Monday, December 30, 2019

Man vs. Self Conflicts in The Lord of the Flies by...

Though â€Å"The Lord of the Flies† never describes a â€Å"Man vs. Self† conflict, there is indeed a definite enemy among the islanders; haplessly being themselves. Moreover, the retrenchment of the refined attitudes of the islanders being amended into that of irrational savages is culpable for the tragedies conducted by the islanders throughout the story. This sort of ancillary and visceral enemy that the islanders impinge upon is thus apposite to the Man vs. Self conflict style. To begin, there is a detectable amount of referencing to savagery throughout the story and often it is what to blame for much of the conflicts in the book as aforementioned. For instance, the frequent and acerbic collisions among Jack and Ralph with Piggy often describe either Ralph or Jack becoming savage. In fact, every incident in the book adumbrates to the presence savagery at least peripherally. For instance, the diurnal (adding wood to fire) was a custom that would most likely have led to the boys being rescued had they not construed of the existence of a mythical â€Å"Beast† which never transpired in the physical realm. This conjured beast of superstitious properties precluded an early rescue when it was created without conferring with logic. This misconstrued perception heaped upon another was sufficient to effect the death of Simon’s very own life. As for Piggy’s death at Roger’s hands, it could be blamed by the diffident Roger’s innately sadistic behaviour that merely inured to a land thatShow MoreRelatedGood Versus Evil in Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesGood vs. Evil Many years ago, Charles Darwin introduced a theory that we humans are a species which evolved from animals that have inhabited the Earth for many years, and he believed that we were civilized, intelligent, and logical life forms for these very reasons. In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding there is a prominent theme of good versus evil which reveals that maybe humans are not the civilized human beings that they were said to be. William Golding carefully netted this themeRead MoreTheme Of Lord Of The Flies And The Guide Essay1407 Words   |  6 PagesMD. Moazzam Hossain ID NO. 133013040 ENG 302 The Novel-1 Submitted to: Ms Arifa Rahaman Date: 09.12.2015 Theme of ‘Lord of The Flies’ and ‘The Guide’ ‘Lord of the flies’(1954) and ‘The guide’(1958) are the two novels written by famous novelists William Golding and R.K. Narayan. ‘Lord of the Flies’ portrays the story of a group of British boys trapped on an abandoned island who try to administrate themselves with catastrophic results and On the other side, R.K. Narayan quite consciouslyRead MoreLord Of The Flies And The Most Dangerous Game1357 Words   |  6 Pagesjust because of the book’s conflict. The conflict is the most interesting part of the story. A story without a conflict is like a grilled cheese without the cheese. â€Å"Lord of the Flies† and The Most Dangerous Game are two very different stories- on the outside. If you dig deeper you can see that the conflicts in both of these stories have strikingly similar conflicts. By examining theMan versus Man , Man versus Nature, and Man versus Self conflicts in â€Å"Lord of the Flies† and The Most Dan gerous GameRead Morelord of the flies notebook check4355 Words   |  20 Pagesï » ¿Lord of the Flies Notebook Check 1. â€Å"Why Boys Become Vicious† Author Study 2. Vocabulary 3. Characterization 4. Plot/Conflict 5. Symbolism 6. Allegory 7. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 Questions 8. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 Questions 9. Chapters 7, 8, and 9 Questions 10. Chapters 10, 11, and 12 Questions Notebook Check #1: â€Å"Why Boys Become Vicious† Author Study â€Å"Why Boys Become Vicious† (1989) William Golding Written in response to the murder of a two-year-old boy by two twelve-year-old boys. AnswerRead MoreSummary Of Lord Of The Flies 1541 Words   |  7 PagesKevin Luu AP Lit-B3 Ms.Anders Summer Novel Reading Questions 1.Golding,William. Lord of the Flies. Faber and Faber,1954 2.The title Lord of the Flies is referring to Beelzebub which is another name for the devil. This title is fitting for the story because typically flies surround something that is filthy or dirty,and in the story the boys on the island progressively become more dirty as the story progresses which reflects the innate evil that is in all of them. 3.The boys who are marooned onRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1176 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout many works of literature there is a conflict between man and nature. There are classics such as The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, that show a very clear line that divides man from nature, and how nature is for the most part the enemy. However, in other stories, the line between civilization and nature is blurred. Stories such as True West by Sam Shepard, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, and â€Å"The Rememberer† by Aimee Bender displayRead MoreSAT Top 30 Essay Evidence18536 Words   |  75 Pages......................................................... 13 Frank Lloyd Wright (America’s legendary architect) .............................................................................. 15 Napoleon Hill and Think and Grow Rich (The Original Self-Help Book) ............................................... 17 Vincent van Gogh (A master painter struck by madness) ........................................................................ 19 Athletes and Sports Stars: Bethany Hamilton (Young surfer

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Illegal Drugs in the U.S. - 841 Words

The trade and use of illegal drugs in the US and around the world is one of the world’s biggest and most prevalent problems. Illegal drug trade accounts for more than $300 billion a year. The legal, physical, and mental consequences of drug use easily outweigh the so called â€Å"high† that people receive from using them. Though current users wouldn’t consent to this statement, everyone else including rehabilitated users would agree. They would also agree that drug use is the easiest and quickest route to destroying your life. (Gahlinger 75) The most commonly used and most controversial drug is Cannabis, aka Marijuana. It is the most commonly used drug in the United States, and has been for a very long time. Its use can be traced back as far†¦show more content†¦It can be used in many different ways including inhalation of the powder, smoking it, and injecting it directly into the veins. Cocaine is also one of the more addictive drugs. (Kuhn, Swartzwelde r, Wilson 43) Prolonged use of cocaine can cause itching, paranoid delusions, and hallucinations even when the person is not â€Å"high†. Using cocaine also increases your chances to contract rare diseases such as lupus. Overdosing raises the user’s blood pressure, and can be life-threatening. People who use cocaine regularly develop a tolerance, this increases the amount of cocaine needed to get â€Å"high†. People with a high tolerance often overdose because of the need for such a large dose. Drug addicts often die from an overdose because other people with them don’t know what to do. (Gahlinger 103) Heroin is one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs on the planet. It is a manufactured drug which means it made chemically. There are several risks associated with using heroin as opposed to some other drugs because heroin is not a natural made drug. People who use heroin have no idea what is actually in the drug they are about to use because it has pa ssed through so many hands. Drugs are often laced with something other than what is supposed to be in it. Dealers do this to make there product different from everyone else’s. Sometimes heroin is laced with something and the user dies after his first time. The effects of taking heroin can be very serious including collapsing of theShow MoreRelatedSecurity On The Southern Border1246 Words   |  5 Pagessecurity on the United States’ southern border is essential for this nation. B. The U.S. needs and must have more border security, but not the kind that President- elect, Donald Trump, is thinking about. II. Stop drugs coming into America A. Destroying inner cities 1. Destroying Families 2. Making drugs more accessible B. Shows weakness of the U.S. III. Stop illegal weapons into Mexico from the U.S. A. Supplying the cartels 1. Encourages growth of cartel kingdoms 2. StrengthensRead MoreMexican Immigrants And Illegal Immigrants Essay1015 Words   |  5 Pagesresponsible for illegal Mexican immigrants’ determination to enter the United States because numerous American citizen’s revenue money, drugs, and fame as a lifestyle which makes America the center of attraction for illegal immigrants to cross the border. It is clear that most Mexican immigrants transport an abundant amount of money payments and drugs across the U.S. border in return for more money so gangs and cartels can earn a recognized status through money and respect. Citizens of the U.S. have impactedRead MoreThe Impact Of Immigration On The United States Essay931 Words   |  4 Pages Many People can speculate if the U.S.-Mexican border is truly a significant factor for our government’s safety or just there wasting money, time and land. By allowing the government to fund the border many improvements could be made. Border Safety, can create a safer border environment by facing the multiple Issues and Challenges, like illegal Immigration, Drug Enforcement, and cross-border Transportation, and Technological improvements by Homeland security influence the agents, trying to ceaseRead MoreDrug Trafficking And Its Effects On The United States1339 Words   |  6 Pages In 2015, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 19.9 million Americans use illegal drugs and more than half of The U.S. prison population is convicted of a drug related crime (Foundation for a Drug-Free World, 2015). The U.S. has the largest prison population in the world and drug related crimes continue to add to the prison population. Due to the high incarceration rate in the U.S., controversy over the effectiveness of our current drug legislation has emerged (Tyjen Tsai and PaolaRead MoreIllegal Immigrants And The United States Illegal Immigration966 Words   |  4 Pages Illegal Immigrants In the United States illegal immigration is a major problem. this problem has led to other issues in this country and has existed for decades . Although it is a problem, it is a source of business for farmers in the United States and drug dealers. It is a controversial issue with many opinions on it. There is not one solution to this problem, politicians including the president have proposed various solutions, but are not supported by the general public. In this research paperRead MoreIllegal Immigrants and Border Security Essay1232 Words   |  5 PagesTable of Contents Current Situation in the United States 4 Drug Wars: Emphasis in Immigration 4 Human Trafficking 5 Gangs 6 Conclusion 7 Works Cited 7 Current Situation in the United States According to the independent Center for Immigration Studies, in January 2000 there were 7 million illegal aliens living in the United States and the center estimated that number to grow by half a million a year (Peak, 2009, pg. 245). Based on this fact, the reality is that the minority has turn intoRead MoreEssay Drug Trafficking, Consequences, and Accountability1453 Words   |  6 Pages The illegal drug trafficking found throughout Latin America is not an issue that can be solved by either a government or an individual alone. Unfortunately, it is also an issue that requires more than one solution in order to solve the problem. Each Latin American state is unique, as are the various citizens who inhabit them. As drug trafficking is a transnational force, Latin American governments often find themselves not only at odds with one another, but with larger political and economic powersRead MoreThe Impact Of Immigration On The United States1382 Words   |  6 PagesMany People can spec ulate if the U.S.-Mexican border is truly a significant factor for our government’s safety or just there wasting money, time and land. By allowing the government to fund the border many improvements could be made. Border Safety, can create a safer border environment by facing the multiple Issues and Challenges, like illegal Immigration, Drug Enforcement, and cross-border Transportation, and Technological improvements by Homeland security influence the agents, trying to ceaseRead MoreDrugs Are Bad, M’Kay. Drug Trafficking Is A Very Serious1074 Words   |  5 PagesDrugs are bad, m’kay. Drug trafficking is a very serious problem. Simple solutions such as legalization of the drugs to prevent all problems and taxing it to make money off of would be common sense but it doesn’t happen. I know that some drugs aren’t illegal in some states and countries but it hasn’t turned into a problem for them. I am curious to know more about how it affects the economy, why people do it, and what are resolutions for the issue. Most countries have to deal with it everywhereRead MoreGlobal Influx Of Immigrants During The United States1074 Words   |  5 PagesThree illegal Immigrants, Uriel Ramirez-Perez, Darwin Zuniga-Rocha, and Eliseo Mateo Perez, were sentenced to time served in jail and deportation after prison term for first-degree sexual abuse (Immigration Issues 2015, Par.10). What do these two incidence have in common; they were here in this country illegally. With the number of Central Americans crossing over the border illegally the crime rate as reflected in this occurrence. However, these crimes are not a representative of all illegal Immigrants

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Day of the Week Effect Free Essays

Bishop’s University Department of Economics The â€Å"Day-of-the-Week† Effect: Analysis of Trends in the Daily Returns of Copper and Aluminum Lucas Zawislak and Jennifer Lee Dr. M. Vigneault Applied Economic Analysis March 15th, 2013 Introduction According to the neoclassical school of economics, asset markets are assumed to be both efficient and random. We will write a custom essay sample on The Day of the Week Effect or any similar topic only for you Order Now These two assumptions are the base from which two neoclassical theories are derived: 1) â€Å"The Efficient Market Theory† infers that the market is remarkably adept in its utilization of information; while 2) â€Å"The Random Walk Model† infers that accurate predictions of outcome cannot be made on the basis of historical data. In summation, it is assumed that the price behavior of assets is essentially random, and all relevant information is almost immediately incorporated into price. There are two key elements, in reference to market participants or decision makers, engrained in the neoclassical position. First, it is presumed that the decision maker is rational and therefore makes decisions using the expected utility function. Second, this position reasons that each decision maker has access to, and uses, full information about the fundamental valuations of assets. Consequently, the market should be comprised of distinctly independent, fully informed and rational decision makers. Contrary to the neoclassical belief’s studies have uncovered irregularities, in asset returns, over specific ranges in time, specifically over the days of the week. This observed anomaly is commonly referred to as â€Å"The-Day-of-the-Week-Effect† which challenges the notion of market efficiency and randomness. It proposes that the distribution of returns may vary according to the day of the week. The most distinct characteristic of this anomaly is a pattern of positive returns on Friday coupled with negative returns on Monday, also known as â€Å"the weekend effect†. Purpose and Motivation The objectives of this study are to determine if there is evidence of the day-of-the week-effect in the weekly price fluctuations of both Copper and Aluminum. More specifically, we will determine if the assets returns are dependent on the day of the week in which they are generated. If this is proven true, it will have implications on the behavior of market participants in regards to the trading of these commodities. It would be difficult to directly and consistently exploit this effect each week, due to high transaction costs. The situation in which this could be best exploited would be when there are plans to add one of these commodities to a portfolio, due to some strategic objective. In this case it would be advantageous to be aware of the effect and know exactly which day of the week the prices would be at their lowest. As I mentioned above, this anomaly will be tested against two base metals (commodities): copper and aluminum. Copper is the third most widely used metal in the world, and is highly versatile. It is a base metal used in building construction, power generation, transmission, electronic product manufacturing, and the production of industrial machinery and transportation vehicles. Aluminum is a substitute for copper and is used in many of the same applications. Though the two metals are similar in application aluminum is a much cheaper alternative. When you familiarize yourself with the uses of both metals it becomes evident that they are essential to urban modernization. The demand for base metals is primarily fueled by economic growth, and though economic growth in the western hemisphere has slowed, countries such as China and India are experiencing a significant upward trend. Base metals are vital to this growth. On account of this demand, copper is in decreasing supply and due to uncertainty about future supply; this is likely to translate into price volatility. When making a purchase decision this volatility can be offset by the knowledge of the price trends. Aluminum is still in good supply and due to its likeness to copper its demand is increasing. Method We have collected data on Copper and Aluminum prices, as reported on the London Metal Exchange, from January 2nd 2009 to February 15th 2013. The standard OLS method will be used to test the day-of-the-week effect in each of the commodities returns by regressing the data of the returns on the five daily dummy variables. The regression model below will be the base from which all analysis will take place. Essentially the commodity prices will be the dependent variables in the regression, while time will be the independent variable. Regression Model I: Ri=the daily yied of the asset D1=1 if Monday;=0 otherwise D2=1 if Tuesday;=0 otherwise D3=1 if Wednesday;=0 otherwise D4=1 if Thursday;=0 otherwise D5=1 if Friday;=0 otherwise **Null Hypothesis of Interest: Daily Return Equation Rt=(PtPt-1-1)*100 Descriptive Statistics The descriptive statistics reflect the fore mentioned metal profiles. On verage copper returns are 43% higher than that of Aluminum. In terms of standard deviation the returns for both are quite similar. Both graphs indicate increasing volatility of returns, yet this is much more prominent for copper. This pattern supports my previous statement indicating decreasing supply and increasing demand as a source of volatility. The large range given by the minimum and maximum returns is another indication of the volatility of returns for both metals Works Cited Berument, M. , and Nukhet Dogan. â€Å"Stock Market Return And Volatility: Day-Of-The-Week Effect. Journal Of Economics Finance 36. 2 (2012): 282-302. Business Source Complete. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. Boudreaux, Denis, Spuma Rao, and Phillip Fuller. â€Å"An Investigation Of The Weekend Effect During Different Market Orientations. † Journal Of Economics Finance 34. 3 (2010): 257-268. Business Source Complete. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. Derbali, Abdelkader, and Noureddine Khadraoui. â€Å"Day Of The Week Effect On Assets Return: Case Of The Stock Exchange Of Casablanca. † Journal Of Business Studies Quarterly 3. 1 (2011): 274-283. Business Source Complete. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. Hassan Chowdhury, Shah Saeed, and Rashida Sharmin. â€Å"Does Cross-Sectional Risk Explain Day-Of-The-Week Effects In Bangladesh Stock Market?. † International Research Journal Of Finance Economics 93 (2012): 84-94. Business Source Complete. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. Ulussever, Talat, Ibrahim Guran Yumusak, and Muhsin Kar. â€Å"The Day-Of-The-Week Effect In The Saudi Stock Exchange: A Non-Linear Garch Analysis. † Journal Of Economic Social Studies (JECOSS) 1. 1 (2011): 9-23. Business Source Complete. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. How to cite The Day of the Week Effect, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Campaign Planning Brief free essay sample

The campaign planning brief provides an overview of the marketing program which will be used in this year’s up and coming Country Road bag campaign. This brief will also cover and enlighten the potential ways in which Country Road will approach their target audience and its large university student market. | | University of Technology Sydney – 24510 Advertising Research Kohei Himura 10732307 Table of Contents Marketing Objective3 Communication objective3 Target Customer Description/Profile3 Barriers to purchase4 Important and Unique Benefit Claims4 Customer Motivations5 Principal Competition/Competitive Offers5 Current and Desired Perceptions6 Creative Strategies and Tactics6 The Customer Promise6 Tone and Manner7 Other Marketing Communications’ Activities7 Response and Monitoring Measures7 Mandatories7 Marketing Objective Country Road has simple marketing objectives, which is easy to follow and can be very achievable with the current barriers and target market which is presented for the Country Road bags. This includes the following; * Create an image to gain positive attitude amongst the target audience, hopefully allowing Country Road to increase market share by 10% * Inform target audience about features and benefits of our product and its competitive advantage, leading to a 25% increase in sales in one year. * Decrease or remove potential customers resistance to buying our product The objective listed above to occur in 1 years time from the start of the campaign Communication objective As established through the thorough research conducted on Country Road bags, the product has already had a lot of exposure and the target audience is very aware of the existing product and brand. Knowing this the Country Road bags will be conducting an attitude based campaign, which will allow the campaign to be more successful as the target audience is aware of the prestigious brand Country Road and its pre-existing popularity prior to the campaign. As a company we also wish to create an absolute need and want to the target audience as it is a high involvement – transformational brand attitude product which therefore will provide the buyer a transformational motive to buy the product as it is adding positive to their lives. (Socially, functionally etc. ) Besides the attitude change and formation, the objective will also be to maximize market share by changing the target audience’s desires with competitor (Esprit) and substitute bags (Woolworths Green bag), therefore creating a favorable predisposition before a purchase decision to be conclusive. Target Customer Description/Profile The targeted customer description/profile for the Country Road bags is for starters can vary from any brand loyal customer to a brand switcher. This is because of the high brand recognition/quality of product offered by Country Road to keep the brand loyals, and the low affordable price range offered to keep the brand switchers happy. Country Road’s bags as already been established through research is a product which is going to be targeted specifically to the undergraduate university students. The student in this case can be both males and females as the product is unisex, and as time goes, trends come and go so we wish to target pupils who are very trendy and are deemed popular from their peers, or have the desire to create an image for themselves through the transformational purchase in which they will create first impressions do the talking. Barriers to purchase Companies often desire to sell products which can be bought by anyone and are functional to anyone. But this cannot be achieved to a rate of 100%, there are several different factors/reasons which may restrict a purchase differing from company to company. But in Country Road’s case the following factors create barriers to purchase, including the following; Price (Financial) Price is a common factor which affects the majority of the population for any purchase. In this case for Country Road university students are commonly strapped for disposable income, therefore may struggle to purchase the bag, especially if they are unemployed. Trend based (Social) For generations there have been phases of different trends surfacing the market, which create a social need for certain products/services. For Country Road the social trend it offers is not necessarily the most popular but there are different social groups which may ‘love and cherish’ the product and brand, whilst there may be others who ‘despise’ the product and brand. Therefore not allowing full exposure and creating conflict in preference through different social groups. Health (Physical) Almost every person has a preference in the type of bag which suits them most. The Country Road bags are shoulder bags which to some maybe comfortable to, whilst others may disagree and cause them pain and discomfort. This therefore leads them away from Country Road bags for a health conscious reason. Important and Unique Benefit Claims The important and unique benefit claims below are the key selling points which make or break the sale of our bags. For Country Road bags the following 5 points are our selling points; Price Financially the product is very affordable in comparison with the other competitive bags Trend based Currently in the bag market without any campaigns, this Country Road still retains a very high social ranking which is respected by many social groups, therefore deeming this product currently very popular and trendy Functionality As a bag, this Country Road bag stores all daily needs. Anything from textbooks, laptops, work uniforms, gym/sport needs etc. It is very spacious but with a look that makes the bag look slim rather than bulky and baggy. Durability Made from very wear resistant material this bag can with stand years of use before a purchase of the next bag in your life. Design Features Country Road bags unlike any other brands have well over 30 different designs to choose from, to match your personality or just for any occasion. It varies in patterns and colors which may not be available by any other brand on the current market. Customer Motivations Generally a bag is considered as a product which is used daily as a need, Country Road will use this attitude based campaign to promote the ‘wants’ of the target market. As a company we wish to create customer motivation through the following 3 informational motivations, which include; Problem Removal Country Road bags will create a solution to carrying all your belongings in one bag, rather than carrying multiple bags or by hand, in the end saving you time and keeping you organized where ever you go (the functionality of the bag) Problem Avoidance The same applies to avoiding the problem as removing it. By purchasing the Country Road bag it will save time and keep you organized anywhere, at anytime (the functionality of the bag) Social Approval As explained before the social standing of Country Road bags are highly commended by a lot of popular social groups, and it may be purchased purely to impress peers rather than the actual functionality of the bag. Principal Competition/Competitive Offers There are many direct and indirect competitors which Country Road bags encounter. Direct Competitors These competitors are the ones who compete in the same market as ours, and share many similarities in sections such as target market and some bjectives. These brands include; * Esprit * Sports bag brands (Nike, Adidas etc. ) Indirect Competitors These competitors are the ones who do not directly compete with Country Road, but provide bags which can also be multipurpose. This includes; * Plastic bags * Woolworths/Coles and other supermarket branded bags * Hand bags Current and Desired Perceptio ns Currently the market is flooded with competitors and trends. With this knowledge the current perception of this product is positive and can be deemed very trendy to the broad spectrum of teenager’s right through to the early to mid 20’s. Predominately the target market Country Road is aiming at, undergraduate university student who are younger in origin (Not so much mature age students; specifically to skew the market slightly). For this population of the target market their desires may differ fractionally from one person to the next, but the overall picture is that it is for a social reason. Meaning that, they have the desire to create an image for themselves for pupils and peers who surround them and judge them in everyday life. Creative Strategies and Tactics The print advertisement composed (see appendix A) is strategically used to illustrate customer motivation. It uses; * A rhetorical question which is asked to encounter the everyday uni life plus more, which emphasizes the problem which may be faced in keeping all your belongings in one place * Colorful pictures which attract the eye for the things which may be crucial to have in your bag every day, to live your busy life * The solution is provided in the bottom right hand corner with a closing sentence and a picture of the bag to conclude the advertisement, and achieving a start to finish look of the advertisement. This therefore means there is good exposure of the advert due to the solution being provided at the bottom right of advert (due to how people read; left to right, top to bottom) Overall this advert was developed to create the obvious motivation of functionality and customer motivation. The Customer Promise At Country Road we would like to ensure the following promises; * To provide the customer with a bag which is affordable, trendy and functional all in 1 * Give an opportunity to match a design which suits you most and appropriately whilst keeping a respectable image to your peers * Save the customer time, stress and anxiety by keep all your belongings safely in one location, so you can carry on with your regular life without having to carry multiple bags to uni, work, social/night life and health/fitness. Tone and Manner This advert will be composed a tone which will be convincing to create belief that you need helping in carrying your belongings. This will also be achieved through the use of the straightforward approach of answering a question with a question (Rhetorical), and concluding with a glimmer of hope which will be announced at the end, providing the viewer with a solution. Other Marketing Communications’ Activities Besides the uses of the print advert, we shall also be advertising the Country Road bag through other marketing communication points. This includes the following; Support Media * Outdoor Advertising, such as notice boards at universities, advertising at university events (e. g. Uni Games), Phone booths, Vending machines and other obscure, but subtle locations where uni students may come across and get a lot of exposure from. In-Store Media, this is purely at Country Road outlet stores which can be located at multiple metropolitan areas which are often occupied by a lot of university students * Transit Media, involving anything from buses, trains and taxi’s which are commonly used for work or study purposes and can be seen as a good focal point to gain a lot of exposure from uni students Response and Monitoring Measures The effectiveness of the campaign in its self will be measured through the uses of the company’s sales increase in comparison with old sales data prior t o the campaign existing. Other methods such as post testing through focus groups and another set of questionnaires/surveys will be crucial to measure the level of exposure which has been reached and met. The exposure can also be measured by how many magazines/newspapers etc. were specifically sold at the specific time of the week; month or year the advert was on for. Finally, if the feasibility of the advert does not go towards Country Roads favor, another plan may be devised or the campaign may be cancelled.

Friday, November 29, 2019

The Gallant Boys Of Gettysburg Essay Research free essay sample

The Gallant Boys Of Gettysburg Essay, Research Paper The narrative I read took topographic point largely at the Battle of Gettysburg. Tom and Jeff Majors had merely enrolled in the Confederate ground forces. Tom enrolled as a private and Jeff as a drummer male child. Their pa, Nelson Majors, who had been in the ground forces for rather some clip, had merely been promoted to Major. Tom and Jeff were appointed to their male parent # 8217 ; s unit. They fought in the Battle of Gettysburg which was the worst conflict of the Civil War. The decease sum for the conflict was great. The Union and the Confederates lost a sum of 18,000 work forces each. During the worst portion of the conflict, a shell hit Tom # 8217 ; s leg. Jeff instantly carried him to the field physician. The physician told Tom that his leg would hold to be cut off. The Confederate ground forces was being beaten back by the Union and they had to withdraw. We will write a custom essay sample on The Gallant Boys Of Gettysburg Essay Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That meant that Tom was put on a waggon and carried off. Tom knew there was small opportunity of him lasting the drive. Jeff had an thought to take Tom to the Poteets # 8217 ; house. They had eaten with them before the conflict. The Poteets lief agreed to maintain Tom for a short piece at their house. Jeff and Nelson Majors were really happy that Tom could remain with them. When Tom # 8217 ; s leg was healed, he and Jeff went back to Kentucky where their household was from. When they got place at that place was a large welcome dinner. A missive came a few yearss subsequently stating Jeff that he would demand to travel back to the ground forces. When Jeff got back, he and his pa talked about how Tom was making and the remainder of the household. After that, the narrative terminals merely as they were approximately to travel fight another conflict. The predominate struggle in The Gallant Boys of Gettysburg occurred when Tom was hit by a shell from the Union ground forces. Jeff turned and saw Tom turn overing and turn overing on the land. When Jeff got at that place, he saw that it had struck Tom # 8217 ; s leg. He rapidly tied a patch on it to halt the hemorrhage. Jeff told Tom that he would hold to immediately see a field physician. The physician told Tom that his leg would hold to be taken off. When Jeff and Tom arrived at their place in Kentucky, Sarah, Tom # 8217 ; s girlfriend, saw what had happened to his leg. Tom thought that Sarah would non wish him because he had lost his leg. Sarah tried to state him that it did non affair that he had lost his leg, but Tom did non listen. Sarah asked Mr. Springer, who had late lost his leg, to semen and talk to Tom. Mr. Springer told Tom that he should acquire an unreal leg. Mr. Springer said that he felt every bit good as new with his unreal leg. The narrative ends shortly after they finished speaking. I concluded that Tom would finally acquire an unreal leg.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Relationship between Substance Abuse and Personality

Relationship between Substance Abuse and Personality Annotated bibliography Mercer, Deanna, Douglass, Alan B., Links, Paul S. (2009). Meta-Analyses of Mood Stabilizers, Antidepressants and Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: Effectiveness for Depression and Anger Symptoms. Journal of Personality Disorders, 23(2), 156-174.Advertising We will write a custom annotated bibliography sample on Relationship between Substance Abuse and Personality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The research implemented by Mercer et al. (2009) aimed at defining whether mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics are effective for treating anger and depression in patients with borderline personality disorder. The present study was based on the surveys which present validated data. Mercer et al. (2009) reported that mood stabilizers (except divalproic acid and carbamazepine) had quite considerable impact on anger reduction. Antidepressants had smaller, quite sparing, effe ct on both anger and depression reduction whereas antipsychotics had a moderate impact on anger reduction, and did not affected depression. However, Mercer et al (2009) pointed out that their survey did not cover the data of the impact of such substances on patients with alcohol or substance abuse and self-harm behavior. Aharonovich, Efrat, Nguyen, Hueco T., Nunes, Edward V. (2001). Anger and Depressive States among Treatment-Seeking Drug Abusers: Testing the Psychopharmacological Specificity Hypothesis. The American Journal on Addictions, 10(4), 327-334. Aharonovich et al. (2001) researched whether specific type of drugs caused specific disorders in patients with these substances abuse. The researches assumed that due to their different pharmacological properties such drugs as opiates, cocaine, cannabis can produce different effects on abusers’ behavior. The changes in behavior of sixty participants (50 men and 10 women) were studied. Aharonovich et al. (2001) found that the patients’ behavior can be characterized by increased anger and depression. However, the researchers did not reported about the correlation between the type of drugs and precise change in behavior. Though, the survey scored some elevated depression in opiate abusers and elevated anger in cocaine addicts, these data are insignificant to define the correlation between drugs and behavior deviation. Fox, Helen C., Hong, Kwang-lk A., Siedlarz, Kristen, Sinha, Rajita. (2008). Enhanced Sensitivity to Stress and Drug/Alcohol Craving in Abstinent Cocaine-Dependent Individuals Compared to Social Drinkers. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33(4), 796-805.Advertising Looking for annotated bibliography on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fox et al. (2008) surveyed whether there were changes in stress response and craving in patients with substance abuse and patients with alcohol abuse. The behavior of forty people of the former group and forty people of the latter were examined. The participants’ respond to the imaginary stressful and more relaxing situations was observed. The researchers reported that drug abusers are more vulnerable to stress and craving than alcohol abusers. The alcohol addicts revealed considerably moderate response to stress. Thus, the survey suggested that drug addicts’ recovery could be hindered by their increased sensitivity to stress and craving. Mulvey, Edward P., Odgers, Candice, Skeem, Jennifer, Gardner, William, Schubert, Carol, Lidz, Charles. Substance Use and Community Violence:Â  A Test of the Relation at the Daily Level. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4), 743-754. Mulvey et al. (2006) researched the correlation between the substance (alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, etc.) abuse and violence in patience. The researchers concluded that the use of such substances leads to the increased likelihood of violence. The survey justified that the patients with mental disorders (at a high risk of violent behavior) who took substances like alcohol or drugs revealed increased amount of violent in the following days. The researchers also consider the implications of the use of such substances. Bond, Alyson J., Verheyden, Suzanne L., Wingrove, Janet, Curran, H. Valerie. (2004). Angry Cognitive Bias, Trait Aggression and Impulsivity in Substance Users. Psychopharmacology, 171(3), 331-339. Bond et al (2004) surveyed the correlation between substance abuse (and abuse for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), in particular) and aggressive behavior. The participants of the research were addicts who took the drugs recently, abusers who did not take drugs for a year, and non-abusers. The participants had to process biased short stories with a key sentence revealing aggression or anger. The researchers concluded that people who took drugs were faster to process aggression biased passages which revealed that they were characterized by an gry cognitive bias. Besides, the researchers did not obtain the evidence of particular impact of MDMA. Thus, the Bond et al. (2004) concluded that drug abusers reveal the presence of angry cognitive biased. Relationship between substance abuse and personality The latest findings on the problem The implication of substance abuse is being extensively surveyed nowadays. Researchers report about the changes of behavior and even personality in substance abusers. Such addicts are characterized by more aggressive behavior and more sensitivity to depression and stress.Advertising We will write a custom annotated bibliography sample on Relationship between Substance Abuse and Personality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Various surveys suggest that drug addicts start playing more active role in the social life, they become distant and even indifferent to the world around them. The main concern of such people is their craving to drugs or alcoh ol. It is necessary to point out that drug abusers are more stressful and aggressive than alcohol addicts. Moreover, drug abusers’ recovery is much more hampered by such behavior changes as aggression, depression, anger and hyper-sensitivity to stress. Difference substances cause the same effect It is necessary to add that there can be no such notion as safer drugs or less harmful alcohol abuse. Different pharmacological peculiarities of such substances as cocaine, amphetamine, marijuana, etc. lead to the same consequences: the change of personality. Of course, apart from psychological deviations any drug abuse can lead to numerous health problems. Any substance abuse affects such important systems as endocrine vascular. The risk group adolescent drug abusers It is essential to point out that substance abuse in adolescents is even more dangerous since the organism is still growing and is more subjected to various factors. There can be no surprise that adolescent drug abusers are more subjected to the changes in behavior. Aggression, violence or depression can affect greatly the development of personality. Thus, the use of drugs is unacceptable for people of all ages, but especially for adolescents. Conclusion In conclusion, it is possible to note that drug abuse causes severe changes in behavior (or even change of personality), and various serious health problems, irrespective of drugs pharmacological peculiarities. It is also necessary to point out that the drug abuse in young people leads to more serious mental and other health problems. Reference Aharonovich, Efrat, Nguyen, Hueco T., Nunes, Edward V. (2001). Anger and Depressive States among Treatment-Seeking Drug Abusers: Testing the Psychopharmacological Specificity Hypothesis. The American Journal on Addictions, 10(4), 327-334. Bond, Alyson J., Verheyden, Suzanne L., Wingrove, Janet, Curran, H. Valerie. (2004). Angry Cognitive Bias, Trait Aggression and Impulsivity in Substance Users. Psychopharm acology, 171(3), 331-339.Advertising Looking for annotated bibliography on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fox, Helen C., Hong, Kwang-lk A., Siedlarz, Kristen, Sinha, Rajita. (2008). Enhanced Sensitivity to Stress and Drug/Alcohol Craving in Abstinent Cocaine-Dependent Individuals Compared to Social Drinkers. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33(4), 796-805. Mercer, Deanna, Douglass, Alan B., Links, Paul S.. (2009). Meta-Analyses of Mood Stabilizers, Antidepressants and Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: Effectiveness for Depression and Anger Symptoms. Journal of Personality Disorders, 23(2), 156-174. Mulvey, Edward P., Odgers, Candice, Skeem, Jennifer, Gardner, William, Schubert, Carol, Lidz, Charles. Substance Use and Community Violence:Â  A Test of the Relation at the Daily Level. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4), 743-754.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Racism in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Racism in the United States - Essay Example My knowledge regarding the role of the principle of â€Å"all men are created equal† has developed to a level that I now understand Slavery was just a major economic driving force, as opposed to a basis for identifying what was morally wrong in the American colonies. It is not slavery, but the issue of race that helped solve the moral contradiction characterized by American colonies at the time. To illustrate this, it is the race that explained the reason some group of people was denied their rights, whilst others enjoyed theirs and took them for granted. I have learned that there was a similarity in the Thomas Jefferson’s policy of encouraging the assimilation of American Indians with President Andrew Jackson’s removal policy. The similarity is that both leaders sought out for the interests of the white American in the policies they advocated. It dawns on me that the policy supported the propagation of the so-called â€Å"Civilized† ways- Agriculture. I c onclude, could that the policies of both leaders were aimed at imposing the American culture on the Native Americans at any cost.  I find Thomas Jefferson different from Andrew Jackson in terms of the approach he took while in the process of furthering the interest of white Americans. To demonstrate this, Jefferson advocated the assimilation of Cherokees to the ways of Americans while Jackson displayed apathy by enforcing the removal of Cherokees. Finally, I feel that there is no gap in my knowledge regarding race because I have learned a lot.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Case study - Essay Example The criteria can enable an organization to effectively align assets with quality strategies such as ISO 9001 and Six Sigma, and improve performance throughout the organization in a general way. Baldrige also helps to recognize and monitor vital organizational outcomes such as customer responses, product and service delivery, financial assets, human resource, and the general effectiveness of an organization in the market. Every organization will need an-encompassing strategy, especially if the executives are looking for a measure that can be used to connect the product brand with the organizational culture and internal practices (Poister, 2003). Key internal functions, which should be linked with the commodities, include strategic planning and the satisfaction of various stakeholders, e.g. customers, and employees as well as suppliers. In a nutshell, Baldrige measures and advances leadership, strategic planning, information analysis, consumer and market focus, evaluation of human reso urces, process management, and business results (Ferguson, 2008). Six Sigma According to Poister (2003), Six Sigma entails statistically-centered processes, which improves organizational performance for continuing process development. By implementing Six Sigma, an organization can reduce defects substantially. This is usually done by spotting and removing the triggers of variation in organizational processes. In identifying defects, the criteria focus on creating precise descriptions of customer needs and expectations and are therefore consumer-oriented. The main pillars of Six Sigma include continuous analysis of the consumer’s needs; vigorous employment of facts in the identification and measurement of variation in all business processes such as production; and recognition of the actual origin of defects or variation for their elimination. Ferguson (2008) avers that through Six Sigma, an organization would seek to put in place a pro-active executive team focusing on the pre vention of problem; enhance the setting up of unrelenting improvement measures and constant aiming for perfection through effective collaboration between different units within the organization (Poister, 2003). Six Sigma is premised upon multiple and successful approaches to quality improvement measures and encompasses unique strategies of its own. When compared to other quality control and improvement criteria such as Baldrige, Six Sigma is seen as a better methodology for recognizing the causes of particular quality defects and eliminating those problems. Notably, Six Sigma can be employed as an adjunct measure to other options in order to improve quality improvement systems. ISO 9001 Poister (2003) indicates that ISO 9001 is a methodology for managing quality standards within an organization. A Quality Management System, which ISO 9001 is known to measure, is a system of elaborately defined business structures, functions, duties, and assets used to support and develop on given qu ality thresholds. The criteria can be employed in the measurement of the general quality of an organization’s management programs and practices. An ISO 9001 certification ought to assure customers of an organization that the quality thresholds have been met by implementing standard policies with the aim of producing competitive products and services. Through ISO 9001, documenting the details of an organization’s processes can be achieved. This documentation is very important when it comes to

Monday, November 18, 2019

Electronic frontier Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Electronic frontier - Assignment Example The giants who own the market in the digital world try to kill any competition that they get but this can no longer be done as I can simply challenge any of the plea with the use of the EFF. With the help of the organization I can make sure that my circle of privacy is not violated by the state authorities. I can make a fine line when I want to be anonymous on the internet and express my views accordingly. With the help of EFF I believe that I can challenge anyone who finds my anonymity illegal or tries to find my identity and threaten me in any case. If I find out that anyone is trespassing the line of my privacy I can always approach the organization and inform my government regarding the necessary issues so as to avoid any legal repercussions. I believe that I can protect my privacy to the fullest of extent if given the knowledge provided by the organization. The newest technology allows one to detect when anyone is trying malinger against you or is trying to impose something that I may not have even done. My information and logs should not be accessed by any given company unless they have issues of national security against

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Impact Of The Holocaust On Christian Jew Relations Religion Essay

Impact Of The Holocaust On Christian Jew Relations Religion Essay This essay will focus on several aspects. The first will consider the climate that lead to the war in the early years. It will go on to briefly discuss what occurred during the Holocaust, and majority of it will focus on how the Jews and Christians were affected between 1945 till the present day. In order for us to understand the relationship between Christian and Jews both during and post the holocaust, it is important to understand their relationship prior to the war. It is only then we can establish whether a change took place before or after. The holocaust affected Jews all across Europe, particularly in Germany, controlled by the Nazi government, and Poland, which was conquered by Germany in 1939. Poland was quite significant because it became one of the territories where the murder of Jews from all over Europe was carried out. The Nazi regime was founded by Hitler. He believed that the Jews were an inferior race and were the main cause of the all the problems that has been occurring in Germany and Europe, particularly in the financial state of affairs. His ultimate plan was to remove the Jews from Europe by exterminating them. He did this by finding out who the Jews were and where they lived, and then transporting them like cattle into ghettoes and concentration camps such as Auschwitz. This is what is officially known as the Holocaust. The foundations of prejudice against Jews can be traced as far back to the Crusades. During the Crusades Jews were massacred when Christian armies had captured Jerusalem, and here the first link between Christian and Jews is evident. As early as 1290, Jews had been forced to leave England but then during the reign of Cromwell there were a few that had moved into London. As a result of this in 1655 Jews had started to establish their own communities (Religion in History, pp226, K. H Holtschneider). Looking deeper into the history of Jews and Christians, there were clear problems as stated in Bubers journal Der Jude which included articles by Jews on Christianity and Christians on Judaism. It was attempted to bring both faiths together but instead it lead to Christians refusing to recognize Judaism as a faith that could live along side Christianity (Mendes Flohr, 1987, pg226 in Religion in History). Moving on from that time, it was in England during the 1650s that there was another at tempt to reconcile with Jews and this was needed because their conversion to Christianity was believed to be necessary prelude to Christs second coming. More significantly, this was a view that was beginning to be shared amongst other European countries from 1570 onwards and they started to consider whether or not they wanted to admit Jews. This persecution was still evident prior the Second World War in 1920 when Jewish immigrants in the USA became victims of the Klu Klux Klan, a racist organization that wanted to keep American society white and Christian protestant. (Susan Willoughby pg 6). In Europe, although originally Christian and Jewish relations struggled prior to the Second World War as they attempted to discover the truth in Christianity. However, this particular aspect of the troubled relationship between the two groups was not at the forefront of issues facing the relationship due to the humanitarian crisis that was being faced. (Religion in History, pg 226, Holtschneide r). During the war, the situation became very difficult for people living in Germany. With most of German society being against the Jewish people they also began to face the situation of having to avoid marrying Jews or to separate from their Jewish partners despite having been in long term marriages. Sources tell us that majority of Christians who were married to Jews stuck by their spouses even before they knew that they could save them through loyal acts (Holtschneider, Religion in History in pg 238, Barkai, 1998, pg 253). It is important to note that Jews were not the only victims of Hitlers Nazi Regime, with other victims including minority groups such as gypsies, homosexuals and those with mental or physical impairments. Regardless, this whole campaign of persecution and genocide was very significant in terms of its focus, scale and intensity. This is central to the relationship between Jews and Christians as it raises issues about the attitudes of the Christian because they were there to witness the Anti Semitic Jewish measures in the 1930s and the deportations that were carried out in front of them. However, it is also argued that anyone in Germany who assisted Jews faced danger and this stopped any attempts to help. (Study Guide 5, pg 13) This attitude even went as a far as the, separation of the Protestant churches into Christians of German descent and Christians of Jewish decent. Even though some Protestants did attempt to talk through religious issues with Jews this was started more often by J ews than by Christians. At the end of the war and after the holocaust the options open to Jews as to where they should begin to rebuild their lives depended largely on their national identity before the war. Most Italians and French went back to Italy and France as they recognized their identity as linked with their country of origin. However, many Jews from Eastern Europe and Germany opted for emigration because they felt that their relationship with their homeland had been damaged (Herbert, Religion in History Pg.241). Many Jews went to the United States as refugees, but majority of Jewish displaced persons decided they would return to Israel and United States however the USA still had very strict rules about immigration as well as the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom was in fear of provoking the Arab people in Israel into fighting back. It was during this time that the newly independent State of Israel was formed and there were lots of preparations to nationally commemorate the holocaust. Furthermore d uring the war many countries had closed their borders to immigration. However, in spite of all these obstacles Jews were very keen to leave Europe as soon as possible. It has been stated by Don Peretz, (Study Guide, pg 86) that on 29th November 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution requiring the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their independence state is unassailable. Yad Vashem is a museum which tells the story of the Holocaust that emphasizes practicing Zionism. This underlines the absolute need for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Despite this strong feeling the Jewish Christian relationship has not completely fallen apart and finds a place in with Righteous Gentiles whom of many are Christian. This is extremely important when examining the post war relations, because amongst all the fighting and violence between Jews and Christians during the war here is a ground to rebuild the relationship between them. Creating the state of Israel in 1948 also had other effects on the Christian churches of the time. As Paul Van Buren states, the shock of the horror at the Germans misdeeds against the Jewish people and the even greater theological shock of the existence of a Jewish state led to the first striking change in attitudes between Christians and Jews(Study Guide pg 67). In order to trace these developments it is important to look at the reaction of the Protestant churches in Germany. Their church leaders were the first to admit that and condemn the Nazi horror that had taken place in Europe. It was in October 1945 that their churches released an official Stuttgart declaration of guilt, which stated how sorry they were that they did not stand up to the Nazi regime more forcefully. It took a long time for the church to accept this and this was largely due to the fact that the sufferings of the Jews were blamed on secular forces within Europe. This misplaced the blame, looked upon the Nazi re gime as a, sinister impact of global anti-Semitism were all seen as a result of modern secular man. (Study Guide, pg 67, John S Conway). On the other hand the Catholic Church was deeply implicated in the anti-Semitic violence against the Jews. The representative Jews did nothing to stop the political propaganda, and furthermore they even went as a far as supporting the politicians and the campaign (Mendelsohn, 1983, Religion in History, 228, K. Hannah Holtschneider,). To look into this further Ronald Modras carried out a survey of Catholic attitudes towards Jews and their religion in the 1920s and 1930s prior to the War. What he found was that there was an increase in anti-Semitic attitudes in the Catholic community. This was because in Germany the Jews were seen as representatives of secularism and therefore definitely anti catholic, and this was the start of when racial ideas began to infiltrate catholic communities, particularly in regards to allowing Jewish converts to Catholicism. Other Catholics also considered emigration, and this happened through boycotting Jewish business which would reduce Jewish income alon gside supporting Zionism. (Religion in History, pg 229, K. Hannah Holtschneider). The Jewish communities had been destroyed by the Holocaust. The last Vatican II since 1960 have bought Jews together. As mentioned in Religion in History, pg 243, K. Hannah Holtschneider) These conversations are mainly Christians initiatives-a reversal of the prewar Christian-Jewish dialogues in Germany. The outcome of the Holocaust has moved to the western world especially in the U.K and U.S. Europe had millions of homeless refugees after the war. Many Holocaust survivors were German DPs (displaced persons) who were not German or Jewish, some survivors returned to Poland, the majority decided to emigrate to the U.S or Israel. (Religion in History, pg 243, K. Hannah Holtschneider). Furthermore the Vatican authorities were not ready to admit the failures of the Catholic Church in the Holocaust. On the territory of Auschwitz concentration camp, where numerous polish Catholics were executed, sparked a controversy in 1984. Auschwitz had become a symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust. The direct reason for the establishment of the camp was the fact that mass arrests of Poles were increasing beyond the capacity of existing local prisons. Initially, Auschwitz was to be one more concentration camp of the type that the Nazis had been setting up since the early 1930sWhether sites of Jewish and non-Jewish suffering in particular in Poland-such as different parts of the Auschwitz concentration camp- can be shared by Christians and Jews in commemoration, remains controversial (Religion in History Pg 244, K. Hannah Holtschneider). This shows that Auschwitz has become a site for remembrance and therefore reconciliation point for Christian and Jews after the Holocaust. There was also heated discussion over the Nostra Aetate because the church reaffirmed the deep spiritual bond between Christian and Jews within Gods loving plan for the redemption of the world Study guide pg71. This document clearly condemns any type anti-Semitism against Jews, particularly Christian anti-Judaism, for example the band deicide which had contributed to popular propaganda against the Jews. Therefore in light of other research it is stressed that Christian are indebt to Jews and now it is even more important to understand the relationship of the two faith as a positive and reciprocal one, touching upon the same spiritual realities and most often serving to illuminate each other study guide pg 72. The Eichmann trial provoked international interest, bringing Nazi violence to the forefront of world news. Testimonies of Holocaust survivors, especially those of ghetto fighters, generated interest in Jewish resistance. The trial prompted a new openness in Israel, many Holocaust survivors felt able to share their experiences as the country challenged this trauma. Following this Arbeitsgemeinschaft of the biennial German Protestant Church Rally received widespread support and demonstrated a growing in interest in Christian-Jewish relations (Study Guide pg 68). This had then led to Rhineland Synod which was a statement that was recognized by other Protestant communities. In this they talked about the Holocaust as a key factor that helped start a new relationship between the church and the Jewish people. As stated in the study guide pg 68 Four factors, the authors claimed, had bought the church to this realization: the recognition of Christian co-responsibility and guilt for the Holoca ust ; the new Biblical insights learned during the Church struggle about the continuing significance of the Jewish people within the history of God; the acknowledgement that the continuing existence of the Jewish people, its return to the land of Promise, and the foundation of the state of Israel are signs of the faithfulness of God toward his people ; and the willingness of Jews, in spite of the Holocaust , to engage in encounter, common study and cooperation As mentioned in Chapter 8 religion in History that after the holocaust there were many post war developments in the Christian Jewish relationship, and thus many conversations took place that have shaped the attitudes that religious Jews and Christians have taken towards the Holocaust and the relations prior to Hitlers rule. This has come about through Christian remorse for a longstanding anti Semitism that has been allowed to prevail. This is significant because Christian anti Semitism was seen as the ground work of racist anti Semitism, which gained strength post 1870. The conversations that took place between Jews and Christians largely adopted a stance that looked at their relationship from an anti Semitic perspective, leading to all the research and theory into the histories of Christian and Jewish relations ending in the Holocaust. There have been other perspectives of looking at Jewish and Christian relations before and after the Holocaust. Needless to say these have had an im pact on how to conceptualize the relationship after the war. After the war in 1947 on the 29th of November, the United Nations adopted a resolution which stated that there was a need to establish a Jewish state. (Study Guide, pg 87). This was because many Jewish people who had survived the war felt as though it was in their right to have a Jewish homeland. In fact, Zionists made a flag for the State of Israel which they were pressurizing the Allies to set up in Palestine. (Jane Shuter, pg. 31). Since then there has been lots of persecution in Europe, including the growing development of European nationalism. However, some non religious Jews took advantage of this and saw this as an opportunity to become active in promoting a land for the Jews. Having said that, there are some Evangelical Christian, as well as some fundamentalist Protestants, who are strongly pro Zionist because they view the returning of the Jews to Palestine as a sign of the second-coming of the Christ. However since the Intifada, there has been lots of sympathy from mainstre am western Christians towards Palestinians. Although, eastern Christianity has not been affected so much by the Holocaust there is hardly any sympathy for Zionism. (Religion in History pg 261, J Wolffe). It has been widely acknowledged that Christians have held Jews responsible for the death of Jesus. It is because of this and also centuries of anti Semitism that Hitlers views and hatred was passionately echoed in the Third Reich. However, this inheritance of faith should in fact motivate Christians and Jews not to leave their faith despite the atrocities that took place during the holocaust. Those who survived still have that faith. This is an important point and influences post holocaust movements as the establishment of the state of Israel was seen as a part of a determination to keep the faith and survive. Ultimately, this was an attempt to make the world a place where Jews can still honour god. Furthermore, according to study guide 5, into the after affects of the holocaust, there was growing conflict in Palestine between the Jews and the Arabs. Therefore it was even more important to make sure that all the Jewish people were united so that they could establish the State of Isra el. However, since the Second World War it is very understandable that Jews up until this day and age have had difficulty in viewing Christians and their faith in a positive light. However, attempts to achieve this have been achieved through emphasizing the complexity of what occurred in the Christian community during Nazi Germany and the way that anti Judaism became the foundation for anti Semitism. However, after World War Two there were different types of thinking from Jews on how to rebuild this relationship, and ultimately how they have struggled to come to a positive understanding of Christianity. Coming back post war analysis of the Jewish and Christian relationship, in recent years, there have been considerable changes within the religious dimension of both this groups. It is necessary to separate race from religion as it can have a significant impact on how both groups viewed the holocaust and their reactions to it. In the Good Friday prayer it has been clearly stated that, we see not a gradual evolution but a dramatic change. Furthermore, the Church of England Prayer Books have also clearly stated that, Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, infidels and heretics. It is because of this that now churches that hold services during Lent, Holy Week and Easter now officially contain a prayer: Let us pray for Gods ancient people, the Jews, the first to hear his word- for greater understanding between Christian and Jew for the removal of our blindness and bitterness of heart that God will grant us grace to be faithful to his covenant and to grow in the love of his name (After the Evil Introduction page 6 , (2003,Harries Richard) This is an important change that has occurred as it shows progress has been made since the holocaust, between the Christian and Jews relationship. The religious members are now actively looking for means to reconcile their relationship in a positive manner. Despite these positive claims there have been negative approaches towards dealing with the great tragedy. The term Holocaust is referred to by Jews as Shoah and it shocked the Christian Churches when Jews asked very open and searching questions about its responsibility of what happened in the Holocaust. In fact Jewish scholars such as Norman Solomon stated that he, objected to Christianitys new relationship to Judaism being built upon a sense of guilt. There are scholars who fully back this view up and also continue to emphasize that after the war Christianitys relationship with Judaism should be built upon the fact that the Jewish religion, Judaism is a significant and living religion and that a relation should be built upon respect for this fact (page 10, After the Evil, 2003, Harries Richard) There are many Jews who have decided to rebuild the relationship, by once again looking at the positive side of Christianity during the war. This side of Judaism looks at the Righteous Gentiles in the holocaust. These were individuals who tried to help Jews and give them honour in a special way. According to historical sources, it is extremely important to do this and very sad there is no emphasis on this in all the memorabilia and in the museums. It is said that humanity needs good role models, and that if we missed this people out people would come away thinking very biased views about Christianity and the Christians during that time. In light of this, there is a whole section in a Museum in Israel that is dedicated to the Righteous Gentiles. This is also significant in helping to rebuild the relationship between Christians and Jews as it shows that at the height of all the tragedy there were good Christians who were willing to risk their own life to help the Jews. (page 10, After the Evil, 2003, Harries Richard) This can offer another basis on which to reconcile broken relationships between Christians and Jews. By looking at the post war relationship between Christians and Jews it is very important to distinguish between Anti Judaism and Anti Semitism. Anti Semitism was only focused upon a hatred for the Jews as a race and this was developed further into modern thinking during the nineteenth century when there was lots of theories about race being published. However, Anti Judaism is quite significantly different because this is a hatred and hostility that is aimed at the religion. It was quoted by Gavin Langmuir, who stated that Geoffrey Alderman had strongly argued that the difference of anti Judaism and Anti Semitism merged together in the twelfth century and the difference became blurred. This occurred exactly at the time when Western Christianity started to become undermined by self doubt. (Geoffrey Alderman, Anti Judaism and Anti-Semitism, Jewish Journal of Sociology. 33/2 (Dec. 1991). Regardless of whether this historical source is true or now, it is important to make a clear distinct ion between what Anti Judaism is and what happened during the Third Reich under Hitlers power. According to the Oxford Companion to Christian Though (OUP, 2000, pg 16) the question to really ask here is how much of the Anti Judaism in the churches past, including, centuries- long teaching of contempt, prepared the ground and dulled peoples hearts and minds, so that anti-Semitism could take hold with so little resistance in the population as a whole and how much of this contributed to the passive resistance by the Christian community as the events of the holocaust unfolded. It is here we can see why anti Semitism and anti Judaism have merged together and why there is difficulty in establishing a positive relationship between Christians and Jews in this day and age. In the present day, there was a very first Holocaust Memorial day in Britain 2001. Before this happened there was great debate amongst society about whether this should focus on just the holocaust or consider other genocides that have occurred in the twentieth centuries. The Jewish community in particular was very unhappy about focusing just on the holocaust and singling them out in such a manner. They wanted to be seen as a part of a bigger problem in the world. Nevertheless it is so important to remind the world about these terrible incidents and the scale at which it happened. It was not simply a loss of lives on a huge scale but an entire population which had a different lifestyle and culture. (Harries Richard 2003, pp21, After the Evil). Grieving for this loss is a huge dimension but the role of the people during the time is even more significant, particularly Christianity and the churches. In fact witnesses recount what occurred during the war. One particular incident that stan ds out in (After the Evil, Harries Richard 2003) is of a Catholic mother appealing for her son, to not do anything for fear of being persecuted. She specifically told him that god would help him not do anything bad. The son stood by and watched many Jews die including children. These accounts show the fear that prevailed during the time, and how religion played a part in how Christians reacted during the Holocaust. Overall throughout the centuries, Jews have experienced much persecution. The Holocaust is one of pain and suffering on a massive scale, and shows how damaging hatred and prejudice can be. There is still ongoing conflict between Christians and Jews, and since the Holocaust it is very different to the conflict that occurred between these two religions. Previously, disagreements have occurred about existing side by side and creating a national and religious identity. Now, the conflict is outside of any of these ideas and now their relationship is largely discussed in reference to the holocaust. These discussions are mainly about the ways in which Christians dealt with Jews, and now is seen as a major moral issue. Any reflections that are made regarding the Christian/Jewish relationship have to be made carefully, keeping in mind that it will always be a moral issue. (Religon in History, pg245, Herbert).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Abortion Should be Illegal in American Society Essay -- The Right to Li

I must admit that the concern for the mother's safety is important, and that is exactly why abortion may not be the best option. There are many complications that affect a person after having an abortion, but I will only mention two. The first complication of having an abortion is a possibility of developing a mental disorder. The second complication is an increased risk of breast cancer. A study done by professors in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Manchester; showed that women who had an abortion have a risk of developing mental disorders (Major et al). The study also concluded that people who had prior psychological disorders have an even greater risk of developing a mental disorder, than people who did not have a history of psychological disorders (Major et al). In another study, a conclusion was reached that people that went through an abortion are more likely to develop mental disorders, than people that went through pregnancies (Reardon e t al). The research data that people use as a source for their information vary, because the amount of research done on the issue is minimal. However, the current indication is that an increase risk in psychological issues is associated with abortions. I am confident in the data that I obtained, because the information was taken from credible sources. The data that I located only mentioned that people are at risk of developing psychological disorders after abortion, but the articles did not go into detail about the specific disorders. The most remarkable danger for people that seek an abortion is an increased risk in developing breast cancer. The increased risk in breast cancer may be a compelling argument. Current studies show that people who have ... ...00. 10 Mar. 2006 . Reardon, David C., et al. â€Å"Psychiatric admissions of low-income women following abortion and childbirth.† CMAJ. 13 May 2003. 11 Apr. 2006 . Sade, Robert M. â€Å"Defining the Beginning and the End of Human Life: Implications for Ethics, Policy, and Law.† Blackwell Synergy. Mar. 2006. 11 Apr. 2006 . Turner, T. â€Å"Induced Abortion Might Elevate a Woman's Breast Cancer Risk in Later Years† JSTOR. Jan. 1995. 10 Mar. 2006 .

Monday, November 11, 2019

Power of Cash Flows

The Power of Cash Flow Ratios EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CASH FLOW RATIOS ARE MORE RELIABLE indicators of liquidity than balance sheet or income statement ratios such as the quick ratio or the current ratio. LENDERS, RATING AGENCIES AND WALL STREET analysts have long used cash flow ratios to evaluate risk, but auditors have been slow to use them. SOME CASH FLOW RATIOS COMPARE THE RESOURCES A company can muster with its short-term commitments. OTHER CASH FLOW RATIOS MEASURE A COMPANYS ability to meet ongoing financial and operational commitments.THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON THE DEFINITION OF NET free cash flow, although the authors suggest taking off-balance-sheet financing into account. AUDITORS CAN USE THE INSIGHTS uncovered by cash flow ratios to spotlight potential problem areas, thus helping them plan their audits more effectively. JOHN R. MILLS, CPA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Accounting and CIS at the University of Nevada, Reno. His e-mail address is www. [email  protected] unr. edu1. Mills experience includes auditing and consulting in the gaming industry. JEANNE H.YAMAMURA, CPA, PhD, is an assistant professor in the accounting and CIS department at the university's Reno campus. Her e-mail address is www. [email  protected] edu2. Yamamura worked as an auditor overseas, including a stint in Papua, New Guinea. To fully understand a company's viability as an ongoing concern, an auditor would do well to calculate a few simple ratios from data on the clients cash flow statement (the statement of sources and uses of cash). Without that data, he or she could end up in the worst possible position for an auditor—having given a clean opinion on a client's financials just before it goes belly up.When it comes to liquidity analysis, cash flow information is more reliable than balance sheet or income statement information. Balance sheet data are static—measuring a single point in time—while the income statement contains many arbitrary noncas h allocations—for example, pension contributions and depreciation and amortization. In contrast, the cash flow statement records the changes in the other statements and nets out the bookkeeping artifice, focusing on what shareholders really care about: cash available for operations and investments.For years, credit analysts and Wall Street barracudas have been using ratios to mine cash flow statements for practical revelations. The major credit-rating agencies use cash flow ratios prominently in their rating decisions. Bondholders—especially junk bond investors—and leveraged buyout specialists use free cash flow ratios to clarify the risk associated with their investments. That's because, over time, free cash flow ratios help people gauge a company's ability to withstand cyclical downturns or price wars.Is a major capital expenditure feasible in a tough year? If the last time total cash got a hair below where it is now the company's capital structure had to be r evamped, the auditor should treat the deficient value like a loud buzzer. Many auditors and, to a lesser extent, corporate financial managers have been slow to learn how to use cash flow ratios. In our experience, auditors traditionally use either a balance sheet or a transaction cycles approach. Neither approach emphasizes cash or the statement of cash flows.While auditors do use the cash flow statement to verify balance sheet and income statement accounts and to trace common items to the cash flow statement, their use of ratios for cash-related analysis has been limited to the current ratio (current assets/current liabilities) or the quick ratio (current assets less inventory/current liabilities). According to an informal survey of Big 5 and other national accounting firms, even now their audit procedures have not changed in ways that take advantage of the information presented in the cash flow statement, even though that statement has been required for over a decade.The value of cash flow ratios was evident in the collapse of W. T. Grant. Traditional ratio analysis performed during the annual audit did not reveal the severe liquidity problems that resulted in a bankruptcy filing shortly thereafter. While W. T. Grant showed positive current ratios as well as positive earnings, in fact it had severely negative cash flows that rendered it unable to meet current debt and other commitments to creditors. Educators have not been emphasizing the cash flow statement either. Auditing textbooks commonly include only ratios based on the balance sheet and income statement with little or no discussion of cash ratios.The next generation of auditors needs to learn how to use cash flow ratios in audits because such measures are becoming increasingly important to the marketplace. Investors and others are relying on them. The cash flow ratios we find most useful fall into two general categories: ratios to test for solvency and liquidity and those that indicate the viability o f a company as a going concern. In the first, liquidity indicators, the most useful ratios are operating cash flow (OCF), funds flow coverage (FFC), cash interest coverage (CIC) and cash debt coverage (CDC).In the second category, ratios used to assess a company's strength on an ongoing basis, we like total free cash (TFC), cash flow adequacy (CFA), cash to capital expenditures and cash to total debt. Lenders, rating agencies and analysts use all of these. Auditors should know when and how to use them, too. The gaming industry expanded to 12 states from 2 between 1989 and 1995. During that time, many of the traditional casino corporations managed asset growth rates of 200% and more. Rapid expansion led to major problems, including bankruptcy, when revenues did not meet projections.As this examination of two gaming companies shows, cash flow analysis can help avoid business meltdowns, providing auditors and clients with an additional level of comfort in both planning the audit and ev aluating the strength of the going concern. Boomtown was a relatively young but successful Nevada company that went public in October 1992, with assets of $56 million. By 1995, its assets were up to $239 million, dropping to $206 million in 1996. Company operations grew from one casino in the local Nevada market to four properties in three states—Nevada, Louisiana and Mississippi.In the same period, Circus Circus was one of the largest and most profitable gaming corporations in the industry. Its properties, also all in Nevada at that time, included the Excalibur and the original Circus Circus in Las Vegas, the Colorado Bell and Edgewater in Laughlin and the Circus Circus in Reno. The company grew from total assets of $783 million in 1992 to over $2. 2 billion by 1996, including acquisitions. By the end of 1996, it had operations in three states—Nevada, Louisiana and Mississippi. Liquidity Assessment Exhibit 13, shows a variety of ratios calculated from the financial st atements of Boomtown and Circus Circus.The figures cover the period from 1992 to 1996, although Circus Circus was on a January 31 fiscal year while Boomtown used a fiscal year ending September 30. Look at the lines for the current ratio (current assets/ current liabilities) and the quick ratio (current assets less inventories/current liabilities) for each. Viewed through the lens of these traditional balance-sheet-based ratios, Boomtown appears to be stronger financially than Circus Circus. But this was not the case. Boomtown's current ratio was frequently well over 1. 00, even soaring to 4. 4 in 1993, while Circus Circus current ratio never strayed over 1. 32. Boomtown was able to maintain a higher quick ratio as well. Over the five years in question, Boomtown's current ratio showed fairly consistent improvement, a trend that would be reassuring to most auditors. Although the balance sheet ratios for both companies are fairly low, that is normal for the gaming industry. Casinos jus t don't carry much inventory—mostly perishable foods and the like. And gaming companies carry practically no receivables because gaming generally is a cash business.The traditional measures don't address operating cash flows or cash interest coverage directly, but auditors can use cash flow ratios to answer questions about their clients liquidity—Are these companies generating enough cash to cover their current liabilities? How many times does cash flow from operations cover interest expense? Running a Casino†¦ Image Boomtown's cash interest coverage was considerably weaker than that of Circus Circus, except in 1993, when Boomtown had no long-term debt. Circus Circus consistently maintained cash in excess of 5 times debt. Now look at the line for OCF.Over the interval shown, the Circus Circus OCF ratio slipped under 2. 00 only once, meaning that it generated enough cash to cover its current liabilities twice over—and even improved on that despite a rapid gr owth rate. The company's cash interest coverage ratio also was consistently high. Boomtown's cash flow ratios, however, might surprise an auditor relying solely on balance sheet ratios. Its OCF was consistently weaker than that of Circus Circus, even slipping into a negative position in 1994. Once Boomtown's OCF slipped below 1. 00, it was not generating enough cash to meet its current commitments.Accordingly, it had to find other sources for financing normal operations. An auditor relying solely on the quick and current ratios in this instance would have missed that important point. An auditor who bothered to calculate two other cash flow ratios—FFC and cash/current debt—would have gotten even more remarkable results. Because Circus Circus carried very little current debt, its cash covered current debt well over 175 times in every year, while Boomtown's cash didn't even cover current debt in 1994, and its cash/current debt coverage was in the single digits for three o f the other four years.More remarkably, Boomtown's FFC went negative in 1994 and again in 1996 and was consistently weaker than that of Circus Circus in every year. Accordingly, the conclusions an auditor might draw after looking at the cash flow ratios might differ sharply from his or her opinion based solely on balance sheet ratios. Going-Concern Analysis Traditionally, auditors have used the balance-sheet-based debt-to-equity ratio (total debt/total equity) and the times-interest-earned (EBIT/annual interest payments) ratio to examine a company's longer-term financial health (see exhibit 24).These measures do provide one perspective on the company's ability to carry its long-term debt obligations and its solvency. The traditional solvency ratios reveal big differences between Circus Circus and Boomtown. Although both companies expanded considerably in 1993 and 1994, the effects on each corporation's financial position were drastically different. Circus Circus showed a downward tr end in its traditional debt-to-equity ratio, an indicator of an increasingly strong balance sheet, while maintaining a fairly stable times-interest-earned ratio.After 1992, Boomtown's debt-to-equity ratio rose steadily, showing increasing reliance on outside borrowing. Its times-interest-earned ratio also weakened, even going negative twice. Cash flow ratios, however, provide an even clearer picture of each company's financial solvency. Consider the lines for TFC, two for each company—one based on actual capital expenditures and the other on estimated maintenance spending. Negative figures in 1993 reveal that Circus Circus needed to go outside to raise cash for capital expenditures in both 1993 and 1994.However, using a capital maintenance approach, figures consistently greater than 1. 0 show the company was clearly generating enough cash flow from operations to maintain its normal operations and to provide at least some funds for additional growth. But 1993 and 1994 were yea rs when total assets grew at 21% and 37%. Few companies could expand at this rate solely with internally generated funds from operations. Analysis of Boomtown's cash flow ratios unveils a very different kind of growth. Its TFC (maintenance) ratio slipped below 1. 0 for three years in a row.An auditor who notices that Boomtown wasn't able to fund normal operations from internal sources for three consecutive years has heard an alarm; however, the noise from the TFC (actual) ratio is even louder. Boomtown did not manage any of its growth from internally generated cash—it's TFC (actual) ratio never got above 1. 00! That can't go on forever. Now look at the total debt ratio line and the two cash flow adequacy (CFA) ratio lines for each company. The total debt ratio, to which credit-rating agencies and loan officers pay close attention, was quite stable for Circus Circus throughout.Boomtown's, which started out weaker, took one wild fluctuation way up and then collapsed. Looking at the CFA ratios, once again Circus Circus exhibits more than adequate funds for maintenance and sufficient internally generated cash for new capital investments in all but one year. The one exception was attributable to rapid growth. Boomtown's spectacularly negative ratios shout the company's need for substantial outside funding. Turning to the capital expenditures ratio lines, Boomtown was unable to generate enough cash internally to even maintain plant and equipment in 1994, despite more than doubling its total assets.Circus Circus, on the other hand, had plenty of cash for maintenance throughout and needed outside cash to fund growth only for a two-year interval. In fact, Boomtown's cash ratios do indeed reveal that drastic changes would have been needed for this company to survive on its own. It didn't. Boomtown was acquired by Hollywood Park, Inc. , on June 30, 1997. Boomtown also disposed of its Las Vegas property, which had generated continuing operating losses. Despite its earlier promise, Boomtown ran out of cash. Traditional ratios would not have provided sufficient warning, but cash flow ratios would have.Auditors who employ cash flow ratios to assess corporate liquidity and viability can help their clients spot trouble in time to take corrective action. HOW TO TEST SOLVENCY WITH CASH FLOW RATIOS Creditors and lenders began using cash flow ratios because those ratios give more information about a company's ability to meet its payment commitments than do traditional balance sheet working capital ratios such as the current ratio or the quick ratio. When a loan officer evaluates the risk she is taking by lending to a particular company, her greatest concern is whether the company can pay the loan back, with interest, on time.Traditional working capital ratios indicate how much cash the company had available on a single date in the past. Cash flow ratios, on the other hand, test how much cash was generated over a period of time and compare that to near -term obligations, giving a dynamic picture of what resources the company can muster to meet its commitments. Operating cash flow (OCF) Cash flow from operations Current liabilities Company's ability to generate resources to meet current liabilities Operating cash flow (OCF) ratio. The numerator of the OCF ratio consists of net cash provided by operating activities.This is the net figure provided by the cash flow statement after taking into consideration adjustments for noncash items and changes in working capital. The denominator is all current liabilities, taken from the balance sheet. Operating cash flow ratios vary radically, depending on the industry. For example, the gaming industry generates substantial operating cash flows due to the nature of its operations, while more capital-intensive industries, such as communications, generate substantially less. The gaming giant, Circus Circus, exhibited an OCF of 1. 37 for fiscal year l997 while the media king, Gannett, produced an OC F of 1. 148 for a similar period. In order to judge whether a company's OCF is out of line, an auditor should look at comparable ratios for the company's industry peers. (For further details, see the case study5. ) Funds flow coverage (FFC) EBITDA (Interest + Tax-adjusted* debt repayment + Tax-adjusted* preferred-dividends) Coverage of unavoidable expenditures *To adjust for taxes, divide by the complement of the tax rate. Funds flow coverage (FFC) ratio.The numerator of the FFC ratio consists of earnings before interest and taxes plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), which differs from operating cash flow. Operating cash flow includes cash paid out for interest and taxes, which EBITDA does not. The FFC ratio highlights whether the company can generate enough cash to meet these commitments (interest and taxes). Accordingly, interest and taxes are excluded from the numerator. The denominator consists of interest plus tax-adjusted debt repayment plus tax-adjusted preferred divi dends. To adjust for taxes, divide by the complement of the tax rate.All of the figures in the denominator are unavoidable commitments. An auditor can use the FFC ratio as a tool to evaluate the risk that a company will default on its most immediate financial commitments: interest payments, short-term debt and preferred dividends (if any). If the FFC ratio is at least 1. 0, the company can meet its commitments—but just barely. To survive in the long run, any company must have enough cash flow to maintain plant and equipment. To be really healthy, it should be able to reinvest cash for growth. Accordingly, if a company's FFC is less than 1. , the company must raise additional funds to meet current operating commitments. To avoid bankruptcy, it must keep raising fresh capital. Cash interest coverage Cash flow from operations + Interest paid + Taxes paid Interest paid Company's ability to meet interest payments Cash interest coverage ratio. The numerator of cash interest coverag e consists of cash flow from operations, plus interest paid plus taxes paid. The denominator includes all interest paid—short term and long term. The resultant multiple indicates the company's ability to make the interest payments on its entire debt load.A highly leveraged company will have a low multiple, and a company with a strong balance sheet will have a high multiple. Any company with a cash interest multiple less than 1. 0 runs an immediate risk of potential default. The company must raise cash externally to make its current interest payments. The cash interest coverage ratio is analogous to the old-fashioned coverage ratio (also known as the interest coverage ratio). However, where the numerator of the coverage ratio begins with earnings from the income statement, the numerator of the cash interest coverage ratio begins with cash from the cash flow statement.Cash interest coverage gives a more realistic indication of the company's ability to make the required interest payments. Earnings figures include all manner of noncash charges—depreciation, pension contributions, some taxes and stock options. A company with a low income-based coverage ratio may actually be able to meet its payment obligations, but the mask of noncash charges makes it difficult to see that. A cash-based coverage ratio gives a direct look at the cash available to pay interest. Cash current debt coverage Operating cash flow—cash dividends Current debtCompanys ability to repay its current debt Cash current debt coverage ratio. The numerator consists of retained operating cash flow—operating cash flow less cash dividends. The denominator is current debt—that is, debt maturing within one year. This is, again, a direct correlate of an earnings current debt coverage ratio, but more revealing because it addresses managements dividend distribution policy and its subsequent effect on cash available to meet current debt commitments. As with the cash interest coverage ratio, the current debt ratio indicates the company's ability to carry debt comfortably.The higher the multiple, the higher the comfort level. But like most other ratios, as long as the company is not insolvent, the appropriate level varies by industry characteristics. HOW TO USE CASH RATIOS AS A MEASURE OF FINANCIAL HEALTH Beyond questions of immediate corporate solvency, auditors need to measure a client's ability to meet ongoing financial and operational commitments and its ability to finance growth. How readily can the company repay or refinance its long-term debt? Will it be able to maintain or increase its current dividend to stockholders? How readily will it be able to raise new capital?Banks, credit-rating agencies and investment analysts understandably are very concerned with these questions. Accordingly, they have developed several ratios to provide answers to them. Auditors, who are more concerned about full disclosure, can use these same ratios to pinpoint area s for closer scrutiny when planning an audit. Capital expenditure Cash flow from operations Capital expenditures Company's ability to cover debt after maintenance or investment on plant and equipment Capital expenditure ratio. The numerator is cash flow from operations. The denominator is capital expenditures.A financially strong company should be able to finance growth. This ratio measures the capital available for internal reinvestment and for payments on existing debt. When the capital expenditure ratio exceeds 1. 0, the company has enough funds available to meet its capital investment, with some to spare to meet debt requirements. The higher the value, the more spare cash the company has to service and repay debt. As with all ratios, appropriate values vary by industry. Cyclical industries, such as housing and autos, may show more variation in this figure than noncyclical industries, such as pharmaceuticals and beverages.Also, a low figure is more understandable in a growth indu stry, such as technology, than in a mature industry, such as textiles. Total debt Cash flow from operations Total debt Company's ability to cover future debt obligations Total debt (cash flow to total debt) ratio. The numerator is cash flow from operations. The denominator is total debt—both long term and short term. Total cash flow to debt is of direct concern to credit-rating agencies and loan decision officers. This ratio indicates the length of time it will take to repay the debt, assuming all cash flow from operations is devoted to debt repayment.The lower the ratio, the less financial flexibility the company has and the more likely that problems can arise in the future. Auditors should take diminished financial flexibility into account when identifying high-risk audit areas during planning. NET FREE CASH FLOW RATIOS Other ratios that spotlight a company's viability as a going concern rely on a computation of net free cash flow. Net free cash flow (NFCF) is not yet well defined, although bankers are working to standardize these computations in a way that would facilitate comparisons across companies and across industries.However, at present, there are still many variations of net free cash flow. We propose a total free cash (TFC) ratio developed by First Interstate Bank of Nevada, which uses it to make loan decisions and loan covenant agreements. This TFC computation offers the advantage of incorporating the effects of off-balance-sheet financing—by taking into account operating lease and rental payments. Total free cash (TFC)†  (Net income + Accrued and capitalized interest expense + Depreciation and amortization + Operating lease and rental expense – Declared dividends – Capital expenditures) (Accrued and capitalized interest expense Operating lease and rental expense + Current portion of long-term debt + Current portion of capitalized lease obligations) Company's ability to meet future cash commitments †  These rat ios require computation of the company's net free cash flows. As net free cash flow can vary by company as well as by industry, the formulas should be considered as recommended rather than absolute. TFC ratio . The numerator of this ratio is the sum of net income, accrued and capitalized interest expense, depreciation and amortization and operating lease and rental expense less declared dividends and capital expenditures.The denominator is the sum of accrued and capitalized interest expense, operating lease and rental expense, the current portion of long-term debt and the current portion of long-term lease obligations. Varying definitions of capital expenditures can confuse the issue. Since different definitions change the value of free cash flow ratios, it is best to be clear about which definition the auditor is using and why it makes sense for a particular purpose. For example, if the auditor is trying to determine whether the company can maintain its present level of operations, the capital spending figure used hould exclude new investments and be limited to the amount of spending required to maintain operating assets. Sometimes maintenance spending is estimated at 2% of total assets, or up to 5% of property, plant and equipment. Industries with very long-lived capital assets may use smaller percentages to estimate maintenance spending. However, if the auditor is more interested in long-term growth potential, then actual capital expenditures from the cash flow statement should be used. Cash flow adequacy (CFA)†  (EBITDA – taxes paid – interest paid – capital expenditures) (Average annual debt maturities scheduled ver next 5 years) Company's credit quality †  These ratios require computation of the company's net free cash flows. As net free cash flow can vary by company as well as by industry, the formulas should be considered as recommended rather than absolute. Cash flow adequacy (CFA) ratio. The numerator is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) less taxes paid (cash taxes) less interest paid (cash interest) less capital expenditures (as qualified above). The denominator is the average of the annual debt maturities scheduled over the next five years.Cash flow adequacy helps smooth out some of the cyclical factors that pose problems with the capital expenditure ratio. It also makes allowances for the effects of a balloon payment. Companies with strong NFCF compared with upcoming debt obligations are better credit risks than companies that must use outside capital sources. Thus, a high CFA means high credit quality. KNOW YOUR CLIENT In order to fully understand where to set the levels at which the cash flow ratios discussed here should trigger deeper investigation, auditors need to understand their clients businesses and the industries in which they operate.As with any other ratio, an auditor should listen to the client's explanation of any unfavorable changes in cash r atios before becoming too alarmed. An auditor should know what cash concerns are critical to a company's business. We wouldn't suggest that a successful audit is just a matter of picking the right equations and plugging in the numbers. There are no absolutes. But properly applied, cash flow ratios can be revealing to auditors during the audit planning stages and can give the auditor a more accurate picture of the company. Auditors must ascertain whether the financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with GAAP.They must be satisfied with the accuracy of the transactions and balances summarized in the four financial statements and the related disclosures. Effective auditors can use cash flow ratios to improve their understanding of the cash concerns critical to the particular company and to plan the audit more effectively. References ^www. [email  protected] unr. edu (www. readability. com) ^www. [email  protected] edu (www. readability. com) ^Exhibit 1 (www. journalo faccountancy. com) ^exhibit 2 (www. journalofaccountancy. com) ^case study (www. journalofaccountancy. com)