Intensive Farming free essay sample

1) Intensive farming practices include growing high-yield crops, using fertilisers and pesticides and keeping animals indoors. Food production is increased but there are unwelcome side effects. 2) Prevents energy being transferred from the crop to consumers. Reduces biodiversity. May poison helpful organisms. 3) Chemical insecticides (which kill insect pests). Herbicides which kill plants or weeds. 4) Ground water contamination: Chemicals can reach underground aquifers if there is persistent product use in agricultural areas. Resistance: Overuse of the same pesticide can encourage resistance in the target pest. Poisoning hazards: Pesticide operators can risk poisoning through excessive exposure if safe handling procedure are not followed and protective clothing is not worn. Poisoning risks depend on dose, toxicity, duration of exposure and sensitivity. 5) plants can grow without soil, but they cannot grow without the necessities that soil provides. Plants need support, nutrients, protection from adverse temperatures, an even supply of moisture, and they need oxygen around the roots. We will write a custom essay sample on Intensive Farming or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is possible to provide these necessary components for plant growth without soil. 6) Advantages Some of the reasons why hydroponics is being adapted around the world for food production are the following: No soil is needed for hydroponics The water stays in the system and can be reused thus, lower water costs It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety thus, lower nutrition costs No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system Stable and high yields Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the containers mobility It is easier to harvest No pesticide damage Plants grow healthier It is better for consumption 1) ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONICS PLANTS CAN BE GROWN ANYWHERE Today, space is increasingly at the premium. With hydroponics, plants can be grown anywhere where no soil exists and light is available. For example, plants can be grown on a rooftop or next to the window sill. In Japan, vegetables are grown in the supermarket itself and it supplies crispy fresh vegetables to the shoppers. It saves money on transport and the benefit of having fresh produce offset the high cost of city land. Therefore, hydroponics farming can be viable irrespective of the value of land. BETTER CONTROL OVER PLANT GROWTH A soil system is difficult to keep in control due to the complex chemical and biological nature of the soil. Plants nutrients are frequently not available to plants due to poor soil structure or unfavourable soil pH value. Plants growing in soil are also frequent competitors for the essential in the soil solution. On the contrary, a hydroponics grower has the freedom to regulate the composition of the nutrient solution and the frequency of the feeding of nutrient. This gives the hydroponics grower a considerable degree of control over the plant growth. DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONICS 1. STARTING COST IS HIGH The initial cost for construction of the hydroponics system is high, so, a hydroponics farmer may be limited in growing crops that either give a high return or rapid turn-over. 2. SOUND TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW HOW IS REQUIRED FOR PROPER TRAINING Trained personnel knowledgeable in the principles of plant nutrition and operation of commercial hydroponics are necessary to manage a hydroponics farm, as the failure rate is high in the hands of amateurs. 2) Prevents energy being transferred from the crop to consumers 3) It keeps energy efficient. 4) Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. 5) Crop diversity Crop diversity is a distinctive characteristic of organic farming. Conventional farming focuses on mass production of one crop in one location, a practice called monoculture. Soil management Organic farming relies heavily on the natural breakdown of organic matter, using techniques like green manure and composting, to replace nutrients taken from the soil by previous crops. Weed management Organic weed management promotes weed suppression, rather than weed elimination, by enhancing crop competition and phytotoxic effects on weeds. Organic farmers integrate cultural, biological, mechanical, physical and chemical tactics to manage weeds without synthetic herbicides. Tillage Turning the soil between crops to incorporate crop residues and soil amendments; remove existing weed growth and prepare a seedbed for planting; turning soil soil after seeding to kill weeds; Mowing and cutting Removing top growth of weeds; Flame weeding and thermal weeding Using heat to kill weeds; and Mulching Blocking weed emergence with organic materials, plastic films, or landscape fabric. 6) Biological control is a method of controlling pests (including insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases) using other living organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. Intensive Farming free essay sample Intensive farming is a way of producing vast amounts of crops by using numerous chemicals and machines. These practices include growing high-yield crops, using fertilisers, pesticides and keeping animals indoors. Food production is increased however there are various advantages and disadvantages of this particular method. An example of this method would be conventional chicken farming. This method may be used by farmers due to predators e. g. foxes killing their free range chickens, minimising their profit. However if they are kept indoors this is not a problem. Battery Farming is an industrial confinement system. It is where animals e. g. Poultry – Chickens, are kept within an imprisoned environment such as cage or restricted to the proximity of an indoor surroundings. Farmers enclose animals as it reduces energy transferred to the environment; instead it is used for the growth of the animal. When turkeys are deprived of exercise all of their body’s energy goes towards production of goods e. We will write a custom essay sample on Intensive Farming or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page g. eggs for human consumption. Farmers obviously relish this as they are able to have bigger animals and more products resulting in more money. There are assorted advantages and disadvantages, the advantages include; Farmers are able to have close control of conditions e. g. artificial daylight increasing day time hours. Control of food, resulting in less wastage, if food not eaten it can be saved for next meal. Cheaper for farmers as less space is required to breed the animals e. g. chickens; also resulting in cheaper eggs for the consumer in comparison with free range. The Disadvantages include; these include increased risk of disease, due to if one animal becomes infected there is a higher chance the others will too. This is because they are within a smaller living space in comparison with being outside. Furthermore the disease will spread rapidly, whereas outside it would have been a lot slower process due to bigger area. Meaning the infected could be removed from the group, allowing more time for the farmers to react. Another deprivation is the fact that there will be a lower quality of product, e. g. nutrition and taste. This is due to the animals not being able to free roam, eat desired crops and obtain natural sunlight. This in turn makes the chickens extremely stressed culminating in a worse taste for the consumer. Lastly this procedure raises ethical concerns and issues; people believe it is cruel to enclose animals within cages with barely enough space to move. They believe that this should not be happening and that the animal’s rights are being abused. An example group of this is called PETA – People for the ethical treatment of animals, they campaign to stop this and tackle the main issues. Pesticides are used by farmers to remove any organisms/animals that feed on the crop. They’re also used to prevent rats and other animals from contaminating foods whilst they are being stored. Lastly to protect human’s health, they stop the crops from being contaminated by fungi. An example of this would be carrots; for the above reasons they are sprayed, applying pesticide spray prevents any energy being transferred from the crop to the consumer. Pesticide sprays bring several advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include; the pesticides are widely available and economical to use. Moreover they are effective in killing pests, making them a reliable usage of source for farmers. Lastly its yield is high due to no insect infestation; more plants will be edible, because no insects will be destroying the crop. The Disadvantages include; firstly the killing of pest, organisms, weeds and moulds in and around the area dramatically reduces the biodiversity of the habitat, unnecessary harm may occur to other non-target animals whom are not involved with the crop. Also pesticides are a poison that is able to kill humans, wildlife and the environment, if the instructions are not carefully followed. Furthermore when pesticides are used in large quantities they can become pollute the environment. They can poison and pollute land and water. Lastly some pesticides take a long time to break down, e. g. when a house is sprayed for termites; due to them not breaking down they become residual chemicals. Consequently becoming a huge hazard and remaining poisonous for long periods of time. The pesticide can then poison the local water supply and land. Hydroponics is an extreme form of growing crops in glasshouses. The process is fairly complex; soil is replaced by a mineral solution pumped around the plant roots. By removing the soil, this result in no risk of soil organisms causing disease, however the plants have to be supported. When monitoring and adjusting the concentrations of minerals in the solution, this enables the farmer to control growth. An example of hydroponics is tomatoes, they are grown using hydroponics for easy and optimised conditions that this particular method supplies. There are vast amounts of advantages of disadvantages. The advantages include; hydroponics allows crops to be grown in regions where theres no soil. Also there is no need for a lot of farming land as it allows crops to be produced in greenhouses, it is a stable method for reliable growth and ensures high yields for the farmer. By hardly any farming land being required, costs are relatively low on that front. Furthermore the desired nutrient for the environment can be easily provided for plant growth, meaning that the growth of rate is increased. There are lower water costs as water is reused in these systems; also less water is lost through evaporation and runoff. Lastly the crops are very easy to harvest, and pests and diseases are easier to get rid of. The Disadvantages include; firstly the initial setup costs are high, as the equipment required for hydroponics is expensive. Moreover hydroponics know-how is required maintain the equipment. Farmers may have to pay someone to come in and fix the greenhouse if broken and maintain the process. In addition if a disease was to appear all plants in the container would be affected, also water borne diseases can quickly spread right through the hydroponic gardens, ruining the crops. Lastly if the hydroponic system fails it can leads to rapid plant death, due to soil not being present as a backup. Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on organic materials instead of pesticides, to provide crops and food. Some of the techniques used are Manure which replaces fertilisers and develops soil structure. Weeding replaces herbicides, they are far more environmental and do not damage your health. Crop rotation replaces single crop, it reduces disease and damage to the soil’s composition. There are numerous amounts of advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include; primarily a major benefit to consumers of organic food is that it is free of contamination with health harming chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides not being present. This is due to alternative methods being in practise. Additionally organically grown plants are nourished naturally, aiding the structural and metabolic integrity, in comparison with crops that have been conventionally grown. As a result of this, organically grown foods can be stored longer; furthermore they do not fall subject to rapid mould.

The Case of the Bambus Essay Example

The Case of the Bambus Essay Example The Case of the Bambus Paper The Case of the Bambus Paper The Case of the Bambus The Story of the Gambus and its Evolution Yap Yuan Li Ben U0921231H AAI481 Studies in Malay Music Nanyang Technological University The Story of the Gambus and its Evolution Introduction The gambus is an omnipresent and most commonly found lute instrument in the various styles of Malay folk music. It is usually made from wood and is formed almost like a guitar but with 9 to 12 wire strings compared to the guitar’s 6 to 12 strings. There are two types of gambus, namely Gambus Melayu which is the Malay gambus and Gambus Hadhramaut which is the Arabian gambus. Both of them originate from similar backgrounds with the Gambus Melayu a modification of the Gambus Hadhramaut. Today, the gambus is recognised as a national musical instrument of Malaysia and a symbol of Malay traditional music identity (Hilarian, 2006). We will explore further in this essay the origins and evolution of gambus and its role in the Malay musical genre of zapin, hamdolok and ghazal. Gambus Melayu The slimmer and smaller pear-shaped gambus Melayu is comparable to the Yemeni qanbus. Its uniqueness is in its ornamented sickle-shaped carved pegbox that has emblems engraved into it (Hilarian, 2003). Its body is made from jackfruit tree wood and it has a goat skin belly. The strings in gambus Melayu is attached and tuned precisely similar to gambus Hadramaut (Nik Mustapha, 1998). The gambus Melayu is frequently used in Zapin and Hamdolok performances in Johor (Matusky, 1985 as cited by Ang, 2005). The sounds of the gambus Melayu can also be heard in Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, Indonesia and Brunei (Hilarian 2006). Gambus Hadhramaut The arched-back, pear-shaped Gambus Hadhramaut is quite similar to the classical Arabian ‘ud (Hilarian, 2003). It is made from a combination of ight wood like red meranti, a type of construction timber and durian belanda. The gambus Hadramaut does not have frets and the strings are plucked and attached in double course except the 11th string. The strings are tuned in perfect 4ths beginning from the highest string from the middle C (Ang, 2005). The Transition of the Gambus from Arab to Malay Culture Studies done by Hilarian (2003, 2007) theorized t hat in the 9th century, Muslim Persian conquerors and traders brought the barbat, an early form of lute instrument, into the Malay Archipelago during their migration to Southeast Asia for entertainment purposes (Sachs, 1940). This is supported by Alatas (1985) who claimed that many Persians and Indians traded in the rich port of Klang, Selangor. The barbat was then modified by Arabs in Mecca to ‘ud and qanbus in Yemen which explains why the gambus bears a striking similarity to barbat, ‘ud and qanbus (During, 1984) down to the tuning in perfect 4ths (Lambert, 1997). In the 16th century, Portugese traders introduced folk music, plucked and bowed stringed instruments to the people of Malacca. However they did not directly influence the introduction of the gambus to the Malay world. The African, Indian and Moorish slaves present at that time integrated their influences of music together with the portugese instruments and created a fusion of music styles that included dondang saying and joget ronggang (Kartomi, 1997). Between the 17th and 18th century, the close ties amongst Johor, Riau and Aceh states via trade, commerce and inter-marriages provided a permeable barrier for gambus to enter the Malay world. Between the 19th and 20th century, the opening of Suez Canal expedited sea journeys from the Middle-East to the Malay world. Many Arabs settled in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia from Hadhramaut (Yemen) bringing along the ‘ud (Alatas, 1997). Consequently, the eminence of gambus Hadhramaut succeeded the gambus Melayu in the late 19th or early 20th century in Peninsular Malaysia. The patronage of gambus by Malay rulers, spread of Islam and the cultural convergence of people facilitated dissemination and modification of the gambus throughout the Malay world (Hilarian, 2006). Uses and Evolution of Gambus Both types of gambus are interchangeable and only one is played during a Malay ensemble performance like zapin, hamdolok and ghazal. They are usually the lead melodic instrument for these ensembles and are essential because the sound of gambus is linked to Islam and carries the essence of the Malay vibe. For example, gambus is played in Islamic singing and in taksim (solo performances) during Islamic events like Hari Raya Puasa and Haji. Moreover, the use of gambus associates the ensembles with particular genres of Malay traditional music (Hilarian, 2003, 2007). Zapin Zapin is a form of traditional dance complemented with music by rhythmic characteristics and singing. It uses the voice, the gambus, violin, harmonium, accordion, marwas and dok (Ang, 2005). Anis (1993) asserted that zapin originated from Hadhramaut and is maintained in Malaysia in its original form, named zapin Arab and as a modified form, named zapin Melayu. The zapin Melayu in Johor today is a product of intermarriage of the Arab and Malay cultures literally with modifications by the Malay community over time (Hilarian, 2003). Zapin songs reflect a blending of Malay and Islamic influences. Zapin Melayu has evolved from a group dance of solely males in zapin Arab to that of two separate rows of male and females. Adhering to the Islamic influence, the sexes do not touch during the dance. The entire zapin Melayu repertoire also reflects the love of the Malays for nature. The dance moves are inspired by chickens and fish and interpreted in stylistic refined movements including small graceful jumps. For instance, like a chicken with a broken leg (ragam anak ayam patah) or fish wriggling on mudflats. The men and women dance without shoes and adorn themselves in traditional Malay apparels. The sarong is not tied but held throughout the performance reflecting the past Malay women culture in attempts to protect their modesty. Md. Anis (1993) however is concerned with the recent situation of zapin. He argues that any changes to zapin or any other Malay genres for that matter must be sensitive to its past and values. Historically, zapin Melayu was meant for play and family entertainment. Now, with it being showcased in performances, the dance moves are exaggerated and the production glamorized with special effects. He frowns upon modern choreographs where females raise their arms too high thereby revealing parts of their arms. In addition, the attention of Malay performances today seem to focus more on fanciful costumes, superseding the beauty of the simple dance. The sarong is also hitched exposing the calves and knees, hence clashing with the original modest values of zapin. Hamdolok Hamdolok is a traditional dance theatre performance found in Johor, originating from the Middle East. It is performed during weddings and includes zapin and inang dance forms too. Instruments used include the tambourine, maracas, conga drums and gambus Melayu (Asmad 1990). Today, the use of gambus Melayu sadly remains only in hamdolok. Ghazal Ghazal, a popular music genre in Johor, is formed from the fusion of elements from two or cultures and a modification of the shared features as aforementioned of the mix between various ethnic music influences. The word ghazal in Arabic means poetry of love and it aims to serenade. The ghazal originated from India and arrived in Johor from Riau-Lingga before 1870s. Songs were formally sung in Hindi are supplemented by the sharinggi, sitar, tabla and harmonium (Ang, 2005). In Johor, ghazal has evolved. Johor players substituted the original sitar with the violin and sharinggi with gambus Melayu initially, and then with ghazal Hadramaut subsequently. Songs are now sung in Malay but still mirror its Hindustani and Persian influences prominently. The song titles are also uniquely Malay because they are written about nature and love. For instance, songs were written about the full moon and â€Å"Pak Ngah balik† meaning Pak Ngah has returned. Today, modern ghazal groups also include instruments like mandolin, guitar, flute, Japanese drum and ukulele (Mohd Ishak, 1978, as cited by Ang, 2005). Is The Gambus Gaining Popularity? 18-year-old Fauziah Suhaili from Sabah, Malaysia who recently won the Gambus Fest Female Solo performance competition faced a mountain of challenges from the start. She had to gain approval from her elders as well as earn that trust to play the gambus. Fortunately, she has received much support from the gambus community in Sabah which enabled her to achieve so much (Fauziah, n. . ). However, especially in the states of Kelantan and Trengganu, these success stories are not as prevalent with the number of gambus female players dwindling. In 1950s, numerous female players in Johor contributed significantly to the music. However, in present times, women are limited to singing in traditional musical ensembles. Similarly, in Brunei, women are discouraged to play the gambus over the last 25 years. The school of Islamic practice in Brunei also generally dissuades women from playing music or performing with men. Other than Fauziah Suhaili, it appears that our generation of youths are not interested in traditional Malay music like ghazal because of widespread dissemination of popular Western culture into the traditional music space (Hilarian, 2007). Conclusion Gambus in zapin, hamdolok and ghazal has evolved innovatively through the decades and is now an expression of Malay culture. The residual distinctive characters from its original forms are clearly evident but the profound changes allow it to be proudly called a symbol of the Malay traditional and contemporary music distinctiveness. However, traditional Malay music has not received much support from the media, especially in Singapore unlike other styles like Chinese and Indian music which has deep roots locally and are always portrayed in media for awareness. The dominance of Western music, ideals and pop culture has intruded into the Singapore’s Malay community, infringing the space of traditional Malay Music. It will be a disaster if this dying art gets killed off in our generation and that beautiful traditional Malay music we take for granted so easily would be only a myth for our future generations. Much support and efforts by the younger and older generation are needed in tandem with the media and government funding to revive this dying treasure back to its glory days. References i) Alatas, S. F. (1985). Notes on Various Theories Regarding the Islamization of the Malay Archipelago. Muslim World, 75, No. 3-4, 162-175. ii) Ang, M. K. (2005). Musical Malaysia. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from musicmall-asia. com/minni/index. html iii) During, J. (1984). In S. S. (Ed. ). The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. London: Macmillan Publishers Limited. v) Fauziah Suhailah/ Gambus (n. d. ). Fauziah Gambus. Retrieved October 28, 2009 from http://fauziahgambus. synthasite. com/ v) Hilarian, L. F. (2003). Gambus (lutes) of the Malay World- Its Origins and Significance in Zapin Music. Presentation of paper at A Symposium in Memory of John Blacking, 12-14 July 2003, University of Western Australia. vi) Hilarian, L. F. (2006). The Folk Lute (Gambus), and its Symbolic Expression in Ma lay Muslim Culture. Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Studies XXXII. vii) Hilarian, L. F. (2007). The Migration of Lute-Type Instruments to The Malay-Muslim World. Presentation of paper at the Conference of Music in The World of Islam, 8-13 August 2007, Assilah. viii) Kartomi, Margaret J. (1984) . Gambus.. The New Groves Dictionary of Musical Instruments, (ed. ) Stanley Sadie, London: Macmillan, No. 2, 9-10. ix) Lambert, J. (1997. La medecine de l. ame, Hommes et Musiques. Paris: Societe d. ethnologie, France x) Matusky, P. (1982). Music from Malaysia. Resound. I/4: 1-2. xi) Matusky, P. (1982). Musical Instruments and Musicians of the Malay Shadow Puppet Theater. Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society. VIII(1982): 38-68. ii) Mohd. Anis Md. Nor. (1993). Zapin-Folk Dance of the Malay World. London: Oxford University Press. xiii) Mohd Ishak Abdul Aziz. (1978). Ghazal. Kuala Lumpur: Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. xiv) Nik Mustapha Nik Mohd. Salleh (1998). Alat Muzik Tradisional Dalam Masyarakat Melayu Di Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Kementerian kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Pelancongan Malaysia. xv) Pickens, L. (1975) Folk Musical Ins truments of Turkey. London: Oxford University Press. xvi) Sachs, C. (1940). The History of Musical Instruments. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Inc. Publishers.

An Element Of Art And Science

An Element Of Art And Science Essay Astrology provides a very debatable kind of knowledge that is generally assessed by the intelligent as a useless kind of knowledge, which only makes sense for the ignorant. At the same time astrology is usually associated with gypsies and hucksters, who are known for their deceptive and fake knowledge, as they try to deceive people for their own financial interest. On the other hand, we find people with high education attempting to study astrology and very much respect the kind of knowledge it offers them. Whether such knowledge offered through teaching astrology in universities is worth doing or to be considered an inapplicable knowledge for high education is a critical decision to make, which requires obtaining a great insight about astrology it self as an academic field in order to be able to make a correct assessment. Astrology is actually a combined form of knowledge that both combine both the element of art and of science in its essence. It contains the mathematical element as well as the artistic element o symbolism (Astrology 891). Scientists usually disregard the art side of astrology and focus on the basic mathematical part of it, as they judge it as useless and insignificant. This actually destroys the wholeness and balance within the realm itself. This may be considered a reason for misunderstanding the real value of knowledge in astrology. It is also a fact that every field is vulnerable to be used by ignorant people who devoid it totally of its meaning and value, in order to sell it as cheap as possible in a market of ignorance that unfortunately have many customers who are wiling to buy, again this helps in misunderstanding Astrology (Astrology 891); and as there is the presence of the competent and the incompetent in every field, and people usually search for the best in every profession, so why exclude Astrology (Astrology 896). Astrology requires a sophisticated kind of thinking as it combines artistic and scientific knowledge, it can therefore never be considered as insignificant knowledge. It may not be appreciated by scientists due to the artistic element provided within it, and their total dependence on reason for discovering reality since the onset of the renaissance; thus reviving such forms of knowledge actually, shows the evolution of knowledge and thinking that reflects the significance of intuitive forms of knowledge besides the pure rational ones. The astrological knowledge in itself consists of a natural balance between intuitive and rational knowledge, and disturbing this balance will only lead to the production of inconsistent forms of knowledge that seem to appear on the surface to help in the generation of misunderstandings regarding astrology. The argument of scientists against Astrology reflects the on going disagreement between scientific knowledge and intuitive forms of knowledge. Scientists never admit the truth in any intuitive understanding, and they usually regarded as invalid. They never accept the fact the mystery is part of reality and that the rational mind can never be able to reach full understanding of the universe. Astrology is a balanced kind of knowledge as it respects both forms of thinking, which in fact a respect for nature and for the human being as part of that nature. I feel that the purpose of a reading is to understand ones life challenges And potential, to provide an opportunity for self reflection and life Evaluation, as well as to confirm ones intuitive sense of what ones Life is about (Astrology 895). Human beings as well as nature are made of matter and soul that can never be detached from each other as long as life is there. How can scientists reach the truth if they are actually altering the natural balance in life by looking for material proof and ignoring the intuitive reality of nature? The soul remains a mystery that can never be explained by scientific truth, and science can not resolve the question of life and death. There fore, accepting astrology as a significant form of knowledge by a scientist is truly a question of him admitting intuition as a part of reality. READ: Gay Rights EssayFrom another side, if the issue had not been on intuition, regarding astrology, it is still a form of knowledge that surely provides the individual with some insight about life and introduces him to different kinds of thinking; it should be even credited for this reason alone, my studies in Astrology, as well as in other fields, are attempts to understand the grand design of the whole (Astrology 894). Scientists also accuse Astrological interpretive knowledge of not being exact stars incline but do not compel (A critical 882), and this fact works against scientific logic which is sharp and determinant. But actually, life in it self is never exact or straight forward and clear as mathematical knowledge entails for instance. Astrology may actually provide the best for of understanding of life and nature; it allows people to understand reality the way it is without trying to alter its nature. The whole issue of prediction and future related knowledge can never be definite or fully explainable, to discuss future probabilities is much like giving a weather report (Astrology 896). On the other hand, it should be admitted that Astrological knowledge may help in creating dependent and weak individuals, if they used it wrongly. It might lead them to spin in a cycle, which they might not be able to break. People can stress too much on the intuitive knowledge in Astrology and thus once again altering its balance of logic and intuition and thus getting again a wrong insight about life and nature, with an accompanied change in personality and attitude to life Astrology, when practiced as completely as possible, takes away from ach of us our right and duty to make our own personal decisions (A Critical 882). In the case of a scientist who puts great emphasis on logic and excludes intuition, makes him a rough and rigid person who stands weak in front of the scientifically unexplained mysteries of the world; while in the case of the ignorant who does the opposite to give too much significance to intuition and disregards reason suffers another kind of weakness that creates a dependent and shattered personality. But again we must also admit that this would be the case with any field if wrongly interpreted. All in all, I believe that Astrology is a sophisticated form of knowledge that should be respected for the special thinking abilities it provides an individual who studies it. It also reflects on the importance of providing a balance between Art and Science, and thus between logic and intuition, which is found deep within the nature of man and the universe he lives in. I would very strongly recommend all institutions of high education to teach Astrology in order to correct the misunderstanding entitled to it, and thus expose the rich and deep knowledge it provides.

Discuss the impact of LUNG DISEASE (excluding that caused by asbestos) Essay

Discuss the impact of LUNG DISEASE (excluding that caused by asbestos) in the workplace - Essay Example Though the air we inhale contains mostly oxygen and nitrogen, it also has things that can damage the lungs. Bacteria, viruses, tobacco smoke, car exhaust, and other pollutants ate present abundantly in air. People with lung disease have difficulty in normal breathing. These breathing problems may prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. It is not a surprise that people with lung disease find it difficult to work as normal people, walk and swim, run or does any other work as normal person. This paper discusses the impact of lung disease in the workplace. By understanding some basics about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its symptoms, it is possible to analyses its impact on the every day work or its impact on the workplace. COPD is a condition in which the air passages are damaged, leading to shortness of breath and increased coughing. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are forms of COPD. In the case of emphysema, the lung’s air sacs loose their elasticity. As a result of this the exchange of oxygen to carbon dioxide becomes very difficult. Additionally, the air sacs are often damaged, leaving fewer of them to do the work. These factors result in the shortness of breath and make it very difficult for a person to perform normal work. Chronic bronchitis is another form of COPD. In this case the small airways within the lungs become inflamed and harden over time. Besides the cilia which are the small protective hairs that clear mucus also losses its effectiveness and the mucus glands enlarge. The narrowed airways together with increased mucus cause congestion and coughing and make it more difficult to breathe. There are many who have both emphysema as well as chronic bronchitis. Most people with these diseases find breathing trouble to be the most problematic among the symptoms (Wilkinson, 2002). According to studies it is said that COPD is the only primary cause of death that is ever-increasing in occurrence. Even though it is a well known

The travels of a t-shirt in the global economy by Pietra Rivoli, Ph.D Essay

The travels of a t-shirt in the global economy by Pietra Rivoli, Ph.D - Essay Example In the preface, the author guides to the preview of the protests against cotton materials. The protests attribute the cotton industry to abuse of human rights. Protesters called backlash in the book refuse to buy t-shirts made from cotton because of the perception that cotton industry involves in child labor, human trafficking, unfair employment terms, and unsustainable compensations. The student protesters joined other human rights activists to campaign against global trade conferences. The reasons for the oppositions were that globalization is the reason behind maltreatment of workers in cotton and other industries. In the book, Pietra Rivoli seems to want to dismiss or challenge the idea that anti-cotton protesters have towards globalization and international trade. Majority of the impactful protesters are Americans who seem to curse the way the global cotton industry operates to make t-shirts available. To the protesters, before the t-shirt they buy reaches the market, it passes through child labor, underpaid workers, and poor working conditions (Rivoli VI). However, the book acknowledges that the success of the American cotton industry partly depends on the cheap labor obtained through slavery. Cotton growing is a big economic and agricultural activity in the Southern frontier. Wealthy people rank according to the hectors of cotton farm owned and the quantity of cotton possible harvested from the farms. The significance of the US cotton industry is comparable to the Swiss pharmaceutical industry, Japanese automaker industry, and the Germany chemical industry. Unfavorable climatic conditions in the industrialized countries make it hard to produce cotton in large quantities. It is for the reason that America does not have a serious competition that would come from producers of similar status (Rivoli 4). This state leaves America to compete some of the

Jails and Prisons Essay Example for Free

Jails and Prisons Essay Jails and prisons are both types of sanctions that are used for convicted offenders that have committed crimes, but there are many differences in the two. â€Å"Jails are locally operated short- term confinement facilities originally built to hold suspects following arrest and pending trail. Today’s jails also serve these purposes: * They receive individuals pending arraignment and hold them awaiting trail, conviction or sentencing. * They readmit probation, parole, and bail-bond violators and absconders. * They temporarily detain juveniles, the mentally ill, and others pending transfer to appropriate facilities. * They hold individuals for the military, for protective custody, for contempt, and for the courts as witnesses. * They release convicted inmates to the community upon completion of their sentence. * They transfer inmates to federal, state, or other authorities. * They house inmates for federal, state or other authorities because of overcrowding in their facilities. * They operate community-based programs with day reporting, home detention, electronic monitoring, or other types of supervision. * They hold inmates sentenced to short terms (generally less than one year)† (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 486). But when it comes down to giving a description of prisons on the other hand are not quite as detailed. â€Å"The primary function of prisons is to hold convicted felons, usually serving a sentence of one year or more, whereas convicted felons serving shorter sentences usually serve their time in local jails. Inmates consider jail sentences very â€Å"hard time,† since jails do not have the full range of education, vocational training, work, recreational, or other treatment programs that area available in prisons. Since prisons are designed to hold inmates for longer terms they need to provide a full range of programs, both for rehabilitative purposes and to keep inmates productively busy† (Seiter, 2011, p. 140). The funding for county jails come from the local county from which the jail is in, they charge the cities a fee for housing their inmates. For example the jail that is local to me here house inmates from surrounding cities which in turn pay them which helps to pay the county employees as well as the up keep of the county jail. State jails funding comes from the state in which it is in some state jails are contracted out to the prison to ease overcrowding in the prison systems. Therefore it leads to the state giving those funds that would have normally been given to the prisons. State prison funds also come from people paying their state taxes and when state taxes are charged on a purchase. Federal prisons are funded by the federal government and also by the federal taxes. There are more types of prisons than there are jails, because the offenders spend a little bit momore time more time here than at jails in some situations. Maximum security prisons are for the most dangerous offenders who are kept in their cells for approximately 23 hours a day and get only one hour a day out of their cell for recreation. Medium security prisons are mostly dormitories that have a double fence around the perimeter. They also have the group toilet and sink on the dormitory. Minimum security has mostly dormitories also which has either a single perimeter fence or no fence around them. These dormitories are equipped with showers, toilets, and sinks. There is usually one officer assigned to these dormitories that house about 150 or 160 offenders that are assigned here to live. The majority of the inmates that are assigned to these types of units usually have offenders that are getting ready to go home in less than a year or less. Prisons comes in all different shapes and sizes it all depends upon what types of inmates that they are housing in these particular units. If the prison house mostly maximum security offenders then it will be one of the larger units that have a lot of cellblocks on them because all of these inmates have to be single celled and placed in a single yard when it comes time for recreation. These units are usually the large ones that will hold anywhere from 2000 offenders up to 2500 offenders. Where on the other hand if the offenders that are placed on a unit are medium security offenders then the unit does not have to be so large it could be about 800 offenders all the way up to 1100 offenders because they are all on dorms. This is one of the units that will be set up to have nothing but dorms within the perimeter fence, there will be no cellblocks and not as many staff members would be needed as with the maximum security unit. Minimum security are basically where there are very few officers needed for security because most of these offenders are ones that are getting ready to go home in a year or less and just want to do their time and get out sooner or later. These units’ capacity levels are usually around 2000 offenders no more than about 2200 capacity being that they have a little bit more freedom than the maximum or medium security offenders. Reference Page Seiter, R., (2011) Corrections an introduction (3rd ed).Pearson Prentice- Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. May, D., Minor, K., Ruddell, R., and Matthews, B., (2008) Corrections and the Criminal Justice System. Jones and Barlett Publishers, Inc. Schmalleger, F., (2009) Criminal Justice Today(10th ed). Pearson Prentice- Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Capital Punishment Essay: Death Penalty Not Consistent with Democracy

Death Penalty Not Consistent with Democracy    Many laws consider a premeditated crime more serious than a crime of pure violence. But what then is capital punishment but the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminal's deed, however calculated it may be, can be compared? For there to be equivalence, the death penalty would have to punish a criminal who had warned his victim of the date at which he would inflict a horrible death on him and who, from that moment onward, had confined him at his mercy for years.    The Council of Europe declares, "The death penalty can no longer be regarded as an acceptable form of punishment from a human rights perspective. It is an arbitrary, discriminatory and irreversible sanction when judicial errors, which can never be entirely ruled out, cannot be reversed."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In fact, the Council went so far as to create a Protocol No. 6 in 1983, which abolished capital punishment in peacetime. All new member states must ratify this legislation and, so far, 39 of the 41 member states of the council have done so.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nonetheless, 17 years after the Council of Europe adopted Protocol No. 6, the United States remains one of the few staunch Western defenders of capital punishment. Both mainstream Presidential candidates in the United States firmly supported the death penalty, and one candidate, George W. Bush, personally signed off on 35 executions in 1999 while governor of Texas. Why has capital punishment, which has been condemned by most Western democracies, continued to have such strong support in the United States?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Obviously, Europe and the United States are very different places, but it is ... ...ms cited by the Council as justification for the abolition of capital punishment remain unaddressed in the United States today. Capital punishment is still arbitrary, discriminatory, and irreversible in America. Yet, despite these, and other, compelling reasons to abolish capital punishment, our nation still defends this barbaric, uncivilized and cruel practice.    To many Americans, capital punishment is a quick fix to a national crime problem. We have been willing to overlook the gross injustices of the practice because we have convinced ourselves that it is making America a safer community. Acceptance of this myth must stop. The United States should follow Europe's lead and acknowledge that the administration of capital punishment in this country is an inherently unfair judicial practice. We must demand a moratorium on the death penalty in America now.   

Microsoft Swot

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington that develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a wide range of products and services related to computing. The company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. Microsoft is the world's largest software maker measured by revenues. It is also one of the world's most valuable companies. Microsoft was established to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800.It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems. The company's 1986 initial public offering, and subsequent rise in its share price, created an estimated three billionaires and 12,000 millionaires from Microsoft employees. Since the 1990s, it has increasingly diversified from the operating system market and has made a number of corporate acquisitions. In May 2011, Microsoft acquir ed Skype Technologies for $8. 5 billion in its largest acquisition to date.  «About Microsoft inc. As of 2012, Microsoft is market dominant in both the PC operating system and office suite markets (the latter with Microsoft Office). The company also produces a wide range of other software for desktops and servers, and is active in areas including internet search (with Bing), the video game industry (with the Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles), the digital services market (through MSN), and mobile phones (via the Windows Phone OS). In June 2012, Microsoft announced that it would be entering the PC vendor market for the first time, with the launch of the Microsoft Surface tablet computer.In the 1990s, critics began to contend that Microsoft used monopolistic business practices and anti-competitive strategies including refusal to deal and tying, put unreasonable restrictions in the use of its software, and used misrepresentative marketing tactics; both the U. S. Department of Justice and Eu ropean Commission found the company in violation of antitrust laws. Microsoft just lost a world-record to Apple. Microsoft was valued to $619 billion during the last tech bubble in 2000, and the current value of Apple is $623 billion – so Apple currently is the most valuable publicly traded company of all time (If you ignore inflation.IBM was worth $1. 3 trillion in 1967 if you adjust for inflation). Microsoft seems to lose more and more of their market shares to competitors. Google's web-browser Chrome is the largest web-browser – Microsoft Explorer has the second place. Is Microsoft the next large tech company to fall into the graveyard of the old once mighty forgotten companies? To find out, one way is to make a SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis StrengthsWeaknesses †¢Strong brand †¢Increasing research and development investments †¢High financial strength†¢Lack of innovations †¢Bugs †¢No proud users OpportunitiesThreats Windows 8 †¢Xbox 720 †¢New logo†¢Piracy †¢Tablets competition †¢Open source model Strengths †¢Microsoft is the number 1 in the following areas: oXbox 360 – 47 percent of the market before Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii oOffice – 94 percent of the market  «Microsoft. com » oWindows is the largest operating system in the world – 92 percent of the market before Apple with 6 percent  «Microsoft. com » †¢Microsoft may not always be number 1, but they are number 2: oExplorer is the second largest web-browser – behind Google Chrome oBing is the second largest search engine – behind Google Sometimes you don't have a choice. If you are buying a PC today, you are going to buy it with Microsoft Windows pre-installed. If you are working at a large company, you are going to use Microsoft Office †¢Microsoft is a company with a high financial strength: oDistributes a dividend 4 times each year – currently $0. 23 per share oAre buy ing back shares – the 2012 outstanding shares have decreased by 16. 6 percent since 2006 oRevenues in 2012 have increased to $73,723 million from $44,282 million in 2006 oEarnings per share in 2012 have increased to $2. 72 from $1. in 2006  «Can the once mighty Microsoft rise again?  » Weaknesses †¢Lack of innovation. Microsoft and Facebook both spent about $1 billion. Facebook bought Instagram, and Microsoft bought patents  «Microsoft. com » †¢Lack of innovative company culture. The employees are competing with each other – not with other companies – thanks to the management system inside Microsoft that says that everyone in a group can't be top performers. Each unit is forced to declare a certain percentage of employees as top performers, good performers, average, and poor – no matter how good they are.One of the employees said: â€Å"It was always much less about how I could become a better engineer and much more about my need to imp rove my visibility among other managers. †  «Can the once mighty Microsoft rise again?  » †¢Bugs – Microsoft has a reputation for making software with bugs. Everyone can remember when Bill Gates was going to make a presentation and the famous blue screen appeared. Go and check it out here if you have missed it: YouTube. Have you ever seen a similar presentation by Apple?The problem with creating a software such as Windows is that Windows needs to work with many different computers from different manufacturers. It is easier for Apple to create software without bugs since they are manufacturing their own computers †¢No dedicated users. Apple users loves to show that they are using Apple devices, but who's proud of using a device from Microsoft? Opportunities †¢Next generation products such as Windows 8 and Xbox 720 †¢Microsoft has just changed its corporate logo – and the logo now includes a symbol Threats Microsoft is a PC company while mor e and more people are shifting to mobile and tablets. They are trying their best with Surface – their own tablet. It's hard to compete with Apple today since you also have to compete with iTunes Store with millions of apps. If you create a better iPhone competitor, people are still going to use the iPhone because of all the apps available †¢Open source models: oLibre Office is free and as good as Microsoft Office if you are only using the basic functions oOuya – the open source Android video game console may be a low-cost competitor to the Xbox

Kafka’s Metamorphosis: Transformations in Gregor’s Family Essay

While it is apparent that the term metabolism chiefly pertains to the unaccountable alterations that Gregor Samsa faced. it may besides be said that the other characters experienced a metabolism of their ain. Specifically. despite Gregor’s bad luck and eventual death. considerable alterations have manifested for the benefit of Gregor’s household such as his male parent recovering enthusiasm in work ( Mallison 15 ) . To farther explain. Gregor Samsa’s sudden alteration in an insect has caused his household to alter their ways in order to last. Taking into consideration that Gregor chiefly provided for the demands of his household prior to his transmutation. it was decidedly no longer a pick for his male parent. female parent. and sister to pass their yearss lazily or fruitlessly. In add-on to such alterations. their mode of perceptual experience was altered throughout the patterned advance of the narrative every bit good. In peculiar. a metabolism besides occurred in how they perceived Gregor Samsa’s humanity and being. Therefore. it is so incontrovertible that Gregor’s father. female parent. and sister all underwent a procedure of metabolism as good albeit non in visual aspect but instead in footings of their actions and beliefs. Gregor provided for the demands of his household wholly. as they no longer had to busy themselves with any signifier of labor and labour. As noted in the narrative. Gregor â€Å"felt a great pride that he was able to supply a life like that in such a nice place for his sister and parents† ( Kafka 22 ) . However. upon recognizing that holding no 1 to back up the household due to Gregor’s unfortunate transmutation into an insect. Gregor’s father knew that he had to alter his ways and one time once more effort to do a life. This was non an easy undertaking though as Gregor’s male parent. holding suffered from unsuccessful concern chases in the yesteryear was â€Å"lacking in ego confidence† ( Kafka 28 ) . However. the male parent that Gregor one time knew. who ever acted and presented himself in a laid back mode. has undergone a considerable metabolism of his ain. Not merely did Gregor’s male parent get a occupation at a banking house. hence explicating a alteration in facets of vesture. a genuinely across-the-board transmutation is signified by holding â€Å"piercing dark eyes. that looked out fresh and alert† ( Kafka 36 ) . With such great alterations. it becomes evident that by the terminal of the narrative Gregor’s male parent was no longer a adult male haunted by failure. but alternatively embodied deserving and gained a renewed hungriness for achievements. In add-on to his father’s transmutation. Gregor’s female parent and sister underwent metabolism every bit good. First. it may look that Gregor’s female parent. being faced with a serious wellness status would non be able to alter her ways or to presume more duties. Particularly. Gregor’s female parent â€Å"suffered from asthma and it was a strain for her merely to travel about the home† ( Kafka 28 ) . However. as brought Forth by the alterations in their family. in add-on to perchance seeing the notable transmutation of his hubby. she was besides able to populate a more productive life style. Interestingly. the undertaking that Gregor’s female parent accomplished in order to farther procure the fiscal stableness of her household required minimum physical strain ; she â€Å"sew fancy underclothes for a manner shop† ( Kafka 39 ) . Grete. Gregor’s sister. on the other manus really got a proper occupation. following the stairss of her brother as she â€Å"had taken a gross revenues job† ( Kafka 39 ) . Albeit antecedently non seeing the demand to procure duties of her ain. her metabolism really foremost occurred when she felt the demand to care for her brother ; holding to carry through the most basic jobs without fail. even though she ne'er became accustomed to his brother’s new signifier. Throughout the points mentioned above. it becomes clear that the other members of Gregor’s household underwent a metabolism in their actions or more specifically in their duties and chases. Regardless. it transformations in footings of belief or perceptual experience should non be disregarded. To elaborate. the mode in which they believed or perceived Gregor as a household member. despite his abhorrent province. has besides undergone a metabolism throughout the narrative. Once earlier. Gregor’s mother even questioned the impression of taking all furniture from Gregor’s room. claiming that â€Å"it’d be best to go forth the room precisely the manner it was before so that when Gregor comes back to us once more he’ll happen everything unchanged† ( Kafka. 32 ) . With such words. it is obvious that there is still a belief that Gregor is so the insect before them. merely holding gone through a impermanent metabolism. a mere ordeal which would shortly go through. However. as Gregor’s household shortly became more self-sufficing. their perceptual experiences sing Gregor finally changed. In the terminal. even Gregor’s most darling sister exclaimed the followers: â€Å"I don’t want to name this monster my brother. all I can state is: we have to seek and acquire rid of it† ( Kafka. 49 ) . The metabolism of each member of Gregor’s household would non hold been possible if his ain metabolism has non occurred. Hence. metabolism in this sense may besides be pertained to as an exchange or tradeoff between luck and bad luck. or between accomplishment and debasement. Particularly. such a position would most be most interesting to farther emphasize in the context of Grete. As Hill specifically references in a unfavorable judgment of Kafka’s work. â€Å"the narrative unhappily implies that merely false semblance can go a redemptive ideal. merely under its clasp can life blossom† ( 162 ) . Even though non faced with a desperate demand to gain or to accomplish fiscal success. as other members of the household have gained proper occupations. Grete still aimed to prosecute similar ends. It is decidedly challenging to larn that she has acquired a similar occupation to that his brother one time held. connoting that she may be seeking to finish the spread left by her brother as a gesture of regard. In decision. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is non simply a narrative sing peculiar alterations experienced by an single but most significantly Tells of how such alterations may convey forth a myriad of possible results for others. Works Cited Hill. Stanley. â€Å"Kafka’s Metamorphosis. † Explicator 61. 3 ( 2003 ) : 161 – 162. Print. Kafka. Franz. The Metamorphosis. Vista. Calcium: Boomer Books. 2008. Print. Mallison. Jane. Book Smart: Your Essential Reading List for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days. New York. New york: McGraw Hill Companies. 2007. Print.

Understanding Indifference Curves and How to Plot Them

Understanding Indifference Curves and How to Plot Them In order to understand the highs and lows of production or consumption of goods or services, one can use an indifference curve to demonstrate consumer or producer preferences within the limitations of a budget.   Indifference curves  represent a series of scenarios wherein factors like worker productivity or consumer demand is matched against different economic goods, services, or productions, between which an individual in the market would theoretically be indifferent regardless of which scenario he or she  takes part. It is important in constructing an indifference curve to first understand the factors that vary in any given curve and how those affect the indifference of the consumer in that given scenario. Indifference curves operate on a variety of assumptions, including that no two indifference curves ever intersect and that the curve is convex to its origin. Understanding the Mechanics of Indifference Curves Essentially, indifference curves exist in economics  to determine the best choice of goods or services for a consumer given that particular consumers income and investment capital, wherein the optimal point on an indifference curve is where it correlates with the consumers budget restraints. Indifference curves also rely on other core principles of microeconomics including individual choice, marginal utility theory, income and substitution  effects, and the subjective theory of value, according to Investopedia, where all other means remain stable unless charted on an indifference curve themselves. This reliance on core principles allows for the curve to truly express the levels of satisfaction of a consumer for any good, or the level of production for a producer, within a given budget, but again must also take into account that they could be oversimplifying a markets demand for a good or service; the results of an indifference curve should not be taken as a direct reflection of the real demand for that good or service. Constructing an Indifference Curve Indifference curves are plotted on a graph according to a system of equations, and according to Investopedia, Standard indifference curve analysis operates on a simple two-dimensional graph. One kind of economic good is placed on each axis. Indifference curves are drawn based on the consumers presumed indifference. If more resources become available, or if the consumers income rises, higher indifference curves are possible – or curves that are farther away from the origin. That means that when constructing an indifference curve map, one must place one good on the X-axis and one on the Y-axis, with the curve representing indifference for the consumer wherein any points that fall above this curve would be optimal while those below would be inferior and the entire graph exists within the confines of the consumers ability (income) to purchase those goods. In order to construct these, one must simply input a set of data - for instance, a consumers satisfaction with getting x-number of toy cars and x-number of toy soldiers while shopping - across this moving graph, determining the points by what is available for purchase given the consumers income.

Evaluate the recommendation to provide a tax system with a neutral Assignment

Evaluate the recommendation to provide a tax system with a neutral treatment of life-cycle savings for the vast majority of taxpayers (as described in chapter 13) - Assignment Example In order to restore the health of the treasury and the public finances, the government revised the tax structure which aimed at increasing the tax receipts from the public in UK. The income tax, national insurance taxes, value-added tax and the corporation taxes are the largest contributors to the tax receipts of the government (James, 2009, p.74). Thus the modification of the tax structure of UK has implications for the household savings and has affected the life cycle savings of the households. On the same lines, a new higher income rate of 50% has been announced for individuals with income level over 1.47 billion pounds. The tax structure has also removed the income tax personal allowance in order to make for increased payment of taxes by the government. The tax rates for National Insurance have also been increased by 1%. In order to reduce the impacts on the low earning class of people, the threshold for the national insurance have been increased. The tax structure has also aboli shed the reduced rate of value-added taxes that apply to the selected goods and services offered by the producers. The review of the current tax system in UK revealed that the tax structure is costly and not uniform in terms of lifecycle savings of the individuals. The current tax structure urges the individuals and the households to spend earlier in their lives rather than waiting for the later stages. The current tax system has been reviewed to find that it would lead to rising inflation rates in the economy. The current tax system of UK has been reviewed to find that there are varying tax rates of 40%, 50% and 60% for people belonging to various income brackets. The increases in the income tax, national insurance tax, reduction of personal income tax allowance are measures that could excessively reduce the income levels of the economy and could also lead to higher rates of unemployment. Therefore, it has been

International Business Alliance case-writing Essay

International Business Alliance case-writing - Essay Example In 1996, TSYS and VISA U.S.A.'s Merchant Bank Services formed the for-profit Vital Processing Services LLC joint venture, combining both companies' merchant processing units, which together processed nearly three billion transactions in 1995. TSYS has also expanded into new areas to combat the increasing maturation of the U.S. credit card industry. In 1995, TSYS, which has long serviced banks in Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, took its first steps to transform itself into an international company. TSYS formed the joint venture Total System Services de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. with Controladora PROSA, an 11-bank partnership representing 75 percent of Mexico's card-issuing banks. The joint venture added four million accounts, giving TSYS de Mexico 40 percent of that country's credit card accounts. TSYS has also expanded beyond traditional credit card markets by winning the processing business of United States Medical Finance Corp.'s USMed Card, a medical credit card. An alliance with Fair , Isaac and Company subsidiary DynaMark, Inc., formed in 1995, has enabled TSYS to extend its services to its clients with dynamic database marketing capabilities. TSYS generates revenues through the volume, rather than the amount, of transactions made on the credit cards it services. In 1995, TSYS revenues neared $250 million, producing a net income of $27.7 million. TSYS is led by Chairman and CEO Richard Ussery, Vice-chairman Kenneth Evans, and President Philip Tomlinson, all three long-time employees of parent company Synovus Financial Corp. That company, formerly known as Columbus Bank & Trust, owns 81 percent of TSYS's stock; TSYS management controls an additional ten percent of the company's shares, with the remainder trading on the New York Stock Exchange. In the 1950s, it was barely possible to speak of a credit card "industry." When tiny Columbus Bank & Trust (CB&T) issued a credit card to its local depositors in 1959, it was only the second bank in Georgia, and among the very first in the country, to do so. A credit processing operation was set up in the bank's basement; processing was done manually, as computers were still rare and software was even rarer. Through the first half of the 1960s, the bank's credit department grew from processing transactions from some 200 local merchants to 3,000. In 1966, CB&T built a separate operations building, and, after attempting to form a joint venture with W.C. Bradley Company to computerize processing, CB&T installed its own computer. Finding trained computer operators was difficult and expensive; instead, the bank trained some of its own personnel, establishing a computer department. By 1969 the company was writing its own software to handle processing of its credit card accounts. Joining the team developing the bank's software programs was Richard Ussery, then in his fourth year with the bank (he joined CB&T as a teller in 1965). As more banks instituted credit cards and struggled to process accounts, they were attracted to CB&T's processing system. Ussery told Georgia Trend of