The role which has been played by blogs and social networking in altering our daily usage of the internet and the World Wide Web

The development of the internet has been perhaps the best thing which has ever happened to human beings, as far as computer-based communication is concerned. Ever since its introduction in the world way back in 1965, the internet has continued to play a significant role in our lives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The role which has been played by blogs and social networking in altering our daily usage of the internet and the World Wide Web specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The advanced use of the internet or the World Wide Web in the contemporary world has had a revolutionary impact to the people all over the world, thus helping to improve their lives in a special way. The human life in vast areas of accountability has been made easier through the possibilities of world wide communications currently offered by the internet. As it would be observed, culture and commerce are some of the key aspects involving human s today that have been impacted largely by this modern trend of communication which continues to touch every part of our lives. On this particular note, the internet has played a major role in enhancing communication and interaction among people of different cultural backgrounds, through interactive elements like search engines and social networking sites found on the internet. More importantly, the evolution of the internet has continued to play a key role in today’s business arena in a number of ways. In regard with this subject, this paper examines how the use of blogs and social networking has altered our daily usage of the World Wide Web and the internet. The constant use of blogs and social networking as some of the main tools of communication offered by the internet has altered the way people use the World Wide Web. Just a couple of years ago, the internet would be seen as a platform for kids and idle adults to kill time in ways that could not be more useful. This woul d include things such as sharing of pictures and rants, email communication, and computer gaming, among other engaging activities. However, today, things have completely changed, and internet has emerged as one of the many things courtesy of the computer technology which have proved to be very useful to the human life. As a matter of fact, millions of people across the world have discovered just how the internet could be used for other beneficial ways, apart from simple communication and gaming (Goh Quek 2010). Today, people can interact freely with each other and even conduct business over the internet through blogs and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and My Space, among others. As it would be observed, most of these activities are based on social and economic grounds, and it is for such reasons why people would remain attached to the internet nowadays than ever before.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can hel p you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Blogs are interactive platforms through which people can communicate with each other and be able to share and discuss important things in life. Different people would tend to blog for varied reasons that would range from personal to commercial purposes. In this regard, blogging offers both personal and corporate benefits to its many users across the world. As it would be observed, there are diverse reasons as to why many people in the current world would prefer using blogging as a way of interaction and communication over the internet (Miura Yamashita 2007). First of all, blogging is an effective and first way of establishing relationships, and for that reason, it serves as a convenient way through which marketers and other business people could create links with potential customers. Another common purpose for using blogs is to build reputation and credibility online about one’s business. In this regard, businesses are able to provide information regarding their products and services to potential customers through an interactive basis where they can receive feedback and comments from the targeted audience. This, however, plays a significant role when it comes to understanding consumer interests better, thus giving marketers a better stand against their competitors in the market. Blogging also offers growing businesses an opportunity to create or establish community online. In this case, businesses can share their expertise, knowledge, and information on their products and/or services with a larger audience. More importantly, businesses can blog their new product updates, holidays, and other specials regarding their businesses, thus creating and maintaining good relationships with customers and clients. Apart from the benefits highlighted above, blogging also offers vast communication benefits to both the bloggers and the targeted people. Through this form of online communication, people can a lways be assured of effective communication all the time. Moreover, people would be sure to save much of their time when they use blogs to convey their message to the audience, than when they use other mediums of communication. More importantly, blogs are also known to offer a better solution for notification than email or websites. One common advantage of using blogs over other forms of online communication is that they are an inexpensive method of passing information to persons. Unlike the website, which involves many things which the users have to be familiar with before they can use them, operating a blog would only require one to have basic computer skills. Blog software is easy to operate, since they involve pushing of a few buttons on the computer keyboard, before the task is completed. This usually involves typing one’s thoughts or ideas, linking to relevant resources, and then publishing to blog for people to read. The idea of blogging is said to serve a wide array o f purposes beyond what people are likely to realise via the use of social media. As a matter fact, it is for these specific reasons why many people in the current world have decided to opt for blogs as the effective ways of conveying information.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The role which has been played by blogs and social networking in altering our daily usage of the internet and the World Wide Web specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social media has also played a very important role in changing the way humans use the World Wide Web or the internet. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and My Space, just to mention but a few, have emerged as very powerful platforms that have helped to transform the way we communicate and do business in the current world. These interactive sites have continued to play a key role in promoting and enhancing human interaction across the globe. As a matter of fact, social network site s have proved to be useful in enabling people interact online easily. Unlike the traditional ways of communication and the other forms of internet communication that entails the use of forums, email, and message boards, the use of social networking sites closely resembles face-to-face conversations, and this makes communication more effective. Popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and My Space are altering the human fabric of the World Wide Web. As it would be observed, none of the above social networks appeared to be exciting for the last five years, where they were seen as just virtual sites fit for kids and idlers than anything else. This perception, however, has changed completely in the current world where a greater percentage of the global population is said to be very active on these sites. According to current statistics on internet, Facebook alone has amassed over 600 million members and users across the world. On the same note, over 200 million are sai d to be actively involved in matters involving twitter. The same high participation is also observable in other social networks. This massive usage is a clear indication that the social sites are taking humans somewhere exciting. One common aspect of the social networks is that they do enable people to stay connected all the time, regardless of the geographical barriers separating them in life, among other common obstacles of normal interaction and communication. In this regard, there are many ways through which social networks have changed our lives, thus altering the daily usage of the internet in the world. One significant way by which social networks have widely been used is for normal socialisation. Social networking sites have become useful platforms of modern interactions through which people having similar interests and goals can connect. In this respect, employers can easily get in touch with their employees in matters of work, thus enhancing performance and productivity in the workplace. Moreover, people can easily communicate with their friends and family members.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Colgate and Buchanan (2005, p. 429), what makes the use of these interactive sites more interesting is the fact that, apart from them being virtual spaces upon which information can be managed in an efficient manner, the sites also enable their users to listen to music, share photos and watch videos, among other stuff. More importantly, just like such engines such as Google and Yahoo, social networking sites can also be educational and informational, and this keeps users updated on many things in life. Social sites such as Facebook and Twitter are also viewed as the most reliable communication platforms in the current world through which celebrities, and managers of non-profit organisations can reach out to their targets of interest. These social sites have also become the touchstone for politicians and other high-profile people who are willing to publicise and promote their causes. In this regard, the targeted people can also use the interactive platforms to share thei r ideas and voice their opinions. Moreover, they can also communicate with these people on a one-on-one basis. Social networking sites have become common among the younger generations in the world. For this reason, progressive politicians and other famous icons have seen them as the most efficient ways of reaching to the tech sawy youth of the current world, thus going for them without hesitation. Social networking sites have also proved to be useful tools in the modern business world. Things in this world are changing fast with times, and such is the business world which has taken every initiative possible to stay ahead in matters regarding technology. In the current times, progressive marketers and businesses allover the world have embraced the power of technology to reach their customers and try to engage them in useful communication that will help in improving their business relationships with them. In this case, marketers and businesses have turned to social sites as important platforms upon which they can advertise their products and services. Burn and Loch (2007, p. 39) claim that by â€Å"simply placing banners and advertisement texts about their products and services, companies and other businesses can be assured of reaching more customers in diverse regions, thus increasing their sales in the long run†. More importantly, social sites are cost inefficiency, thus enabling entrepreneurs and investors to draw insight on their businesses without having to incur much expense in terms of advertisement and publicity. The fact that sites such as Facebook offer much exposure to commercial advertisements, possibly owing to its great popularity across the world, has attracted many investors and entrepreneurs into the habit of using the social sites to promote their businesses. Both established and emerging businesses in the modern world have adopted the idea of social presence as a convenient way of testing their services on consumers. In this respect, cu stomers are able to air their views and give suggestions on products and services, among other aspects, thus helping businesses to understand their interests well. This plays a crucial role in facilitating future improvements to serve the customers better. Thanks to current advancements in the communication sector, an access to the internet has been extended to reach beyond computers to mobile phones. In this regard, internet users across the world are able to reach the internet and access social networking sites simply by pushing a button on their phones. This offers great opportunities to businesses, which are ever eager to reach an expansive market for their products and services. It is worth noting that social networking sites have also played a crucial role to modern journalism. Today, it is easy for the people in the media sector to reach large masses of people in the world, through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. In this case, news and other important in formation would have reached the audience long before they are aired through traditional media. More importantly, some news websites offer people the opportunity to share their version of a news event before it goes on air, thus adding value to the report. The ability to sift through news and speculated events offered by the social sites gives everyone who can access the internet a better understanding of the information, compared with anyone who relies just on traditional media to get to know about news (Sohail 2012). The other notable place where the effective use of social media has applied is in the business and recruitment sectors. As a matter of fact, there are businesses that operate solely on social networking sites such as My Space, Linked In, and Facebook. This, however, enables them to interact well with their clients and other people that may be of interest to them. In this regard, the businesses would sometimes see these interactive sites as convenient zones to seek pot ential employees, thus placing employment advertisements on them for willing applicants to apply. Linked In, which specialises on career and professional matters, is known to have undoubtedly played a key role in advancing careers by helping Human Resource professionals in the world discover potential employees with the desired qualities. In just another perspective, some potential employers have adopted a new way of getting to know their potential employees better through the social networking sites (Kumar, Novak Tomkins 2010). This has the meaning that it is possible for the employers to sift through the applicants’ information using sites such as Facebook, and make informed conclusions about them, before they get to hire them in their companies. On this note, it should always be understood by everyone that social networks can sometimes play a significant role in our professional lives, and therefore, it would always be a good idea for people to be careful with the kind of information they post on the internet for others to see. While good images and information give the best reflection of someone, compromising information, images or any other details can severely hurt one’s chances to pursue employment. The use of blogs and social networking sites, as observed in this paper, has completely changed the usage of the World Wide Web in the world. Blogs and social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and My Space, among others have completely reduced communication barriers in all aspects of human life. As observed in this paper, many people across the world have become great fans of the internet, owing to the many social and economic benefits associated with the trend. This, however, explains the current changes on the daily use of the internet in the current world. List of References Burn, J Loch, K 2007, ‘The societal impact of the World Wide Web-Key challenges for the 21st century’, Social Responsibility in the Informati on Age: Issues and Controversies, vol. 12. no. 29, pp. 34-39. Colgate, M Buchanan, O 2005, ‘Relationship benefits in an internet environment’, Managing Service Quality, vol. 15. no. 5, pp. 426-436, via Global Internet database. Goh, J Quek, C 2010, ‘An investigation of students’ perceptions of learning benefits of weblogs in an East Asian context: A Rasch analysis’, Educational Technology Society, vol. 13. no. 2, pp. 90-101. Kumar, R, Novak, J, Tomkins, A 2010, Structure and evolution of online social networks, Springer, New York. Miura, A Yamashita, K 2007, ‘Psychological and social influences on blog writing: An online survey of blog authors in Japan’, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, vol. 12. no. 4, pp. 1452-1471. Sohail, Q 2012, How social networks have changed our world, http://www.techi.com/ This essay on The role which has been played by blogs and social networking in altering our daily usage of the internet and the World Wide Web was written and submitted by user Harmony W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Chinese Company Research

Chinese Company Research Company summary HSBC was founded in 1865 in Shanghai and Hong Kong. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC group which has over 7,000 offices around the world. The bank’s headquarter is located in Hong Kong and serves about 570 branches in 20 countries and regions within the Asian-Pacific region.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Chinese Company Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The bank provides a wide range of banking and financial services, and is among the world’s leading organizations in the industry. Together with its subsidiaries, the bank holds consolidated assets worth HK$5,607 billion and reported total revenue of HK$187,559 million as at the end of FY 2011 (HSBC, 2011). In addition to being the source of employment, HSBC is engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as well as other non-business activities that are important to the banking business. Company performance O ne of the major achievements of HSBC in the last five years is the establishment of HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited. The subsidiary is among the leading foreign investors in the Mainland China with investments worth US$5 billion. The impact of this HSBC growth occurred when they launched gold-exchange business and became the first and only financial institution to conduct business as a party of the Shanghai Gold Exchange in 2008. Other notable developments include the expansion of banking and financial services by individual subsidiaries. The consequence of these developments has been the continued increase in revenues which lead to profitability. The FY2010 indicated an increase of HK$12,201 million to reach HK$57,597 million as compared to HK$36,787 million in FY2009. The profits for FY2011 were HK$67,591 million which increased by HK$9,994 million (HSBC, 2011). This growth in profit is expected to continue as the bank continues to capture new markets. Business strategies HSBC a nd its subsidiaries provide banking and other financial services across the globe. The bank provides personal financial services including mortgages, private loans, wealth management, savings account, credit cards, foreign exchanges, customer lending, international payments and insurance policies. The bank also offers commercial banking services such as foreign trade financing, treasury and capital markets, investment finance services and commercial cards.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The firm’s international banking provides financial solutions and investment banking; world asset management and capital investment products; and market operations that provide services in credit. HSBC operates in about 21 countries and regions. The areas of operations are divided into several territory including the Asian-Pacific, China, Europe, MENA region and Afr ica. Competitive position The HK and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is probably the most competitive bank in terms of revenue acquisition when compared with other Chinese banks. In terms of assets and capital, the bank is the leader. However, this competitive position is attributed to the global presence of its banking and financial markets. Other banks such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction bank and Bank of China have indicated better performance at the local level. Indeed, the profit growth rate of the Bank of China is much higher than that of HSBC and its global expansion is a big threat. Key questions What is the firm doing to maintain the lead in the banking sector? What risk management strategies are in place? Does the bank prepare for economic crisis? What strengths has the bank secured in order to increase profitability? Given the current global economic situation, does the bank perceive any future threats? Li Fung Limited Company summar y Li Fung Limited was founded in 1906 as a small traditional trading firm by two entrepreneurs: Fung Pak-Liu and Li To-Ming. From its humble background, the company grew to become a worldwide supply chain management company. Since 1992, the company has been listed in the Hong Kong Exchange as Li Fung Limited. Its operations extend to more than 40 countries with a workforce of about 26,000 employees. As of the end of FY2010, the company’s worth in terms of revenue stood at US$20,030 million and the total current assets were US$9,526 million (Li $ Fung, 2011). Company performance Li Fung Limited has continued to grow in terms of revenue and assets. Recently, the company announced robust growth, reflecting gains in the market share and synergistic changes of its business structure. In spite of the recent slow-down of the world economy, the company has continued to increase its revenue year after year. The FY2011 indicated the highest revenue gains of 26% as compared to FY2010 . This strong growth reflects the company’s strong position in expanding its market reach through acquisitions, organic growth and cross-selling activities from its core business networks, logistics and distribution. In the last few years, Li Fung has concentrated its market expansion in the growing economies. Asia in particular has become the significant platform for the company’s operations and sourcing activities. In 2011, the company completed its global distribution network which contributed greatly to its distribution operations. This expansion resulted in the operating profit growing by 22% to reach US$882 million as of FY2011. Simultaneously, shareholder profits rose by 24% in 2011 compared to FY2010.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Chinese Company Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Business strategies Li Fung Limited is a global consumer products export trading company managi ng the supply network for large-scale, time-sensitive consumer commodities. The company’s operations are described in three business elements: business networks of trading, distribution and logistics. These elements are used to identify business partners, initiate business transactions and complete the transaction across many parts of the world. The company has also strategized on targeting specific markets where the flow of consumer goods is high. Some of the strategic locations are within the Mainland China, though goods are sourced via a network of outlets in 40 countries targeted for consumers in Europe, Asia, US and Southern Hemisphere. Competitive position By all means, Li Fung is the leader in China trading industry in terms of revenue. The company’s position was strengthened by its acquisitions of Inchape Buying Services and the Swire Group which were the biggest competitors. However, there is considerable competitive pressure posed by Jebsen Co limited and M ars Concord limited. These competitors have by all means penetrated the local markets more than Li Fung. Indeed, Mars Concord limited was largely unaffected by the Asian financial crisis. These competitors were also faster than Li Fung in implementing B2B business models which enhanced their operations significantly. Key questions Given the stiff competition, what market should the firm pay attention to? How is the company responding to the effects of the economic crisis? What strategies should the company implement in future? Is the company responding to globalization appropriately? Does the financial position of the firm guarantee future growth? Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL) Company summary Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL) is a global corporation engaged in a range of business including health and beauty trade, container ports operations, mobile video technology among others. The company is committed to innovation and technology with operations spread across the world. Indeed , its diverse collection of holdings range from global-scale operations to infrastructure and property development to the world’s leading telecommunication operations in terms of technology and marketing. As at 31st December 2011, HWL reported a turnover of HK$ 388 billion. The company properties and assets are sprawled all over the world and include skyscrapers, industry facilities and real estates. Company performance The performance of HWL is mainly attributed to its global expansion and business diversity. For the last few years, the company has been expanding its market share through the establishment of businesses in new economies. In 2008 for instance, HWL engaged in the investment and development of several deep-sea ports in China.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 2012, the company successfully implemented the establishment and IPO of Hutchison Port Holdings Trust on the Singapore Exchange. The 2011 average production of oil reached 312,500 barrels per day. The number of 3G customers served by the company has grown tremendously reaching over 31.6 million making it the market leader. Recently, the company established mobile telecommunication in Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The consequence of these developments has been the continued increase in revenues which lead to profitability. The FY2010 indicated an increase in profit attributed to shareholders of HK$25,830million to reach HK$56,019 million in FY2011 as compared to HK$20,179 million in FY2010 (HWL, 2012). Business strategies With operation in more than 53 countries and territories, HWL has six core businesses: property and hotels, ports services, infrastructure development, retail, energy and telecommunications. Some of the major firms are Cheung Kong Infrastructure, Hutchison po rt Holdings, Power assets and Hutchison Telecom. HWL holds and manages ports services in about 26 countries and territories. They own the London Thamesport in UK and Harwich Ports as well as other ports in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. On top of the quality hotels and properties in Hong Kong and China, HWL has interest in many foreign property developments mainly in UK and the Bahamas. The company owns several retail chains including supermarkets, boutiques, electronic stores, beauty shops and drug stores in 30 countries worldwide. HWL engages in infrastructure development mainly in Hong Kong, China, UK, Australia and Canada. Its energy operations are conducted in Canada through Husky Energy Inc while telecommunication operations are worldwide. Competitive position The key competitors of HWL include Swire Pacific Limited, Jardine Matheson holdings Limited, HSBC Holdings plc, The Wharf Limited, and NW Development Limited. These competitors compete with individual business s egments of the company. Their revenue performance is much less than that of HWL. The capital market performance in 2011 was such that the shares traded around 9.8 times expected earnings. The company also traded at about 40 percent discount to the net asset value. The figures are cheaper compared to the closest rival corporations: Wharf Holdings Ltd and Swire Pacific Limited. Wharf Company is second largest telecommunication firm in Hong Kong after HWL. Swire Company invests in shipping business and is a principal shareholder of the Chinese Cathy Pacific Airways. Other competitors can be sorted by location, but have little significance. Key questions Does the management have the capacity to manage the firm appropriately? What issues are important in the management of diversified businesses? What business segments are most strategic in the current economic state? Does the Asian market satisfy the business operations therein? What competitive advantage does the firm pursue? Wal-Mart (China) Company summary The parent organization of Wal-Mart China is the American Wal-Mart superstore, the world’s largest retailer and company. The company started retailing in China in 1996 by establishing a supercenter and Sam’s Club in the city of Shenzhen. Since its establishment, the company has grown its sales, store base and market share at over 40 percent. As at December 2011, the firm’s sale revenues climbed with 21 percent to reach US$10.6 billion. Their first profits were reported in 2009 which forced the company to focus on expanding in the Mainland China. The firm settled on changing the business concept that was used in US to accommodate the diversity of the Chinese consumers, but maintained their key segments and brand names. Currently, the store operates 319 hypermarkets under the banners of Wal-Mart and Trust-Mart. Company performance With the many opportunities in the Chinese market as a result of the high population and stable economy, Wal-M art has continued to expand its operations. Currently, there are about 373 retail units including Supercenters, Sam’s Clubs, Trust-Mart Hypermarkets, Neighborhood markets, Discount Compact Hyper and Smart Choice. In 2007, the company bought a 35% interest in Trust-Mart. In 2011, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Shanghai government to develop the company’s China e-Commerce headquarters in the city. Wal-Mart growth within the Chinese market is partly attributed to its business concept and partly to the corporate social responsibility. The firm is involved in social and economic activities that promote the life of the Chinese people. These developments have resulted in increased sales revenue and profits. The sales figure in FY2010 and FY2011 were US$7.5 and US$ 10.6 billion respectively (Burkitt, 2012). This trend indicates the growth opportunities for the firm in the Chinese market. Business strategies Wal-Mart China engages in retailing c onsumer goods through several business concepts. The concepts reflect those offered by the mother company and include superstores, Sam’s Club, hypermarkets, Neighborhood markets, Discount Compact Hyper and Smart Choice. The core marketing strategy is focused on low pricing. Within this market, the major segment is the grocery segment and takes 96% of the total products offered. Wal-Mart stores are located in the major cities as most of the Chinese consumers are concentrated within the urban areas. Competitive position Wal-Mart is the second largest retailer in Chinese market in terms of market share, after Sun Art Retail Group Limited which is a business partnership between France and Taiwan. Sun Art Company was established earlier and has attained the lead by understanding consumer needs and enjoying first mover advantages. The competitor also employs a decentralized management structure where department managers can make pricing and production decisions quickly to meet the needs of local people unlike Wal-Mart whose decisions originate from its headquarters. Most of the other close competitors such as Beijing Hualian Group Stores have been able to increase profits by establishing upscale stores catering to consumers wishing to purchase premium and imported goods. Despite this stiff competition, the Chinese market is far from saturation and Wal-Mart is poised to make more profits in future. Key questions What opportunities can the firm exploit in the Chinese market? Does the company’s current performance promise a better future? Can the financial position of the company allow for future expansion? How are the Chinese consumers different from American consumers? Does decentralization prevent the firm from understanding the market? Foxconn (targeted) Company summary Foxconn is a world leading Technology Company that has its roots in China. The company is the principle founder and member of the Foxconn Technology Group that was established in 197 4. Its facilities are spread across the world particularly in its principal markets: Europe, Asia and America. Headquartered in Taiwan, the firm employs over 900,000 employees across the world. As at December 2010, its turnover was 2.997 billion NTD with a continuous increase of 53%. The company supplies technological products to some of the word’s renowned brands such as Apple, Nintendo, Nokia, Motorola, Dell and Sony Ericsson. Company performance In an effort to become a global company, Foxconn has continued to support its market with designs and developments of modern technology. In the recent past, the company has expanded from its principal manufacturing locations in China to other countries. Through a series of investments, the company transformed itself into a market leader in the technology industry. Currently, the firm has established numerous subsidiaries throughout Asia, America and Europe which offer products and services of high quality and low cost with high eff iciency. Throughout its regions of operations, the company has established a research network with an integrated intellectual property management system and completely functional innovation platform. As at December 2010, the company had about 88,000 patent applications comprising about 40,000 that were authorized. Apparently, these developments have led to the continued growth in revenue and profits. By the FY2011, the firm made a net profit of US$75 million which was an increase from the previous year profits (FIHL, 2011). Business strategies Foxconn (target) is a member of Foxconn Technology group that engages in the production and assembly of technology products. The company focuses on six key technologies namely: manufacturing computers, consumer electronics, car electronics, telecommunications, digital contents and channel business. The firm has grown from a manufacturer to technology innovator and developer. With its headquarters based in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Foxconn has i ts operations spread across three continents: Asia, America and Europe. The firm is committed to strengthening its market position as a responsible business entity across the globe, with the present six key competencies as the platform. Competitive position The original equipment manufacturer industry is dominated by firms from the Asian continents and in particular from Far East. However, Foxconn is a leader in both manufacturing and supply of technological products. Their innovation capability and market research are the key competitive strengths that lead to competitive advantage. This has resulted in the company becoming the preferred supplier by many electronic product marketers around the world such as Dell, Apple, Motorola, Sony and Nokia. This dominance indicates little pressure from competitors especially those from foreign markets. But, several competitors such as Quanta Computer, Austek, Pegatron Corporation and Compal Electronics have an impact on the industry. These com petitors have particularly responded to employee concerns which have been the major drawback in Foxxon. Key questions How is the firm responding to labor issues? What future plans does the firm have as pertaining to internationalization? What can the firm do to position itself better in the rising competition? How is the firm’s relationship with key customers? Is the financial strength enough to maintain future profitability? Lenovo Company summary Lenovo brand was established in 2004 after Legend Holdings acquired the Personal Computer Segment of IBM. The strategic acquisition had the advantage that the former was the Chinese leader in electronic industry while the latter had invented the personal computer industry. Lenovo thus grew rapidly as a result of the two strengths. Currently, the company is worth US$21 billion in revenue and is the second largest PC vendor in the world. The company employs over 26,000 employees in about 60 countries and territories serving consume rs in about 160 countries and territories. It is a global Fortune 500 firm that is headquartered in Beijing, China with manufacturing facilities spread across the world. Company performance Lenovo being the leader in the Chinese PC market and holding about 30% of the market share has grown fast and even won market share in many parts of the globe. The company has continuously outgrown the global PC market in production and attained substantial market share in significant geographical areas, customer segments and product portfolio. This has made the company to be the fastest glowing among the major PC manufacturers for the last two years. The company has emerged to be the PC leader in Japan, China and Germany. Their Smartphone and notebooks have hit several consumer segments. According to the Wall Street Journal, Lenovo net profits rose by 88 percent in the recent quarter due to strong shipments growth which drove the firm past Dell to take the second position as a PC maker (Fletcher , 2011). Business strategies The business strategy for Lenovo is to develop a unique personal touch through innovative technology. All along, the company has created and built outstandingly engineered personal technology. The company is always defining new ways of doing business and positioning itself as the next generation corporation. Its core strength is in China, substantial growth in developing economies and a distinct global trail. The company builds on its dominant platform in the Chinese market to grow internationally. Their new way of doing business is expanding from East to West; introducing new products in the home market and then extending them to the next potential market. Competitive position Despite the stiff competition in the PC industry, Lenovo has indicated tremendous growth which has made it to be the second largest manufacturer after Apple. Unfortunately, the larger part of the market share is from the Chinese market unlike other competitors who have concentrate d on international markets. Apple, HP and Dell in particular have a substantial presence in the global market as compared to Lenovo. Their distribution and supply chains are well established uplifting their competitive advantage. Lenovo could be a leader due to the dominance it has in the Chinese market, yet its global appearance is weaker than the four key competitors. Key questions What future strategies does the firm have in place? Can these strategies maintain the present growth rate? Which markets have the best opportunities for the company? Why should the firm focused on increasing revenue than internationalizing? Which are the firm’s core strength and their viability in future economic dynamics? References Burkitt, L. (2012). Wal-Mart to work harder on growth in China. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304356604577340912309012378.html. Fletcher, O. (2011). Lenovo profit rises 88%. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577013280771200006.html. Foxconn International Holdings Limited. (2011). 2011 Annual report. Retrieved from http://pg.jrj.com.cn/acc/HK_DISC/stock_time/2011/04/08/001184514-0.PDF. Hutchison Whampoa Limited. (2010). 2010 Annual report. Retrieved from http://202.66.146.82/listco/hk/hutchison/annual/2011/keyfininfo.pdf. Li Fung Limited. (2011). 2011 Annual report. Retrieved from lifung.com/eng/ir/reports/ir2011/ir2011.pdf. The HK and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. (2011). 2011 Annual report. Retrieved from hsbc.com.hk/1/PA_1_3_S5/content/about/financial-information/financial-reports/bank/pdf/2011report.pdf.

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sociology - Essay Example The world becomes accessible through greater connectivity and the socialization becomes a grand scale phenomenon in which all of the world is accessible if one learns how to create that access. When a child is born, socialization begins through the ways in which the world around them responds to their gender, in balance with the traditions that have been passed down in the way that an infant is handled. In the beginning, the way a child is talked to, the expectations that are imposed upon the child, and the ways in which adults behave around them will begin the process of teaching the child how to behave in the world and interact with others. As shown by Davis, a child will learn to get attention and to manifest wants, as well as how to eat and dispose of his or her elimination in a manner that is congruent with the people who are around them. When denied this type of learning, they will simply not participate in the world (558). As adults and older children interact with an infant, they begin to imitate the behaviors that they see being exhibited around them. This is the process of socialization. This occurs as the context of environmental factors begins to shape the perception of identity through different aspects of experience which include gender, ethnic identity, and nationality. In the United States this is a multifaceted structure in which connectivity is derived from crossing a series of cultures to which one is exposed and learning how to interact through a variety of different methods within a variety of different environments (Anderson and Taylor 98). As opposed to just one environment, a person has multiple environments in which different behaviors are appropriate. The way one behaves at home, in school, at work, and in social situations may all be very different and those behaviors are learned by observation and then imitation. Socialization is the occurrence of being able to navigate those atmospheres and to fit into them through interaction. Soci alization is the way in which a child learns to engage in the world. Without learning communication, both through verbal and physical indications, a child will be without the ability to interact. If the situation of Helen Keller is examined, a girl who was born without the ability to either see nor hear, one can see how communication is developed through interaction. Because of her condition, Helen was indulged and became used to violently and aggressive outbursts through which she communicated what she wanted, but she did not have a concept of the needs of others (Keller et al xi). She had neither heard nor seen anything of her world, thus her only concept was that of her self. Through the interactions that were provided by a strong willed teacher who sought to bring her out of her self involved world, Keller was able to begin to understand communication, through which she could not only act, but interact. The example provided by Davis of Anna, a little girl who had been severely n eglected to the point of showing little to no development of any kind, it is shown that through a small amount of interaction a child will be begin to interact with the world, thus proving the need and power of socialization. Anna showed little in the way of emotions, thus showing that even the acts of crying or smiling were not necessarily instinctual, but learned. However, just

Facility Management Paper Speech or Presentation

Facility Management Paper - Speech or Presentation Example All these must be handled in a coordinated manner either concurrently for some and/or in a procedural way for others to ensure event success and leave stakeholders and guests smiling. The context of the event in this paper involves managing a potential event to be held at an arena in Charles Town, West Virginia. The stadium has a seating capacity of 65,000 and is used as a multipurpose facility for many occasions particularly sporting ones. This time it is expected to host the 2015 NCAA Final Four. This paper will provide information on how the event can be organized successfully in terms of planning for its management, risk management, crowd control procedures, medical emergency, and evacuation. It will also try to describe how facility negligence can be avoided to minimize risks and undesirable outcomes. 2. Event Planning Planning is the most important part of any occasion or project to be undertaken. This would generally involve developing a management plan including a program of activities to be done and timing. In case advertising or other advance activities are to be done, these must be planned earlier than the event date and a time schedule is therefore important here. The scope of management skills required for such an event would include organizing, resourcing, creative directing, human resource management, negotiating, financial management, public representation and troubleshooting (Enock and Jacobs, 2008). 2.1 Details of the Event As an event manager, I would begin by enquiring about event time if the date in 2015 has not been decided on already. This is important so that the timing for the NCAA final four is scheduled at a time when weather is favorable for majority of people to be in town to boost turn up and success. The venue has already been decided upon and so that may not be an event detail to deal with. 2.2 Setting up the Organizing Committee Group or team work is always an important aspect of any work management style. Here I would be concer ned about who are the main stakeholders for this event including promoters, stadium facility people, and service providers among others. A statement of roles and responsibilities would then be developed after brainstorming on the key activity areas. Managing committees effectively means recognizing why people became involved; it requires a combination of organizational skills and an understanding of the members. Skills match to roles and jobs to be done is important to achieve effective and efficient performance of the work at hand. I would promote motivation of members of the committee by appraising, recognition, instilling a sense of ownership of the process to them and encouraging networking and acquisition of new knowledge and skills by individuals. Based on technical expertise of the members, I shall set up a number of necessary subcommittees to deal with duties of secretariat, technical, logistics, sponsorship, and publicity. 2.3 Set Clear Objectives With the committee in plac e, I will then guide the process

Orgninzational behaviour Leadership paper Research

Orgninzational behaviour Leadership - Research Paper Example I will use my motivational skills to extract the best from them to prove my competency. I will use my full intelligence and innovativeness to make each employee contribute the best to the company, happily. I will use my responsibility as a leader to make life easier for the people working under me and make them achieve new heights in their career at the same time. To be a leader is to be responsible. To be responsible for our own life and all others following us is no easy task. As an IT project manager in the banking sector and the only female to occupy the position in my team, I look forward to a bright future. My aim is to serve as a leader capable of creating a difference. I hope to put my business management skills to their best use and explore versatile fields in the future ending up as a project manager in a couple of years. I constantly keep updating my educational qualifications and developing my interpersonal skills to do the same effectively. There are so many things emplo yees expect from their leaders. Honesty and transparency are the basic foundation of good leadership. Competence and empathy are the best adornments for any leader. A caring leader not capable of inspiring the team to achieve the target will be of little use to the company as well as the employees. Similarly, a demanding one who does not care about his follower’s situation cannot create a trustworthy team. ... Being an example of what you want your followers to be is the first step towards successful leadership. The second step is motivating them or luring them with the benefits of being competent and perfect. The third step is to help them achieve the same by eliminating any problems they have. The main challenge is to win the trust of the employees and manage time effectively. So many followers doubt the leaders who take extra care with them. It is the leader's duty to make them understand their well being is as important as achieving target. Managing time to set everybody's problem right might be an issue at first. But, it can be managed easily with the help of the other team members. The very fact that the leader is caring more will extract more sincerity from the employee’s side, making them solve their problems themselves. The main impact a woman leader creates in a work place in general is a surprise. One female leadership inspires many more women to come up successfully in t heir career rather than get satisfied with the position they are currently in. There is a general belief that good deeds go unrewarded and only power can help gain respect and influence. Proving power can be used to help people in productive ways is the major fact I wish to establish. There are several tools to do the same. Intelligence, empathy and competence are the most important of all. Any grim situation can be turned into a favourable one if a person is calm and creative enough to analyze the pitfall in it. Good leadership can simply make or break an organization. There are five practices necessary for exemplary leadership which can transform any worst team into star performers. They are communication, honesty and integrity, creativity and innovation and

Improving Access to Nature in Urban Environments

Improving Access to Nature in Urban Environments In an urbanizing world, discuss the value of green and blue spaces in towns and cities and describe some of the approaches being used to improve access to nature. Introduction 50 years after Henri Lefebvre identified seeds of planet ‘Trantor’, Isaac Asimov’s (1995) completely urbanized science fiction planet, amidst the Earth’s urbanization (Merrifield, 2013), 54% of global population today are urban dwellers, and it is projected to increase to 66% in 2050 (United Nations, 2014). Lefebvre’s prognostications are coming true at a staggering pace. Such booming population growth in cities and towns puts immense pressure on ever-shrinking urban spaces. In light of competing land use, the frantic pursuit of economic prosperity and social advancement has neglected urban green and aquatic environments. Many remain incognizant of the importance of nature and its access within increasingly concretized landscapes. The benefits and detriments of urban green and blue spaces will be explored using a multi-dimensional approach considering various aspects of urban nature’s importance. Health Dimension To begin with, from the perspective of well-being, green and blue environments satisfy a fundamental human need for a conducive environment. Human evolution theory suggests that modern humans have developed a certain genetic inclination to respond positively to habitat settings favourable to survival and well-being of their ancestors (Kellert and Wilson, 1993). These responses are believed to be triggered when immersed within nature. As such, the restorative effects of nature seem to serve as ‘natural tranquilizers’ amidst the urban hustle and bustle (van den Berg et al., 1998). For instance, Ulrich (1984) discovered that hospital patients with the opportunity to look out onto greenery recovered much quicker from surgery than those whose views were confined to buildings. This reflects the recuperative influences of green spaces on well-being of urban dwellers. Further research also strengthened evidence of restorative sounds and visual properties of water and waves withi n aquatic spaces (White et al, 2010). The array of physical and spiritual healing functions of natural environments provide the basis of human needs that make cities and towns liveable. Socio-Spatial Dimension Moving on, from a social paradigm, natural environments within urban localities can facilitate social progression by allowing people to seek emotional refuge while providing valued recreational space. ‘The free world of the public park has always evolved a pre-lapsarian world of innocence and autonomy’ (Thompson, 2002, p. 66). Indeed, chasing after better lives and getting to places on time have caused personal time to be left behind amidst busy cosmopolitan lifestyles. The serene natural environment is perhaps the only place where one could seek emotional shelter in terms of privacy and self-reflection. In addition to being emotional sanctuaries, urban green and blue spaces represent extended recreational space amidst congested urban environments. Growing urban populations are forcing people to live even closer than ever before as land use becomes competitive. For instance, half of Hong Kong’s population is housed within continuously shrinking living space at app roximately 13.4m ³ per individual (Hong Kong Housing Authority, 2014). Increasing proximity between humans generates feelings of confinement within countless of man-made walls. Hence, the presence of open green and blue spaces allow urban dwellers to step away from the highly-constrained landscapes of built environments, where there is space for one’s privacy and for forging social relationships free from cramped cities and towns. While recognising the importance of urban green and blue spaces, it would be myopic to overlook any potential detriments. Although these natural environments are paradise away from stressful urban life, they could also be harbour potential danger. These natural habitats provide ‘wild’ breeding grounds for crime and incivilities, and could ‘be a place of fear and anxiety’ (Thompson, 2002, pp. 66). Research studies revealed that visitors to promenades along the Rhine in Cologne and Dà ¼sseldorf, especially women and elderly, were concerned about theft and harassment in addition to issues of victimisation (Và ¶lker and Kistemann, 2013, pp. 120). The manifestation of crime and anti-social behaviour creates negative perceptions and feelings of powerlessness that indirectly erect mental barriers for potential nature users. Development Dimension Apart from the benefits that urban inhabitants enjoy, it is also imperative that we consider the advantages of having urban natural environments within cities and towns. Urban green and blue spaces contribute to the sustainable development of built environments, in both economic and ecological dimensions. Research conducted by White et al. (2010) revealed that combined green and blue environments were most preferred, depicted in Fig 1. Fig 1: Research Conclusions on Environment Preference Ratings Source: White et al. (2010), pp. 487 The aesthetic appeal of nature highlighted above translates to higher fiscal revenue and monetary returns for the urban settlement. For instance, people were found to be willing to pay almost 8% to 12% more for housing properties with views of water and green interface across several districts within the Netherlands (Luttik, 2000). In addition, urban greenery also attracts greater influx of foreign investments into cities and towns, exemplified by the beautification of Singapore as a â€Å"garden city† that propelled the city’s economic rise (Braatz, 1993). Hence, the presence of green and blue spaces in urban areas create positive perceptions of pleasant environments, which makes cities and towns more alluring in the economic sense. Furthermore, ecological footprints of urban development could potentially be mitigated. Research has shown that 85% of air pollutants and dust particles can be filtered out in a typical-sized urban park (Bolund and Sven, 1999), In addition, the combined effects of green and blue spaces are also effective in combating the urban heat island effect. Ambient temperatures within Chapultepec Park in Mexico City were observed to be 2 °C to 3 °C lower than surrounding urban areas (Jauregui, 1990/1991). The presence of natural spaces helps to regulate the urban environment and make cities and towns more hospitable. For any urban settlement pursuing sustainable development, these green and blue spaces may hold the answers. Improving Access to Nature Growing understanding of the urban nature’s beneficial outcomes and potential detriments has generated renewed focus on making nature more accessible. Different definitions of improving access underpin the myriad of strategies and implementations that have been adopted. Firstly, the shift in focus towards ‘green infrastructure’ which involves enhancing engineered water infrastructure by integrating nature with urban ‘grey infrastructure’ have become increasingly popular (Wendel et al., 2011). This approach interprets improving accessibility as increasing the distribution of natural spaces. Recent academic literature suggest that we â€Å"may have to bring nature to people rather than have people come to nature, especially in urbanized environments’ (Lin et al., 2014, pp. 6). Thus, nature should be incorporated into existing urban infrastructure to raise opportunities for encounters. In Tampa, Florida, converted storm water ponds enhanced with green spaces saw a 35% increase in walking access (Wendel et al., 2011). On the other hand, in South-East London, such incorporation was done through the restoration of a section of river Ravensbourne within Cornmill Gardens by replacing concrete encasements with natural slopin g banks and bank vegetation (The London Rivers Action Plan, 2009). These strategies, combining landscape and water management, mimics natural watersheds to enhance urban hydrology while greatly improving public access. Another strategy to improve accessibility points towards public education espousing human connections with nature. This approach understands improving access through raising motivation to visit nature. Education theory suggests that ‘biophilia’ (Kellert and Wilson, 1993) and interest in nature are encouraged by early childhood experiences (Stokes, 2006). Removal of such experiences would dramatically reduce one’s motivation to visit nature regardless of accessibility. To illustrate, the Forest Schools Education (FSE) movement was originally developed to develop a greater affinity with nature for pre-school children in Denmark. This Scandinavian concept, now adopted across pre-schools worldwide, develops children’s appreciation of nature through regular visits to natural spaces for play (Forest Schools Education, 2013). Cultivating one’s orientation towards nature through interactive opportunities can therefore develop life-long motivations to visit t he natural environment. Thirdly, improving accessibility by reducing barriers to usage advocates the improvement of public amenities within natural spaces. This approach focuses on creating safe and conducive conditions for public access to nature with a peace of mind. This greatly reduces perceptions of danger and encourages frequent access. In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, over 65% of respondents highlighted safety as the main obstacle that limited accessibility of nature (Wendel et al., 2012). Hence, access to nature can be augmented through improved public amenities and infrastructure to make these spaces safer. In Bogota, Columbia, improving access to nature focused upon heightened security and safety through installing fences, increasing uniformed guard patrol frequencies and improving lighting conditions (Berney, 2010). Thus, safe natural environments would encourage more frequent visits and greatly reduce deterrence of usage associated with perceptions of danger. Conclusion Being indispensable ecological assets in today’s urbanizing world, urban green and blue environments deliver an extensive range of crucial functions that cover health and social benefits to ecological and economic goals. Facilitating public access to these ‘lungs of the city’ (Sutton, 1971) through a spectrum of interventions ensure that the opportunities and perks provided by these urban ecosystems help improve the quality of urban life. As planet Earth increasingly resembles ‘Trantor’ more than ever before, we must realize that in order to sustain the development of cities and towns, urban natural environments are a ‘must-have’ rather than a ‘nice-to-have’. 1509 words Bibliography Asimov, I. 1955. Foundation, (Voyager Paperback, London). Berney, R. 2010. Learning from Bogota: How municipal experts transformed public spaces, Journal of Urban Design, 15(4) pp. 539 – 558. Bolund, P. and Sven, H. 1999. Ecosystem Services in Urban Areas, Ecological Economics, 29 pp. 293 – 301. Braatz, S. 1993. Urban Forestry in Developing Countries: Status and Issues, in Kollin, C., Mahon, J. and Frame, L. (eds) Proceedings of the Sixth National Urban Forest Conference: Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 14-18, 1993, (American Forests, Minnesota). Forest Schools Education, 2013. ‘Introduction to Forest Schools’, http://www.forestschools.com/course-material/forest-schools-general/, Accessed 11th October 2014. Hong Kong Housing Authority, 2014. Housing in Figures 2014, https://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/common/pdf/about-us/publications-and-statistics/HIF.pdf. Jauregui, E. 1990/1991. Influence of a large urban park on temperature and convective precipitation in a tropical country, Energy and Buildings, 15 – 16 pp. 45 – 63. Kellert, S.R. and Wilson, E.O. 1993. The biophilia hypothesis, (Island Press, Washington DC). Lin, B., Fuller, R., Bush, R., Gaston, K. and Shanahan, D. 2014. Opportunity or Orientation? Who Uses Urban Parks and Why, PLOS ONE, 9(1) pp. 1 – 7. Luttik, J. 2000. The value of trees, water and open space as reflected by house prices in the Netherlands, Landscape and Urban Planning, 48 pp. 161 – 167. Merrifield, A. 2013. The Urban Question under Planetary Urbanization, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 37.3 pp. 909 – 922. Rosenzweig, M.L. 2003. Win-Win Ecology: How The Earth’s Species Can Survive In The Midst of Human Enterprise, (Oxford University Press, New York). Stokes, D.L. 2006. Conservators of Experience, BioScience, 56(1) pp. 6 – 7. Sutton, S.B. (ed.). 1971. Civilizing American Cities: A Selection of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Writings on City Landscapes, (MIT Press, Cambridge). The River Restoration Centre, 2009. The London Rivers Action Plan: A tool to help restore rivers for people and nature, http://www.therrc.co.uk/lrap/lplan.pdf. Thompson, C.W. 2002. Urban open space in the 21st Century, Landscape and Urban Planning, 60 pp. 59 – 72. Ulrich, R.S. 1984. View through a window may influence recovery from surgery, Science, 224 pp. 420 – 421. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2014. World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision, Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/352). van den Berg, A.E., Maas, J., Verheij, R.A. and Groenewegen, P. 2010. Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health, Social Science and Medicine, 70 pp. 1203 – 1210. Và ¶lker, S. and Kistemann, T. 2013. â€Å"I’m always entirely happy when I’m here!† Urban blue enhancing human health and well-being in Cologne and Dà ¼sseldorf, Germany, Social Science and Medicine, 78 pp.113 – 124. Wendel, H.E., Downs, J.A. and Milhelcic, J. 2011. Assessing Equitable Access to Urban Green Space: The Role of Engineered Water Infrastructure, Environmental Science and Technology, 45 pp. 6728 – 6734. Wendel, H.E., Zarger, R. and Mihelcic, J. 2012. Accessibility and usability: Green space preferences, perceptions and barriers in a rapidly urbanizing city in Latin America, Landscape and Urban Planning, 107 pp. 272 – 282. White, M., Smith, A., Humphryes, K., Pahl, S., Snelling, D. and Depledge, M. 2010. Blue Space: The importance of water for preference, affect and restorativeness ratings of natural and built scenes, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30 pp. 482 493.

Essays --

Animals have always been evolving and are constantly adapting to their changing environments. All organisms require the intake of food and disposal of waste, the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and respiratory gases. To determine how much of this each organism needs, it is based on each organism’s volume. Organisms are able to exchange materials the fastest when the surface-to-volume relationship is larger. Because larger organisms have a smaller surface-to-volume relationship, the exchange of materials and the ability to lose heat is more difficult. Organisms have changed from single, to multicellular. A single celled organism has a large surface-to-volume ratio, which means it is able to efficiently exchange and remove materials. As these organisms evolve over time and grow larger, they eventually become multicellular and must increase their surface area. Sea Anemones and Tapeworms are a perfect example of this as they have elongated, flat bodies. Thus, the d iffusion between the organism and its environment only require a short time. Question 2 The various structures of porifera include Asconoid, Syconoid and Leuconoid. Asconoids have the simplest structures, an atrium lined with choanocytes. Incurrent ostia allow water directly into the chamber. Asconoids eventually increased the thickness of their body wall and became Syconoids. Syconoids have choanocyte chambers that extend into the body wall. An even thicker body wall was created and Syconoids evolved into the most complex structure, the Leuconoid. Leuconoids have choanocyte chambers isolated deep within a body wall. Incurrent and excurrent canals lead to them from the outside, which then leads to the atrium. With each organ exchanging specific ... ... development was muscle tissue. The platyhelmiths are the first animal with true musculature. Muscle from the mesoderm is attached to the endoderm and ectoderm. Endoderm muscles line the pharynx and are surrounded by muscles that allow it to be extended, withdrawn and suck in food. There are also longitudinal muscle fibers that allow the body to elongate and perform the various turning and bending activities of the worm. A protonephridium is a network of dead-ending tubules, also known as flame cells, that function is osmoregulation and ionoregulation. Each cell has one or more cilia and their beating creates an outward going current and pressurization. The pressure created drives waste fluids from the inside of the animal to the protonephridium. The terminals are large enough for small molecules to pass through, but larger proteins are kept in the animal.

How To Make A Girl Fall In Love With You

Let's get started. Getting a girl of your dreams is much like getting the car of your dream. But unlike a car which you can always bargain for, there is nothing like a 20 percent discount in courting the girl of your dreams, she's so sweet a thing to be discounted, you dearly are in love with her and your feelings for her can only be communicated not by the words of the mouth, but by the words of the heart. Getting the girl actually depends on how big your heart is – faint heart, never won fair lady. The first dating idea for any man is to make a good impression. In your doing so, you don't have to talk, dress or do the common things that all the Toms do to get a decent girl's attention. Be unique, that's all you need. Be a man of his own style. Dress decently – indecency can make one be mistaken for arrogance; watch your language – obscene language gives the impression of immaturity, being uncultured and cheap; be a man of good habits – don't drink or smoke like any other loser. How to make her fall in love with you? Take your time. Add some romance to your dating style. When in College I had a crush on the most beautiful lady in our first year lot. Though all senior guys were out to get that girl, I managed to divert her attention from the other guys. I wrote her three letters without disclosing my identity and slid into her room secretly; all I said was ‘Yours Secret Admirer. ‘ The first letter contained the meaning of her name, this I got by playing around with the initials of her name to make meaning. The second was a funny message that could only be read backwards and it was all about her physique and her smartness. In the third letter I told the girl to be ready to receive a rose flower from her admirer, but only if she could be kind enough to phone him using a number that I had included in the letter. The girl did phone me that very night, and her first words to me were, â€Å"Hallo Secret Admirer. † So, the story of our love affair came to be. Later she told me that was so creative of me, no one had approached her in that manner. I made her fall in love with me and made a date in the romantic manner. Befriending and understanding the girl you are out to get is the next important thing. This is what I also did. You have to understand that as a lady, she loves to be loved, adores to be adored and needs to be needed. This will move you closer to the girl and you'll get to know what she's into, what she likes and dislikes, and what her style is. Love is built upon friendship and it always leaves individuals better off having known each other should they break up. I and my College steady were to break some time later but to date, we are the best of buddies. Be sure that bringing out the selflessness friend in you will make her create room for you in her heart. A shoulder to lean on and some good friend that she can always turn to is all that a lady wants. Please don't hesitate to be helpful and supportive. Be that friend who rekindles her zeal of hardworking and restoring hope back into her life when she looses hope. This above all other things will make you her daily vitamin simply because you bring out the best in her in terms of personality and character. In you, she'll have found that friend whom she can open up to, share with and advice each other on the rights and wrongs, the dos and don'ts of life. Don't forget to always be there to celebrate the good times, and to lend an ear when the girl needs you to listen as a friend. Make the girl feel special; because she's someone's friend – your friend, and let her know that she too has touched your life in a unique way like no one else could. Compliment her for her company and for being there when you needed her, when you felt sad and all alone. Show appreciations for the comfort the girl offers you and for making you smile. In your day to day talks, share your dreams, your world, and every aspect of your life with your girl. Always dream with her, build with her, and always cheer her on and encourage her. Tell your girl how you always think about her even when you try not to think about her. Let the girl know that she's your first thing in the morning and the last thing when you go to bed at night. Her knowing that you were thinking of her when you slipped beneath the oftness of your blanket and gave in to the bliss of sweet dreams, will make her go ‘my my' and her heart will sing your name all the year round. You have to be creative and constructive to keep girl's interest in you so full of life. I remember one time I told my girlfriend to be to imagine we are both deaf and dump. We then sat opposite each other on the table and started sharing our feelings for each other using eyes and hand signs. It turned out to be some fun. There was also this time that we were in the library and we decided we are not going to speak to each other verbal, so I wrote a love note on a paper and passed it across the table to her, she replied and on and on we carried on our love on paper conversation till we almost exhausted a whole rim of paper. At sometime, I noticed that some guys sited with us on the table were enjoying our ordeal than their studies. Such are the things that made the girl embrace my world. I remember her suggesting that we play deaf and dump two years after we broke up, can you imagine that? Never fail to phone her, even when she least expects it. I once called some girl that I was interested in at four o'clock in the morning. When inquiring of what I was doing up so early, I told her I was in thirteenth heaven, where people think of their loved ones when they can't sleep. Wow! First thing early the next morning, she was at my door with a king-sized hug for me. No matter how many dates you take her, don't make any elbow – exceeding moves after any date, just drop her home and with a friendly handshake, wish her good night. Don't kiss her when she expects you to. Your respect as a gentleman will be earned on how patient you are with her when it comes to such matters as kissing her and accessing her inner graces. The writing is on the wall that you want her, but you can't have her just yet. Increase your demand. Try to show her that men are also hard to get at times. Make her realize that when she feels a little dizzy, a little tired, a little sad, a little sick, a lot bored and very much cold, she's actually missing vitamin you. By this time, she'll be so much into you and since love is truthful and is characterized by open and honest communication, honestly promise her your everlasting devotion, loyalty, respect, and your unconditional love for a lifetime. Prove to her that you'll always be there for her, to listen and to hold her hand, and that you'll always do your best to make her happy, and feel loved. Remember, patience is the key to her heart; be like that gardener watching a fruit as it hangs on the tree, day after day admiring it, but, exercising tremendous self-discipline, neither feeling the fruit, nor pinching it, nor testing it to see if it is ready. And then, one day he holds out his hand and the fruit simply drops into it, ripe, warm and eager to be eaten. The patience and self-control which you practice will make you more attractive and charming. This will qualify you as her daily vitamin and win you that heart hers. I wish you to meet the girl of your dreams ASAP, make her fall in love with you, and make her feel the happiest girl in the world!

To Kill a Mocking Bird. essays

To Kill a Mocking Bird. essays It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do nothing but make music for us to enjoy. In Harper Lees novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus says the above quote to basically sum up one of the major themes of the book. To Atticus, a mockingbird is a harmless bird that makes the world a more pleasant place to live. Throughout the book, Jem, Tom, Boo and Scout can all be associated with a mockingbird. They have all been innocent people, who have been shattered by contact with evil. When Tom was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, it was like a mockingbird itself had been shot and killed. Chopping wood and doing whatever he was capable of doing was all Tom had ever done for Mayella. Tom was innocent. He had never hurt a soul, or had the intentions of hurting someone. Once he is shot, Mr. Underwood comments that his death is comparable to the senseless slaughter of songbirds. Tom did no harm to anyone, but by helping Mayella, he ended up dying for it. When we are first introduced to Scout at the beginning of the novel, we are exposed to an innocent child who is oblivious to the evil in the world. Once she is faced with the evil, it is questionable on whether or not she will emerge a mockingbird or not. With her luck of being raised by Atticuss wisdom, she learns that evil can sometimes be narrowed with the right attitude. Even though Scout is still a child, she is taking on a perspective of life that a grown-up should have, and that is how she proves that she is a mockingbird. Jem himself has been scarred by the experience of Toms trial. When he sees that justice does not always succeed, he is confused and susceptible. All the same, he still stands strong with the confidence that Atticus has instilled in him, as he has also done with Scout. Boo was another character that Lee associated with a mockingbird. Boo was a man who was seen by society to be dangerous. But in reality, Boo was ...

Self-Respect

Self-Respect The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others - who are, after all, deceived easily enough; has nothing to do with reputation, which, as Rhett Butler told Scarlett O’Hara, is something people with courage can do without. ~Joan Didion, author of a Star is Born, winner of the National Book Award.   Self-respect is not easily achieved, because all around us we are barraged with stimuli telling us how great or worthless we are. The fact is, without self-respect, what others think consumes us. When we understand, love, and care for ourselves, and in turn our storytelling, we then have the mental maturity to sift through the judgment of others . . . picking and choosing which judgment is worth listening to. In this business, we get kicked around enough without doing it to ourselves. When I read on Facebook the comments in writers groups, where writers are depressed, wondering if they ought to keep writing because they cant make money, make sales, or receive glowing reviews, I feel sorry for them. Not for the reasons they express, but for their lack of self-respect. They are screaming it. When someone is self-assured, they are a magnet for others. After all, most people dont feel good about themselves, and they gravitate to those who do. When we are not shackled That doesnt mean we dont make mistakes. Frankly, the main reason writers self-publish is to own all the responsibility. That means they accept the responsibility for all that goes well and all that fails, both of which are good. Both of which make us stronger. We did it. We own it. We do what we want and accept the fallout or glory. To accept without placing blame on others is the epitome of self-respect. So write. Publish whichever way you like. If a choice fails you, avoid pointing the finger at anyone other than ones self. Analyze what happened and launch into another direction, wiser and stronger. To blame others means you struggle to look at yourself in the mirror. Once you get past that obstacle, you can do damn near anything you want because nobody is in your way. You do, adjust, do, adjust, until you are the grandest being, in love with who you are and what you do. Doors open to people like that, because people want to be you.

Mobile Computing and Mobile Computing Security Essay

Mobile Computing and Mobile Computing Security - Essay Example Today, a whole variety of 'mobile computing platforms' such as in-dash VGA displays and automobile computers which feature a variety of applications and functions such as global positioning systems (GPS) and radar detection systems are available for the mass market ("Mobile computing", 2006). Some mobile computing devices use WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) as their means to communicate and acquire data. A WLAN is a LAN (Local Area Network) connected through radio or other wireless means. One of the advantages of using a WLAN is the flexibility it offers to overcome restrictions of physically connected networks to space restrictions. It is easy, wire-free and simple to use. WLAN allows data access without having to "jack-in" or plug to a wired network (Shriraghavan et al, 2003). Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transmits and receives data through fixed line network called access points. An area called a "hotspot" results from the area covered by each of the access points. Each access point serves numerous subscribers and they alter their 'access points' as they transfer from one point to another. As the number of access points in a WLAN increases, the size of the network also increases (Shriraghavan et al, 2003). Satellite Networks This type of network uses communications satellites acting as central points for transferring data. The subscriber uses a 'satellite dish antenna and a transceiver to transmit and receive data'. This network is usually a better alternative for rural areas where 'broadband, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and cable television' systems are not accessible (Shriraghavan et al, 2003). Cellular Networks The advent of mobile phones or cellular phones ushered in the creation of cellular networks. A cellular network operates by serving different frequencies or bands to handle calls and other services such as short message service (SMS). A cell site is commonly composed of 3 basic parts: a control unit, a receiver and a transmitter connected to a Mobile Telecommunications Center that is also interconnected with the public telephone systems (Shriraghavan et al, 2003). Ad-hoc and Sensor Networks An ad-hoc network results from the creation of several small nodes or "motes", tiny powered self-contained computers that are linked through radio around a small area. Motes are capable of communicating and exchanging data with each other over short distances and are usually formed temporarily. Ad hoc networks are common and have several practical military applications (Shriraghavan et al, 2003). Mobile Devices Mobile devices could include the following: Laptop computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and handheld PCs, Pagers and cellular phones and task devices, such as bar code scanners. Laptops, PDAs and portable handheld PCs are computing devices that can run a number of programs and applications for every sort of business, enterprise and more recently for the modern home. Laptops are basically portable versions of personal computers (PCs) which equal or even rival the computing power of modern desktop units. They are similarly supported by their manufacturers in the

Cultural immersion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cultural immersion - Essay Example The contrasts were deliberately sharp and well-defined: I was an international student mingling with American citizens; I was Muslim whereas I chose to attend a Baptist church; I was white whereas much of the congregation was black; and, I was an "outsider" in nearly each and every respect. From a cultural point of view, this was stretching the differences rather tightly. As an initial matter, I must admit that I was very nervous and a bit uncertain. As I was driving to the church, a million different things went through my mind. I was often hesitant and excited at the same time. I was hesitant because I felt quite awkward attending a religious service so different than my own. I have heard many things about Christianity and I have had many Christian friends; despite this superficial familiarity, I didn't know whether I would be welcome at the church. I wondered whether people might ask me personal questions, such as whether I had been baptized a Christian, and I wondered whether I ought to answer truthfully that I was a Muslim or whether I ought to simply lie and try to be accepted. More confusing was the fact that I didn't really understand the different nuances of the Christian religion. I knew that there were many different branches, such as Protestants, Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Baptists, but I didn't know how these different rel igious branches differed in terms of doctrine or behavior. More, these were black Baptists, and I wondered why blacks went to a different church than other Baptists. I wondered whether I would be the only Muslim or the only light-skinned person. Despite these fears, I imagined that the people would not be hostile. This is because I had telephoned in advance, and I was told that I would be more than welcome to attend. The church employee had given me directions and suggested that I attend the morning service rather than a workshop. In short, I approached the experience with a cautious optimism. The actual experience was both illuminating and a bit humbling. It was illuminating because I witnessed a true community of people, brought together by a common set of beliefs, and a people whom appeared extraordinarily conservative and possessed of pride and self-esteem. Three things, I think, struck me most about the people that I observed and met. First, everyone was well-groomed and the worship service seemed as much a fashion show as a religious event. Whether it was the young children or the older adults, everyone was dressed in fine clothes. Darker colors prevailed, though there were brighter accessories. There seemed to have been an unspoken dress code, and although I had dressed politely, I felt that my clothing was slightly out of place. This was something I had not anticipated; I had been worried about being a Muslim and a foreign citizen, but I hadn't even considered how to dress beyond being polite. I felt, as I entered the church, that my clothing identified me as an outsider. Second, everyone was quite friendly and everyone seemed to know everyone. I was struck by the hugs and the handshakes. People smiled and greeted their fellow worshipers with big smiles. Their interaction was both formal and informal at the same time; more particularly, they spoke very