Print Your Gun at Home

Just a few years ago, 3-D printing was a futuristic idea of something that would never be real. It resembled a picture of the meals that would materialize in the oven after a single touch of a keypad (D’Aveni). Today, 3-D printers have become an important element of many people’s daily routines. They have caused a huge revolution in public consciousness. Yet, like any other technology, 3-D printing has its benefits and drawbacks. It empowers individuals to create small customized goods at home, thus eliminating the need for shopping.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Print Your Gun at Home specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unfortunately, 3-D printing also erases the boundaries of legal and ethical activities, by letting individuals produce the goods that would otherwise be unavailable due to legal restrictions, such as guns. Modern researchers and public safety professionals agree that, couple d with the enormous information-disseminating power of the Internet, 3-D printers have the potential to turn gun manufacturing into a home-based industry, and banning 3-D-printed guns would only be possible in the presence of intolerably rigid enforcement procedures. When the gun fires deadly shots, no one thinks of its origins. However, with the growing popularity of 3-D printing, the origins of guns become major public safety problem. A gun that shots nine-millimeter bullets has all chances to kill a human. No less serious is the fact that the gun is made with a 3-D printer. Two months ago, the experts at the Austrian Interior Ministry performed a test of a 3-D-printed gun and concluded that it was a deadly weapon (Kantchev). The officials had downloaded the digital blueprints of the gun from the Internet (Kantchev). The 3-D printer used in the experiment was bought for $1,360 (Kantchev). The whole process took no more than 30 hours and $68 in plastic polymers (Kantchev). Apparent ly, the investments are worth the result. Earlier, the gun manufacturing industry was strongly regulated, and few individuals were allowed to own guns. Today, â€Å"law enforcement agencies are on alert over the proliferation of gun-making software that is easily found on the Internet and can be used to make a weapon on a consumer-grade 3-D printer† (Kantchev). Researchers are confident that new technologies give rise to a totally new kind of counterfeiters. Ten or twenty years ago, being a currency counterfeiter required skills, talent, and sophisticated technologies (Lipson Kurman 25). Present-day counterfeiters only need a nice 3-D printer to implement their illegal plans. They need the very basic computer skills and training to meet their crime goals (Lipson Kurman 25). The statistics look compelling: at the beginning of the 1990s, less than one percent of fake bills had been printed with the help of laser printers and computers (Lipson Kurman 25). Now, the Internet, s oftware, computer technologies, and printers make it easier for counterfeiters to invent and implement new ideas. In traditional currency printing, counterfeiters needed years of practical experience to achieve excellence; now, with printers and printing manuals available online, even a beginner can easily print a 3-D gun.Advertising Looking for research paper on common law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The problem, however, is not that money counterfeiting is being replaced with guns. Rather, the problem is that, while counterfeit money damages the economic system, the damage of physical violence can be much more pervasive. In 2012, a user uploaded a blueprint for a 3-D rifle at Thingiverse.com (Lipson Kurman 25). The blueprint allowed users to print a rifle that would otherwise require a license and a background check. Later, the user was asked to delete the file from the website (Lipson Kurman 25). However, the number of those who have managed printed and used the blueprint to create a rifle remains unknown, thus presenting a serious threat to public safety. At the same time, specialists agree that 3-D printers alone cannot be blamed for increasing the number of computer users, who choose to sidestep the gun control laws. Without an enormous information-dissemination power of the Internet, 3-D printers would have hardly become a serious threat to gun control. In May 2013, a law student from Texas posted online blueprints for a 3-D printed handgun (Kantchev). In the next two days, the file was downloaded more than 100,000 times (Kantchev). The most active were users from Spain, followed by the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Britain (Kantchev). It is possible to assume that 3-D printing can become a convenient means to get a rifle in those countries, where gun control laws are the strictest. Even though, in most countries, owning an unregistered gun is a serious violation of law, thousands of Internet users are willing to test themselves and their new technologies. The temptation to print a gun is so huge that many users forget about the dangers and legal consequences that may follow. 3-D printers represent an effective means to cross the boundaries of law, and nothing can stop this process. Gun control laws become extremely ineffective in light of the growing popularity of 3-D printers. Even the most advanced technologies fail to detect the presence of guns in users’ pockets. Dozens of articles tell the stories of how 3D-printed plastic weapons successfully evade airport security checks (Kantchev). Although 3-D printing of weapons is still in the state of infancy, it already presents a bigger security problem. It is a global problem, because plastic 3-D-printed weapons are difficult to control. They can fire bullets and have the potential to kill (Kantchev). While legislators are devising new ways to stop the proliferation of 3-D-printed guns, gun designs continu e to improve (Kantchev).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Print Your Gun at Home specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The earlier versions of 3-D-printed guns could fire just a few times before the barrel was replaced, but the latest versions can fire as many as 10 shots in a row (Kantchev). â€Å"It is very difficult to do anything about it. Of course you can say that it is illegal, but as with everything else on the Internet, you can always get it from somewhere† (Kantchev). Does that mean that the era of legal gun control has come to its end? No, that does not. What it means is that it is high time for legislators to reconsider the effectiveness of the existing gun control laws. New measures are required to monitor the proliferation of deadly technologies over the Internet. Gun control crimes and violations should be treated as seriously as the threats of terrorist attacks posted online or the rapi d spreading of the terrorist bomb making materials over the Internet. An emerging consensus is that new measures to control 3-D printing of weapons should not be conventional, and enforcement mechanisms should be effective enough to deter firearms crimes. At present, American lawmakers are facing a serious challenge, as the law limiting the use of plastic guns gets to expire. In 1988, Congress passed the Undetectable Firearms Act that was reauthorized in 2003 (Fox News). According to the Act, it is illegal to manufacture, buy, import, ship, sell, possess, deliver, receive or transfer any firearms that cannot be detected by X-ray machines and metal detectors (Fox News). Under the Undetectable Firearms Act, every online user who prints a 3-D-gun violates the law. However, Congress lacks any consensus as to whether the discussed law should be extended. Opponents of gun control claim that the law does not need any extension, because 3-D printing technologies are still unpopular and unav ailable to masses (Fox News). A public perception is that 3-D-guns do not represent any serious issue and will hardly become a problem worth considering in the nearest future (Fox News). Yet, the reality is much more gruesome, as 3-D printers are becoming cheaper and more affordable to thousands of online users. Anyone who has $1,000 and access to the Internet can print a 3-D-gun. Not surprisingly, some senators express the need to ban all 3-D printers. The proposition will hardly become the best solution to the problem of poor gun control, because it will also violate a number of individual rights, freedoms, and guarantees granted by the U.S. Constitution.Advertising Looking for research paper on common law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More All these views lead to : banning 3-D-printed guns will require measures of an unprecedented power, coupled with intolerable enforcement approaches. It is not enough to say that printing a metal 3-D-gun will cost more than private college tuition (Cooke). Also, it is not enough to pass the law that will outlaw the use of 3-D printers in gun manufacturing. America has tragic experiences with implementing bans on alcohol, a ban that has left a deep scar on the American memory and way of life. A total ban on 3-D printing will present similar risks (Cooke). To avoid the threats of public violence due to the growing affordability of 3-D printing, the American society will have to change its ideology rather than laws. Any attempt to control and outlaw 3-D printing of guns will entail government presence in almost all online activities (Cooke). Americans will have to get used to being monitored in their daily online activities, while access to gun blueprints on the Internet will have to be restricted in ways that are similar to the restrictions placed on pornography websites. When 28,000 Americans watch pornography every second, no one can guarantee that the situation with 3D guns will be different (Cooke). It is high time for U.S. government to act against the threats that may turn 3-D violence into a daily routine for millions of online users. In conclusion, researchers and public safety professionals agree that 3-D-printed guns represent a serious threat to public safety and democracy in the United States and the rest of the world. Like many other technologies, 3-D printers are becoming cheaper and easier to reach. Thousands of online users download blueprints of guns from the Internet. The temptation to have a gun without passing complicated legal procedures is extremely strong. As such, banning 3-D-printed guns would only be possible in the presence of intolerably rigid enforcement procedures. Moreover, it will require a total shift in the public ideology and co nsciousness. U.S. government should devise unconventional measures to protect the society from the risks of 3-D violence. Most likely, American citizens will have to sacrifice some of their freedoms and rights for the sake of improved public security. Works Cited Cooke, Charles C. â€Å"There’s No Stopping 3-D-Printed Guns.† National Review, 11 Nov 2013. Web. D’Aveni, Richard A. â€Å"3-D Printing Will Change the World.† Harvard Business Review,  March 2013. Web. Fox News. â€Å"Lawmakers Seek Fix as Law Limiting Plastic Guns Set to Expire.† Fox  News, 29 Nov 2013. Web. Kantchev, Georgi. â€Å"Authorities Worry 3-D Printers May Undermine Europe’s Gun Laws.† The New York Times, 17 Oct 2013. Web. Lipson, Hod and Melba Kurman. Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing.  Sudbury: John Wiley and Sons, 2013. Print. This research paper on Print Your Gun at Home was written and submitted by user Nolan Newton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Advice and Guidelines for Writing an Essay on Family by BestEssay.education

Advice and Guidelines for Writing an Essay on Family by Advice and Guidelines for Writing an Essay on Family Advice and Guidelines for Writing an Essay on Family The subject of family is provocative, sentimental, challenging, and relevant to nearly everybody on earth. It should come as no surprise to anybody that one of the most popular essay topics that students are expected to write about is the â€Å"essay about my family†. After all, who doesn’t have something to say on the topic about family, whether it is good or bad. However, there are certainly challenges to writing an essay about family relationships. Because of this, we are going to review some family essay topic ideas and then go over some basic tips on writing an essay about your family. Essay Topic Ideas on the Subject of Family If you are having issues deciding on an essay topic related to family, here are some essay questions, ideas, and prompts that cover a lot of different areas relating to this subject. Hopefully, one of these will inspire you to get started on your family essay. Write a definition essay exploring the different meanings of the word family to different people and cultures across the globe What do you consider family? Is family only those who are related to you through blood or marriage? Should people always put their families first? What are the biggest pitfalls of blended families? Is the nuclear family as important as it used to be? Discuss the topic of family values Does family mean the same thing today as it did 20 years ago? Why do politicians claim to care about families? Write an essay about members of your family who migrated here from other countries Were people better off when it was common for multiple generations of a family to live in one home? What are the negative impacts of families not spending enough time together? What can families do for fun in your town? Describe the most interesting member of your family What are the negative impacts of poverty on families? What can social service agencies do to help families impacted by hunger? What is the most challenging issue that families face today? Should family members always feel obligated to help each other? Explore the meaning of the phrase blood is thicker than water? Is there more than one type of family? Write an essay about family love and what that means to you Describe your favorite family tradition Family Essay Advice If you are writing an essay about family, you have two choices. You can focus your writing on your family, or you can write on the subject of family in more generic terms. Many people who choose to write about their own families often make the mistake of assuming that they do not need to do any preliminary work. They simply begin writing. In many cases, this is a mistake. Even if you are writing about your own family, please take the time to jot down some notes and organize your thoughts. Your family essay will be much more organized. If you are having issues with a family essay, please don’t hesitate to contact us for essay writing assistance.

Precipitate Definition and Example in Chemistry

Precipitate Definition and Example in Chemistry In chemistry, to precipitate is  to form an insoluble compound either by reacting two salts or by changing the temperature to affect the solubility of the compound. Also,​ the name given to the solid that is formed as a result of a precipitation reaction. Precipitation may indicate a chemical reaction has occurred, but it may also occur if solute concentration exceeds its solubility. Precipitation is preceded by an event called nucleation, which is when small insoluble particles aggregate with each other or else form an interface with a surface, such as the wall of a container or a seed crystal. Key Takeaways: Precipitate Definition in Chemistry In chemistry, precipitate is both a verb and a noun.To precipitate is to form an insoluble compound, either by decreasing the solubility of a compound or by reacting two salt solutions.The solid that forms via a precipitation reaction is called the precipitate.Precipitation reactions serve important functions. They are used for purification, removing or recovering salts, for making pigments, and to identify substances in qualitative analysis. Precipitate vs Precipitant The terminology can seem a bit confusing. Heres how it works: Forming a solid from a solution is called precipitation. A chemical that causes a solid to form in a liquid solution is called a precipitant. The solid is called the precipitate. If the particle size of the insoluble compound is very small or there is insufficient gravity to draw the solid to the bottom of the container, the precipitate may be evenly distributed throughout the liquid, forming a suspension. Sedimentation refers to any procedure that separates the precipitate from the liquid portion of the solution, which is called the supernate. A common sedimentation technique is centrifugation. Once the precipitate has been recovered, the resulting powder may ​be  called a flower. Precipitation Example Mixing silver nitrate and sodium chloride in water will cause silver chloride to precipitate out of solution as a solid. In this example, the precipitate is silver chloride. When writing a chemical reaction, the presence of a precipitate may be indicated by following the chemical formula with a down arrow: Ag Cl- → AgCl↓ Uses of Precipitates Precipitates may be used to identify the cation or anion in a salt as part of qualitative analysis. Transition metals, in particular, are known to form different colors of precipitates depending on their elemental identity and oxidation state. Precipitation reactions are used to remove salts from water, to isolate products, and to prepare pigments. Under controlled conditions, a precipitation reaction produces pure crystals of precipitate. In metallurgy, precipitation is used to strengthen alloys. How to Recover a Precipitate There are several methods used to recover a precipitate: Filtration: In filtration, the solution containing the precipitate is poured over a filter. Ideally, the precipitate remains on the filter, while the liquid passes through it. The container may be rinsed and poured onto the filter to aid recovery. There is always some loss, either through dissolution into the liquid, passing through the filter, or adhesion to the filter media. Centrifugation: In centrifugation, the solution is rapidly rotated. For the technique to work, the solid precipitate must be more dense than the liquid. The compacted precipitate, called the pellet, may be obtained by pouring off the liquid. There is typically less loss than with filtration. Centrifugation works well with small sample sizes. Decantation: In decantation, the liquid layer is poured or suctioned away from the precipitate. In some cases, an additional solvent is added to separate the solution from the precipitate. Decantation may be used with the entire solution or following centrifugation. Precipitate Aging A process called precipitate aging or digestion occurs when a fresh precipitate is allowed to remain in its solution. Typically the temperature of the solution is increased. Digestion can produce larger particles with a higher purity. The process that leads to this result is known as Ostwald ripening. Sources Adler, Alan D.; Longo, Frederick R.; Kampas, Frank; Kim, Jean (1970). On the preparation of metalloporphyrins. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry. 32 (7): 2443. doi:10.1016/0022-1902(70)80535-8Dhara, S. (2007). Formation, Dynamics, and Characterization of Nanostructures by Ion Beam Irradiation. Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences. 32 (1): 1-50. doi:10.1080/10408430601187624Zumdahl, Steven S. (2005). Chemical Principles (5th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-37206-7.

Treatment of Unipolar Depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Treatment of Unipolar Depression - Essay Example Overall, 5-HTP appeared to be slightly better tolerated than fluvoxamine, although the results did not reach the level of statistical significance. What personal interests and/or short or long term goals lie behind this - not strictly required for a proposal but it is usually helpful to think this through as it can help you focus [one paragraph] What aspect(s) of theory / knowledge is/are behind this What are the gaps in the research or what parallels are there in adjacent fields (ie a short literature review to set up the purpose and question) - 5-HTP has also been compared in a few studies with conventional tricyclic antidepressants (chloripramine and imipramine) - the most effective drugs for treating depression until the development of the SSRIs. The studies found 5-HTP to be at least as effective as these drugs in treating severe depression, while displaying fewer side effects. In severe cases, 5-HTP dosages as high as 1200 mg daily were used What objectives, steps, sub-questions, angles of inquiry or sections of your paper would you break your question or inquiry aim into - CCDANCTR-Studies was searched (carried out on 12/1/2005) using the following search stategy (Diagnosis = Depress* or Dysthymi* and Intervention = tryptophan or 5-htp or 5-hydroxtryptophan or Hydroxytryptophan and Intervention = Placebo). Reference lists, book chapters and conference proceedings were checked. Experts and triallists were contacted for unpublished studies Section B -Study design and method / methodology What type of study would help with your question and focus Please bold underline to identify It is OK to use "other" and briefly explain - but otherwise no explanation required here. You should read up on these if you don't know what they are, but we assume you know what the one you pick is) survey1 experiment evaluation trial case study reflective self-study academic paper2 other - please identify take advice Why / how will this design work with your question and focus - Trials were included if they were randomized, included patients with unipolar depression or dysthymia, compared preparations of 5-HTP or tryptophan with placebo, and included clinical outcomes assessed by scales assessing depressive symptoms take advice If you intend to use a particular methodology, briefly explain how it works and why you want to use it. - Eg - reflective self study, controlled trial, grounded theory, ethnography. This must be appropriate for the way you have worded your research question / inquiry. Please note that it is not essential that you have this for an undergraduate project. For an academic

Legalization of Marijuana in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Legalization of Marijuana in America - Essay Example It is because of these two highly conflicting points of view that Marijuana legalization has faced an uphill battle in the quest of its supporters to become a legalized substance. Therefore, one cannot wonder what it is about Marijuana that countries like Germany and Romania, Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal seem to find so positive that they actually legalized Marijuana and even went to the extent of setting up Marijuana shops where the government can regulate the substance's sale and distribution. Maybe it is about time America play the catch-up game and follow in the steps of its counterparts by legalizing Marijuana? What exactly are the negative results that support the non-legalization of Marijuana? Maybe there are actually medically and socially sound facts and data out there that can actually lend credence and support to the sector of society that looks to see Marijuana legalized in the country? What exactly are we looking at here? Those who stand in opposition to the legalization of Marijuana do so based upon various reasons that show the kind of mindset that the American public carries at the moment pertaining to Marijuana. The negative beliefs about the effect of Marijuana seems to be pretty much like everything else in our lives that we believe, it is all based upon a traditional mind conditioned set from the past eras. Ont he other hand, those who support the legalization of the substance seem to do so based mostly upon perceived positive effects on the health of a person and the economic impact of legalizing the substance upon a state. Those who are opposed to the legalization of Marijuana as a substance often points to the assumption that the plant has far more dangerous effects than getting drunk on alcohol. Medical experts from the Yale Medical School, psychiatrist Samuel T. Wilkerson to be specific has been quoted as saying; â€Å"Though they receive little attention in the legalization debate, the scientific studies showing an associ ation between marijuana use and schizophrenia and other disorders are alarming. â€Å" (Rubin, Jennifer â€Å"A Really Good Reason Not to Legalize Pot†). It would seem that the research of this particular group discovered an emerging picture that supports the claim that Marijuana use heightens the symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders when people who have a tendency to be vulnerable to psychosis are allowed to use the substance. Possibly genetic in reason, the use of the drug gives the user heightened hallucinations that force the user into a permanent state of psychosis. While there is still a very long way to go in terms of scientific evidence to support the claims that Marijuana use can worsen the mental conditions of already unstable mental patients, there are also other groups that believe it is of the utmost importance that the use of the substance be made as less enticing to the young people as possible. Supporters of this point of view include forme r president Jimmy Carter who has openly opposed the legalization of the substance in light of the passing of a vote in Colorado and Washington state that legalized the sale and distribution of the substance. The revered president is part of the old school of thought as evidence by his declaration that legalized Marijuana use should be strongly and openly opposed because.

Valuing Wal-Mart Essay Example for Free

Valuing Wal-Mart Essay In early February 2010, Sabrina Gupta, an investment advisor with a major brokerage firm, was examining Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Wal-Mart) stock and its valuation. Gupta wondered whether to recommend the stock to any of her new clients or to existing clients who did not currently have Wal-Mart in their portfolios. BACKGROUND OF WAL-MART STORES, INC. Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, and founded by the legendary Sam Walton, Wal-Mart was the world’s largest retailer, operating more than 8,400 stores worldwide, including stores in all 50 states; international stores in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the United Kingdom; joint venture agreements in China and a stake in a leading Japanese retail chain. Worldwide, Wal-Mart had 2.1 million employees (known as â€Å"associates†), who served more than 200 million customers each week. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010, Wal-Mart’s net sales were more than US$405 billion. Exhibit 1 presents a summary of Wal-Mart’s 2009  and 2010 financial statements. Wal-Mart’s strategy was to provide a broad assortment of quality merchandise and services at â€Å"everyday low prices.† It was best known for its discount stores, which offered merchandise such as apparel, small appliances, housewares, electronics and hardware, but also ran combined discount and grocery stores (Wal-Mart Supercenters), membership-only warehouse stores (SAM’S Club) and smaller grocery stores (Neighborhood Markets). In the general merchandise area, Wal-Mart’s competitors included Sears and Target. In terms of specialty retailers, its competitors included Gap and Limited. Department store competitors included Dillard’s, Macy’s and J.C. Penney. Grocery store competitors included Kroger, Supervalu and Safeway. The major membership-only warehouse competitor was Costco Wholesale. Wal-Mart became a publicly traded firm in 1970 with an initial stock price of $16.50 per share and subsequently, in March 1974, declared its first cash dividend of $0.05 per share (after two two-for-one 1 This case has been written on the basis of published sources only. Consequently, the interpretation and perspectives presented in this case are not necessarily those of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. or any of its employees. Analysts generally believed that Wal-Mart would continue to be successful in consistently increasing profits, resulting in the consensus annual earnings growth forecast of 10.40 per cent for the next five years. As of February 2010, according to Bloomberg L. P., Wal-Mart shares were ranked as â€Å"buys† in the coming six to 12 months by 20 analysts, â€Å"holds† by 7 analysts and  Ã¢â‚¬Å"sells† by none of the analysts. These rankings (which amounted to an average of 4.41 on a five-point scale) currently exceeded the average buy/hold/sell mix among Standard Poor (SP) 500 firms (at 3.94) and among the hypermarkets and supercenters subindustry (at 4.23). Analysts’ consensus projected Wal-Mart’s target price was $60.50 per share, relative to a recent closing price of $53.48 per share. Over the 2010 fiscal year, Wal-Mart shareholders had generated a total return (including dividends) of 9.69 per cent, and the consensus stock price forecast ranking (as measured by buys/holds/sells) was above that of the overall market. Wal-Mart’s 52-week high stock price was $55.01 per share and the 52-week low was $46.42 per share. Gupta noticed that Wal-Mart shares had a price-to-trailing earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.40 times (based on the last four quarters of earnings) and an indicated dividend yield (based on the current 2010 quarterly dividend and current stock price) of 2.0 per cent. Exhibit 2 presents a graph of Wal-Mart’s stock price for 10 years, and Exhibit 3 provides historical dividend data. In determining whether Wal-Mart was fairly valued, Gupta decided to focus on valuation concepts she had been introduced to in her university business courses and in one of her firm’s training courses: the dividend discount model, the capital asset pricing model (C APM) and price/earnings multiples. DIVIDEND DISCOUNT MODELS Dividends in Perpetuity According to the dividend discount model (DDM), the current stock price of Wal-Mart represents the present value of all expected future dividends, discounted at an investor’s required (or expected) rate of return. Under this approach, a share is valued by forecasting dividends in perpetuity, which is not an easy task. To simplify the daunting task of estimating all future dividends, a growth trend of the dividends can be used in a much simpler version of the model, which is known as the constant growth dividend discount model. According to the constant growth DDM, the current value of a firm’s stock price (P0) is equal to next year’s (expected) dividend (D1) divided by an investor’s  required rate of return (Ke) minus the expected perpetual dividend growth rate (g). P0 = D1/ (Ke – g) Alternatively, by rearranging the model, the required return can be decomposed into two parts: the expected dividend yield (i.e., the dividends anticipated over the next four quarters divided by the current stock price) plus the expected future growth in dividends. Ke = D1/P0 + g In other words, the required return can be thought of as both a dividend portion and a growth portion that are reflected in future capital gains. Authorized for use only by robert lamour in Finanical Analysis at California State University East Bay from Jun 01, 2014 to Aug 29, 2014. Use outside these parameters is a copyright violation. stock splits). It had undergone 11 two-for-one stock splits, and thus, an original lot of 100 Wal-Mart shares had grown to 204,800 shares after the most recent split in April 1999. 9B11N004 Anticipated dividend growth (g) is often estimated in a variety of ways. First, observed historical dividend growth can be assumed to continue in a perpetual fashion. Second, future dividend growth can be estimated on the basis of recent estimates of analysts. Gupta noted that the consensus annual Wal-Mart dividend for fiscal year 2011 was $1.21, and one respected analyst had estimated the expected constant dividend growth (in perpetuity) at approximately 5.0 per cent. When a firm achieves its steady state (i.e., when the annual return on equity is just equal to its cost of equity capital), the sole determinant of the growth in dividends is the annual dividend payout ratio. If all dividends are paid out, the firm’s assets do not increase and therefore the dividend stream will not grow.

Mom: Teacher, Counselor, Role Model, and Friend Essay -- Friendship Ess

Mom: Â  Teacher, Counselor, Role Model, and Friend When asked to identify the person who has had the most powerful influence in my life, the most obvious choice is my mom. She has been my teacher, counselor, role model, and friend for the past 17 years. For me, she has become a source of inspiration and a constant reminder of what true love really means. In considering my mother's position and influence as a role model, I am reminded of a quote from Charlotte Bronte's Villette: "In addition she gave me the originality of her character to study: the steadiness of her virtues...the power of her passions to admire, the truth of her feelings to trust. All these things she had, and for these things I clung to her." (Chap. 4) The virtues that stand out most poignantly in my mother's character are her dedication and self sacrifice. On the strength of her principles, she gave up a successful career in order to give my brother and I the strongest educational foundation possible. No obstacle seems insurmountable when it comes to our education; even when my algebra classes seemed to ha...

Strategies of Human Resource

The food service industry is a growing market and continues to increase by over a steady rate of 5 percent between 2011 and 2012. The industry has a high turnover rate of employees and constantly replaces unskilled workers in food service which cost the estimate of one year's salary and benefits depending on the position may cost thousands of dollars. A recent study showed that fast food restaurants with the lowest turnover made twice the revenue and higher profits than restaurants which had constant turnover. Sweetie Pies is a soul food restaurant located in SST.Louis, Mo owned and operated by Robbie Montgomery and James Norman, her son. The first restaurant, Sweetie Pies at Mangrove is the flagship of the restaurants which opened in 1996 but the recent opening of the Upper Crust is the gem of her restaurants completely by offering the signature recipes of the restaurant, a banquet hall, culinary school and performing arts space to the patrons. The focus of this paper is to identify key areas in HARM practices to align the business objectives and goals to expand nationally. Sweetie Pies ability to manage its people will be the key to succeeding in its goal to become a national brand.The restaurant has a niche in the DOD service industry because of its cuisine is not comparable to any of its competitors however; the restaurant will have to diversify its menu to broaden its brand on the national level. The owner has secured resources to branch out with the Upper Crust and provide a whole new line of services offered to customers. The compensation philosophy is not clearly stated however; the employees are satisfied and share continuous enthusiasm doing their Job considering the structure of the restaurant and the limit advancement to higher positions is not a clear promotion path.Employers are more likely to look at the external value of a Job before engendering the internal Job worth (www. Workload. Org). The current standard of the Job evaluation is based on t he geographical location, labor pools and market which will give the range pay per hour or pay per year. The pay rate of 7. 80 hour for kitchen help/servers is general but lagging in the market by . 20 cent different of other chain restaurants or similar establishments in the area. The restaurant is popular because of the reality television show on OWN.It has given them national exposure and the attraction of many tourists who are drawn there by the dishes displayed on the Food Network and other cooking shows. The food service industry workers are on some type of government aid due to low wages and low compensation packages. At Sweetie Pies, the wages are above those of minimum but limited compensation packages are offered to the employees. The HRS systems which are usually for control and commitment are not in place at Sweetie Pies because of the structure of the business.At corporate level, capital market measures of performance are generally considered more comprehensive than con temporaneous accounting measures if profit (return on assets or equity. )(Beer & Gerhard, 1996, peg. 791)The restaurant is very capable of achieving the goal to expand because the problems which the owners have identified by opening culinary school will give their employees the training to learn new knowledge, skills and abilities to offer the consumer different types of cuisine.According to Dither and Dougherty, businesses that are better organized to meet the needs of their people, so that they attract better people than their competitors do and their people are more greatly motivated to do a superior Job, whatever it is they do. This significantly is the problem with Sweetie Pies because of the lack of organization may hamper their ability to expand in the future. This being a service industry the customer must be satisfied with the overall outcome the product. The 21st century unfolds it is clear that most people accept that service will play an increasingly important part in th e economy. † Atkinson (2000, p. 8) goes further in asserting the importance of service performer/ customer exchange in that: â€Å"Customer perception of service delivery will be imperative and will shape their choice of supplier or service provider. Service excellence will need to take on a new mantle of one to one partner relationships with the customer, the consumer and end-user. (Maxwell, Watson & Quail, 2004, peg. 2) One of the unique things about Sweet Pies, Ms. Robbie plans were based on her customers and continues to offer the southern hospitality making sure that customers are always satisfied by conversing with each patron about their meal. The work process in the food service industry is the preparation, taste, presentation and delivery that involve steps taken to bring the food to the consumer. Sweetie Pies believe in preparing their meals from scratch and purchasing fresh vegetables, meats and wholesome bake goods.There are some times problems that don't stem fro m the food but based on the behavior of the employees. On one scene of the reality show, Sweetie Pies, the owners, Ms. Robbie and Tim were having conflict with each other about the treatment of his younger cousin, Ill Charles which ended with Tim being fired. Individuals with high n Power seek to control their environments and influence the behavior of others, while n Oaf is associated with the need to develop friendships and to be sociable and caring of others (Dither & Dougherty, 2012, peg. 6) however; Miner motivation states that: Individuals with high managerial motivation strive to engage in competitive activities, o behave in an active and aggressive manner, to influence others, and to seek highly visible and distinct positions. Tim and Ms. Robbie compete against one another by having a cook off to decide the new menu of the Upper Crust and Tim bends the rules to have his dishes approved for the menu. Even though Tim is motivated by the business and continues to try to achieve the goals however; his behavior has been an issue in conducting the affairs of the restaurant.According to Dither and Dougherty, Tim may not have had enough opportunity to challenge himself in his work and to advance to a higher position within the restaurant hierarchy. The cognitive and motor aptitudes needed to perform the duties in a restaurant are people skills, proficient mathematical skills, communication skills; being team players, cooking abilities and ability to multi-task under pressure being able to perform at minimum level or being proficient will differentiate in the level of pay.The restaurant pay plans are based on a traditional system pay at- risk system which is performance based however; the plan is not consistent for the participants' fluctuation in pay. The job analysis of the work performed requires unskilled workers for the position except or the management positions which are held by the owners at this point. The employment laws are followed in the restaurant based on the opportunities offered to felons and allowing those to have fresh start at adjusting to society and being able to give back to the community.HRS systems are regulated by federal and state laws that relate to employment (e. G. , Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act), compensation (e. G. , Fair Labor Standards Act, Equal Pay Act), and labor relations (e. G. , National Labor Relations Act). (Dither & Dougherty, 2012, peg. 44) The restaurant's performance management is based on oral reprimands more so than written performance records done by line supervisors.The workers who hold supervisors' position do on-site corrections letting the employees know their infractions immediately. Sweetie Pies need to focus on one of the starting points in the restaurant's retention strategy may include evaluating further development, retraining or even disciplinary action of one or more managers. (Urbanism,2009) Management needs to implement a system to have a process to give two way communications to managers and to employees who loud give them feedback on the concerns and improvements.Sweetie Pies is a customer-oriented business with them building relationships with their patrons. The key HARM practices will benefit Sweetie Pies to have sustained competitive advantage. The financial value of Sweetie Pies would be properly managed by using HRS systems which could contribute to the restaurant and the methodology to show that investing in HRS systems often results in very high rates of return. The process of having a system to review the applicants instead hiring based on trial and error which has happened with hiring felons who were not able to adjust.The cost and revenue streams are then adjusted to take into account the time value of money and the cost of capital (costs and returns are put in present-value terms), variable costs associated with the improvements brought about by making better hiring The HARM practices help to motivate, conform behaviors to meet the culture of the restaurant by Job classification. Rewards, merit increasing, bonuses are used to target behaviors and to enhance the motivation. The labor market for the food service industry is plentiful because of the low wages and unskilled labor which is composed of mostly minorities and women fill these positions.Even though there may be a shortage in knowledge base oriented firms the food service regardless of demographic, age, gender, educational attainment or nationality the restaurant will have applicants. The requirements to work in the restaurant are less than a high school education however; Ms. Robbie encourages her employees to finish school. Conclusion In conclusion, the restaurant needs to implement systems that would eventually help to take their brand to the national level. The focus of the paper was to point out key areas those HARM systems that would strategically help to meet the restaurants goals ND objectives.

Boy in the Striped Pjs

â€Å"The boy in the striped pyjamas† by John Boyne is a book about a nine year old boy called Bruno who is growing up in Berlin during World War II. He lives a very comfortable life in a large house with his parents and his sister, not forgetting the maid and the cook. But this all changes very soon when his father who is a very high-ranking soldier is promoted to â€Å"Commandant† and to Bruno’s sadness the family have to move to a place which Bruno refers to as out-with. Bruno immediately becomes very homesick for many reasons.He misses his grandparents, his house, his three best friends for life and of course his adventures. Bruno is a very curious boy and while looking out of his window one day he noticed that there were other people, lots of people. It isn’t long before Bruno decides to ask his father about these people but his father tells him that they are not people at all. It turns out that it is the extermination camp Auschwitz and due to Brunoà ¢â‚¬â„¢s curiosity and boredom he decides to explore and it is here at the fence that he meets and befriends a young boy called Shmuel.Almost every day he meets Shmuel and they talk by the fence both on separate sides but they are both desperate to play with each other and conveniently Shmuel’s father goes missing and he needs Bruno’s help to find him. They make a gap in the fence just big enough for a small boy to fit through and Bruno goes into the camp with a pair of striped pyjamas and it is then that something unimaginable happens. In this essay my task is to describe how well John Boyne has involved the reader throughout his challenging novel to ensure our sympathies for Bruno.

Claudius essays

Claudius essays Tiberius Claudius Drusus (Claudius) was the third emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty succeeding his nephew Gaius Caligula, and ruling as Princeps from AD 41 till the time of his death in AD 54. Claudius reign represents a turning point in the history of the principate for numerous reasons, including foremost the implications it carried for the future of the office. In many respects Claudius achieved his desire of successfully ruling his country. This is particularly evident in the early stages of his reign, however, the later stages depict him as the victim of unscrupulous exploitation by his freedmen and wives, in particular, his third wife Messalina and her successor Agrippina the Younger. Both modern and Ancient sources have written numerous detailed accounts regarding the career of Claudius due to its nature and its significance in the expansion of Rome and the role the Princeps played in the progression of the Principate. Claudius was born at Lugdunum in Gaul on the 1st August 10 BC to Nero Claudius Drusus, the son of Augustus wife Livia, and his wife Antonia, the daughter of Mark Antony. Nearly the whole of Claudius childhood was so troubled by various diseases that, according to Suetonius he grew dull-witted and had little physical strength. He lost his father while still a baby and his mother Antonia often called him as Suetonius notes a monster, a man whom nature had not finished but had merely begun It was clear that Claudius would not succeed in the military field as his father or his brother Germanicus had due to his physical composition and by the time of Tiberius reign Claudius had not even been admitted to the senate. During his concealment from public life Claudius developed a love of history and began writing books about his countrys past, including forty-one books on Augustus whom he deeply admired. These skills, and the knowledge of governmental ins...

Analysis on the Conclusion of Tennessee Williams’s Book, A Streetcar Named Desire vs the Film Adaptation

Analysis on the Conclusion of Tennessee Williams’s Book, A Streetcar Named Desire vs the Film Adaptation The endings of A Street Car Named Desire in the movie and in the play by Tennessee Williams are very different. Initially, they both follow the same storyline, which follows Stella’s struggles between choosing Blanche or Stanley. Near the end, Kazan changes the turning point from what Tennessee Williams wrote. The impact of the different endings dramatically changes the reactions from the audience. In the play, Eunice is telling Stella that she cannot believe what Stanley did because her life needs to go on. Stella takes the baby, and she goes back to Stanley, and when the baby stopped crying it is as if life is back to normal. When Blanche is gone they treat their lives no differently than when she was there. In this case, Stanley wins the â€Å"poker game,† because he has a better hand than Blanche. Stella cries frantically and it shows how badly she feels about admitting Blanche into an insane asylum. The end of the play says â€Å"7 card stud.† This tells the audience that the play has gone back to normal. This ending is very different from the movie because Stella makes a different decision than she does in the book. In the movie, Stella does not go back to her normal life. The book has Eunice giving Stella the baby, but in the movie Eunice does not give Stella the baby and as Blanche is being forced to leave Stella thinks about what Stanley has done. It makes her too sick to even think of Stanley, and she says â€Å"Don’t you touch me, don’t ever touch me again.† She relays the amount of hatred she has toward Stanley and it impacts the decision she makes in the end. When Mitch watches Stella being taken away he yells at Stanley and says, â€Å"what have you done to her?† and this skepticism was not shown during the play. The movie does not have life going back to normal and although Blanche did not win the poker game, Stanley did lose. Stella goes back inside to Eunice as Stanley continues to call for her. This change is very difficult to comprehend because the result of the play and the movie are opposite. This ending shows the change between who has won the pot: Sta nley, Blanche or No One. As a result of the alternate endings the audience becomes very confused as to why they are so different. If a change had been made earlier in the movie it would not be as drastic as making a change to the ending. This alters the meanings that can be interpreted by the play and movie. The question that many still wonder is why are the endings different if the movie was produced only a couple years after the book? The alternate endings have a negative impact on how people interpret the endings.

Gas turbine science Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gas turbine science - Coursework Example .. 3 2.1.2 Compressor †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3 2.1.3 Combustion chamber †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 4 2.1.4 Turbine †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4 2.1.5 Exhaust nozzle †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4 2.2 Turbofan Theory †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 2.2.1 Fluid mechanics †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 2.2.2 Thermodynamics †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 Works Cited †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 7 Gas Turbine Design One of the technological leaps in the history of science that led us to a wide spectrum of newer prospects of energy production and transportation was that of the gas turbines engines or what we simply call gas turbines. Today, they have developed into more efficient and dependable machines and have surpassed other types of mechanical prime movers, such as internal combustion engines, both in efficiency and mechanical robustness. The aim of this report is to explore the design ideas and scientific and thermodynamic principles that have helped us develop these valuable machines. Our study will revolve around the design of a turbofan that is a type of gas turbine engine commonly used in airplanes and energy production. 1. The Turbofan Turbofan is a type of gas turbine engine that itself is a common type of air-breathing engine. In order to understand its design, its construction and the function of its important components should be understood. The important parts of a turbofan are as follows: 1. Inlet 2. Compressor 3. Combustor 4. Turbine 5. Exhaust nozzle Figure 1 shows the location of each of these components in a turbofan. To understand the importance and function of every component mentioned above, we will briefly describe the working principle of a turbofan. 1.1 Gas Turbine Operation The operation of an air breathing engine can be understood by looking at the path of the air through the engine and the temperature and pressure variations that it undergoes. Figure 1: Turbofan (2-spool) schematic. (Turbofan) Air from the atmosphere is received by the engine through its inlet and is di vided into bypass stream and the engine core stream. The fan along with the compressor increases the pressure of the air in order to enable a greater air mass flow rate through the engine core, which in turn in required for efficient fuel combustion and the production of sufficient thrust. The compressed air from the compressor is brought into the combustor – or the combustion chamber – where a fine stream of fuel is added into the compressed air and ignited using a flame torch setup. The temperature of the air rises substantially during combustion and as it tends to expand, it is directed towards the turbine which uses the energy of this very hot air to drive the compressor. The rest of the energy gained by the air makes it expel the exhaust nozzle at a high speed and provides the thrust required to accelerate the plane. 2. Design issues of the turbofan Having looked into the operation and role of every component in it, we can classify the design problems of a turbofa n into two categories: 1. Aerodynamics 2. Theory or Science Now we will delve deeper into these modes of design separately and identify the design complexities and the solutions that have been proposed to them. 2.1 Turbofan Aerodynamics