Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle essays

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle essays Target Audience: Canadian Young adults of age 18-25 the masters of the future world. The idea of consumerism is deeply implanted into our minds. As we live on, we love to buy new things, use and abuse them, and throw them away once theyre lost value to us. We are destroying our world. We are using its resources faster than its generating them. On top of that, we are throwing away too much. The sad reality is that the Earth is no longer self-sustainable solely because of the existence of human. If we do not take action now, we will regret. As masters of the next world, we alone will bear the consequences. In less than fifty years, 3/4 of the world will be water deprived. Do you want to drink toxic water? I thought so. This report will help you to effectively take part in saving the planet. We will start with the most doable way, reducing waste, or more specifically, reducing solid waste. Before we start, lets consider some facts. Most wastes in the world are solid wastes. The United States is by far the largest producer of it. Solid waste includes everything from product packaging, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, to batteries. Sadly, Canada is following the footsteps of United States. We are all gradually being sucked into the abyss of excessive resource-taking and waste-producing. As neighbours of the United States, we must realize that our lifestyles are of little difference to that of theirs. In essence, Canada has similar solid waste production as the United States, only on a smaller scale. For instance, Canadians produce almost as much waste per person per day as Americans do. In the year 2001 alone, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 229 million tons of solid waste. This is equivalent to approximately 4.4 pounds of waste per person per day, up from 2.7 pounds per person per day in 1960. Thats an increase of 61%! Ask yourself,...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Where to Find IB Chemistry Past Papers - Free and Official

Where to Find IB Chemistry Past Papers - Free and Official SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Taking the IB Chemistry exam will be a nerve-wracking experience, but having seen a real IB past paper before taking the actual test will be a huge advantage since you'll have experience with the test format, the length, and style of the test. In this article, I will show you where to find IB Chemistry past papers, both free and paid. I'll also share tips on how to study most effectively using these IB Chemistry past papers. Where to Find Free Tests The IB has been diligent about seeking out and destroying illegally uploaded official papers for the past few years, so a lot of sources that used to be out there are no longer readily available. Currently, the only free official IB Chemistry test legally available is this Chemistry HL paper 3. I have not been able to find any unofficial IB Chemistry past papers (ones created from scratch). If you find any, I strongly advise AGAINST using them, as they may be nothing like the actual IB Chemistry papers. Where to Find Paid Tests The IBO store sells IB Chemistry SL and HL past papers from May 2015 to November 2018. Navigate to the Diploma Program page, then click "Shop Exam Papers" to see all available papers, which can be narrowed by category and time frame. This is the only safe place to get IB Chemistry past papers to download. Each paper and each mark scheme costs $3.00. Buying all of the past papers and mark schemes can be costly, so if you are looking to spend as little as possible, I recommend just purchasing the most recent (November and May 2018) past papers as they will be closest to what you learned. 3 Tips for Using IB Chemistry Past Papers Productively Since each practice IB Chemistry exam will take you 3 hours for SL or 4.5 hours for HL, it's imperative that you get the most out of each test. Here are a few helpful practices to keep in mind when you're taking these papers: #1: Complete papers 1 and 2 in one sitting. The IB Chemistry SL and IB Chemistry HL papers are intense, forcing you to sit and concentrate for two hours for SL and 3 hours and 15 minutes for HL. You need to build up your mental strength so you don't make careless errors by the end of paper 2. By taking the practice tests in one session, you build up your mental strength in preparation for the real test. If you don't have time for a 2 hour or 3 hour 15 minute session, then you can take each paper on separate days. However, you need to obey the next rule: #2: Stick to the exact timing on each part of the exam. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you get used to the stressful timing of this test: IB Chemistry SL: IB Chemistry SL Paper 1- 45 minutes IB Chemistry SL Paper 2- 1 hour 15 minutes IB Chemistry SL Paper 3- 1 hour IB Chemistry HL: IB Chemistry HL Paper 1- 1 hour IB Chemistry HL Paper 2- 2 hours 15 minutes IB Chemistry HL Paper 3- 1 hour 15 minutes In this allotted time, you need to finish: IB Chemistry SL: Paper 1: 30 multiple-choice questions Paper 2: two parts, Section A: answer all of four short responses and Section B: pick one essay question (you choose between three options) Paper 3: Answer all of the questions for your two options: six short response questions that each can have between 2-5 parts IB Chemistry HL: Paper 1: 40 multiple-choice questions Paper 2: two parts, Section A: answer all of four short response questions that each can have between 3-10 parts and Section B: pick two essay questions (you choose between four options) Paper 3: Answer all of the questions for your two options: seven or more short response and essay questions (varies based on the options that you covered in your class) Do not practice with extra time- if you give yourself extra time, you can complete more questions and increase your score. We want to use these practice tests as realistic predictors of your exam score. #3: Check your answers. After you complete a practice exam, you need to review every error you made. Do not skip this step. If you do, you will not learn from your errors, and you will make the same ones on the IB Chemistry test. So make sure to spend at least 1.5 hours reviewing every full practice tests. This may seem like a lot of time, but emphasize quality of learning over quantity of learning. I'd rather see you take two tests with meticulous review than five tests with no review. What’s Next? Need help reviewing some chemistry concepts? Read up on how to balance chemical equations here. Learn more about IB Chemistry: The Complete IB Chemistry Syllabus: SL and HL The Best IB Chemistry Study Guide and Notes for SL/HL The Best IB Chemistry Books, Reviewed Looking for ways to apply your chemistry knowledge to your everyday life? Get three different recipes for making your own slime and learn how to (safely) use muriatic acid to clean household items. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living - Essay Example For a philosopher, every life form should have a way of life suitable for it, that is, the life that is in harmony with its nature. But according to human nature, ‘the good’ involves living that kind of life subject to the truly critical use of reason, namely to live such a life implying anything less that it is quite unworthy of such person’s nature. Indeed he stands to find it intolerable and further, that way of life is quite unworthy of such person’s nature, and he/she should not endure the unexamined life, which is in Kant’s words ‘an eternal childhood’ which in essence is a condition of lack of freedom. This paper discuses Socrates’ words "The unexamined life is not worth living". This would help ascertain if such words are any meaningful in human life. "The unexamined life is not worth living." Certainly those are Socrates’ words while at his trial for heresy. Socrates was on trial and said those words intentionally to encourage his students to always think for themselves and challenge the accepted belief of the time. He was condemned to death, although he had the choice of suggesting an alternative punishment. Rationally, it was expected that Socrates could have opted for exile or life in prison, which would have helped him avoid death. But according to Socrates, these promising alternatives would instead rob him of that only thing that would make him useful in examining the beautiful world around him and discussing how well to make it a better place to live. Without his examined life Socrates believed then that there was no point in living. He, therefore, suggested that the Jury should consider rewarding him for his service to the society. This implied that the Athens had no other alternative but be forced to vote for his death punishment. Socrates believed that the purpose of human life would always be personal and spiritual growth. People are not able to grow towards their greater understan ding of their true nature unless they spend some time reflecting and examining their lives (Palmer 34). Just like philosopher, Santayana, observed, â€Å"He who fails to remember the past is condemned to repeat it.† (Karl 11). Lucky enough, people do not have to make a choice between death and examined life. The saddest thing is that most people always avoid living an examined life not because they do not have the time, but because they actively like to avoid examining their own life. Socrates’ words are significantly relevant in every bit of human life, and I unreservedly agree to them. It implies that a person who is not open for questioning by others concerning his action and thoughts certainly lives in denial of such motivations prompting his actions and thoughts. It follows that such an individual wastes his or her life. That kind of life is but a superficial act that reveals nothing new and nothing unique and such a life is not "real" Socrates’ careful cho ice of words provides much color to his quote. The word ‘examined’ might be interpreted to mean to analyze, study, to check condition or health of someone or something, or to inquire. One would imagine that Socrates insists that asking other persons what his quote implies defiles the precise nature. It is, therefore, best for one to have his or her meaning from it. Socrates suggests that ‘unexamined life’ refers to that life whose purpose has at no time been questioned; a

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Adolescence and the Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Adolescence and the Internet - Essay Example This use of the Internet has created interest in researchers. Studies on the impact of the Internet on the welfare and development of adolescents have resulted. The focus of these studies has been on the manner of use by the adolescents and the potential risk of exposure to anonymous communication, from within or outside the adolescent group. The findings of these studies have raised concerns over the negative impact of the use of the Internet. This article by Elisheva F. Gross attempts to negate these concerns. It focuses on the positive aspects of the adolescent use of the Internet. Additional topics explored are motives for use of the Internet, actual online behavior and strategies for the prevention of online dating. The article by Elisheva outlines the three propositions that were the result of earlier studies. These are that gender predicts usage; the Internet may lead to social isolation and depression and the tendency to use anonymous identities by adolescents. She attempts a comparison of these propositions with the findings of her research into the online behavior of adolescents. The main thrust of the argument of Elisheva against these propositions is that they are based on particular empirical studies or case-based questions. Such methodologies lead to biased and inaccurate research findings. In support of her contention, she uses more focused and specific research. She further argues that the spread of the Internet provides enhanced scope for communication. Evidence from her research leads Elisheva to conclude that there is no corroboration of the earlier findings. Thus her research causes her to refute the earlier findings and instead suggests that there is a similarity in use of the Internet irrespective of gender.  

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Food in My Family Essay Example for Free

Food in My Family Essay I come from a very diverse ethnic background, with many variations of what maybe considered cultural foods. I have many fond memories of family reunions and all the interesting dishes my relatives would prepare. Food in my family holds so much meaning; it’s the glue that has held us together for many years even before I was born. Food in my family isn’t just a substance we consume in order to keep our bodies healthy and energized. When we create a meal, it’s as if we are creating art by expressing ourselves in our dish. We take the time to perfect our meals, while also keeping our tradition alive by incorporating the same rituals as our ancestors before us. When it came to certain meals my mother was very traditional in preparing it, and it had to be done a certain way or it was ruined. She wanted to maintain our family’s culture in each dish she prepared. She felt as if by doing this it kept our ancestor’s memories alive; with each recipe preserved to its natural and formal state with zero alteration kept our tradition alive. She didn’t believe in wasting food, so when she prepared dishes she would make sure to cook everything from the head to the feet. My mother’s favorite dish to create was Peni which means pig in Spanish. I remember going to the meat market and having to wait on long lines to buy a whole pig so that she can begin prepping it for the family reunion that was scheduled for next week. My mother always said Una de Las cosas mas importantes de recordar es que no es el alimento que usted come que es importante pero como usted lo creo que lo hace memorable. In English it means â€Å"One of the most important things to remember is that it is not the food you eat that is important, but its how you created it that makes it memorable. † Preparing meals for a family reunion takes a group effort; especially if it requires large quantities of food needed. I believe it brought us closer together when we were cooking the meals compare to when we actually sat down to eat it. Everyone had there own responsibilities to help contribute to the meals, my family was big on making sure no one was left out. It brought everyone together as a whole, no matter what prier arguments you had with one another or what grudges you may have construed towards each other. It was always put aside when it came to family reunion, because on that day nothing else mattered but family. I believe certain foods can trigger certain memories, depending on what your mind can connect it too. For example every time I smell the sweet sent of buttered pancakes in the morning with a side of bacon. It reminds me of my mom and how I use to wake up and run to the kitchen as fast as I can trying to beat my brothers to the table, because I knew they would eat up all the beacon. It reminds me of happier days; when I use to not have to worry about anything and I could just be myself. When my mother would create Peni it would take hours to just prepare it and then she would have to wrap it up in alumini foil so that it would allow the seasonings to settle in. With big family reunions it bound to have some people bring the similar dishes. Even though they cooked the same type of meat doesn’t mean that they are the same dish. Since they were prepared by two different people with different backgrounds, the dish itself represents two completely different styles. For example my mother cooked a lot of her foods traditionally, because that’s how she was raised. She grew up with the knowledge of our ancestor recipes, but our relatives from other countries grow up with their own cooking style. They made it the best way they felt expresses themselves and what they grew accustom to. I looked forward to having family reunions not just because I enjoyed learning how create new dishes, but also I wanted to feel closer to my relatives who I hardly ever get to see. By tasting their foods I was able to take a journey to their home town. I was able to taste all the seasoning that they grew up with and to what they felt best express the true essence of the meat. From the bitter sweet aroma to the texture of how it was deliciously prepared with each morsel I bit into, you could tell how much attention to detail was put into it. I love trying new things especially created by my family members because their style of cooking was so different compare to what I was used to; it was so unique. It always surprised me how dramatically different there dishes tasted compared to my mothers. They would use ingredients I didn’t expect would ever mix so wonderfully together. That’s why I believe when you create a meal it is a form of expression of who you are and where you come from. Every time I eat Peni it reminds me of many different fond memories of my mother, because that was what she loved to make. She took pride in her cooking and because of it I also take pride in everything I cook.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Importance of Nutrition and Sleeping Habits In The Classroom Essay

The Importance of Nutrition and Sleeping Habits In The Classroom Having good nutrition and sleeping habits is very important for education. It is important for children and adolescents to perform well in the classroom so that they get the most out of their education. Having poor sleeping habits or poor eating habits can have many harmful effects on a child’s classroom performance. If children have good eating habits as well as good sleeping habits they will perform better and be able to live up to their potential. Good nutrition is very important for children in all areas of their life but it is a key factor in how they perform in the classroom. One study showed that â€Å"taller more healthy children have higher levels of verbal development† and healthier children have â€Å"positively associated performance on reading, spelling, and arithmetic tests† (conceptual). Classroom tests are a very good indicator of how a child performs in school. The study shows that children with good nutrition have done better than children with health problems or who are under-nourished. Another study correlates with the first in showing that â€Å"children who had more adequate diets scored higher on the cognitive battery than those with less adequate intake† ( ). Good nutrition helps cognitive function which is defined as â€Å"the ability to learn categories, to process and structure information, and to learn and react to social and environmental cues. Cognitive function also includes the ability to ask appropriate questions and provide appropriate answers with in a given environment and to identify and solve relevant problems† (Cline). Cognitive function is important for good performance in the classroom because if a child cannot convey t... ...nd teachers would be able to get more accomplished with their students during the day. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between good sleeping habits in children and increased learning ability. Children who get adequate sleep have better cognitive function, are more inclined to concentrate better, and formulate questions better for things they do not understand. Good nutrition and good sleeping habits are important to good classroom performance. They both can greatly improve learning ability and cognitive function having a positive affect on children’s education. When children have poor sleeping habits and poor nutrition their learning ability is less and classroom performance is lower. Both factors are very important for children’s education and good habits should be developed early ensure that they will do well throughout school and in life.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Family Business Essay

Family business are businesses that are created from their founding fathers of that era, if may evolve from small businesses into big enterprises. Family business is playing a very important part in the economy of Malaysia; the reason is that more than half of the Gross Domestic Product of Malaysia is from the family businesses that are conducted in Malaysia. For example The Genting group and The Berjaya group are two of the most famous family businesses that are conducted in Malaysia. The following are the issues and challenges that are faced by family businesses in Malaysia. The first challenge and issue that affects family businesses in Malaysia is succession planning which is choosing the next successor for the business after the current successor retires or passed away. Choosing a successor is one of the biggest challenges and is often faced by family businesses in Malaysia. Choosing a successor is hard because there are many factors that need to be considered before delegating him or her to be the successor of the family business. The first factor is of course the capability of the potential successor, to see whether he or she is up to standard andable to handle the responsibility that is about to be passed onto to see whether they qualify for the position. The second factor is that the potential successor must have certain amount of knowledge about the business and must know every part of operation of the business in details. The potential successor must also have very good management skills and have a good relationship with everyone involved in the business in order to have smoother process when sharing business ideas. The second challenge and issue that affects the family businesses in Malaysia is family disputes which is the harmony between family members and also within the business. The reason why it is one of the challenges and issues is because some of the family members or people involved in the business are always jealous of each other, or they are angry because of the decisions made which they are unfair, which will then results in political issues happening in the business which can greatly affect the outcome of the business, and sometimes it may be serious until it can tear down the whole business. So that is why it is very hard to keep the family and business at harmony all the time. However, if they are able to do so, it will help improve the communications between family members and also people involved in the business so that they can share out their feelings and the conflicts more openly so that the conflict can be solved in a way that will benefit the family and the business. The third challenge and issue that affects the family businesses in Malaysia is professionalism which is capability of keeping the family business up and running for a long term. This is a very hard challenge for all the family businesses out there in Malaysia because it has many factors to look at in order to keep the family business in one piece, because family businesses often faced with conflicts between one another sometimes because of the informal business structure, like there are no roles given formally which then allows everyone can step into each other territory in the business structure which is also known as invading other’s personal workspace. The other reason is because of the non-systematic work which is caused by bad operation control which can greatly impact the operation of the family business. However, if management is in good control and the organizational structure is complete and the objective and goals is the same and shared by everyone, the efficiency of the family business will sure improve a lot. Staff training can also improve the professionalism of the family business. The fourth challenge and issue that affects the family businesses in Malaysia is leadership which is basically the compass for the direction of the family business. It is very hard for family business to have good leadership because it involves leading, involving, and also motivating the people in the family business so that they share the same goal. So, if the leader of the family business is strong, then the chance of the business to succeed will surely be very high. The first thing is that the good leader must have the stamina and the passion to lead. Besides that, the leader must have a wide knowledge of the economy and also the industry itself so that he or she can direct a most beneficial way for the family business to approach and also giving a sense of common purpose. Lastly, the leader must have power to control the people in the family business and tell them what is the plan and what they need to do. The last challenge and issue that affects the family businesses in Malaysi a is fair compensation which also includes fair treatment to the people involved in the family business. The reason why this is a common issue in family business is because that the family members always tend to treat their own family member better and they also make bias decision most of the time. The most common problem is the payment and the salary of the people in family business. People who are the family member often get better pay which then the other people will feel cheated and mistreated at the same time. Then they will feel alienated by the family members of the family business, which will then greatly affect the earning capability of the business. Although there are quite some challenges and issues faced by family business in Malaysia, but if those family businesses can overcome the challenges and issues that are stated above, then their family business will surely be stable and run for a long time. Reference List: 1. http://www.ukm.my/ajag/vol2ch2.pdf 2. http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/862-family-business-challenges.html 3. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/02/02/asias-family-businesses-face-new-challenges/ 4. http://familybusiness.about.com/od/managementandoperations/a/commonthreats.htm 5. http://www.isb.edu/FamilyBusiness/File/challengesfacedbyindian.pdf

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Chapter 20 Problem 1

Week 5 – Financing Strategy Problem Problem 1 – Chapter 20 Firm A has $10,000 in assets entirely financed with equity. Firm B also has $10,000 in assets, but these assets are financed by $5,000 in debt (with a 10 percent rate of interest) and $5,000 in equity. Both firms sell 10,000 units of output at $2. 50 per unit. The variable costs of production are $1, and fixed production costs are $12,000. (To ease the calculation, assume no income tax. ) A. What if the operating income (EBIT) for both firms? Sales/Revenue: 10000 * 2. 50 = 25000 Variable Cost: 10000 * 1 = 10000 Fixed Production Cost: 12000EBIT = sales/revenue – variable cost – fixed production cost = 25000 – 10000 – 12000 = $3000 B. What are the earnings after interest? InterestEarnings after interest Firm A: 0 3000 – 0 = $3000 Firm B:5000 * 10% = 500 3000 – 500 = $2500 C. If sales increase by 10 percent to 11,000 units, by what percentage will each firm’s earning s after interest increase? To answer the question, determine the earnings after taxes and compute the percentage increase in these earnings from the answers you derived in part b. Sales/Revenue: 11000 * 2. 50 = 27500 Variable Cost: 11000 * 1 = 11000Fixed Production Cost: 12000 EBIT = sales/revenue – variable cost – fixed production cost = 27500 – 11000 – 12000 = 4500 Firm A Firm B Interest 05000 * 10% = 500 Earnings after interest (prior) 3000 – 0 = 3000 3000 – 500 = 2500 Earnings after interest (after) 4500 – 0 = 4500 4500 – 500 = 4000 Increase/decrease % 50% 60% D. Why are the percentage changes different? Firm B had a higher increase in profit because they had a higher net % change and lowered their interest income through their debt financing.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Discuss Whether Unbalanced Growth Necessarily Leads to Urban Bias Essays

Discuss Whether Unbalanced Growth Necessarily Leads to Urban Bias Essays Discuss Whether Unbalanced Growth Necessarily Leads to Urban Bias Paper Discuss Whether Unbalanced Growth Necessarily Leads to Urban Bias Paper Urban bias exists when the overall economic development of a country is restricted or hindered by the urban-dwellers that are more able to pressure and manipulate the government and can do so to their own advantage. Wikipedia describes urban bias as â€Å"a political economy argument according to which economic development is hampered by groups who, by their central location in urban areas, are able to pressure governments to protect their interests†. The theory of urban bias stems from the Urban Giantism problem. Todaro and Smith begin to describe the effects of Urban Giantism in Economic Development Ch. 7: Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration: Theory and Policy. Here we can see contrasts between Urban Metropolitans in Developed countries such as Britain and France versus those in developing countries such as Argentina and Peru. â€Å"Sometimes one urban core becomes too large to keep the costs of the industries located there to a minimum† this is true in most cases where a particular city has urbanised very quickly and most industry is located there. Infrastructural amenities may become strained. This is why in many developed countries they have distributed the urban core, sometimes to a different city in completely different part of the country, and this helps to enable the regions to continue to reap benefits from agglomeration, but still keep costs to a minimum. In no way is this change automatic, it takes time but most developed countries have had hundreds of years to expand. The case in less developed countries is more difficult as their governments tend not to be as involved in dispersing the economic activities. Mostly firms want to remain within the capital cities or others existing urban giants which are all too often over populated and find their resources straining. For example New York city is the largest metropolitan area in the United States, however, according to the US census bureau, there are only 19,541,453 people living in New York State as a whole, compared to 307,006,550 people in the United States as a whole (2009 estimates), i. e. approximately 6% of the National population. In Nigeria, the largest metropolitan city is the former capital (now the Economic capital) Lagos. The population of Lagos State as a whole according to census on the official Lagos state website is approximately 17million people, with 85% inhabiting the metropolitan area, constituting only 37% of the total land mass of the state. There are approximately 150 million people in Nigeria as a whole, meaning that the population of Lagos accounts for about 11% of the population, and is geographically the smallest city. Lagos is a prime example of what is known as First-city bias. This occurs when the country’s largest or first place city receives a disproportionately large share of public investment in comparison to the second largest city and the rest. In cases like this, more and more industries and firms choose to locate in the â€Å"first city† in lieu of other cities which may be better suited to accommodate them e. g. space wise and in terms of cost of raw materials etc. This is primarily because the city is an established mega-city. The extreme overpopulation means that not only are the bare essential resources strained, hiking up cost of production, but also the infrastructure may be unsuited to accommodate the further expansion in population which, will result from more and more firms opening, and urbanisations as people from other cities and rural areas seek job opportunities and to improve their standard of living. To understand how urban bias may result from unbalanced growth, we must first consider possible causes of unbalanced growth and increased rural-urban migration. As with Lagos, many of the cities which are now Urban Giants are located in economically resourceful areas, as well as easily accessible geographical locations for trade to take place (both international and local). Lagos is located on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, which is a prime location for its fast development. The boosting era was during the 18th century when the Portuguese first arrived and began to trade slaves and after the abolition traded other goods such as crops. Lagos was a port for exporting goods from other regions in Nigeria and so the infrastructure was developed for transporting the natural resources from the North East and Middle regions. In Argentina the capital city Buenos Aires is also one of the largest metro cities in South America. It is located in the North East; the whole Eastern Part of Argentina is coastline. Greater Buenos Aires has a population of around 15. 2 million people (according to the 2010 Argentine population census), about 37% of the total population of Argentina (over 40 million). During the 17th and 18th century due to pirates’ threats to the Spanish ships, Buenos Aires was used as a gateway to places like Peru and Lima. Buenos Aires depended on trade from its earliest days. Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina. Its port is one of the busiest in South America; navigable rivers by way of the Rio de la Plata connect the port to north-east Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay – Wikipedia. Lagos and Buenos Aires are both commercial industrial capitals of their respective countries, and contribute much of their countries’ GDP. In non-OECDs (less developed economies) we find patterns of rural-urban migration i. e. people move from the rural areas to the larger cities and metropolitan areas in search of better employment prospects and to possibly improve their standard of living. Rank City Country GDP in $ID BN Population (MIL) 1 Sao Paulo Brazil $ 388 18. 845 2 Buenos Aires Argentina $ 362 12. 795 3 Rio de Janeiro Brazil $ 201 11. 748 4 Santiago Chile $ 120 5. 720 5 Brasilia Brazil $ 110 3. 599 South America Rank City Country GDP in $ID BN Population (MIL) 1 Johannesburg South Africa $ 110 3. 35 2 Cape Town South Africa $ 103 3. 215 3 East Rand South Africa $ 54 2. 986 4 Lagos Nigeria $ 35 9. 466 5 Luanda Angola $ 33 4. 000 Sub-Saharan Africa (Source: Wikipedia. com – list of the richest cities and/or their metropolitan areas in the world by GDP according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. For the non-OECD countries PricewaterhouseCoopers was only able to make approximate estimates based on plausible ratios of city-to-national GDP per capita) Nigeria – Urban population = 48% of total population (2008 estimate) rate of urbanisation = 3. % annual rate of change (2005-10 estimate) Argentina – Urban population = 92% of total population (2009 estimate); rate of urbanisation = 1. 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 estimate) (Source: indexmundi. com – originating source CIA World Factbook Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of November 3, 2010)

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Geography of the Mediterranean Sea

Geography of the Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a large sea or body of water that is located between Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia. Its total area is 970,000 square miles (2,500,000 sq km) and its greatest depth is located off the coast of Greece at around 16,800 feet (5,121 m) deep. The average depth of the sea, however, is about 4,900 feet (1,500 m). The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the narrow Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco. This area is only about 14 miles (22 km) wide. The Mediterranean Sea is known for being an important historic trade path and a strong factor in the development of the region around it. History of the Mediterranean Sea The region around the Mediterranean Sea has a long history that dates back to ancient times. For example, Stone Age tools have been discovered by archeologists along its shores and it is believed that the Egyptians began sailing on it by 3000 B.C.E. Early people of the region used the Mediterranean as a trade route and as a way to move to and colonize other regions. As a result, the sea was controlled by several different ancient civilizations. These include the Minoan, Phoenician, Greek, and later the Roman civilizations. In the 5th century C.E. however, Rome fell and the Mediterranean Sea and the region around it became controlled by the Byzantines, Arabs and Ottoman Turks. By the 12th-century trade in the region was growing as Europeans began exploration expeditions. In the late 1400s though, trade traffic in the region decreased when European traders discovered new, all water trade routes to India and the Far East. In 1869 ,  however, the Suez Canal opened and trade traffic again increased. In addition, the opening of the Suez Canal the Mediterranean Sea also became an important strategic location for many European nations and as a result, the United Kingdom and France began building colonies and naval bases along its shores. Today the Mediterranean is one of the busiest seas in the world. Trade and shipping traffic is prominent and there is also a significant amount of fishing activity in its waters. In addition, tourism is also a large part of the regions economy because of its climate, beaches, cities, and historic sites. Geography of the Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a very large sea that is bounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia and stretches from the Strait of Gibraltar on the west to the Dardanelles and the Suez Canal on the east. It is almost completely enclosed aside from these narrow locations. Because it is almost landlocked, the Mediterranean has very limited tides and it is warmer and saltier than the Atlantic Ocean. This is because evaporation exceeds precipitation and runoff and circulation of the seas waters does not occur as easily as it would if were more connected to the ocean, however enough water flows into the sea from the Atlantic Ocean that is water level does not fluctuate much. Geographically, the Mediterranean Sea is divided into two different basins- the Western Basin and the Eastern Basin. The Western Basin extends from the Cape of Trafalgar in Spain and the Cape of Spartel in Africa in the west to Tunisias Cape Bon in the east. The Eastern Basin stretches from the  eastern boundary of the Western Basin to the coasts of Syria and Palestine. In total, the Mediterranean Sea borders 21 different nations as well as several different territories. Some of the nations with borders along the Mediterranean include Spain, France, Monaco, Malta, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. It also borders several smaller seas and is home to over 3,000 islands. The largest of these islands are Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus, and Crete. The topography of the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea is varied and there is an extremely rugged coastline in is northern areas. High mountains and steep, rocky cliffs are common here, though in other areas the coastline is flatter and dominated by desert. The temperature of the Mediterraneans water also varies but in general, it is between 50 F and 80 F (10 C and 27 C).​ Ecology of and Threats to the Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea has a large number of different fish and mammal species that are mainly derived from the Atlantic Ocean. However, because the Mediterranean is warmer and saltier than the Atlantic, these species have had to adapt. Harbor porpoises, Bottlenose Dolphins, and Loggerhead Sea Turtles are common in the sea. There are a number of threats to the  biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea, though. ​Invasive species are one of the most common threats as ships from other regions often bring in non-native species and Red Sea water and species enter the Mediterranean at the Suez Canal. Pollution is also a problem as cities on the coasts of the Mediterranean have dumped chemicals and waste into the sea in recent years. Overfishing is another threat to the Mediterranean Seas biodiversity and ecology as is tourism because both are putting strains on the natural environment. References: How Stuff Works. (n.d.). How Stuff Works - The Mediterranean Sea. Retrieved from: http://geography.howstuffworks.com/oceans-and-seas/the-mediterranean-sea.htm

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Data Analysis Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Data Analysis Report - Essay Example The personal beliefs of the person, balanced by the significance that he or she attributes to the influence of others, help determine behavioural intentions. Finally, behavioural intentions are the integration of one’s attitudes toward certain behaviour along with the subjective norms associated with such behaviour; behavioural intentions have also been shown to influence actual behaviour (Miller, 2005). The theory of reasoned action has been frequently used for determining the purchase intentions of consumers. For example, the study of Korzaan (2003) applied the theory on examining college student’s online purchasing intentions. Findings showed that attitudes toward online purchasing had a significant influence on behavioural intentions to become involved in conducting purchases online. The study of Kim and Cheung (2011) also showed how personal values and beliefs strongly influenced consumer attitudes toward purchasing a particular product; moreover, previous experien ces also helped predict purchase intentions while perceived behavioural control acted as a mediator in the relationship between attitudes and purchase intentions. ... ce Quality It has been asserted by Zeithaml, Parasuraman and Berry (1993) that the quality of services can be measured by examining the gap that exists between customers’ expectations and the actual services delivered by employees. Their SERVQUAL model was developed in order to measure such gap, thereby allowing organisations and researchers alike to determine possible service areas that can be further enhanced. Service quality can be evaluated through the perceptions of customers regarding a specific service and its level of quality, hence the following dimensions: reliability to identify whether employees were able to provide an accurate and dependable delivery of services; assurance which is characterized by the ability of employees to create a sense of trust and favourable expectations among customers; responsiveness which refers to the ability of employees in attending to their customers in a prompt manner; empathy that is demonstrated through care and concern for custome rs’ specific needs; and tangibles that are evident through physical appearances and materials. Service quality has been constantly linked to a number of concepts such as customer satisfaction and loyalty. According to Kondou (1999), customer satisfaction is a positive affective response that is brought about by the person’s evaluation of a certain situation. The theory and practice of service marketing heavily relies on the satisfaction of customer needs due as this can ultimately result to increased profitability. Companies that deliver services which customers often perceive as satisfying can not only increase satisfaction but also increase positive behavioural intentions through customer loyalty. Kang, Okamoto, and Donovan (2004) showed that tangibles showed that tangibles were the most

Friday, November 1, 2019

An Analysis of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club Essay

An Analysis of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club - Essay Example Four sets of mothers and daughters, namely, (1) Ying-Ying St. Claire and Lena, (2) Suyuan Woo and Jing-Mei, (3) Lindo Jong and Waverly, and (4) An-Mei Hsu and Rose, are divided along the lines of culture and generation. The mothers, or the older generation, are still attached to the ancestral tradition of their native soil. In contrast, the daughters, or the younger generation, caught between their ancestral background and their Westernized education, are having a great difficulty integrating into Western culture. However, Jing-Mei is compelled to take on a ‘different mindset’ when she is summoned by the Joy Luck Club to continue the membership of her deceased mother. Jing-Mei is anxious that she may not possess the character to take the place of her mother, but the other mothers view her ‘being there’ as a chance to restore their ties with their own daughters. The mothers help Jing-Mei rediscover her heritage and her ties with her mother by guiding her in r ecreating her mother’s memoirs. Jing-Mei, in the end, accomplishes the dying hope of her mother to locate the children she abandoned in China, and her personal hope to restore her ties with her half-siblings and her ancestral identity. So what does this say about Jing-Mei’s relationship with her mother? The mother-daughter relationship between Jing-Mei and Suyuan is burdened with disagreement, mostly due to generational gap, but in the end founded on empathy, affinity, and devotion for one another. Due to major disparities in their upbringing, cultural backgrounds, and experiences, this mother and daughter have plenty of clashing beliefs and values. These problems, besides their severed connection, brought a lot of problems throughout their relationship. Jing-Mei even admits: â€Å"My mother and I never really understood each other. We translated each other’s meanings and I seemed to hear less than what was said, while my mother heard more† (Tan 2006, 37) . These gaps are bridged when Jing-Mei rediscovers the life story of her mother and appreciates their generational differences. Likewise, An-Mei Hsu and Rose have opposing perspectives on life. This clash can be attributed to the fact that Rose has been reared in a totally different culture from that of her ancestral tradition. She does not have sympathy for her mother’s beliefs and life perspective. Rose thinks her mother is not being true to herself when she expressed resentment against her impending divorce. She believes this because she witnessed when her mother became distrustful of religion. Nevertheless, when looking at this mother-daughter relationship, it becomes apparent that their connection is sustained by the strength of An-Mei. She tries to instill in her daughter the strength of facing one’s own problems and fears. Rose and An-Mei confront generational differences as well because Rose chooses an American husband. Thus, when her mother tries to persuade h er to keep her marriage, Rose says, â€Å"think[s] it’s that my mother wants me to fight divorce† (Tan 2006, 117). Evidently, this mother-daughter relationship is burdened with conflict because of cultural differences and generational gaps. As illustrated, they would attempt to accomplish totally different answers to the same issues. Rose only wants happiness for herself—a Westernized attitude-- whereas An-Mei tries to persuade