Personal Information Use and Identity Theft

Personal Information Use and Identity Theft Identity theft is the use of another person’s identifying facts to perpetrate a fraud. According to Saunders and Zucker (1999), some of the economic crimes perpetrated are opening bank account, leasing cars or apartments, applying for bank or departmental store cards and obtaining credit. Reported Fraud increased from 12,000 in 1992 to more than 500,000 in 1999 due to increased use of internet data base (Saunders Zucker, 1999).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Personal Information Use and Identity Theft specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Identification information is made available to an organization as a means of authentication. Banks and other financial institutions use mother’s maiden name, phone number, driving license or social security number to authenticate an individual. Perpetuators of Identity theft access these facts by pick pocketing, obtaining temporary employment in banks, collectin g mails or collecting wastes containing the information from thrash bins (Saunders Zucker, 1999). Before 1998, laws which were available did not address the problem of identity theft adequately (Saunders Zucker, 1999). Some legislation regulated collection and use of personal information by organizations while others like Truth-in-Lending Act of 1968 required sellers to disclose their credit to debtors. Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act was introduced in 1997. It was passed and signed into law in 1998. The act recognizes private citizens as victims of identity theft and criminalizes the act. The first objective of the act has not been achieved. This is because people involved are not always traced, found guilty due to poor evidence or do not have substantial income or assets to compensate their victims. Secondly, sentencing commission is allowed to enact harsh penalties based on the level of involvement by perpetrator, amount of loss and composition of the commission.Ad vertising Looking for research paper on intellectual property? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, the Federal Trade commission is mandated to educate the public, receive and document reports, coordinate complaints from consumers and establish procedures for public to file complains (Saunders Zucker, 1999). Lane and Sui Lane and Sui (2010) conducted a study which examined identity theft from a geospatial perspective. The study provided a national scale analysis of identity theft patterns in the United States between 2002 and 2006. Results showed presence of regional trends across the United States. They found out that cyber crimes can change traditional crime spatial barriers. They used data from the Federal Trade Commission and demographic data from the United States Census Bureau. GIS mapping and spatial statistics analysis showed that results were consistent with media reports on the geography of identity th eft. Highest per capita rates were recorded in southwestern states. The central States and upper New England recorded the lowest per capita rates. Areas with high Hispanic populations had higher demographic correlations (Lane and Sui, 2010). Credit card identity theft showed similar trend to those of overall identity theft. Lane and Sui (2010) found out that government and employment related identity thefts were concentrated in southern states. Credit card and bank related identity thefts were concentrated in western states. Overall value of Identity theft per capita was higher in western states in 2002. It had expanded to more states by the year 2006. Government related identity theft shifted gradually from western states to eastern states form 2002 to 2006. Results of the study adhered to historic patterns of traditional larceny. Although, larceny is considered as traditional crime and identity crime is considered as a white collar crime, they both involve stealing valuables throu gh non-violent methods.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Personal Information Use and Identity Theft specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Crime is a product of culture. This is why, there are different values of per capita in non-city areas. The form of government documentation and benefits of fraud have contributed to the increase in identity theft (Lane and Sui, 2010). McCarthy Honey pot intruders used Internet Relay Chat to communicate with friends in the past. This was observed by Honey pot operators. Through the observations, operators knew when an intruder wanted to attack. Intruders used automated tools to access information about a group called black hats (McCarthy, 2003). Since Honey pot was not instrumental in data capture, intruders could be observed through packet capture network tariff. After entering Honey pot, the intruders downloaded a collection of tools called Cywing from cywing.com. They used the tools to conceal their identities and continue communicating using Internet Relay Chat. After monitoring IRC tariffs for sometimes, Honey pot operators realized that credit card information was being shared. Communication was taking place between a software and a human being. In 2003, DALnet banned listing channels because of shared information. Owners of such fraudulent websites used stolen credit card information to pay service providers. They also applied some tactics after their fraud was discovered. They were sometimes taken offline forcing them to relocate. Researchers downloaded and studied the â€Å"bot† used from one site. It contained a Trojan Horse which attempted to compromise computer and install remote program to be used for control. Human to human communication was also observed (McCarthy, 2003). They made announcements online. It was also noticed that not all credit cards information came from computers.Advertising Looking for research paper on intellectual property? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Channels conveyed messages to carders working at banks, hotels and restaurants who sell credit cards. People purchased such information with as little as $10. Communities inhibiting IRC and other websites do not portray themselves as criminals (McCarthy, 2003). Lane, Gina W., and Daniel, Z. Sui. â€Å"Geographies of identity theft in the U.S.: understanding spatial and demographic patterns in 2002–2006.† GeoJournal (2010): Web. McCarthy, Bill. Automated Identity theft. Azusa Pacific University, 2003. Web. Saunders, Kurt M., and Bruce Zucker. â€Å"Countering Identity Fraud in the Information Age: The identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act.† International Review of Law Computers 13.2 (1999): 183-193. Print.

Presidential Elections - ESL Lesson

Presidential Elections - ESL Lesson Its the presidential election season in the United States and the topic is quite popular in classes around the country. Discussing the presidential election can cover a wide range of topics beyond just the two candidates. For example, you might discuss and explain the U.S. electoral college and process of collecting and counting votes. Advanced level classes might find the topic especially interesting as they can bring in observations and comparisons from their own electoral systems. Here are some suggestions and short activities that you can use in class to focus on the election. Ive put them in the order in which Id present the exercises in class in order to build up vocabulary. However, each exercise could certainly be done as a standalone activity. Definition Match Up Match the key vocabulary concerning elections to the definition. Terms attack adscandidatedebatedelegateElectoral Collegeelectoral voteparty conventionparty platformpolitical partypopular votepresidential nomineeprimary electionregistered voterslogansound bitestump speechswing statethird partyto electto nominatevoter turnoutvoting booth Definitions choose who will be the next presidenta state which does not typically vote either Republican or Democrat but swings back and forth between the partiesa short phrase which is used to encourage voters to support a candidatea political party which is neither Republican nor Democratthe person who runs for president  the person who is chosen by the party to run for presidentan election to decide who will be chosen by the party  a representative from a state who can vote at the primary conventiona gathering of a political party to choose a candidate and vote on other issues important to the partya standard speech that is used repeatedly during a campaignadvertising which is aggressive and tries to hurt the other candidatea short phrase which sums up an opinion or fact and is repeated throughout the mediahow many people vote in the election, usually expressed in a percentagethe group of state representatives which cast the electoral votea vote by someone in the Electoral College for the votethe number of people who vote for the president Conversation Questions Here are some questions to get the conversation going. These questions use the vocabulary in the match up to help start using the new vocabulary actively. Which parties have candidates?Who are the nominees?  Have you seen a presidential debate?How do presidential elections differ from the US election in your country?Do voters have to register in your country?Whats voter turnout like in your country?Do you understand the difference between the Electoral college and the popular vote?What do you think are the main planks in each partys platform?Which candidate appeals to you? Why? Electoral Points of View In this day and age of media sound bites, it can be a helpful exercise to remind students that media coverage almost has its own point-of-view despite claims of objectivity. Ask students to try to find examples of articles that are biased from both the left and the right, as well as from a neutral point of view.   Have students find an example of a biased Republican and Democratic news report or article.Ask students to underline the biased opinions.Each student should explain how the opinion is biased. Questions that cant help include: Does the blog post represent a specific point of view? Does the author appeal to the emotions or rely on statistics? How does the writer try to persuade the reader of his or her point of view? Etc.  Ask students to write a short blog post or paragraph presenting either candidate from a biased point of view. Encourage them to exaggerate!As a class, discuss what types of signs they look for when looking for bias. Student Debate For more advanced classes, ask students to debate the issues being presented as themes of the election. Students should base their arguments on how they think each candidate would address the issues.   Student Polling Activity A simple exercise: ask students to vote for either candidate and count the votes. The results may surprise everyone!   Finally, students might also find this presidential election dialogue helpful, as well as this longer reading comprehension on presidential elections.

Images in the visual media consistently misrepresent non-western Essay

Images in the visual media consistently misrepresent non-western cultures - Essay Example Orientalism, as it was known by Napoleon, was based on just such knowledge – that is knowledge about the Orient projected upon it by the Western world. This idea of the Orient, as it was expressed among the Western scholars – overrode the true Orient. Observers entering the true Orient were already convinced of what they knew regarding an unchanging and already defined system, locking everything labeled Orient into a passive, unresisting object for study. Comparable linguistics were the basis for many of these assumptions. This had, and continues to have, a negative effect upon the Western world’s perception, understanding and appreciation of a multitude of cultures that were erroneously grouped into a single identity. To understand how images in the visual media consistently misrepresent non-western cultures, it is necessary to understand the theories of Edward Said, who first explored the idea of Orientalism, as well as to take a look into some recent examples of these concepts at work. The introduction to Edward Said’s book Orientalism is essentially an argument in three parts illustrating the various means he plans to use in order to support the key arguments he makes in the remainder of the book; namely, to first show how the Orient has become something that is not a â€Å"free subject of thought or action† through the more imaginary concept of Orientalism and second to demonstrate how the â€Å"European culture gained in strength and identity by setting itself off against the Orient as a sort of surrogate and even underground self† (Said, 1979, p. 3). Opening with an argument regarding the use of the term Orientalism, Said makes three observations. The first one centers on the idea that the term ‘Orient’ refers not to the truth of the region, but rather to an idea that has been developed in the minds of Europeans that tends to group all individuals of the Middle East and East as belonging to a single cultural and

Critical Analysis of Microsoft Monopoly Power Essay

Critical Analysis of Microsoft Monopoly Power - Essay Example Moreover, the firm will stand to benefit from the economies of production and the cost per unit of products will be lowered (Baumol & Blinder 2011). This will create entry barriers to new entrants. There are various sources of monopoly power. The first source of monopoly power is the control of an important factor of production that is fundamental in the production process (Allen 2003). A firm that has exclusive control on an important factor e.g. technology, land, or production process is likely to acquire monopoly power and hence lock out competitors. Secondly, monopoly power may also be attained from the government where the government licenses only one firm to be the sole supplier in the industry thus prohibiting entrance from competitors. The monopoly power may also be attained because of the market size i.e. where the market is small; one supplier may supply the whole market. Finally, the amalgamation and mergers of firms in the industry could also create monopoly power. Firms may merge to benefit from the economies of scale production or to avoid competition that could cause losses to the firm. Such factors may lead to monopoly in an industry (Learning & Moyer 2010). In the case of the software industry, Microsoft has enjoyed monopoly position by creating entry barriers to their potential competitors. Entry barriers arise in terms of high costs, time, quality, and lack of resources to advertise in order to make successful entry. One of the strategies that Microsoft used to lock out their competitors was the large number of applications that were necessary to make an operating system preferred by the end users (Kobie 2009). The ends users require software that can be used to execute the different functions at once and this will ensure that they get the convenience they require. It would thus expensive for a new entrant to develop software with many applications that will compete those of Microsoft (Kobie 2009). The users of computer software are also like ly to remain loyal to Microsoft application software because of the multi application that the soft ware can perform. The second way of creating entrance barrier is by entering into exclusive agreements whereby a firm will enter into agreements that prohibits the use of their competitors’ products. In the case of Microsoft, the company created exclusive agreements in which the company’s operating software would be solely used in their PC’s (Meller 2009). As a result, their competitors or potential competitors would lack the market for their software and this would make them incur heavy losses that lead to their termination or dissolution. This anti competitive strategy is not healthy for the users of the products, as they will lack a variety of products to make choices from (Mankiw 2008). They will thus be compelled to adhere to the available and little viable option. These therefore deny the consumers their sovereignty making Microsoft monopoly unjustified. In addition, Microsoft used their financial power and strength to keep their competitors at bay. Monopolists firms make large profits that is can use in lowering the selling price or giving offers that are meant to make their products cheaper compared to those of the competitors (Kobie 2009). Due to this new entrants or existing smaller competitors will be barricaded from accessing the market and hence the continuation of the

Dr. Salamone Essay Example for Free

Dr. Salamone Essay â€Å"These values then get re-incorporated back into the language. † Philosopher Ian Heath states this significance, â€Å"Meaning can transform the individual, while values can transform relationships (Heath). What this means for organizational leadership is that it is crucial to develop meaningful relationships to create values that can guide their members in a mutually beneficial environment. The last sentence written in the above paragraph is absolutely true. This is because it is very essential for the employees working in an organization to develop relationships with the other members working in the organization either their subordinates or their boss. Without this, it would be very difficult for an organization to operate efficiently and effectively. It is vital that the relationships that develop in an organization must also be meaningful because if the relationships are developed just like that they would be absolutely useless. People should know the meaning and the importance of developing relationships and then how important each relationship is to them. The importances each person allocates to different relationships that are developed in an organization are different just like we have different importance for people in our family. Therefore, it is essential to develop healthy relationships in an organization. This means that although there is a lot of competition in the organization amongst the employees but it should not be such that the employees plan out bad things against each other to gain popularity or importance in the eyes of the boss. This is not only bad for the reputation of the employee but it also bad for the organization. In order to build healthy relationships, the organization must take certain steps. Some of the examples are mentioned below that are meant to provide an insight into how organizational design impacts its workforce and image and this would be explained by differentiating between the functional and team structure. If I were to choose between working for an organization that has a functional structure and another that has a team structure, I would you choose to work for an organization that has a functional structure. Functional structure basically groups the employees together on the basis of the functions of specific jobs that are present within the organization while in the team structure the functions and the responsibilities of the employees are organized into specialized teams. (Bechthold Schodek, 2007). I would choose the functional structure because of its various advantages. Functional structure reduces the duplication of personnel and equipment and I would be more comfortable with this structure as it gives more opportunity to talk in the same language with my peers. Moreover, it acknowledges specialization thus making training easier. There is centralized decision making in this structure and it also provides a unified direction from the top management thus achieving excellence in communication and coordination within the departments. Functional structure also increases the quality of technical problem solving and this can be proved by the fact that it gives the workers fast access to the people who are well-versed in technical expertise. (Kaizenlog, n. d. ). Organizational design is basically the process for integrating the people, information and technology in an organization and is used to match the form of the organization with its objectives and I think that the organizational design will be an important factor for me in making a choice about the type of company for which I would like to work because it would tell me what kind of culture is being followed in an organization and so I would be able to decide for myself if I would be comfortable working there or not and his information about a company can be found on the websites or one can ask the employees currently working in that organization who would give a better idea. Adidas, IKEA and Barwill are some renowned organizations that follow the functional structure while the example of an organization that follows team structure is RadioShack Corporation. (Internet Retailer, 2006). Reference Bechthold,M. Schodek,D. L. (2007). Structures. 6th Edn. Prentice Hall, Hardcover. Internet Retailer. (2006). RadioShack Corporation Announces New Management Team Structure that Simplifies Reporting, Narrows Accountability, Improves Decision Making. January 22nd, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. internetretailer. com/internet/marketing- conference/35591-radioshack-corporation-announces-new-management-team-structure-that-simplifies-reporting. html Kaizenlog. (n. d. ). Advantages of the Functional Structure. January 22nd, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. kaizenlog. com/2006/11/02/advantages-of-the-functional-structure/

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman Essay -- Daniel Goleman Intel

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the book Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, the central thesis that he tries to point out is that emotional intelligence may be more important than I.Q. in determining a person’s well being and success in life. At first I didn’t know what Goleman was talking about when he said emotional intelligence, but after reading the book I have to say that I agree completely with Goleman. One reason for my acceptance of Goleman's theory is that academic intelligence has little to do with emotional life. To me, emotions can be just as intelligent as your I.Q. In this essay I hope to provide sufficient evidence to show why I agree with Goleman’s thesis on emotional intelligence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first topic that I want to touch on is the idea of academic intelligence having little to do with emotional life. Goleman states that, â€Å"Emotional intelligence is the ability to motivate oneself, persist in the face of frustrations, regulate one’s moods and keep distress from swamping the ability to think.† I feel that academic intelligence gives you no preparation for the turmoil and opportunities that life brings. The funny thing is that our schools and our culture are still fixated on our academic abilities. Even though emotional intelligence is a new concept, the information that does exist suggests it can be as powerful as I.Q. Instead, we should acknowledge emotional intelligence as a set of traits that can matter immensely on our person...

Siddhartha: Journey Towards Self Discovery

A Journey Towards Self-discovery By: Gabrielle Revelo Behind all the endeavors of Siddhartha are prompts that steer him to a different path. Thus, he experiences many different faces of the world throughout his journey of discovering the truth within himself. In attaining truth, it is essential for Siddhartha to discover the unity of the world. One cannot find the reality in ones being if the world itself is disintegrated; a vital parcel of self-discovery is unity of the world.It is in the unity of the physical world where Siddhartha discovers the key concept of finding truth in his own persona. Therefore, finding unity with the world can co-exist with profound personal satisfaction in life. Everything that happens to Siddhartha piles up to realizations, because through his experiences he gains adequate understanding, which eventually leads him to the ultimate knowledge, which satisfies all his worldly desires. In the end, Siddhartha’s encounter with Vasudeva really matters th e greatest in his quest of finding truth.It is the ferryman who served as the catalyst for his self-discovery. Finding the unity of the mortal world is a constituent in achieving self-discovery; Siddhartha only attains the truth within him through discovering the unity of the world. When Siddhartha exposes himself in a disunited world of materialism with Kamala and Kamaswami, which Siddhartha denotes as the game of Samsara, he ends up with a vital realization; â€Å"Then Siddhartha knew that the game was finished, that he could play it no longer. A shudder passed through his body; he felt as if something had died† (85).As Siddhartha recognizes the disunity of the world, he feels nauseated with himself, and shares a mutual perspective on how he perceives the world. Through Siddhartha’s perception of a disunited world, he is unable to find the unity in himself. But as Siddhartha escapes the world of spirituality, in being a Brahmin, or a Samana and when he flees his life of materialism with Kamala and Kamaswami, Siddhartha ventures in the first representation of the unity of nature, the river; this is when Siddhartha reaches to a the ultimate discovery; â€Å"From that hour ceased to fight against his destiny.There shone in his face the serenity of knowledge, of one who is no longer confronted with conflict of desires, who has found salvation, who is in harmony with the stream of events, with the stream of life, full of sympathy and compassion, surrendering himself to the stream belonging to the unity of all things. † (136). Through the unity of nature, Siddhartha hears the sound of perfection or the sound of contentment within him. It is when he witnesses transcendence of the world where he discovers his being.Govinda wanders in the riverbanks to hear for himself the words of a pious ferryman who has been the talk of the town. He then discovers that the ferryman is no other than his childhood friend Siddhartha; as their conversation conclud es Govinda notices in his friends appearance; â€Å"He no longer saw the face of his friend Siddhartha. Instead, he saw other faces, many faces, a long series, a continuous stream of faces– hundreds, thousands, which all came and disappeared and yet all seemed to be there at the same time, which all continually changed and renewed themselves and which were yet all Siddhartha† (150).Through Govinda’s divine impression of Siddhartha’s physique, it ascertains Siddhartha’s achievement of peace. He is the sole witness of Siddhartha’s self-discovery. Siddhartha’s life from being a clever Brahmin, a patient Samana, a lavish businessman, and as a ferryman are all essential towards his self-discovery for they have indicated directions to Siddartha and eventually those prompts leads him towards self-discovery.As Siddhartha departs his life with his parents, the Brahmins, he follows the way of the Ascetics; after so many years of living the life of an Ascetic, Siddhartha moves further to seek enlightenment from the Gotama, the Buddha; â€Å"This fruit, for which we are already indebted to Gotama, consists of the fact that he has enticed us away from the Samanas. Whether there are still other and better fruits, let us patiently wait and see† (23). As Siddhartha absorbs the knowledge that the Samanas once imparted to him, it directs him to a different path.Through his constant longing for discovering truth, Siddhartha acquires more understanding that was essential to decode the puzzle towards truth. By the time Siddhartha absorbs the teachings of his previous spiritual life as a Brahmin and a Samana, and as he parts ways with the promise of Buddha’s enlightenment he goes to the town and experiences the domain of materialism; it took many years for Siddhartha to crash upon another realization; â€Å"I have had to experience so much stupidity, so many vices, so much error, so much nausea, disillusionment and sor row, just in order to become a child again and begin anew.But it was right that it should be so; my eyes and heart acclaim it† (96-7). Through experiencing another perspective of life, Siddhartha finally grasps the notion that truth is not defined by materialism. It is another milestone in his life, which forces him to reevaluate his life. Finally as Siddhartha encounters nature, represented by the river he finally locates the final parcel of his realization; â€Å"Within Siddhartha there slowly grew and ripened the knowledge of what wisdom really was and the goal of his long seeking.It was nothing but a preparation of his soul, a capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life† (131). In the terminal phase of Siddhartha’s realization, wisdom is reflected on his journey. Various directions prompt Siddartha to take up different lifestyles. Siddhartha’s encounter with the ferryman, Vasudeva impacts him the most in his journey towards self-unity; it is the ferryman who introduces the vast knowledge of nature to Siddhartha, whom Siddhartha eventually perceives, and ultimately attains peace.After Siddhartha awakens from his long unconsciousness to reality, he approaches a ferryman whom he adores his capabilities; â€Å" I also thank you, Vasudeva, for listening so well. There are few people who know how to listen and I have not met anybody who can do so like you. I will also learn from you from this respect† (105). Siddhartha’s appreciation of the ferryman’s listening capacity, the very first time they decide to venture together, directly highlights the ferryman’s importance to Siddhartha’s search. The peace that Siddhartha observes from Vasudeva’s image becomes his goal.When Sidhartha recognizes the ultimate power of the nature, in the moment of self-discovery, he remembers an essential person; â€Å"This knowledge matured in him slowly, and it was reflected in Vasudeva’s old childlike face: harmony, knowledge of the eternal perfection of the world and unity† (131). Through Siddhartha’s comparison of perfection to Vasudeva, demonstrates Siddhartha’s recognition of his predecessor’s great contribution to his realization. Moreover, Siddhartha exhibits his owed learning to the ferryman through recollecting his image to his experience of peace.Siddhartha explains to Govinda the great realization that Vasudeva came about; â€Å"When this holy man went off into the woods, he new everything; he knew more than you and I, without teachers, without books, just because he believed in the river† (147). Siddhartha illustrates the greatness of Vasudeva through explaining to his friend the realization that the ferryman once imparted to him. Through Sidhartha’s demonstration of his shared understanding with Vasudeva to Govinda, ascertains the vitality of Vasudeva in his search for truth.

Cause of Global Warming

Causes of Global Warming There are many factors that contribute to causes of global warming nowadays. Through many years of investigation,scientist have discover that the prime factor are cause by the effect of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by humans. Mankind have distribute carbon dioxide in many ways:- 1. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants:- * Human addiction to electricity from coal burning power plants releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 40% of U.S. CO2 emissions come from electricity production, and burning coal accounts for 93% of emissions from the electric utility industry. Every day, more electric gadgets flood the market, and without widespread alternative energy sources, we are highly dependent on burning coal for our personal and commercial electrical supply. 2. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation:- * Human modern car culture and appetite for globally sourced goods is responsible for about 33% of emissions in the U.S. With our population growing at an alarming rate, the demand for more cars and consumer goods means that we are increasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation and manufacturing. Our consumption is outpacing our discoveries of ways to mitigate the effects, with no end in sight to our massive consumer culture. 3. Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabeds:- * Methane is another extremely potent greenhouse gas, ranking right behind CO2.When organic matter is broken down by bacteria under oxygen-starved conditions (anaerobic decomposition) as in rice paddies, methane is produced. The process also takes place in the intestines of herbivorous animals, and with the increase in the amount of concentrated livestock production, the levels of methane released into the atmosphere is increasing. Another source of methane is methane clathrate, a compound containing large amounts of methane trapped in the cryst al structure of ice. As methane escapes from the Arctic seabed, the rate of global warming will increase significantly. 4.Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood, pulp, and farmland:- * The use of forests for fuel (both wood and for charcoal) is one cause of deforestation, but in the first world, our appetite for wood and paper products, our consumption of livestock grazed on former forest land, and the use of tropical forest lands for commodities like palm oil plantations contributes to the mass deforestation of our world. Forests remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and this deforestation releases large amounts of carbon, as well as reducing the amount of carbon capture on the planet. 5.Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on croplands * In the last half of the 20th century, the use of chemical fertilizers (as opposed to the historical use of animal manure) has risen dramatically. The high rate of application of nitrogen-rich fertilizers has effect s on the heat storage of cropland (nitrogen oxides have 300 times more heat-trapping capacity per unit of volume than carbon dioxide) and the run-off of excess fertilizers creates ‘dead-zones’ in our oceans. In addition to these effects, high nitrate levels in groundwater due to over-fertilization are cause for concern for human health.

Past Simple Verb Form Example Worksheets

Past Simple Verb Form Example Worksheets The past simple takes the following forms: Past Simple Positive: Subject past simple form of verb objects Jason went to camp in Florida last week.We had dinner at that new restaurant two days ago. Past Simple Negative Form: Subject did not verb objects Mary didnt attend the meeting last week.They didnt pass the exam yesterday. Past Simple Question Form: (Question Word) did subject verb? What did you do yesterday?When did they meet Tim? Important Notes ï » ¿The verb to be does not take the auxiliary verb did in the question or negative form.The regular past simple form of verbs ends in -ed, irregular past simple form of verbs vary and must be studied. Examples I was on time to the meeting yesterday.Alexander wasnt born in April. He was born in May.Were you at the party last night? Ago / Last / In Ago is used at the end of a sentence preceded by a specific amount of time such as: three days ago, two weeks ago, one month ago, etc.Last is used with week, month, and year.In is used with specific months and years in the past. Practice Worksheet 1 Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well. Tom _____ (visit) his mother last weekend.We _____ (not buy) that TV yesterday because it was too expensive._____ (you / be) at the meeting on Tuesday?Where _____ (Sheila / stay) in New Orleans?Alan _____ (understand) the situation two days ago.They _____ (not finish) the project on time last month.When _____ (Mary / fly) to New York?Henry _____ (read) Harry Smiths latest book last month.I _____ (not write) that letter to him last week.What _____ (you do) yesterday afternoon?You _____ (think) he couldnt win, didnt you?She _____ (not win) the prize two weeks ago.Where _____ (Andy / go) last week?Thomas _____ (come) to visit us in May.Susan _____ (not telephone) in time to get a ticket.How _____ (you meet) him?David _____ (get up) early on Saturday to play golf.Betty _____ (not draw) that picture._____ (Peter forget) his books yesterday?She _____ (give) him a present for his birthday yesterday. Practice Worksheet 2 Choose the correct time expression used with the past simple tense. Cathy left on holiday (last / ago) week.I played football (when / last) I was in high school.Were you able to go to the meeting (ago / in) May?She didnt think about those problems two days (last / ago).There werent any children at the party (last / when) Saturday.Jennifer wanted us to come and help three weeks (ago / when).Peter went to a meeting in Chicago (last / ago) Tuesday.Alexander made a number of mistakes (yesterday / tomorrow).Tom was born (at / in) 1987.Our teacher helped us understand the problem (this morning / tomorrow morning).I bought a new chair for my office (last / next) week.Did you finish the meeting on time (yesterday / last) evening?Susan visited her aunt in Seattle (last / ago) Sunday.My father took me to the zoo (when / last) I was a child.They opened a new store (in / on) Tuesday.She drove to New Mexico (in / on) February.We enjoyed a lunch with our friends (yesterday / tomorrow).Annabelle played the piano for two hours (on / in) Tuesday.Fred didnt attend the meeting (last / ago) week. Anne opened a bottle of wine two hours (ago / last). Worksheet 1 Answers Tom visited his mother last weekend.We didnt buy that TV yesterday because it was too expensive.Were you at the meeting on Tuesday?Where did Sheila stay in New Orleans?Alan understood the situation two days ago.They didnt finish the project on time last month.When did Mary fly to New York?Henry read Harry Smiths latest book last month.I didnt write that letter to him last week.What did you do yesterday afternoon?You thought he couldnt win, didnt you?She didnt win the prize two weeks ago.Where did Andy go last week?Thomas came to visit us in May.Susan didnt telephone in time to get a ticket.How did you meet him?David got up early on Saturday to play golf.Betty didnt draw that picture.Did Peter forget his books yesterday?She gave him a present for his birthday yesterday. Worksheet 2 Answers Cathy left on holiday last week.I played football when I was in high school.Were you able to go to the meeting in May?She didnt think about those problems two days ago.There werent any children at the party last Saturday.Jennifer wanted us to come and help three weeks ago.Peter went to a meeting in Chicago last Tuesday.Alexander made a number of mistakes yesterday.Tom was born in 1987.Our teacher helped us understand the problem this morning.I bought a new chair for my office last week.Did you finish the meeting on time yesterday evening?Susan visited her aunt in Seattle last Sunday.My father took me to the zoo when I was a child.They opened a new store on Tuesday.She drove to New Mexico in February.We enjoyed a lunch with our friends yesterday.Annabelle played the piano for two hours on Tuesday.Fred didnt attend the meeting last week.Anne opened a bottle of wine two hours ago.

Ohalo II, the Upper Paleolithic Site on the Sea of Galilee

Ohalo II, the Upper Paleolithic Site on the Sea of Galilee Ohalo II is the name of a submerged late Upper Paleolithic (Kebaran) site located on the southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) in the Rift Valley of Israel. The site was discovered in 1989 when the level of the lake plummeted. The site is 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) south of the modern city of Tiberias. The site covers an area of 2,000 square meters (about a half an acre), and the remains are of an extremely well-preserved hunter-gatherer-fisher camp. The site is typical of Kebaran sites, containing the floors and wall bases of six oval brush huts, six open-air hearths  and a human grave. The site was occupied during the Last Glacial Maximum, and has an occupation date between 18,000-21,000 RCYBP, or between 22,500 and 23,500 cal BP. Animal and Plant Remains Ohalo II is remarkable in that  since it had been submerged, the preservation of organic materials was excellent, providing very rare evidence of food sources for late Upper Paleolithic/Epipaleolithic communities. Animals represented by bones in the faunal assemblage include fish, tortoise, birds, hare, fox, gazelle, and deer. Polished bone points and several enigmatic bone tools were recovered, as were tens of thousands of seeds and fruits representing almost 100 taxa from the living surface. Plants include an assortment of herbs, low shrubs, flowers, and grasses, including wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), mallow (Malva parviflora), groundsel (Senecio glaucus), thistle (Silybum marianum(), Melilotus indicus and a slew of others too numerous to mention here. The flowers at Ohalo II represent the earliest known use of flowers by Anatomically Modern Humans. Some may have been used for medicinal purposes. The edible remains are dominated by seeds from small-grained grasses and wild cereals, although nuts, fruits, and legumes are also present. Ohalos collections include over 100,000 seeds, including the earliest identification of emmer wheats [Triticum dicoccoides or T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (kà ¶rn.) Thell], in the form of several charred seeds. Other plants include wild almond (Amygdalus communis), wild olive (Olea europaea var sylvestris), wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica), and wild grape (Vitis vinifera spp sylvestris). Three fragments of twisted and plied fibers were discovered at Ohalo; they are the oldest evidence of string-making discovered yet. Living at Ohalo II The floors of the six brush huts were oval in shape, with an area of between 5-12 square meters (54-130 square feet), and the entrance-way from at least two was from the east. The largest hut was built of tree branches (tamarisk and oak) and covered by grasses. The floors of the huts were shallowly excavated prior to their construction. All of the huts were burned. The working surface of a grinding stone found at the site was covered with barley starch grains, indicating that at least some of the plants were processed for food or medicine. Plants in evidence on the stones surface include wheat, barley, and oats. But the majority of the plants are believed to represent the brush used for housing. Flint, bone and wooden tools, basalt net sinkers, and hundreds of shell beads made from mollusks brought from the Mediterranean Sea were also identified. The single grave at Ohalo II is an adult male, who had a disabled hand and a penetrating wound to his rib cage. A bone tool found near the skull is a piece of gazelle long bone incised with parallel markings. Ohalo II was discovered in 1989 when lake levels dropped. Excavations organized by the Israeli Antiquities Authority have continued at the site when lake levels permit, led by Dani Nadel. Sources Allaby RG, Fuller DQ, and Brown TA. 2008. The genetic expectations of a protracted model for the origins of domesticated crops. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105(37):13982-13986. Kislev ME, Nadel D, and Carmi I. 1992. Epipalaeolithic (19,000 BP) cereal and fruit diet at Ohalo II, Sea of Galilee, Israel. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 73(1-4):161-166. Nadel D, Grinberg U, Boaretto E, and Werke E. 2006. Wooden objects from Ohalo II (23,000 cal BP), Jordan Valley, Israel. Journal of Human Evolution 50(6):644-662. Nadel D, Piperno DR, Holst I, Snir A, and Weiss E. 2012. New evidence for the processing of wild cereal grains at Ohalo II, a 23 000-year-old campsite on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel . Antiquity 86(334):990-1003. Rosen AM, and Rivera-Collazo I. 2012. Climate change, adaptive cycles, and the persistence of foraging economies during the late Pleistocene/Holocene transition in the Levant. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109(10):3640-3645. Weiss E, Kislev ME, Simchoni O, Nadel D, and Tschauner H. 2008. Plant-food preparation area on an Upper Paleolithic brush hut floor at Ohalo II, Israel. Journal of Archaeological Science 35(8):2400-2414.

The financial performance of Marks and Spencer Assignment - 1

The financial performance of Marks and Spencer - Assignment Example etail outlets also sell mid to high priced apparel, food, and household items under the companys private label brands, including Autograph, Classic, per una, and Portfolio. The British retail icon operates in about 330 M&S department stores and some 340 Simply Food shops throughout the UK. Beyond Britain, it spreads across over 325 locations, mostly franchises, in about 40 countries, including China, India, Indonesia, and South Korea (Google Finance n.d.). The company recorded revenues of  £9,536.6 million ($15,272.9 million) during the financial year ended April 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 5.2% over 2009 (JP Morgan 2011). Past financial performance of the firm or an organization is an important indicator for predict or estimate the future of the company. Investors and shareholders measure and value this financial performance (amongst other factors) as a means to assess the expected returns on their investments (Alvarado 2011). Calculation of a number of financial ratios for the firm’s financial statements is considered a fairly safe way to evaluate the firm’s past performance, its evolution and key financial issues. The analyses are very valuable for firm’s management as well in order to identify opportunities to improve performance at the department, unit, division or organizational level. In some cases, ratio analyses can predict future bankruptcy (Loth 2011). Reading and understanding financial ratios is also the quickest method to assess the company’s operating performance. In order to understand the company well from financial statements, we need to conduct analyses at three levels: (1) Profitability analyses to see if the company is profitable or not, whether the company is a growing company or a stagnant one. (2) Financial Health analyses from ratios that indicate whether the company is sound or not and what is its presence state of solvency. (3) Finally, company specificities will be explored in terms of key growth drivers and competitive

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 196

Essay Example t there is a functional structure that groups people with similar abilities and competences taking up defined roles and functions within the organization. It would be noted that as part of focus strategy, the institution will be seeking to offer customized services that meet the unique needs of customers (Sprigings and Allen, 2007). Such customized and focused services can however not come if round pegs are put in square holes. By rightly placing the human resource therefore, it will be possible to improve the institution’s overall efficiency. What is more, the use of focus generic strategy is expected to bring about and offer financial sustainability as it is to double as a means by which the hospital becomes competitive by gaining the needed competitive advantage to compete with competitor. As the focus strategy comes on board, the organization will no longer be concerned just about customers who come to the institution to do business with it. Rather, it will be expected that the right customers, marketing niche and product lines are found that come directly under the focus of the institution. As a tool for gaining competitive advantage and for that matter financial growth, the focus strategy ensures that most places within the market where competitors have abandoned are areas that are focused on for market expansion (Berkowitz, 2010). By doing this, financial stability can be said to be guaranteed given the fact that those newly identified markets will become a nursery financial outflow for the institution where it can fall on for its future growth. With all the above said, an important realization is that by bringing on board the focus business strategy, the company will be opening itself up to addressing the needs of stakeholders more directly. This is because as stated earlier, the emphasis of the focused strategy will be to serve customized services. Meanwhile, the hospital has never functioned in isolation but with the joint efforts and collaboration of