marx and marxism essays

marx and marxism essays 2. First noted by John Locke in his Second Treatise on Government, labor is a source of value. Stated simply, the work a person does is worth money or a wage. This is a fundamental, arguably the fundamental principle, in the capitalist economic system. Most critics of the system argue capitalism exploits the worker because he is not paid and cannot be paid the full value of his labor, because this is the profit for the capitalist or employer. In describing a utopian capitalist world, Robert Heilbroner writes, The laborer who contracts to work can ask only for a wage that is his due. What that wage will be depends . . . on the amount of labor time it takes to keep a man alive. (157) However, for profit to exist for the capitalist or employer, the worker must work for longer than just his subsistence for the same wage. This, what Marx calls, surplus value, is the profit. However, what I have just described is the utopia of capitalism, at least for the worker and leads into what may be the single worst consequence of the failure of government regulation during early capitalism and today, a failure to regulate the workday and enforce a living wage. A living wage, most simply, is a wage that allows a person to support themselves and their family. The text How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis will serve as evidence of the consequences of lack regulation of the wages and the workday in early capitalism, as well as help to demonstrate how the same reality exists today for many. he has done what he could with merciless severity where he could to smother every symptom of wakening intelligence in his slaves. In this effort to perpetuate his despotism he has had the effectual assistance of his own system and the sharp competition that keep the men on starvation wages (140) Riis description of an early capitalist, the sweater of Jewtown th ...

Why I became an independent book designer Reedsy

Why I became an independent book designer Reedsy The success story of an independent book designer: An interview with Mark Ecob Have you done much work with independent authors? If so, is there anything different about it?Loads. When I started my company, I made it my business to seek that kind of brief in an ever-changing publishing landscape. Now, a good proportion of my work is for independents, self-publishing platforms or ventures like Unbound who bring books to readers in new ways.It’s definitely simpler and you’re given greater freedom. The best independent authors are receptive to industry expertise, which still has a massive part to play.It’s also very rewarding to know that the work you do can bring someone’s book to life, and hopefully success. In a large publishing house, I felt disconnected from the authors. Now I work directly with them, I’ve realised why I do what I do.Thanks for your time Mark.Check out other #freelancerfriday interviews on our blog!Have a look at Mark Ecob’s profile on Reedsy, or even ask him for a quote!

A summary of the statutory framework within which all recruitment and Assignment

A summary of the statutory framework within which all recruitment and selection at A G - Assignment Example Of course, a number of techniques and instruments will reveal this information about the applicant. The managerial candidate can only tolerate a reasonable amount of intervieweing, testing and disclosure of personal information. Perhaps it is the duty of the managers to exercise prudence and request only information that is essential and relevant to the job. By contrast, where skills are relatively scarce, where recruitment is costly or where it takes several weeks to fill a vacancy, turnover is likely to be problematic from a management point of view. This is especially true of situations in which you are losing staff to direct competitors or where customers have developed relationships with individual employees as is the case in many professional services organisations An organizational structure is composed of various positions designed to accomplish systems, goals, and objectives. Variety of managerial activities is essential to keep those positions staffed with personnel who have the knowledge, the skills, and he motivation to perform the roles effectively. It is becoming clear that considerable confusion emerges in an organization when the activities are performed independently. (Robbins, 2004) What is needed is an integrated system to deal with the total array of personnel activities. These include human resources planning, recruitment, selecting, induction, training and development, the intent of which is to attract in the organization personnel conceptualized in the design of the various positions filled. Organisations are the grand strategies created to bring order out of chaos when people work together. Organizations provide the skeletal structure that helps create predictable relationships among people, technology, jobs and resources. Wherever people join in a common effort, organization must be used to get productive results. Another difficulty in the recruitment and selection process concerns selection and hiring because time and cost are involved in making decisions. It is important to identify the factors that goes with the approach such as advertising expenses, agency fees, cost of testing materials, time spent for preparing test materials, time spent in interviewing applicants, cost for reference follow-up, medical examination, start-up time required for the newly hired candidate to get acquainted with the job, relocation, and orientation about policies of the organization. - A flow chart indicating the steps to be taken and the documents that should be produced, from initial discussions about the vacancy, through to finalisation of the appointment - Copy and layout for a newspaper or web

Budgets Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Budgets - Assignment Example Operational review enables the company to compare its current data with the past. By looking at the past trend and history of the company the company will establish its position in comparison with the past. Financial ratio technique enable the company to take current financial statement apply mathematical formulas to it and then coming up with a metric. Once financial ratios are applied in other companies then it becomes possible to compare one company to another. Financial ratio technique is the best because it enables a small company to compare itself with a bigger company (Platen & Heath, 2009). Financial ratio also makes it possible for companies that are equal in both size and capacity to compare their performance. Operational review will not be giving a company its true positions in the market because the company will not compare itself with others. 2 If the workload required to keep business fully in operation is not estimated correctly, this will drastically reduce the value of operating budget because before making any budget proposal one is first required to estimating the workload required to accomplish its activities so as to determine the budget allocation (Platen & Heath, 2009). ... the task of allocating funds to the operation of various departments or sections within the company organization, and thus making sure each area has what it needs to manage its assigned tasks efficiently Rigidity reduce the value of operating budget, operating budget ought to be adjusted from time to time because more often there are surprises within organizations. Changes should be allowed to be made to the budget because frequently there are shifts in the amount of revenues generated. At some point in the middle of the business there could be adjustments in regard to projected changes in consumer demand. 3 Time: How long will it take to implement a project right from its initial stage until its completion? This includes the time taken by staffs. It is the number of hours and days that a project or program take before its impact is recognized. A project that takes the shortest time to be completed is given a score of 5. The faster the project is the lesser the resources that will be used (Hope & Fraser, 2003). Every initiator or overseer of a project should ensure that he takes time seriously because time is of essence. If the project was intended for specific population within a specific time delay will render that project useless because it will no longer serve its intended purpose. Impact: The changes in a situation that results from the combined effects of project activities, or the extent to which the goal are achieved. Impact also refers to any unintended positive or negative changes that arise from a project completion. If project have a great impact it means that it is successful. A project with greatest impact is given a score of 5. For a project to be rated successful its impact must be felt across the board (Hope & Fraser, 2003). In the course of executing

Images of nurse and nursing Essay Example for Free

Images of nurse and nursing Essay The article entitled â€Å"Perceived and real barriers for men entering nursing: Implications for gender diversity,† aimed to explain the barriers, whether perceived or real, for men seeking a career in nursing. It is theorized that the public image of nursing is that of a traditional feminine career. However, in lieu with the recent nursing shortage that has been plaguing the country, it is speculated that men remain as an untapped reservoir of potential nurses and need to be targeted through recruitment strategies (Roth Coleman, 2008). The authors established in their paper that if the barriers, whether real or perceived, can be addressed to suggest strategies that can ameliorate these barriers, then the recruitment of males into the profession may help in providing more nurses to fill the shortage. The image of nurses has been long depicted as a young female taking care of the ill and subordinate to male physicians and administrators (Roth Coleman, 2008). These women are also perceived as not capable of making important decisions and were handmaidens to the physicians. Furthermore, it was researched that according to most students the reason why they did not choose to enter the nursing career is because of a perception that they would not attain job satisfaction and the second was that nurses were too squeamish (Roth Coleman, 2008). Most young men believed that nursing is a profession for females and that they have fears of being perceived as gay or being feminine. Other barriers mentioned was the absence of the historical contributions of nurses who were male, considering that most nursing texts use the pronoun she in referring to nurses and that nursing education programs have been unsuccessful in creating an environment that is conducive for men, e. g. the lack of male professors and clinical instructors. However, there are still a few men who have chosen to enter the nursing profession and a major factor that engrossed men to the nursing profession was the influence of parents, specifically mothers, which are employed in nursing or other healthcare professions. Also, most men in the profession had previous careers and perceived their nursing career to be better than anticipated. The authors suggest that to ameliorate the current barriers, the public perceptions of nursing that create barriers for male nurses has to be challenged. Other suggestions that they presented include the increasing the number of males in the nursing academia and communicate through scholarly articles how gender diversity has enriched the profession. The discussions in schools should include more often the history of men in nursing and that they should also target nontraditional male students that are older and diverse. In response to this article, I deem that there is a truth to what the researchers have speculated that there is perceived barriers that inhibit the males from entering the nursing profession. In lieu with this, the suggested ways in how to ameliorate the situation can help in possibly encouraging the men in joining the profession. It can be noted that majority of the nurses, whether or not working in the clinical setting, students or professors teaching in the academia are females. It has been greatly noted that many male nurses have made the profession more diverse and the physical attributes of males are needed in certain nursing work. Being a nurse, whether or not one has the passion for it and considers it a calling, or was just a nurse by chance, should always bear in mind that this is a profession that only aims to care and hope for the best in the client or the patient’s wellbeing. Furthermore, I deem that the nursing profession should not have any gender biases, as it is a profession that only seeks to care for humanity, both males and females.

Use of Excessive Force by Police :: Police Law Legal Force Essays

Use of Excessive Force by Police Introduction: Police officers are given a significant amount of discretion simply due to the nature of the job. Officers are faced with many threatening situations forcing them to react quickly yet appropriately. They have the power to infringe upon any citizen's rights to freedom and therefore they must use this power effectively. One major concern with the amount of discretion officers have is their power to decide when to use force or when to use lethal force. Manning (1997:295) argues that it is generally accepted that police should be allowed to use force. He also explains that there is an uncertainty among people as to what constitutes excessive force. The line between what is necessary and what is extreme is very thin. Use of force is no doubt one important aspect in policing; however, force should also be used with great discretion. If officers do not use force on every suspect they encounter they may be creating a negative environment for the community. The community policing style is defined by David M. Allender as (2004:18-19), ?Community policing is a philosophy of full-service, personalized policing where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, from a decentralized place, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems.? The most important factors to community policing include personalization, partnership and problem-solving (Allender, 2004:19). The idea is to create a relationship with citizens that is trustworthy and honest. When officers begin to use force to control the community, citizens began to view officers as authority figures instead of service officers that are there to protect and serve. This results in a break down of the relationship between officers and the community. In community policing force should only be used if other efforts are deemed ineffective. The use of force can pertain many different actions a police officer participates in. Force can range from simply verbal commands to the dangerous use of lethal force. Police no doubt need to have discretion to use force to protect themselves as well as community. Guidelines need to be set so that officers continue to incorporate and maintain the concept of community policing. The purpose of this article is to inform readers that police discretion not only encompasses use of police profiling, responses to domestic violence, or choices in acceptance of gratuities but discretionary decision to use force.

Position Paper: Iraq War and Just War Theory Essay

Thesis: The war effort in Iraq that is currently being led by the United States fails to meet many of the qualifications of a just war as laid out in the Just War Theory, so one can take a position that the effort is unjust. I will argue that the United States not only disregarded some of the conditions of the theory, but that we actually broke most of the conditions which would be required in order for a war effort to be deemed â€Å"just†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When the United States chose to go to war in Iraq, the international fallout following the decision was both dramatic and decisive. There was outcry from other countries who described the United States’ war effort as being â€Å"unjust†. Though there are many ambiguous ways to look at the justness of the war, the position that the war is unjust can be supported by the findings in the Just War Theory. The war effort in Iraq that is currently being led by the United States fails to meet many of the qualifications of a just war as laid out in the Just War Theory, so one can take a position that the effort is unjust. I will argue that the United States not only disregarded some of the conditions of the theory, but that we actually broke most of the conditions which would be required in order for a war effort to be deemed â€Å"just†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Just War Theory itself is not a document that leaves anything to chance. In fact, it is not ambiguous at all in the way that it defines a just war effort. Those who formulated the philosophy left no stone unturned. Instead, they were sure to include a detailed basis for understanding that was broken into two broad sections, with further explanation given in each section. The first condition for a just war that must be met is known as Jus ad bellum, which is the first set of criteria documented to determine if a war is just or not. According to the actual literature of the Just War Theory, this section â€Å"†¦Assesses the reasons for war and establishes the set of criteria we use for determining whether or not a particular war is legitimate† (Just War Theory). Included in this part of the Just War Theory are six sub-headings, including â€Å"just cause†, â€Å"just intentions†, â€Å"legitimate authority†, â€Å"publicly declared†, â€Å"last resort†, and â€Å"reasonable costs†. Together, these things help create a clearer picture of whether or not a war cause can be justified by those who wage war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States’ war in Iraq can be justified under the â€Å"just cause† part of Jus ad bellum, but in order for a war to be just, it must be able to pass all of the segments of this theory. Whether the war in Iraq fails first is in its intentions. According to this portion of the Just War Theory, â€Å"Just intentions demand that war should always aim for peace and that any war must be limited to its stated aim† (Just War Theory). In the case of the United States, this has not been the case. The cause at hand was just because it sought to liberate the Iraqi people from the tyranny of Hussein. Once that dictator was ejected, the war effort did not stop, though. Instead, it has turned into an occupation that has turned the United States into a conquering imperialistic nation. The real intentions of the war are hidden and are much more complicated that what meets the eye. The desire for control of oil and the political posturing in the Middle East are among those reasons. According to Stephen Jendraszak of the Ball State Daily News, â€Å"Our true motivation is oil, just as it has been in the past. After Sept. 11, the administration was stunned by the amount of Saudi involvement in the terrorist attacks† (Jendraszak).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The third condition of this part of the Just War Theory was also violated. This deals with the authority to make war as an American nation. According to the Constitution of the United States, U.S. Congress has the power â€Å"To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water† (U.S. Constitution). Congress has yet to declare war in this situation, meaning that the U.S. led occupation is not just according to the theory. The Just War Theory also demands that the declaration of war be a public one. Since no declaration was made, there was obviously no public announcement of that decision.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An interesting part of the Just War Theory is section e of the first part, where it discusses the idea of a â€Å"last resort†. In this case, the United States tried some diplomacy, but they did not exhaust all of their options. In fact, the U.S. government did much to get in the way of good diplomacy in this case. Instead of allowing United Nations’ led inspectors to look over the Iraqi grounds, the U.S. put undue pressure on the Iraqi government. In fact, the United Nations went so far as to pass U.N. Resolution 1441, which states that the U.N. is †Determined to ensure full and immediate compliance by Iraq without conditions or restrictions with its obligations under resolution 687 (1991) and other relevant resolutions and recalling that the resolutions of the Council constitute the governing standard of Iraqi compliance† (U.N Resolution 1441). It was the United States’ lack of patience in letting this resolution play out that is a primary reason why the war should be deemed, â€Å"unjust†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to those things, I take the position that the U.S. had no justification for going to war based upon article â€Å"f† of the Just War Theory. This is the part of the theory that weighs the costs of going to war against the cost of allowing the current situation to persist. Though the grievances in Iraq were many, they are far outweighed by both the human and financial cost that has resulted from the war. The United States has spent billions of dollars fighting the war in Iraq and the military has lost thousands of soldiers. On top of that, the civilian casualties in Iraq have been many. Because of this, I stand by the position that the war in Iraq is not a just one.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second broad section of the Just War Theory is known as Just in bello. This is the part of the theory that deals with the actual undertaking of the war itself. Who can be attacked and how is a country allowed to make that attack? This section deals with two sub-points, identified as proportionality and discrimination. In regards to proportionality, the Just War Theory states, â€Å"The quantity of force must be in proportion to the aim of the immediate action, e.g. it would be disproportionate to employ a nuclear weapon against a sniper firing from a populated village† (Just War Theory). Given the fact that the Iraqi government and military led no attack against American forces in our country or abroad, it is easy to make an argument that the response was neither measured nor proportional. The United States started its effort in Iraq with a period of bombings that were known as â€Å"shock and awe†. This is itself is an indictment against the justness of the war, seeing as the name implies that the attack was meant to be proportionally great one in comparison to what would follow in the war. The attack, which consisted of United States’ bombers dropping large bombs on major places in Iraq, took out not only the Iraqi military locations, but also caused many civilian casualties. Given the fact that the original intention of the war was to go and liberate the Iraqi people from the tyranny of Hussein, this response lacks the proportionality that is required in order for a war to be called just. With that knowledge, one can easily take the position that the United States’ war effort in Iraq once again broke an article of the Just War Theory and could thus be called an unjust effort.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The second portion deals with discrimination, which is defined in much more detail in the document. This is something that the United States government has learned to do moderately well, but the many mistakes that have occurred thus far are enough to deem this war as an unjust one. In the literature of the Just War Theory, it states that discrimination happens when, â€Å"Combatants must discriminate between legitimate and illegitimate weapons and between legitimate and illegitimate targets† (Just War Theory). This implies that a measure of judgment is required by the leaders and those carrying out the war in order to understand what an appropriate weapon to use is and what an appropriate place to target is. As indicated earlier in the discussion over the â€Å"shock and awe† tactics employed in the early part of this war effort, one can easily see that the United States government did not do a great job of identifying targets and further, they used force that was far too strong given the circumstances. The nature of the war in Iraq has demanded that the United States military do a lot of fighting in close quarters and in civilian laden areas. The fact of that matter is that the U.S. has not correctly identified their targets and when they have, the weapons have been so strong that lots of collateral damage has occurred.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The war in Iraq can be described in a number of different ways and with a number of different words depending upon who is doing the describing. Many times, the political biases get in the way of actual discussion over whether or not the war was a just one. The Just War Theory, however, does not accommodate for any of that political posturing. It is a clear theory and given the facts that are laid out within it, one can easily take the position that the war in Iraq was an unjust one. Not only did the United States break a few of the conditions for the Just War Theory, they practically smashed the majority of them. By looking at the Just War Theory and applying it to the situation in Iraq, I come away with the feeling that the United States may have had a just cause, but they did not come anywhere near meeting any of the other conditions that are required in order for a war to be just. Works Cited United Nations Security Council. Resolution 1441. Retrieved from http://www.edenbridgetown.com/ethics/reference/war/un_res_1441.shtml United States Constitution. Article One, Section Eight. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section8 Jendraszak, Stephen. Jack Of All Trades: War in Iraq unjust, short-sighted. Ball State Daily News Online. 7 January 2003. Retrieved from http://media.www.bsudailynews.com/media/storage/paper849/news/2003/01/07/Opinion/Jack-Of.All.Trades.War.In.Iraq.Unjust.ShortSighted-1300588.shtml

Bak Funeral Home Case Study Analysis

The funeral industry has changed very much. It has less similarity as in traditional way of funeral in 1975. There have been incredible alterations over the past few decades due to Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC has mandated alterations in the funeral service pricing, alterations in consumer preferences, and consolidation of funeral service providers. In 1984, FTC wanted funeral homes to offer customers with a general price list that disintegrates the prices of each component of the funeral.For instance, instead of charging one price of $9000 for all merchandise and services for funeral purposes, the funeral home must divide the charges into components, for example, $3450 for casket, $540 for embalming, $185 for cosmetology, hairdressing and placement in casket, etc. In addition, the FTC has declared that funeral homes may not require customers to buy a lot of items, in particular caskets or burial vaults from the funeral homes.Customers may buy either or both the components fro m a dealer apart from the funeral director and have the casket transported to the funeral home and the vault transported to the cemetery. Nowadays, there are several non funeral home dealers of these components. Customers can go online to buy caskets and vaults from the Funeral Depot or the American Casket Store with next-day delivery assured. A number of religious orders manufacture caskets that they market through â€Å"funeral resource centers† positioned in big cities. Moreover, the preferences of the customers have altered dramatically.About 30 years ago, nearly 93 percent of the families prefer to go for traditional funeral followed by earth burial. Today, the percentage of burials has declined by 71 percent, whilst the percentage of cremation has increased to 29 percent on national level (Ruhl and Wilson, 2008. p. 482, 484). The funeral industry has advanced from a comparatively plain local business that was in large portion unfettered into a contemporary industry cont rolled by multi mortuary business corporations struggling for economies of scale.2 a) Sabina need to calculate the depreciation of the rental property in order to buy the Bak Funeral Home. There is a need to check all tax issues methodically with a tax accounting professional, however the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in general allows devaluing the value of the construction on the property over a period of 27 and half years. This is the rational treatment of the fact that structures do wear out eventually, or become out of date owing to their older qualities no longer in demand. So, Bak Funeral Home has been generating some positive cash flow per year.However, now some of that income can be offset for taxes. The building is depreciated by cutting out the value of the land and dividing the building value by 25 years for annual depreciation (25 years because the building was constructed in 1980 and the valuation is being done in 2005). The depreciation calculation looks like this: 1 . Purchase price – Land Value = Building Value. 2. Building Value / 25 = Annual allowable depreciation deduction (Kimmons, n. d. ). The Bak Funeral Home has a depreciation value.Thus, it would not be feasible for Sabina to buy back the Funeral Home and ask her mother, Joan to rent her the existing building for $2000 per month. Individuals invest in property not only for the income prospective it presents, but also for the tax benefits that accompany owning and renting out assets. Possessing property and renting it out is a business. One can take in revenue (rent) and incur costs similar to any other business. The greater part of operating expense deductions comes from money that one has expended on the property.There are deductions permitted for mortgage interest and property taxes, in addition to deductions for insurance, maintenance, and mending on the buildings. One expense that requires no expenditure of money is reduction on the property. This is an accounting deduction that is permitted and is based on the general wear and tear on the building. If Sabina can show a loss on her rental property, where her expenditures exceed her income, she might be able to remove the loss on her tax return. The only way that she can deduct the loss is to be an active member in the supervision of the property.She can hire a property manager to carry out the day-to-day tasks, but she needs to be aggressively participating in appreciating terms of contracts, interviewing probable tenants, and approving expenses that go toward upholding the building (Tax Tips: All about Rental Property Tax Breaks, n. d. ). Hence, Joan (her mother) would agree to this arrangement. 2 b) Joan requires 11 percent cash flow return on her investment in the building. The market value of the building is $1800, 000. Sabina would not need to pay state and federal income taxes because the company would be operating at a loss.As the net income is declining year after year, that is why; Sabina shou ld not purchase Bak Funeral Home and operate it at its present location. 2 c) Now we need to check whether it is feasible for Sabina to purchase Bak Funeral Home business and operate it in nearby location. Sabina would be finding an investor who would be willing to purchase and build a new funeral home away from Regional Airport where land values are lower. At least ten residential lots will be required for car parking. Each lot is sold at $30,000.Building costs would be $900,000 and real estate cost $25000. Here also, the assumptions are made. Sabina would not need to pay state and federal income taxes because the company would be operating at a loss. It would be feasible for Sabina to buy back the Bak Funeral Home and operate it in nearby location as the values of the land seem to be lower. 2 d) Firms whose level of performance is below parity, or that finds it more and more difficult to flourish in the new economic world order, seeks and implements techniques to enhance performan ce and augment shareholder wealth.For those managers who are critically considering whether a merger or a consolidation would be feasible option for their firms, understanding the rules and methods governing these events will facilitate them to make their choice. Thus, given the current situation Sabina should approach Modelski Funeral Home and suggest that she merge the Bak Funeral Home Business into Modelski location. If the two businesses are combined, then both the business would be able to prosper and as the stake is 50-50, then it would not be any problem for the companies if they even incur losses.They will be able to compensate and they would also had a larger portion of market share in the industry. 2 e) In this case, Sabina should buy the Bak Funeral Home Business at the price which her mother, Joan is offering and would definitely merge with Modelski business. As she would be able to purchase the business at an interest free rate over a period of five years, thus it would be viable for her to buy the business. 2 f) Reputation indeed does work in case of Sabina as she has been managing her father’s business for few years. She herself is a brand as people are aware of her name and fame being a funeral director.However, if she goes by profit making motive, then it would not work in the long run. She should buy her Bak Funeral Home at the interest free rate which her mother is offering. 2 g) The price is based on the firm’s ability to generate a stream of profit or cash flow. The seller projects this stream of cash more than 5 or more years to compute the worth of the business. Often, discounted future earnings are applied which takes into consideration the time value of money – cash obtained in year 5 is discounted based on probable interest rates.In this process disagreements can crop up regarding estimation of cash flow and predictable sales projections. A lot of cash flow and EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes and amortizati on) protuberances employ â€Å"recast† numbers to reproduce the outcome on profits of perquisites that a business proprietor takes from the business (How to sell a small business, n. d. ). Thus, it would not be feasible for Sabina to get out of the funeral business and let her mother to sell the business at a price which is five times the cash flow of the company.3) In spite of of the prevention methods employed, probable threats that could arise inside or outside the organization which needs to be evaluated. Even though the exact nature of probable disasters or their resultant effects are hard to determine, it is advantageous to perform a complete risk assessment of all threats that can sensibly occur to the organization. Despite the type of threat, the objectives of business recovery planning are to guarantee the safety of consumers, staff and other personnel during and following a catastrophe (Wold and Shriver, n. d. ).

Research 101 Going to the Library in the Internet Age - Freewrite Store

Research 101 Going to the Library in the Internet Age - Freewrite Store â€Å"Let me Google that.† Today’s guest post is by Anne E. Johnson. Anne, based in Brooklyn, has written several novels and nearly 100 short stories. She is also an arts journalist. â€Å"Let me Google that.† For someone who loves research, those are four of the saddest words in English. Somehow the belief has spread that any information you need- about anything- is available by simply typing into a search engine. Yet libraries still exist. Don’t be one of those people who ignores them. You’re wondering why you should bother. What could some underfunded collection of books sticky with other people’s fingerprints possibly offer that the internet can’t? Glad you asked. Why Go to the Library? One of the best things about going to the library is what it can do for your work. As someone who has experience pitching both historical fiction manuscripts and journalistic article ideas, trust me: you want to stand out from the crowd. Anybody can Google. Not everybody can coax gems from library stacks. Potential agents and publishers can see those gems gleaming, and they’ll like what they see.       Another great reason to go to a library is psychological. It’s good for your brain and it’s good for your spirit. Let me count the ways: After a few hours of staring at your computer or tablet screen, do you feel kind of hollow and stale, as if you’ve wasted your day? I call that â€Å"Web Laziness† syndrome. You could just power down and go to the gym. But if you’re in the middle of a research project, try going to the library instead. The more time you spend in a library and get comfortable with it, the more you’ll get out of it. Your enthusiasm for your topic can’t help but grow. And a bonus: you’ll feel like a pro, and won’t hesitate to hit the stacks next time you need to do research. Unlike sitting with your laptop in a coffee shop or on your own couch, a library is a place where everyone is there to read and learn. Being in that environment can alter your powers of concentration. And learning is energizing. Treasures galore! There’s a lot to be gained from being near lots of physical books. When you wander along a library bookcase, looking for a call number, you scan the spines of hundreds of nearby volumes. Guaranteed, you’re going to find some amazing stuff that you didn’t know existed. And there’s also the possibility to see physical documents that almost no one else has ever been in contact with. Primary sources – letters, diaries, drafts of plays or musical compositions, captain’s logs, or anything else that is an original representation of a time or place are absolute gold if you write history or historical fiction, or just want to jazz up something with cool details.       A research library in a big city or at a university is the best place to find such things, but even your neighborhood public library might offer high-quality scans of rare documents. Libraries subscribe to scholarly databases that an individual can’t afford to buy access to. To use these databases, you will probably need a library card. Some might be accessible at home once you log in as a card-holder, but some will require you to show up at the library and use their computers. Planning your library visit If you really want to get a lot out of a day at the library, put in some time before you go. This is where the internet and physical libraries become one: You can use the library’s catalog from the comfort of your couch! Your prep experience can be practically paperless. Online catalogs allow the option of digitally bookmarking entries you’re interested in, or emailing them to yourself. Personally, I always make a working bibliography of every resource I want to explore, and I print it out and bring it with me so I can scribble notes on it (things like â€Å"out until Aug. 31† or â€Å"saw it, but not that helpful†).       And remember not to limit yourself to looking up books. Libraries also have periodicals, which nowadays are usually entirely electronic. The online catalog will probably include a way to search those magazines and journals for your topic. And then there are documentary films or historical radio broadcasts that might help you. Your list of resources doesn’t have to be perfect. You just need a starting point. Once you spend some time in the stacks, you’ll add some items and cross others out. Oh, and don’t forget to check the hours before you go, so you don’t waste a trip. What happens once you’re there? You walk in with your list. Now what? Libraries post maps to show where each call number can be found. Often you can snag a nice little bookmark with that info printed on it, and carry it with you. Pick a call number from your bibliography to start with, then go looking for that book. If the book isn’t where it’s supposed to be, or if you can’t figure out where the call number is kept, or if you’re just feeling overwhelmed by the whole process†¦don’t despair. There’s a living, breathing app for that.       That human over there is called a â€Å"librarian.† Approach him or her with a smile, and they’ll give you all the help you need. These folks went to school for this, so their skills go well beyond answering â€Å"Where is this book?† and â€Å"Where are the restrooms?† You could tell them what you’re working on, and see if they have any ideas! And, if you’re in a research library, there might even be a librarian who specializes in your topic. If you’re looking at rare or primary documents, the key is patience. Whether you’re lucky enough to get to handle the actual documents (a rare thrill, indeed) or you are instructed to look at an online database, take your time. Obviously, rare documents can be damaged, so don’t flip pages like it’s a cheap mystery novel you picked up at the airport. But more than that, remember that this is a special privilege. Savor it. Explore not just the words on the page, but what the pages are made of, what kind of ink and font is used. Take careful notes about everything you see and feel. Using all your senses will inform whatever you’re writing later. Need a photocopy of something you can’t check out of the library? Depending on what it is, that might not be allowed. But you have that nifty phone in your pocket; photograph the pages you need! If the material is not rare, you might be able to take it home for two or three weeks. You’ll need a library card (a good idea anyway, as we’ve discussed, so you have full access to all materials). More and more e-books are also available to check out. You order them via the library’s catalog, and they’ll show up on your e-reader, and disappear after the due date.    Try it. You won’t be sorry. Hey, I’m not knocking Google. There’s no disputing that internet search engines are ingenious tools that have changed the world. Still, sitting at your laptop is sometimes not enough if you want to understand a topic deeply. You can’t find what isn’t there, and you’ll never know what you’re missing unless you change how and where you look. So, next time you need to do research, give the ol’ library a chance – it might end up being your new favorite place to hang out. What do you love most about libraries? How have libraries helped your writing craft? Let us know in the comments!    Anne E. Johnson is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Her published science fiction and fantasy novels include Space Surfers (YA science fiction) and the Webrid Chronicles humorous space opera series: Green Light Delivery, Blue Diamond Delivery,and Red Spawn Delivery. She also has two published historical novels for kids aged 8-12. Nearly 100 of her short stories have been published in magazines, webzines, and anthologies. She is a longtime story judge for the RateYourStory website. Anne has an undergraduate degree in classical languages and a master’s in musicology, specializing in the Middle Ages; for over 15 years she taught music history and theory in New York. As an arts journalist writing about music and theater, she contributes a biweekly column and monthly CD reviews to Copper Magazine: The Journal of Music and Audio, and she’s been published in The New York Times, Stagebill Magazine, Chicago on the Aisle, WomenArts, Teaching Theatre Magazine, and Classical Voice North America.

How to Break Into the Greeting Card Industry

How to Break Into the Greeting Card Industry Making extra income doesnt have to take hours away from your leisure time. In fact, if you have a way with words, you can make as much as $75 in as little as half an hour. The greeting card industry is enormous and boasts billions of dollars in sales annually. Greeting card companies are always on the lookout for the next best idea and pay contributors very well. The pay scale ranges from $75 to $300 for a few heartwarming, romantic or funny lines. This makes greeting card writing one of the best-paid gigs for clever writers.   Anyone who has ever stood in a greeting card aisle and thought, I could write a better card than that, is welcome to send submissions to the dozens of card lines looking for freelance writers. Theres some basics that writers should know before pitching their ideas to card publishers: 1. Artists and writers are hired separately. A writers input on artwork may or not be solicited. Dont send your artwork unless its expressly permitted in the publishers submission guidelines. 2. Shop markets akin to your writing. Blue Mountain Arts creates poetic cards. Smart Alex creates racy humor cards. Peruse the companys current line so that you dont accidentally submit a raunchy birthday card to a devoutly Christian publisher and get yourself blacklisted. 3. Track markets and submissions.   Refrain from simultaneous submissions of card ideas. Feel free to submit rejected content to similar markets once its returned to you. Create a spreadsheet to help you keep track of when and where you sent each submission. Number your card ideas to make them easier to track. 4. Less is more. Writing cards isnt rocket science, but it is a distinct style of writing. Use words sparingly and intentionally. Cards are written in a conversational tone, not glittering Elizabethan prose. You should write greeting cards as if you are talking to your best friend, spouse or grandma, but not at the same time. That may make for an awkward card. 5. Broad approach has greater reach. Not everyone has had a Persian cat named Pocahontas recently pass away. However, there are many people who have recently lost a beloved pet. To those card buyers I send my condolences, because its awful to lose a pet. To card writers, I offer a piece of advice: Keep your ideas broad enough that they appeal to a large market, but narrow enough that they feel genuine to readers. 6. Request writers guidelines or research them online. Each card publisher has distinct tastes and submission preferences. In that way, they are very similar to literary agents and publishers. Take the time to do your homework. Many card publishers post their submission guidelines on their sites. Some will send their guidelines and current needs if you request them. This is the preferred method, because it clues you in to what they are shopping for in their next line. 7. Follow the publishers submission format. Greeting card publishers do not subscribe to a specified submission format. In this way they are akin to literary agents and publishers, but thats where the similarities end. Greeting card submissions are much shorter and far easier to compose than queries. This doesnt mean writers may fling grammatical caution to the wind. Be sure to follow the format so your submission isnt tossed. If the submission guidelines dont specify a format, the one provided below is acceptable: OCCASION: Birthday OUTSIDE TEXT: Place outside text here INSIDE TEXT: Place inside text here OUTSIDE IMAGE SUGGESTION: Place any art ideas here Marilyn Dunroe, mdunroe@gmail.com, 321-321-3321 8. Search for additional markets. Check the backs of the cards being sold in your local chain and specialty stores for publisher info. Most cards are imprints of American Greetings and other large publishers. They occasionally hold contests, but hire staff writers to create their content. Smaller publishers are more apt to accept unsolicited submissions. Card writing is a great way to earn extra income from the comfort of your home for the small sum of your clever quips. Ready to get started? Good. Heres a list of card publishers that accept submissions from freelance writers: Oatmeal Studios: Style: lighthearted humor Blue Mountain Arts: Style: poetic heartfelt verse Calypso Cards: Style: modern, sassy (offers a line of divorce cards) Smart Alex: Style: controversial and crude humor

Strategy illustration on External Analysis Essay

Strategy illustration on External Analysis - Essay Example The direct investments in Facebook have valued the company up to $50 billion. The company raised this money for making a further bolster its cash reserves. By this move, the company aimed to strengthen its reserves and surplus thereby increasing financial stability and limiting any liquidity risk by the company in the short term. The company also took care about the limited dilution factor of its shareholders. Macro Environment The investment thereby generated many questions among the shareholders of the company and the investor class as it was against their speculations. The company disclosed no immediate plans to invest the money rose by them and clarified that the money was raised to strengthen the cash position of the company. By this move, the company aimed to strengthen its reserves and surplus thereby increasing financial stability and limiting any liquidity risk by the company in the short term. The company also took care about the limited dilution factor of its shareholders. The company disclosed that under the transaction terms, it had option to accept between $375 million and $1.5 billion to receive from Goldman Sachs by the way of overseas offering. ... Facebook is incorporated in US through Macro-Economic forces in the country have a little impact of the company. Facebook is social networking build on a global platform where factors like inflation rates, interest rate and current exchange rates in bear some impact, but such impact can’t be considered influential. As the interest rates are slashed as a result of recession in the economy, the company could borrow money at a cheaper interest rate. Same is the case with changes in current exchange rates. Global Forces Barriers of trade and information sharing impact the company’s business in a primary way. Removal of such barriers helps the company to expand its operations in other countries. These also help in raising funds globally thereby giving advantage of cheaper funds. Growth in countries like India and China are posing increased opportunities of doing business in these countries. Technological Forces Being a social network company, technological forces impacts the company in a big way. Technology sector in the US includes more than 140,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $900 billion. AT&T, IBM, Intel, Adobe, Apple, and Microsoft are the major companies (US Technolgy Sector Analysis, 2010). â€Å"Industry concentration is high in many segments with the largest 50 participants generating more than 60% of the segment revenue† (US Technolgy Sector Analysis, 2010). Scientific discoveries and new product developments form the basis of profitability in this industry. Both large and small companies can compete successfully – the mammoths have access to capital and marketing and the miniatures have domain-specific expertise. In the period Aug-10 to Jan-11, the Application Software industry has been on a bullish trend before being thrust