Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Good MBA Recommendation Letters Advice

Good MBA Recommendation Letters Advice MBA program applicants often have a difficult times procuring recommendation letters that work. If you are wondering what qualifies as a good recommendation letter, who better to ask than an actual admissions representative? I asked representatives from top schools what they like to see in a recommendation letter. This is what they had to say. Good Recommendation Letters Show Strengths and Weaknesses The best letters of recommendation highlight with examples both the strengths and weakness of the candidate in light of a peer group. Typically, admissions offices limit essay length, but we all encourage recommenders to take the space they need to help build your case. - Rosemaria Martinelli Associate Dean of Student Recruitment Admissions at Chicago Graduate School of Business Good Recommendation Letters Are Detailed When choosing someone to write a letter of recommendation, dont get wrapped up in title, you want someone who can really answer the questions. If they cant answer the questions, they arent really helping you. You want some one who knows what you have done and what your potential is. - Wendy Huber, the Associate Director of Admissions at the Darden School of Business Good Recommendation Letters Are Insightful Letters of recommendation are one of the few components of an application that are submitted by an objective third party. They provide important insight into an applicants professional abilities and characteristics. We ask for two letters of recommendation, ideally from professionals as opposed to professors, and one is required from a current, direct supervisor. Its important to find people who can provide true insight into your professional accomplishments and potential to be a future leader. - Isser Gallogly, Executive Director of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern Good Recommendation Letters Are Personal The two letters of recommendation that you submit should be professional in nature. Your recommenders may be anyone (current/former supervisor, former professors, etc.) who is able to comment on your personal qualities, career potential, and potential to succeed in the classroom. Recommenders should know you personally and be familiar with your work history, credentials, and career aspirations. - Christina Mabley, Director of Admissions at McCombs School of Business Good Recommendation Letters Have Examples A good letter of recommendation is written by someone who knows the candidate and his/her work well, and can write substantively about contributions, leadership examples, and differences of opinion and disappointment. A good letter of recommendation highlights these characteristics through recent examples and is persuasive about a candidate’s ability to be a positive contributor, both inside and outside the classroom. - Julie Barefoot, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Goizueta Business School Good Recommendation Letters Include Work Experience The George Washington University School of Business views recommendation letters as an essential component of the evaluation process. Recommendation letters from clients or individuals who have worked closely with the applicant and can speak specifically to the professional performance of an MBA candidate are most useful. While recommendations from high profile figures can be seductive, in the end if the recommendation cannot demonstrate that that the recommender has had any personal experience of the applicant’s work, it will do little to bolster the candidate’s prospects for admission. A good recommendation letter clearly speaks to the candidate’s professional strengths and challenges and provides concrete examples whenever possible. Overall, we look to a recommender to provide insight as to how a candidate can both benefit from and contribute to an MBA program. - Judith Stockmon, Executive Director of MBA and Graduate Admissions at The George Washington Univer sity School of Business

Friday, November 22, 2019

Overview of Tiger Moths, Subfamily Arctiinae

Overview of Tiger Moths, Subfamily Arctiinae Anyone who has used a black light to sample insects at night has probably collected a few tiger moths. The subfamily name Arctiinae is likely derived from the Greek arctos, meaning bear, an apt nickname for the fuzzy tiger moth caterpillars. Appearance Tiger moths are often (but not always) brightly colored, with bold markings in geometric shapes. They tend to be small to medium in size and bear filiform antennae. The adults are mostly nocturnal, and hold their wings flat, like a roof over their bodies, when at rest. Once youve seen a few tiger moths, you will probably recognize other members of the subfamily Artiinae by sight alone. There are, however, some specific wing venation traits used for identification. In most tiger moths, the subcosta (Sc) and radial sector (Rs) are fused to the center of the discal cell in the hind wings. Tiger moth caterpillars are often quite hairy, which is why some are referred to as woollybears. This subfamily includes some of our most beloved caterpillars, like the banded woollybear, which is believed by some to be a predictor of winter weather. Other members of the group, like the fall webworm, are considered pests. Habitat There are about 260 species of tiger moths in North America, a small fraction of the 11,000 species known worldwide. Tiger moths inhabit both temperate and tropical zones but are more diverse in the tropics. Diet and Life Cycle As a group, tiger moth caterpillars feed on a wide range of grasses, garden crops, shrubs, and trees. Some species, like the milkweed tussock moth, require specific host plants (in this example, milkweed). Like all butterflies and moths, tiger moths undergo a complete metamorphosis, with four life cycle stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. The cocoon is constructed mostly from larval hairs, making for a rather fuzzy pupal case. Defenses Many tiger moths wear bright colors, which may serve to warn predators that theyd be an unpalatable meal. However, the nocturnal tiger moths are also hunted by bats, which find their prey using echolocation rather than sight. Some species of tiger moths have an auditory organ on the abdomen to help them detect and avoid bats at night. Tiger moths dont just listen for bats and flee, though. They produce an ultrasonic clicking sound that confuses and deters the bats pursuing them. Recent evidence suggests the tiger moths are effectively jamming or interfering with bat sonar. Some clever tiger moths that are perfectly tasty will mimic the clicking of their unpalatable cousins, much like the viceroy butterfly mimics the colors of the toxic monarch butterfly. Classification The tiger moths were previously classified within the family Arctiidae, and in some cases are listed as a tribe instead of a subfamily. Their current classification is: Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: InsectaOrder: LepidopteraFamily: ErebidaeSubfamily: Arctiinae Sources Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonInsects: Their Natural History and Diversity, by Stephen A. MarshallMoths mimic each others’ sounds to fool hungry Discover Magazine, accessed November 14, 2012Moths Use Sonar-Jamming Defense to Fend Off Hunting Bats Scientific American, accessed November 14, 2012Moths Mimic Sounds To SurviveSubfamily Arctiinae - Tiger and Lichen Moths BugGuide.Net, accessed November 14, 2012Flying Tigers, Entomology Notes #19, Michigan Entomological Society, accessed November 14, 2012

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Operations Management of Airbus Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Operations Management of Airbus Company - Essay Example The paper tells that Airbus is considering taking production approach similar to the ones applied by Boeing. For the company to take appropriate measure in this endeavor it need to consider the following factors. Cancellation of orders or running out of business by airline companies is the main causes of production of white tail jets. As an Airbus consultant, the researcher will begin by investigating the causes and nature of cancellation of orders or running out of business by airliners in a long-term perspective. Secondly, the researcher need to investigate market trends by analyzing possible demands in the long-term. Finally, Airbus is facing competition from other competitors such as Boeing and McDonnell Douglas Company. The researcher would therefore investigate the implication of white tailed jet as a long-term competition strategy. These issues will require objectives that can be evaluated in order to determine their suitability of application in Airbus. Firstly, Airbus needs to determine the future demand resulting from the anticipated growth of the airline industry. The company also requires knowing the possibility of acquiring new customers from existing airliners and from possible new entrants. Thirdly, Airbus needs to evaluate possible competitive advantage that may result from the production of white tail jets. Finally, Airbus would require to measure the degree at which market trend is shifting from making of orders to buying of readymade aircrafts. Part 3; Operation management techniques Qualitative and quantitative techniques as applied in operational management will be useful in analyzing the stated important issues. Quantitative techniques are important technique in operation management since they enable operations managers to determine future anticipations in terms of quantity or numbers. This factor makes the technique to have wide application in forecasting of expected operation methods and procedures. The technique relies on data and model s and it would be appropriate for analyzing Airbus case. Unlike quantitative techniques, qualitative techniques are more subjective, this makes the technique fit perfectly in the given scenario. Qualitative techniques forecasts future prospect of a company based on answers to a series of question related to the management of a company (Slack, & Chambers, 2008). Using quantitative techniques it is possible to determine the time duration within which Airbus should continue producing white tailed aircrafts. Firstly, considering the rate at which airliners across the globe are grounding their planes from lack of business, Airbus is likely to have a continued production of white tailed jets. Although the move has some competitive advantage over its rival plane manufacture Boeing, the company needs to consider any long-term threats that may result from the move. Currently Boeing is involved in intensive management program to ensure that any delays and order cancellation do not turn out as a white tailed jet. Airbus need to evaluate possible risks that rival company is avoiding by taking the current moves. Boeing main customer Lufthansa has ground A300-600s and a similar move is likely to apply to A340-300 series. Other companies such as Quanta airlines are considering taking mergers and this will cause a reduction in the number of orders they make. This implies that the company is anticipating a sharp fall in the demand of aircrafts making it to take cautions in its manufacturing plans. Airbus also needs to determine the duration within which it should continue with production of white tail aircrafts considering the anticipated demands due to a shortfall in supply. Although airline companies are currently

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Amazons Company Strategies and Customer Acquisition Research Paper - 1

Amazons Company Strategies and Customer Acquisition - Research Paper Example The present paper has identified that despite Jeffrey Preston Bezos having a degree in computer science, he had a vision to build a network for international trade. In lights of this, Preston founded Amazon.com in 1994 as a website for international trading. Online Retailers and wholesalers as well as buyers and sellers met online globally. Amazon founders had a vision to become one of the world’s leading companies dealing with online trading. The management in Amazon.com sought to reduce negative environmental impacts as there was no physical contact between the traders. Amazon has operating earnings close to $52 million yearly. Amazon Company normally projects to make approximately $22 million to $2.2 billion within five years. Examining the business model they use, Amazon primarily switched to Linux as primary architecture. In addition, Amazon has lowered technology expenses by about 20%. However, the decision to lower technology expenses has not profited Amazon as projecte d. Considering the pricing, the strategies have changed over time. Amazon has regulated the prices through several policies, for example, an introduction of frustration-free packaging. This policy is an initiative that is designed to simply motivate the customers who purchase goods online at different times of the year. The customers feel motivated when they buy two products for the price of one. Another policy is the free packaging certification initiative for manufactures. Their products undergo free laboratory testing to acquire certification. As a result, the certifications on their products increase the value and enable sales at high prices. However, the pricing of products sold at Amazon.com tend to be high hence attracts the upper class society and several middle class persons.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Business Model of Amazon Essay Example for Free

Business Model of Amazon Essay Amazon.com is the pioneering bookstore on the Internet that first opened in July 1995 by Jeff Bezos. The firm offers online shopping services and partnership opportunities such as online search for books, music and video items. The products that they sell include an array of audio, video and book titles. Amazon has one of the widest selections and employs international shipping to virtually every corner of the globe in just a few days. Amazon’s focus is having the biggest selection of free-electronic greeting cards, online auction and millions of books, CDs, videos, DVDs, toys and electronics. They have expanded to different areas of the world, such as Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de, to service consumers outside of the United States. They aim to be a Cost leader in which their firm has lower costs than the competitors. They have employed different Amazon branches in different parts of the world to lower costs. This allows Amazon to ship their products at a lower price from each point of shipment to the consumer. In recent years, Amazon.com has expanded from being just an online bookstore to an all around online shopping experience. They have coined the tag line Earth’s biggest selection. Amazon has diversified into different websites. These are the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), LiveBid.com, amazon.livebid.com, drugstore.com (an online retail and information about health and wellness), gear.com (online sporting goods company), homegrocer.com (online grocery shopping and delivery), pets.com (largest pet supply online shopping site), ashford.com (online luxury and premium shopping) and eZiba.com (online retailer of handcrafted products). Five Forces Model for Industry Analysis New Entrants The online bookstore industry that Amazon.com has pioneered in was, at first, very hard to penetrate. There were different barriers such as distributing capabilities and the variety of the selection offered that are supposed to be hurdled. Amazon successfully solved the tricky parameters as being the first one to get into the whole idea of online retail. With being the first, they had the luxury to set what were the norms for the industry. Factors that may lower these barrier tactics would be a wider selection and the  ability to go to an actual bookstore to exchange or return books or other products. This network of actual retail spaces makes it easier for the consumer to return or exchange the products they were not satisfied with. These handicaps of Amazon were the basis for the emergence of book retail giants Barnes and Noble and Borders in the online shopping industry. Industry Competitors The major competitors of Amazon are Barnes and Noble and Borders. Barnes and Noble is a retail giant offering books and CDs both in their outlets all over the country. It opened their online industry in 1997 and has become the fourth largest e-commerce sites today. Focused largely on the sale of books, music, software, magazines, prints, posters, and related products, the company has capitalized on the recognized brand value of the Barnes Noble name to become the second largest, and one of the fastest growing, online distributors of books. Their advantage to Amazon is the brand name and the availability of actual retail outlets in which consumers could go in to exchange or return products easily. They also have an established book selection based in their retail operations. Borders is another multi-media retail store found in major cities around the country. Started out as a small bookshop in the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan, it has since expanded into one of the finest bookstores. In 1992, Borders was bought by the Kmart group which further flourished the company into a Multi Media Giant with a wide selection of Audio, Video and Books found throughout the United States. The Online Bookstore industry have become a fierce business which involves discounts, varied selections and fast delivery in which all three companies are challenging each other. Buyers The consumers of this industry can be found in every corner of the population. These are mostly people who have had some form of higher education and have access to the Internet and computers. The segment of online shoppers has increased dramatically in recent years due to the convenience of shopping in the comforts of the home and the accessibility of the Internet. These developments have made it easier for consumers to log on and buy on the Internet. Consumers also tend to compare prices among the retail leaders such that buyers are able to buy products with very big  discounts compared to ones bought in actual retail outlets. The bargaining power of the consumer is based on the competitive strategies of each active firm in the industry. Thus, consumers can challenge one firm for charging more than the other one such that the firm will beat the price of the competing firm. Suppliers Amazon’s suppliers range from the publishing and media houses to electronics’ manufacturers. Amazon buys all their books, videos and audio CDs from the multi media houses and publishing giants such as Time Warner, Doubleday etc. Amazon also has alliances with other bookstores to cover orders that they cannot serve. Substitutes The substitutes for Amazon and other online bookstores are the actual book retailers and music stores such as Barnes and Nobles, Virgin Megastore, Tower Records, Sam Goody and other small mom-and-pop outlets. With the rise of online retail, there will be little impact from these substitutes. One impact would be some consumers who would like to hold or listen to their purchases prior to buying and those who are into the whole shopping experience. Barnes and Nobles have jumped into online retail and have succeeded into diversifying into the new e-commerce industry. Industrial Organization Model Degree of Competition Due to the shift of focus for Amazon, it has become the Earth’s biggest anything store. Its competitors have expanded from just online book retailers Barnes and Nobles and Borders to top audio retailers CDNOW.com and online auction house EBAY.com. Amazon has an overall lead of 40% market share against the other online retail firms. Their international business has more than doubled over the past 2 years and this growth increased Amazon’s share in the online business market. Life Cycle Amazon, in it’s first years, had negative income but the rise of e-commerce sites and being the pioneer made the succeeding years led to boom time for them. Their growth period was during 1994 to 1995 when they were the first of its kind in the world. They incurred very high costs in terms of  distributions to customers. Still with a negative income, Amazon went public in 1997 and had one of the biggest IPOs of the time. With investors banking on future positive cash flow for this company, Amazon’s market value soared. Many people caught on with the idea of online shopping, thus, Amazon’s success. Amazon’s success as an online retailer prompted bricks-and-mortar rivals Barnes and Noble and Borders to join in. Competition decreased Amazon’s profitability so in the past couple of years, Amazon has expanded to more than books, audio and video to electronics and other retail concepts. Social Relevance Amazon’s products are marketed for every consumer possible. Books, audio, video and electronics are appreciated by majority of the population especially those who have access to the Internet. Amazon is active in pursuing literacy programs for young children by collaborating with the makers of the Dr. Seuss books. They have actively participated in the Dr. Seuss shops, story telling sessions and Dr. Seuss days. Degree of Globalization Amazon’s strength internationally lies within its networks in major ports and cities around the Globe. Amazon first started out in Seattle but as soon as they have established a niche market, they have opened shop all over the nation and in cities such as London, Berlin, The Hague, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore and many more. These branches overseas improves their delivery service to a wide consumer base. Extent of Government Control There has not been many government regulations regarding online retailing. A group of CEOs whose firms that are engaged in such practices have formed an organization called Global Business Dialogue. This GBD group supports the development of a seamless global system that delivers the broadest array of goods and services to the largest number of consumers at the most competitive prices. This work effort will: offer recommendations to the WTO, including making the moratorium on online tariffs permanent; and collaborate with governments to target and eliminate discriminations against, or other non-tariff barriers to global trade in, electronic commerce. This working group will also provide an avenue for the GBDs to consider and promote the  growth of the electronic marketplace in an environment unencumbered by detrimental taxation. Degree of Vertical Integration Amazon’s primary value chain includes purchasing/sourcing, marketing, distribution and after-sales services, which includes returns and exchanges from unsatisfied customers. Their main focus is in the purchasing/sourcing and in the distribution of the products to the consumers. Their investments are therefore, geared towards warehouses in key points of high consumer demand areas and an efficient delivery and distributing system to service all its consumers. Thus, Amazon controls most of its distributing system that spans across borders. Inter Organization of Network Economics Amazon in its efforts to sustain its market leadership in the online retailing industry has tied up with various online organizations. Netscape Navigator and Amazon will offer members of Netscape Netcenter a co-branded storefront where Earths Biggest Bookstore will be easily accessed through Netscape Netcenter (home.netscape.com). In addition, Amazon.com has multi-year exclusive and premier bookseller relationships with 5 of the top 6 sites on the World Wide Web: AOL.com, Yahoo!, Netscape, GeoCities, and Excite. These partnerships widen Amazon’s presence in the World Wide Web. Sensitivity to Business Cycles The Online retailing business has a very quick cyclical growth. Amazon being one of the firsts to venture in this type of commerce are all ready in what seems to be in their decline stage where market share is declining. Therefore, Amazon is expanding to different industries within online retailing. Amazon and other online retailing firms are very sensitive to business cycles due to the speed of technology involved in the services they offer. Dynamics of New Knowledge Generation Online retailing relies on the work of an excellent distribution system. Amazon has invested their money into expanding their network of distribution centers around the globe. They also have investments in creating better technology for tracking orders and giving efficient delivery systems for their customers. Amazon.com has remained on top of the online retailing  business despite the entrance of giants such as Barnes and Nobles and Borders. Their success is attributed to two factors; timing and continuing to invest heavily into the inventory and distribution systems. Amazon, by being the first of its kind, has a big lead over the nearest competitors due to their experience and its reputation as the first movers. Their thrust remains on improving efficient delivery systems across borders and to build name recognition as the number one retailing firm in the Internet. They have also ventured into different retail options to keep that lead. Marketing, Innovative inventory and distribution systems, and name recall have helped Amazon build a sustainable competitive advantage. In order for any online retail company to remain prosperous and income generating, they must invest a lot of time and money into research and development of more efficient operations and distributions systems. This proved to be key for the Market Leader in online retailing, Amazon.Com. Mary Grace Velasco,College of Business Administration,Senior, Fordham University,Fall 2000

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Functionalism And Physicalism :: essays research papers

Functionalism and Physicalism While acquiring knowledge on the topics of Functionalism and Physicalism, I ran across many disagreement between the two. Interestingly, those disagreements gave me an impression of different sides arguing with their own support from their own theories. As if an Arabian and a Roman were arguing about whether the number eleven is an "Arabic" number or a "Roman" number. Though, as I read more and more of the readings (especially Putnam's), I started to see a pattern that led me to think that maybe Functionalism is compatible with Physicalism after all; that these two theories can coexist. The claim above is based on the information gathered in the two readings assigned and therefore, I should go step by step in order to arrive at my conclusion that they can indeed coexist. First, I draw Ned Block's elaboration on Metaphysical Functionalism as a start of my argument. As Block suggests, Metaphysical Functionalism is mainly concern about what mental states are; instead of a psychological explanation (Block, p. 172). Moreover, they concern themselves with mental state type; not a specific token of the type. As in the case of pain, they are concerned with a mental state called pain, and not of particular pains (i.e. stomach-ache, pin-pricks, etc.). But, according to Putnam, if the Physicalists does indeed attributes the name "physical states" to the enormous number of mental states we humans have, then, I think it would be impossible for them to be concerned only with the type and not the tokens. But once they started to consider each specific pain (token), they will have to ascribe a different physical-chemical state to each token-state. Ultimately, the common thing "to all pains in virtue of which they are pains (Block, p. 172)" cannot be put in terms of a single physical state. Recall that the same problem does not exist in the consideration of Functionalism because Functionalism concern itself basically with the causal relations between these tokens and not a particular one. Therefore, the common thing that exists in Functionalism "to all pains in virtue of which they are pains" is actually the

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Economics Commentary †Russian Quota on US Pork and Indian Government Tax on cars Essay

A quota is a physical limit on the number or value of goods that can be imported into a country. This is one of the few protectionist measures that countries in order to protect their own domestic industries and is a measure that has been taken up by Russia, as seen in the article. Russia has reduced its quota for American pork from 750,000 tonnes to 600,000 tonnes. This is because Russia wishes to become more self-sufficient in producing pork and thus improve their pork industry. As said in the article, this will be a big blow to the American producers of pork who already trying to recover from poor demand and prices, as well as high input costs. The effect of this reduced quota can be seen in Fig.1 below. As can be seen, the quota has been decreased from QD2-QS2 at a value of 750,000 tonnes to QD3-QS3 at a value of 600,000 tonnes. The deadweight loss (represented by the shaded area) has, as a result, increased from ABC to EBD and this is partly where the problem of quotas lies. The shaded area represents the inefficiency of the domestic producers and by decreasing the number of US exports coming in, they are increasing the reliance on domestic producers who may be more inefficient in comparison to the American producers. What could be potentially seen is an increased loss of world efficiency as the domestic producers would produce pork for higher minimum revenue than the American producers. Furthermore, QD3-QD2 tonnes of pork are not now consumed (150,000 tonnes) and this is a reduction in the consumer surplus, which is the extra utility gained by consumers from paying a price that is lower than that which they are prepared to pay. However, there are advantages to the quota for domestic producers. The initial quota allowed domestic producers to supply 0-QS1 and QS2-QD2 tonnes of pork at a price of WP+Quota. This quota meant that their revenue had increased but they will see their revenue increased further with the implementation of the lower quota. This is because they will be able to supply 0-QS1, QS2-QD2 and QS3-QD3 at a price of WP+ Decreased Quota. Foreign producers will now supply their quota of QS1-QS2 and receive a price of WP+ Decreased Quota. This should usually result in a fall in income, which would be detrimental to the American producers who are already suffering economic difficulties, but in theory this does not have to be. An alternative option that could be used by the Russian government is a tariff. This is a tax that is charged on imported goods would cause the world supply curve to shift upwards because it would be placed on the American producers as opposed to the Russia producers. The effect of a tariff can be seen below. The advantage of a tariff is that whilst the deadweight loss (shaded in red) of caused by the tariff would be the same as the one caused by a quota, the Russian government would receive a revenue equal to C. Furthermore, the revenue of domestic, Russian producers would increase by A+B+C, though the revenue of foreign, American producers will fall by C. However, there will be a fall in consumer surplus by D, due to the extra pork that will not be purchased resulting in a deadweight loss of welfare. However, as stated before, this would be the same if a quota is used. Furthermore, the implementation of a tariff is less likely to lead to the creation of a black market. This is because with an import quota there is a chance that there will be massive shortages of pork. Therefore, criminal organisations would see smuggling pork as a lucrative business opportunity. However, with a tariff such shortages are unlikely as it does not set a limit on the number of products imported. That being said, if a tariff is set at an unreasonably high rate then there is still a chance that a black market will open up. Nevertheless either form of protectionism has its disadvantages. Firstly, it leads to less choice for consumers and the lowered competition will see domestic firms become inefficient without any incentive to minimise costs. Moreover, protectionism distorts comparative advantage and this leads to the inefficient use of resources thus leading to reduced specialisation and a reduced potential level of the world’s output. Indeed protectionism could potentially damage economic growth. INDIAN CAR TAX Externalities occur when the consumption or production of a good or service has a spill over effect on a third party. If an externality is negative, then this spill over effect is in some way harmful. Therefore there has to be an external cost i.e. one that is borne by a third party, to add to the private costs of the producer or consumer in order to calculate the full cost to society. In the article, the negative externalities which are occurring in New Delhi, India stem from traffic congestion and air pollution. Fig.1 below shows the external costs of using cars. As seen in Fig.1, consumers will enjoy some of the private benefits of car travel but there will be external costs in the form of air pollution and traffic congestion. Consumers maximise their private utility and consume at the level where MPC=MSC=MPB thus leading to over-consumption of vehicle travel by driving Q25, 000 vehicles at a price of 25,000 rupees. As can be seen in Fig.1, the socially efficient output, i.e. when the full opportunity cost of an extra unit is equal to the value placed by society on its consumption or production, is Q*, as a result there is over-consumption of Q25, 000 to Q*. Furthermore, as a result of MSC being greater than MSB, there is a welfare loss to society. This is an example of market failure. In order to combat the effects of the vehicle use, the Indian government is charging citizens in New Delhi who own more than one car and are implementing a congestion fee. Two-wheelers that cost above 25,000 rupees will be taxed at a rate of four per cent whilst cars priced up to 6 lakh (600,000 rupees) will be increased to the same rate. Those costing between 6 and 10 lakh will be charged seven per cent tax. The effect that the increased tax should have on the use of two-wheeled vehicles is seen in Fig.2. As seen in Fig.2, the implementation of a tax will see the MPC curve move upwards to MPC + tax = MSC + tax. This will reduce consumption to the socially efficient output of Q* but the price will increase to 25,000 rupees plus tax. Therefore the government should receive more revenue which could be then used to further tackle the externalities. However, a problem that the Indian government will face is the fact that the demand for vehicle travel may be price inelastic. Therefore, the amount of people who will forgo vehicle travel will be insignificant and the quantity demanded will not fall to the socially efficient level. There are alternatives to congestion fees and taxes, with advertising being an example. The Indian government could fund positive advertising for substitute goods such as public transport or bicycles thus decreasing the consumption of vehicle travel. One of the problems with this solution is that the costs may be high and so taxes would have to be in place. Moreover, people may not care about the effects of vehicle travel and will therefore continue with their current mode of travel. Another solution could be for the government to restrict the number of driving licences. This is effectively a quota that would essentially see a decrease in the number of cars on the road. However, the problem of who to allocate these licences to arise and this could prove unpopular. Another alternative solution could be to heavily advertise public transport. This may reduce the number of cars on the road and would therefore see a reduction in the negative externalities created. However, for this to work, people would have to heed the advertisements advice and as it would not be compulsory, people may neither listen nor care to change their method of transportation. Overall, it looks like the Indian government’s decision to implement a car tax and congestion fee is the most viable solution because it is less likely to alienate the citizens of New Delhi when compared to curfews and is also more likely to see a decrease in consumption when compared to advertising.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Poetry

Alone In a dark room, -Every entity has left me here. -The door Is barred by a broom, Belonging to the witch who sealed my faith. -Curled into a ball -Knees to my chest, back against the wall. -This is my only protection. -Although the only breath I hear is my own, -I'm reminded I'm not yet alone. Lingering above me Is the everlasting pressure, -That makes my body wrack with sobs. -Cut, It whispers, The foul word drips with a venom even snakes envy. It swirls around me, -Taking in the sight of the cowardly abomination that is me. This may not be a pleasurable presence, -But at least I'm not abandoned. -Detached from all beings, this empty feeling must be my sole purpose. 2.Time bomb – 2014 -You're Like a time bomb -Ticking endlessly -She's walling for you to explode Stabbing her with the millions of scattered pieces you'll have broken into -It's only a matter of time -As she watches you fading -You're falling apart before her eyes -and she is trying desperately to do -what all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't -But she can't change the past -She can't undo what's already been done -She can't take back their venomous words Or somehow make you forget all the pain you endured -Because even If she drives them away -you are soul your own worst enemy And the monsters outside -The paint of your resilience is chipping away -And you're clutching to your blade more desperately than before -Her pleas and promises are falling on deaf ears -And sometimes she wonders if all this sorrow is worth -the happiness she feels -When she's holding your hand -But then she remembers the girl -Who, at only fifteen -Was going to take her life -And she was clutching Just as desperately to that knife -but you saved her -And you've been saving her ever since She saw a light in your eyes, there was nothing left to fear -And now helplessly -She watches it disappear -She wants to be the savior, that you are to her -But no matter how hopeful she seems -She's optimistic in v ain -You say she can't make you happy, she can't end the pain -She speaks wistfully of future plans -She wishes on a star -Words turn into razors -You say you don't plan on making it that far -But she still loves you Just the way you are -And like a time bomb would -You'll explode -destroying everything in your path -And when you do -She'll have nothing left -Suicide is such a Shiite thing to expect 3. Thunderstorm – 2014 -You taught me how to count beautifully -The seconds between -Thunder and lightning -As it shook the foundation of our world -You taught me -Not to be afraid -But baby there is a thunderstorm -Raging on outside -But I can only count -The days since you -All because -Of me 4.How to destroy an infection – 2014 I need someone To help me get rid of these feelings The feeling that I'm disgusting But I've come to realize that No one can get rid of them No one They're a part of me And the only way to destroy the infection Is to attack at the root 5. Sixty pe rcent deadly – 2014 Humans are approximately Sixty percent water Because, you see We are all oceans Seas Lakes Rivers Puddles Droplets Tears We slip our fingertips in To test the waters To see if these people will love us Love you Foolishly For you have forgotten As you always do when you are Blinded & confused as sweet liquid Fills your lungs You're drowning Drowning in someone else But you are not the victim You are the villain Ignorant Have you forgotten, Sabina?You are a plague A reckless force of evil You create hurricanes with Your words Typhoons with Your actions Yet still you dip your fingertips in Slowly being swallowed In bittersweet and forgetful bliss As you kill everyone around you How many lives must you take To remember 6. Crimson – 2013 The dark crimson streaks They're all too familiar Deep down across the canvas of my wrist You promised†¦ I hear his echo The solemn whisper still clear Above the buzzing in my ear I lay in bed, open my eyes Shift my head I'm looking at destruction, hatred Written across my wrists They scream at me I'm staring at words Strong enough to break bones I'm peering in through the cracks Is someone looking back?She wants to escape The girl inside She can't find her way out I need a small crevice, she hisses, Just one, pretty please? Sweet venom laces her words I wonder aloud, hearing no reply Has she gone already? Lied and escaped without a passing goodbye? Or maybe I cut too deep And broke her too But Just then, I hear A faint laugh I'm still deep down inside of you Cut deeper, you'll reach me I promise Those two words are so familiar But my cuts have almost healed I plead But Sabina, darling, I need to be freed I can't stand this anymore Just end the pain I know what to do I must be insane And with that We're back to where we started And how I've missed it It's been three days since I last saw 7.Click © – 2014 They say to wear your heart on your sleeve But That seems a bit gruesome Doesn't it? How does one wear a heart? Do you take a needle and thread Slowly and painfully piercing The edges of your heart Threading it to The fabric on your wrist Splattering the innocent,even friends With blood as you wave It's almost laughable Do you attach it to The nerve endings Willing them to protrude And wrap around the organ we have removed As a sort of method to express ourselves What a comical notion I'm sorry It Just seems rather silly to me I'd love to show my feelings But I'd prefer to keep my organs inside 8. Learning to Breathe Water – 2014 You know the things you learnThat you would've never considered prior to learning them but after learning them you feel like you've known you're whole life and you try but you can't remember who you were before that like Who was I before I knew x Like Sabina, your mouth is not a good place for spare change Sabina, your mouth should not speak of change that is a Mans decision Sabina, put on your settable Sabina, wearing a short sk irt is Just as dangerous as not wearing one Sabina, you have to go home your shorts are much too short I hear Sabina, the boys have to focus to learn, your body is too distracting and it is your alt that they sexuality you Sabina, the electrical socket is not a good place for dinner knives Sabina, neither is your wrist Okay Sabina, neither are your thighs I realize that learning is Just Life crushing and molding your brain You lose independence You wonder what you can do I try desperately To breathe water Even though I've learned So long ago that Sabina, you can't breathe water Unless you don't want to breathe Anymore 9. Wear girls – 2014 We are the girls who haven't run the mile in four years because we Layer our deep v necks with excuses and bat our eyelashes at the male gym teachersWe are taught to survive by using our bodies as Swiss Army knives Involuntarily It's the game we've been playing since we were children Deceive, but be polite Girls, we have to be nice Used to t he masculine brutality Male kindness is so alien to us we mistake it for seduction every time Age 7, my 15 year old cousin touches me, makes me touch him It took me years to realize that force was not love, when he called me beautiful he did not look beneath my abused skin Age 12, Dad says wearing short skirts in the city is like driving without a settable Age 13, a boy I've been dating for a week asks me to have sex with him, he says it's he only way I can show my love Age 15, my boyfriend, hits me If only it was unexpected I blame myself Age 16, my dad calls me sexy, on a regular basis, I take it as a compliment not knowing any better but the queasy feeling in my stomach tells me Something is wrong With the Waved tardiest, free drinks, smacked asses, my yoga pants are not a welcome mat, thank you Playing this game to realize This is not female privilege this is survival of the prettiest We are easily startled Who wouldn't be I am barked at from the streets We are the girls petrifi ed of the business school boys who learn to somehow manifest success by refusing to take no for an answer Aggression is key Once my friend and I got cat called She said screw you I said thank you, head down Like I was trained to 10. I once loved a psychopath- 2014 I once loved a psychopath Completely aware He could never be capable of a love that wasn't Clinging to another person and wrapping around their Throats and down their chests and to their hearts To squeeze out every once of affection from you But I didn't care Because he told me the world wasn't nearly as beautiful as I He told me That the reason why our blood is red Is the same reason why some stars are redTheir time is Almost up Our time is It has always been And he told me that's okay That this only means it wont be too long before We become fireworks And we'd be a part of something Tremendously bigger Together And I once loved a psychopath Who kept me alive Longer than the medication and therapy ever could I became slow ly entangled in his words His false compliments tied me down and I knew Exactly what was happening His words ran up my body, creeping Like vines Thorns cutting me as they slithered Up my torso Wrapping around my throat Wrapping his hands around my throat And squeezing So hard, I began to see stars And I said to myself; This is it. My time is up. I am a firework, and I am becoming a part of something bigger. 11. My kind of alone – 2014 People think of alone as A dark hole Where no sound and no light and no life can Penetrate But I don't think so because I have been down that hole many times before I have lived it and still I feel More at home there than Or a group full of friends But who knows Maybe our kind of alone is the sadder kind Because it's the kind that makes you Not fear death anymore 12.Letting go- 2014 Letting go of The one you thought you loved more than Anything More than Everything Is not like dropping someone off The edge of a cliff However badly you might wish it was It's not And no matter how long you Put it off This inevitable thing It will never be easier Just get it over with Oh but don't be fooled Getting it over with does not imply An instantaneous relief They aren't some bandit Holding together two infected halves Of a whole twisted heart Oh no Letting go Of someone you love Is a slow release A long painful exhale In a room starved for oxygen A Jet of helium Slowly streaming from that pinprick In the plastic skin of a young child's party balloon Who didn't get their birthday wish Poetry I picked this poem thinking this seems like a funny title and it would be a confusing poem that had a simple title but a deep meaning. This poem had a lot of alliteration the roots ere and re were repeated very often,and the only roots used in the poem. The only exception to this order was the the first line in verse five where minotaur was used. The minotaur was placed there conclude to break the steady rhyme. This is cleverly placed to bring the attention of the reader o the conclusion. Here is where/ You can get nowhere† This itself Starts the poem at a negative context and a feeling Of hopelessness. This in the poem represents life as being where you are your fate has decreed to be there is no point of struggling or trying to run away from it. All of life's problems are symbolized as the corn mazes twist and turns. â€Å"Like any other/ You can't peer over/ And then another. † The twisting turns in this poem like problems cannot e seen ahead of time you just run into them.When you are done dealing with one problem the next one appears. As we try to shape our destinies by ourselves we wake blindly not knowing what we do assuming we we are doing what's best for us. â€Å"Your inner minotaur† is a psychological term which can mean your fear of the unknown or your destiny. In psychology it IS said that you walk on hands and knees blindly until you are able to confront your inner minotaur. Which coincidentally relates with the poem. But on you blunder† shows the severity of our method of pursuing our destiny. To summarize the poem I conclude that this poem shows the futility of life of how no matter how hard we try to run we have acknowledge in the end that we have accept we have go nowhere in life. Like the pace of the poem it goes at steady pace. I am able to connect many of the situations of this poem to my life it shows my problems and how they come unexpected.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Nominal Versus Real Quantities

Nominal Versus Real Quantities Real variables are those where the effects of prices and/or  inflation have been taken out. In contrast, nominal variables are those where the effects of inflation have not been controlled for.   As a result, nominal but not real variables are affected by changes in prices and inflation.   A few examples illustrate the difference: Nominal Interest Rates vs. Real Interest Rates Suppose we buy a 1 year bond for face value that pays 6% at the end of the year. We pay $100 at the beginning of the year and get $106 at the end of the year. Thus the bond pays an interest rate of 6%. This 6% is the nominal interest rate, as we have not accounted for inflation. Whenever people speak of the interest rate theyre talking about the nominal interest rate, unless they state otherwise. Now suppose the inflation rate is 3% for that year. We can buy a basket of goods today and it will cost $100, or we can buy that basket next year and it will cost $103. If we buy the bond with a 6% nominal interest rate for $100, sell it after a year and get $106, buy a basket of goods for $103, we will have $3 left over. So after factoring in inflation, our $100 bond will earn us $3 in income; a real interest rate of 3%. The relationship between the nominal interest rate, inflation, and the real interest rate is described by the Fisher Equation: Real Interest Rate Nominal Interest Rate - Inflation If inflation is positive, which it generally is, then the real interest rate is lower than the nominal interest rate. If we have deflation and the inflation rate is negative, then the real interest rate will be larger. Nominal GDP Growth vs. Real GDP Growth GDP or Gross Domestic Product is the value of all the goods and services produced in a country. The Nominal Gross Domestic Product measures the value of all the goods and services produced expressed in current prices. On the other hand, Real Gross Domestic Product  measures the value of all the goods and services produced expressed in the prices of some base year. An example: Suppose in the year 2000, the economy of a country produced $100 billion worth of goods and services based on year 2000 prices. Since were using 2000 as a basis year, the nominal and real GDP are the same. In the year 2001, the economy produced $110B worth of goods and services based on year 2001 prices. Those same goods and services are instead valued at $105B if year 2000 prices are used. Then: Year 2000 Nominal GDP $100B, Real GDP $100BYear 2001 Nominal GDP $110B, Real GDP $105BNominal GDP Growth Rate 10%Real GDP Growth Rate 5% Once again, if inflation is positive, then the Nominal GDP and Nominal GDP Growth Rate will be less than their nominal counterparts. The difference between Nominal GDP and Real GDP is used to measure inflation in a statistic called The GDP Deflator. Nominal Wages vs. Real Wages These work in the same way as the nominal interest rate. So if your nominal wage is $50,000 in 2002 and $55,000 in 2003, but the price level has risen by 12%, then your $55,000 in 2003 buys what $49,107 would have in 2002, so your real wage has gone done. You can calculate a real wage in terms of some base year by the following: Real Wage Nominal Wage / 1 % Increase in Prices Since Base Year Where a 34% increase in prices since the base year is expressed as 0.34. Other Real Variables Almost all other real variables can be calculated in the manner as Real Wages. The Federal Reserve keeps statistics on items such as the Real Change in Private Inventories, Real Disposable Income, Real Government Expenditures, Real Private Residential Fixed Investment, etc. These are all statistics which account for inflation by using a base year for prices.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Decide Between the IELTS or TOEFL Exams

How to Decide Between the IELTS or TOEFL Exams Congratulations! You are now ready to take an important internationally recognized exam in order to prove your mastery of the English language. The only problem is that there are a number of exams to choose from! Two of the most important exams are the TOEFL and the IELTS. Often it is the students choice as to which one they want to take since both exams are accepted as meeting the entry requirements for academic settings. However, in some cases, the IELTS is requested for visa purposes to Canadian or Australian immigration. If this is not the case, you have even more to choose from and may want to review this guide to choosing an Engish test before you decide on the IELTS or TOEFL. Deciding Which One to Take Here are some points to take into consideration before you decide whether to take the IELTS or the TOEFL exam. These questions are very important because the IELTS exam is maintained by the University of Cambridge, whereas the TOEFL exam is provided by ETS, a US company based in New Jersey. Both tests are also different in how the test is administered. Take note of your answers: Do you need the IELTS or the TOEFL for academic English? If you need the IELTS or TOEFL for academic English, then keep answering these questions. If you dont need the IELTS or TOEFL for academic English, for example for immigration, take the general version of the IELTS. It is much easier than either the IELTS academic version or the TOEFL!Are you more comfortable with North American or British/UK accents? If you have more experience with British English (or Australian English), take the IELTS as vocabulary and accents tend more towards British English. If you watch a lot of Hollywood movies and like US idiomatic language, choose the TOEFL as it reflects American English.Do you feel more comfortable with a wide range of North American vocabulary and idiomatic expressions or British English vocabulary and idiomatic expressions? Same answer as above! IELTS for British English TOEFL for American English.Can you type relatively fast? As you will read below in the section on key differen ces between the IELTS or TOEFL, the TOEFL requires that you type your essays in the written section of the test. If you type very slowly, we would strongly recommend taking the IELTS as you handwrite your essay responses. Do you want to finish the test as quickly as possible? If you become extremely nervous during a test and want the experience to end as quickly as posable, the choice between IELTS or TOEFL is easier. The TOEFL lasts approximately four hours, whereas the IELTS is significantly shorter - about 2 hours 45 minutes. Remember, however, that shorter does not necessarily mean easier!Do you feel comfortable with a wide range of question types? The TOEFL exam is made up of almost entirely multiple choice questions. The IELTS, on the other hand, has a much wider range of question types including multiple choice, gap fill, matching exercises, etc. If you do NOT feel comfortable with multiple choice questions, the TOEFL is not the test for you.Are you proficient at taking notes? Note taking is important on both the IELTS and the TOEFL. However, it is much more critical on the TOEFL exam. As you will read below, the listening section, in particular, depends on note-taking skills in the TOEFL as yo u answer questions after you have listened to a longer selection. The IELTS asks you to answer questions as you listen to the exam. Major Differences Reading:TOEFL - You will have 3 to 5 reading selections of twenty minutes each. Reading materials are academic in nature. Questions are multiple choice.IELTS - 3 reading selections of twenty minutes each. Materials are, as in the case of the TOEFL, related to an academic setting. There are multiple type questions (gap fill, matching, etc.)Listening:TOEFL - The listening selection very different from the IELTS. In the TOEFL, you will have 40 to 60 minutes worth of listening selections from lectures or campus conversations. Take notes and respond to multiple choice questions.IELTS - The largest difference between the two exams is in listening. In the IELTS exam, there are a wider variety of question types, as well as exercises of differing lengths. You will answer questions as you move through the listening selection of the test.Writing:TOEFL - Two written tasks are required on the TOEFL and all writing is done on the computer. Task one involves writing a five-paragraph essay of 300 to 350 words. Note taking is important as the second task asks you to take notes from a reading selection in a textbook and then a lecture on the same topic. You are then asked to respond using notes by writing a 150- to 225-word selection integrating both the reading and listening selection.IELTS - The IELTS also has two tasks: the first a short essay of 200 to 250 words. The second IELTS writing task asks you to look at an infographic such as a graph or chart and summarize the information presented. Speaking:TOEFL - Once again the speaking section differs greatly between the TOEFL and the IELTS exams. On the TOEFL you are asked to record responses on the computer of 45 to 60 seconds to six different questions based on short descriptions/conversations. The speaking section of the test lasts 20 minutes.IELTS - The IELTS speaking section lasts from 12 to 14 minutes and takes place with an examiner, rather than a computer as on the TOEFL. There is a short warm-up exercise consisting mainly of small talk, followed by a response to some sort of visual stimulus and, finally, a more extended discussion on a related topic.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Description Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Description Assignment - Essay Example Professor Earle’s book is based on the assumption that the field of engineering makes use of a form of expression no less special than that of the lawyer, the novelist or the poet. The purpose of the primary text is to focus on how to achieve a readable style. The author assumes that, without the knowledge he prescribes, no one would really be interested in reading anything you write. It is only through learning the knowledge in the book that readers will be attracted to your writing. The second text gives us a more conceptual background on what technical writing is all about and how it differs from general writing. Throughout the text, Professor Earle emphasizes the succinctness of technical writing so that engineers can reach the best results without much waste of time. Both of the books discuss the requirements of technical writing and list some of the important characteristic of technical writing. At the introductory chapter, both books attempt to explicate how technical writing (expository) differs from the general writing. In the first book by Tebeux and Dragga, they listed four important specialties. These included the requisite awareness that legal liabilities might arise due to the content of the documents or that the documents might be read by unknown readers who might be interested in the organizations. Besides, the writing should achieve the intended job goals by a wide variety of readers who might be having completely different perspectives from the writer. In addition, they emphasize that a good technical paper should have the following qualities: accuracy, clarity, conciseness, readability, usability, and correctness. Professor Earle also elucidates the occasions when it may be necessary to apply the technical writing. Unlike what we did at school, there is actually no force to demand for people to write something. Technical writing,