Friction Lab Essay

Discussion and Review Whenever a body slides along another body a resisting force is called into play that is known as friction. This is a very important force and serves many useful purposes. A person could not walk without friction, nor could a car propel itself along a highway without the friction between the tires and the road surface. On the other hand, friction is very wasteful. It reduces the efficiency of machines because work must be done to overcome it and this energy is wasted as heat. The purpose of this experiment is to study the laws of friction and to determine the coefficient of friction between two surfaces. THEORY Friction is the resisting force encountered when one surface slides over another. This force acts along the tangent to the surfaces in contact. The force necessary to overcome friction depends on the nature of the materials in contact, on their roughness or smoothness, and on the normal force but not on the area of contact or on the speed of the motion. We find experimentally that the force of friction is directly proportional to the â€Å"normal force.† When an object is sitting on a horizontal surface the normal force is just the weight of the object. However, if the object is on an incline then it is not equal to the weight but is calculated by N= mg cos ÃŽ ¸. The constant of proportionality is called the coefficient of friction,  µ. When the contacting surfaces are actually sliding one over the other the force of friction is given by Equation 1: Ffr =  µk FN where Ffr is the force of friction and is directed parallel to the surfaces and opposite to the direction of motion. FN is the normal force and  µk is the coefficient of kinetic friction. The subscript k stands for kinetic, meaning that  µk is the coefficient that applies when the surfaces are moving  one with respect to the other.  µk is therefore more precisely called the coefficient of kinetic or sliding friction. Note carefully that Ffris always directed opposite to the direction of motion. This means that if you reverse the direction of sliding, the frictional force reverses too. In short, friction is always against you. Friction is called a â€Å"non-conservative† force because energy must be used to overcome it no matter which way you go. This is in contrast to what is called a â€Å"conservative† force such as gravity, which is against you on the way up but with you on the way down. Thus, the energy expended in lifting an object may be regained when the object descends. Yet, the energy used to overcome friction is dissipated, which means it is lost or made unavailable as heat. As you will see in your later study of  physics the distinction between conservative and non-conservative forces is a very important one that is fundamental to our concepts of heat and energy.  A method of checking the proportionality of Ffr, and FNand of determining the proportionality constant  µk is to have one of the surfaces in the form of a plane placed horizontally with a pulley fastened at one end. The other surface is the bottom face of a block that rests on the plane and to which is attached a weighted cord that passes over the pulley. The weights are varied until the block moves at constant speed after having been started with a slight push. Since there is no acceleration, the net force on the block is zero, which means that the frictional force is equal to the tension in the cord. This tension, in turn, is equal to the total weight attached to the cord’s end. The normal force between the two surfaces is equal to the weight of the block and can be increased by placing weights on top of the block. Thus, corresponding values of Ffr,and FN can be found, and plotting them will show whether Ffrand FN are indeed proportional. The slope of this graph gives  µk. When a body lies at rest on a surface and an attempt is made to push it, the pushing force is opposed by a frictional force. As long as the pushing force is not strong enough to start the body moving, the body remains in equilibrium. This means that the frictional force automatically adjusts itself to be equal to the pushing force and thus to just be enough to balance it. However, there is a threshold value of the pushing force beyond which larger values will cause the body to break away and slide. We  conclude that in the static case where a body is at rest the frictional force automatically adjusts itself to keep the body at rest up to a certain maximum. But if static equilibrium demands a frictional force larger than this maximum, static equilibrium conditions will cease to exist because this force is not available and the body will start to move. This situation may be expressed in equation form as: Equation 2: Ffr ≠¤  µsFN or Ffr max =  µsFN Where Ffris the frictional force in the static case, Ffr max is the maximum value this force can assume and  µsis the coefficient of static friction. We find that  µsis slightly larger than  µk. This means that a somewhat larger force is needed to break a body away and start it sliding than is needed to keep it sliding at constant speed once it is in motion. This is why a slight push is necessary to get the block started for the measurement of  µk. One way of investigating the case of static friction is to observe the so-called â€Å"limiting angle of repose.† This is defined as the maximum angle to which an inclined plane may be tipped before a block placed on the plane just starts to slide. The arrangement is illustrated in Figure 1 above. The block has weight W whose component WcosÃŽ ¸ (where ÃŽ ¸ is the plane angle) is perpendicular to the plane and is thus equal to the normal force, FN. The component Wsin ÃŽ ¸is parallel to the plane and constitutes the force urging the block to slide down the plane. It is opposed by the frictional force Ffr, As long as the block remains at rest, Ffr must be equal to W sin ÃŽ ¸. If the plane is tipped up until at some value ÃŽ ¸max the block just starts to slide, we have: Equation 3: But: Hence: Or: Thus, if the plane is gradually tipped up until the block just breaks away and the plane angle is then measured, the coefficient of static friction is equal to the tangent of this angle, which is called the limiting angle of repose. It is interesting to note that W cancelled out in the derivation of Equation 3 so that the weight of the block doesn’t matter. PROCEDURE This experiment requires you to record measurements in Newtons. Remember that in SI units the unit of force is called the Newton (N). One Newton is the force required to impart an acceleration of 1m/s2 to a mass of 1 kg. Thus 1 N = 1 kg.m/s2. You can convert any kg-mass to Newtons by multiplying the kg-weight by 9.8 m/s2, i.e., 100 g = 0.1 kg = 0.1 x 9.8 = .98 N. 1. Determining force of kinetic or sliding friction and static friction a. The wooden blocks provided in the LabPaq are too light to give good readings so you need to put some weight on  them, such as a full soft drink can. Weigh the plain wood block and the object used on top of the block. Record the combined weight in grams and Newtons. b. Place the ramp board you provided horizontally on a table. If necessary tape it down at the ends with masking tape to keep if from sliding. c. Begin the experiment by setting the block and its weight on the board with its largest surface in contact with the surface of the board. Connect the block’s hook to the 500-g spring scale. d. Using the spring scale, slowly pull the block lengthwise along the horizontal board. When the block is moving with constant speed, note the force indicated on the scale and record. This is the approximate kinetic or sliding frictional force. Repeat two more times. e. While carefully watching the spring scale, start the block from rest. When the block just starts to move, note the force indicated on the scale and record. You should notice that this requires more force. This force is  approximately equal to the static frictional force. Repeat two more times. Determining coefficient of static friction using an inclined surface a. Place the plain block with its largest surface in contact on the board while the board is lying flat. b. Slowly raise one end of the board until the block just breaks away and starts to slide down. Be very careful to move the plane slowly and smoothly so as to get a precise value of the angle with the horizontal at which the block just breaks away. This is the limiting angle of repose ÃŽ ¸ max. Measure it with a protractor (see photo that follows for an alternate way of measuring the angle) and record the result. You may also want to measure the base and the height of the triangle formed by the board, the support, and the floor or table. The height divided by the length of the base equals the coefficient of static friction. Remember: c. Perform two more trials. These trials should be independent. This means that in each case the plane should be returned to the horizontal, the block placed on it, and the plane carefully moved up until the limiting angle of repose is reached. DATA TABLE 6 Height Base Length ÃŽ ¸ max  µs Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Calculations 1. Using the mass of the block and the average force of kinetic friction from Data Table 1, calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction from Equation 1: 2. Using the mass of the block and the average force of kinetic friction from Data Table 2, calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction for the wood block sliding on its side. Record your result and see how it compares with the value of  µkobtained from Data Table 1. 3. From the data in Data Table 3, 4 & 5 compute the coefficient of static friction,  µsfor, the glass surface on wood, the sandpapered surface on wood, and wood on carpet, etc from each of your three trials. Calculate an average value of  µs.Record your results in your own data sheets. 4.  From the data obtained in Data Table 6 calculate  µsfor wood on wood from each of your three trials. 5.  Calculate an average value of  µs. Record your result on the data sheet. Questions A. How does the coefficient of static friction compare with the coefficient of kinetic friction for the same surfaces and areas? B. Why is it important to reduce friction during the operation of machinery? C. How does grease or oil affect the coefficient of friction?

Development and Aging

Human development has led to have an insight into the developmental processes in humans throughout the life cycle. Biological, cognitive and personality are some of the aspects of development, which have been explored. The development in life cycle at all points can be understood by taking into account some primary forces; these are the mixture of past temporal conceptualizations, current developmental themes, and environmental influences. They constitute â€Å"Time sense†.According to the reports on American family history, the four approaches perceived by social scientists to study family are household composition, generations, family cycle and life-course. The study of life-course has been proved the most fruitful approach for a dynamic, complex view of families that acts as a linking line between domestic sphere and wider societal trends and concerns. The analytical approach of life-course contributes historiographically in four areas of family: life- childbearing, early c hild development, adolescence and old age.Development of health problems with growing age is another area to be focused on; study of difference in adjustment level of people in mid-life, late life transitions and stressful life events, the effect of family conditions on mental health is studied, the frequency of occurrence of mental disorders such as organic problems, schizophrenia and depression, with age. Age related sexual problems, substance abuse and psychosomatic problems are other areas of research during early, middle, late and elderly hood.However, it is quiet usual that most dramatic developmental changes takes place during infancy and early childhood. Researchers have accepted adolescence as the age of major changes. Middle-aged people are often found to be indulged in severe life events such as redundancy or divorce. In early old age (i. e 50s and 60s), people are encountered with the problems of retirement and reduced standard of living. The late old age consists of dea th of life partner and serious health problems. In nutshell, important developmental changes take place throughout our life. REFERENCES: Referred to http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/UCDWebCatalog/PDF/HDE.pdf Human Development http://www.p-e-p.org/ 1998). Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 53:113-140 A Developmental Line of Time Sense: In Late Adulthood and throughout the Life Cycle Calvin A. Colarusso, M.D. http://links.jstor.org/ Changing Perspectives on the American Family in the Past Susan M. Juster, Maris A. Vinovskis Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 13, 1987 (1987), pp. 193-216 http://links.jstor.org/ Clinical Issues of Middle Age and Later Life Boaz Kahana, Eva Kahana Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 464, Middle and Late Life Transitions (Nov., 1982), pp. 140-161 http://www.psypress.com/pip/resources/chapters/PIP_adolescence.pdf Adolscence, adulthood, and old age Michael W. Eysenck Dated 21st July 2007

A Comparative Analysis Of Robert Brownings Poem My Last Duchess And W. H. Audens Musee Des Beaux Arts

A Comparative Analysis Of Robert Browning's Poem My Last Duchess And W. H. Auden's Musee Des Beaux Arts World Without Love The Poems My Last Duchess by Robert Browning and Musee des Beaux Arts by W.H. Auden describes how people dont care about each other and that world is cruel. In My Last Duchess the guy is talking the messenger from the duchess about how he killed his wife and was happy about it, whereas in Musee des Beaux Arts the kid is dying in water but his father or not even the people in the ship care about him, they just let him drown in the water and lastly the poem The Sick Rose by William Blake has perfect metaphor reflecting the behavior and feeling of a human being by comparing love to an invisible worm, which destroys people lives. This three poem reflects people just dont care about each other and people have lost the meaning of love. In My Last Duchess the guy is describing to his how he killed his ex-wife and that he was happy about it. He liked a girl and girl was beautiful and young. She liked to flirt around and liked everything in this world. She liked all men and women. She smiles at everyone and like everyone around her. She smiled at the guy too but he is not happy about it because he thinks that she is his woman and she should not look at anyone else except him. Even the guy said to the messenger that, Willt Please you sit and look at her? (Browning 550), which shows she was beautiful and ones eyes would just stare at her for a long time. He also said, Her mantle laps Over my Ladys wrist too much, or Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat which shows she was courteous, disciplined and beautiful. She had a good heart, which loved everyone and made everyone glad but the author did not like the fact she considers everyone same as him and that she does not pay more attention to him than others. The author also gave her a gift but she considered all the gifts as the same and did not differentiate between a bad and a good gift. In other she did not care about authors feeling and the love that author had for her. The author says, Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, Or there you exceed the mark (Browning 550) which represents that she treats everyone equal and did not give more importance to author. She considers author as one of nine hundred men that she likes. And after a while she passed the author without a smile, and that offended author because he really liked her and she did not cared about him. The guy was angry with the lady and he commanded his men to kill her to show his power over the lady. The guy says, I gave commands; Then all the smiles stopped together. (Browning 550) this shows that the author proved his power over the lady by killing her. The guy wants her command over the lady so he killed her and now he is regretting for his deeds. And now he asks the lady in the picture to come back to him. He says, Willt please your rise?(Browning 550) this shows the guy cares from her now, after she is dead. This whole scenario reflects that people dont care about each other. The duchess loved everyone but the guy wanted her but did not achieve her so he killed her. This is a selfish and cruel world we live in. People just dont understand the feeling and the type of relationship that the other person is trying to follow. On the other hand the poem Musee des Beaux Arts shows that people around the world dont care about each other even if the person is dying. The kids father made him a like wings out wax so he could fly but he warned him by saying not to fly near sun or near water, but the kid flew near the ocean water and the wax melted and the kid fell into the ocean and was drowning. Although the kid was drowning nobody was even trying to help him save. His father was busy ploughing the field he did not care either. The sheep were grazing; the dog was scratching himself on a tree; the sailor was sailing his ship he did not want himself to get wet and did not want water on his expensive ship. Everyone around there was selfish and nobody cared about the kids drowning. The author says, and, the delicate ship that must have seen Something amazing, a boy falling out off the sky, Had somewhere to go to and sailed calmly on. (Auden 592) this shows nobody cares about the boy in the water. The author also says, Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry, But for him it was not an important failure. (Auden 592) this reflect the ploughman did care about the boy just because it was not important to him; it was not a great failure or loss to the ploughman. Nobody understands the meaning of humanity or mankind towards his or her fellow beings. This poem reflects that people love and talk to each other only for their own interest and not for being generous or helpful. The most amazing thing about this poem is people are following their daily routine and a boy is drowning in the ocean and nobody cares about it. This is utmost disturbing situation. People have lost the meaning of humanity and mankind. The people in the whole scenario as described by Auden reflects that people are just dully walking away doing their daily business and they assume that nothing is happening around them as if it is just a normal day and its normal for a kid to drown in water. This is the most dreadful scene. And lastly the poem The Sick Rose by William Blake describes people have lost the meaning of love making them selfish and cold-hearted people. Blake says, And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy(Blake, 539), which show love is an evil thing and could destroy ones life. He also says, O, Rose, thou art sick! The invisible worm That flies in the night (Blake, 539), which reflects that people have lost he meaning of love and have become cold hearted. Love is compared to a sick rose and our love for others have become sick and weak. And in terms of feeling, we absolutely have no love and even if we do, it is for some selfish purpose thats why Blake calls love a sick rose. Love is like an evil spirit that in a howling storm destroying everything that comes in its way. Thus Blake reflects through this poem that everyone in the world is cold-hearted and nobody cares about each other. According to me, all of these three poems reflect as to how people have become selfish and cold hearted for their own interests. In My Last Duchess the guy is crazy and kills the duchess just prove his power but fails to reflect care, compassion and love for human being; also in Musee des Beaux Arts the kids father, the sailor and even the people around him do not care about he kids drowning. Everyone is doing their work as if nothing is happening there and lastly The Sick Rose which reflects how love has lost its meaning and people have destroyed their lives without love and compassion. Thus according to me all the people in the world are selfish and dont care about other peoples feeling and dont have affection toward them

TROUBLE BREWS AT STARBUCKS--Case Study Case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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American Journal of Health Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Methods and History and Cases under the Criminal Justice System Essay

Methods and History and Cases under the Criminal Justice System - Essay Example In the case of Panetti vs Quaterman, the Defendant Scott Louis Panetti was sentenced to death row because of the double murder he committed, after killing his wife's parents. His doctors stated that Panetti have a mental disorder and the doctors concludes that Panetti believes that he will be put to death because he is preaching the Gospels. The case of Panetti is similar to the decision of Supreme Court in 1986, for the case of Ford vs Wainwright. The idea of mental illness is fundamental, and in a due process model the Criminal justice development, it has been contended, can be characterized as a structure whereby ever growing impediments are required to be prevailed over as the suspect continues further down it. (Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 2003, page 66). It is also contended by Gelsthorpe (2002, page 106) that those caught up in defence work are more connected with due process whereas prosecutors and the courts are more connected with a crime control model. Due process recognizes that a number of culpable individuals will be exonerated but contends that this is fair with the intention of making sure the freeing of the innocent. (Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, 2003, page 66). In... A rule which driven the accountability for crime prevention beyond onto the responsibility of private individuals seemed foolish, given that it purely bared the shortfalls of a criminal justice system which was calling for a greater fraction of public expenditure. Possibly more vital, although, were the issues regarding creating a stronghold mentality, which would consecutively produce more apprehension than the lopsided quantity and previously subsisted, and which was swiftly being distinguished as an issue in its own right. As a general rule, the threat of harm must be real and present 48 and the proof of dangerousness clear and convincing. 49 We note at the outset that dangerousness has a special, though elusive, meaning in the context of involuntary commitment. It refers not only to the likelihood of violence to oneself or to others but also to severe self-neglect, to the point where the individual is unable to survive safely in the community, as the Supreme Court was careful to explain in its landmark decision in O'Connor v. Donaldson. Although civil commitment had been practiced in the United States for over two hundred years, O'Connor was the first case in which the Supreme Court considered the constitutional boundaries of the commitment process. The case involved a fifty-five-year-old man who was committed to the Florida State Hospital at Chattahoochee in 1957 and kept there for nearly fifteen years without treatment, although he had never been dangerous to himself or others, was capable of earning a living outside the hospital, and had received offers to live in a supportive halfway house or with a former college classmate who was willing and able to provide for his welfare. The

Case study analysis of a predetermined international fashion Essay

Case study analysis of a predetermined international fashion organisation (topshop) - Essay Example Considering another example of Polo, the title of the brand has been employed in wide variety of products including clothing and home furnishings such as bedding and towels, and variety of household products are made of linen, which offers the pleasure of comfort in wide range of products (Jean, 2004). The Brand Extension necessarily requires the provisions for the commonality of the features, which shall not be applicable in some of the cases, for instances the concept is irrelevant for brand offering clothing and food products. The product on which the concept of Brand Extension is applied shall of provisions for synchronization and adaptability. However the scheme of Brand Extension requires time and sufficient budget which is essential for the brand promotion, however it has the potential to minimize the financial risk only because the commonality of the brand is responsible for the enhancement of the perception of the consumer based upon core brand equity (Kai, 2005). The development of the branding strategy requires thorough research and concrete knowledge about the reaction and requirements of the targeted customers. The development process initially requires the classification of the customers, not all the brands are meant for all classes of the public; therefore class identification is major step towards the development of strategy. The development phase requires the formulation of the core values i.e. honesty, integrity, excellent communication, and client satisfaction. The formulation of the brand value is significant because it represents 'the creed for the business and become the cornerstone for developing the brand's proposition' (Jean, 2004). The identification of the core values is significant during this phase, following by comprehensive and objective research based upon the 'the brand's strengths and weaknesses, the target audience, and the level of competition'. The development process requires vigorous understanding of the 'brand's industry, its history, the current market picture, and potential growth and direction' (Kai, 2005), however such features are not requisite in the case of Brand Extension. The development of the brand strategy is practiced at the nascent stage of the brand launch, and such exercise shall be avoided mainly because of the time period it requires, however the brand extension shall be preferred solely because the credibility of the new product will rely upon the standing of the brand. For all already successful products of particular brand, the Brand Extension is guaranteed success, however for the Topshop which intend to offer launch new brand the development of brand strategy shall be good starter (Van, 2003). Current marketing strategy Body is to be regarded as the perfect and historic medium for the revelation of the sexual sprit, and body itself has been the right parameter for the evaluation for the evaluation of the human sexual behaviour and identity. Human body is the reflection of the sexual characteristics possessed by any of the body, and therefore the features attired with the human body including their mentality, approach, zeal, behaviour; in short it has been the sexual identity in terms of body which has been responsible for the proper and appropriate understanding of the human body. Such an observation does not have to be taken strictly, because as highlighted before the technological evolution has been responsi

Summary of (How and Why) Athletes go Broke Essay

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UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW Assignment

UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW - Assignment Example Its formation was with an aim of with promoting dignity and good international relations, uphold good environmental efforts and ensure peace through disarmament policy1. However, the recent Liberia crisis that led to ousting of its leadership has raised growing concern about the commitment of U.N in fostering peace. Throughout period, the Rwandan genocide continued the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflicts among many other examples have painted a bad picture of the ability of U.N to upheld peace2. The military action in Libya that led to increasing loss of lives and rise in humanitarian crisis was a big blow to the United Nations goal of sustainability of peace. In this paper, I examine historical functions of United Nations in Africa and beyond. The continued effort to ensure peaceful coexistence in Africa and the historical background of the United Nations and peacekeeping missions in Africa will form the basis of this essay. In addition, I argue that there have been many controversies. Peacekeeping has been ratified by the Charter of the United Nations as an important strategy that gives the Security Council powers to take collective action to ensure peace prevail. There are two primary means of promoting peace through the United Nations, firstly the troops that comprise representatives from member countries is set to undertake the mission. In other incidences, the United Nations authorizes regional bodies such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), African Union and other regional bodies to undertake peaceful settlement of peace. Today, Africa is the biggest source troops to the peacekeeping missions. Coincidentally, Africa has seen the worst history of civil unrest, destabilization of the government over the past three decades. African continent bore the greatest brunt of peacekeeping mission. As early as 1960-64, Congo experienced severe civil unrest leading to intervention by the UN through formation of United Nations

Reflective Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflective Review - Essay Example In the process, they critically analyse strong and weak points as well as asses the opportunities and threats that can improve or compromise their professional achievements. Ignorance of the reflection stage in one’s life is a common mistake based on the misguided notion that reflection is a stupid activity similar to soul searching which is largely subjective. On the contrary, reflection is a very objective and very specific process through which we contemplate our past, earn form our mistake through a deliberate observation of our lives through the disinterested eyes it requires we use. Therefore, one of the models of reflecting one can assume is an imaginary dialogue with younger version of themselves. I selected this particular model so that I could consider my growth in the eyes of the person who originated many of the ambitions I am striving to achieve. My career pathway was very clear to start with, I knew I wanted to work in marketing because I had been inspired and me ntored by my father who had been a successful marketer for as long as I could remember. After high school, I applied to study business in college with the intention of majoring in marketing. College has taught me invaluable lessons both from inside and outside the classroom about how to improve my chances of success while am on the business pathway, especially the many skills that I need to acquire so as to improve my employability and make me more marketable in the corporate world. For one, I have come to appreciate the need for taking the initiative in whatever I do, as opposed to waiting to be directed or instructed. Today’s business world requires innovation and creativity, therefore I have learnt to think outside the convectional parameters, and otherwise when by simply doing thing according to the textbooks you will likely only produce mediocre results. Social work is a vital part of my business-oriented pathway considering that business involves interacting with people and convincing them to visit in the product you are selling. This often requires that one presents himself as trustworthy and dependable, in the words of one of my lecturers who introduced me to marketing and finance, when one markets products, he or she has to put themselves in the market first and if the client decides that they are a worth investment, they can risk putting their money on them. Therefore, in addition to my business classes, I enrolled to a few sociology classes; moreover, I spent some of my free time volunteering to do social work and community service in our local church fund drive. These excursions provided me with numerous opportunities to learn interpersonal interaction, when you talk to people even especially when you are not trying to sell them something. I developed confidence and even more importantly gradually learnt how to make people trust me, it not difficult really, all one needs to do is to be sincere and passionate. This is because once people beli eve what one is saying; they are more inclined to believe him as opposed to when they think you have an ulterior motive. In addition, I have come to realize that business and politics are inseparable, no matter how talented or bright one thinks he/she is, they must recognize the hierarchy that exists. One’s seniors must be respected and even when one sometimes feels

On the Road by Jack Kerouac Essay Example for Free

On the Road by Jack Kerouac Essay Now considered not only a legendary work within the history of American literature, Jack Kerouac’s â€Å"On the Road† is also regarded as the pivotal work of an entire generation of young Americans looking for purpose and direction in a nation not far removed from world war, and becoming increasingly complicated and fast paced. In the midst of the sweeping societal changes depicted through Kerouac’s characters in â€Å"On the Road†, the protagonist of the story, Dean Moriarty, stands as an iconic, enigmatic figure. In this essay, the dynamics and complexities of Moriarty’s personality, as well as the changes that this personality undergoes as â€Å"On the Road† unfolds will be discussed in order to better understand not only Moriarty as a character, but also what he represents. Dean Moriarty’s Changes Within the Plot of â€Å"On the Road† The changes that Moriarty goes through in Kerouac’s book are symbolic not only of the general direction of his life itself, but also the society in which he lives, the people with whom he interacts, and what the future holds for everyone, including this character himself. Gaining even a fundamental understanding of the character of Moriarty in necessary to make this possible. Dean Moriarty makes a notable entrance into the plot of â€Å"On the Road†; from the very beginning, he captures the interest of the other characters in the book because of his very nature, which is highly animated, yet appealing because of his obvious passion for life and his interest in living every moment to its fullest (Whissen, 1992). At the same time, showing that he is a constantly changing individual, Moriarty is alienated from some of the more conventional people who are friends with other main characters in the story, a divide which none of the main characters make an effort to remedy, setting the stage for Moriarty to blaze his own path in subsequent sections of the book. Perhaps on of the most significant characteristics of Moriarty, which serves as a catalyst for many of the changes through which he goes, is the fact that he is very appealing to the opposite sex; this sort of romantic tension creates a bit of mystery about Moriarty (Swartz, 1999). This charisma also opens up a world of possibilities for Moriarty to explore, and presents him with many temptations and challenges that other people may never experience. Whether this charisma with women was something that came about just by the way that Moriarty presented himself, or it was something toward which he aspired and took specific steps to ensure that women would find him desirable, this aspect of his personality was the first step in the changes that he undergoes throughout the story. First, in regard to Moriarty’s changes, the fact that he carries on multiple relationships with women, many at the same time, makes it necessary for Moriarty to constantly travel throughout the nation, truly embodying the â€Å"on the road† lifestyle which forms the backbone of Kerouac’s book. The consequences of these many relationships, and the ensuing complications and commitments that come out of them, create problems for Moriarty that he is forced to confront, and conform to as well. The complexity of these relationships is made even more dramatic by the fact that eventually, Moriarty fathers multiple children with multiple women, making it all but impossible for him to carry on any kind of a conventional life or to remain stationery in one place for any amount of time; the ability that most people have to lead an ordinary, day to day existence, is denied Moriarty because of the choices he makes in his personal life until almost the end of the book. A second area of change for Dean Moriarty is seen in his social interactions with friends beyond the level of romantic interludes. Socially, Moriarty also undergoes a great deal of change as the plot of the book unfolds. Because of Moriarty’s alienation from people beyond his immediate circle of close friends, he becomes more withdrawn from the regular social aspects of everyday society and has a sort of sadness and emptiness about him. This emptiness is filled with sordid affairs with women as was discussed earlier, travel, and excesses such as drinking and outlandish behavior, which will be discussed in more detail in a subsequent section of this essay. Moriarty’s charismatic nature in some instances is also important to realize from the viewpoint of the change that he affects in others, perhaps most significantly in the case of his best friend, Sal Paradise. Because Sal looks up to Dean in basically every area of life as a role model of sorts (Whissen, 1992), he imitates even Dean’s worst behavioral traits, including the constant traveling. The foolishness of this imitation is made more dramatic by the fact that Sal is older than Dean, making the implication that Dean could in fact learn a lot from Sal if the situation were somehow reversed. Finally, a change that Moriarty attempts is as significant as any of the others which he ahs undergone throughout â€Å"On the Road†. Ultimately, Moriarty attempts to take on the persona of a civilized and responsible individual when he acknowledges his responsibilities to his marriage vows and the children that were created as a result of his marital union. Getting a job and attempting to settle into a normal, structured home life, Moriarty does give this endeavor and life change a sincere effort, but he soon finds that this is more difficult for him than he may have expected. Due to this realization, which some might say is a recognition of his own nature as a traveling, somewhat chaotic individual with a high level of appeal to women in general, he quickly loses interest in being a good father and husband; for example, ignoring the cries of his child, obsessing about the other women with whom he was involved in the past, and more than likely planning the next step of his symbolic and literally road journey in a search for what is missing in his life, and what the life of an average husband/father, in his view, fails to deliver. An Insight into Moriarty’s Mindset By studying the pattern of Moriarty’s behavior, and the different personalities and attitudes he embraces, it is much easier to profile the mindset of this enigmatic and complicated character. Moriarty’s inner emptiness is apparent when his actions and value systems, flawed as they are, are separated from the action of â€Å"On the Road†, and the story itself is looked at in a more philosophical way. The argument can be made that Moriarty’s mindset is symbolic of the state of affairs in America at the time that Kerouac wrote his book; because the nation was in the process of gaining a new identity following World War II and before the Korean War reached its climax, the nation collectively, and Dean Moriarty individually, began to question what the nature of life is all about and whether the regular, day to day life of the average person is the best state of living that one can reach (Begnal, 1998). A restless nation, reflected in the restless persona of Moriarty, comes shining through, towering over the plot and other characters of the book itself. Also, the question of the nature of Moriarty’s charisma is important when gaining a fuller understanding of his mindset and value system. If one takes the position that Moriarty was embedded with charisma and it was beyond his control to do anything but to submit to its power, then Moriarty can be sympathetically viewed as a victim. However, if the position is taken that Moriarty was a calculating individual whose romantic flings were deliberately worked toward and pursued as a goal, then Moriarty can be seen as less than a charming Casanova, and more accurately, a dangerous predator that poisons every relationship with which he comes into contact. The many changes of Dean Moriarty, as well as the changes he influences in others and the effects that he has on those with whom he interacts, all conspire to create within him a great deal of conflict and anxiety, which displays itself in a sort of madness. This madness is also important to understand when studying the dynamic nature of Moriarty himself. Moriarty’s Descent into Madness By creating human conflict, chaos and turmoil for virtually everyone he meets, Moriarty has built for himself a complicated lifestyle that can be said to be rooted in madness. This madness, like so many of the other facets of Moriarty’s being, eventually spill out into the open for everyone to see, much like the classic example of someone wearing their heart on their sleeve. Generally speaking, it can be fairly said that one of the most characteristic displays of some level of madness in the mind of Dean Moriarty can be seen in his wanderlust-based lifestyle and personality. Just as Moriarty traveled from one romantic liaison to another, and fathered one child after another, he journeyed from one physical location to another. This journey can be viewed as a quest to fill the emptiness within his soul in some instances, or a desire to escape from any form of commitment in others. The comparison of this journey to the journey of realization that America was taking at the time is also accurate and appropriate. Whichever comparison one chooses, no one can deny that the rapid pace at which Moriarty went back and forth from one destination to another is indicative of at least some level of madness. As Moriarty traveled about, his madness was further shown to be strong and prominent by his disregard for the wellbeing of others. Specifically depicted in the book is Moriarty’s journey to Chicago, during which his outlandish behavior puts others at risk, but he seems not to be concerned about it in the slightest. Yet another piece of evidence that speaks to the level of madness that Moriarty reaches in the book is punctuated by the behavior that he not only sees as nothing out of the ordinary, but also that he recommends to others, and tries to convince them to participate in as something that is acceptable. Specifically, Moriarty at one point makes the suggestion that his protege of sorts, Sal, and his wife join Moriarty in stripping off their clothes and running about in public. What this shows is not only Moriarty’s deteriorated sense of right and wrong, but also his general contempt for the trappings of conventional society, rebellion against that society, and his desire to express his total freedom and ability to do whatever he wishes, whenever he wishes, without any notable consequences for himself or others. Sadly, of course, his actions are creating chaos wherever he goes, even if he is blind to it. Lastly, something needs to be said about Moriarty’s drunken lifestyle, as well as its influence on his behaviors and choices. When he indulges in alcohol binges, his erratic behavior increases, more bad choices are made, and more people are affected for the worse. The women and children that he leaves in his alcoholic wake are forced to pick up the pieces and clean up the messes that Moriarty creates. All the while, he carries on- seemingly oblivious to what he is causing to happen, and dulled by his own vices. Conclusion Just as â€Å"On the Road† profiled an entire generation and reflected the spirit of a nation in transition, so too did Dean Moriarty. Based in part on actual people whom Kerouac knew, this character represented a composite of the quest for happiness and meaning in a chaotic world as well as the paradox of someone who wants to pursue their own enjoyments but too late realizes that total indulgence carries with it a steep price. In conclusion, what is seen in both Moriarty and the story in which he exists is the brilliance, and frailty of the human mind, the search for enlightenment, and the journey along the way- basically, the road that is chosen and what that means for the traveler.

Should Human Cloning Be Allowed?

Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? One of todays most controversial question is, Should Human Cloning be Allow? Unfortunately, our society always seems to finds more inhumane and harsh ways to eradicate itself; it also seeks ways to escape that eradication through immortality. The issue at hand is should human cloning be allowed in a society that seeks immortality in the name of science. I believe cloning is an evolutionary dead end and the use of cloning techniques to make ideal human would ultimately devalue life. Therefore, when people fear death, as most Christians do, the prospect of achieving immortality through the cloning process becomes provocative if not desirable (Sanders, 1974, p. 22). Although science might compels us to seek a higher quality of human life, there are certain activities in the area of genetics and cloning that violate basic moral and ethical principles. While, social effects have increased the knowledge of human genetics and quite possibly have been speculated about and studied more than those of any ongoing social change in history (Greely, 1998, p. 474). While most of society understands the curiosity around knowing how humans work, along with the need to know about DNA, to eliminate many hereditary illnesses and disabilities. There are still those ranging from the United States President to the proletariat have trumpeted the immorality of cloning, and research funding within the areas of animal and/or human cloning has been reduced or blocked in numerous countries and states (Rollin, 1999, p. 52). As most people condemn the idea of this in animals, it is more so appalling for humans. At what point would the experiments stop if we allow them to continue, and who will set the boundaries. People have different characteristics, which set them apart from each other, these traits range from illnesses and disabilities, which are all par t of life regardless of how we feel. I am sorry but scientists could better serve society as advisers, than as decision makers and leave it up to society to determine what is right and wrong. The fact that cloning humans is about creating a genetically indistinguishable copy of a previously existing or existing person is in my opinion wrong on all accounts. Anti-thesis I might add that while there are those for cloning and have established many positive arguments concerning the copying of human DNA, such as developing new medicines for cures. They also believe that one day this research could put an end to some hereditary diseases and disorders, as well as allowing infertile parents to produce children with their own DNA. Finally and most importantly a few scientists have suggested extending the ageing process all together through the cloning process. Even though there are many encouraging factors about cloning human embryos, there is always another side that raises many issues against the process. In a Time/CNN opinion poll of only 500 adult Americans, fewer than 1 in 5 Americans think human cloning should be allowed to continue. Fifty-eight percent of the participants in the poll believed it is morally wrong to clone humans and sixty-three percent say it is against Gods will (Battaglia, 1995, p. 675). Many religions organizations disagree with the tampering of human life; because it goes against their beliefs and argue that it is immoral. For instance, if perfected many people may turn to this method of conceiving unnaturally, in order to create the perfect son or daughter, which some may consider an unnatural birth. Many have argued that an embryo is indeed a human life, and if damaged during the cloning process, there is the possibility killing it. Therefore, making the practice of embryo cloning, an immoral procedure. Twenty years ago gene function was unknown; today we have the genetic dictionary that deciphers the code of life. Even more recent has been the application of this knowledge to our own species (Nagle, 1972, p. 372). While cloning is still considered to be in the early stages of research, and all the pros and cons contradicting each other, the main question is, should we allow human cloning in the name of science and take a chance at destroying the genetic cycle of humanity? The two main types of cloning that have caused ethical controversies around the world are embryo and reproductive cloning. Embryo cloning being the process that duplicates the procedure found in nature to produce twins, while reproductive cloning is a method where they extract the DNA from an ovum and replace it with the DNA extracted from a cell of an adult, therefore producing a copy of an existing person. Based on research done on animals, the results normally end with the subjects being born with severe inherent defects making it a profoundly unethical and immoral procedure for humans. At any stage of human cloning, there is no agreement concerning the ethical issues that arise by the process of destroying human embryos. Given that this procedure is somewhat comparable to traditional conception and because both methods create a pre-embryo, the question that still arises, is the pre-embryo is a human being? Many people have the opinion that an embryo in its early stage does not require any particular moral consideration, yet throughout Hebrew and Christian history, it is taught that what it means to be human as a person and as a people can be fully known only in reference to God (Cole-Turner, 1992, p. 162). However, there are still those that believe the embryonic cells at this stage are not equivalent to human beings because it lacks self-awareness of its environment. This simply implies that the embryo attains human form much later in development, maybe at the point when the brain develops and the embryo becomes aware of itself. Even though genetic research and cloning offers an opportunity to cure disease and allows infertile couples the possibility of having children, there is another side to this whole argument. For instance, imagine if cloning was used for the general improvement of the population, meaning collecting donor eggs and sperms from selected females and males to increas e the probability of a genetically superior species. If this is unacceptable for us, what do we do if some other nation, such as our enemy, begins such a eugenic program (Nagle, 1972, p. 376)? Many people remember the physician who substituted his sperm for the husbands to created children that were the doctors and not that of the husband. In an unscientific and unethical manner, he was using the couples to bear his children and to pay their rearing expenses. As a result, he was using science to manipulate couples to his own distorted sense of importance. Media coverage continues to suggest that the only ethical dispute is over the issue of destroying embryos, when in reality there is an unethical risk to a womens health, leaving the only one conclusion, it is unethical for both the mother and child. Therefore, when it comes to cloning humans, I believe we are playing on dangerous grounds, which are unethical and immoral to the human race as a whole. Still society continues to face the question, should we allow human cloning in the name of science. Unfortunately, many people find this to be a tough question to answer; believing there really is no right answers. Throughout all of the research already done, all we find is a lot of mixed opinions and emotions to consider. While, everybody has their own opinions about cloning, and I can see where it is difficult to determine right and wrong from the issues they have raised, both positive and negative. Synthesis The idea behind human cloning to discover new medicines and possible cures for hereditary diseases and illnesses, or at least create a decrease in the number, is the main cause of mixed emotions. For instance, I believe that everybody has his or her time, and the idea of human cloning to obtain a longer life is absurd. Looking at all of the negatives issues, I see a strong argument on the religious and moral sides. However, I suppose this would not affect everybody, being our society is on the decline when it comes to morals. While cloning for infertile parents may seem like a decent thing to do, it still poses a question concerning children that are in need of a good home. To me adoption would be a good moral decision on the part of the adopting parents. Although, cloning human embryos is still in the early stages of development it still has a long way to go before discovering the whole concept. There is one thing for sure; cloning human embryos will continue, only stopping when the government takes over and demands they put an end to the whole procedure. Despite the strong arguments and looking into the future, the commotion generated by the success of mammal cloning technology, applicable to man, highlights the fact that experimental science can raise, at least for certain people, a genuine ethical problem (Lavelle, 2005, p. 218). This leaves society with the conclusion that cloning will become more and more common as our knowledge of science and embryo development increases. However, the question of whether to allow this type of human experiment will remain unanswered. I believe the part of society that has the strongest morals when it comes to human life will continue to argue that it is still immoral.. After all the fact remains that, certain activities in the area of genetics and cloning violate basic environmental and ethical principles. Therefore, immortality is something we have lived without and come to except through our morals and religious beliefs not some scientific experiment. Although, I personally feel that embryo cloning should have never started in the first place, as pitiless as it may sound, the benefits of having this happen in order to stop further generations from suffering is definitely something many may consider. To think that this experimental behavior will create the perfect human is sad, because we will still have an imperfect world based on our immoral decisions. Even though there is a need for developing healthier cells for cancer treatment, achieving these results through cloning could potentially cause harm to an unborn child. As heartless as it may sound, I would prefer a child that had only mild disabilities, than one severely disabled because of the cloning process, or even worse, knowing that if it died from a cloning malfunction. I also think that ethics and morals play a major role in determining when an embryo becomes a living being. My own view is that even though the embryo is in this early stage and attached to its mother, it is alive. Therefore, we need to respect the embryo for what it is, a human being at its early stages of development and take in to account that one day this living creature will someday say mom or dad, so in consideration of this, would it not be sad to use it for experimental purposes. Therefore, in conclusion the question of whether or not human cloning should continue will remain unanswered. The one thing for sure is that the scientific part of humanity will continue to find more appalling and destructive ways of annihilating itself and the moral part of humanity will find a way to escape that obliteration by seeking to improve the quality life through natural sources.

Sainsburys corporate governance and information disclosure

Sainsburys corporate governance and information disclosure This paper attempts to demonstrate the annual report of Sainsbury from its corporate governance aspects and evaluate the information provided in the annual report from 5 parts: the main corporate governance mechanisms, the ownership structure, the audit report, the audit committee, and the voluntary disclosures. 2.0 corporate governance mechanisms The chairman of the Board is Philip Hampton since 2004. It consists of three Executive Directors and six Non-Executive Directors. 2.1 Division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive Corporate governance of Sainsbury set division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive. The chairman is the leadership of the board. His responsibilities are designing its agenda and ensuring effectiveness of the board. Also the chairman of Sainsbury keeps communicating with shareholders effectively because the Board must know the opinions of major shareholders. In addition he makes sure that the Chief Executive could get a strategy, which must be supported by the Board as a whole. Furthermore Philip Hampton promotes constructive relations between the Executive and Non-Executive Directors. Justin King is the Chief Executive of Sainsbury, his responsibilities is executing the strategy, which was agreed by the Board. He also creates a framework of values, organization and objectives to make sure the successful delivery of key targets. Finally he takes a leading role, with the Chairman, in the relationship with all external agencies and in promoting Sainsburys. The division of responsibilities can help company to increase corporate governance and reduce the principal-agent problem. Chief Executives strategy must be agreed by the Board, at the same time, the Chairman must effectively communicate with shareholders. Therefore the Board will monitor the strategy and make sure it is represent the shareholders profit. 2.2 Independence of Non-Executive Directors Non-Executive Directors are elected by shareholders at the first Annual General Meeting and appointed for an initial three-year term. If they get mutual agreement and shareholders agreement, their appointment could be extended for a second term. There has a regulation to increase the independence that all the Non-Executive Directors are independent according to the provisions of the Code. This means that there is no compromise to the independence of the Directors who have executive or non-executive roles with other companies. Directors may have a direct or indirect interest that conflicts with companys interests without independence. The Board has established procedures for the disclosure by Directors of any such conflicts, and also for the consideration and authorization of these conflicts by the Board. In accordance with the Act, the Board considered and authorized each Directors reported potential conflicts of interest during the year. The Board will continue to monitor and review potential conflicts of interest on a regular basis. 2.3 Remuneration Committee The Committee is chaired by Bob Stack who was appointed a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Committee on 1 January 2005. There are four main responsibilities for Remuneration Committee: First, determining and agreeing with the Board the broad remuneration policy for the Chairman, Executive Directors and the Operating Board Directors; Second, setting individual remuneration arrangements for the Chairman and Executive Directors; Third, recommending and monitoring the level and structure of remuneration for those members of senior management within the scope of the Committee, namely the Operating Board Directors and any other executive whose salary exceeds that of any Operating Board Director; Fourth, approving the service agreements of each Executive Director and including termination arrangements. 3.0 Ownership J Sainsbury plc is a PLC (Public limited Company). Also it has a limited liability, which means that no shareholder of Sainsbury is personally responsible for the debts, obligations, or acts of the company. From the data of FAME, GOVERNMENT OF QATAR via its funds has 26.01% of total shares, THREE DELTA (HOLDCO) LLP own 25%, RAZINO LTD occupy 6.98%, LORD SAINSBURY OF TURVILLE has 5.83%, LEGAL GENERAL GROUP PLC via its funds own 3.99%, and BLACKROCK, INC. via its funds own 3.52%. (Specific data will be shown on appendix) 4.0 Audit Report Sainsbury invite PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to do the audit for the company. In Sainsburys 2009 annual report PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP demonstrate the audit report, which shows their responsibilities, basis of audit opinion and audit opinion. 4.1 Audit opinion Audit opinions in the 2009 annual report reflect three things First, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union , the Group financial statements give a true and fair view about Groups affairs as at 21 March 2009 and its profit and cash flows for the 52 weeks then ended; Second, the financial statements and the part of the Remuneration report to be audited have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation; Third is about the information, which is given in the Directors report is consistent with the financial statements. From audit opinion, we can understand 5.0 Audit Committee In 2009 annual report, I find members of the Committee are independent Non-Executive Directors. Auditor independence has been strengthened by this The main responsibility for audit Committee of Sainsbury is to monitor the integrity of the financial statements and any formal announcements relating to the Companys financial performance, also reviewed any significant financial judgments contained in them. The Committee has responsibility to make sure the Companys financial controls and the systems of internal control and risk management work efficiently. Where any weaknesses were identified, the detailed actions for resolution are closely monitored through to completion. In addition, the Committee has implemented the Companys policy which restricts the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in relation to non-audit services. This is another useful function for audit committee of Sainsbury to increase the auditor independence. The policy is designed to ensure that such services do not have influence on external auditors independence and objectivity. Another very important responsibility for audit committee is the system of internal control. The Audit Committee has reviewed the effectiveness of the system of internal control. In addition, if there have some weakness of the system of internal control, the committee must make sure the relevant remedial actions are taken to solve these problems. 6.0 Evaluation of the quality of any Voluntary Disclosures This paper will show Sainsburys Voluntary Disclosures from four aspects: food, employee environment, and social. 6.1 Food Basing on 2009 annual report, we can see that Sainsbury tries its best to provide and inspire customers to eat a healthy food. Without decreasing the taste and quality or increasing the prices, the company makes products as healthy as possible. There also have some highlights during 2009 on this part. For example, reducing the fat in their products and reducing the sugar in all of their squash lines by ten per cent. Products are the most important elements for a supermarket. Sainsbury pay a lot of attention on improving the healthy of their products. And this voluntary disclosure can help the company to attract more customs. 6.2 Employee During the year ending March 2009 Sainsbury generated 5,000 new jobs by opening 11 new supermarkets. Also the corporation created a program called You Can, which now have over 2,000 colleagues participating in. 760 colleagues have been recruited in 2008/09 by providing job opportunities to the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged. 6.3 Environment Sainsburys was the first UK food retailer to publish an environment report which we did in 1996. The company holds Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, in order to minimize the waste from its business and customer. The highlights during 2009 are environmentally efficient stores, which was first opened Dartmouth, Devon. This green store focuses on decreasing overall CO2 emissions, energy consumption. Also, the green store efficiently uses the Rainwater to harvest, by which can reduce mains water usage by 60 per cent, saving around one million litters of mains water every year. This disclosure will highly increase the corporate reputation of Sainsbury. 6.4 Social This is another part, which can significantly improve Sainsburys corporate reputation. From 2009 annual report, we can find several highlights, for instance, Active Kids, which was beginning in 2005, in 2009 Sainsbury donated over  £70 million worth of sports equipment and experiences to schools, nurseries, Scouts and Girl guiding UK. In addition, Food Donation program, In 2008/09 the company donated over  £5 million worth of surplus food to a network of charities across the UK. Sainsbury do well in this part, it help a lot of people at the same time, companys reputation increase by disclosing these information. Even though customs lost confidence during 2008, Sainsbury still have good performance in 2008/2009, the important reason is the actions, which was mentioned in the environmental and social disclosures help the company to increase their reputation in their customs mind. 7.0 Conclusion In conclusion, Sainsbury par a lot of attention on independence not only on internal company but also on external auditors. This is very important for a company to increase its corporate governance. Meanwhile, making sure managers represent the shareholders profits. Furthermore, according to the voluntary disclosure, we find that Sainsbury regard company reputation as the most important part. Because of this, Sainsbury still performance well in recent year even the economical environment is worse in UK.

Program Review of the Iowa State University Office of Academic Information Technologies :: Technology Essays Technological

Program Review of the Iowa State University Office of Academic Information Technologies Essentiality: The mission of the Office of Academic Information Technologies (AIT) at Iowa State is to support campus academics through information technology (IT). It seems in the â€Å"information age† of the research university that this mission truly is an essential element, especially in light of ISU’s institutional mission of enhancing learning, promoting discovery, and engaging constituents. Indeed, this mission cannot be accomplished currently without a robust IT infrastructure. Quality: In rankings based on computing resources and services available to undergraduates, Iowa State was ranked 20th in the most recent (AIT, 2000) research university category of Yahoo’s â€Å"Most Wired† colleges and universities. While critics have questioned the usefulness of these types of ratings suggesting that thoroughness of application is really what is measured, it does show that the quality of information technology at ISU has been noticed in a peer rated study. Internally, where critics are usually the most vociferous, students, faculty, and staff have had both praise and disapproval. The harshest criticism of late have been the addition of a Microsoft Licensing Agreement which students believe to be a waste of their student fees (Iowa State Daily, 2002). Although quality, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, the quality of IT as measured by peers, students, faculty, and staff is at least average and probably above average within Iowa Stateâ⠂¬â„¢s peer institutions. Availability: AIT has taken pride over the years in giving students, faculty, and staff almost unlimited access to the university’s IT resources. The Durham Center for Computation and Telecommunications has been one of only a handful of buildings on campus open 24 hours, seven days a week. The supply of open computers within the Durham Center has usually outpaced demand except for small rush periods during the semester. Accessibility for disabled clients has also been a priority. Recent budget cuts have taken their toll on this availability however. During the last year, the center has reduced its open hours from 24 to 17 on weekdays and 14 on weekends, more closely mimicking the library’s open hours policy. Another limitation has been levied upon a few heavy Internet users in the dormitories (Iowa State Daily, 2001). Because of this heavy use, at a cost to other, less intense users, a limit has been placed on the amount of information that can be downloaded from dorm computers.

Physics of the Acoustic Guitar Essays -- physics guitars

Stringed instruments are most likely the oldest type of musical instruments. The acoustic guitar has been around since the 1500's, and is the most common stringed instrument used today. The guitar is one of the most versatile instruments in existence, being used in virtually every style of music. It can produce a wide range of sounds depending upon the style of the guitar and the type of strings used on it. The two main styles of acoustic guitars are the nylon-stringed and the steel-stringed. Nylon-stringed guitars are used mainly for styles such as classical music and flamenco. Steel-stringed guitars are most commonly associated with country and folk music. Before getting into how the guitar works, it will be beneficial to take a look at the different parts that make up a guitar. A guitar has three main parts- a body, neck and headstock. There are various styles and designs for acoustic guitars, but no matter the style, all of them have essentially the same parts. The body acts as an anchor for the neck and bridge. The top of the body is called the sounding board. It is responsible for almost all of the guitars acoustics, and is what allows the ear to hear the sound created by playing the guitar. The sounding board generally has a large hole cut in it called the sound hole. The bridge, which is also located on the sounding board, is what anchors the strings to the body. The neck is the long, slender part of the guitar connecting the body to the head. the front of the neck is called the fret board. This is where the frets are spaced down the entire neck. The frets are thin bars that are set perpendicular to the strings. The frets make it possible to create a variety of tones by... ... pattern of these resonance waves in order to cut down on interference, thus creating a richer sound. Bibliography Askill, John. Physics of Musical Sounds. New York: D. Van Norstrand Company, 1979. Billington, Ian. The Physics of the Acoustic Guitar. 9 Apr. 2003. 211.web.stuff/billington/main.htm> Guitar Acoustics. 9 Apr. 2003. Hokin, Sam. The Physics of Everyday Stuff: The Guitar. 9 Apr. 2003. /physics/stuff/guitar.html> How Stuff Works: How Acoustic Guitars Work. 9 Apr. 2003. com/guitar1.htm> Phillips, Mark, and Jon Chappell. Guitar For Dummies. Foster City: IDG Books, 1998. Sumit's Acoustic Guitar Anatomy. 9 Apr. 2003. anatomy.html> Physics of the Acoustic Guitar Essays -- physics guitars Stringed instruments are most likely the oldest type of musical instruments. The acoustic guitar has been around since the 1500's, and is the most common stringed instrument used today. The guitar is one of the most versatile instruments in existence, being used in virtually every style of music. It can produce a wide range of sounds depending upon the style of the guitar and the type of strings used on it. The two main styles of acoustic guitars are the nylon-stringed and the steel-stringed. Nylon-stringed guitars are used mainly for styles such as classical music and flamenco. Steel-stringed guitars are most commonly associated with country and folk music. Before getting into how the guitar works, it will be beneficial to take a look at the different parts that make up a guitar. A guitar has three main parts- a body, neck and headstock. There are various styles and designs for acoustic guitars, but no matter the style, all of them have essentially the same parts. The body acts as an anchor for the neck and bridge. The top of the body is called the sounding board. It is responsible for almost all of the guitars acoustics, and is what allows the ear to hear the sound created by playing the guitar. The sounding board generally has a large hole cut in it called the sound hole. The bridge, which is also located on the sounding board, is what anchors the strings to the body. The neck is the long, slender part of the guitar connecting the body to the head. the front of the neck is called the fret board. This is where the frets are spaced down the entire neck. The frets are thin bars that are set perpendicular to the strings. The frets make it possible to create a variety of tones by... ... pattern of these resonance waves in order to cut down on interference, thus creating a richer sound. Bibliography Askill, John. Physics of Musical Sounds. New York: D. Van Norstrand Company, 1979. Billington, Ian. The Physics of the Acoustic Guitar. 9 Apr. 2003. 211.web.stuff/billington/main.htm> Guitar Acoustics. 9 Apr. 2003. Hokin, Sam. The Physics of Everyday Stuff: The Guitar. 9 Apr. 2003. /physics/stuff/guitar.html> How Stuff Works: How Acoustic Guitars Work. 9 Apr. 2003. com/guitar1.htm> Phillips, Mark, and Jon Chappell. Guitar For Dummies. Foster City: IDG Books, 1998. Sumit's Acoustic Guitar Anatomy. 9 Apr. 2003. anatomy.html>

Tuskegee Airmen Essay -- American History Military Air Force

On July 19, 1941 the U.S. Air Force created a program in Alabama to train African Americans as fighter pilots(Tuskegee Airmen1). Basic flight training was done by the Tuskegee institute, a school founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881(Tuskegee Airmen 1). Cadets would finish basic training at Tuskegee's Moton Field and then move on to the Tuskegee Army Air Field to complete his transition from training to combat aircraft. The early Tuskegee squad were taught to fit in with the famous 99th fighter squadron, tagged for combat duty in North Africa. Other Tuskegee pilots were commissioned to the 332d Fighter Group which fought alongside with the 99th Squadron based out of Italy. By the end of the war, 992 men had completed training at Tuskegee, 450 were sent overseas for combat . During the same time, almost 150 died while in training or on combat missions. Additional men were trained at Tuskegee for aircrew and ground crew. The Mustang pilot spotted the string of Bf-109's heading toward the crippled B-24. The pilot, a Lt. Weathers, dropped his wing tanks, and turned into the German formation. He gave the leader a burst with his .50 calibers and it nosed up, smoking, and soon went hurtling down to the ground. The pilot radioed the others in his flight and heard "I'm right behind you." But when Weathers looked back for himself, all Page 2 he could see was the nose cannon of another Bf-109, pointing right at him. He dropped flaps and chopped throttle, instantly slowing his Mustang, and the Bf-109 overran him. A few bursts, and Lt. Weathers had his second kill of the day. Two more e/a were still in view and seemed like easy pickings, but the voice of the Group CO echoed in the pilot's mind, "Your job is to protect the bombers a... ...). Luke Weathers' escort mission described above provided the group's only aerial victories for the month of November. They flew 22 missions in December, running the group tally to 62 confirmed air-to-air victories by year's end. Bad weather in January limited them to 11 missions, picking up to 39 in February, but without many aerial victories. On March 24, 1945, Col. Davis led the Group on the longest escort mission ever flown by the Fifteenth Air Force, a 1600-mile round trip to the Daimler-Benz tank works in Berlin(Tuskegee Airmen 5). On this mission, Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., Charles Brantly and Earl Lane, each shot down a German Me-262 jet fighter aircraft. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their achievements this day(History 4). The Tuskegee Airmen continued flying and fighting, killing and dying, until the end of the war in Europe in May, 1945.

Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses Essay

Analyze funding opportunities for small businesses, including the role of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Then, evaluate the effectiveness of these funding opportunities in light of the current economy. In this time of economic challenges, suggest two ways that the SBA might be of assistance to your small business. Explain how you would request this assistance. Small businesses are leaders in innovation and drivers of the economy. Small businesses hold more patents than all of the nation’s universities and largest corporations combined, and create two thirds of all private sector jobs, employing half of all working Americans. The Federal government is the largest buyer in the world, spending over $500 billion each year. For the Federal government, contracting with small businesses is common sense. Small businesses get the revenue they need to create jobs and drive the economy forward, and federal agencies get the creativity, innovation, and technical expertise of small businesses to help accomplish their mission. When small businesses are excluded from federal contracts, the Federal government, American taxpayers and the nation’s economy lose out. Over 30 years ago, Congress set a goal of having a certain portion of all federal contracting dollars go to small businesses and established sub-goals for small businesses owned by women, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans of the Armed Forces, and for small businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones). The current government-wide goal for small businesses’ share of contracting dollars is 23%. Every year since 2006, the Federal government has missed the 23% small business goal and all but one of the sub-goals; the 2009 shortfall was greater than $4 billion. Removing barriers to federal contracting and increasing access for small businesses will go a long way in closing this gap. Over the past 18 months, the Federal government has taken important steps to increase opportunities for small businesses, from creating new online training for small businesses to issuing a proposed rule to create set-asides for women-owned small businesses in industries in which women are underrepresented. Last summer, the Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration (SBA) co-led a government-wide effort that involved over 300 matchmaking and training events across the country to ensure American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) contracts were awarded to a broad array of small businesses. With over 31% of Recovery Act contracting dollars going to small businesses, this initiative 2 Report on Small Business Federal Contracting Opportunities proved that, with committed leadership and the right tools, the government has the ability to meet – and exceed – the 23% small business contracting goal. Stronger rules. Insufficient guidance and gaps in current policy hamper the use of tools that provide contracting opportunities for small businesses. The Task Force recommends actions to strengthen and update policies where they are weak or outdated and develop policies where they are lacking. A better equipped, more informed and more accountable acquisition workforce. A lack of knowledge and agency accountability inhibits the government’s ability to meet and exceed small business procurement goals on an ongoing basis. The Task Force recommends increasing the knowledge base and efficiency level of the procurement workforce and providing appropriate incentives and accountability for agencies to meet small business goals. Improved outreach and better use of technology and data. The current data systems in the federal acquisition environment are cumbersome and not user friendly for many small businesses, especially for those who are new to the systems and trying to â€Å"get the ir foot in the door.† The Task Force recommends a one-stop shop for easier access to procurement information, as well as greater focus on the accuracy of procurement data. In the following report, the Task Force outlines the key recommendations and actions needed to meet these priority objectives. The Task Force will report to the President by December 30, 2010, on progress in the implementation of the recommendations in this report. SBA, Commerce, OMB, and the other members of the Task Force are committed to increasing opportunities for small businesses. Small businesses, including businesses owned by women, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans of our Armed Forces, must be able to participate in the Nation’s economic recovery. They must be able to compete effectively for federal contracts so our agencies, taxpayers, and the broader economy can reap the full benefit of their talents and services. 3 Report on Small Business Federal Contracting Opportunit ies REPORT INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON FEDERAL CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Small businesses are leaders in innovation and the drivers of the economy– holding more patents than all of America’s universities and largest corporations combined, creating two thirds of all private sector jobs and employing half of all working Americans. The Federal government is the largest buyer in the world, spending over $500 billion each year. For the Federal government, contracting with small businesses is common sense. Small businesses get the revenue they need to create jobs and drive the economy forward, and federal agencies get the creativity, innovation, and technical expertise of small businesses to help accomplish their mission. When small businesses are excluded from federal contracts, agencies, small businesses, taxpayers and the broader economy lose out. For more than half a century, it has been the policy of the Federal government to provide â€Å"maximum practicable opportunity† for small businesses to participate in federal contracts. To achieve this objective, Congress established an aspirational goal in 1978 for the percentage of annual prime contract spending that should be awarded to small businesses each year. Congress later set the government-wide goal at 23% and created a set of sub-goals to support the participation of special segments of the small business community: small disadvantaged businesses (5%), women-owned small businesses (5%), service-disabled-veteran-owned small businesses (3%), and small businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) (3%). These goals help ensure that a diverse set of small businesses share in the jobs and opportunities created by federal contracting. Since 2006, the Federal government has missed the 23% small business contracting goal and all but one of the sub-goals; the 2009 shortfall for the small business goal was more than $4 billion. This gap must be closed. The barriers to entry for small businesses are numerous: weak policies and rules that limit the effectiveness of tools that are supposed to facilitate contracting opportunities; inadequate workforce training to help contracting officers, small business advocates, and program offices understand how to successfully use contracting tools; and a lack of coordination among and accessibility to agency training and outreach events designed to help small businesses navigate the contracting system. Action must be taken to remove these barriers and ensure small businesses get access to federal contracts. A number of important steps have been taken or are underway to remove barriers and open more doors for small businesses in the federal marketplace. †¢ Later this year, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will implement a new rule on contracting with women-owned small businesses. For the first time, contracting officers will have a tool to set aside contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses in 4 Report on Small Business Federal Contracting Opportunities industries where women are under-represented. This is a critical step toward increasing opportunities for women-owned small businesses. †¢ This year SBA conducted the first comprehensive review of regulations in ten years governing its 8(a) business development program for disadvantaged small businesses to ensure the program’s effectiveness and increase 8(a) firms’ capacity to obtain contracts. †¢ A series of new online training courses have been rolled out (www.sba.gov/training) to walk small business owners through the steps involved in becoming a government contractor. These tools help small businesses navigate the process. †¢ SBA is conducting a comprehensive review of its size standards for small businesses – the first in 25 years – to ensure they accurately reflect the state of each industry. †¢ SBA is working actively to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in its business programs through a strengthened certification, eligibility and enforcement process.

Cvs Annual Report Essay

Executive Summary/Company History/Products and Services CVS/Pharmacy has shown a consistent growth for the last three years. Three years ago CVS/Pharmacy has merged with Longs Pharmacy and Caremark to form the largest retail pharmacy chain in the United States. CVS/Pharmacy- CVS/Pharmacy began operations in 1963, and added the pharmacy department in 1967. In 2007, CVS merged with Caremark Rx, Inc. Finally, in 2008, CVS bought the Longs Drug Store chain. CVS has over 7000 stores(Cvs.com, 2010). At the end of 9 months of 2010, the company has lost 9.25% against 2009 net income. However, the company has increased their assets and liabilities by .1% against 2009 figures(Cvs.com, 2010). As the company stands now in trends, Net revenues for this 7,100-store drugstore retailer were $23.9 billion for Q3 2010, down 3.1% from $24.6 billion in the prior year’s period. Poor performance by the company’s Pharmacy Services segment—its revenues dropped 8.5%, to $11.9 billion—was a major contributor to the company’s woes. CVS’ Retail Pharmacy segment revenues actually increased 4.1%, with total same-store sales climbing 2.5%(Trendwatch, 2010). CVS/Pharmacy is in the process of transitioning their leadership at CEO. Tom Ryan will be stepping down at the end of the year as CEO, and Larry Merlo will be promoted to CEO. Tom Ryan has been the CEO of CVS/Pharmacy Inc. since 1994, and it has been the consistency at the top that has lead to the expansion of CVS/Pharmacy as being largest retail pharmacy chain in the United States. Now that Tom’s tenure is coming to a close, a new dawn is  occurring for the corporation with Larry Merlo taking the helm. Competitor Analysis In the retail pharmacy industry, there are only three pure pharmacy firms: CVS/Pharmacy, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid. Pure pharmacy firms are pharmacy retailers whose business is built around the pharmacy. Wal-Mart, Kroger, and local grocery stores have pharmacies as an extension of their business plan, but it is not the focus of their company. CVS/Pharmacy and Walgreens have been battling over the top position for years, and Rite-Aid has been ranked at a steady third in the market place. Walgreens- Walgreens is CVS/Pharmacy’s chief competitor. Founded in 1901, Walgreens is considerably older. Unlike CVS/Pharmacy, Walgreens began with the pharmacy department. With 6000 stores, Walgreens is smaller than CVS. In 2010, Walgreens has increased sales against last year by 6.4%, and net earnings by 4.2%(Walgreens.com, 2010). Moreover, they have posted 36 straight years of sales gains, and 35 straight years of dividend payments(Walgreens.com, 2010). Finally, Walgreens has posted net earnings for 5 consecutive years. Despite Walgreens smaller size, it has a bigger market share at 31.2% compared to CVS/Pharmacy’s 25%(Wikinvest.com, 2010). The last 10 years has been the first decade that a Walgreens family member was not at the helm of the Walgreens Pharmacy chain. Charles Walgreens retired from the CEO position in 1998, but stayed on a member of the board of directors. Mr. Walgreens will officially retire for the company this year. Gregory D. Wasson is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wasson has worked with Walgreens for 31 years. In conclusion, Walgreens & CVS/Pharmacy are the giants in retail pharmacy. Their strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures have brought them to a virtual dead heat. The purpose of this research is analyze the financial strength of both to determine which is in the best financial health. Common Size Statements We will first compare CVS/Pharmacy and Walgreens through common size financial statements. Commons size financial statements allow for comparisons to be made between companies of different sizes and volumes in order to see the true performance. CVS/Pharmacy has over 7000 stores, and Walgreens Pharmacy only has 6000 stores. The difference in size will have an  impact on expense, revenue, and income. Every company plans to get the most out of every dollar spent. Consequently, we will be comparing the their financial performance from 2007-2009. From the beginning, Walgreens has yielded a better gross profit by an average of 8% over CVS/Pharmacy. Gross profit is the amount left over after cost of goods sold is taken from revenue. Although, both have been steady with their percentage gross profit, CVS/Pharmacy 21% & Walgreens 28%, Walgreens has gained more. However, Walgreens’ celebration is short lived because the balance statement is more than gross profit. In fact the 8% edge in gross profit they gave back in operating expenses. Walgreens’ operating expenses took, on average, 22.5% away from their total revenue. CVS/Pharmacy operating expenses took only 14.5% away from their total revenue. Moreover, other indicators of return on investment to the company are higher for CVS/Pharmacy than Walgreens. CVS/Pharmacy has had a higher operating income than Walgreens since 2007. For the last two years CVS/Pharmacy has posted higher income before taxes than Walgreens. Finally, the biggest trend difference between the two firms is that CVS/Pharmacy’s net income has increased three years in a row, while Walgreens’ net income has steadily decreased three years in a row. As a company, CVS/Pharmacy received a 20% gross profit margin. The next biggest payment went to operating expenses at 14.12%. After the expenses, income before taxes and operating profit account for 13% and net income accounts for nearly 4%. In 2009 alone, Walgreens’ gross profit and operating expenses nearly cancel each other out. There is only a 4% variance between gross profit and operating expenses for Walgreens. Operating profit and income before taxes accounts for only 10% of the revenue, while Walgreens’ net income accounts for barely over 3%. On the key financial statements, Walgreens’ performance has been diminishing over the last three years, and CVS/Pharmacy’s performance has risen. The reason behind the growing strength of CVS/Pharmacy has been the general, consistent financial growth. This will be illustrated by the financial ratios. Liquidity is the firm’s ability to meet its current obligations(Marshall, McManus, Vielle, 2010). Working capital is the excess of a firm’s current assets over its current liabilities(2010). In this case, Walgreens’ has higher working capital than CVS/Pharmacy. On other tests of liquidity,  Walgreens’ out performs CVS/Pharmacy. Walgreens has a higher current ratio, acid test ratio, and they turn over their assets 8 more times a year than CVS/Pharmacy. Although Walgreens has yielded their lowest net income in three years, they have a high comparable liquidity. Moreover, the higher net income for CVS/Pharmacy has not translated into higher liquidity. However, the increased in income has translated into a higher inventory turnover for CVS/Pharmacy. Conclusion The findings of this paper are illustrating the transition in the marketplace between CVS/Pharmacy and Walgreens. For the last 20 years, these retail pharmacy firms have battled for supremacy in the industry. Over the last decade, CVS/Pharmacy has had one Chief Executive Officer, Tom Ryan. However, since Tom Ryan took over in 1999, Walgreens has had 3 CEO changes. The result of inconsistency in their leadership has translated to a lower return on investment. Walgreens has higher liquidity, but they have shown three years of decreasing net income. As a result, they are getting weaker as an organization. However, CVS/Pharmacy has shown consistent growth over the last three years. Their increasing strength has been represented by their purchases of Long’s Pharmacy and Caremark. It is my conclusion that this trend will continue