Native American Spiritualism

Native American Spiritualism By definition, Spiritualism can be defined as a belief in the possibility of a way of communication between human beings and the spirits of the living dead and the mechanisms through which this is achieved in practice.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Native American Spiritualism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In its doctrine, Spiritualism argues that all that is within the universe can not only exhibit the material characteristics but also exhibit other properties far much beyond the natural human understanding, otherwise known as metaphysics. As such, it is the exact opposite of Materialism, which explains the occurrence, and properties of matter as found in the theories of physical sciences. In addition, it can be thought of as a belief that what exists is either a spirit or soul. An important distinguishing feature of spiritualism as a kind of religion is that here the spirits of the living dead can be communica ted to and a medium exists that can convey to the living the information concerning life after death. Various spiritualists have different belief but there exists beliefs that are common to all. They all believe in the existence of God and that the soul continues to exist in the world of the living dead, that every one will carry his own cross and that even after death the soul can change. Having come out of Christian religion and being a religion kind of, Spiritualism has some relationships with those other religions namely Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Spiritism, and other indigenous religions but receive strong opposition from religions like Judaism. Both Christians and spiritualists believe in the existence of God, death of Jesus Christ on the cross as well as conducting church services on Sundays. However, spiritualists believe that the death of Jesus on the cross was not to save humankind as per the Christians and that every soul shall be individually responsible for the deed s or sins committed. They also believe that even after death one can still change and that there is no particular hell or heaven but a series of such depending on the performance of the individuals. Both Islam and Spiritualism share the concept of spirits existing between man and God. Hindus, who believe that if one dies before the right time then the spirit hangs around in form of a ghost until the right time of his death after which he is reincarnated, share the same concept of existence of soul after death. However, Judaism differs with the spiritualists and argues that God forbids any form of worship connected to the spirits and that such people shall be permanently cut off from His people.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the native America, there exists various religious cultures among them Christianity, and Islam, alongside many others. One important and in teresting effect off having a wide diversity in religious culture in the Native America is the impact of such beliefs and culture on the way people relate with one another. The coming of the European missionaries into America back to the 16th century and the sticking of the Native Americans to their traditions blended to give rise to other religions that are partly traditional and partly Christian. Native American attached a lot of value to their tradition and culture more so in an attempt resist the oppression of Europeans who conquered their land. There was also the desire to have one common Indian religion. (Neuser 23) In fact, the whole concept of religion changed meaning to Native Americans and to them it simply denoted Christianity. Therefore, the love for this Indian religion led to emergence of spiritualist religion. One of these people who are closely attached to this religion is an Indian known as Don Juan Matus who had various teaching on the understanding of mankind and the universe in general. His teachings have since been written by different authors some of whom had personal interviews with him. Juan was mystical and always had strong belief in signs coming to him from an unnatural source. Specifically, Juan believed that the universe consists of two worlds namely: tonal: the world of material and the first in hierarchy and naugal, the non-material world (Antonov 5). He said that communication in the world of materials was through the senses of our physical body, which he referred to as first-attention. However, to be able to sense anything in the second world one is required to develop a second-attention, which he termed as clairvoyance. There was also the third-attention through which one would communicate to God and his signs. Before and during the times of Don Juan, the concept God was taken to be a universal Eagle that was the sole controller of the universe. The Eagle fed on the souls of human beings leaving the body and that was the caus e of death.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Native American Spiritualism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Besides, it would allow the soul of one to move on to the next stage if the person had gained the required power during their lifetime. This belief was frightening and Juan had to come out strongly to oppose it. He argued that approaching God only required one to manifest love, just as the teachings of most other religions. Spiritualism was also characterized by other beliefs like those that were referred to as The Sacred Tree. This Sacred Tree had a lot of symbolic meaning and thus had a variety of functions. This holy place was believed to be the dwelling place of the Supreme Being. According to Bopp, the Sacred Tree was a symbol that had a great importance to the traditionalists as it represented life, cycle of time, the earth, and the universe (20). In the ordinary context, the shade of a tree can provide pr otection from strong heat or rainfall. Similarly, the Sacred Tree is believed to be a source of protection. The Sacred Tree connotes a place where people come together for certain purposes; it can also be thought of as a â€Å"womb that gives birth to our values and potentiality as human beings† (Bopp 22). Besides, the fruits of the sacred Tree can be view in the perspective of the food needed for human growth; that is it represents the â€Å"nurturing that human beings receive in interacting with other human, physical, and spiritual environment† (Bopp 22). Finally, the leaves of the Sacred Tree are a representation of man; ordinarily, the leaves fall off a tree to the ground to form manure, which later helps other trees to come up, a phenomenon that depicts people who pass the teaching to the generation that will succeed them. The need to explain the origin of mankind, the concept God and Life after death that led to the emergence of such beliefs and doctrines as seen in Spiritualism is still a point of concern to many philosophers and other scholars to date and will continue giving birth to more religions Antonov, Vladimir. Native American Spirituality: Path of Heart (Don Juan Matus, Eagle and Others). Ontario: CreateSpace. 2008. Bopp, Judie. The Sacred Tree. WI: Lotus Press. 1984.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Neuser, Jacob. World Religions in America: An Introduction. Fourth Edition. Westminister: John Knox Press. 2009.

Shakespeare Family

Shakespeare Family Who was William Shakespeare’s immediate family? Did he have children? Are there direct descendants around today? William led two very different lives. There was his home, family life in Stratford-upon-Avon; and there was his professional life in London. Other than one account from a town clerk in 1616 that Shakespeare was in London with his son-in-law, John Hall, there is no evidence that his family had much to do with London. All of his property was in Stratford, including a large family home called New Place. When purchased in 1597, it was the biggest house in the town! Shakespeares Parents: Father: John ShakespeareMother: Mary Arden There is no exact record of when John and Mary married, but it is estimated to be in about 1557. The family business evolved over time, but it is widely recognised that John was a glove maker and leather maker.   John was very active in Stratford-upon-Avon’s civic duties and in 1567 he became mayor of the town (or High Bailiff, as he would have been titled then). Whilst there are no records, it is presumed that John’s high civic standing would have enabled the young William to study at the local grammar school. Shakespeares Siblings: Brother: Gilbert Shakespeare (born in 1566)Sister: Joan Shakespeare (born in 1569)Sister:  Anne Shakespeare (born in 1571)Brother:  Richard Shakespeare (born in 1574)Brother:  Edmund Shakespeare (born in 1580) Infant mortality was common in Elizabethan England, and John and Mary lost two children before William was born. The siblings above lived until they were adults, with the exception of Anne who died at the age of eight. Shakespeares Wife: Wife: Anne Hathaway When he was just 18 years old, William married 27-year-old Anne Hathaway in a shotgun wedding. Anne was the daughter of a farming family in the nearby village of Shottery. She fell pregnant with their first child outside of wedlock and the couple had to obtain special permission from the Bishop to marry. There is no surviving wedding certificate. Shakespeares Children: Daughter: Susanna Shakespeare (born in 1583)Daughter:  Judith Shakespeare – Twin (born in 1585)Son: Hamnet Shakespeare – Twin (born in 1585) The child conceived out of wedlock to William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway was daughter named Susanna. A few years later, they had twins. However, in the summer of 1596, Hamnet died, aged 11. It is thought that William was grief stricken and his experience can be read in his characterisation of Hamlet, written not long after. Susanna married John Hall in 1607; Judith married Thomas Quiney in 1616.Shakespeares Grandchildren: Elizabeth Hall (born in 1608)Shakespeare Quiney (born in 1616)Richard Quiney (born in 1618)Thomas Quiney (born in 1620) William had only one grandchild from his eldest daughter, Susanna. Elizabeth married Thomas Nash in 1626, and later remarried to John Bernard in 1649. From William’s youngest daughter, Judith, there were three grandsons. The eldest was named Shakespeare because the family name had been lost when Judith married, but he died in infancy. Shakespeares Grandparents Grandfather: Richard ShakespeareGrandfather: Robert Arden Above William’s parents in the family tree, information becomes a little sparse. We can’t be sure of the names of William’s grandmothers because the â€Å"men of the house† would have taken control of legal affairs, and so only their names will have appeared on historical documents. We know that the Arden’s were wealthy fathers and the Shakespeare family held civic responsibilities in the town. It is likely that this combined power was what enabled them to obtain special permission from the Bishop for their children to marry to stop the baby being born out of wedlock; this would have brought shame on their family and their reputation at the time. Shakespeares Living Descendants: Wouldn’t it be great to discover that you are a descendant of the Bard? Well, technically, it is possible. The direct bloodline ends with William’s grandchildren who either did not marry, or did not have children to continue the line. You have to look further up the family tree to William’s sister, Joan. Joan married William Hart and had four children. This line continued and there are many of Joan’s descendants alive today. Could you be related to William Shakespeare?

Psychology of Language - The Differences between Boys and Girls in Essay

Psychology of Language - The Differences between Boys and Girls in Language Development - Essay Example Their natural born, biological attributes may more important to their acquisition of language than the way they are nurtured. Chomsky believes that children have an innate ability to learn language and that this ability only needs to be triggered by verbal input from their environment. (Chomsky, 1972) Two other prevalent theories on language development in children are Piaget’s idea of cognitive constructivism and Vygotsky’s concept of social constructivism and language. Piaget suggests that language is simply one of the ways children represent the world with which they are familiar. It reflects but does not contribute to the development of thinking. Piaget believed that cognitive development precedes the development of language. (1955) Vygotsky believed that language impacts such that language is a form of social communication that gradually promotes both language itself and cognition. (1978, 1985) In general, these theories recognize that children are co-constructors in their world and that their development of language is a part of their holistic development that emerges from their cognitive, social and emotional interactions. We are now well aware that male and female brains are different. Anatomical and chemical differences begin early in development due to genetic and hormonal events and continue throughout life, but understanding these differences is difficult. We recognize the importance of considering sex differences when designing and interpreting studies, but our understanding of the differences is so unclear that interpreting the results is full of pitfalls. (Becker, J. B. et al. 2005) This is equally as true in studies of gender differences in language acquisition as elsewhere. Although much of the work on gender differences in language acquisition is speculative, some information is known. We realize that there are differences between

Qualitative and Quantitative Considerations in Examination of War Essay

Qualitative and Quantitative Considerations in Examination of War - Essay Example According to Clausewitz war is the continuation of politics by other means. War is the mobilization of national power to achieve political objectives, which have been translated into strategic military objectives, by mixing the material factors of economic capacity, technological capacity, transportation, etc., and immaterial factors like national will, will of the ruler and resilience ( Note: Considerations for the Study of War 2010). The military strategic policy of the state will explain how the task is to be accomplished. Every state will go to war with a strategic policy which may be written or may be an ambition of the ruler. So, the aim of war is the most important qualitative consideration. The aim of war can also be limited or unlimited. War has a dual nature, according to Clausewitz. One is the objective reality and the other is the subjective reality. The objective nature of war refers to the common things in war, i.e. violence, fear, danger, fortune, etc.

Spinster and Women Role Essay Example for Free

Spinster and Women Role Essay PART A: Introduction According to the latest statistics reported by the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong, the population of single women has been on the rise over the past two decades. The population of women aged 30-39 who have never married has risen from 51,000 people in 1986, to 180,600 in 2009. In recent years, people in Mainland China and Hong Kong started to use the term â€Å" † to describe any woman who remains unmarried beyond the conventional age for marriage. In western culture, words like â€Å"Spinster† and â€Å"Old maid† indicate an older, childless woman who is unwilling and unable to marry. Undoubtedly, traditional Chinese culture has cultivated generations of women who believed that their ultimate and most important role in society was to get married and have children. If a woman cannot achieve those goals, she would be considered eccentric or unfulfilled. The objective of my term project is to change general perceptions of unmarried women. I do believe that there is a wider range of acceptable and alternative lifestyle choices for women, such as living together with a lover without being married, and marrying at an older age. Hence, I produced a short film, and entitled it â€Å"A Love Warrior†. The Choice of Character The character in my short film is Ada, a typical businesswoman who is confident, strong, outspoken and attractive. She represents a large group of modern women in our society. After graduating from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Ada was awarded with two additional master degrees with recognized qualifications in Hong Kong. Although she is in her early-thirties, she works as a senior marketing manager in a German-based sports apparel manufacturer. With a highly educated background, it is obvious that Ada sees herself as a career-focused woman. But like other women, she also enjoys love life. In her most recent long-term relationship, she found out that her boyfriend cheated on her with a younger girl, therefore she made up her mind and ended this eight-year old relationship. After this painful experience, she became very optimistic and joked that she should be calling herself a â€Å" † and sees the world differently, there are many other good men available. Nevertheless, she is still seeking her Mr. Right and asserted her belief of true love and settled down. The Spinster Stereotype According with the Circuit of Culture (du Gay et al. 1997), culture is described as the production and circulation of meaning. On the whole, there are five stations: Representation, Identity, Production, Consumption and Regulation which are connected to each other providing a synergistic impact. Even fluctuation in one station would affect all other elements. Meaning comes from representations from language, photography, painting and ot her media, which uses â€Å"signs and symbols to represent or re-represent whatever exists in the world in term of a meaning concept, image or idea. † (du Gay et al. , 1997). Identity refers to how meaning is constructed or made and internalized by individual person or cultural group when confronted with a text (du Gay et al. ,1997). Production refers to the effort that an entity, for example, an individual, culture or industry goes about representing itself or products to others. Nowadays, meaning is also produced in a variety of different media. The modern mass media in a global scale circulate meanings between different cultures on a scale and with a speed. Consumption denotes that meaning is produced whenever people make use of appropriate cultural stuff to express themselves in. Regulation indicates that meanings help to set the norms, rules and conventions by which social life is ordered and governed. In other words, it is accepted as appropriate if the observed behaviour is pleasing to the individual or group. As long as the behaviour makes one uncomfortable, it becomes inappropriate. The approval or disapproval of texts may be in the hands of individual or groups within a cultural setting. During the early nineteenth century, unmarried women earned a living by spinning cloth at home. It was really the thankless work. The term â€Å"Spinsters† originally identified those women. Nevertheless, people used to associate middle-aged and unmarried women with â€Å"Spinsters†. That was definitely a symbolic representation, and became a social stigma attached to their status.. Feminist reject the stereotype of spinster. They point out that the term â€Å"Bachelor† which is used to label unmarried man, did not have the same negative implication as that of â€Å"Spinster†. Moreover, words like â€Å"Spinster† and â€Å"Old maid† pertain to the sexual as well as marital state of a woman (Schur, 1983). A bachelor could have several partners, yet it would be immoral for a spinster to do the same. People mostly implies that a bachelor is young, energetic, virile and available while a spinster eventually ages to a point where she becomes infertile and never bear children. Obviously, these terms for labeling unmarried man and woman respectively did not parallel in meaning. There are several psychological characteristics associated with the spinster stereotype: abnormal, unfulfilled and pitiful. In the traditional sense, spinsters were viewed as abnormal because they did not have children. Since spinsters would not have husband and children, they were alone in life which were viewed as unfulfilled by traditional definition. Also, people took pity on the lonesome spinsters who could not have true meaning in life without a husband and children. The Contemporary Image of Single Women In my short film, Ada represents a fashionable and cheerful lady although she is unmarried. She is dressed in trendy and sexy clothes, and has her hair bobbed. She looks chic and posh. She is confident to speak what she wants to express. She admits that she is eager to seek for her Mr. Right through online dating websites and marriage agency. During the photo shoot, she struck a posed on the Jacuzzi in the bathroom, and she drank the red wine in an Italian restaurant. These images convey the message that she knows how to enjoy her life and make herself happy, and defy conventional stereotype of unmarried women. Conclusion After completing this project, I think short film production is similar to photovoice. These creative approaches enable people, especially the stereotype group, to identify, define and enhance their community based on their own specific concern and priorities. Furthermore, I believe that in order to minimize the stereotypes for unmarried women in our society, cultural changes and breakthrough must be made. The struggle for these women to become a respected part of the society has been carrying on for centuries. Today, most single women have become sensible and smart on selecting the other half through wide opportunity for dating. (Word Count : 1103) PART B: There are 4 suggestions for improving my work. Firstly, I believe that the target audience of this project is unmarried women sharing a similar background with Ada. Hence, for the representation, I would have Ada encourages these women to follow her attitude towards life, being independent, assuming their femininity, breaking free from conventions and showing confidence with strength in both their career and personal lives. Secondly, having a strong female character as the main focus, the male audiences may feel offended by the tonality. Therefore I would have included various scenes in which Ada shows her femininity side in a traditional way, such as baking cupcakes or planting lavender. In order to seek acceptance from the male audiences, it is necessary to slightly tune down the independent and strong characters of single women. Thirdly, music can be use as a medium to express our feelings. The background music I chose for the short film is in English. The powerful lyrics of these songs illustrate the modern women’s attitudes towards their lives, and they are perfect to show Ada’s point of views, also to add more excitement for the audiences. However, due to language barrier, some audiences may not be familiar with these songs and not easy to be associated with.

Abduction and Computer Game Design :: Technology Doom Myst Essays

Abduction and Computer Game Design Introduction In this paper, I will look at the process of abductive reasoning and show the implications of this concept as it applies to computer game design. While my comments will relate to most computer games, I will specifically discuss two games: Doom, which is produced by the Id software company, and Myst, which is produced by Broderbund software. Doom First, a little information about the game Doom. The first version of Doom was released as shareware (free demonstration software) in 1993, and its successors have included Doom II, Ultimate Doom and other variations. It has also inspired many similar games from other companies. Estimates put the number of players of this multiple-computer-platform software program at 10 million worldwide. One of the developers of Doom once boasted, "In 1994, we fully expect to be the number one cause of decreased productivity in businesses around the world. â€Å" What characteristics have led Doom and its many imitators to such success? I would argue that the most important reason is that game puts the player in an immersive environment. There is a compelling sense of â€Å"virtual reality† (to use a term that is more a cliche than any real description) in Doom. The action of the game is presented from a first-person point of view; that is, what you see on the computer screen is approximately what the character you are playing would see. Your character is invisible, just as you cannot see yourself but in a mirror; however, the weapon the character is holding is visible in the lower center of the screen. This technique of first-person presentation (fig. 1) serves to involve the player in the game action more directly than a third-person, overhead view might, and it makes for a more 'realistic' presentation of the "3D" action. As the player moves from room to room, lights flicker and fade and sounds get louder or softer. Doom has a frame (or image) rate greater than that of film or television, which has been shown to create an effect of heightened 'reality.' Players have been observed exhibiting physical responses to the game's action: ducking and leaping back from the screen, and trying to peer 'around' the walls displayed on the monitor. Doom can be played by a single person alone, by two people over a modem, or by up to four connected to a computer network, and these networked players can either cooperate or compete against each other.

Nucor Case

NUCOR MEMORANDUM To: F. Kenneth Iverson and Management Team of Nucor Corporation CC: AGSM Faculty Teams Subject: Investment Decision Date: 04/22/2009 From: 1713898 The Situation In 1986, flat sheet segment contained 52% of US total steel market1. Nucor Corporation, which is a steel minimill well-known for its leadership, efficient operation and well-structured compensation, is showing the interest in the flat sheet segment. At the same time, there are many new thin-slab casting technologies to help minimills enter the new market quickly and cost-efficiently. One of them is from German firm, SMS Schloemann-Siemag, who has consistently introduced its unique technology, Compact Strip Production (CSP), to Nucor. As the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nucor, F. Kenneth Iverson has to make a decision on whether Nucor should go for CSP plant developed by SMS. The Issue The most salient issue than concerns Nucor and its management team right now is – What is the best strategy for Nucor to target the flat sheet segment? Alternatives 1. Go for CSP plant: Obviously, the most important reason for Nucor to buy CSP technology is that Nucor could take advantage of the huge opportunity of entering flat-sheet market. As the pioneer of CSP application, Nucor would have 2 to 3 years head start to utilize its technology advantage in order to secure a desired market share. Consequently, CSP will help Nucor to achieve its long-term vision: to target the high end of flat-sheet market. The competition of the low end of flatsheet market is increasing due to the interest of many minimills and the low price products of overseas competitors. Aiming at the high end segment is a wise strategy because the high end segment is expected to bring more profits and help Nucor to grow consistently in future. 1 Exhibit 2 – Steel Mill Product Segments: 1986, page 15 of the case 1 However, going for CSP plant option exposes many disadvantages as well. First of all, without expertise in flat-sheet products, Nucor will be not in a good position to compete fairly to expert players. Subsequently, Nucor will face difficulties in new plant operation and possibly be outpaced by integrated mills adopting CSP. Secondly, the resource constraints will not favor CSP. Sharing resources between CSP and the joint venture with Yamato Kogyo might bring in a risk of not enough capital or even worse, bankruptcy. Last but not least, uncertainty of technology is another major concern. The possibility of new plant’s obsoleteness is there and Nucor clearly does not want to pay a huge sunk cost just because it is the pioneer. 2. Not to go for CSP plant: By not going for CSP, Nucor can apply wait-and-see strategy. It allows Nucor more time to watchfully define the target market and wait for a matured and proven thin-slab casting technology. By that, Nucor will be able to avoid a huge sunk cost. Next, Nucor could utilize the resource on the joint venture with Yamato Kogyo. Hence, the risk of capital shortness will be eliminated. In the other hand, Nucor will let go a significant opportunity to capture some shares of flat-sheet market. It might not affect Nucor in short-term. However, in the long-term, assuming many steel producers adopting successfully CSP or other thin-slab casting technologies, Nucor will be pushed to a bad position to compete over. Also, it will take even more time and resource for Nucor to catch up. Recommendation The first alternative is strongly recommended because of the following three reasons. First, even though money is an issue, it is not a big issue for Nucor. With $185 million in cash and short-term securities on hand together with the ability to issue corporate longterm bond2, Nucor is completed able to fund CSP with a strict financial management. Secondly, CSP project is showing a good cashflow even in the case of CSP’s obsoleteness. Assuming that new CSP plant is operating at 100% capacity or 1 million ton per year, Nucor will get hold of 2. 76% of flat sheet market3, which is reasonable. From a simple projection4, new CSP plant is showing a positive cashflow with NPV = $141. 55 mil, IRR = 19%, and payback period = 4. 34 years. Thirdly, the argument that Nucor should not go to flat-sheet market because of its lacking experience is not convincing. Unless Nucor does not want to enter flat-sheet market, the earlier Nucor enter flat-sheet market, the faster it will learn and the better it will sustain in future. Second-last paragraph, page 14 of the case Appendix 3 4 Appendix 4 2 3 2 Appendices 1. SWOT analysis Strengths Leadership Efficient operation Well-structured compensation Culture Weakness Resource constraint No experience in flat sheet product Opportunities Enter flat sheet market Pioneer in thin-slab casting technology Threats Uncertainty about technology Competition, possibly be outpaced by integrated mills adopting CSP . Porter five forces analysis5 The threat of substitute products – buyer propensity to substitute – relative price performance of substitutes – buyer switching costs – perceived level of product differentiation The threat of the entry of new competitors – Existence of barriers to entry (patents, right, etc. ) – economies of product differences – brand equi ty – switching cost or sunk cost – capital requirements – access to distribution – absolute cost advantages – learning curve advantages – expected retaliation by incumbents – government policies The intensity of competitive rivalry 5 MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH HIGH LOW MEDIUM HIGH HIGH HIGH LOW MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM HIGH MODERATELY HIGH LOW LOW http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Porter_5_forces_analysis 3 numbers of competitors rate of industry growth intermittent industry overcapacity exit barriers diversity of competitors informational complexity and asymmetry – fixed cost allocation per value added – level of advertising expense – Economies of scale – sustainable competitive advantage through improvisation The bargaining power of customers – buyer concentration to firm concentration ratio – degree of dependency upon existing channels of istribution – bargaining leverage – buyer volume – buyer switching costs relative to firm switching costs – buyer information availability – ability to backward integrate – availability of existing substitute products – buyer price sensitivity – differential advantage (uniqueness) of industry prod ucts – RFM (Regency + Frequency + Monetary Value) analysis The bargaining power of suppliers – supplier switching costs relative to firm switching costs – degree of differentiation of inputs – presence of substitute inputs – supplier concentration to firm concentration ratio – employee solidarity (e. . labor unions) – threat of forward integration by suppliers relative to the threat of backward integration by firms – cost of inputs relative to selling price of the product – MEDIUM MEDIUM – HIGH MEDIUM LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH MEDIUM HIGH LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM LOW LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM – MEDIUM 4 3. Estimation of market share of a full capacity CSP plant Total flat sheet segment 36. 6 CSP full capacity 17 Market share of Nucor's CSP plant with 100% capacity 2. 76% Unit: millions of ton 4. CSP plant’s cash flow with assumption: discount rate = 10%, constant cashflow Cashflow per year Total Cost per ton8 8 Revenues per ton Profit per ton Shipment (millions of ton)7 Total Profit per year Hot-rolled (HR) 225 306. 5 81. 5 0. 5 40,750,000. 00 Cold-rolled (CR) 283 390. 5 107. 5 0. 35 37,625,000. 00 Both HR & CR 78,375,000. 00 Cashflow in 10-year opportunity window Discount rate Year Cashflow 10% 0 -340 Unit 1 78. 37 2 78. 37 3 78. 37 4 78. 37 5 78. 37 6 78. 37 7 78. 37 8 78. 37 9 78. 37 $ mil 10 78. 37 NPV IRR Payback period 141. 55 19% 4. 34 $ mil year 6 Exhibit 2 – Steel Mill Product Segments: 1986, page 15 of the case Exhibit 12A – Construction Costs for Flat-Rolled Product Plants: 1986, page 22 of the case 8 Exhibit 12B – Comparative Operating Data for Flat-Rolled Product Plants: 1986, page 22 of the case 7 5 Nucor Case NUCOR CASE In this analysis we use the Net present value to consider if Nucor should invest in the new technology called: thin slab minimill. NPV is really useful in order to make this kind of decision because it uses the concept of future cash value to evaluate whether the investment is worth, however the NPV is sometimes difficult to calculate because it is not always easy to estimate future cash flow.Considering the assumption I made in the first part of the spread sheet, the thin slab project doesn’t appear to be a wise investment for Nucor because the future cash flows at the present value are less than the initial cost of the investment. Comparing the NPV of the three different scenarios it is evident that the best option for Iverson is to continue whit the unmodernized process. The first consideration about to undertake the investment is based on particular assumptions about the future, if we change those the result of the decision could also change.Due to the fluctuati on of the market is difficult to make the right assumptions and this is why to calculate the NPV is not easy. For instance if we changed the discount rate and we lower it below the IRR, the resulting NPV will be positive and this case to invest in the new technology could be a profitable decision. We can also change the steel price rate keeping the cost rate constant, if it is increased enough the NPV could result positive, at the same time if we reduce cost rate keeping the price rate constant we can find an equal result.Regarding the real option analysis if Nucor decides to wait it is unlikely that another will decide to make this kind of investment first. The follow strategy could be a wise decision for Nucor, because the NPV is slightly negative so the management could decide to undertake this investment in order to gain experience and subsequently use that experience for other plants so this initial price could generate future opportunities.

Vijayawada in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh

A quadruplet is a multiplier that is lifted by four rotors. Unlike traditional helicopters, the quadruplet use 2 sets of propellers with 2 clockwise and 2 anti- clockwise. It was first designed by Louis Brute in 1907. It lifted off the ground by using four propellers In four different directions. Although It could only go up for several feet, it was a great step for the development of quadruplets. More than a decade later, in the asses, more engineers and scientists developed their own types f oratorical.Edmond Machine, a French engineer and helicopter designer, successfully designed a multiplier with four rotors that were installed at the ends of four arms. It provided a very high stability at that time and marked a record of 360 meters traveling distance. As time has passed, the quadruplet has changed into different styles and models. In asses-1 sass, the world was undergoing a very rapid economic development. There was a huge demand for transportation of Industrial materials. The quadruplet was a machine that people always prefer to use.However, due to lack improvement of the quadruplet, it was still not adopted for industrial use. In recent years, many small scale quadruplet are widely used in many ways. As there are many advanced airplanes, quadruplets are no longer under consideration as a means to transport people or commodities. Instead, they are used in different areas, like ordnance surveying, rescue support, film taking etc. Nowadays, quadruplets are always equipped with a camera. The data recorded by a quadruplet can be directly sent to a computer or saved in a storage system.During the Chuan earthquake In 2008, landslides blocked miles of country roads and properties. The rescuers could not enter the affected area. Also, airplanes could land or fly over some of these remote areas. The situation in the affected area remained unknown for the rescuers. The quadruplet help people to assess the damage quickly and more accurately in the remote areas. The ID robotics quadruplet, supported by a simple GAPS controlled through a computer, allowed the rescue teams to locate the affected areas.As the quadruplet is small in size and invulnerable, it can travel to very inaccessible places. We no longer need to rely on expensive alternatives like helicopters. Another common application of the quadruplet Is video and film taking. In the old days, if we want to take some scenes in the sky, we would probably need to use an airplane to help us. However, it is very difficult for an airplane to fly between skyscrapers and along narrow streets like In Hong Kong. Yet, but using a quadruplet can help the directors to achieve this goal.Since the quadruplet can be controlled by remote control or through computer programs, people can control their quadruplet to any direction they like. No matter whether you are standing on a cliff, or in I OFF flexibility and effectiveness of film making. The above applications are not those which are common in most pe ople's lives. Many people cannot afford to buy a quadruplet. Even if they could afford one, there are few ways that they could use it. However, in the future, we will have a chance to see hundreds of quadruplets flying over our heads.The world largest online retailer Amazon introduced a new delivery system-?Prime Air. This futuristic system allows customers to get their ordered packages into their hands within half an hour via unmanned aerial vehicles. The specially designed aerial vehicle is based on a prototype of a quadruplet. There are clamps to hold a box under the copter. The aerial vehicle is equipped with and tracked by a very precise GAPS system. It can even direct the copter outside the shopper's doorstep. In the future, the world's population will keep increasing. Land will become more crowded.Other than open up underground areas, the air space is expected to open p when we have better technology capabilities. As online shopping is growing in popularity, the Prime Air not only can boost the efficiency and economic growth, it can greatly reduce the demand for land transportation. To make Prime Air practicable, many weaknesses need to be considered and solved. What people discuss the most is safety. People will probably feel frightened and worried when they see a flying machine whizzing Just ten meters above their heads. People will also wonder whether the clamps strong enough to hold the box without dropping it.Although the copter is tracked by a very accurate GAPS system, there are many physical obstacles like trees, streetlights, advertisements and even construction sites which are not shown or frequently updated in the system. The technologies nowadays may not be capable to direct the unmanned aerial vehicles to keep away from these obstacles. This puts a restriction on sending a copter to crowded and busy areas like Hong Kong or New York. In the meantime, engineers needs to consider other problems like weather, battery life, load capacity and sec urity.A quadruplet for goods delivery use needs some kind f design to protect the electronic components inside it and this type of service would be highly susceptible to the weather conditions. If the quadruplet could only operate on dry days, the whole concept may somewhat lose it's meaning of effective delivery. What's more, there is no one guard the copter. How can we ensure it can safely and accurately fly to the destination? There are still many things need to deal with in the future to make an application like this a reality. In the future, accoutered will be more commonly used in different aspects.

The Number of Countries in the World

The Number of Countries in the World The answer to the seemingly simple geographical question of How many countries are there? is that it depends on whos doing the counting. The United Nations, for example, recognizes 241 countries and territories. The United States, however, officially recognizes fewer than 200 nations. Ultimately, the best answer is that there are 196 countries in the world. Heres why. United Nations Member States There are 193 member states in the United Nations. This total is often cited inaccurately as the actual number of countries in the world; its inaccurate because there are two other members with limited status. Both the Vatican (officially known as the Holy See), which is an independent nation, and the Palestinian Authority, which is a quasi-governmental body, have been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations. These two entities can take part in all official UN activities but cannot cast votes in the General Assembly. Likewise, some nations or regions of the world have declared their independence and are recognized by a majority of UN member states yet are not part of the United Nations. Kosovo, a region of Serbia that declared independence in 2008, is one such example.   Nations Recognized by the United States The United States officially recognizes other nations through the State Department. As of May 2018, the State Department recognized  195 independent countries around the world. This list reflects the political agenda of the United States of America and its allies. Unlike the United Nations, the United States maintains full diplomatic relations with Kosovo and the Vatican. However, one nation is missing from the State Departments list that should be on it. The Nation That Isnt The island of Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China, meets the requirements for an independent country or state status. However, all but a handful of nations refuse to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. The political reasons for this date back to the late 1940s, when the Republic of China was ousted from mainland China by Mao Tse Tungs communist rebels and ROC leaders fled to Taiwan. The communist Peoples Republic of China maintains that it has authority over Taiwan, and relations between the island and mainland have been strained. Taiwan was actually a member of the United Nations (and even the Security Council) until 1971 when mainland China replaced Taiwan in the organization. Taiwan, which has the worlds 29th-largest economy, continues to press for full recognition by others. But China, with its growing economic, military, and political clout, has largely been able to shape the dialogue on this issue. As a result, Taiwan cannot fly its flag at international events such as the Olympics and must be referred to as Chinese Taipei in some diplomatic situations. Territories, Colonies, and Other Non-Nations Dozens of territories and colonies are sometimes erroneously called countries but dont count because theyre governed by other countries. Places commonly confused as being countries include Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Greenland, Palestine, and Western Sahara. The components of the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England) are  not fully independent countries, either, though they do enjoy a degree of autonomy. When dependent territories are included, the United Nations recognizes a total of 241 countries and territories.   So How Many Countries Are There? If you use the U.S. State Departments list of recognized nations and also include Taiwan, there are  196 countries in the world. The same number is reached if you count the UN voting members, its two permanent observers, and Taiwan. This is why 196 is probably the best current answer to the question.

A Close Look at the Singapore Math Method

A Close Look at the Singapore Math Method One of the harder things parents have to do when it comes to their child’s schooling is understand a new method of learning. As the Singapore Math Method gains popularity, it’s starting to be used in more schools across the nation, leaving more parents to figure out what this method is all about. A close look at the philosophy and framework of Singapore Math can make it easier to understand what’s going on in your child’s classroom. The Singapore Math Framework The framework of Singapore Math is developed around the idea that learning to problem-solve and develop mathematical thinking are the key factors in being successful in math.The framework states: â€Å"The development of mathematical problem-solving ability is dependent on five inter-related components, namely, Concepts, Skills, Processes, Attitudes, and Metacognition.†Looking at each component individually makes it easier to understand how they fit together to help children gain skills that can help them solve both abstract and real-world problems. 1. Concepts When children learn mathematical concepts, they are exploring the ideas of branches of math like numbers, geometry, algebra, statistics and probability, and data analysis. They’re not necessarily learning how to work the problems or the formulas that go with them, but rather gaining an in-depth understanding of what all of these things represent and look like.It’s important for kids to learn that all of math works together and that, for example, addition doesn’t stand by itself as an operation, it carries on and is a part of all the other math concepts as well. Concepts are reinforced using math manipulatives and other practical, concrete materials. 2. Skills Once students have a solid grasp of the concepts, it’s time to move on to learning how to work with those concepts. In other words, once the students have an understanding of the ideas, they can learn the procedures and formulas that go with them. This way the skills are anchored to the concepts, making it easier for students to understand why a procedure works.In Singapore Math, skills don’t just refer to knowing how to work something out with pencil and paper, but also knowing what tools (calculator, measurement tools,etc.) and technology can be used to help solve a problem. 3. Processes The framework explains that processes â€Å"includes reasoning, communication and connections, thinking skills and heuristics, and application and modeling.†    Mathematical reasoning is the ability to look carefully at mathematical situations in a variety of different contexts and logically apply the skills and concepts to problem-solve the situation. Communication is the ability to clearly, concisely and logically use the language of math to explain ideas and mathematical arguments. Connections is the ability to see how math concepts are related to each other, how math is related to other areas of study and how math relates to real life. Thinking skills and heuristics are the skills and techniques that can be used to solve a problem. Thinking skills include things like sequencing, classifying and identifying patterns. Heuristics are the experience-based techniques a child can use to create a representation of a problem, take an educated guess, figure out the process to work through a problem or how to reframe a problem. For example, a child may draw a chart, try to guess and check or solve parts of a problem. These are all learned techniques. Application and modelling is the ability to use what you’ve learned about how to solve problems to choose the best approaches, tools and representations for a certain situation. It’s the most complicated of the processes and takes a lot of practice for children to create math models. 4. Attitudes Children’s are what they think and feel about math. Attitudes are developed by what their experiences with learning math are like.So, a child who has fun while developing a good understanding of concepts and acquiring skills is more likely to have positive ideas about the importance of math and confidence in his ability to solve problems. 5. Metacognition Metacognition sounds really simple but is harder to develop than you might think. Basically, metacognition is the ability to think about how you are thinking.For kids, this means not only being aware of what they are thinking, but also knowing how to control what they are thinking. In math, metacognition is closely tied to being able to explaining what was done to solve it, thinking critically about how the plan works and thinking about alternative ways to approach the problem.The framework of Singapore Math is definitely complicated, but it’s also definitely well thought out and thoroughly defined. Whether you’re an advocate for the method or not so sure about it, a better understanding of the philosophy is key in helping your child with math.

Obesity in Oklahoma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obesity in Oklahoma - Essay Example In 2009, Oklahoma spent approximately $1,721,000 in dealing with illness related directly to obesity whereby together with overweight these cases afflict about 67.1% of the entire population. Medical studies attribute the increasing trend of obesity cases with sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits that characterize numerous Oklahomans. Therefore, this study seeks to address obesity issue currently afflicting Oklahomans and suggest appropriate approaches meant to curb it by embracing active lifestyle, healthy eating habits and public sensitization concerning the menace. If Oklahomans intends to evade high costs of both treating and managing obesity predicament, they ought to embrace active lifestyle (â€Å"INTEGRIS Health†). This is contrary to their current sedentary lifestyles resulting from overreliance on cars, trucks and buses. This is especially when commuting from one place to another irrespective of the distance, for instance, from their residential areas to work whereas students to schools. According to medical studies, inactivity is one of the major contributing factors that heightens the prevalence of obesity whereby in avoiding medical practitioners advocate regular exercises (â€Å"INTEGRIS Health†). Therefore, Oklahomans need to stop their life’s inactivity and embark on regular exercises even if it implies some to commute to their varied places through walking. This is advisable for numerous people including students whose destinations are nearby such that it is not a mandatory to use vehicles. In addition, the e lderly people including retirees ought to devise a daily routine meant for their respective exercises (â€Å"INTEGRIS Health†). This is because numerous people at this stage end up experiencing lack of exercise related illness like diabetes because most them prefer sedentary lifestyle citing it is their time to rest. Parents and teachers should also encourage their children to exercise on daily basis making them take part in