Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Popular Science Article Example
Popular Science Article Example Popular Science Article – Article Example 1. Popular science article Find a popular science article relating to a topic that we have, or will cover in this semester.  This article can come from a newspaper (ex: New York Times Science section), magazine, popular science magazine (ex: Scientific American) or online science news website.  After reading this article, turn in a copy of the article or article web address along with a 1-page document where you:1. Summarize the article and explain how it relates to the material we’ve covered (will cover) in class2. Explain what you learned by reading the article, or explain why you agree/disagree with the article.3. Explain why this article was written.  (In other words, why is this information important for the public?) Obesity is one of the most daunting issues that continues to haunt the American society. Despite all the evolutions that occurred in the fitness industry, it is clear that obesity continues to plague American society. Obesity, like other health- related behaviors is one of the chief causes for disability. Obesity is not a simple disease resulted from one factor. But it is rather a chronic condition that develops as a result of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors. In addition, it is associated with heart disease, heart stroke, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Undoubtedly, obesity is sky high as two-thirds of the American population is obese. It is evident that children in this current generation has a shorter life expectancy due to high rates of obesity as opposed to children 2 decades ago, which is highly shocking. Without a doubt, obesity is a prevalent problem that is detrimental to society and must be addressed for the health and the wealth of the future generations. I completely agree with the author as she tries to warn her readers about how obesity can be a huge obstacle for the younger generation. With all the advent in the supplement industry, it is quite sad that majority of the society is obese. One of the key points I learned in this article is the fact that there is science behind nutrition that individuals can acquire. Eating the right amount of food and exercising can literally dynamically diminish the health related risks of individuals.The article was clearly written to foreshadow the future of the young generation which is constantly being bombarded with â€Å"supersized meals.†If the younger generation understands the consequences of their nutritional habits, they are more like to modify their lifestyle that can benefit their health. In addition, the younger generation understands the importance of having a good sex appeal, which can push the youth to eat healthy, exercise and adapt a healthy lifestyle. For instance, the education system and the food industry clearly promote an unhealthy eating habits couple with no physical activity for children. It is evident that these factors are key elements towards the rise of obesity rates in society, which must be addressed as society progresses to the 21st century.KOLATA, GINA. "Overweight - Symptoms, Causes, Tests - NY Times Health Information ." Health News - The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2011.
Friday, November 22, 2019
How the Forest and Court Are Shown in As You Like It
How the Forest and Court Are Shown in As You Like It As You Like It is set in a forest, but it is difficult to be clear about the As You Like It setting. Some argue that it is the Forest of Arden that once surrounded Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon; others believe that the As You Like It setting is in Ardennes, France. Forest vs. Court The forest is presented in a more favorable light in that the â€Å"goodies†, Duke Senior and his court, reside there. All of the good characters in the court are banished or exiled to the forest at the start of the play. Duke Senior describes the court as â€Å"painted pomp†¦the envious court†. He goes on to say that in the forest the dangers are real but natural and are preferable to those in the court â€Å"The †¦churlish chiding of the winter’s wind†¦ even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say This is no flattery†(Act 2, Scene 1). He suggests the harsh conditions of the forest are preferable to the pomp and false flattery in the court: That at least in the forest, things are honest. This could be compared to the courtly love between Orlando and Rosalind and the bawdy, primitive but honest love between Touchstone and Audrey. There are also reflections of Robin Hood and his merry men in the lives of Duke Senior and his supporters: â€Å"†¦there they live like the old Robin Hood of England†(Charles; Act 1, Scene 1). This reinforces the positive depiction of the forest as opposed to the negative portrayal of the court. When the evil characters enter the forest they have a sudden change of heart as discussed – suggesting the forest has healing properties. There is, therefore, a sense of foreboding at the end of the play when the characters are to be restored to the court†¦we hope that they will bring some of the natural qualities of forest life with them when they return. In this, Shakespeare may be suggesting that there needs to be a balance between forest and court; living with nature and using your senses should be balanced with living in an ordered, political world where education and social politeness is necessary. If one is too close to nature they may turn out like Touchstone and Audrey but if they are too political, they may become more like Duke Frederick. Duke Senior has struck a happy balance – being educated and gentlemanly having the ability to manage people but also appreciating nature and its offerings. Class and Social Structures The struggle between forest and court also sheds light on the class struggle at the core of the play. Celia disguises her nobility to become a poor woman, Aliena, in the forest. She does this in order to protect herself, presumably from those who would try and steal from her. This gives her freedom she has never enjoyed. Oliver falls for her dressed as Aliena and we know as a result, that his motives are honorable – he is not after her money. This is important in that previously, Oliver’s motives have been questionable. Touchstone and Audrey are seen as more lowly characters but as discussed, are possibly perceived as more honest as a result, they are unable to social climb and therefore don’t need to flatter and lie their way to the top. Duke Senior is happier in the forest without the trappings of his dukedom. Shakespeare may be suggesting that just because you are considered to be ‘high class’ it is not necessarily reflected in your nature – or that in order to social climb one needs to lie and flatter and therefore people at the top of society are the worst kind of people. However, at the end of the play when the Duke is restored to the court we are led to believe that the court will be a better place, perhaps because he has witnessed firsthand what it is like to be poor. He is compared to Robin Hood and as such is considered ‘of the people.’
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Crowdsourcing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words
Crowdsourcing - Research Paper Example This paper analyzes the term â€Å"crowdsourcing†and its various aspects. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of crowdsourcng, features of crowdsourcing, components of crowdsourcing, crowdsourcing process elements, economic benefits of crowdsourcing and the ways where crowdsourcing is being implemented within various disciplines. CrowdSourcing: An overview The word crowdsourcing is basically concerned with the performance of a business or organization completing a task which is formerly carried out by its own employees and subcontracting or outsourcing it to an indeterminate (as well as usually big) system of community as an open call. This is able to acquire the type of peer creation (as the task is carried out jointly), although is as well frequently assumed by exclusive persons. However, the decisive condition is the utilization of the open invitation system and the huge system of prospective employees. To some extent crowdsourcing is perceived as a word which is eas y to interpret, but identifying the significance of the 2 words those usually form the term i.e. crowd and sourcing and it does not actually clarify its implication. In simple words, ‘crowdsourcing refers to the sourcing or extracting somewhat from a crowd or community, or somewhat that it manages outsourcing, that is eventually a right meaning. Moreover, crowdsourcing is an attractive trend that most of the businesses can apply to increase the efficiency of their functions or operations those would usually be managed through internal sources. Some of these functions comprise design/devising, software programs and product solutions, to study the progress policies of the companies... This essay stresses that the word crowdsourcing is basically concerned with the performance of a business or organization completing a task which is formerly carried out by its own employees and subcontracting or outsourcing it to an indeterminate system of community as an open call. This is able to acquire the type of peer creation, although is as well frequently assumed by exclusive persons. However, the decisive condition is the utilization of the open invitation system and the huge system of prospective employees. As the report declaress to some extent crowdsourcing is perceived as a word which is easy to interpret, but identifying the significance of the 2 words those usually form the term i.e. crowd and sourcing and it does not actually clarify its implication. In simple words, ‘crowdsourcing refers to the sourcing or extracting somewhat from a crowd or community, or somewhat that it manages outsourcing, that is eventually a right meaning. Moreover, crowdsourcing is an attractive trend that most of the businesses can apply to increase the efficiency of their functions or operations those would usually be managed through internal sources. Some of these functions comprise design/devising, software programs and product solutions, to study the progress policies of the companies. Crowdsourcing formulates the easy listening of ideas or inspirations. Placing an idea is rapid and easy task to do. Excluding electing, we are able to as well add to a plan by stating it more precisely.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
The Concept of Risk in Different Project Management Approaches Essay
The Concept of Risk in Different Project Management Approaches - Essay Example This is because they are uncertain and may depend on external factors beyond the scope of the project. Being aware of the risks involved in a project enables the manager to plan, minimize, avoid, cope or adjust with the possible risks. Risks are capable of hindering the projects objectives from being realized. Risk management is important and there are different methodologies which are applied in project management to minimize the negative outcomes (Hubbard2009, p. 35). Some of the methodologies include Prince 2 and SCRUM. Prince 2 is a highly controlled project which ensures that certain standards are followed to achieve specified standards or quality. SCRUM is an agile methodology which develops software. It is applied to development of new products with defined roles and methods. Comparing Prince 2 and SCRUM will help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional approached to the use of software in risk management. 2. The Concept of Risk Management Crouhy et al (20 00) mention that project management is viewed as the exercise conducted before and during the project management which identifies the uncertainties and constrains. The identification enables project managers to remove constrains and purge out uncertainties. Getting rid of uncertainties and constrain completely is challenging. The mangers can reduce constrains and uncertainties and manage the remaining level of risk. Risk management is process that involves analyzing and recognizing uncertain possibility (positive and negative), utilizing available resources to minimize, control and assess the effects of uncertain occurrences. Risks management is also considered as a means of maximizing on the opportunities. Risks in project management emanate from natural cause or tragedy, legal liabilities, credit management, changes in financial market, inappropriate project design, lack of developments, lack of sustainability and attacks from adversaries. Various institutions have been establishe d to set standards that assist in risk management. They include the ISO standards and the Project Management Institute. The institutions vary depending on the industries they can be applied. The approach, conceptualization and motives are depended on the specific industry a project falls (Hopkin 2012) According to Mulcahy (2010) risks management is also considered a part of project management that spots risks, implement procedures and develop contingency plans. Risk management is considered as a tool that eliminates, minimizes or transforms risks to allow the realization of goals and objectives of the project. Common risks include: lack of understanding of the project, assumptions in the project, reliance on practices articulated by other teams, lack of training for employee and poor decision making (Crouhy et al 2001). Different project management handles risks by transferring the risk, minimizing the occurrence of the risk, minimizing the impacts, evading the risk and accepting the consequences in some instances. This paper will adopt risk management as means of reducing and coping with risks during a project. 3. The concept of Risk in Prince 2 Prince 2 denotes Projects in Controlled Environment 2. Prince is widely used in the United Kingdom for public and private projects. It is highly structured and standardized to meet management needs, enforce control and provide organization. Prince 2 entails training for managers and provides certification. Prince 2 methodologies relies on: justification of the business, clarity of functions,
Saturday, November 16, 2019
iPhone 6 Essay Example for Free
iPhone 6 Essay Apple working on 4. 7-and-5. 7-inch iPhones for 2014 Reuters cites ‘four people with knowledge of the matter’ and as well as claiming the larger display models under consideration they also point to cheaper variants being considered too. Again, we have heard whispers of a budget iPhone for a very long time. Apple is said to be considering such products for the usually cited reason: Samsung. The report suggests Apple is starting to think it needs a broader product portfolio to compete with the Samsung. Apple’s thoughts on the subject are said to include the idea of introducing both 4. -inch and 5. 7-inch iPhone variants in 2014. Asian supply networks claim suppliers have been approached by Apple on the subject of larger smartphone display panels. At present, it’s quite normal to see any rumour surrounding Apple’s next iPhone to be pegged for both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6, such is the uncertainty. However, it’s also true that a few select rumours have been aimed at just the iPhone 6 specifically, particularly in cases which suggest the iPhone 6 will come on its own, later, and after a separate and distinct iPhone 5S launch. With the news that Apple is now actively looking into larger display sizes for its iPhone, T3 has created a rather awesome concept video detailing what the end result might look like. Featuring a 5. 7-inch 1080p display and Apple’s A7 chipset, the iPhone 6 concept is one of the best we’ve seen to-date. It also outlines many of the benefits – better gaming, video, and web browsing – that are associated with having a larger screen. The video concept compares the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 5, hinting at how Apple could modify the design of its existing handset to accommodate a larger 5. -inch display. The video even references Apple’s white-background video style in a bid to further suspend belief that what you’re looking at is indeed an official Apple product (FYI – this is definitely not an official Apple video). Whether we’ll one day see an iPhone of this size remains to be seen – 5. 7-inches does seem like quite a jump from the 4-inch iPhone 5. That said, Apple is rumoured to be in talks about producing a suitably larger iPhone for release sometime in 2014. Reuters says this handset will be the iPhone 6. Apple’s next flagship, the iPhone S, is expected to carry much the same design as 2012’s iPhone 5. It’ll keep the same 4-inch display and premium chassis but see some of the internal specs and hardware updated. iPhone 6 Hardware The most recent, and arguably most prominent rumour surrounding the iPhone 6 points to the idea that it’ll feature a next-gen Apple A7 processor, which may or may not, be a quad-core model. The story goes that Apple is soon to begin work on the 20 nanometre A7 chip with the help of TSMC, but that it won’t be ready for production until the first quarter of 2014. In the meantime we’ll be treated to an iPhone 5S on an A6 chip, or possibly an A6X. This does sit with some rumours which say the iPhone 5S will land in June or July, though equally similar rumours claim the model which arrives this summer will be the iPhone 6, which in turn would imply it’ll be the one toting the A6 or A6x chip. Other reports say Apple has been in talks with Intel over a possible manufacturing deal. It’s not clear whether Intel would simply fabricate Apple’s ARM-based designs or if it would create a completely new Intel-based chipset for the iPhone 6. Apple’s iPhone 6 was also name-dropped in reports about next-generation hardware carrying new 5G Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, suggesting it’ll hook up to nearby routers and remote devices at much faster speeds. It’s expected the iPhone 6 would have the same storage options as its predecessors – 16GB, 32GB or 64GB with no microSD slot. Could we see a 128GB version, too? Maybe although very little has been said about this aspect so far. A camera upgrade is possible and we could see a 13-megapixel sensor, although there’s some suggestion Apple will stick to 8-megapixels and simply improve the aperture, sensor array and capture features. Allegedly Apple has scheduled to have components for the next iPhone shipped by the end of May in order to hit the Q3 target. It will apparently have an improved processor, which could be the A6X chip found in the iPad 4. The camera will also be updated to a higher megapixel rating, presumably 13-megapixels. The latest rumour suggests a 16-megapixel sensor though.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
My Antonia Essay: Importance of Setting -- My Antonia Essays
The Importance of Setting in My Antonia The setting of the story has tremendous impact on the characters and themes in the novel "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. Cather's delicately crafted naturalistic style is evident not only in her colorfully detailed depictions of the Nebraska frontier, but also in her characters’ relationship with the land on which they live. The common naturalist theme of man being controlled by nature appears many times throughout the novel, particularly in the chapters containing the first winter. The Burden's and the Shimerda's, try as they might, cannot fight the harsh climate of the Nebraska prairie. Rather than attempt to control the environment around them, they must learn to work with it and adjust to make do with what they have. Jim learns this his first winter, as well as the Shimerda's, for they are both newcomers to a strange place. They realize that trying to fight the wind and snow will do more harm than good, and adapt themselves to work when weather permits and hope nature... My Antonia Essay: Importance of Setting -- My Antonia Essays The Importance of Setting in My Antonia The setting of the story has tremendous impact on the characters and themes in the novel "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. Cather's delicately crafted naturalistic style is evident not only in her colorfully detailed depictions of the Nebraska frontier, but also in her characters’ relationship with the land on which they live. The common naturalist theme of man being controlled by nature appears many times throughout the novel, particularly in the chapters containing the first winter. The Burden's and the Shimerda's, try as they might, cannot fight the harsh climate of the Nebraska prairie. Rather than attempt to control the environment around them, they must learn to work with it and adjust to make do with what they have. Jim learns this his first winter, as well as the Shimerda's, for they are both newcomers to a strange place. They realize that trying to fight the wind and snow will do more harm than good, and adapt themselves to work when weather permits and hope nature...
Monday, November 11, 2019
Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports Essay
Investment Appraisal Introduction Question 1            An investment appraisal is a planning process that is utilized in determining the preparedness of a business to undertake a long term investments such as expansion, developing a new project, acquiring new machinery among others (Les Dlabay, 2007). This is a complex process that requires the analysis of sources of finance, their implications, budgeting and financial statements. Sources of finance            Coca-cola which is the world leading non-alcoholic beverage company marketing their products in over 200 countries worldwide have the god foundation of assets, shares, short term liabilities, long-term loans and goodwill as its source of finance.            The assets of the company form the major source of its finances accounting for $ 57,751 million in 2013 and $ 55,849 million in 2012 (The Coca-Cola Company, 2013). These include tangible and non-tangible assets such as property, plants, equipment, equity method investments and goodwill. This can be summarized as shown in the table below. ASSETS (In millions) 2013 $ 2012 $ Equity method investments 10,393 9,216 Investment in bottling companies 1,119 1,232 Other Assets 4,661 3,585 Property, Plant and Equipment 14,967 14,476 Trademarks with indefinite lives 6,744 6,527 Bottles franchise rights with indefinite life 6,415 7,408 Goodwill 12,312 12,255 Other intangible assets 1,140 1,150 TOTAL ASSETS 57,751 55,849            Long term and short term liabilities are another source of finance for the company. The company’s total long term liabilities in the year 2013 were $ 90,055 million and $ 86,174 million in 2012 (The Coca-Cola Company, 2013). Their long term external sources of finance include debts, deferred income taxes and the company’s share owners as contained in the table below. LONG TERM LIABILITIES (In millions) 2013 $ 2012 $ Long term debts 19,154 14,736 Other liabilities 3,498 5,468 Deferred income taxes 6,152 4,981 TOTAL ASSETS LONG TERM LIABILITIES 90,055 86,174            Important company activities that generate profits that are ploughed back to the business as a source of finance include investments and new ventures. These are proceeds from the investments, acquisition of other businesses, equity method investments, non-marketable securities, purchase and sale of property, plants and equipment and their associated proceeds. In 2013, the company realized a total of $ 10, 414 from the investment and operating activities as per their 2013 annual report.            Internal short term sources of finance for the company are the current assets of cash and cash-equivalents such as marketable securities, inventories, current assets held for sale and the proceeds from the short term investment. Their balance sheet as at December 31, 2013 shows a total of $ 17, 121 million current assets. Implications of the sources            However much the company had good financial sources in its assets, liabilities and shares, each of the sources may impact negatively or positively to the business. The straight forward implication of liabilities especially loans is the interest rates and the obligation to repay them in good time. Failure to settle the debts and loans may lead to imposition of fines and penalization. The creditors may go to the extent of stopping to supply the company with goods and services on credit and demand for cash on delivery.            Use of shareholding as a source of finance for the company may also have its own positive and negative implications. Shareholders are like investors in the business and therefore they must be paid their returns as dividends (Fardon, 2003). This might be very difficult in cases where the company makes losses. Sometimes, especially in a scenario where there are no strict policies on the maximum percentage share that a shareholder can buy, the ownership of the company may be transferred to a shareholder that buys majority of the Company shares. Question 2 Importance of financial planning            Finance is the driving force for a company like Coca-cola. After its financial sources have been identified, accurate financial planning is necessary for its success. Financial planning is the foundation from which all successful businesses are built. Running on a clear financial plan ensures that a company is well prepared to meet its anticipated expenses in terms of payroll, transport, communication any other day to day business operation expenses.            The plan is important when the company is at the extremes of either profit making or suffering losses. It provides a stepping stone in which the company can forge a way forward and plan for the future while at the same time handle the present. A good financial plan finds it usefulness when a company is preparing to deal with rising costs and increasing current and long term liabilities. It allows for these conditions to be anticipated early enough so as deal with them when they arise.            Additionally, a financial plan is a critical tool in the organization of the various departments within the company. A well prepared and revised financial plan that considers every quarter of the company is of valuable contribution to the smooth running of the company as a whole. Lastly, an estimate of earnings can be done through a financial plan. Lack of these estimates sets a trap that the company might fall in due embezzlement of funds and misappropriations. A financial plan is very effective in making investments and profits into diversified portfolios within the company.            The process of making decisions requires the company directors to be provided with the necessary information. These include financial reports that contain details of business transactions, profits, losses, expenses, revenues, assets and liabilities. This allows for comparison of business performance in the previous financial year. The departmental estimates of expenditures and their estimated sources of revenue are also part of this information.            The factors that may affect the choices of decisions makers during financial planning are the number and wages of employees, available cash at hand and cash required to pay suppliers on time and to buy current assets such as equipment and stationeries. The possibility of expanding the business is also considered when such decisions are made (M. P. Narayanan, 2004). Appropriateness of the sources of finance for a business project            In order to manage the financial sources and make appropriate decisions, it is important that the directors analyze the costs of the sources, for example, the cost to be incurred to obtain the finance such as fees payable to the financial institutions, commissions and interests, stock brokers among others. In the Coca-Cola Company where the major sources are the fixed assets, liabilities, ploughed back profits, profits from investments and current assets, the appropriateness of the sources depend on the ability of the finances to run a business investment. Bank loans are the major long term source of finance for many companies. This source is very appropriate for Coca-Cola Company. The repayment is spread over a long period of time. The company is financially stable and can easily afford the required securities to acquire a loan. Although the interest rates may be higher making the process expensive, the merits outweigh the demerits and th e risk is worth taking.            Coca-cola is a limited company and therefore the use of stock shares as a source of finance is appropriate. The finances are not repaid although the profit is shared among the shareholders as dividends. The capacity of this company to make profit is unquestionable. The risk of change in company ownership due to sale of major shares can be regulated by business policies that restrict such sales. Moreover, sale of assets such as the current assets to raise capital is appropriate for this company. The surplus assets can be sold off and the proceeds retained to run the business. There is little, if any, risk associated with sale of surplus assets. Impact of finance and financial statements            Finance and financial statements have positive and negative effects to the business depending on the financial position of the company. Financial statements form the basis from which shareholders and potential investors evaluate the performance of the business. The statements also regulate accountability in the running of the business.            The financial position of the business is portrayed in the financial statements. It used by the company to acquire loans from banks. Financial statements that directly indicate instability of a business have a negative impact to the business by blocking potential investors, creditors and banks. Finance and financial statements have a direct effect on business transactions. It gives detailed information about the lag phases and peaks of a business. Such details include fluctuations in prices in comparison to competitors in the market (Ittelson, 2009). If, for example, Coca-Cola Company increased the prices of their beverages by 1%, their immediate competitor Pepsi may have an upper hand in the market.            A balance sheet gives information on the resources that the business has against its liabilities and the capacity of the business to settle its debts. Cash flow statements are important in informing the public about the money entering and leaving the business. All of these can negatively or positively influence the customers, suppliers, creditors and potential investors. Financial statements have a direct impact on the stock price. The information in the statements can be used by business managers to either increase or decrease the price of products. Main financial statements            In designing investment options and identifying their appropriateness, it is important to prepare financial statements. These statements have different formats depending on the size and type of the business. The statements are; balance sheets, cash flow statements and income statements. A balance sheet is a financial statement that reports a company’s assets, liabilities and stock holders’ equity in a given financial period. Current assets, fixed assets and investments are balanced against liabilities and stock holders’ equity. A balance sheet for Coca-Cola Company as at 31st December, 2013 is as follows (The Coca-Cola Company, 2013). THE COCA-COLA COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2013. ASSETTS(In Millions) Currentassets $ Cash and cash equivalents10,414 Short term investments 6,707 Total cash, cash equivalents and short term investment17,121 Marketable securities3,147 Trade accounts receivable less allowances of $ 614,873 Inventories3,277 Prepaid expenses and other assets2,886 Total current assets31,304 Fixed assets Equity method investments10,393 Other investments principally bottling companies1,119 Other assets4,661 Property, plant and equipment –net14,927 Trademarks with indefinite lives6,744 Goodwill12,312 Other intangible assets1,140 TOTAL ASSETS90,055 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY(In Millions) Current liabilities $ Accounts payable and accrued expenses9,577 Loans and notes payable16,901 Current maturities of long term debt1,024 Accrued income taxes 309 Total current liabilities27,811 Long term debts19,154 Other long term liabilities 3,498 Shareholders’ equity –total33,440 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY90.055            The balance sheet is similar regardless of the size and type of the business. Its format does not change. Cash flow statements are prepared to assess the company’s earnings and expenses. The quality of the earnings is determined by comparing the cash flow from operating activities with the company’s net income (R, 2003).            Income statements are financial documents that show the sources of income in a business organization. Coca-cola Company had the following statement of comprehensive income as at December 31, 2013. THE COCA-COLA COMPANY CONSOLIDATEDSTATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2013. $ (In Millions) CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME8,626 OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Net foreign currency translation adjustment(1,187) Net gain (loss) available for sale of securities (80) Net gain (loss) on derivatives 151 Net change in pension and other benefit liabilities1,066 TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME8,576 Less comprehensive income loss attributed to interests 39 TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTED TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY8,537 Note: Figures in brackets indicate losses or reductions Interpretation of the financial statements            Financial statements are usually prepared and interpreted towards the end of a financial year to give information about the business financial stability. The above financial statements can be interpreted by using appropriate financial ratios to help compare them with the performance during the previous financial year or with another company. These ratios derived from a balance sheet are working capital, current ratio, Quick ratio (Pamela Peterson Drake, 2012).            Financial statements provide rich information to investors and suppliers. This information are used to evaluate the performance of the company. The statements are also used as a communication tool by managers to interested parties about their achievement in the management of the company. There are different financial statements as discussed above that give unique business information on the company.            Financial conditions of a company are the major detail and a point of concern for several potential investors. Investors are the major capital providers. They rely on the information contained in the balance sheet, income statements and cash flow statements for their safety and certainty regarding a potential investment into a company. It enables the investors to understand their position in the company’s capital regimen.            The balance sheet is considered the snap shot of a company’s assets in comparison to liabilities and shareholders’ equity. This is considered the operating result of the company. These results are also an area of concern to investors. Income statement gives a report of operating results. This includes the sales, expenses and profit or losses in a given financial year. This information is critical in the evaluation of the company’s past performances and to predict the future of the business. Profits or losses are usually provided by the income statement but this may contain non cash-equivalent or non-cash parameters. The information is not direct as to the company’s cash transaction during the financial year. This leaves room for cash flow statements to give the details. It contains information about the cash that get into the business and those that leave the business thereby showing an exchange of cash. Shareho lders’ equity shows the variations in the various equity components. This is usually calculated by deducting total liabilities from the total assets of the company. A company with a good performance like Coca-Cola has a steady increase in its shareholders’ equity. This is associated with either a decreasing or constant shareholders base.            Working capital is calculated by deducting current liabilities from the current assets. The working capital for Coca-Cola Company for the year ended December 31, 2013 can be calculated as follows. Working Capital (in millions) =Current assets – Current liabilities. = $ 31,304- $ 27,811 = $3,493            The working capital for Coca-Cola Company is a positive figure of $ 3,493 million indicating that the company is at a better position to meet its current obligations such as paying workers, paying brokers, servicing short term loans among others.            Current ratio is calculated by dividing the current assets by the current liabilities. It is related to the working capital. Another ratio is Quick ratio. It is also known as acid test ratio and is calculated as follows; Quick ratio = Cash + Temporary investment + Accounts receivable Current liabilities            The Quick ratio is similar to the current ratio only that inventories, supplies and prepaid expenses are excluded. It is used to determine the amount of assets that can be turned quickly into cash.            Free or Discounted cash flow is a financial ratio that is derived from the cash flow statement. Free cash flow is calculated by deducting capital expenditures from total cash flow provided by operating activities (Fardon, 2003). Free cash flow for Coca-cola as at December 31, 2013 is calculated as shown. Free cash flow = Cash flow provided by the operating business – Capital expenditures. =10,542 – (14,782+2,550+303) = -7,093            This statistically indicates that the company is at a deficit of $ 7, 093 million after paying its capital expenditures.            The income statement can be analyzed to give gross margin, profit margin, Return on Stoke holders’ equity and earnings per share. Return on Stoke holders’ equity is important in revealing the percentage profit after taxation and therefore the dividends payable to shareholders. Return on stock holders’ equity for Coca-Cola Company as at December 31, 2013 is calculated as shown. Return on Stockholders’ equity = Net income after taxes Average shareholders’ equity = 8,622 8537 =1.01%            This reveals that the company earned 1.01% of profit after taxation on an average shareholders balance during the year. Suitable budget and appropriate decisions            The most significant form of planning a capital investment budget is to make appropriate decisions and market well. Budgeting is the foundation of financial economics. Making decisions that have importance long term effects is the basis of budgeting. In budgeting, policies are maximized so as to achieve the most positive net profit and returns. Making decisions should be principally governed by benefit analysis. The budgeting process is also governed by the future consequences and impact to the business            Every financial source has an implication to the business. Financial statements help provide such implications and can be used in selecting a suitable budget. A company may decide to sell its shares after analyzing its effectiveness in raising capital for a new business venture (Pamela P. Peterson, 2004). The process of deciding on a proper capital investment for the expansion of Coca-Cola Company involves calculating the cost of investment, protection of cash flow from the investment, consideration of the inflation rates and the time value of the expansion. For example, if the investment will cost $ 10 million and generates $ 4 million annually, the investment is feasible because it provides a pay back within 2.5 years. A budget can therefore be prepared from this basis.            An example of a suitable budget proposed for The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for the Fiscal year 2012 is as follows (SEPTA, 2011) . FISCAL YEAR 2012 CAPITAL BUDGET Project FY 2012 Funding Requirement Bus Purchase Program $59,209,593 Capital Asset Lease Program 28,720,862 Congestion Relief 2,233,000 Debt Service 52,654,545 Infrastructure Safety Renewal Program 34,400,000 Paratransit Vehicle Acquisition 5,000,000 Regional Rail Signal System Modernization 35,800,000 Safety and Security Improvements 5,000,000 State of Good Repair Initiatives 15,200,000 Station Accessibility 4,800,000 Station and Parking Improvements Program 10,400,000 System Improvements Program 5,000,000 Vehicle Overhaul Program 53,100,000 TOTAL FY 2012 Capital Budge$311,518,000            Marketing decisions are dependent on capital budgeting. The decisions to be made on long term investments are dependent on the income that will be generated from the project. It is important to know the duration that the project will take to mature. That is, the time it will take to generate income equivalent to the amount invested in the business. Modern finance theories equate the value of the assets to the discounted future income generation. The net profit value rule is therefore used by companies that contemplate venturing unto capital project if they adopt this theory. Assessing project viability            The financial viability of a project is assessed using the investment appraisal techniques. This involves the use of tools such as Return on Investment (ROI), Debts Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), Break Even Point (BEP) and Debt Equity Ratio (DER).            In Return on Investment, the collections of the company are used to create assets and in the running of the business. The business must generate surplus on the collected capital for it to be considered viable. Borrowed and own capital is considered the cost of the project while the profits are the surplus generated. ROI should be greater than the cost of the investment for the business to be considered viable.            Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) measures the ability of the project to meet its repayment obligations on loans acquired financial institutions (Pamela P. Peterson, 2004). It is calculated as follows. DSCR= Net profit + Interest on long term loans + Depreciation Interest on long term loan + Principal loan            The cumulative DSCR during the repayment period should be at least 2:1 for the project to be considered viable. Break Even Point (BEP) measures the level of total contribution to the total fixed assets. Contribution is usually the excess of sales over the variable cost. That is; Contribution = Sales – Variable Costs. PEP is the point where both fixed and variable costs are recovered from the resources. It is calculated using the formula; Total fixed costÃâ€" selling price per unit Contribution per unit cost            It indicates the risks involved in the business. If the PEP is achieved at a lower level of capacity utilization, it is considered safer. In this case, the investment is viable.            Debt Equity Ratio measures the level at which the investment project is leveraged to acquire loans from financial institutions. It is calculated by the formula; Total long term debts Total funds in the investment            The factors to be considered when assessing the viability of a project are the nature of the goods and services to be offered. Their level of complexity should be determined and the risks involved as well. The value of the procurement is another factor of concern. It involves the determination of the amount of capital that the procurement can cost. The financial viability assessment matrix group risks speculated into several levels. The low risk level contains low levels of complexity, low value and short term supplies. The moderate risk level contains moderate value, sensitivity and medium term supply. The high risk level contains high strategic importance to agency, high complexity levels and sensitivity. When assessing the risks, the likelihood of a financial feasibility should not be ruled out while making budgeting decisions. References Fardon, C. D. (2003). Management of Finance. New york: Osborne Books. Ittelson, T. R. (2009). Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports. New York: Career Press, Incorporated. Les Dlabay, J. B. (2007). Business Finance. Stamford: Cengage Learning. M. P. Narayanan, V. K. (2004). Finance for Strategic Decision-Making: What Non-Financial Managers Need to Know. New Jersy: John Wiley & Sons. Pamela P. Peterson, F. J. (2004). Capital Budgeting: Theory and Practice. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Pamela Peterson Drake, F. J. (2012). Analysis of Financial Statements. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. R, D. J. (2003). Accounting for Non-Accounting Learners. New York: Pitman. SEPTA. (2011, Aril). The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 2014, from Finance: http://www.septa.org/reports/pdf/budget-proposal-cb12.pdf The Coca-Cola Company. (2013, December). The Coca-Cola Journey. Retrieved April 2014, from Annual Financial Report: http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/company-reports Source document
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Managerial Accounting Essay
To Mr. George Friedman and Bill Compton, here are some options on ways to operate base of household incomes. Below are various ways to decide which might best fit in your organization. â€Å"Managerial skills are important in an organization and in leadership, especially managerial decision making. These help achieve the goals of the organization and harness the potential of everyone inside the organization†(Managerial Skills, n.d). The fee for food is $1.25 per student each day. Staff will received a 10% benefit on their salaries in addition $200 for the benefit programs. Variable supplies are $1 per student each month. Step costs are salaries for instructors, averaging $1,600 per instructor for each class. â€Å"As opposed to fixed costs, which remain constant, these costs arise in direct proportion toa business output, increasing and decreasing along with the volume of production†(Schneider, 2012). Experiencing a new class added would be beneficial due to the profits increased by $355. Whatever case of profit adding to the revenue helps Friedman and Compton childcare center. â€Å"A business can have higher revenue, but if the costs are higher, it will show no profit and is destined to go out of business when available capital runs out. Managing costs and revenue to maximize profit is key for any entrepreneur†(Davidson, n.d). If the tuition remains the same the infant care class will be taking, the division would contribute $615 to net income. According to Lynch & Williamson, understanding what makes a profit is important (Lynch, Williamson, 1984, para 2). Although the school may be having some problem with increasing revenue, however, containing the new infant class could assist with the cash flow problem. Reference Davidson, E. (n.d). What are cost, Revenue and Profit Important? retrieved website http://smallbusiness.chron.com/cost-revenue-profit-important-11952.html Lynch, R. & Williamson R. (1984).Accounting for Management, Planning, and Control, Tata Mc-Graw Hill Publishing Co, New-Dehli Managerial Skills (n.d) Decision Making Critical for Managers retrieved website http://www.managerialskills.org/managerial-skills-decision-making/ Schneider, A. (2012). Managerial Accounting: Decision Making for the Service and Manufacturing sectors. San Diego. CA, Bridgepoint Education.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Definition and Examples of Word Borrowing
Definition and Examples of Word Borrowing In linguistics, borrowing (also known as lexical borrowing) is the process by which a word from one language is adapted for use in another. The word that is borrowed is called a borrowing, a borrowed word, or a loanword. The English language has been described by David Crystal as an insatiable borrower. More than 120 other languages have served as sources for the contemporary vocabulary of English. Present-day English is also a major donor languagethe leading source of borrowings for many other languages. Etymology From Old English, becoming Examples and Observations English . . . has freely appropriated the major parts of its vocabulary from Greek, Latin, French, and dozens of other languages. Even though The officials automobile functioned erratically consists entirely of borrowed words, with the single exception of the, it is uniquely an English sentence.The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We dont just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.Exploration and BorrowingThe vocabulary of English based on exploration and trade [was] often brought to England in spoken form or in popular printed books and pamphlets. An early example is assassin (eater of hashish), which appears in English about 1531 as a loanword from Arabic, probably borrowed during the Crusades. Many of the other words borrowed from eastern countries during the Middle Ages were the names of product s (Arabic lemon, Persian musk, Semitic cinnamon, Chinese silk) and place names (like damask, from Damascus). These were the most direct examples of the axiom that a new referent requires a new word. Enthusiastic BorrowersEnglish speakers have long been globally among the most enthusiastic borrowers of other peoples words and many, many thousands of English words have been acquired in just this way. We get kayak from an Eskimo language, whisky from Scottish Gaelic, ukulele from Hawaiian, yoghurt from Turkish, mayonnaise from French, algebra from Arabic, sherry from Spanish, ski from Norwegian, waltz from German, and kangaroo from the Guugu-Yimidhirr language of Australia. Indeed, if you leaf through the pages of an English dictionary that provide the sources of words, you will discover that well over half the words in it are taken from other languages in one way or another (although not always by the sort of straightforward borrowing we are considering here).Reasons for Language BorrowingOne language may possess words for which there are no equivalents in the other language. There may be words for objects, social, political, and cultural institutions and events or abs tract concepts which are not found in the culture of the other language. We can take some examples from the English language throughout the ages. English has borrowed words for types of houses (e.g. castle, mansion, teepee, wigwam, igloo, bungalow). It has borrowed words for cultural institutions (e.g. opera, ballet). It has borrowed words for political concepts (e.g. perestroika, glasnost, apartheid). It often happens that one culture borrows from the language of another culture words or phrases to express technological, social or cultural innovations. Contemporary BorrowingToday only about five percent of our new words are taken from other languages. They are especially prevalent in the names of foods: focaccia, salsa, vindaloo, ramen.Borrowings From EnglishEnglish borrowings are entering languages everywhere, and in more domains than just science and technology. Not surprisingly, the reported reaction of a Paris disk jockey to the French Academys latest pronouncements against English borrowings was to use an English borrowing to call the pronouncement pas trà ¨s cool (not very cool). Pronunciation BOR-owe-ing Sources Peter Farb, Word Play: What Happens When People Talk. Knopf, 1974James Nicoll, Linguist, February 2002W.F. Bolton, A Living Language: The History and Structure of English. Random House, 1982Trasks Historical Linguistics, 3rd ed., ed. by Robert McColl Millar. Routledge, 2015Allan Metcalf, Predicting New Words. Houghton Mifflin, 2002Carol Myers-Scotton, Multiple Voices: An Introduction to Bilingualism. Blackwell, 2006Colin Baker and Sylvia Prys Jones, Encyclopedia of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education. Multilingual Matters, 1998
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
How Long Should The Perfect List Post Be
How Long Should The Perfect List Post Be List posts, the stuff of magic. The staple food of Buzzfeed and social media and content marketing everywhere. Maybe Martin Luther started a trend when he nailed a list to that door. Readers love lists. Content marketers love lists. But a Buzzfeed list is one thing, with its catchy photos, quick blurbs, and fast takeaways for the reader. How about a long-form blog post, on a topic that isnt so fun and full of baby animal photos? Do list posts still perform even if youre not selling Buzzfeeds brand of emotional adrenaline? 3 Unbelievable Reasons List Posts Create Traffic Why are list posts so popular? Why is your social media feed either filled with Upworthy-type headlines or numbered lists? 1. List posts stir up curiosity. 50 Laws That Are Ruining Your Life, 5 Signs Youre About To Be Rich, 7 Ways To Lose Weight In Just One Week – I wrote these fake headlines and Im dying to know the answers myself! List post headlines tend to promise big with just a hint of the vague to make you wonder how such a promise could ever be fulfilled. A 2009 study by the University of Athens discovered that readers preferred a slightly ambiguous headline. In talking about the power of lists and this study, The New Yorker writer Maria Konnikova wrote that people preferred headlines that were both creative and uninformative, like â€Å"THE SMELL OF CORRUPTION, THE SCENT OF TRUTH†or â€Å"FACE TO FAITH.†These were headlines that didnt give away the farm. You had to read the article to make complete sense of them. List posts answer the questions we have and the questions we didnt know we had. They do this with headlines that have just enough ambiguity to pull us in. 2. List posts are finite. As a reader trying to quickly consume content during the day, a list post looks easy to scan or read. I can zip through the listed items, which are like mini packaged blog posts all on their own. I dont have to commit to the full post if I dont want to. I can just read the listed item (or even their headings) and be fine. The great Umberto Eco even wrote a book about how lists help us comprehend (and manage) the infinite. Lists are a powerful tool. They help us know there is an ending. They help us remember it easier. We all like simplification. We like to know there is a beginning and an end. The finite is comforting. List posts simplify complex subjects. Readers like that.3. Lists bring order to chaos. There is a lot of information available. It is chaos, if you ever bothered to step back and consider it all. We have too many options, too many choices, and its harder to make a decision. This excessive choice sometimes leaves us unable to process any of it, a frustrated state of being called analysis paralysis. We want to have to think less, when faced with all of this choice, and list posts stand out. They are ordered, and orderly. According to David Wallechinsky, co-author of the Book of Lists, lists help us in organizing what is otherwise overwhelming. 5 Expert Secrets That Guarantee List Post Success How long should your list post be? How can you make your list post as viral as possible? How do you get your list post read? 1. The magic number for lists posts seems to be 25. According to the (fascinating) research on the RJMetrics blog, a list post of 25 is the number that gets the most hits on Buzzfeed. RJMetrics ran several tests to determine which posts were top in search results and which ones were shared the most. After the averages were taken, the winner was 25 (or thereabouts). 2. Odd or rounded numbers are best. In the same research, RJMetrics learned that numbered lists that ended with a 5 or a 0 received better traffic (Oops.) This preference for 5 and 0 is backed up by a study done by Robert M. Schindler of Rutgers University. Schindler discovered that we prefer and understand those round numbers most of all. But wait. After studying 300 articles, online instruction specialist Abreena Tompkins discovered that students learn better when things are grouped in odd numbers. She described how the brain best remembers no more than nine items in a group, with three or five being an optimal amount. According to Tompkins, odd numbers work better than even numbers. If you’re going to give students a list of six things to do, make it one, two, three, whitespace, four, five, six. The brain responds to whitespace because the brain processes things in groups. Perhaps the takeaway here is that our brain likes simple groupings, and that for small lists, odd numbers are best. Once your list heads past nine, you should start aiming for the round numbers ending in 5 and 0. The best list post has an odd or rounded number in the title.3. Successful headlines have emotional words in them. Merely assembling a list of items isnt going to get it read. You will always need a compelling headline to sell it. There is still no getting away from the need to use emotional words in your headlines. You still must work on finding the best possible headline, even if you are writing a headline with a list number in it. So is there a list post blog headline formula that works? Blogger Steve Davis came up with one: (odd number) (adjective) (mistakes/tips/insights/shortcuts) for (achieving/avoiding) (desired outcome/disaster) And then Davis wisely recommends you be cautious in using a formula because formulas are not where greatness comes from. Good headlines are still good headlines, whether youre using the magic of the list post or not. 4. Use the actual number, not the word. I struggled, when I first started blogging, to abandon the AP Style Guide and use a numeral instead of the word in a headline. It still bothers me quite a bit, but thats the way online content handles numbered headlines now. Why do we write 10 Reasons instead of Ten Reasons? Lazy brains and character counts, thats why. We see and comprehend 10 better than ten. We can save a character or two when we use the number 3 instead of writing three. 5. List item content is inversely related to the number. Hubspot makes a great point by stating that the best list posts have the right balance between list length and list item explanation. In other words, the longer your list is, the shorter the content under each item should be. A list post of five can get away with several paragraphs, but could you imagine a list post of 100 doing the same? Youd never finish!
Saturday, November 2, 2019
What is life Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
What is life - Assignment Example It is the relationships that we maintain that makes us social beings. But it is the quality of the relationships that we build up in our life time that makes us worthy, be it family, friends or colleagues. In order to feel ourselves worthy of our lives, we need to achieve happiness. Happiness cannot be perceived by all those who are wealthy and honorable and are indulging in the pleasures of life. Instead, happiness can be achieved by only those who are equipped with all these 'external goods of life' and are highly virtuous in their deeds as well as their thoughts. I agree with Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, who describes that life will be meaningful only when we are able to distinguish the Good, by the pursuit of knowledge. As per Platonic epistemology, the idea of Goodness is innate and it is buried deep in our souls. This goodness, which exists in us even before our birth, is recalled in to our memory through learning. Learning helps to reflect this goodness in our actions and behavior. I also agree with Plato and his apprentice Aristotle in that the goodness of some people may outweigh others. It is this uncovered knowledge of goodness that inspire us to question the conventional wisdom if it seems contradictory to morals and human existence as life is made meaningful by revealing the ultimate truth of life, which can be revealed only by observing, interpreting and questioning the existing facts. For Epicurus, a worthy life denotes that one is essentially 'good' in nature, self-sufficient and enjoys a happy and tranquil life. He will be free of pain and fear, which are the indications of evil. As in the view of Augustine, the goodness in men is an indication that they are of the substance of God. It hence also means that everything that exists is ‘good’ and to lose goodness or to sin indicates that a man becomes unworthy of life. I also agree to the view of Tolstoy who exclaimed that life is impossible without the knowledge of oneself a nd one's purpose. The ideal purpose of life, according to Tolstoy, is to love and to serve humanity as we are the particles of the 'eternal source' and our life becomes meaningful when we become successful in making tiny changes to happen for the sake of humanity. I however object to the pessimistic view of Sartre who proclaimed that life is meaningless and that it ceases to be of worth once the illusion of being eternal is lost. Human life is and should be a representation of moral and intellectual righteousness and the feeling of being worthy to live is the end result of achieving the virtuous desires of life. 2] Our sensory perceptions are too limited that we cannot perceive the knowledge related to those things or concepts that go beyond our sensory capacities. Our knowledge as well as the concepts of the world will be limited if we are to rely on the knowledge gathered by mere sensory perceptions. Human beings are valued and considered superior to other life forms by their shee r ability to construct, receive and evaluate new perceptions, concepts and representations in the brain which are above the limits of senses.       Gathering of knowledge refers to its learning from experience, which was defined by Aristotle as the unorganized product of sense perceptions and memory. Experiences derived by the use of senses provide us with knowledge. Sensory perceptions that consist of sensations, feelings etc. are also experiences and they provide us with some knowledge. Here, we can indeed say that sensory perceptions do provide us with awareness and knowledge. But, based on the above refinements, it will be inappropriate to state that knowledge derives solely by sensory perceptions. In the view of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, knowledge derived from sensory perceptio
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