a comparative analysis of these two characters to show why there are referred to as the tragic heroines. The time and place setting of the Hamlet play takes place between 14th and 15th century or 13th to 14th centuries. The play setting is the royal Elsinore place in Denmark city. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet play takes place in Mantua and Verona city over a period of four days. The other entire scene except Act five Scene one takes place at Verona. Although the writing of the play took place in between 1591-1596, the play was set between 13th to 16th centuries. During these periods, women were unable to make any decisions since they were supposed to obey the men’s decision-making Ophelia (from Hamlet) and Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet) are among the female characters in Shakespeare who have heroine character, and they pass through similar life situations (Shakespeare and Laurel 34). Ophelia and Juliet are stereotyped in a similar way (as children). The readers initially encounter with Juliet when Capulet is discussing Juliet’s tender age with Paris claiming that she is not mature enough to be married. â€Å"†¦ I have said before: / my child is yet strange in the world†¦ Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride† (7-11). Similarly, Ophelia’s first introduction stereotypes her as a child. Polonius counsels Ophelia and warns her about her love with Hamlet, â€Å"Marry, I will teach you: to think yourself a baby† (104). Despite these two characters being treated like children, they seem to be the tragic heroine in most of their actions. Ophelia’s role in Hamlet play seems to be highly complex. Shakespeare represents her as loyal, gentle, and obeying character who acts as a supporting character (Stanton 67). She is in love

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Leadership and Organisational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership and Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example According to the discussion  Schmidt is in the practice of listing down his best employees and communicate with them in a personal manner to encourage them to perform better. There are also numerous systems in the organization to reward top performing employees such as stock option, financial incentives, etc. He makes his employees feel that they are the owners of their work and to facilitate such an environment he provided a broad definition of the goals of the company.This paper outlines that  Schmidt leaves the implementation part of achieving the goals of the organization entirely to his employees. He doesn’t prefer to interfere in this regard. Schmidt reinforced the entire system of his organization such that the hierarchies of the organization do not get in the way of employees with regard to their performance. Google Inc is in the practice of following a â€Å"distributed leadership† culture for its employees. Distributed leadership culture states that people living in the environment are primarily responsible and also accountable for group and personal development. Team work is the best alternative to find the path that is best suited for an organization. It is concerned about the fact that each member of an organization must take a different role and that there must be demonstration of collective responsibility in this regard.  Google Inc expects its employees to share their expertise and ideas in this ever changing environment to achieve constant growth.

Comparative literature between Ophelia (from Hamlet) and Juliet (from Research Paper

Comparative literature between Ophelia (from Hamlet) and Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet ) as tragic heroines - Research Paper Example e a heroine, the treatment of these innocent characters is comparatively atrocious since their lives are terminated to signify the loss of their heroine traits. What do these two women tragic heroine? This essay purports to give a comparative analysis of these two characters to show why there are referred to as the tragic heroines. The time and place setting of the Hamlet play takes place between 14th and 15th century or 13th to 14th centuries. The play setting is the royal Elsinore place in Denmark city. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet play takes place in Mantua and Verona city over a period of four days. The other entire scene except Act five Scene one takes place at Verona. Although the writing of the play took place in between 1591-1596, the play was set between 13th to 16th centuries. During these periods, women were unable to make any decisions since they were supposed to obey the men’s decision-making Ophelia (from Hamlet) and Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet) are among the female characters in Shakespeare who have heroine character, and they pass through similar life situations (Shakespeare and Laurel 34). Ophelia and Juliet are stereotyped in a similar way (as children). The readers initially encounter with Juliet when Capulet is discussing Juliet’s tender age with Paris claiming that she is not mature enough to be married. â€Å"†¦ I have said before: / my child is yet strange in the world†¦ Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride† (7-11). Similarly, Ophelia’s first introduction stereotypes her as a child. Polonius counsels Ophelia and warns her about her love with Hamlet, â€Å"Marry, I will teach you: to think yourself a baby† (104). Despite these two characters being treated like children, they seem to be the tragic heroine in most of their actions. Ophelia’s role in Hamlet play seems to be highly complex. Shakespeare represents her as loyal, gentle, and obeying character who acts as a supporting character (Stanton 67). She is in love

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Opium War Essay Example for Free

Opium War Essay Introduction What is machine translation? Simply put, machine translation is the application of computer text from one natural language into another natural language text translation. The translation climax in the history of China again and again set off, the translation of Buddhist scriptures in the Eastern Han to the Tang and Song dynasties, the Ming and Qing technology translation and the Opium War to the May Fourth Movement to promote the progress of history. Today, the advent of the global information age is the translation climax conditions, requirements, involved in the field of computer science, mathematics, linguistics. However, the science of translation career how? Effects? How we will develop and make progress? In this paper, a review of the development of machine translation, disadvantages, role and prospects of superficial discussion, to answer these questions. i. A history of the development of machine translation The 17th century French philosopher, mathematician Descartes and the German mathematician Leibniz put forward the idea of using the machine dictionary overcome language barriers. In 1946, the worlds first electronic computer was born, after 50 years of development, through the tortuous road success, there are setbacks, presented numerous challenges for researchers. Machine translation potential social and economic benefits, some Western countries as well as Japan and other countries have spent a lot of R D, machine translation into the boom by its start-up period of the trough, the recovery period and make showing unprecedented prosperous and developed. The following is a brief overview of the various periods of its development. That is start-up period (1947 to 1954), Trough period (1954 to 1975), Recovery period (1975 to 1989),Prosperous Period. ii. The problem of machine translation The machine translation prosperity does not mean it does not have any problems. According to statistics, machine translation with human translation, translation accuracy and readability is less than 70%, many ways, there are a large number of problems, yet computer, language experts and machine translation users to jointly overcome. Opened the translation history at a glance the criterion the eyes of the beholder, the wise see wisdom. Three Kingdoms period follow essentially, Gavin ornaments East Jindao An best of Record, not so prejudicial statements were made tour word Tang Xuan Zang, neither shall seek the truth, and shall Yu vulgar to modern Yan Fu, letter the relentless pursuit of Dayak Chinese letter, Fu Lei quite similar , environment of Qian Zhongshu Gu Zhengkun best approximation . Tytlers three principles abroad, the famous translator Nidas dynamic equivalence the the fee Road Rove equivalents, otherwise Gorlee, alleged meaning on qualitative quantity. But are all demanding translation standards. The machine is translated as a translation, of course, should pay attention to the quality of the translation. The translation quality of machine translation can understand and loyalty, it is difficult to achieve the ideal standard. These examples to illustrate (1) The erroneous translation of part of speech and meaning. These problems with the machine error on the part of speech, meaning Discrimination are inseparable. Once the parts of speech in this connection vocabulary to syntax bridge is the wrong resolution, the translation will be wrong. Therefore, it is the wrong resolution mistranslation phenomenon should arouse the attention of machine translation researchers. (2)Adverbial wrong translation Of mistranslation. Such as the num ber and type of vehi2cles be misinterpreted as such a number of types of vehicles. Comparative sentence mistranslation. The earlier a smog alert can be issued, the greater its effectiveness is as it al2low s were wrongly translated: constitutes more time this smoke alarm can be as early as issued, the greater its efficiency as it does allow and the correct translation should be: the sooner the alarm, the greater the role, because it will make the Sketch word mistranslated. Small words, such as articles, conjunctions, English is not fluent in English. Chinese On the contrary, they become redundant, this machine translation can not be a good conversion. On these issues, there have been a lot of research, but always simple description, do not be traced. I believe that the key to these problems is not a simple computer program driving hard to the issue of slavery, but the context of the language itself is not a thorough analysis, we should ponder the question is how to make the machine with minimum knowledge. How to make the long-term accumulated cultural knowledge to penetrate into the machine translation. When they make the machine and from the search context, and in a certain culture play a role in its translation, what will? Mentioned Context, we can get some inspiration from the M alinow ski and Firth, Firth linguists task should be to study the text language phenomenon and its context combination, machine translation is the translation of a natural language another natural language should be set analysis, Discrimination select processing as an integrated process, asked to do , Shindaya. Gave us think of fruitRevelation, the word of the keys on the piano, alone has no effect. Keep context together makes sense. Another factor is the cultural context. Firth social scene decided to play social role social role is limited. Therefore, the social scene is also limited. Event enables the machine translation These limited role in society, the social scene analysis processing, translation will be able to improve the understandability credibility and While this robot suspected, but this is the trend. Since the machine translation represents the high-tech should be a breakthrough in the current information age. ii. The role of machine translation Machine translation through a saddle-type process, PaulDeposit and flourish, today turned into a tool, the reasonIt is its role in promoting. (1)Promote social progress Human leave no stone unturned to develop and complete a machine. Is translation systems, has developed a translation software, promoted by Economic development, social progress, eliminating the language in the world among people Introduction obstacles, communicate with the entire world. (2) Improve translation efficiency With the machine translation research has improved continuously, the field of translation achieved unprecedented success. In our translation work, We can make use of a variety of translation systems or software to complete the translation task, Samples can improve the speed and accuracy of the translation, translation efficiency. (3) Promote the development of other areas Machine translation to get involved in mathematics, computer science, linguistics, translation Science and other multi-discipline areas need strong development of these disciplines, substantial based on the outcome, so as to promote the development of these areas. Fourth, the outlook on the prospects for machine translation. The birth of the machine translation system, especially to people translation, who brought hope. Although machine translation the understandability and loyalty also not ideal, but if the mathematics, computer science, translation studies and language science and other researchers in the field of work together, will make the machine translation out more beautiful flowers, bear more fruit. Conclusion In the above mentioned, if the context of the language environment and cultural context for consideration in the process of programming, will be able to make the translation discourse stronger language three functions, namely the concept of function, people interpersonal function and textual function was more prominent. It is also the author most would like to suggest, hope, serve role. It should be believed that through the tireless efforts of many researchers make machine translation. Having been properly developed, thus will be able to promote vigorous translation cause development.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Is There Life On Mars?

Is There Life On Mars? In order to conclude whether a life-form can exist on Mars, much research must be done in order to gain an understanding of its atmosphere, surface, nutrients and minerals available to possible biological life-forms on the planet. Mars is the fourth planet in our Solar System and is known as the Red Planet due to iron oxide found on the surface. Having been studied for decades, Mars shows the most suitable conditions, of all the planets in our solar system, for our presumptions of evolution of life (Klein, Lederburg et al. 1976). There has been much evidence put forward contributing to the theory of a biological life-form on Mars, the most documented and well known of which being the study of the meteorite ALH 84001. This meteorite was believed to have been projected from the surface of Mars around 16 million years ago and landed in Antarctica 13,000 years ago(Frankel Buseck, 2000). The 2kg carbonaceous meteorite studied by McKay et al. contained globules of chemicals and also conta ined bacterial-shaped objects which resembled fossilized terrestrial microorganisms, ranging from 10-100nm long (McKay, et al., 1996). It is believed by many that there are too many factors such as UV radiation and extreme temperature environments which could inhibit a life-form on Mars. Although the distance from Earth to the Sun is considerably less than that of the Sun to Mars, our atmosphere protects living organisms on Earth. Studies have shown that an atmosphere is present on Mars through the identification of an insignificant ozone layer, however this atmosphere is not the most suitable for living organisms but unlikely to be a life limiting factor (Cockell, et al., 2000). Some arguments which both oppose and agree with the theory of extra-terrestrial life include studies carried out by the Viking Explorers and MER programmes which landed on Mars. These man-made devices studied the atmosphere and the top layer of soil to discover a very high oxidation factor which could inhibit growth by converting living matter to CO ², as well as studying sedimentary rocks on the surface of the planet. The search for life on Mars shows interesting differences in both personal theories and scientific studies. Panspermia is the theory that living organisms can be transported throughout the Universe, travelling in meteorites. The theory was first proposed by Arrhenius who believed that living bacteria could be transported through space, and therefore believed this was the reason for the beginning of life on Earth (Tepfer, 2008). These meteorites are projected from the surface of plates through collisions of boulders and/or planets in the Solar System. Many meteorites have landed on Earth from Mars, including ALH 84001, NWA 1195, NWA 2046, DaG 476 and the latest NWA 2626. The most famous of these meteorites is ALH 84001 which shows evidence of a life-form embedded in the meteorite. The theory of Panspermia can be justified by a study carried out by D.Stà ¶ffler et al.. The range of pressures observed in Martian meteorites range between 5 and 50 GPa. Bacterial spores, cyanobacteria and lichens (all of which appear to be embedded in the meteorite ALH 84001), were exposed to this range of shoc k pressure. The study revealed that bacterial spores and lichens could withstand the pressure up to 45 GPa while cyanobacteria was killed at 10 GPa. This study implies the potential for transfer of life throughout the Universe from one planet to another(Stà ¶ffler, et al., 2007). Analyses and Results of the Martian Meteorite ALH84001 Analysis of the meteorite show results which support and oppose the hypothesis of extra-terrestrial life to be found on Mars (Gibson, et al., 2001). The meteorite, which was studied by McKay et al, showed evidence of an extra-terrestrial life-form embedded in the rock. There were globules of Ca, Mg and Fe carbonate minerals which are believed to have been distributed by a biological factor. It is believed by McKay et al. that these globules were formed at low temperature. Otherwise high temperature (over 118 °C) would have killed any bacteria which are believed to have formed these globules. However, others who oppose the theory of extra-terrestrial life, believe that these globules may have been distributed by a non-biological factor which renders this piece of evidence quite unreliable. There were other factors noted which shows the possibility of extra-terrestrial life: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were observed and showed a different distribution than that of terrestr ial PAHs. Another factor observed was bacteria-shaped objects found on the surface of the meteorite, which resemble fossilized terrestrial micro-organisms, up to 100 µm long (Frankel Buseck, 2000). Some of the bacteria shaped objects are however extremely small in size which range from 20-100nm. This piece of evidence is ridiculed by some scientists, in which they declare that these tiny objects resemble artifacts in the meteorite (Bradley, et al., 1996). http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/meteorites/s9612609.gif Bacteria shaped objects on Martian meteorite, Allan H. Treiman, Lunar and Planetary Institute. The Viking and MER Missions The first Viking mission was launched in the summer of 1976. It consisted of two orbiters, which had a main objective of photographing the planet from orbit, and two landers, which studied the surface of the planet. The main emphasis was on photography, in which orbiter 1 produced over 10,000 pictures, taken from the planets orbit(Snyder Evans, 1981). In 2003, two rovers were launched, called Mars Exploration Rovers. The objective of this mission to Mars was study and to determine whether Martian conditions and its atmosphere could support the theory of a possible life-form having ever existed on the planet (Squyres Knoll, 2005). The MER missions include the Rovers; Spirit and Opportunity which carried out surveys and analyses on the surface of Mars. File:NASA Mars Rover.jpg Rover Opportunity, Maas Digital LLC for Cornell University and NASA/JPL The two Rovers covered specific regions known as Gusev and Meridiani Planum respectively for over a year and a half. The Rover Opportunity landed on the surface of Mars on January 24th and travelled through two craters (Eagle and Endurance) while carrying out experiments on both craters. Experiments and Results from Viking and MER programmes Aerosols and water vapour were detected in the Martian atmosphere by the Viking orbiter and other scientific research objects, which included: Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Mars Atmospheric Water Detector (MAWD) and Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (TES). This water vapour was detected in the North Polar region during Spring and Summer seasons. MAWD detected twice as much vapour in the region than any of the other orbiters (Pankine, et al., 2009). The detection of water in the Martian atmosphere contributes a large amount of evidence to support the theory of a suitable atmosphere for a biological life-form to exist. Hematite was discovered on the surface of the planet, by the rover Opportunity, in the Meridiani Planum. This mineral form of iron-oxide is a possible preservative for pre-biotic and biotic processes carried out on the surface of Mars. These processes are carried out on Earth in rock varnishing, in which micro-colonial fungi and bacteria are present in rock varnish matrices, which were documented in America and Australia (Allen, et al., 2004). It is believed that water did once flow on the surface of Mars through the discovery of rippled like curves, indicating that streams once flowed through the Meridiani Planum (Horneck). Ancient, sedimentary rocks were also found at Meridiani plain by the Rover Opportunity, which consist of sandstone composed of sand grains which consisted of a variety of sulphate salts formed by erosion and re-deposition (Squyres Knoll, 2005). One of the most important findings of the mission however was a record of aqueous processes found on the Meridiani plain both in surface and sub-surface regions. Although these aqueous processes were identified, there is still no record of liquid water on the surface of Mars. Any water present on Mars, is found in the atmosphere as water vapour, located at the north Polar region. UV Radiation: Because of a thin atmosphere and an insignificant ozone layer, the surface of Mars is exposed to high UV radiation, which includes UVA, UVB and UVC. UV radiation is known to be a cause of DNA damage and mutation in bacterial species and also more developed life-forms. UV radiation is also known to inhibit photosynthesis in plants. Life-forms on Earth contain processes that protect them from exposure to UVA radiation. However, because of high UVB and UVC radiation exposure to the Martian surface, and also conditions such as extreme temperature changes and a lack of liquid water on the surface, it is unknown for any life-form to withstand such conditions(Cockell, et al., 2000). In order to understand and examine bacterial behaviour under exposure to this high UV radiation, an experiment was carried out by Scheurger et al.. Seven different Bacillus spp. were exposed to conditions similar to that of the Martian surface. The Bacillus spp. were exposed to the radiation in time sets of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. The bacteria were prepared for the experiment as thin monolayers of endospores. The results showed that B. pumilus SAFR-032 (surviving for 180 minutes) was the most resistant to the Martian conditions, while B. megaterium and B. subtillis 42HS-1 (which were inactivated after 30 minutes) were the least sensitive under exposure of high UVB and UVC radiation. Conclusion It is very difficult to conclude whether or not life does or even did exist on the surface or in the Martian atmosphere. Evidence from both sides of the theory are being analysed in extreme detail in order to come to a conclusion. The analyses and study of the Martian meteorite ALH84001, is considered the most studied and detailed analyses ever to be carried out on an igneous rock. Even with this extent of analyses being carried out on the meteorite, we still cannot come to a clear and concise conclusion to whether or not it contained traces of extra-terrestrial life. Although the detection of carbonate globules and bacterial shaped objects suggests that life theoretically could have existed on the planet of Mars, scientists who oppose the theory of extra-terrestrial life disagree that these discoveries indicate a life-form present in the meteorite. They suggest that because of the small size of these bacterial-shaped objects that they could represent artifacts in the meteorite. There was also some criticism about the Viking and MER missions. Although a small amount of atmospheric water vapour was observed, the lack of liquid water on the surface declares this evidence inconclusive. However there was some very interesting discoveries made by the Rover Opportunity, including the detection of hematite. This mineralised form of iron-oxide can be used for the preservation of aqueous processes. This discovery, along with the discovery of ripple-like curves in the Meridiani plain, could indicate a past life-form having existed on the surface of the planet many years ago. I believe that an extra-terrestrial, biological life-form could have existed on the surface of Mars, in past decades or even centuries. Evidence from both the Mars Exploration missions and the study of the Martian meteorite, ALH84001, provide much contribution to the theory that life did exist on the planet in the past. It is clear that life cannot survive in the Martian atmosphere at present because of extreme conditions. The exposure to high UV radiation, extreme temperature changes and also a lack of liquid water on the surface indicate to me that these conditions are not only unfavourable to the survival of a life-form but are far too extreme for a biological life-form to survive for a significant time frame. In relation to the theory of Panspermia, I believe that it can be justified by the experiment carried out by D.Stà ¶ffler et al.. If the bacteria shaped objects found in the meteorite prove to be biological life-forms this piece of evidence could explain another widely investigated theory of where and when life began on Earth. Through the study and analyses of Mars and its atmosphere, I believe that many of the questions and theories about life on Earth can be answered.