Financial options are easier to value than the common stocks to which Essay

Financial options are easier to value than the common stocks to which they relate. Discuss - Essay Example In case of payment of dividends also, the common stocks are allocated dividends only after the preferred stockholders are paid in full. Thus the valuation of common stock is an area of interest for the investors as it gives an idea of the financial health of the company and also a forecast of the future in terms of profit and loss to be incurred by the company. The valuation of common stock is represented in terms of its present value or fair value or intrinsic value (Moyer,  Moyer, McGuigan,  Rao  and Kretlow, p.249). Financial Options Financial options are contracts which give the right to the owner of the Option to buy or sell an underlying stock at certain agreed upon price within a certain period of time. The owner of the financial option is, however, not obligated to buy or sell the underlying stock within the specified time frame. The agreed upon price is called the strike price. When the buyer executes the option of buying the underlying security at the strike price, it is called â€Å"call† option. When the buyer executes the option of selling the underlying security at the strike price, it is called â€Å"put† option. ... Financial options are a part of the financial derivatives. The valuation of option depends on the difference between the market price of the underlying security and the strike price and subsequently the discounted expected value of that difference at the time of expiration of the option (Brigham and  Ehrhardt, p.273). Valuation: Financial Options and Common Stock The valuation of common stock is based on the determination of present value of the stock taking into account the expected cash flows of the company in future. The methods applied for valuation of common stock are discounted cash flow method, dividend discount model, etc. The DCF (discounted cash flow model) takes into account the forecasted future cash flows which are determined on the basis of growth rate and terminal growth rate of the company. Factors like depreciation, net profit, capital expenditure, change of working capital, cost of equity as discounting factor is considered for determining the fair value of common stock (Pinto, CFA,  Henry, CFA,  Robinson, CFA,  Stowe and CFA, p.183). The DDM (dividend discount model) for common stock valuation assumes constant payment of dividends by the company. The model includes forecasting future dividend payout ratio and earnings per share in order to calculate future dividend payments by the company. The determination of present value of common stock is done by discounting the future dividend payments by the cost of equity. The valuation of common stock thus takes into account the expected future cash flows which are affected according to the risk factors. Therefore, valuation of common stock is affected by the company risk, industry risk and market risk. The company risk and the overall industry risk of common stock could be mitigated by

Hispanic Family Values Essay Example for Free

Hispanic Family Values Essay MacDonald’s article reveals the grim reality of teenage pregnancy and unmarried mothers in the Hispanic community in the United States, backed up by statistical data on various circumstances surrounding unwed young mothers. Birth rates among young, unwed Hispanic mothers are so alarming that according to the Census Bureau, â€Å"one in four Americans will be Hispanics by mid-century, twice the current ratio; also, Hispanics will account for 46 percent of the nation’s added population for over the next two decades† (Mac Donald). Statistics show that the Hispanic women have the highest occurence of births outside marriage at 45 percent, â€Å"compared to the 24 percent of white births and 15 percent of Asian births† (Mac Donald). Only the black population exceed this figure at 68 percent. This can possibly imply a higher demand for a larger welfare state, if incidents of unplanned pregnancy among young Hispanic women surge. MacDonald spoke to several social workers and other people who provide aid and services to these young women in South California, where most illegal immigrants flock, to illustrate the situation of Hispanic young women. According to these workers, illegitamacy has become the norm among the Hispanic community and it is not unusual for young, unwed Hispanic women seek welfare and social services (Mac Donald). According to Dr. Ana Sanchez, it is noteworthy to look into the values system of the Hispanics and compare it with the values system of other cultures. For instance, Dr. Sanchez thinks that in a Hispanic household, having babies outside marriage is normal; whereas in an Asian household, parents strongly imbibe in their children that teenage pregnancy is a taboo (Mac Donald). Another factor that contributes to the increase in unwed teenage pregnancy is the most powerful Hispanic value – a tight-knit extended family (Mac Donald). While marriage is no longer a cherished value in the Hispanic community, a tight-knit family is still very much treasured and children are always a welcome addition to the family. It is an honor for a young girl to be have a baby at a young age. If the father of the child is unavailable, which is normally the case, the relatives are more than willing to help raise the child. The fathers of the children of unwed young Hispanic mothers are another factor that contribute to the problem of rising dependence of young Hispanic mothers on social welfare and services. It is not uncommon for fathers to run off after getting a girl pregnant, regardless of the age. They cohabitate with the mother of their child initially but this does not usually last long (Mac Donald). Girls who are impregnated by older men is another issue that raises the eyebrows of social workers. The fathers of these children can be as young as 13 or as old as the boyfriend of the girl’s mother. Situations where girls are sexually assaulted by their mother’s boyfriends are not uncommon in the Hispanic community (Mac Donald). The present boyfriend of their mother is usually not their father because even their mothers had them when they were their daughter’s age. If it is not their mother’s boyfriend, it is their uncle. The belief is that older men prefer virgins because they think that they cannot be impregnated on their first sexual intercourse and they are less likely to have sexually transmitted diseases. Another revelation in this situation is that the cycle of early, unwed pregnancy among young mothers is a prevalent issue because it is something that is imbibed to them by their elders. Young girls turn out to be like that because their mothers, grandmothers, and aunts went through the same thing at the same age. It gives them the impression that having a child before marriage is perfectly normal. Consequently, relying on social services and welfare has also become a normal part of their lifestyle. The last few paragraphs of MacDonald’s article provide the various solutions that are being implemented to address this issue. For instance, some schools in California have a day care center for the babies of their students. MacDonald also mentions the â€Å"Latina Adolescent Suicide Prevention Act aims to channel $10 million to â€Å"culturally competent† social agencies to improve the self-esteem of Latina girls and to provide â€Å"support services† to their families and friends if they contemplate suicide† (Mac Donald). There are also support group for parents of children who show signs of delinquency such as gang involvement and antisocial behavior; members are usually single mothers. The life of a young, unwed and single mother is not easy. On top of that, the Hispanic community still remains to be a minority in the United States, even if their population is expected to double in the coming years. Support groups such as the ones mentioned above will aid the single mother in coping with the harsh reality in a foreign country. However, the adage â€Å"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure† still works in this case. Aside from helping teenage moms, efforts should be allocated in creating an environment for young Hispanic women that will reduce the likelihood of pregnancy outside marriage. According to the study of National Council of La Raza’s Institute for Hispanic health, Hispanic communities misconstrue pregnancy prevention campaigns as â€Å"anti-family† campaigns (Elkins). NCLR suggests that programs should address family planning rather than the notion of pregnancy itself. According to the Latino Initiative, a very effective way of curbing unwed pregnancies among young women is to foster family values and strengthen parent-child ties because children who are close to their parents are more likely to enact safer sexual practices (Elkins). This intervention program not only works in Hispanic communities; it works almost everywhere as well.

South Beach Diet: The Healthy Low Carb Alternative :: Health Nutrition Diet Exercise Essays

South Beach Diet: The Healthy Low Carb Alternative The South Beach Diet is a healthy alternative for promoting a healthy heart and lifestyle and for losing weight. Though often referred to as a low carbohydrate diet, South Beach does not endorse eating the unlimited fats and proteins that have become a signature criticism of the low carb diets. Instead, the diet was created with the intention of improving people’s cardiovascular health while also helping them to lose weight. The general concerns voiced about low carbohydrate diets do not apply to the South Beach Diet. The main criticism of the low-carbohydrate diets is that they allow unlimited consumption of fats and proteins, therefore putting people at a greater risk for heart disease. Although the South Beach Diet is often grouped in with other low-carbohydrate diets, Dr. Agatston, the diet’s creator, wants people to think of it as a healthy lifestyle, not a diet. To dispel any myths that this diet is unhealthy because it is viewed as a low-carb diet, let’s begin with a brief overview of what is and is not allowed on this diet. The South Beach Diet does begin with a strict two week phase of very few carbohydrates, excluding all bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes. As soon as the two week phase is over, people can begin reintroducing â€Å"good†carbs such as whole wheat bread and fruit that have nutritional value, like fiber, while still excluding the â€Å"bad† ca rbohydrates such as processed flour that has lost most of the natural nutrients. With the reduction in carbs, there is a higher consumption of proteins (they are included in just about every meal), but some protein rich foods such as fatty meats (for example, duck and chicken wings) are prohibited. This is because fatty meats contain higher levels of saturated fats, the â€Å"bad† fat that is linked to heart disease, which are avoided as much as possible. On the other hand, good sources of unsaturated fats such as nuts, fish, and olive oil are encouraged. The South Beach Diet is really about making better choices when eating, which includes choosing the right carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for a healthier heart. More important than the structure of the diet is why the diet originated.

Fdi in North America

Analysis of Foreign Direct Investments of North America Kristin Daughdril & William Cassidy Business Administration 418 Abstract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an investment involving a long-term relationship and reflecting a lasting interest in and control by a resident entity in one economy of an enterprise resident in a different economy (UNCTAD). There are two types of FDI, inflows and outflows, which can be used to help determine the investment strategies and economies of countries engaged in FDI.North America has been the source of nearly one-half of all investment and almost three-quarters of the jobs created throughout the globe (Huggins, 442). North America is probably the most important continent when it comes to dealing with FDI. The three main countries of North America, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, all rank in the top 15 of world economies, proving them to be desirable partners in FDI transactions.The trends of FDI discussed in this report will be unpar alleled to this information and can lead to some predictions on how future trends of the countries of North America will continue to be superior to that of the other continents of the world. Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, FDI Inflow, FDI Outflow Foreign Direct Investment is investment of a company located in a different country either by buying a company in the country or expanding its business into the country. FDI can be done for many purposes.Companies may have tax incentives abroad, cheaper labor, abundant resources, target-specific markets or other reasons to enter into direct investment with a foreign country. Three components of FDI include equity capital, reinvestment earnings, and intra-company loans. These three components are the values that, if changed, will affect FDI first-hand. FDI inflows are flows of investment into the reporting country from a non-resident entity. Outflows are just the opposite. They are the reporting countries’ investments into a coun try abroad.FDI has become a major factor in accessing economic power in the world economy. The North American continent consists of many countries including the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, Mexico, Belize, Haiti, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and many others. This report focuses on the only two developed countries in North America, US and Canada, as well as another top economy of the world, Mexico. It has been found that North America has been the source of one-half of all foreign direct investment in the globe (Huggins, 442). All three countries are ranked in the top 15 in world economies.All three counties are members of WTO and, in spite of the differences in views on international trade and investment among the three countries; they entered NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). NAFTA, along with the Canadian US Free Trade Agreement, CUSFTA, has increased the desirability of interest in the North American economic integration (Bird, 406). In the Americas, FDI is gove rned by a multi-layered system of agreements that include national investment statutes, bilateral investment treaties, free trade agreements, common markets, and multilateral instruments (Haslem).NAFTA: Recently, foreign direct investment has changed from relying on how much a country exports, to now focusing more on trade between countries. In order to focus more on trade, many countries have abolished some trade barriers between countries, causing countries to do away with the protectionism strategy. Mexico, Canada, and the US decided to become a part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This agreement allows the countries to trade freely. As a result of NAFTA, their foreign direct investment rose dramatically; Mexico, as well as Canada, has seen a great increase in FDI and import production.This also lowers the cost of trading between these countries because they are close to each other. This reduces the cost of transportation, causing an incentive to trade together. This treaty is a big reason for Mexico and Canada’s success. Mexico: Mexico is the second largest recipient of FDI in Latin America and the Caribbean. Foreign direct investment plays a big role with Mexico’s success. More countries participate in trade with countries that have an open economy, since they do not have as many taxes and tariffs that many protectionist countries have.According to the World Investment Report 2006 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in 2005, ‘Mexico received more than 19 billion U. S dollars which puts it among the top 13 in the world and among the top four in developing countries. The United States has a big impact on Mexico’s economy. The spike in foreign direct invest in 2001 was due to the $12. 5 billion purchase of Banamex by United States’ Citigroup. This caused a dramatic increase in the FDI of Mexico in 2001.By looking at the graph of FDI flows within Mexico, it appears that th ere was a major drop of FDI in 2002; this is only due to 2001 being such a good year for Mexico. Canada: Foreign direct investment in Canada has increased dramatically from 1990 to 2002, an increase of four and a half times within these twelve years. The United States has a major affect on FDI in Canada. In 2001, United States obtained 90 percent of the inflows and 62 percent of the outflows. This is due to the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement which has increased the cross-border transactions between the two countries.The removal of trade barriers has had a positive effect on the FDI in Canada. The increased presence of international entities in Canada helps to provide favorable economic conditions which are attractive to foreign investors. Since NAFTA, foreign direct investment has increased continuously; without it, Canada’s FDI would not be what it is today. United States: The United States have recently dominated the foreign investment playing field amon g the world economies. The position of the outward flow of FDI has exceeded that of the inward flow every year since 1982.Inflow and outflow are mainly dealt with developed economies, the largest partner being the United Kingdom, closely followed by Canada. Mexico is ranked number 12 as FDI partners with the US. Inward flows of FDI come mainly from the UK, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland. The US experienced steady growth from 1992 to 1998 followed by rapid growth in FDI inflow in 1999 and 2000. The high level of capital inflows between 1999 and 2001 reflects the strong foreign interest in US technology and telecommunications firms during the stock market boom years, prior to the market downturn in 2001 (Bloodgood). 001 recorded the lowest inflow increase the US had seen in many years. This could be due to the terrorist attacks on the world trade centers, causing the stock market crash. Investors may have feared the threat of potential future terrorist attacks. By 2004, investors saw past this threat and the US inflows went on the rise again (Dutta). United States’ outward flow of FDI transact mainly with the UK, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda (Bloodgood). The flow of FDI into other countries stayed steady up until 2004 when the flow increased drastically.This was due to reinvested earnings and the decline of the value of US dollar compared to important host affiliates. Earnings in several industries grew sharply. In 2005, the US recorded its lowest percentage increase in FDI since 1982. The reason for this was that reinvested earnings turned negative in 2005, as cumulative retained earnings of foreign affiliates were drawn down to fund distributors to US parent counties as a result of tax incentives provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (Koncz).The rise of outward FDI continued, however, to rise as though 2005 did not occur. Predictions: All three of the countries that have been studied from North America in the research paper have come across many setbacks and burdens in the past years when dealing with foreign direct investment. All three have also overcome many obstacles in order to pursue economic power by becoming international market influencers. All three counties show continued signs of reasonably steady growth in FDI outflow. Inward flow of FDI seems to be similar between the US and Canada.They have both had somewhat inconsistent rises in the inward flow. Nonetheless, they both continue trade with each other and probably will never decline in that particular area. Mexico has had relatively steady increases in inward flow of FDI and continue to rise, leading us to believe that they will continue on their pace to trying to become a developed economy.References Bird, F. , Vance, T. , ;amp; Wollstencroft, P. (2009). Fairness in International Trade and Investment: North American Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 84, 405-425. Bloodgood, L. 2008). Inbound and Outbound U. S. Direct Investment with Leading P artner Companies. Journal of International Commerce ;amp; Economics, 63-111. Borga, M. , ;amp; Yorgason, D. R. (2002).   Direct Investment Position for 2001: Country and Industry Detail. Survey of Current Business, 82(7), 23-25. Braithwaite, W. , Ciardullo, J. (2006). Investors Set Sights on Canada. International Financial Law Review, 45-49. Dutta, A. S. , Theis, J. , ;amp; Su, R. (2007). FDI into the US, 1998-2004. International Journal of Finance, 19(2), 4370-4379. Galan, B. , Oladipo, O. 2009) Have Liberalization and NAFTA had a Positive Impact on Mexico’s Output Growth?. Journal of Applied Economics. 12(1):159-180. Haslem, Paul Alexander. (2010). The Evolution of the FDI Regime in the Americas. Third World Quarterly, 31, 1181-1203. Huggins, R. , Demirbag, M. , ;amp; Ratcheva, V. (2007). Global Knowledge and R;amp;D FDI Flows. International Review of Applied Economics, 21 (3), 437-451. Koncz, J. L. , ;amp; Yorgason, D. R. (2006). Direct Investment Position for 2005: Coun try and Industry Detail. Survey of Current Business, 86 (7), 20-35. Koncz, J. L. , ;amp; Yorgason, D. R. (2005). Direct Investment Position for 2004: Country and Industry Detail. Survey of Current Business, 85 (7), 40-53. Leitao, N. (2010). Foreign Direct Investment: The Canadian Experience. International Journal Of Economics ;amp; Finance, 2(4), 82-88. Oladipo, O. S. , ;amp; Vasquez Galan, B. I. (2009). The Controversy About Foreign Direct Investment as a Source of Growth for the Mexican Economy. Problemas Del Desarrollo. Revista Latinoamericana De Economia, 40(158), 91-112. Rosenzweig, P. M. (1994). The New â€Å"American Challenge†: Foreign Multinationals in the US. California Management Review, 36 (3), 107-123. Tancer, R. S. (1997). Foreign Investment in North America and the Pharmaceutical Industry in Canada. International Executive, 39 (2), 283-297. Waldkirch A. The Effects of Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico since NAFTA. World Economy [serial online]. May 2010;33(5) :710-745. Mexico: Inward FDI flow Mexico: Outward FDI flow Canada: Inward FDI flow Canada: Outward FDI flow United States: Inward FDI flow United States: Outward FDI flow

Usmle Step 2 Ck Review Notes

J 1 J Premenopausal Pelvic mass ?-hCG test + Sono: simple cyst + Sono: complex/solid + Acute severe pain  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH J J (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 2 CV disease & Hormone Therapy J Recommendations: HT (E+P) 2003 Critique of WHI study  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 3 Menopause WHI â€Å"WINDOW of OPPORTUNITY† Critical period for maximum response to HT 10 yrs too Late!! Start HT here  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH Nonoral Options in Hormone Therapy, OBG Management supplement to November 2004 Not Here Natural HistoryTreatment Non-contraceptive Benefits Steroid Contraception Progestin Progestin Progestin Hysterectomy v Dysmenorrhea v DUB v PID v Ectopic preg suppress PG release stabilizes endometrium thickens cervical mucus thickens cervical mucus TAH, BSO  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 4 Metabolic Effects Steroid contraception He althy lipid profile (^ HDL, v LDL) Oral Contraceptives Risk of CANCER Estrogen mediated THROMBOSIS ^ venous & arterial v Endometrial ^ Cervical = ^ Breast Ovarian Unhealthy lipid profile (v HDL, ^ LDL)Progestin mediated  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH Contraception Review Intrauterine Contraception Steroid Contraception  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH (August, 2011)  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 5 Contraceptive Failure Rates Reversible Methods Basic Principles of Contraception Avoid contraindications  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH Basic Principles of Contraception Avoid contraindications FEW Complic Completed childbearing Sterlization  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 6 FEMALE – Next step in management? -hCG ? -hCG ? -hCG ? -hCG PREGNANCY – Next step in management? OB sono OB Sono OB Sono OB SONO J J (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 7 Pathophysiology J F E T U S Vol of RBC need ed: varies from 0. 1mL to 450 mL M O M J Mechanism of FHR Decelerations HEAD Compression Compression CORD PLACENTAL Insufficiency  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 8 Fetal Fibronectin â€Å"Trophoblast Glue† Matrix that bonds Trophoblast to Decidua Predictor of Preterm Delivery  © Elmar P. Sakala, MD, MPH Cervical Length Vaginal Sonogram Saggital Image Normal: > 25 mm 1 3 4 (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 9 Described in notes p. 44 Agent TOCOLYTIC agents Side Effects Contraindications J MgSO4 ? -Adrenergic Agonists Ca++ channel blockers PG synthetase inhibitors Muscle weakness Renal insuffic Respiratory depression Myasthenia gravis Pulmonary edema v? BP, tachycardia, ^ glucose, v K+, Pulmonary edema Tachycardia, v BP Myocardial depression Cardiac disease Diabetes Uncontrolled ^T4 Cardiac disease Hypotension Oligohydram, Gestational age IU closure PDA, Necrotiz enterocolitis > 32 weeks J (c) Elmar P. Sakala, MD MPH (2011) 10

Taxi Driver Analysis essays

Taxi Driver Analysis essays One of the greatest artistic films of all time is none other than Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver. The film is less a realistic drama than it is a turmoil of the unconscious. The events depicted in the film could not haven take place in our modern world. Scorsese shows us a Hell on Earth environment, and by taking us out of our world of conventions; the film depicts a seemingly all too real depiction of the human mind, and the potential of its limits. The main aspect of the film captivating story is its exquisite development of the character, Travis Bickle. This man represents every man in his loneliness and potential for violence. His inner psyche is in no way real, but rather a nightmare. By constantly reinforcing the dreamlike nature of the story, the director makes it seem that we are floating in Bickles mind, and everything we see we realize is not the way it really is, but the way he sees it. The narratology of this film makes it no less a documentary of the human mind than it is a story. When we look at the movie from this perspective, we can see that the Bickle is very much like us. He is frightened by what he does not understand. He is alienated by a seemingly cold society that rejects his attempts at intimacy. Perhaps we have all not been alienated in this way, but surely all of us have felt alone and sometimes afraid. At certain times we agree to him as a sophisticated idealist, while other times we portray him as a ps ycho. The story makes his inner mentality all too realistically believable. Robert De Niro magnificently portrays his character right down to the core, intensifying the oh so shockingly real personality of Travis Bickle. He has exploited every aspect of his character and from his on screen performance; he has embodied himself into Bickles delirium. De Niro even went as far as actually getting a taxi driving license, to get a sense of what the ...

The Galapagos Affair

The Galapagos Affair The Galapagos Islands are a small chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of Ecuador, to which they belong. Not exactly a paradise, they are rocky, dry and hot, and are home to many interesting species of animals found nowhere else. They are perhaps best known for the Galapagos finches, which Charles Darwin used to inspire his Theory of Evolution. Today, the Islands are a top-notch tourist attraction. Normally sleepy and uneventful, the Galapagos Islands captured the worlds attention in 1934 when they were the site of an international scandal of sex and murder. The Galapagos Islands The Galapagos Islands are named after a sort of saddle which is said to resemble the shells of the giant tortoises that make the islands their home. They were discovered accidentally in 1535 and then promptly ignored until the seventeenth century when they became a regular stopping point for whaling ships looking to take on provisions. The government of Ecuador claimed them in 1832 and no one really disputed it. Some hardy Ecuadorians came out to make a living fishing and others were sent to penal colonies. The Islands big moment came when Charles Darwin visited in 1835 and subsequently published his theories, illustrating them with Galapagos species. Friedrich Ritter and Dore Strauch In 1929, German doctor Friedrich Ritter abandoned his practice and moved to the Islands, feeling he needed a new start in a faraway place. He brought with him one of his patients, Dore Strauch: both of them left spouses behind. They set up a homestead on Floreana Island and worked very hard there, moving heavy lava rocks, planting fruits and vegetables and raising chickens. They became international celebrities: the rugged doctor and his lover, living on a far-off island. Many people came to visit them, and some intended to stay, but the hard life on the islands eventually drove most of them off. The Wittmers Heinz Wittmer arrived in 1931 with his teenage son and pregnant wife Margret. Unlike the others, they remained, setting up their own homestead with some help from Dr. Ritter. Once they were established, the two German families apparently had little contact with one another, which seems to be how they liked it. Like Dr. Ritter and Ms. Strauch, the Wittmers were rugged, independent and enjoyed occasional visitors but mostly kept to themselves. The Baroness The next arrival would change everything. Not long after the Wittmers came, a party of four arrived on Floreana, led by Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet, an attractive young Austrian. She was accompanied by her two German lovers, Robert Philippson and Rudolf Lorenz, as well as an Ecuadorian, Manuel Valdivieso, presumably hired to do all the work. The flamboyant Baroness set up a small homestead, named it Hacienda Paradise and announced her plans to build a grand hotel. An Unhealthy Mix The Baroness was a true character. She made up elaborate, grand stories to tell the visiting yacht captains, went about wearing a pistol and a whip, seduced the Governor of Galapagos and anointed herself Queen of Floreana. After her arrival, yachts went out of their way to visit Floreana; everyone sailing the Pacific wanted to be able to boast of an encounter with the Baroness. However, she did not get along well with the others. The Wittmers managed to ignore her but Dr. Ritter despised her. Deterioration The situation quickly deteriorated. Lorenz apparently fell out of favor, and Philippson started beating him. Lorenz started spending a lot of time with the Wittmers until the Baroness would come and get him. There was a prolonged drought, and Ritter and Strauch began to quarrel. Ritter and the Wittmers became angry when they began to suspect that the Baroness was stealing their mail and badmouthing them to visitors, who repeated everything to the international press. Things turned petty. Philippson stole the Ritters donkey one night and turned it loose in the Wittmers garden. In the morning, Heinz shot it, thinking it feral. The Baroness Goes Missing Then on March 27, 1934, the Baroness and Philippson disappeared. According to Margret Wittmer, the Baroness appeared at the Wittmer home and said that some friends had arrived on a yacht and were taking them to Tahiti. She said she left everything they werent taking with them to Lorenz. The Baroness and Philippson departed that very day and were never heard from again. A Fishy Story There are problems with the Wittmers story, however. No one else remembers any ship coming in that week, and the Baroness and Wittmer never turned up in Tahiti. Additionally, they left behind almost all of their things, including ( according to Dore Strauch) items that the Baroness would have wanted on even a very short journey. Strauch and Ritter apparently believed that the two were murdered by Lorenz and the Wittmers helped cover it up. Strauch also believed that the bodies were burned, as acacia wood (available on the island) burns hot enough to destroy even bone. Lorenz Disappears Lorenz was in a hurry to get out of Galapagos and he convinced a Norwegian fisherman named Nuggerud to take him first to Santa Cruz Island and from there to San Cristobal Island, where he could catch a ferry to Guayaquil. They made it to Santa Cruz but disappeared between Santa Cruz and San Cristà ³bal. Months later, the mummified, desiccated bodies of both men were found on Marchena Island. There was no clue as to how they got there. Incidentally, Marchena is in the northern part of the Archipelago and not anywhere near Santa Cruz or San Cristà ³bal. The Strange Death of Dr. Ritter The strangeness did not end there. In November of the same year, Dr. Ritter died, apparently of food poisoning due to eating some poorly-preserved chicken. This is odd firstly because Ritter was a vegetarian (although apparently not a strict one). Also, he was a veteran of island living, and certainly capable of telling when some preserved chicken had gone bad. Many believed that Strauch had poisoned him, as his treatment of her had gotten much worse. According to Margret Wittmer, Ritter himself blamed Strauch. Wittmer wrote that he cursed her in his dying words. Unsolved Mysteries Three dead, two missing over the course of a few months. The Galapagos Affair as it came to be known is a mystery that has puzzled historians and visitors to the islands ever since. None of the mysteries have been solved. The Baroness and Philippson never turned up, Dr. Ritters death is officially an accident and no one has any clue how Nuggerud and Lorenz got to Marchena. The Wittmers remained on the islands and became wealthy years later when tourism boomed: their descendants still own valuable land and businesses there. Dore Strauch returned to Germany and wrote a book, fascinating not only for the sordid tales of the Galapagos affair but for its look at the hard life of the early settlers. There will likely never be any real answers. Margret Wittmer, last of those who really knew what happened, stuck to her story about the Baroness going to Tahiti until her own death in 2000. Wittmer often hinted that she knew more than she was telling, but its hard to know if she really did or if she just enjoyed tantalizing tourists with hints and innuendos. Strauchs book doesnt shed much light on things: she is adamant that Lorenz killed the Baroness and Philippson but has no proof other than her own (and supposedly Dr. Ritters) gut feelings. Source Boyce, Barry. A Travelers Guide to the Galapagos Islands. San Juan Bautista: Galapagos Travel, 1994.

Akagi Aircraft Carrier in World War II and the Battle of Midway

Akagi Aircraft Carrier in World War II and the Battle of Midway Ordered in 1920, Akagi (Red Castle) initially was designed as an Amagi-class battlecruiser mounting ten 16-inch guns. Laid down at Kure Naval Arsenal on December 6, 1920, work progressed on the hull over the next two years. This came to an abrupt halt in 1922 when Japan signed the Washington Naval Treaty which limited warship construction and placed constraints on tonnage. Under the terms of the treaty, signatories were permitted to convert two battleship or battlecruiser hulls into aircraft carriers so long as the new ships did not exceed 34,000 tons. Assessing the ships then under construction, the Imperial Japanese Navy selected the incomplete hulls of Amagi and Akagi for conversion. Work resumed on Akagi on November 19, 1923. After a further two years of work, the carrier entered the water on April 22, 1925. In converting Akagi, designers finished the carrier with three superimposed flight decks. An unusual arrangement, it was intended to allow the ship to launch as many aircraft as possible in a short period of time. In actual operation, the middle flight deck proved too short for most aircraft. Capable of 32.5 knots, Akagi was powered by four sets of Gihon geared steam turbines. As carriers were still envisioned as support units within the fleet, Akagi was armed with ten 20 cm guns for fending off enemy cruisers and destroyers. Commissioned on March 25, 1927, the carrier conducted shakedown cruises and training before joining the Combined Fleet in August. Early Career Joining the First Carrier Division in April 1928, Akagi served as Rear Admiral Sankichi Takahashis flagship. Conducting training for most of the year, command of the carrier passed to Captain Isoroku Yamamoto in December. Withdrawn from frontline service in 1931, Akagi underwent several minor refits before returning to active duty two years later. Sailing with the Second Carrier Division, it took part in fleet maneuvers and helped pioneer Japanese naval aviation doctrine. This ultimately called for carriers to operate in front of the battle fleet with the goal of using massed air attacks to disable the enemy before ship-to-ship fighting commenced. After two years of operations, Akagi was again withdrawn and placed in reserve status prior to a major overhaul. Reconstruction Modernization As naval aircraft increased in size and weight, Akagis flight decks proved too short for their operation. Taken to Sasebo Naval Arsenal in 1935, work began on a massive modernization of the carrier. This saw the elimination of the lower two flight decks and their conversion into fully-enclosed hangar decks. The topmost flight deck was extended the length of the ship giving Akagi a more traditional carrier look. In addition to engineering upgrades, the carrier also received a new island superstructure. Counter to the standard design, this was placed on the port side of the flight deck in an effort to move it away from the ships exhaust outlets. Designers also enhanced Akagis anti-aircraft batteries which were placed amidships and low on the hull. This led to them having a limited arc of fire and being relatively ineffective against dive bombers. Return to Service Work on Akagi came to an end in August 1938 and the ship soon rejoined the First Carrier Division. Moving into southern Chinese waters, the carrier supported Japanese ground operations during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After striking targets around Guilin and Liuzhou, Akagi steamed back to Japan. The carrier returned to the Chinese coast the following spring and later underwent a brief overhaul in late 1940. In April 1941, the Combined Fleet concentrated its carriers into the First Air Fleet (Kido Butai). Serving in the First Carrier Division of this new formation with the carrier Kaga, Akagi spent the later part of the year preparing for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Departing northern Japan on November 26, the carrier served as flagship for Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumos Striking Force. Akagi During World War II Sailing in company with five other carriers, Akagi began launching two waves of aircraft early on the morning of December 7, 1941. Descending on Pearl Harbor, the carriers torpedo planes targeted the battleships USS Oklahoma, USS West Virginia, and USS California. The dive bombers of the second wave attacked USS Maryland and USS Pennsylvania. Withdrawing after the attack, Akagi, Kaga, and the carriers of the Fifth Carrier Division (Shokaku and Zuikaku) moved south and supported the Japanese invasion of New Britain and the Bismarck Islands. After this operation, Akagi and Kaga fruitlessly searched for American forces in the Marshall Islands before launching raids on Darwin, Australia on February 19. In March, Akagi helped cover the invasion of Java and the carriers aircraft proved successful in hunting Allied shipping. Ordered to Staring Bay, Celebes for a brief period of rest, the carrier sortied on March 26 with the rest of the First Air Fleet for a raid into the Indian Ocean. Attacking Colombo, Ceylon on April 5, Akagis aircraft assisted in sinking the heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire. Four days later, it mounted a raid against Trincomalee, Ceylon and aided in the destruction of the carrier HMS Hermes. That afternoon, Akagi came under attack from British Bristol Blenheim bombers but did not sustain any damage. With the completion of the raid, Nagumo withdrew his carriers east and steamed for Japan. Battle of Midway On April 19, while passing Formosa (Taiwan), Akagi and the carriers Soryu and Hiryu were detached and ordered east to locate USS Hornet and USS Enterprise which had just launched the Doolittle Raid. Failing to locate the Americans, they broke off the pursuit and returned to Japan on April 22. A month and three days later, Akagi sailed in company with Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu to support the invasion of Midway. Arriving at a point approximately 290 miles from the island on June 4, the Japanese carriers opened the Battle of Midway by launching a 108-plane strike. As the morning progressed, the Japanese carriers evaded several attacked by Midway-based American bombers. Recovering the Midway strike force just before 9:00 AM, Akagi began spotting aircraft for an attack on the recently discovered American carrier forces. As this work progressed, American TBD Devastator torpedo bombers commenced an assault on the Japanese carriers. This was repulsed with heavy losses by the fleets combat air patrol. Though the American torpedo planes had been defeated, their attack pulled the Japanese fighters out of position. This allowed arriving American SBD Dauntless dive bombers to strike with minimal aerial resistance. At 10:26 AM, three SBDs from USS Enterprise dove on Akagi and scored a hit and two near misses. The 1,000 lb. bomb that struck penetrated to the hangar deck and exploded among several fully fueled and armed B5N Kate torpedo planes causing massive fires to erupt. Sinking Ship With his ship badly stricken, Captain Taijiro Aoki ordered the carriers magazines to be flooded. Though the forward magazine flooded on command, the aft did not due to damage sustained in the attack. Plagued by pump problems, damage control parties were not able to bring the fires under control. Akagis plight worsened at 10:40 AM when its rudder jammed during evasive maneuvers. With fires breaking through the flight deck, Nagumo transferred his flag to the cruiser Nagara. At 1:50 PM, Akagi came to a stop as it engines failed. Ordering the crew to evacuate, Aoki stayed aboard with the damage control teams in an effort to save the ship. These efforts continued through the night but to no avail. In the early morning hours of June 5, Aoki was forcibly evacuated and Japanese destroyers fired torpedoes to sink the burning hulk. At 5:20 AM, Akagi slipped bow first beneath the waves. The carrier was one four lost by the Japanese during the battle. Overview Nation:  JapanType:  Aircraft CarrierShipyard:  Kure Naval ArsenalLaid Down:  December 6, 1920Launched:  April 22, 1925Commissioned:  March 25, 1927Fate:  Sunk June 4, 1942 Specifications Displacement:  37,100 tonsLength:  855 ft., 3 in.Beam:  102 ft., 9 in.Draft:  28 ft., 7 in.Propulsion:  4 Kampon geared steam turbines, 19 Kampon water-tube boilers, 4 Ãâ€" shaftsSpeed:  31.5 knotsRange:  12,000 nautical miles at 16 knotsComplement:  1,630 men Armament 6 Ãâ€" 1 20 cm guns6 Ãâ€" 2 120 mm (4.7 in) AA guns14 Ãâ€" 2 25 mm (1 in) AA gun Selected Sources World War II Database: AkagiMidway 1942: Akagi

Communication 270 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication 270 - Essay Example The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reveals shocking statistics of on the increase in the number of deaths, serous injuries, physical and sexual assaults and drain development problems associated with underage drinking from kids as young as 12 years. As such, it is prudent to let the public know the truth about the consequences of maintaining the drinking age at 21 and the benefits and risks of legalizing drinking age at 18 years. The introduction of almost any changes in any sector is faced with controversy. People want to enjoy the benefits of the positive side of maintaining the drinking age at 21 years while criticize the negative effects despite they being two sides of the same coin. Keeping the drinking age at 21 years helps students concentrate with their studies as opposed to partying with alcohol all weekends. Furthermore, underage drinking expose children financial burdens which leads teenagers to crime and prostitution in order to finance their habits. Postponing drinking has direct health benefits as alcohol consumption causes liver and cancer problems. However, people cannot ignore the negative side which is sneaking outside and drinking the alcohol in unhygienic areas which expose the teenagers to major evils in the society. Furthermore, teenager who drink are required to part with a premium amount for alcoholic since a third party has to buy for them. This increases the financial burden on the teenager and may get involved in evil things to survive. 2. Focus: This research will focus on recent research on drinking age and discuss the main issues on the government restrictions on drinking age. It will also analyze both the pros and cons of having the drinking age at 21 years. At the end, I will draw conclusion and recommendations on the most prudent way to go on this issue. Self-control in teenagers is very low at 18 but improves by the time they are

Basic English Knowledge Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Basic English Knowledge - Assignment Example After going through the material, quizzes and other knowledge testing exercises I am now able to pick out my mistakes and rectify them. The idea that I am speaking or writing flawlessly, or with minimal mistakes, gives me confidence, sense of achievement and motivation to continue and improve. Â  After completing half of this course, I have gained knowledge on the use of conjunctions, adverbial phrases, prepositional phrases and other grammatical concepts. I am able to distinguish between the concepts and make use of them in different situations. The restricted grammatical knowledge, that I previously had stopped me from explaining things and circumstances. The knowledge that this course has brought to me, has made it easier for me to express my feelings and opinions. Â  This course has helped me in making proper tenses. I am able to properly define the time period that I am referring to. I have ample knowledge about the words and phrases that explain verbs and nouns. In addition, the formation of sentences as improved markedly. I am able to distinguish between a requesting, commanding and other nature of sentences. The course has greatly helped me in improving my English reading, writing and speaking skills.

News Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

News Analysis - Essay Example A tabloid newspaper will have celebrity gossip on the front or cover page while a quality publication will have political news or news about a scandal on its front page. Different newspaper publications focus on different conventions (Bignall, 2007, p. 19). As a result, it is vital to decipher the signage within a news story across a range of news publications (Culler, 2011, p. 21). The aim of this exercise is to analyze the different codes and their effects on the perceived meaning of a story. This essay will analyze three newspapers: the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and The Times. The story that will be studied focuses on a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron at a summit in 2012. National publications carried the story the following day, on February 18. 2012. In the Daily Mail, the story was reported by Daniel Martin under the title, â€Å"Le Snub Forgiven and Forgotten as Cameron cosies up to Sarko and Backs Him for French Election†. Tom McTague of the Daily Mirror reported the story under the title, â€Å"The Reservoir Duds: Cameron, Clegg and Hague Play the Toff Guys at French Summit†. The Times had a heading that read, â€Å"A pat on the back and lots of handshakes as the entente gets embarrassingly cordial†. This story is important because the newspapers covered the story from different perspectives. The three newspapers demonstrate the interpretations of publication news conventions. Two months before the two leaders met, President Sarkozy expressed his reservations towards David Cameron because he vetoed a European Treaty for dealing with the financial crisis. The financial crisis was hurting a number of European economies. The President refused to acknowledge Cameron, and the two leaders could not shake hands (McTague, 2012, p. 1). The second meeting during the Paris summit was a makeup exercise as the two leaders hugged and talked freely. In my opinion, the story would have been front page news had

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 34

Summary - Essay Example They form part of the Secwepemec or the Shushwap nation and they total to 526 people. Just like other first nations, they too have undergone many injustices dating to the Indian Act Administration including abuse at school (p1). This group had come up with a Family Violence Program whose creation highlights the importance of community participation in combating crime. It further underpins the fact that government policies often act as barriers especially when they are misinterpreted and thus do not end up benefitting their people (p1). It has been noted that justice systems that the aborigines create and manage, serve as useful alternatives to the government’s criminal justice system (Casey 1991). Such alternatives include a wider absorption of aboriginal practices and traditions into the justice system or even creating an autonomous aboriginal justice system altogether (p1). Open-ended interviews were conducted among forty-one participants who were involved in the creation of the Family Violence program. To aid in this research, government support was enlisted in terms of research funds. Representatives of the government were also invited to sit in the community meetings and discussions. The government’s cooperation had to be fully sought (p3). Other departments not involved in criminal justice were also invited to participate in the aboriginal initiative. Departments such as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada gave funds, as did Health Canada under their corresponding sections pertaining to family and community affairs. The Aboriginal justice department was also invited to the meetings and even to participate in funding. However, the justice department refused to release funds (p4). Within the community, there were challenges encountered as well. Interviewees reported difficulties of opening up to others about their sexual abuse. Participants feared a lack of confidentiality owing to

Text analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Text analysis - Essay Example Surprisingly extremely little effort on the portrayal of the Africans Americans in the television has been undertaken (Campbell 11). Bussing and segregation have been the early forms of racism associated with the U.S. news casting; these issues could fuel the whites to racial prejudice of the African Americans (Campbell 12). The author has written that Africans Americans were normally associated with poverty. They were over represented poor according to the content analysis of the author (Campbell 12). By this analyzation of them been poor in the news televisions, Africans Americans could also bear issues associated with poverty such as laziness and the under observation of the welfare assistance (Campbell 13). Entman did a study on this issue whereby his results showed that Africans Americans presentation occurred largely as crime victims (Campbell 14). Africans Americans were more likely to appear in crime sites and as perpetrators in drug issues on most of the local news (Campbell 14). Another observation was that the Africans Americans political interest was normally limited in the news presentation (Campbell 15). This perpetuation needed the Africans Americans to raise their voices to so as their hearing could occur (Campbell 15). The author is indicating how stereotypes, network news, and modern racism relate to one another (Campbell 16). According to this documentation, Africans Americans are typically associated with the roles such as noisy politicians, criminals and poor citizens on the news of a local network. The increase in modern racism leads to three components (Campbell 16). First is the resistance to the political demands of the African Americans, secondly is the general hostility that is portrayed emotionally towards the Africans Americans, lastly is the belief in the death of racism and that the racial discrimination no longer inhibits the achievement of the African Americans (Campbell 17). According to the author, African

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 34

Summary - Essay Example They form part of the Secwepemec or the Shushwap nation and they total to 526 people. Just like other first nations, they too have undergone many injustices dating to the Indian Act Administration including abuse at school (p1). This group had come up with a Family Violence Program whose creation highlights the importance of community participation in combating crime. It further underpins the fact that government policies often act as barriers especially when they are misinterpreted and thus do not end up benefitting their people (p1). It has been noted that justice systems that the aborigines create and manage, serve as useful alternatives to the government’s criminal justice system (Casey 1991). Such alternatives include a wider absorption of aboriginal practices and traditions into the justice system or even creating an autonomous aboriginal justice system altogether (p1). Open-ended interviews were conducted among forty-one participants who were involved in the creation of the Family Violence program. To aid in this research, government support was enlisted in terms of research funds. Representatives of the government were also invited to sit in the community meetings and discussions. The government’s cooperation had to be fully sought (p3). Other departments not involved in criminal justice were also invited to participate in the aboriginal initiative. Departments such as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada gave funds, as did Health Canada under their corresponding sections pertaining to family and community affairs. The Aboriginal justice department was also invited to the meetings and even to participate in funding. However, the justice department refused to release funds (p4). Within the community, there were challenges encountered as well. Interviewees reported difficulties of opening up to others about their sexual abuse. Participants feared a lack of confidentiality owing to

Poverty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poverty - Research Paper Example The author uses various forms of language to define poverty, as well as convey the nature of poverty to the reader. She starts by defining poverty from a personal perspective and taking the reader through her suffering and the pain of her daily life. Her main aim is to make the readers experience poverty and view themselves in her dirt and poverty, doing so in order to make the reader grasp what world she is coming from. Through the use of imagery to expose the horrific and hideous world of poverty, she enhances her ability to make her audience question the stereotypes that they have of the poor. According to her, there are poor people in every country. Majority of individuals in the world are quick to stereotype Kuwaiti citizens as rich and multi-millionaires, whom all change their automotives on a yearly basis and live in villas (El-Katiri et al 14). While this is true and most Kuwaitis do live relatively well, there are, however, those Kuwaitis who are poor or underprivileged and live below the poverty line, relying heavily on monthly charity that they receive from charitable organizations. It is true that there are very few Kuwaitis who cannot manage a meal, whether foreign laborers or Kuwaiti nationals. However, while shelter, food, and healthcare are attainable with ease because of the welfare system run by the state, there are also charitable organizations based in and out of Kuwait that spend millions in order to make sure that the essential needs of Kuwaiti nationals are taken care of (El-Katiri et al 14). While this may not make sense given the relative wealth in Kuwait compared to other countries, it is also worth remembering that poverty is a major problem worldwide. In today’s world, poverty is an epidemic that has very few solutions (Parker 1). In fact, those who are poor in relatively wealthy countries are worse off compared to those in developing nations. This is because poverty is enabled by classification in these countries with class s tratification making it difficult to â€Å"spread the wealth†. These classifications may be based on individual behavior categories, cultural factors, political factors, economic factors, and social factors. These classifications contribute to poverty. Social class determines wages, which would be the variable that leads to poverty. Those families receiving lower wages are barely able to cater for living expenses (Parker 1). In this case, they do not have sufficient money to enroll for programs that will aid their children’s education. In Kuwait, as well as, other countries like Kuwait in the region, classification based on wealth and private property is not so important, especially compared to having the power, to access state institutions that are involved in distributing revenues from the oil (El-Katiri et al 15). Kuwait is a rich country where poverty is relatively low. However, there are still fundamental social divisions within the country. These divisions exist between tribal families that have settled for a while and those who settled in the country within the last thirty years. The latter group does not have strong and long established ties with the ruling class. In fact, most of them do not even possess Kuwaiti citizenship and are

Information Systems in Global Business Today Essay Example for Free

Information Systems in Global Business Today Essay How IT drives the UPS operation worldwide. Using smart people and smart technology, UPS delivers over 14 million packages daily to 200 countries and territories, requiring the talents of 70,000 drivers who are wirelessly connected to UPS main databases located in seventeen major data centers throughout through out the world. Case United Parcel Services global operations are driven by its information systems technology. What UPS can do is largely a function of its information technology investments. Beginning as a local delivery service in 1907, UPS expanded on the West coast initially, reached New York in the 1930s, and went international in the 1970s. Today, UPS delivers over 14 million packages daily to 200 countries and territories, requiring the talents of 70,000 drivers who are wireless connected to UPS main databases located in seventeen major data centers throughout through out the world. A multi-year, multibillion dollar investment in technology drove the growth of UPS over the last twenty five years beginning in 1990. This investment enabled the development of the DIAD, the Delivery Information Acquisition Device. DIAD is a key element in UPSs business technology platform. Company spokesmen say that UPS revolutionized the package delivery business in 1991 when it developed and deployed the first Delivery Information Acquisition Device, known as the DIAD. More than twenty years later, UPS continues its pioneering development efforts with the fourth generation of the DIAD the DIAD IV. To ensure maximum flexibility in field transmission capabilities, DIAD IV includes multiple wireless connectivity options. Each DIAD IV features a built-in GPRS and CDMA radio, an acoustical modem to facilitate dial-up access if necessary, and 802. 11b wireless local area network connectivity to enable transmission in a UPS center. The DIAD IV also features a Bluetooth wireless personal area network and an infrared (IrDA) port to communicate with peripheral devices and customer PCs/printers. DIAD IV introduces a revolutionary new feature Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) to the handheld terminal market. UPS plans to use this technology to provide drivers with more detailed directions to pick-up and delivery points in order to improve customer service. The monochrome screen on previous DIADS will be replaced with a color screen that accommodates more information which can be displayed in an easier-to-read, more attractive manner. The color screen also enables UPS to color-code messages transmitted to a drivers DIAD. Urgent customer pickup messages, for example, can be color-coded to alert the driver. In addition, the DIAD IV contains 128 megabytes of memory 20 times the capacity of the DIAD III. UPS will use this expanded capacity to provide new and improved customer services. Like its predecessors, the DIAD IVs battery lasts an entire work day. The DIAD IV sends delivery information to the UPS data repository as soon as the delivery information is entered. Drivers simply scan the package bar code, collect the receivers signature electronically, type in the Copyright Notice This work is protected by United States copyright laws and is provided solely for the use of instructors in teaching their courses and assessing student learning. Dissemination or sale of any part of this work (including on the World Wide Web) will destroy the integrity of the work and is not permitted. The work and materials from this site should never be made available to students except by instructors using the accompanying text in their classes. All recipients of this work are expected to abide by these restrictions and to honor the intended pedagogical purposes and the needs of other instructors who rely on these materials. last name of the receiver and push a single key to complete the transaction and send the data. There is no need to activate a cell phone or return to the vehicle. Part of what makes the DIAD such a powerful tool is the system ODS (On-Demand Services) that enables communication with the driver. Every UPS driver automatically logs into the ODS system first thing in the morning. This allows dispatchers and center management to access the driver via his/her DIAD throughout the day by sending generalized text messages. Virtually all drivers start their day with a list of predefined customer pickup locations for that day. Thanks to ODS, the addition of a one-time pickup can be added to a drivers work list on-the-fly, enabling UPS to take best advantage of the geographic location of its entire fleet for servicing pickup requests. By using the DIAD, UPS eliminates the use of 59 million sheets of paper per year. The DIAD IV is the most comprehensive tracking device in the delivery industry, combining data collection and transmission technologies, digital signature capture, extensive expandable memory and rugged construction to withstand extreme temperatures and hard falls. Other Features The UPS technology infrastructure enables UPS to offer its customers many services, such as package tracking, freight planning, and freight truck packing optimization, in addition to the basic shipment of packages.

Effective Language Learning Strategies From Cambodian Teachers

Effective Language Learning Strategies From Cambodian Teachers After the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) era, Cambodia has been struggling to participate in the international community where English is used as a lingua franca (Clayton, 2007). Due to this trend, more and more Cambodian learners have paid more attention to the study of English. The emergence of English has become even more prosperous after the country was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1999 (Clayton, 2007). Nevertheless, a number of Cambodian EFL learners have failed to be proficient in the language although having spent a lot of years learning the language. The reason lying behind the failure can be the ignorance of effective language learning strategies or a mismatch between the learning strategies frequently used by the students and the teaching strategies thought to be effective, by teachers, in teaching the language (Chamot, 2004; Felder Henriques, 1995; Fewell, 2010). Based on Bull and Ma (2001), students may not be aware of the strategies they have used or are using in order to enhance their comprehension, retain information in their memory, or recall what they have learnt. As Chamot and OMalley (1990) claimed that learners are unique and naturally possess different learning styles, the unawareness may lead to the inappropriate use of the learning strategies available (Oxford, 2003). Besides the learning styles defined by Oxford (2003) as a general approach or behaviour used by learners to acquire the language-auditory or visual style , other variables such as the learner characteristics, culture and context, etc. also wield influence on the utilization of the strategies (Chamot, 2004). For instance, learners who live in a culture that values individual competition may prefer the strategies allowing them to work alone to other strategies calling for cooperation and collaboration. In addition to this, the context also plays an important role in de ciding the utilzation of the learning strategies. For example, a study conducted by Edonomo and Secomo (2007) in Turkey showed that learners tended to use social strategies to learn the language in a naturalistic context but cognitive and metacognitive strategies in a tutored-setting context. However, the awareness of the strategies, to Felder Henriques (1995), is not yet the solution to the failure if the teaching strategies the teachers believe to be helpful in aquiring the language are mismatched with the learning strategies taken for granted by the learners. Djigunovic (2001) indicated that using inappropiate teaching strategies which are not favoured by the learners may not be able to motivate them to learn the language well. Similarly, Griffiths and Parr (2001) discovered in their study made in New Zealand that there was an almost complete difference in perception of learning strategies between students and teachers. Due to the aforementioned points, I am unsure if the unawar eness of the language learning strategies and the diverse perspertives on the language learning strategies also take place in the Cambodian EFL context. So far, a number of studies have been done to provide ground to the issue of language learning strategies. Bull and Ma (2001) conducted a study to draw students attention to the language learning strategies they have used to learn the language. In the same regard, the identification of the strategies, using SILL (Strategy Inventory for Language Learning) designed by Oxford (1990), is also made by various researchers specialized in the field of study (Chamot, 2004; Edonomo Secomo, 2007; Embi, Mahamod, Teh, Yusoff, 2009; Fewell, 2010). Moreover, the interelationship between the utilization of the language learning strategies and student motivation has also been explored (Djigunovic, 2001). Embi, Mahamod, Teh, and Yusoff (2009) even looked at the correlation between gender and the strategies frequently used. At the same time, some researchers are interested in exploring whether there is a mismatch between students perspectives and teachers perspectives on the effective language learni ng strategies used to learn the language and the unfortunate potential consequences of the mismatch (Chamot, 2004; Felder Henriques, 1995; Griffiths Parr, 2001). Though there are quite a number of studies in the field of language learning strategies, few of them have been conducted in the Cambodian EFL context. The identification of the language learning strategies frequently used by Cambodian EFL students in the classroom learning environment and the comparison between Cambodian EFL teachers perspectives and students perspectives on the subject in focus have not yet been studied together. The lack of the study more or less contributes to the poor academic performance of the Cambodian EFL learners excepting other variables. I believe that when the perspectives of the two groups (teachers and students) are determined, we will be able to help the students learn the language more effectively so that they will not waste their time, financial resoures, and mental effort. Additionally, the understanding of the covert perceptions will give the language teachers ideas on how to use appropriate teaching strategies which are matched with the students learning strategies in the right learning context. Besides, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) may take the findings into consideration and implement relevant policies which can enhance the English learning environment in Cambodia. Based on the aforesaid significance, this present study aims at identifying the language learning strategies frequently used by the Cambodian EFL learners to deal with different types of language tasks and exploring the effective language learning strategies in the Cambodian EFL context from the perspective of lecturers and students at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), Phnom Penh. Thus, the research questions required to answer are: What are the effective language learning strategies frequently used by IFL students to handle various language tasks? What are the language learning strategies regarded as effective by IFL lecturers? Annotated Bibliography Bull, S., Ma, Y. (2001). Raising learner awareness of language learning strategies. Interactive Learning Environments , 9 (2), 171-200. Bull and Ma have brought the issue of language learning strategies which are closely related to my research topic into focus. In their study, they reviewed a variety of both learning styles and strategies. Difference between learning styles and strategies were also clearly made. Through the questionnaire (SILL-Strategy Inventory for Language Learning) administered to non-native learners of English who also have high level of English proficiency, findings which revealed the learning strategies already used by students and the ones recommended to them should be made aware of in order that the problem of a mismatch between students learning styles and teachers teaching styles can be avoided. Therefore, I would say that this journal article would cover a lot of ground on my research topic. Chamot, A. U. (2004). Issues in language learning strategy research and teaching. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching , 1 (1), 14-26. This is a collective secondary source discussing how issues in language learning strategies affect the performance of students and teachers of foreign languages. Chamot makes a profound study into several issues pertaining to language learning strategies including the identification of students learning strategies, the classification of identified strategies, the interrelationship between the strategies and learner characteristics, the influence of culture and context, etc. This descriptive research further points out that knowing students learning strategies is of vital importance to teachers who attempt to help students become more successful language learners. Moreover, the paper also discusses the impact of culture and learning environment on the utilization of the strategies. These two main focuses are exactly what I am concentrating on in my research; therefore, more or less, I will be able to benefit from this descriptive study. Chamot, A. U., OMalley, J. M. (1990). Learning strategies in second language acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chamot and OMalley write this book in an attempt to describe what language learning strategies are, how they help learners enhance comprehension and retain information in their memory, how they are learned, and why they influence the learning outcome. Furthermore, various theories regarding learning strategies in second language acquisition are also explained. More or less, these theoretical explanations will provide ground to my study. Djigunovic, J. M. (2001). Are language learning strategies motivationspeicific? : language learning strategies and motivation. Orbis Linguarum , 18, 125-138. In the study conducted in Croatia, Djigunovic put emphasis on the relationship between language learning strategies and learning motivation. Three separate studies were made at different learning institutions, and a large sample of participants, aged from 13 to 21, were given two sets of questionnaire to complete. One is SILL used to check the strategies used by students, and another one is the motivation questionnaire. The result showed that student motivation correlated significantly with all the strategies frequently used. The more motivated the learners were, the more frequently they used the learning strategies. However, the findings also revealed that the learning motivation decreased according to the learner age. The youngest learners were found to have the strongest connection between the motivation and strategies used. Though my study does not focus on the learning motivation, it will gain advantage from this study as well since motivation is what every learner needs in orde r to succeed in learning the language, and I do believe that the identification of the strategies which are able to motivate students to learn well will be of great benefit to my study. Edonomo, D. V., Secomo, Y. D. (2007). Foreign language learning strategy choice: naturalistic versus instructed language acquisition. Journal of Theory and Practice in Education , 3 (1), 4-11. In Turkey, a study conducted by Edonomo and Secomo to discover how different learning contexts-naturalistic and instructed language acquisition, with their different specific demands, affect language learning strategy preferences and frequency of use was investigated. In the study, 25 international students who were studying English at Bogazici University in Istanbul were selected. At the same time, they also had to study Turkish in order to survive in the country. Due to the fact that these international students were studying English in a formal setting (Instructed language acquisition) and Turkish in a non-formal setting (Naturalistic language acquisition), the researchers were interested in the language learning strategies frequently used by the students in the two different contexts. As a result, we could see that the students tend to use social and compensation strategies to learn Turkish in the outside classroom learning environment while metacognitive, cognitive, and compensa tion strategies are preferred to learn English in the classroom learning environment. Although, this study primarily focuses on the language learning strategies used in different learning contexts, it is somehow related to my proposed study which deals with the perspectives of students and teachers on the effective language learning strategies used in the classroom learning environment. To a certain extent, it also provides background information to my research study. Embi, M. A., Mahamod, Z., Teh, K. S., Yusoff, N. M. (2009). A closer look at gender and Arabic language learning strategy use. European Journal of Social Sciences , 9 (3), 399-407. There are many research studies done to investigate the correlation between language learning strategies and proficiency level or motivation. Differently, this study was conducted to find out the relationship between gender and strategies use in learning Arabic language. The researchers collected data, using SILL questionnaire, from a total of 457 students who were studying Arabic language in Malaysia. The result of the study was in accord with some studies done previously which showed that female students tended to use language learning strategies, especially affective and metaphysic strategies, more often than male students. This significant difference will give me an idea to determine the strategies frequently used by female Cambodian learners and the ones often used by male Cambodian learners. Fewell, N. (2010). Language learning strategies and English language proficiency: an investigation of Japanese EFL university students. TESOL Journal , 2, 159-174. In this study, Fewell attempted to investigate the correlation between English proficiency level and the correct utilization of language learning strategies on Japanese first year students. Other variables excepting learning strategies which may affect students proficiency level were carefully determined and excluded from the study, although the attempt was hard to achieve. In order to determine the impact of the utilization of learning strategies on the proficiency level, the researcher used SILL to unfold the strategies used by the top 25% of English proficient learners and the bottom 25% of English proficient learners. Unexpectedly, the analyzed result was contrary to the results of most studies showing the correlation between increased English proficiency and increased language learning strategy utilization. Due to the finding, I realize that this study is absolutely fascinating, and what really fascinates me is the underlying factors interfering the findings. Felder, R. M., Henriques, E. R. (1995). Learning and teaching styles in foreign and second language education. Foreign Language Annals , 28 (1), 21-31. The content of this descriptive study includes many findings I am looking for. The researchers purposefully raise the learning strategies particularly suitable for second and foreign language acquisition. Moreover, the authors discuss certain learning styles favored by the teaching styles of most language teachers. It is written in the paper that the unawareness of students learning styles and teachers teaching styles can lead to the unfortunate mismatch which can result in several negative consequences including boredom of learning, demotivation, poor academic performance, etc. This study, though not a field study, represents a valuable collective source of information on the issues in language learning strategies and, obviously, will become a fundamental reference to my study. Griffiths, C., Parr, J. M. (2001). Language learning strategies: theory and perception. ELT Journal , 55 (3), 247-254. This easily understandable article is closely related to my study. If looking at the research questions, Griffiths and Parr aim at discovering the most frequently used language learning strategies adopted by the contemporary language learners who are speakers of other languages and the teachers perception of the language learning strategies used by their students. To get the result, a large sample of 569 students who are non-native speakers of English in New Zealand were selected to fill the SILL and 30 experienced teachers were invited to complete ILLS (Inventory of Language Learning Strategies) questionnaires. The result of the study was quite interesting because there was a mismatch between students and teachers perspectives on using the strategies to learn the target language. Based on the students perception, social strategies are the most commonly used and memory strategies are the least; however, the teachers believe that their students use memory strategies the most and affec tive strategies the least. The difference in perception between the students and teachers really interests me, and I think this study can be a good model for my present study as it also provides useful information on the relation between changing language teaching and learning theories and the language learning strategies which go alongside. Oxford, R. L. (2003). Language learning styles and strategies: an overview. In Learning styles and strategies (pp. 1-25). GALA. In this chapter, Oxford mainly discusses the distinction between learning styles and strategies in depth. Extended definitions of the key terms are provided. This chapter of the book is fundamental to my study since detailed description of each style or strategy is given one by one, and there is also a part discussing the implications for L2 teaching. The author clearly indicates that harmony between students style and strategy preferences and a combination of instructional methodology and materials is the essence of helping students perform well in their L2 learning.

Hydromaint Year Essay -- Essays Papers

Hydromaint Year During Hydromaint's audit, you and Pam had a number of discussions. You, Pam, and Mike Johnson are generally satisfied that the accounts are in accordance with GAAP and are supported by underlying facts. Pam tested Jerry's pension accounting (which she found to be correct) by preparing a pension worksheet based on data contained in the actuary's report: Current service cost $1,064,043 ABO at 12/31/X7 2,840,000 Interest on the PBO 8% Interest on plan assets 8 Jerry has agreed to adjust his accounts and note disclosures for all corrections proposed by C & L. Pam raised a number of questions that may require adjustment. No other matters were found to be questionable. Pam's questions are as follows: 1. Accounting for R&D does not appear to be in compliance with SFAS No. 2. The work is of the nature described in SFAS No. 2, para. 9, and is not being conducted for others under contract. 2. Pam also noted that warranty contracts are given on all sales of pumps and valves. LS-Pump/Valve and now Hydromaint, have accounted for warranties only on the costs to "make good" when warranty claims were actually filed by customers. If warranty costs had been recognized as sales were made, the liability at January 1, 20X7, would have been $500,000. Pam noted, however, that Nick Riley and Ray Ballard were aware of the warranty contracts and took these into account in valuing the acquisition of LS-Pump/Valve. Nick and Ray did ...

Transformation in “An Imaginary Life”

Tables Made into Trees Transformation is one of principal themes of David Malouf’s short novel An Imaginary Life. Sent to a barbarian village in the outskirts of the Roman Empire, Ovid is forced to make changes to himself to find even the smallest bits of happiness. He starts to notice and absorb nature which, in turn, helps teaches him about himself. He first starts to notice his mental state improving from bleak to bright. He also begins to observe his surroundings and allow them to open his eyes and improve his attitude.These surroundings have a beautiful and powerful effect on Ovid and he learns that they can teach him more about his own emotions and thoughts than society ever could. The Boy is also a part of Ovid’s transformation. He is a tool and a link between human society and nature. While Ovid tries to teach the Boy about human culture, it is the Boy that teaches Ovid about being human. Malouf uses many tools including Ovid’s mind, nature, and the Boy t o facilitate Ovid’s transformation throughout the novel.One of the major aspects of Ovid’s transformation is based on his mental state and his outlook on his situation. The first glimpse we get into his thoughts comes in the opening paragraphs when he is describing what seem to be his surroundings. He portrays the setting as a bleak and dull place with nothing worth mention and no hope to be had but he ends his description with â€Å"But I am describing a state of mind, no place†(16). This shocks the reader and exposes Ovid’s current state of mind. This bleak, pessimistic description is then contrasted to a joyful, beautiful description of a scarlet poppy.The contrast provides insight into the importance of changes in the natural environment, as Ovid is change from being troubled by the bleakness and emptiness of life that surrounds him to being overcome with joy from the color of the poppy. While he is on this high of emotions, he questions whether the p eople from his old life in Rome would look poorly upon him for the exaggerated happiness he feels because of the flower. This shows the separation of his natural surroundings and society. It also marks the beginning of his transformation to natural world acceptance.Ovid’s identity is also molded by his surroundings. He starts to adapt to his new home and become more in tune with the people and the landscape. An example is when he starts to learn hunting from the village people. It brings him closer to nature which, in turn, teaches him aspects about himself. He finds himself able to purely express himself physically and emotionally rather than being caught up in Roman traditions. He learns that nature has the ability to teach men about human existence. The societies, like him, are shaped by their surroundings.In Rome, he was surrounded by civilized and advanced culture. This culture had formed by changing the nature that surrounded them. They built great buildings and intrica te roads; thus distancing themselves from nature. This not only changed the way they lived, but the people that lived there. On the other hand, the barbarians that Ovid was exiled to live with are much closer to nature. They live more modestly and are more in tune with the environment. When the poet is engulfed by this society, he changes naturally to fit in over time. Even the language changes Ovid.His point of realization of the language’s affects on him is when he decides to teach the boy the barbarian dialect. â€Å"I have come to a decision. The language I shall teach the Child is the language of these people I have come among, and not after all my own. And in making that decision I know I have made another. I shall never go back to Rome†¦ So I admit openly to myself what I have long known in my heart. I belong to this place now. I have made it mine. I am entering the dimensions of my self† (94-95). This is a major turning point in Ovid’s transformatio n.It is when he makes the decision to shed his old life and replace it for his new on one. He is fully submerging himself in this new existence and is opening himself up willingly for change. The Boy is another tool of transformation during the novel. Once again, it can be accredited to the environment and conditions he and Ovid are in. Ovid strives for a sense of belonging and unity with all the elements and tries to force the same upon the boy. After some time he becomes fascinated with the Boy’s ability mimic the sounds of nature.Ovid starts to admire the Boy’s personality and is intrigued by the fact that he has mastered life in nature. Nature and wilderness made by God are what the boy has faced and lived through while all Ovid has done is survive a society made by mere men. The Boy and Ovid are very similar though. They are both affected and react to changes in their environment. When first captured, the Boy reacts violently and is tied up with cloths. This is sy mbolic as it signifies both the physical and mental restraints caused by the conformity of civilized society.These bonds hold him back just as Ovid’s cultivation impedes him. Later on in the wintertime, the Boy’s sickness reflects both the physical sickness caused by captivity and the lack of freedom that men endure in order to work against, not with, the elements and nature. Conversely, when the Boy is finally released into his natural habitat, he is happy to return and is even willing to care for Ovid in it because he thrives there. At the end of the novel, when he is in the field, he finds ultimate satisfaction and freedom from what he used to be.The vast openness and immensity of the land which once scared him becomes his source of food and drink. Through his progression and changes, he finds himself at and endpoint in which he is satisfied in mind, body, and spirit. The vast openness and immensity of the land which once scared him became his source of food and dri nk. The natural environment impacts Ovid so much that age and small details of life no longer bother him. He sees that the existence of human life is everlasting. He is transformed to the point of total satisfaction. His final statement sums up his conversion to his new self, â€Å"I am there. He benefits from belonging to the wilderness and not being defined by society. Ovid makes a complete transformation over the course of this novel. He is influenced by his surroundings and finds himself being changed by them. These conversions first happen in his mind, then through nature and language, and finally through the Boy. Ovid finds himself changing as the book progresses and reaches a point of complete happiness and contentment at the end of the novel.? Works Cited Malouf, David. An Imaginary Life. New York. Vintage Books, 1996. Print

Intel China Essay

As we know from the case Intel is a big company which produces microprocessors and software. From the case we have three characters; Charles Tang, Yong Li, and Qing Chen. The issue of the case is the termination of a project that is been carried out by Li that must be terminated. In the case Tang informs Chen to inform Li that he will have to finish the project he is in due the objectives we not reached or followed. The main issue is that the manual of software that was originally supposed to be made by Li has turned into a book, therefore missing the purpose of the project. When Li is informed by Chen about the orders stated by Tang, Li gets upset and furious with Chen ignoring her authority. The reasons for Li to get upset are that he has developed self interests on the project. This lack of authority from Li could be a consequence of the power he indirectly gets from the guanxi he has built over the years with senior managers. Also the fact that Chen is a woman may have influenced his reaction. Tang should have communicated himself to Li about the project change due to the importance of the matter to Li. Also Charles attitude to fit a horizontal rather than a vertical communication flow. Things in America might work that way but in Chinese are not used to direct negative forms. When a Chinese wants to express a negative answer, he or she will never say no directly but they will go around the subject and look for excuses not to make it. All about saving face. Like Chen, any person who is humiliated losses face. In the case of Chen the questioning of her authority over Li was the fact that made her lose face. In a personal opinion the way Tang managed his personnel was inappropriate. As mentioned before, Tang should have informed directly to Li about his decision to move him to another project. In the case that Chen still communicates to Li the termination of the project Li should be punish for the reaction. By being a subordinate of Chen, Li must obey orders from above. Otherwise I believe that he should be reminded of his position in this company. Furthermore instruct Chen in the art of negotiation and human resource management. Another issue is Tang wanting to be â€Å"one of the bunch of Intel employees† which means that he wants to be considered and treated as one more which could confuse the employees used to almost not treating with their bosses. Again the big issue in this case seems to be communication. Tang must find a way to reach their employees in a fair and effective way so situations like this not happen again. Also the fact that he has been away from China so long may cause him to forget basics in treating with his compatriots.

Case study ‘Elite Hotel’ Essay

INTRODUCTION: In this case, the operating environment for Elite Hotel run in Azerbaijan is like that it is a newly independent republic country which formerly part of the Soviet Union and situated between Iran and Turkey. It is a lowly economic developed country but recently Western oil companies are looking for inward investment in the development of its oil and gas industry in this country. Therefore, there are plenty number of clients for the hotel and the local hotel can’t service these high level clientele. Thus it is worth to open an Elite Hotel in Azerbaijan. The hotel industry heavily utilizes labor for its daily operations. It is people-centric and thus HR practices are crucial to organizational success. Coupled with new regulations on labor, the hotel industry is a useful example to learn from, due to its high dependency on manpower. This answer aims to solve some of the key issues faced by the industry and specifically Elite Hotel, through which insights are derived from Elite Ho tel’s HRM strategies. THE MACRO OPERATING ENVIRONMENT: LOCATION: The hotel will locate at the capital city Baku in Azerbaijan. This city has a cosmopolitan reputation in an overtly Muslim country which can be defined as a traditional male dominance society. Therefore, the hotel needs to take care and show the respect to the local culture. Moreover, this city often loss its power such as gas, water, electricity during daily living. In order to maintain the high quality service and seeking to expand, the hotel need to solve this power issue at first. 2. DOMESTIC LABOR MARKET AND EVOLVING EXPECTATIONS According to the Trading Economics (2014), Azerbaijan has a high rate of unemployment at 5.2% in 2013. Hence, there are lots of well-educated people willing to do any kinds of jobs. Due to the strong competition for labor, hotels face difficulties in recruitment and retention, especially when hotel jobs are viewed as a high level wage payment. Therefore, to hire the local employees, the hotel must consider very carefully. Furthermore, this country also enforced a curfew, so if the hotel is seeking to expand, they must obey the laws and consider about the risk about the political instability. HR CHALLENGES: 1. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT The issue of productivity has never been more pertinent than now. Elite Hotel will have to enhance productivity from a smaller pool of labor without compromising on service quality due to challenges in employment. Training therefore is needed to boost productivity and standards of service to meet customers’ expectations. In departments with peak and trough periods, training can be mixed- the waiters in the F&B Division can be trained as lobby hosts or even wine sommeliers. Another problem is that the employee may not be reluctant to be training and spend off-work hours on job-related  tasks (i.e. lessons) THE IMPORTANCE OF KEY HIRES The importance of the first one or two hires is also a challenge. ‘I have long endorsed and applied the approach of finding the one or two key candidates. These are leaders who are respected in their present positions in the market, or who may have previously worked there, relocated for career opportunities or unrelated personal reasons in another market and who may desire to return or are willing to return for the ‘right’ opportunity’, according to Owen Dorsey(2011). 3. LOCAL VS. EXPAT Some local candidates should be recruited since hotel may be influenced by its ownership structure which includes political or governmental factors geographically. Increasing governmental pressures have been witnessed to create more jobs for local people so as to eliminate the dependence on foreign employees. In this case, Elite Hotel is planning to employs a total of 300 full-time staff across 7 departments for locals are cheaper than their foreign counterparts. It is good news to the hotel owners and also forces hotel management companies to think carefully when staffing a hotel. As Tim Williams (2013) addressed, â€Å"Do not hire expats as Resident Manager, Rooms or F&B Director unless you think they have the potential to push through to GM.† 4. THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Elite Hotel faces other HR challenge pertaining to the local culture workplace environment and because of the culture in Azerbaijan is a traditional male dominance society. Therefore, how to balance the relationship between female and male employees is very important. Q2. WHAT STEPS COULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPANY MEETS THESE  CHALLENGES AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN THE COMPANY DRAW ON TO UNDERTAKE THESE TASKS? 1. EVALUATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT It is of vital importance to ensure that employees are provided with knowledge and skills which aims to achieve a high standard of customer service. Elite Hotel needs to examine its 1) Training Needs Assessment, 2) Training Design and 3) Training Delivery. Under assessment of training needs, it is crucial to identify the training objectives and priorities – what KSAs (Knowledge, Skill and Ability) are needed in which department? How will task-specific KSAs evolve in the future as job descriptions change? In tackling the problem of unreceptiveness, Elite Hotel should focus on Training Design by analyzing Learning Readiness, Learning Styles and Learning Transfer, these which will eventually lead to effective learning. Managers need to find ways to boost their employees’ self – efficacy and motivation to learn before effective learning can occur. As part of job-site learning, Elite Hotel can introduce job rotations. This broadens one’s experiences and knowledge of overall hotel operations. E.g. in the Front Office Department, an employee can be rotated to the roles of concierge, front desk, porter. This is effective in teaching employees the technicalities of various roles, and in the event of manpower shortage, productivity will not be compromised. However, an employee might also be rotated away from a position that he excels in, resulting in underperformance in the new position. To mitigate this, Elite Hotel has to ensure that managers know the strengths and weaknesses of their staff. This aligns with its belief to â€Å"spend more time on people, educate them, counsel them [and] invest in our people†. 2. EVALUATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF KEY HIRES In this case, if the Elite Hotel wants to set up a new hotel of international five-star quality, they have to look for experts to improve their network. Hiring an experienced GM or HR Director in the market would be the decisive factor especially when they are in place the whole thing unlocks. After  their join, the hotel could take advantage of their network to find out who they have worked with, who impressed them. That’s to say, the hotel may find potential clients. Nowadays typically a new brand in a new market may establish an executive committee which includes half internal hires and half external from the local market respectively. 3. EVALUATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR LOCAL VS. EXPAT With a very limited hotel supply, now the owners of hotel have to concentrate more on training. Michael Farrell, an Elite Hotel senior manager, argue that in some markets we are entering there is no local talent full stop, so we have to develop it. We put in a General Manager and HR Director with very strong training focus and put a lot into people development. Over time we can then export and develop that local talent further in our older hotels back in Europe so that they eventually return back home with a raft of best practices to share.† 4. EVALUATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Enforcing that only the English language is spoken during work hours can address part of this problem. Elite Hotel also needs to manage relationships with NTUC, especially when active union members try to lobby for increased welfare and in particular, increased salaries. The hotel mavens, say, HR, need to study in the latest legislation and regulations, for instance, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, Trade Unions Act and Work Injury Compensation Act etc. Moreover they have to keep learning professional knowledge through programs, courses and seminars. REFERENCE LIST: Trading Economics, 2014, http://www.tradingeconomics.com/azerbaijan/unemployment-rate Owen Dorsey. 2011, Tourism student perceptions of a travel agency career. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 1 (4), 295 – 312.