Bankruptcy Among Young People Because of Credit Card Essay

Consumer credit can be defined as a debt that someone incurs for the purpose of purchasing a good or service. Common forms of consumer credit include credit cards, store cards, motor (auto) finance, personal loans (installment loans), consumer lines of credit, retail loans (retail installment loans) and mortgages. The spread of credit card ownership and usage across developing Asia Pacific countries has been overwhelming. A review of literature on credit card reveals that most studies have been undertaken in developed country settings. Credit cards were first issued in the USA in the early twentieth century. Since then, they have become a major system for exchange of transactions (or payments) that stimulates household and personal spending even in many developing countries of the world (Watkins, 2000). In Malaysia, cards were first introduced in the mid-1970s. At the early stage, credit cards were only issued to professionals or those considered successful businesspersons by card issuing companies. By the end of 1970s, an estimated 20,000 cards were issued. During that time, owning a credit card was considered a symbol of prestige. However, with the passage of time, eligibility criteria for obtaining credit cards have been increasingly relaxed. As a result, the number of cardholders reached to about three million by the turn of the last century. One of the fastest ways to bankruptcy is the misuse of credit cards. One of the more common reasons that people end up filing for bankruptcy is due to too much credit card debt. Credit cards are so often too seductive because they offer the ability to buy what we want now. We can then pay it off later, using very small and affordable monthly payments. Credit cards offer a way for us to make attractive purchases that we might not be able to make otherwise. Suddenly, it seems as though we can afford anything we want. The low monthly payments seem reasonable and easy to fulfill. That is one of the biggest problems associated with credit cards. It is easy to forget about the high rate of interest that we are paying instead we consider the low minimum payments we make each month and count that our self is lucky. We can continue for years, making minimum payments each month and building up credit card debt. However, one day something may happen. We could have our hours cut at work, or maybe our minimum payment will be increased. We might have a costly hospital stay, or our home may be struck by a natural disaster not covered by our home insurance. Suddenly, our credit card payments do not seem as affordable as we once did. After looking at our situation, it dawns on us how much credit card debt that we have. The only way out of our financial mess may seem like bankruptcy. An article from New Straits Times Online dated 14 November 2011 has highlighted the issue of easy cash turns many into bankrupts. Easy cash here means credit card. Credit card is a familiar type of open-end credit. The term credit card is used to cover a variety of types of cards, some of which actually do not involve credit. In general, a credit card is a plastic card printed with an account number and identifying the holder as a person who has entered into revolving credit agreement with a lender. From the article it states that Malaysian youth are becoming increasingly reckless with spending, thanks in no small measure to the convenience offered by credit cards. An average of 41 Malaysians are declared bankrupt daily, with the majority failing to repay their car purchase loans. BANKRUPTCY STATISTICS BASED ON CREDIT CARD DEBTS IN MALAYSIA The Department of Insolvency Malaysia (MDL) had restructured 80,348 bankruptcy cases from 2005 to May 2010 categorized as following: 31,950 cases – Malay 26,805 cases – Chinese 7,661 cases – Indians 13,932 cases – Others Some of the cases involved in different type of loans that caused the bankruptcy: 19,380 cases for failing to settle hire purchase loans 9,464 cases for failing to settle personal loans 8,786 cases for failing to settle business loans 6,022 cases for failing to settle housing loans 4,417 cases for failing to settle credit card debts 4,291 cases for failing to settle corporate loans 3,726 stood as guarantors CAUSES OF BANKRUPTCY The proliferation of credit cardholders has brought an indiscriminate spending by users with many side effects. Many Malaysian consumers seem to display excessive buying behavior, commonly known as ‘‘compulsive buying.’’ Easy availability of credit and compulsive buying has led to many adverse consequences such as addiction to shopping and excessive debt. Another noteworthy feature of card users in Malaysia is that they use the card to grant loans for themselves. It is easier to obtain credit cards in Malaysia rather than applying for personal loans, which requires the applicant to comply with more formalities like providing guarantors or collaterals. It was reported that outstanding debts from credit card holders amounted to RM15.719 billion by the year March 2009 (RM or Ringgit Malaysia is the local currency, 3.40 RM was approximately equal to 1 USD at the time of study). By the year 2009 outstanding credit card debts accounted for 1.35 percent of the total loans outstanding or 11.41 percent of the total consumer credit (Bank Negara Malaysia, 2009). On a more serious note, 6.43 percent of the outstanding debts had to be converted to non-performing loans. An alarming increase in the number of credit card holders seeking bankruptcy proceedings over the years was also reported. Shopaholic is one of the causes of bankruptcy among young people because of credit card. On average, 41 are declared bankrupt every day, mostly due to credit card debts, while every weekend, about five million peoples throng the 300-odd shopping complexes in the country. These habits are among the shocking revelations on why Malaysian consumers cannot cope with the rising cost of living. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) discovered that many of those declared bankrupt due to credit card debts were below 40 years old. Another cause of bankruptcy is poor financi al management skills. Article from New Straits Times states that 10 million of credit cards had been issued but only 30 per cent of card holders is able to meet the monthly repayments. From the article, Chief executive officer of FOMCA Datuk Paul Selvaraj said it is because of the convenience of credit cards that people seem to prefer using them rather than cash. He also said that credit card holders do not  feel the immediate pinch of emptying their wallets when they make a purchase. It was reported that those who used credit cards were more inclined to spend 17 per cent more compared with those who used cash. Besides that failing to repay credit card debts is also the cause of bankruptcy. This is because credit card interest rate for outstanding balance is very high. Banks require consumers to pay only the minimum which is 5% or RM50 (whichever higher) of total outstanding balance (debt). If they only make minimum payment, it takes about 2 years to clear all the outstanding balance providing that there is no new spending. On top of high interest rate, consumers are also subjected to finance charges if they do not make full payments every month. This means, if they make partial payment, minimum payment or do not make payment on or before the payment due date, finance charges will be imposed from the day the transaction is posted to the card account. The relationship between psychographic variables, attitude development and credit card usage by cardholders in Malaysia. HOW TO OVERCOME A total of 87,583 individuals were declared bankrupt up to October this year, with 4,651 or 5.1% of them due to unpaid credit card debts. In light of this, the government will be discussing with Bank Negara on finding a solution to the problem of high interest rates imposed on credit card users, resulting in many being unable to settle their outstanding balance. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said a solution was necessary as the number of credit card users declared bankrupt was worrying with the majority of them being young people (The Sun Daily, 15 December 2010). One way to overcome credit card debt is consumers have to have full payments prior to due date. They will enjoy interest-free period for retail transactions for 20 days on retail transactions. Cash advance, balance transfer and installment payment plan programs are excluded from interest-free period. Consumers also subjected to late payment charges minimum of RM5 or 1% of total outstanding balance, whichever is higher, up to RM50 if they fail to make payments before due date. If you have problem  to settle your credit card debt, the best solutions is to cut the card and stop using it. Second way to overcome credit card debt is pay more than the minimum payment. Always pay more than the minimum amount that you owe. If you can afford to do it, double or triple the minimum payment. This will help you get rid of credit card debt more quickly. If you have multiple credit cards, you might want to concentrate the bulk of the money you have available to paying one off at a time. The credit card you should focus on first is the one with the highest annual percentage rate. Pay this card off and then move on to the next highest one and so forth. This not only gets rid of the worst credit card debt (i.e. the one with the highest interest rate), but it gives you a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind, knowing that you have one less payment to worry about. Third way to overcome credit card debt is treat a credit card like a debit card. The biggest fallacy of credit cards is that they are ‘additional money’ to be spent each month. The typical household sees the monthly credit card bill as just another bill to spend money paying off. Worse, many people see ‘responsible’ credit card use as paying the minimum or slightly more each month. Using a checkbook to balance your finances or free financial software such as Mint.com or paid software such as Quicken can help you balance finances and ensure there will be enough money each month to pay off the credit card bills. Every time you make a purchase with a credit card, treat it like a debit card and deduct that money spent out of checking or savings accounts. Software can do that automatically when linked to the accounts, but a checkbook or simple pen and paper works the same way. Next, set alerts to avoid missed or late payments. A missed or late credit card payment can put even the most responsible credit card user over the edge and into debt. Interest rates get raised and high fees will tack on finance charges to the bill. Set up free e-mail or text message alerts from your credit card issuer’s online account management site. If your credit card issuer does not offer online account access, consider finding a new credit card company. Many late fees and missed payments are due to using regular postal mail to keep up with bills and make payments. Online payments are time stamped and come with an e-mail record of statements and payments. Another way to overcome credit card debt is do not spend money that we do not have. This tried and true financial tip holds true for credit cards as well. Credit cards can be an excellent financial  tool to establish and build credit. They can also allow responsible users to earn rewards such as cash back or points. Credit cards also act as interest free loans in a pinch with grace periods ranging from 20-30 days for users who can pay the balance off when the bill comes due. Spending on a credit card should adjust according to one’s financial situation. Responsible credit card use starts with spending less than one has in their bank account month to month. Besides that you must try not to rack up your credit card bill. If you can avoid it, do not use your credit card at all, as this will just put you deeper into debt. Try to pay cash for what you need and eliminate the things that you want (even if only temporarily). The horrible thing about credit card debt is that it is so easy for your debt to increase. Write down a list of expenses is also a way to overcome credit debt. It is very beneficial to know exactly where your money is going each month. Money seems to disappear before you even get your hands on it. Writing down a list of where your money goes will get you thinking about certain areas where you can save money. You can change your money habits by taking the time to understand where it is going. When you look at your list (and you should include what you are paying in credit card debt), you will probably be motivated to do what you can to try to hold on to more of your money. Lastly, pay down your credit card debt before you put money in a savings account. Your credit card interest rate is exponentially higher than what you gain from a savings account at a bank. Get rid of the credit card debt first, otherwise it will keep growing. CONCLUSION In conclusion, those who want to avoid bankruptcy do their best to avoid credit card debt to begin with. Bankruptcy can damage your credit score and cause other financial problems. On top of that, the financial strain can begin to take its toll on your relationships. Avoiding bankruptcy requires careful financial planning. We should create a budget and track our spending. Live within our means so that we are not acquiring debt. Each month, pay off our credit cards bill. We can use credit cards as part of our financial spending plan but we need to be careful to avoid carrying a balance. Besides that, we must set aside money for emergencies. That way, if  unexpected expenses come up, we won’t be as devastating. Being debt free and having some savings built up and can go a long way toward helping us to stay away from bankruptcy and providing us with some of the cash flow we need. With careful financial planning, credit cards can be a helpful tool, rather than a path to bankrupt cy. Do not let something so useful become our downfall. The problem with credit card debt is that it is very easy to get into but hard to get out. (Some people associate it with a bad marriage, and it is really similar to it). To get into a credit card debt is even easier than any other debt, because the plastic is just there in out wallet all the time, as an easy solution, and we tend to use it as a â€Å"quick fix. Credit card debt reduction is although a different story, to get out of credit card debt you needs discipline and planning to reduce your outgoings and change your attitude towards your spending. Getting to a stage when you realize that you must eliminate your credit card debt before it gets out of control is kind of scary experience. When you realize that you need to find a solution because there is no other way out, and you cannot carry on piling up interest on your debt. You can start reduce credit card debt with preventing it from increasing and paying off the capital or getting a lower interest credit scheme, therefore reducing your total credit card debt (credit plus monthly interest). Other than following the step by step instructions of your credit card debt consolidation plan, there are more methods to eliminate credit card debt. You can always seek assistance either at your own credit card company or an independent credit card debt specialist. Your credit card company wants their money back, so most of the times they are ready to compromise, give you a lower APR or freeze the interest if you agree a credit card debt consolidation plan. You must remember if you are not confident enough to negotiate a deal with your credit card company, there are many companies who are willing to support you and also offer free credit card debt consolidation consultation. REFERENCES Books: 1. Vickie L. Bajtelsmit with Linda Rastelli, (2008), Personal Finance, Wiley Pathways. 2. Sarah Young Fisher and Susan Shelly, (2009), Personal Finance in Your 20s &30s, Alpha Books. 3. Curtis E. Arnold, (2008), How You Can Profit From Credit Cards, FT Press. Journals: 1. A study of financial awareness among youths, Joyce K.H. Nga, Lisa H.L. Yong and Rathakrishnan D. Sellappan. 2. Malaysian consumers’ credit card usage behavior, Zafar U. Ahmed, Ishak Ismail, M. Sadiq Sohail, Ibrahim Tabsh and Hasbalaila Alias. 3. The influence of image consciousness, materialism and compulsive spending on credit card usage intentions among youthJoyce, K.H. Nga, Lisa H.L. Yong and Rathakrishnan Sellappan. Web: 1. http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/easy-cash-turns-many-into-bankrupts-1.5518 2. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/23/nation/12361423&sec=nation 3. http://voices.yahoo.com/credit-card-debt-one-cause-bankruptcy-7101354.html?cat=3 ARTICLE

My Mother Never Worked

Chris Godkin D. Maggard English 1113, 323 19, September 2012 My Mother Never Worked In the story â€Å"My Mother Never Worked,† Bonnie Smith-Yackel recalls the time she contacted the Social Security service about her mother’s death benefits. At that time, Bonnie was put on hold while the Social Security worker searched through the files for the record of Martha Jerabek Smith. During the time she was waiting, Bonnie began to reminisce about the life of her deceased mother. As time goes by, the worker eventually returns to the phone.The worker explains to Bonnie that she is not able to receive the death benefits of her mother due to the fact she never had recordable job. During the duration of the phone call with the Social Security worker, Bonnie seemed quite distraught in she was very slow to answer the questions of the worker. She took short pauses throughout her sentences before completing them. She was asked a few questions about her mother in relation to her name, a ge, Social Security number and if she was on Social Security. Bonnie told the worker that her mother was seventy eight and was on Social Security but she did not know the number.The worker then placed Smith-Yackel on hold while she searched for Martha Jerabek Smith’s record. Bonnie then used that time to search through her mind and recollect the memory of her mother. Her mother graduated high school in 1913, as did her father the same year. Martha loved Ben F. Smith, Bonnie’s father, but was afraid of marriage. The thought of planning her wedding day, having children and just being a married woman made her nervous and sick. As the years went by, she overcame her worries and married her love, Ben F. Smith, and began farming.In January, 1922 Martha gave birth to her first daughter. Her second child, a boy, was born in March 1923. During this time, they were renting farms and working on other people’s farms to earn what little income they could. Martha learned to d o a variety of tasks. Such as, tend to chickens and livestock, plant and harvest crops, and can fruits and vegetables. In September 1925, and again in June 1927, Martha gave birth to her third and fourth child- both daughters. In 1930, they reclaimed a forty-acre field. Her mother worked the fields day after day.Harvesting and planting, tending to livestock, anything that needed to be done, she was able to do. A year later, a drought hit and dried up the soil, starving and dehydrating the crops. Only half of the crops were harvested that year. In February 1934, their fifth child, a daughter, was born. During the winters, Martha sewed coats and jackets, and remade clothes so they would fit the growing children. In 1937 she gave birth to her fifth daughter. In 1939, she bared her second son. In 1941, her third son and eighth child were born.By then, she had thirty head of cattle which she milked daily. Shortly after, the Rural Electricity Administration and indoor plumbing had arrived . In 1959 her youngest child graduated. Though she was aging, Martha still worked every day out in the fields, making sure that everything was in order. Ten years later Martha and Ben were heading into town for sugar when they crashed into a ditch. Martha was severely injured and paralyzed from the waist down. In 1970 Ben F. Smith passed away. Martha had done her best to regain self-control and order in life.It was over bearing for her to lose her husband and have to deal with the burden of paralysis. She attended a rehabilitation institute where she learned to be independent and self-sufficient in a wheel chair. Though she was in a wheel chair, she still worked every day. She canned fruit and vegetables, sewed coats and even made a quilt. A voice quickly caught Bonnie’s attention. It was the Social Security worker, she had found the file. She stated that Bonnie’s mother had been receiving a widow’s pension. Bonnie then agreed with the worker.Then she stated tha t her mother is not entitled the Social Security service’s death benefit. Confused, Bonnie asked why her mother was not entitled. The worker said, â€Å"Well, you see – your mother never worked. † The way the story ends is superb. It makes one think back to all the work that Martha did on the farm and in the home. In the eyes of the knowing, we see that she had in fact been working herself to the bone on a farm for most her life. In the eyes of the government, or the blind more or less, Martha had no official work history. Therefore she was unable to receive any benefits.

Sentencing rationales Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sentencing rationales - Term Paper Example An offender violates his obligation to society to obey societal norms, and this justifies the deprivation of the offenders civil rights. This deprivation is aimed at denying the offender the opportunity to obtain any further unfair advantage and disadvantage the law abiding members of the society. Punishment is also necessary because all members of a society receive benefits as long as they agree to live within the law. Offenders impose on other members of the society and cause them a disadvantage. This disadvantage is an extras benefit that is not available to the law-abiding members. Sentencing is, therefore, intended to offset this unfair advantage obtained and restore the society to its equilibrium (Hofer and Mark 19). Literature research When sentencing it is imperative that the punishment must be proportionate to the disadvantage caused in order to correctly regain equilibrium. Although punishment can be justifiable, the justifications of sentencing do not provide a clear guide line on the appropriate punishment for particular cases. The justifications do not set out the rights that an offender should forfeit for violating certain norms and what punishment will eliminate the unfair advantage caused by the offense. If punishment is to restore the equilibrium disturbed, then it is imperative that the punishment must be proportionate to the offense. Therefore, the guiding principle in determining the severity of the punishment must be in proportion to the seriousness of the crime. This then implies a hierarchy of sentences and offences and sets the principle that similar offenses must attract similar sentences. This view applies concepts of common-sense and equity which dictate that serious crimes must attract more severe sentences than less serious offenses (Henham 69). The retributivists approach to the concept of punishment argues that punishment is and must be justifiable for its purposes while the utilitarians, assert that punishment is and can be justif iable for some ulterior consequence or benefit, for example, social good. Retributivism approach can be either positive or negative. Positive retributivism believes that sentencing is a sufficient and necessary precondition while the negative retributivism regards punishment as a necessary precondition. Utilitarians, on the other hand, have several varieties. There are different theories on how crime should be prevented. Rehabilitation checks crime by treating the offender of the abnormal criminal tendency for the sake of both the offender and that of the society (Henham 770). Incapacitating the offender prevents the offender from committing the offense by making it impossible for the offender to act on his or her tendencies. This perspective requires the law to intervene immediately an individual poses a threat to the society to an extent requiring sanctions to prevent the offender from accruing unfair advantage. This approach supports intervention even before the commission of an offense, and punishes attempts that might not have succeeded. It is also noteworthy that the incapacitation will perceive no rational to punish fruitless attempts any less severely than successful ones. This position assumes that the degree at which offenders fail to consummate offenses implies that these offenders are less dangerous but these individuals have manifested criminal tendencies

Intercultural communication( this is the course I am studying, not the Assignment

Intercultural communication( this is the course I am studying, not the topic) - Assignment Example red disgusted and when I asked her why, she told me she hates the sight of beef and she did not want to hear again any story that pertains to the slaughtering of cows. I later apologized for offending her faith and we reconciled. Indeed, the topic of being overweight remains an elusive subject, especially among the American folks who are known to practice unhealthy lifestyles. In this regard, it is advisable not to tell any American anything related to their weight that is likely to offend them. Nonetheless, one can insinuate to an American about the benefits of checking one’s weight or about an interesting thing about exercise. The bottom line is to avoid direct discussions about personal weight issues with Americans. The art of dating, courtship, and marriage varies according to cultures and some acts may not only be offensive but an abomination to some cultures. Therefore, it is advisable to discuss marriage-related issues selectively, especially with conservative cultures. At no point should one suggest the superiority of his/her culture or point out the mistakes of the other culture as they relate to dating and marriage. It could be offensive to people from such cultures. Therefore, great care should be taken during intercultural

Site Management and Safety Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Site Management and Safety - Assignment Example Construction workers often fall from height and lose their life, this is also the leading safety hazard, it is the duty of the architect, client, engineer, site manager and quantity surveyor to ensure that there is proper harness in place, it should be checked properly so that such fatalities can be avoided. Motor vehicle crash is another very dangerous construction site hazard, this can be avoided by following the paths laid in the beginning of the project, the architect is responsible for doing that. Everyone involved on a construction site must ensure that they wear their protective equipment this has helped save many a life in the past and will save more in the future. â€Å"The workplace must be a safe environment. If we all show good practice in the workplace, a lot of industrial accidents can be avoided.† (A Safe Working Environment) Pinpointing Roles Role of an Architect: Design Role: Several fatal accidents occur should the design of the building be wrong, an architec t must meet the client on a regular basis to discuss and have the design approved. There are several local zoning and planning laws which an architect must comply with. Construction Role: An architect prepares and issues site instructions, these instructions are extremely important when it comes to safety, these safety instructions are then followed by the workers and the other important members involved in the construction. Roles of Other Members: The day-to-day running of a construction project is looked after by the site manager, he should ensure that all the workers comply with the safety instructions given to them. Site manager is also responsible for conducting safety and health checks to ensure everything goes on smoothly. Site managers these days are actively involved in communication which again is very essential. â€Å"A construction engineer is a vital player in the construction business. They must survey the area in which the construction will be taking place, estimate costs involved, submit proper paperwork, inform others involved and take part in the planning.† (Duties of a Construction Manager) To conclude it is very fair to say that the architect, client, engineer, site manager and quantity surveyor must work in unison to avoid fatal accidents, this will only happen when active communication between them takes place. Part 2: Different management styles and techniques yield different results, the following section of the paper will juxtapose different management styles and their impact on the results. The behavior of the site team will also be closely analyzed and a suitable conclusion will be drawn at the end. It is extremely important to understand the role of a project manager, a project manager is the one who is almost completely responsible for the success or the failure of a particular project, the way he motivates and communicates with the other people working as a team on a construction site matters the most. The planning, organiz ing and the controlling are more often than not done by a project manager. Desirable results can be achieved should the project manager gain support of the team members working at the site. Support of the team members can be achieved by following the following important steps: Following

How outsourcing could be accomplished in ways that improve employee Research Paper

How outsourcing could be accomplished in ways that improve employee acceptance and reactions to change - Research Paper Example The paper tells that in today’s global world, outsourcing jobs is increasingly a fact of life. Outsourcing may be necessary to retain a competitive advantage, as other firms are outsourcing to take advantage of lower costs and higher quality. That said, outsourcing may not always be acceptable to the affected employees. Employees may be cynical about the changes brought about by the outsourcing, which leads to decreased employee morale. There are ways that firms should approach outsourcing decisions, namely communicating directly with employees in an effective manner. There are also ways not to approach outsourcing, which involves blindsiding employees and lying to them, as OzBank, the case study detailed below, approached their outsourcing. Moreover, appointing an effective, transformational leader to guide the process is essential. Guang Qu et al. researched what characteristics regarding IT firms made the firms more likely to outsourcing. They found that industry munificenc e and dynamism was positively correlated with the amount of outsourcing done by the individual firms in the industry. On the other hand, industry concentration is negatively correlated with outsourcing, due to the power and resources such firms have. They also found that high capital intensive industries are less likely to downsize than low capital intensive industries. This is because high capital intensive industries do not put a premium on risky and novel practices, which outsourcing is considered to be. Cox et al. (2011) also studied outsourcing with regards to IT firms. They identified two different categories of IT outsourcing – IT outsourcing with regards to core value-chain operations, and IT outsourcing with regards to support activities. The main outsourcing in the core value chain operations is distribution, whereas, with support activities, human resource management and facilities management are the two main support activities which involve outsourcing. They state that firms outsource because they want to retain a competitive advantage, including costs savings and quality improvement. Outsourcing may also increase flexibility of the firm, as well as restructure the firms’ costs. The focus of their study is on IT firms which are in the public sector, as opposed to the private sector, and the research method was case studies with semi-structured interviews. They found that, with the firms in the public sector, that the cost savings was the most important factor in the decision to outsource, and that the firms which did outsource found that there was also a quality advantage to doing so. This is because there is generally a larger pool of skilled workers to draw upon when a firm outsources. That said, there might be a disadvantage to firms which outsource due to industry perception of these firms. Oh et al. (2006) studied this factor. They found that, with regards to investors, one half of the investors in IT firms responded negatively t o announcements that the IT firm would be outsourcing, and one half of the firms reacted positively. The positive reactions came when the level of transactional risk for the firm was low, and the opposite when the level of transactional risk was high. The key drivers for negative reactions were â€Å"the relative size of the contract, the inability to monitor the vendor’s performance, the asset specificity of the IT outsourced resources, and the relative size of the vendor† (Oh et al., 2006, p. 299). Lee et al. (2000) further studied information systems (IS) outsourcing. They identified five research issues with regards to this. The first was why firms used outsourcing for acquisition. In particular, a firm must decide whether to make or buy developed technology. The next issue is the motivation for outsourcing. Lee et al. (2000) notes that there are inherent advantages and disadvantages to outsourcing. The advantages include cost reduction and quality enhancement. The disadvantages include loss of control, loss of qualified personnel and loss of flexibility. The third

Marijuana legalization in the United States Essay

Marijuana legalization in the United States - Essay Example The push to decriminalize marijuana has been going on for years. It started in the early 1970s in the region of Oregon and increased as days went by with people pushing for its use claiming it had medical uses as well as for recreational purposes. There was gradual acceptance of the substance with various states addressing the issue from various angles according to what was felt right by the law makers there. Colorado was the first one to legalize marijuana up to a certain level in 2005 after fifty four percent of the votes to determine the issue voted in favor of its legalization. The other municipals that followed include Pennsylvania in 2014, Washington DC in the same year and New York City. Many states have passed laws that are in favor of its use up to certain levels though none has been bold enough to allow it production and use at the users discretion.   The State of Oregon made the initial step in the fight to allow the use of cannabis and decriminalize it in early 1970s. T his move was faced by different opinions from various people in the government and also from the citizens who had the perception that the use of marijuana is linked with various criminal activities and the medical attributes it is given are vague and non-existent. However, lobby groups could not relent and the move was accepted in other states and in 1975 Alaska also passed a law to decriminalize it. The law was to allow possession of up to 4 ounces of the substance. This was to be in their residence.  

Leprosy in the Middle Ages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leprosy in the Middle Ages - Essay Example This essay focuses on the discussion of the Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, that is an debilitating disease which has been prevalent for over 4,000 years, right from the ancient civilizations of China, India and Egypt. The researcher states that the earliest documented case of leprosy, supported by DNA evidence, is that of a man whose remains were discovered in a tomb next to the Old City of Jerusalem. The first recorded instance of leprosy is found in the Bible. It is probable that the disease spread to Europe from Egypt through Phoenician sailors in the 8th century. The word leprosy has its roots in the Greek lepra, meaning ‘a disease which makes the skin scaly'. The primary external symptom is pronounced skin lesions. It is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. If unchecked, this chronic bacterial infection can progressively attack the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes, causing permanent damage, deformation, blindness, loss of neural sensation, and local paralysis. Th e mode of transmission of the disease is still not certain. Poor living conditions, diet and genetic factors may predispose an individual to contact leprosy. Treatment for leprosy began with the introduction of dapsone in the 1930s and complete cures were made possible by multidrug therapy in the 1980s. It is acknowledged that leprosy was a familiar disease in medieval Europe, and probably reached its peak during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In the Middle Ages, leprosy was a serious problem which elicited unique social and medical responses. ... In the Middle Ages, leprosy was a serious problem which elicited unique social and medical responses. Leprosy was a feared condition throughout the Middle Ages. This may be largely attributed to ignorance of its causes and medical implications, and the absence of any recognized treatment or cure. The Medieval diagnosis of leprosy, â€Å"was a prediction of disfigurement and death, and what is perhaps more terrifying, it separated a man from society because of the infection he carried outwardly and the moral corruption that lay within him† (Covey, 2001, 316). Biblical references supported this reaction to the disease. The numerous references to leprosy in the Bible largely give leprosy a connotation of being a disease of the unclean. This is evident in the passage from Leviticus 13: 44–46 which states, â€Å"Now whosoever shall be defiled with the leprosy, and is separated by the judgment of the priest, shall have his clothes hanging loose, his head bare, his mouth cove red with a cloth, and he shall cry out that he is defiled and unclean. All the time that he is infected and unclean, he shall dwell alone without the camp† (Covey, 2001, 316). In effect, the Bible condemned leprosy as a ‘defilement’ and sanctioned the banishment of lepers from society. The most common attitude toward leprosy was ostracism, rising from the fear that leprosy was a highly contagious disease. In the light of this fear of contacting leprosy through association with lepers, medieval laws enforced segregation of lepers in various manners in different places. The 1276 assizes of London restricted the freedom of movement of lepers by banning them from residing in the city. This was followed by

Turkish Foreign Policy since the Ottoman Empire Essay

Turkish Foreign Policy since the Ottoman Empire - Essay Example Since time immemorial,Turkey had been a predominantly a Muslim country that was controlled by the Sultanates of the Ottoman Empire.However,through a nationalist movement led by Musataf Kemal,Turkey was able to establish itself as a prosperous secular state that could assert itself as a force in the Central African region. To establish itself to be the modern day Turkey, it had to employ numerous strategies as the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of the Sultanates was greatly opposed to an independent Turkish state with a distinct language, dress code and run through secular laws. The early leadership of Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) that laid claim that the Ottoman Sultan was the universal leader of the Muslims used propaganda and counter-propaganda. However, he did not anticipate that opposition could come from an Islamic perspective. This Sunni idea was largely opposed by the Shiite Iran who did not recognize the Ottoman Empire as it occupied what was traditionally land owned by the Arabs, due to endless persecution, the As Shiites and the Sunnis waged an endless war depending on which side they supported.1 As a method to re-engineer the state towards attaining legitimacy, the Ottoman Empire bought about education through the imposition of uniform religious values through primary and secondary education. This has however been proved to have been the Ottoman Empire’s way of propaganda to educate the ills of the Shiites to the Iraqi population which was perceived to be a moral duty. Finally, it was proved that the attempts of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire fell flat on its face but formed the basis of the republican Turkish nation building, which has been a success. This historical heritage of past concepts and conflicts explains the current geopolitical occurrences in the Middle East and Central Asia.2 As at the imminent collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the sultanate became only limited to the plateau at Anatolia. The implementation of the Treaty of Ser ves weakened the empire as it lost its geopolitical positioning that deprived it of its most important resources. This led to the formation of nationalist movements under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, which culminated in the National Pact of Ankara of January 1920 that resolved to claim those parts of the empire occupied by Turkish populations that laid the basis for the Kemal foreign policy that focused on national unity buttressed by economic and political independence. Through nationalist uprisings and rebellions, the forces led by Kemal were able to crush the Armenian Republic as well as defeating the Greeks. In the process, it was able to negotiate itself into occupying Asia Minor and East Thrace. The Lausanne Treaty set the stage for the Kemalist foreign relation policy especially Greek-Turkish relations marked with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of Turkey under Kemal. This marked the proclamation of Turkey as a republic after the Sultan had been driven aw ay and recognition of Turkey as a secular state.3 Thereafter the Kemal regime focused on pursuing a foreign policy of maintaining peace as Turkey had been involved in a conflict for almost a decade. To achieve this, even when there was the First World War and the upheavals in South Eastern Europe, Turkey adopted a neutral stand. For example, Turkey signed a treaty with Russia known as the Turco-Soviet Treaty of Neutrality and Non-Agression that emphasized its neutrality and no acts of aggression in whatever circumstances. What was integral to Turkey then was the securing of its borders through emphasis on territorial integrity as well as the independence of Turkey as republic.4 Later Turkey forged a common foreign policy with Russia to the extent of refusing to be members of the League of Nations due to the suspicion of the Western powers, Turkey was also apprehensive of some articles in the treaty forming the League of Nations. After the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Unio n

Modeling an Animal Class Hierarchy by Employing UML Diagrams Assignment

Modeling an Animal Class Hierarchy by Employing UML Diagrams - Assignment Example Inheritance is an important principle in object-oriented programming. It not only serves as an organizational technique, but also allows code to be reused between classes that share certain characteristics. It is also known as â€Å"Is A† relationship because the classes down in the inheritance hierarchy are derived from the higher classes. So an object instantiated from a derived class is also a type of the superclass (Dale, Joyce, & Weems, 2006). Generalization and specialization are the two constituents of an inheritance relationship. The base class, from which the child classes are derived from, is supposed to be the more generic class and the child classes with additional members are considered to be the more specialized classes (Thampi, 2009). For example, a dog class can be considered as a sub class of an animal class. In this case the animal class is more generic class and the dog class is the specialized version of the animal class. To construct the animal class hierarchy, we consider the classes Animal, Fish, Mammal, Shark, Herring, Elephant and Rodent. Animal is modeled as the base class from which all the other classes inherit either directly or indirectly. Fish and Mammal classes are the direct child classes derived from the Animal class. Sharks and herring are types of fishes and hence we can derive these classes from the Fish class. Similarly elephants and rodents are both mammals and hence they can be derived from the Mammal class.

Thinking skills and processes in the inquiry method of teaching Essay Example for Free

Thinking skills and processes in the inquiry method of teaching Essay There is an array of ideas and sometimes bewildering lists of terms used to describe the ways people think. But, what does thinking mean? What are thinking skills? What are higher –order thinking skills? Form the many definitions that have been provided, most include statements which describe abstract intellectual processes and operations. For example, †¢ Thinking is a process involving such mental operations as induction, deduction, classification, and reasoning; †¢ Thinking is a process of dealing with abstractions and discovering the essential principles of things, as contrasted to remaining on the concrete level of facts and specific cases; †¢ Thinking is the ability to analyze and criticize and to reach conclusions based on sound inference or judgment. Most contemporary statements about thinking recognize that thinking skills are not the same as skills associated with more concrete behaviors or physical activities. Consider the following statements provided by Lauren Resnick (1997) about what she calls higher-order thinking: †¢ Higher order thinking tends to be complex. The total path is not â€Å"visible† (mentally speaking) from any single vantage point. †¢ Higher order thinking often yields multiple solutions, each with costs and benefits, rather than unique solutions. †¢ Higher order thinking is effortful. There is considerable mental work involved in the kinds of elaborations and judgments required. From these definitions, obviously, thinking processes and skills people need to activate them are highly complex. Hyde and Bizar (1999) have provided another conception of thinking. Based on recent research in cognition, Hyde and Bizar write about thinking as intellectual processes instead of skills. Like Resnick, Hyde and Bizar point out the complexity of thinking. They also emphasize the importance of thinking about thinking in context. That is, although thinking processes have some similarities, they also vary according to what one is thinking about. For instance, the processes we use when thinking about mathematics differ from those used when thinking about poetry. Because of their complexity, thinking processes cannot be taught using only approaches suitable for teaching concrete ideas and skills. Thinking skills and processes are, however, clearly teachable and most programs and curricula which have been developed rely heavily on classroom discussions. Main Features of Inquiry Method of Teaching Instructional Effects of Inquiry Method of Teaching The inquiry method of teaching is not designed to cover a large amount of learning materials or convey huge quantities of information to early childhood education students. The model has been developed primarily to accomplish three important instructional effects: (1) to help students develop the intellectual skills of asking important questions and seeking answers; (2) to help students acquire the inquiry process skills associated with various domains of human learning, and, most importantly; (3) to help students become independent, autonomous learners confident and capable of learning on their own. Syntax of Inquiry Method of Teaching There are five major phases in the inquiry method of teaching science and mathematics. However, skillful inquiry teachers often vary particular sequencing and syntax. But the general flow of a science or mathematics inquiry lesson consists of five major phases: establishing set and explaining the procedures, presenting a puzzling situation or the problem to the students, helping students gather data about the problem, helping students hypothesize and explain the problem, and helping them analyze their thinking and inquiry processes. Structure of the Learning Environment Unlike the very structured learning environment required of the presentation and direct instruction methods, or the use of small groups required in cooperative learning method, the learning environment in an inquiry method is characterized by wholeclass instruction, open processes, and active students roles. In fact, the whole process of helping students become independent, autonomous learners and of assisting them in becoming confident in their own intellectual skills requires active involvement. Although the teacher and students proceed through the various phases of the lesson in a somewhat structured and predictable fashion, the norms surrounding the lesson are those of open inquiry and freedom of thought and expression. The teacher’s role is not one of dispensing knowledge and truth but instead acting as helper and guide. Procedures for using Inquiry Method of Teaching Conceptually the inquiry teaching model is quite straightforward, and it is easy for beginning teachers to grasp. Effective execution of the model, however, is more difficult. It requires considerable practice, and it requires making specific decisions during the preinstructional (includes deciding on purposes for an inquiry inquiry lesson, choosing and designing a puzzling situation); interactive (includes conducting the lesson, establishing set and explaining inquiry procedures, presenting the puzzling situation, data gathering and experimentation, hypothesizing and explaining) and postinstructional (consists of some type of feedback, assessment, and evaluation) stages of the lesson. Conclusion This research fairly consistently points out that it takes inquiry teaching and strategies associated with higher-level thinking to produce growth in the thought and inquiry processes of early education students. This growth brought about by any inquiry teaching is hoped to give both the teacher and the students the skills they need to become lifelong learners. The researcher further believes that acquiring such inquiry skills builds up self-esteem and confidence and leads to greater academic success. The challenge of using the inquiry method of teaching especially in the sciences and mathematics in the early childhood education is enormous. However, one has to look up to the change you will make in the set of children entrusted to your care. References Bruner, J. (1996). A study of thinking (rev. ed). New York: Wiley. Dewey, J. (1993). How we think (rev. ed). Lexington, Mass. : D. C. Heath. Duckworth, E. (1997). Twenty-four, forty-two, and I love you: Keeping it complex. In K. Jervis and C. Montag (eds. ), Progressive education for the 1990s: Transforming practice. New York: Teachers College Press. Fenton, E. (1996). Teaching the new science and mathematics in elementary schools: An inductive approach. New York: Holt, Rinehart Winston. Hyde A. Bizar M. (1999). Thinking in context: Teaching cognitive processes across the elementary school curriculum. New York: Longman. Newton, F. (1992). Facilitating inquiry in the classroom. Portland, Oregon: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Resnick, L. B. (1997). Education and Learning to think. Washington, D. C. : National Academy Press. Suchman, R. (1992). The Elementary school training program in scientific inquiry. Report to the U. S. Office of Education. Urbana, III: University of Illinois.

Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essay Example for Free

Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essay Frankenstein and blade runner essay Which text do you feel better represents the values of the composer? You must refer to both texts in detail Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner are two texts from different centuries, but they both share the same values, themes and issues including; the natural world, scientific advancement, morality of humans and responsibility. Both texts use a variety of techniques to represent their values, themes and issues. The techniques used in both texts are reflective of their context and are able to strongly represent the values of both Frankenstein and Blade Runner. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was written in 1818. This was a period where romanticism was developing, a time which focused on the sublimity of nature and on the individual. This theme is evident throughout the novel and is used to emphasise the emotions of the characters and to suggest the power of nature for both beauty and destruction. Shelley often uses the sublimity of nature as an invigorating device for victor, â€Å"when happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations. A serene sky and verdant fields filled me with ecstasy. The present season was indeed divine; the flowers of spring bloomed in the hedges, while those of summer were already in bud. † Vivid imagery is used here to illuminate the peacefulness and contemplation of the sublime nature that is constantly surrounding victor. Shelley has also illustrated this notion further by the use of alliteration, â€Å"serene sky†, to capture how perfect the world is at that time, which reinforces the peacefulness of nature and how victor feels when he is surrounded by the natural world. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner is set in a corrupted 21st century world. Similarly to Frankenstein, the natural world is evident but in Blade Runner it is seen as the unnatural world. In the first panoramic shot, the audience sees a destroyed world, a dark industrial urban wasteland which is heavily polluted. Visual irony is created here as it is meant to be Los Angeles, which means â€Å"city of angels†, but we see that it looks more like hell. We see that nature has been destroyed. Animals are rare and are presumed extinct, although the unicorn is seen as a natural creature in a natural setting. The unicorn symbolises the ambiguity of hope, freedom and spirit. There is no sign of any trees or plants except for a miniature Bonsai tree symbolising mans inherent desire to control nature to conform to what humanity believes is a better version. We also see constant darkness and rain, which is known as film noir and are the only aspects the audience sees when in an outside scene. The panoramic shot and film noir speculate the natural is now off world, that there is nothing natural, which creates a post apocalyptic tone. Shelley’s world was moving forward into the direction of industrialisation, exploration and scientific research. This is conveyed through characters such as Victor, Walton and Clerval who are all searching, exploring and attempting to make a discovery. We see in the start of the book Victor has an interest for natural philosophy, â€Å"natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate. † The use of personification suggests that natural philosophy is a person that Victor idolises and wants to know everything he possibly can about it causing his interest to turn into an obsession. i became dizzy with immensity of the prospect which it illustrated, as surprised, that among so many men of genius who had directed their enquiries towards the same science, that i alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret. † This quote establishes that Victor is intelligent and is able to intellectually break barriers beyond those that have ever been broken an d discover the source of life. Hence, now being able to create his ‘monster’. Similarly in Scott’s film we see that 21st century L. A is all about scientific activity and advancements in technology. It is a world based on commerce, as we can see throughout the entire film through the blimp that promotes going off world and big wall signs i. e. the Asian lady taking pills. Technology is also used to detect what is and isn’t human i. e. the Voight Komph test. Disembodied voices are used on the street i. e. when crossing roads it says â€Å"walk† and â€Å"don’t walk†. All these aspects of technology are a way of controlling the population of L. A. Scientific activity is seen through Tyrell, a scientist, who is the creator of all replicant things i. e. humans and animals. â€Å"Commerce is our goal here and our motto is more human than human†, this quote was said by Tyrell and reflects on Tyrell’s attitude towards life. He takes the role of God, creating life trying to make the replicants smarter and stronger than real humans, feeling as though he is dominant over everyone else in the world. This is shown through upwards tilt of the camera on Tyrell’s building, making him appear larger and above everybody else. Victor Frankenstein does not truly contemplate of foresee the consequences of his scientific quest to create life, nor does he take the moral responsibility for his creation afterwards. Victor continually justifies why he refuses to take responsibility for his creation, which is solely because he doesn’t want to incriminate himself and be punished, although he stated â€Å" a new species would bless me as its create and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. This shows Victor’s lack of morality and reveals his ego through the use of unreliable narrator. Scott’s film raises concerns of scientific advancements and its lack of morality and responsibility for those it affects. Blade Runner represents its values through ambiguity. Blade Runner leaves it up to the viewer’s own judgement of morality and responsibility within the film. An example of this is through the use of cinematography in the scene where Deckard ‘retiresà ¢â‚¬â„¢ Zhora. Passersby walk past without showing any concern or emotion to what has happened. The lack of morality and responsibility arouses deep emotions of anger and dislike. Scott is not as assertive in representing his values as Shelley is. Through the use of camera shots, cinematography and irony he easily represents his values but through the use of ambiguity he leaves things for interpretation from the viewers. Due to the ambiguity present in Blade Runner, some viewers may be unable to identify the values that are present, so therefore the values stated in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are better represented.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults When working with children and vulnerable adults two of the most important considerations are the planning and supervision of their activities. To create a safe environment, both of these are significant factors in helping to protect them, and others from incidents and accidents. Any person under the age of 18 is defined by the word ‘children’, and ‘vulnerable adult’ would be any person over the age of 18 who may be, or actually is, in need of the community care services because of a disability, whether mental, or other illness and who may be or is, unable to fully take care of their self, or unable to protect their self against exploitation or harm. Safeguarding The definition of ‘safeguarding’ describes a wide approach to meeting the requirements of all children and vulnerable adults (including individuals who may be at risk from abuse). All people indirectly or directly involved in activities with leisure activities for children and vulnerable adults have a responsibility which includes: To review their practices in all situations and thus to ensure that they comply with recognised codes of conduct. To be able to identify the symptoms, indicators and signs of abuse and also the impact this has upon children and the vulnerable adults. To respond in appropriately and take relevant action if any concerns are raised. To provide opportunities to engage with children and vulnerable adults and to use the opportunities to keep the person(s) safe, healthy, enjoying their activities and achieving. The responsibilities and limitations of a fitness instructor As a mentor it is crucial to example your safeguarding behaviour at all times, this includes: Assume you are a role model Adhere to the procedures and policies Adhere to the code of behaviour and practice Always wear your uniform and / or your name/id, badge if it is provided Understand and act upon your responsibilities Recognise the need and also protect the rights of participation, for enjoyment, fun and achievement for all others Report any suspected abuse to a senior manager, superiors or a protection officer Respond to any case of abuse in a responsible fashion Conduct activities or work in an open environment At all times conduct activities or work in an open environment even if interacting one to one The types of abuse which an instructor may encounter Abuse can manifest itself in many different forms, but broadly it’s separated into five categories: Emotional Physical Bullying Sexual Neglect The possible signs of abuse Physical Abuse. The indicators are: fear of a parent or a carer being contacted angry or aggressive outbursts a fear of going home easily flinching evidence of depression habitually keeping their legs and arms covered more withdrawn behaviour unexplained body bruises or other injuries bruises which look like hand marks cigarette burns bite or teeth marks scalds, broken bones and very alarming injuries or behaviour Emotional abuse The indicators are: unable or unwilling to participate in an activity clearly neurotic behaviour sudden or recently developed speech disorders a fear of making any mistake fear of parents or carers being contacted self-harm withdrawn and closed in type of behaviour depression Sexual abuse The indicators are: sudden changes in behaviour becoming aggressive or conversely, withdrawn an apparent fear of one particular person self- harm or suicidal seen in children; knowledge sexually advanced, or behaviour that is beyond their age language or behaviour that is sexually explicit bruising, itching or pain in the genital area evidence of diseases that are sexually transmitted pains in the stomach discomfort when sitting, exercising, even walking Bullying The indicators are: Insecurity Seems ‘over’ sensitive Withdrawn behaviour Indications of emotional and or physical abuse Neglect The indicators are: In children; lateness and truancy unsupervised and regularly alone constantly hungry unkempt condition obesity or weight loss inappropriately dressed Policies Procedures for Safeguarding a Fitness Environment The central principles of a policy are: Proper personal behaviour and conduct by instructors must be maintained at all times Instructors must retain a high level of competency via a commitment to ongoing training which ensures a correct and safe practice. Volunteers and paid instructors and must possess a current Criminals Records Bureau Check Maintain confidentiality always. Follow these key principles of procedure which are: Refer any suspicions to a senior manager or supervisor and ensure a response. In an emergency, call emergency services. If a child or a vulnerable adult chooses you as their trusted adult while in the fitness environment, then follow these procedures: Do not make any promise to keep any secrets Be calm, reassure the individual, listen carefully and allow the individual to speak Refrain from asking leading questions or appearing to interrogate Do not confront or approach the suspected abuser, or the parents or the carer of the individual It is very important to record in writing the details of what has transpired and what was said, heard and seen To protect oneself from accusations of abuse, then follow the previously outlined guidelines while also remembering a procedure that it is preferable to follow: At all group times and also one to one, work in an open environment. Never take photographs of children and young people without permission of their guardian. Consider always your behaviour towards vulnerable adults and children Make your sessions enjoyable, achievable, safe and healthy for all the participants Take appropriate action if you have a concern about the behaviour of an adult or child towards another child or vulnerable adult Promote the welfare of your clients, even if this means letting another professional take over. As a trusted instructor, Do not engage in intimacy with a vulnerable person at any time nor spend time alone with a vulnerable person, e.g. offering a lift home to a child after the session For the respect of the rights of vulnerable people, key principles flow regarding their entitlement: Privacy To be treated with dignity and respect To lead an independent lifestyle and to be enabled to do so To be able to choose how to conduct their lives Protection of the law To have their rights upheld without condition To be able to realise full potential in all aspects of daily life while fulfilling personal aspirations Planning Supervision Preferably, all the activities involving vulnerable adults and children, irrespective of their nature or apparent risk level, should be planned. Planning involves considering the risk assessment of the difficulties and potential dangers that may arise and so to make plans that minimalize risks. If you are supervising or leading an activity where children are involved, then you have a legal, professional and a moral responsibility to safeguard their welfare. This means that you must strive to deliver a supportive and safe environment. Failure to prevent harm could result in abuse. Adequate supervision implies that you must: Consider the participant to supervisor ratio. This needs to consider the age of the children, any special educational or medical needs, even disabilities, and the degree of risk involved in the proposed activities. If the activity involves mixed gender participation, then attention must also be given to having both male and female supervisors in attendance or available. Some local Authorities and professional associations may set recommended supervision levels, to be followed where applicable. Can I learn more about protecting and safeguarding children? You may contact your county administration to find out about education or safeguarding workshops. If I work with children what are my child protection responsibilities? You have a duty of care for any children that you may work with, meaning you must take reasonable precautions to keep those children from harm. You must also ensure that any other adults involved in the activities are correctly vetted if recruited. If you work in a fitness environment, then it should be encouraged that the entity put in place those child protection measures necessary to support the activities taking place. How to improve the child protection measures and the safeguarding in my gym, club, facility? Make sure that a Child Protection Officer has helped to co-ordinate the planned strategy. Then put in place the child protection policy with a commitment that is visible and clear. Who needs to complete a CRB check? A criminal record check is just one of the methods by which it is possible to ensure that the right character of people in place when working with children and vulnerable adults. Moral Duty of Care There are specialized courses in all of the topics dealt with in this publication. The onus is on you to research and study further. Research and study and the practical implementation of all that is absorbed learnt and assimilated, is of course essential, therefore the best we can hope to do herein is inspire and guide you in the right direction regarding what may be in store, if you choose a career in the field and the level of professionalism you will have to employ, in order to instruct others to the best of your potential and abilities, and equally progress in your career. The Moral Duty of Care is an overarching principle that encompasses all of what has been outlined in this subject matter. One can only give a reasonable appreciation of this topic as space does not permit a full in-depth exploration of, nor indeed in any of the topics in this publication regarding the fitness work and career environment. Duty of Care, is your responsibility for the safety and welfare of those under your temporary guidance. In fitness and sports activities the staff member, instructor cum coach, has a duty of care for all those participating irrespective of age or position. Where children are included, those in responsibility have to act in ‘loco parentis’ which requires the adult to be as a reasonable parent. Within the fitness and sporting environment the duty of care begins by ensuring that the activity itself is authorized and that the instructors are so qualified for the activity; therefore the activity is managed in a safe manner throughout. Child Protection Policies For long child protection policies had been developed in haste and as responses to individual tragedies, the good intentions, though at times perhaps misguided, they assumed that every risk could be mitigated against and that every loophole could be plugged. The pressure was to prescribe and legislate more which led to the public’s confusion, or an often fearful workforce. Thus a dysfunctional culture grew which was of mistrust, between Children and Vulnerable Adults. We should prefer to begin with a presumption of confidence and trust in those people who will be working with children in a fitness environment, and also with the good sense and judgment of facility supervisors, managers and owners. If an instructor or teacher’s supervision may fall below the standard of a reasonably prudent parent, and a child gets hurt as a result, then that instructor or teacher may be held negligent. Anyone instructing, managing or supervising children and vulnerable adults in a setting of gym, club etc., must consider what steps they shall need to accomplish to demonstrate that a reasonable standard of care is being provided. Examples of this could include: Attendance registers kept updated Contact details and records kept updated Appropriate supervision ratios are maintained Specific medical conditions – allergies, asthma, epilepsy are updated and maintained Ensure that first aid is available at the venue Ensure that those who are supervising the children and vulnerable adults have undergone an appropriate selection and recruitment process.

What are the security problems and solutions of the Internet? Essay exa

Internet has vital impact in our life nowadays as it becomes more and more popular. It allows us to have wider range of communication and interaction, to exchange and share experiences, thoughts, information, and to make business online. Without doubt, internet make our life more easier, internet banking system allow us to manage our bank accounts, paying bills without queuing, online shops allow us to make purchase without going out, online education, publication and article postings allow us learn more than what we get from text book, and a lot more. As Internet plays more important role in our daily life comparing to its initiation, some keen groups are ringing our bell, hackers, and theft of data, crackers. These people are all associated with a term  ¡Ã‚ §security ¡Ã‚ ¨. It is not difficult for general publics to point out two of the security issues, security of online transaction and security of message transmission respectively. In fact, system hacking is more fatal. Most of experienced online people understand that their data transmitted through Internet is in risk of being stolen or peek during transmission. A message or in general called  ¡Ã‚ §data ¡Ã‚ ¨ transmitting from one end to another, it passes number of nodes. It is far too easy for skilled people to grab those data during its transmission. It is not a serious issue for those who only do general chatting online. For those who doing business (e.g. online shopping) or sending very private materials (e.g. personal information), security becomes a big issue. For this reason, encryption is widely used for protecting the confidentiality of data being transmitted. INTERNET BUSINESS FOR SECURITY Basically, online transaction security, email security, network security are major considerations. Online Transaction Security There are a lot of online shopping and online casinos operations running worldwide. The most serious problem for these operations is to protect their transaction data, such as client ¡Ã‚ ¦s personal information and credit card information. Transaction data transmits from client site to server side. During the transmission, data theft will take this golden opportunity to peek or to duplicate data. If those data had been abused in certain ways, not just the clients suffering from financial lose, but the operator will also suffer from reputation lose. When clients have no confident to shop from the... ...s to computer room are one of the efficient ways to eliminate network data being stolen and abused. Companies and organizations with highly confidential information will have sets of security policy with consideration of human factor to protect their network. One thing we shall always keep in mind that  ¡Ã‚ §no one connected to a computer network is really safe from hackers ¡Ã‚ ¨(8) Any of the security device or software can only minimize the possibility of data being hacked, stolen and abused. Bibliography (1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.ultranet.com/~fhirsch/Papers/wwwj/article.html (2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://ecommercecentre.online.wa.gov.au/tools/internet/security.stm#2 (3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.pgpi.org/doc/pgpintro/#p9 (4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.pgpi.org/doc/pgpintro/#p9 (5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.cnn.com/TECH/specials/hackers/primer/ (6)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.greatcircle.com/gca/tutorial/bif.html#firewall (7)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://pubweb.nfr.net/~mjr/pubs/fwfaq/#SECTION00031000000000000000 (8)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.cnn.com/TECH/specials/hackers/primer/

The Chosen :: essays research papers

The Chosen A. Plot Summary The Chosen by Chaim Potok is set in the 1940's neighborhood of Brooklyn in Williamsburg. Two boys who live a few blocks from each other but in totally different environments forge a unique relationship. Reuven Malter, the son of an Orthodox Jewish scholar, and Danny Saunders, the brilliant son of a great Hasidic rabbi, meet for the first time in a baseball game between their two Jewish parochial schools. 	Reuven is hit in the eye with a ball hit by Danny and is kept in bed for almost a month. During this time, Reuven befriends Danny as he constantly visits him due to his guilt about almost blinding Reuven. Danny comes to the hospital to chat with Reuven and occasionally talk about the war or his study of the Talmud. When Reuven gets out of the hospital, Danny brings him to his home for Shabbat and to meet his father. Reuven is overwhelmed by his father's calm and stern manner of speaking to his son. Reuven finds out that Danny must become a rabbi and cannot become a psychologist like he wants. 	Reuven and Danny grow older and they get into the same college. Due to Reuven's father support for the creation of a Jewish state, Danny's father, who thinks a Jewish state can only be created when the Messiah comes, forbids Danny to speak to Reuven. This goes on for a while before Danny's father accepts that a Jewish states is in the best interest of Jews everywhere and allows them to be friends again. 	In an emotional lecture, Danny's father finally acknowledges Danny's dream and allows him to pursue a career of being a psychologist. B.	Thematic Discussion 	In The Chosen, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders form a deep, if unlikely, friendship. This relationship develops over time and also greatly affects the young men's development. They grow up in different environments and have different upbringings, but deep down inside, they have similar lives. 	Potok is able to point out how similar and different Danny and Reuven's lives are. Reuven has a very open relationship with his father. Danny's father only speaks to Danny when they are studying the Talmud. Danny accepts this reality while Reuven is very bothered by this. Reuven has a hard time coping with silence when his father has a heart attack and has stay in bed for many months: "Total silence in the apartment was impossible for me to take, and I would go.

Contribution of Countryside Tourism to the UK Travel and Tourism Indust

Contribution of Countryside Tourism to the UK Travel and Tourism Industry Across the UK there are 4 main categories of tourist and visitor attractions. These categories are:  · Large City/Large Town,  · Seaside,  · Countryside/Village,  · Small Town. The table above shows that; domestic trips to the countryside area, has now gone into second place out of the 4 categories of tourist and visitor attractions. Over recent years (since 2000) there has been a slight decrease from 24% (2000) to 22% (2003). For day trips across the UK Cities are more popular amongst tourists. This could be for a number of reasons like;  · More spending opportunities,  · More shopping/activity facilities etc. The table above talks about Domestic Holidays. As shown above the countryside category accounts for at least a quarter of all holidays in terms of the 4 different holiday destinations. It is seen as equally important to the Travel and Tourism Industry in the UK. It is a close third in the ranking behind the categories; Large City/Large Town and Seaside. The table above also shows the percentage of spend at these destinations. In the countryside category spending is quite lower in comparison to the top 2 categories; Large City/Large Town and Seaside. This again could be for a number of reasons like; * Fewer shopping opportunities in the countryside compared to the other categories, * Also the activities on offer in the countryside are usually free The Economic Impact of Recreation and Tourism in the English Countryside The English countryside attracts a huge amount of tourists every year. In 1998, visitors to the countryside spent  £11.5 billion. This consequently generated 340,000 jobs. Visitor spending in the countryside rose in real terms ... ...e Visit Britain should advertise the British countryside and remote coastline a lot more abroad on things like TV, posters, in travel agents etc. This would improve the amount of visitor spend from overseas by a lot because there is a lot of potential growth from the 94% of overseas visitors who just visit UK cities. Day visitors to the UK countryside: In 1998 day visits to the UK countryside and remote coastline survey indicated that 1,253 million people went on leisure day visits from home to the countryside, together with an estimated 90 million visits to open coastline. A total of 1,343 million day trips or 25% of all leisure trips in England. Expenditure associated with these trips amounted to  £8,942 million. This category of tourists to the countryside is by far the most important because it generates three quarters of the total income into countryside tourism. Contribution of Countryside Tourism to the UK Travel and Tourism Indust Contribution of Countryside Tourism to the UK Travel and Tourism Industry Across the UK there are 4 main categories of tourist and visitor attractions. These categories are:  · Large City/Large Town,  · Seaside,  · Countryside/Village,  · Small Town. The table above shows that; domestic trips to the countryside area, has now gone into second place out of the 4 categories of tourist and visitor attractions. Over recent years (since 2000) there has been a slight decrease from 24% (2000) to 22% (2003). For day trips across the UK Cities are more popular amongst tourists. This could be for a number of reasons like;  · More spending opportunities,  · More shopping/activity facilities etc. The table above talks about Domestic Holidays. As shown above the countryside category accounts for at least a quarter of all holidays in terms of the 4 different holiday destinations. It is seen as equally important to the Travel and Tourism Industry in the UK. It is a close third in the ranking behind the categories; Large City/Large Town and Seaside. The table above also shows the percentage of spend at these destinations. In the countryside category spending is quite lower in comparison to the top 2 categories; Large City/Large Town and Seaside. This again could be for a number of reasons like; * Fewer shopping opportunities in the countryside compared to the other categories, * Also the activities on offer in the countryside are usually free The Economic Impact of Recreation and Tourism in the English Countryside The English countryside attracts a huge amount of tourists every year. In 1998, visitors to the countryside spent  £11.5 billion. This consequently generated 340,000 jobs. Visitor spending in the countryside rose in real terms ... ...e Visit Britain should advertise the British countryside and remote coastline a lot more abroad on things like TV, posters, in travel agents etc. This would improve the amount of visitor spend from overseas by a lot because there is a lot of potential growth from the 94% of overseas visitors who just visit UK cities. Day visitors to the UK countryside: In 1998 day visits to the UK countryside and remote coastline survey indicated that 1,253 million people went on leisure day visits from home to the countryside, together with an estimated 90 million visits to open coastline. A total of 1,343 million day trips or 25% of all leisure trips in England. Expenditure associated with these trips amounted to  £8,942 million. This category of tourists to the countryside is by far the most important because it generates three quarters of the total income into countryside tourism.

Tablet Computer Market Analysis (Economics)

EC180 Economics Assignment Tablet Computers Market Table of Contents Table of Contents2 Brief Introduction3 1. Factors affecting Demand4 2. Price and Income Elasticity6 3. Price Discrimination8 4. Fixed and Variable costs9 5. Scale Economies10 7. Market Structure12 8. Barriers to Entry13 Summary and Conclusion14 References14 Brief Introduction In this report, the market of ‘Tablet Computers’ will be analysed. ‘A  tablet computer is a complete  mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or  personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat  touch screen  and primarily operated by touching the screen’ Editors PC magazine (2010).These products are gaining increased popularity in today’s world. Apple, Microsoft and Lenova are already in this market, with Apple’s popular product, the ‘I pad’ leading the market share. This relatively new market `will be thoroughly investigated using various microeconomic theories and findings . 1. Factors affecting Demand In economics, demand is defined by  the desire to own anything, the ability to pay for it, and the willingness to pay (Sullivan & Sheffrin,2003a) The diagram below shows the demand curve. Factors affecting demand would cause a shift in the demand curve.An increase in demand will cause an outward shift to the demand curve (D1 > D2), thus increasing the market equilibrium price. A decrease in demand on the other hand will cause an inward shift of the demand curve ( D1 > D3), decreasing the market equilibrium price. The diagram proves the ‘Law of Demand’ which states that quantity demanded for a good decreases as the prices increases. The following are the factors that affect the demand of a good or service. * Price * Income * Substitutes: Price of substitutes * Trend * Number of consumers in the market/ populationPrice: One of the main factors affecting demand would be the Price of the product or service. There is an inverse relationship be tween the price of the product and it’s quantity demanded. As the â€Å"Law of Demand† says, the quantity demanded for a product decreases as it’s price increases. Therefore the higher the price of tablet computers the lower the quantity demanded. Income: Another major factor which affects the demand for a good would be consumers’ income. The higher the income, the higher the demand as consumers will have more disposable income.Tablet computers are a relatively pricey and a luxurious good, therefore only consumers with a relatively high income will be able to afford them. Price of substitutes: The price of substitutes of this product would also be a factor affecting the demand for the product. A substitute good offers the same services to the consumer as good A, if the price of a substitute good would increase, the demand for the original good would increase as consumers want to pay the least they can for the same product. Therefore an increase in the pri ce of for e. g. Laptops would cause an increase in the demand for Tablet computers. 2.Price and Income Elasticity Price elasticity of demand measures the relationship between a change in quantity demanded and a change in the Price. It shows the percentage change in quantity demanded caused by a percentage change in price. This can show the extent of movement along the demand curve. PED = % Change in quantity demanded % Change in price There are a number of factors which can influence the price elasticity of a good: Availability of substitutes- One major factor of influencing the price elasticity of a good would be the availability of its substitutes. The greater the availability, the greater the elasticity.The availability of substitutes like Laptops and Desktops in this market is quite high, therefore tablet computers have a high price elasticity. Necessity or Luxury- Luxury products tend to have a greater elasticity as consumers don’t actually ‘need’ them. Neca ssity products on the other hand like ‘tobbacco’ or ‘petrol’ for certain consumers can have a very low elasticity as consumers will be willing to pay a higher price. Tablet computers are a luxurious good, therefore they have a greater price elasticity than for example petrol which could be regarded as a ‘neccassity’ good in today’s world for certain consumers.Proportion of income required by the item – The higher the proportion of income required by the product, the higher the elasticity will tend to be. This is because consumers will be more careful and hesitant to purchase a good which would acquire the majority of their disposable income. The price of tablet computers can range from around ? 300 to ? 650. Income elasticity of demand  measures the relationship between a change in quantity demanded and a change in income. It is measured by the following formulae: YED = % Change in quantity demanded % Change in consumer’s income Normal goods’ have a positive income elasticity of demand, this means that an increase in income will lead to an increase the quantity demanded as well. ‘Inferior goods’ on the other hand have a negative income elasticity of demand. An increase in income will lead to a fall in the quantity demanded for the product/service. Tablet computers are a normal good therefore it will have a positive income elasticity of demand. They can also be considered a luxorious good therefore the demand responds by rising more than proportionate to a change in income. The income elasticity of demand ill be more than +1 so demand for tablet computers would be elastic relative to income. 3. Price Discrimination As cited by Krugman (2003b, p142) ‘Price discrimination exists when sales of identical goods or services are transacted at different  prices  from the same provider. ’ Firms often use price discrimination as a method of maximizing profits. However there are two main conditions for discriminatory pricing to work 1) Differences in the Price elasticity of Demand between markets: There must be a different price elasticity of demand from each group of consumers.Firms can then charge a higher price to the group with a price inelastic demand and a relatively lower price on the other hand to the group with a more price elastic demand. 2) Barriers to prevent consumers to switch suppliers: There must be certain barriers to prevent consumers from switching from one supplier to another if the other supplier is offering the same good at a lower price. One common price discrimination method the firm could use for the sale of tablet computers would be the ‘third degree (multi-market) Price discrimination.This method involves charging different prices for the same product in different segments of the market, it is linked directly to consumers’ willingness and ability to pay for a good or service. The market can be separated by geogra phy, so a higher price can be charged to overseas markets if demand is more price inelastic than in home. In today’s knowledge world, many firms use the internet to price discriminate. Many websites can gather enough information about consumers and their buying habits to give sellers an opportunity for discriminatory pricing.One example of this would be Dell, ‘which charges different prices for the same product on its web pages, often depending on whether the buyer is a state or local government, or a small business. ’ In this case the same method can be applied to the sale of the tablet computers. 4. Fixed and Variable costs Fixed costs are costs to a business that are constant, they do not vary with the quantity of product/service produced. Variable costs are costs to a business that actually do vary with the quantity of product/service product. Fixed + Variable costs = Total costs Fixed costs: * Land purchased for production of goods, for e. . an industrial fa ctory * Salaries of staff paid on monthly rates, independent of how many hours the employees work. * Advertising: Marketing Campaign for launch of product. * Electrical equipment like lighting or air conditioning which may be kept running even in periods of low activity. Variable costs: * Cost of Raw materials * Salaries of staff paid on an hourly basis, hours can be varied therefore it is a variable cost. * Electrical equipment, as the company grows, the more the plant will be run therefore more electricity will get used which makes this a variable cost. 5. Scale EconomiesEconomies of scale in economics, refers to the cost advantages that an enterprise obtains due to expansion. A firm can experience reduced averaged costs in the long run by increasing output or ‘expansion’. There are 5 types of internal economies of scale. 1. Technical: Only large firms can afford to invest into expensive quality machinery. This makes them more cost effective by making use of large sca le capital technology which brings down cost per unit. New entrants generally don’t have that much capital to start off with, therefore suffer with high production costs and lower efficiency. . Purchasing: This is when firms buy large quantity of raw materials and get them in a lower cost per unit. Large firms in this market like Apple can buy their raw materials in bulk and get discounts from suppliers, thus achieving low production costs. 3. Financial: Larger firms are usually believed to be more trust worthy by the financial markets. They are able to negotiate cheaper finance deals and therefore get better deals at banks. Banks prefer to do business with larger experienced firms as they usually take a bigger loan therefore banks get a bigger interest.Smaller banks on the other hand can face higher rates of interest on loans. 4. Marketing: Large firms can afford the most effective and expensive types of Marketing whereas new entrant firms could find it difficult to raise en ough capital to compete with promotional and marketing methods. At times, incumbent firms can deliberately invest heavily on advertising making it difficult for the new entrants to survive in the market. This is known as ‘market power theory of advertising’ (Moffatt,2008)  . 5. Managerial: Large businesses can have specialist managers in every area.This can lead to much more efficiency therefore lower costs. The market for Tablet computers has an oligopolistic market structure, where a few large firms dominate the market (this is explained in further detail in section 7 of this report). Therefore large firms like Apple, IBM and Microsoft will enjoy the benefits of Economies of scale to a high extent making it difficult for new entrants to survive in the market. 6. Minimum efficient scale and Diseconomies of Scale The minimum efficient scale achieves production of a good at the lower possible point on it’s LRAC curve.Long run average costs are minimized at this point, and it is not possible for the firm to produce the good at any lower cost. The efficiency is maximized at this point. The MES can be used to determine the most likely market structure of the market. For example, if the MES is small compared to the overall size of the market, then will then be a large number of firms in the market. The market will be more contestable and firms would behave in more of a perfectly competitive manner. (Carlton and Perloff, 2005) Diseconomies of scale occur when a business grows so large that the costs per unit increase.This often only happens in extremely large scale production. A business can experience difficulty in communication as it expands. There are more workers and more managers. Communication has to be passed down many levels of hierarchy; therefore messages can be distorted leading to workers being unsure of what they have to do. Multi-national firms have production in different countries which also makes communication more difficult wi thin the business. To avoid this problem very large businesses often de-merge and break themselves into smaller units.Workers down the order can feel demotivated playing a small role in a very large firm. They can feel unimportant which eventually leads to more sick days off and therefore decreasing efficiency of labour. In the case for the tablet computer market, there are already very large incumbent firms like Apple and Microsoft who have grown and diversified themselves into different markets. These firms are so large that it is likely that they have diseconomies of scale. New entrants can therefore see this as an opportunity. The diagram below illustrates Economies and Diseconomies of scale.It is however important to understand that not all firms will experience diseconomies of scale. Therefore it is possible the LRAC (Long Run Average Costs) curve is just downward sloping. 7. Market Structure Market structure are the competitive characteristics of the market. They are used to determine the potential for profits and market efficiency. There are four main types of market structures:  perfect competition,  monopoly,oligopoly, and  monopolistic competition. ’ The market structure of a firm is determined by various factors.A summary of the four basic types of markets in and their key characteristics is shown below using this table. Charectristics| Perfect Competition| Oligopoly| Monopoly| Monopolistic Competition| Number of firms| Many| Few| One| Many| Type of product| Homogenous| Differentiated | Limited| Differentiated| Barriers to entry| None| High| High | None| Economic Efficiency| High | Low | Low | Low| After analysing the tablet computer market and its characteristics, the market structure of tablet computers seems to be oligopolistic. An oligopoly is a market structure in which a market is dominated by a small number of sellers.The tablet computer market currently seems to be dominated by large firms like Apple, Lenova/IBM, HP who own a l arge percentage of the market share. As mentioned earlier in this report, the barriers to entry in this market are fairly high which is one of the characteristics of an oligopolistic market. At the moment, 8. Barriers to Entry Barriers to entry are obstacles that make it difficult for new entrants to enter the market. The higher the barriers to entry, the lower the threat of competition. The main barriers for the tablet computers market would be the following: 1.Economies of Scale: As mentioned previously in Section 5 of this report, economies of scale could also be a barrier to entry in this market. Large incumbent firms like Apple and Microsoft have significant cost advantages which allow them to produce their tablet computers at lower costs than small or new entrant firms. Therefore new entrants would have lower profit margins making it difficult to survive in the market. 2. Customer Loyalty: Another advantage the incumbent firms would have in this market would be having customer loyalty.Large firms like Apple and Microsoft already have existing customers in the market who are loyal to their brand. Especially with the presence of Apple which definitely has high customer loyalty. This would make it extremely difficult for a new firm to enter the market as many of the consumers would still rather stick a trust and more experience brand. 3. Sunk Costs: One major barrier to entry would be the existence of ‘Sunk Costs’ in this market. Sunk costs are the costs to a business which cannot be regained when exiting a market.A new entrant to the tablet computers market would have to invest heavily in Advertising and Promotion methods. In case the firm doesn’t succeed and decided to exit the market, the cost of this investment cannot be retrieved. The sunk costs involved in this market could be high due to large incumbent firms like Microsoft and Apple’s existence. 4. Advertising – Apart from advertising being a sunk cost, it can also play another role in make it difficult for new entrants. This was explained in Section 5 of this report ( Market power theory of advertising ) 5. Patents Summary and ConclusionThe market for tablet computers is an oligopolistic market. Large firms like Apple, HP an IBM seem to be owning the majority of the market share which could it make it very difficult for new firms to enter and survive in the market. The market is also relatively elastic which could limit profits. In addition the existence of high barriers to entry and economies of scale benefits enjoyed by incumbent firms will not help new entrants. Price discrimination is possible for this product, however only to a certain extent. References Carlton D. and Perloff M, â€Å"Modern Industrial Organization† Fourth Edition, 2005 Editors PC Magazine. Definition of: tablet computer†. PC Magazine. Accessed April 17, 2010. Krugman, Paul R. ;  Maurice Obstfeld  (2003). â€Å"Chapter 6: Economies of Scale, Imperfect Competition and International Trade†. International Economics – Theory and Policy  (6th ed. ). p. 142. Sullivan, Arthur; Steven M. Sheffrin (2003a). Economics: Principles in action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 79. Sullivan, arthur; Steven M. Sheffrin (2003b). Economics: Principles in action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 157.