Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Ten Most Expensive Google Keywords

According to a recent article by@larrykim from WordStream the ten most expensive Google keywords last year were: Business Services: $58.64 Bail Bonds: $58.48 Casino: $55.48 Lawyer: $54.86 Asset Management: $49.86 Insurance: $48.41 Cash Services Payday Loans: $48.18 Cleanup Restoration Services: $47.61 Degree: $47.36 Medical Coding Services: $46.84 As any modern content writer knows it would be foolhardy to pay for these – the goal should be to integrate your keywords organically into content while telling a compelling story. And looking at those words I think there is a story to be told. So, without further delay please enjoy the following keywords stuffed organically into an epic tale of woe and suffering. John’s Big Idea John woke up and dragged himself through the mess that was his living room. One would think that after investing $10K in cleanup and restoration services it wouldn’t be such a mess, but such is life when dealing with contractors. He planned on suing the contractor but a lawyer advised him against it, saying that insurance should cover the cost so why bother. Just as he was rounding a corner John tripped over a box on the floor and hit his head on the coffee table. Dazed and confused, John staggered to his feet, thinking that there must be some sort of business service that could help him get his life together. One that combines lawyers with clean-up and restoration services so he could sue one cleaner while retaining another. â€Å"Well, that would be a great idea†, thought John. Maybe he could take the money from suing the cleaner and go back to school – he’s always wanted to learn about medical coding services. Just then, John caught glimpse of himself in the mirror. The blood pouring from the wound on his head told him that medical coding would have to wait. He needed a more serious type of medical services. John stumbled out to his car to drive to the hospital but a funny thing happened on the way there. John’s head injury gave him delayed amnesia, which made him forget about his severe gambling addiction. So instead of going to the hospital John turned left into the cash service and payday loan office located conveniently next to the Full-Tilt Casino. Armed with two months of earnings from the payday loan office he entered the casino and put it all on red. And lost. John never was particularly talented at asset management. Tips for Businesses in Expensive Keyword Niches Joking aside, businesses that operate in niches with expensive keywords face a serious challenge. Either try to rank for these highly competitive keywords organically or accept an incredibly expensive a cost per click. While you could fill your company blog with epic tales like the one above, there are other ways to help rank organically and keep costs down. 1. Write Valuable, Targeted Content One of the best ways to help you rank in expensive keyword niches it to look for highly targeted long-tail keywords and produce high-quality content focusing on those topics. While â€Å"business services† may be an incredibly expensive and highly competitive keyword, long-tail keywords like â€Å"digital copywriting services in California† will be much easier to rank for. 2. Focus on Maximizing Your Quality Score Having a high Adwords Quality Score will help lower your cost per click. Businesses in expensive keyword niches will want to pay extra attention to ensuring your ad quality score is as high as possible. Some of the main areas that contribute to your quality score include ad relevance, expected CTR and the landing page experience. 3. Use Negative Keywords and Match Types Given the cost for some of these keywords, the last thing you want is irrelevant clicks. Irrelevant clicks mean you’re paying for visitors that will absolutely never convert. Using negative keywords is a great way to reduce the chances of showing up for certain search queries that contain the keyword but aren’t relevant. For example, image your keyword is â€Å"Bluetooth speakers.† By using exact match types and negative keywords, you can avoid paying for ads on irrelevant keywords such as â€Å"Bluetooth earpiece† or â€Å"USB speakers.†

Monday, November 25, 2019

Case Study 1 West Florida Regional Hospital Essay Example

Case Study 1 West Florida Regional Hospital Essay Example Case Study 1 West Florida Regional Hospital Essay Case Study 1 West Florida Regional Hospital Essay Case Study 1 Keiser University Dr. Marsha Lawrence HSM691 (Quality Management in Health Care) December 9, 2013 Introduction Regional Hospital West Florida Regional Medical Center (WFRMC) located on the north side of Pensacola, Florida competed strongly with sacred heart and Baptist hospitals for patients. WFRMCs CEO John Kausch was an active member of the Total Quality Council of the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce (PATQC) (McLaughlin, C. P. , Johnson, J. K. , Sollecito, 2012).. PATQCs vision was to develop the Pensacola, Florida area into a total quality community by promoting productivity, quality and economic evelopments in all area organizations both public and private (McLaughlin, et, al. , 2012). John Kauschs good management skills initiated the Control Quality Improvement for WFRMC to understand and adapt the external environment, empower clinicians and managers to analyze and improve process, adapt a norm that customer preferences are important determinants in quality which includes both patients and providers in the process, development of multidisciplinary approach that exceeds beyond conventional departmental and professional lines, adopting a plan for ongoing change and adaptation, setting up mechanisms for mplementation and organizational learning, and providing motivation data-based cooperation to process analysis and change (Sollecito, W. A. Johnson, J. K. , 2013). West Florida Regional Medical Center reflected PATQCs strategic impetus by defining several multifunctional teams sphered by core leadership (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). In addition, WFRMC identified customers and their expectations, determined training needs for all staff and identified all department opportunities (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). Basics The total Quality Management (TQM) program at WFRMC had its strengths and weaknesses. The weaknesses of the TQM program were the range of acceptability throughout the organization and a lack of computerization which led to a lack of information flow and costly errors (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). Trying to get the leadership motivated with adapting to TQM was a challenge in the beginning. The enthusiasm of top leaders has caused the TQM process to become effective. Although Health care has a complex adaptive system, leadership is crucial in implementing an improvement system (Sollecito Johnson, 2013). The strengths of the TQM process were the support of the chamber of commerce, implementation of a uality improvement plan, adapting a successful way to measure improvement and development of cost effective techniques (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). Corporate headquarters was totally involved in the TQM program with the CEO John Kausch as an active member of the Total Quality Council of the Pensacola, Area Chamber of Commerce (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012) In any continuous quality improvement effort, measurement is the key element (Sollecito, Johnson, 2013). Measurement and statistical analysis are used to assess the impact of an improvement effort (Sollecito Johnson, 2013). To Measure the impact of the program, the hospital utilized a departmental quality improvement assessment with a scoring matrix for self- assessment (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012) . The scoring matrix consisted of five category ratings which each department head had to complete. Univer4sal Charting and Resource Utilization were also used for measurement (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). Implementation To support the tactical programs within the hospital, formed a task force in quality improvement to serve as program support, monitor process and provide education nd training (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). In addition, a patient comment card system was used as a pilot and to evaluate policies and guidelines regarding forming multifunctional teams (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). The hospital used a computer system medication administration record (MAR) for documentation of the IV usage, universal charting to increase timelines and chart availability, a package price for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum, and created a pharmacy and therapeutics committee to change the listing of antibiotic doses as tools to support tactical rograms within the hospital (McLaughlin, et. al. , 2012). The next step for John Kausch in dealing with continuous improvement would be the use of quality improvement tools to show the root cause of problems (Sollecito Johnson, 2013). Six Sigma is a CQI tool used in statistics to measure variations, identify and remove errors and minimize variability in processes (Sollecito Johnson, 2013). Application For West Florida Regional Medical Center to introduce an internal medicine residency program it is crucial that the clinical purpose of the residency program be identified ecause this defines the components of the microsystem (Mohr, J. , Batalden, P. , Barach, P. , 2004). WFRMC has to understand the dynamics of effective organizational different organizations (Sollecito Johnson, 2013). Since John Kausch already serve on the PATQC his next step would be forming relationships in the community to work together to achieve the residency program. There needs to be integration of information and technology included in work flows, staff focus to assess safety culture, education and training and interdependence of care teams to identify errors Sollecito Johnson, 2013). Reference: Johnson, J. K. , Sollecito, W. A. (2013). Continuous quality improvement in health care 4th edition. Annapolis, Maryland: Jones Barlett Learning, LLC. McLaughlin, C. P. , Johnson, J. K. , Sollecito, W. A. (2012). Implementing continuous quality improvement in health care, Annapolis, Maryland: Jones Barlett Learning, LLC. Mohr, J. , Batalden, P. , Barach, P. (2004). Integrating patient safety into the clinical microsystem. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 13(suppl 2), ii34-ii38. Retrieved from nih. gov.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Censoring Pleas for Help Essay Example for Free

Censoring Pleas for Help Essay In Dwight Lee’s essay, â€Å"Censoring Pleas for Help,† the Georgia-based economics professor notes the strange contradiction between popular opposition to censorship and widespread support of price controls. Lee’s primary contention with this political dissonance is that it is not only ethically inconsistent, but reflects an oversight of how markets help communicate economic needs, particularly with regards to the sudden needs which emerge in the wake of natural disasters. Much of the support for price controls stems from fear of â€Å"price gouging,† which is essentially occurs when suppliers attempt to take advantage of sudden demand by raising prices to maximize profit during the period of demand. Lee notes that in his home state, there exists a price gouging law which is designed to prevent such a situation from happening by forbidding suppliers from charging more for their goods than they did the day before a disaster strikes. Lee notes that: â€Å"[†¦] building contractors and construction supplies from several states had poured into Atlanta immediately after it suffered massive tornado damage. Can anyone seriously believe that this help would have poured in from far away if the â€Å"price gouging† law had been perfectly enforced, or that the help was not reduced by the enforcement that had occurred?† (Lee 1999) The crux of Lee’s argument is that price controls are essentially a form of economic censorship which restricts the ability of prices to communicate market demands. To that end, he argues that prices are better understood as the most efficient means by which markets, such as disaster victims, communicate their need for help in the form of resources and supplies. This is not to devalue the contributions and assistance that some have provided for free, but the economic distinction made above between humanitarian aid and supply-demand response is not a trivial one. While those who provide supplies for free are to be commended, it is important to recognize the potential mistake in relying on altruism and humanitarian sensitivity as the primary forces driving resource redistribution. Such a view presumes that humanitarian aid is an objective force that responds to the needs of disaster victims efficiently. In effect, Lee’s argument is that while high prices should not be raised to wildly disproportionate levels,   allowing them to fluctuate free of price controls ensures that they can communicate needs more efficiently, for â€Å"high prices [†¦] insure that pleas for help will be met with a quick and effective response.† Complementary to his point, Lee observes that price controls censor this economic communication and effectively disrupt the ability of customers to express their needs. He notes that in Charleston, price controls prevented a local hardware store from legally being able to sell generators at a higher price nor could the locals communicate their demand to outside suppliers of generators. The result was that one hardware store owner sold one of only two generators in his possession to a friend, at the expense of groceries with a greater demand in the form of thousands of dollars worth of food that needed refrigeration. Simply put, humanitarian aid relies on the initiative of those with the resources and the sense of philanthropy to contribute to disaster relief, which is all well and good, but does not compare to the efficacy of free moving prices in expressing the demands that emerge in the wake of a natural disaster. As far as economics are concerned, price controls merely censor the ability of these sudden emergent markets to communicate those demands. Lee, Dwight R. â€Å"Censoring Pleas for Help.† The Freeman, January 1999. Retrieved online on February 25, 2009 from: http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/censoring-pleas-for-help/ Censoring Pleas for Help. (2017, Jan 13).

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Assignment Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment - Movie Review Example Throughout her stay at the institution, Susanna pays attention to her actions, trying to decide if the diagnosis was correct, or if the doctors were simply just trying to put a name to her common misbehaviors. The most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder are an insecure sense of self, harmful and unconventional relationships, impulsive and dangerous behavior, jarring changes in emotions, and suicidal behavior. The first symptom of of borderline personality disorder that Susanna displays is an attempt at suicide by means of overdosing. After the scene in the ice cream shop, in which she is confronted by the wife of a man she had an affair with, it became clear that Susanna engaged in harmful, unconventional relationships with others. As the movie progresses and Susanna spends more time with the black sheep of the ward, Lisa, she begins to display other symptoms, such as reckless behavior and erratic changes in her mood. She begins to defy her nurses and therapists. However, while the movie might be displaying the symptoms correctly based on the disorder, it can be said that Susanna engaged herself in the things that she did based on what she was learning from Lisa. The scene in the film that suggests this is when Lisa is about to take drugs and Susanna recoils from the image. There are other behaviors that Lisa displays that makes Susanna react in a way that would suggest that she does not have borderline personality disorder, as she is able to distinguish from harmful, reckless behavior and the proper way of facing a situation. Susanna was often treated as though she were normal, like she did not belong in the institution. Her parents were the only people to honestly believe that something was wrong with their daughter. Even Valerie, the nurse that attends to Susanna, seems to believe that whatever is

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Attributes and Primary Keys of the ERD Coursework

Attributes and Primary Keys of the ERD - Coursework Example SoniDream is the company, forming one of the entities. Within it, there several other entities, derived from their various attributes. I, therefore, consider how each of the following has different characteristics from the other (Moreira et al. 2013, p.455). Â  The company, with the main office headquartered in London. A company as an entity must have attributes such as physical location. In this case, its physical address in London. A company must also have the people who run it. Using this knowledge, I identified members of staff who fall into different categories and play different roles. They include studio managers, sound engineers, and van drivers. Â  Recording studios distributed over different parts of London. Studios are fixed entities and must, therefore, have their physical locations. In this case of the studios are in London and the other 8 are located in different parts of the UK. Â  Equipment used in the studio is an entity and must be comprised of different pieces. In this case, they included recorder, mixing desks, studio monitors, controllers, microphones, converters, musical instruments, and other music accessories. The different entities are joined by different relationships. Â  3. I identified the main relationship types for SonicDream using a hierarchical order. A relationship type is an association between two or more entity types. Relationship types may associate an entity type with itself. In such a case the roles of the entity types in the relationship type will be listed on the edges like shown in the ERD in part 1.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Find the Ar of lithium Essay Example for Free

Find the Ar of lithium Essay Was my experiment suitable? My experiments enabled me to gain results, which then with the aid of calculations I could find the Ar of lithium. From this perspective you can say the experiment was suitable as I achieved this. Were my results what I expected? Looking at the results they do not match the expected Ar of lithium (6. 9). Method 1, measuring the volume of hydrogen produced, gave the result of 19. 76 (a factor of 12. 86 out). Method 2, titrating the lithium hydroxide produced, gave the result of 8. 65 (a factor of 1. 75 out). So looking at these results not only we can see they are out, but one method is more inaccurate than the other. The titration is far more accurate than the collecting of gas. Comparing both methods, and recognising sources of error. Method1. Sources of error in the collection of gas practical were: When the lithium was weighed I had to place it on filter paper first to remove the oil from it. However I feel that not all of the oil was removed from the Li so perhaps this contributed extra mass which was not part of the Li itself. The scales themselves were awkward to use; when I placed some paper onto the scales and zeroed it (to weigh the Li onto) the mass kept fluctuating, so I was unsure as to how precise my weighing out was. These problems will have both contributed to a source of error- the mass of Li will have not been accurate. The next part of the practical was particularly inaccurate. I had to place the Li into the conical flask and then place the bung onto the flask quick enough so that no gas was leaked. I think this would be virtually impossible. I also had the problem that as I tried to add the Li to the flask, some of the granules stuck to the paper which it was on (probably due to the presence of some oil). So there was a short period where I had to get this Li off the paper and into the flask which will have allowed the gas to escape considerably. For this reason I feel that 60. 6 may be an anomalous result contributing to my highly inaccurate Ar for method 1. When I came to measure the gas evolved itself, my 250 ml measuring cylinder had a small irremovable air bubble inside it. I had no choice to ignore this but again this would have affected my result. Also 250 ml measuring cylinders are only accurate to 2 ml -anything under this had to be estimated, which by its very nature lacks accuracy. Parallax may have been a problem when gauging the volume in the 250ml measuring cylinder (it has a relatively large cross-sectional area compared to a burette). This allows for a greater % inaccuracy if you do not line your eye up correctly with the meniscus. Method2. Sources of error in the titration of lithium hydroxide were: because the Li was not weighed accurately (see above) this would of affected my calculations at the end. Air bubbles in the burette will have affected the titre as will have parallax -this may have been a problem when gauging the volume in the burette (however it has a relatively small cross-sectional area compared to a 250ml measuring cylinder- so is more accurate). But if you do not line your eye up correctly with the meniscus there could be a % inaccuracy. If different batches of acid were used this would have affected the results as well as the concentrations would have been slightly different. Adding Li to the water may have changed the volume also, but I found I had enough to carry out my 4 titrations- just. Another mistake was I left the funnel with which I added the acid in the burette whilst performing the titration. This may have meant extra acid may have been added during the titration. Reliability. I feel that my titrations were reliable as I performed repeats until I had closely matching titres. However I think method 1 was unreliable due to gas loss and in hindsight I would have performed more repeats. Which was more accurate method 1 or method 2? Why was one more accurate than the other? Method 2 (titration) was far more accurate than method 1. This is explained by my above reasons. Far more precise instruments were used in method 2 e. g. a burette instead of a 250ml measuring cylinder. All of my reacting chemicals will have been accounted for in the titration but there was some gas loss in method 1. But if you look at my comparisons you will see there are more serious sources of error in method 1 i. e. placing the bung onto the flask quick enough so that no gas was leaked (no gas involved in method 2) or the fact that 250 ml measuring cylinders are only accurate to 2 ml -anything under this had to be estimated, which by its very nature lacks accuracy (burettes are accurate to 0. 1 ml) etc. Ways to minimise errors, and practical adaptations to improve my experiment.   Reliability could easily be improved for method 1 by performing more repeats (I only did this experiment once! ). I feel method 2 was fairly reliable but again it could be argued that repeats could improve this further.   On method one if you tilt the flask at and angle and place the Li inside so it is not touching the water, and then place the bung and level the tube upwards, the chemicals should mix without gas loss. Also making sure the Li was as pure as possible before weighing to eliminate all oil possible.   Make sure eye is lined with the meniscus and use the smallest instrument possible (with the smallest cross-sectional area possible) to eliminate parallax.   Use instruments with the finest possible gradations to measure volume.   Remove the funnel whilst performing the titration. This will prevent extra acid from being added during the titration   Use the same batch of acid. Then the concentrations will be the same. Air bubbles in the burette removed be titrating.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Student Looks at Websites for 3D Graphics Cards :: Sell Websites Buy Web Sites

A Student Looks at Websites for 3D Graphics Cards There are many players in the game of computer graphics cards for personal computers. ATI and NVIDIA are two major competitors in this field along with many others. They have many differences that set them apart and also many issues that they have in common. One such issue is each company’s website. ATI’s and NVIDIA’s respective websites both target the same audience. With this being the case, they try their best to differentiate themselves from each other using a different yet somehow very similar layout for their websites. The audience that both companies are trying to get at is the biggest issue that these two giants have in common. They both target what has become the biggest market share in PC graphics, the computer gamer. The computer gamer can be anybody that plays any number of games on their PC. In order to run these games, they need a graphics card capable of supporting them. ATI and NVIDIA both know that this group of PC users are very dedicated to their hobby and put a lot of time and money into their graphics cards. ATI and NVIDIA also know that this same group of PC gamers is also very adept at using the internet. It is with no surprise then that both of their websites target PC gamers first and everyone else second. ATI and NVIDIA both have their best gaming graphics card right in front of the viewer when they enter their respective websites. This is no coincidence. With both companies targeting the PC gamer first and foremost, the center of attention is going to be given to the latest gaming graphics card. That starting point is about the only thing these two have in common when it comes to presenting their best card. They each try to take a different approach to the PC gamer audience and it is very interesting to compare the two. ATI presents their new card using a very flashy and slick interactive presentation. It allows the user to get involved with the website and can be very impressive and entertaining. Unfortunately it is also very annoying. Once the novelty of the presentation has worn off it can actually be quite distracting. The most noticeable distraction comes when looking at the technical specifications of the card.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Poverty in America Essay

Many people want to blame the government and their short comings for the reasons that affect their upward mobility, but indigent people must fully evaluate their negative decisions, and their consequences, that have made poverty a perpetuating cycle in not only their lives, but their children’s. Chiefly, bad decisions like, teen pregnancy, lack of education and complacency keeps poverty revolving, currently, and for future generations. The government does have an obligation to help the poor and needy in America, but as individuals, people have an obligation to help themselves in their own pursuit of happiness and success. To help end poverty, people should assess the issues of the generation before, so that the next generation has a better future. .To begin with, one of the major causes of poverty is a person’s decision to drop out of school. Timothy Eagan, a correspondent with the New York Times, reported in his journal article, â€Å"No Degree, and No Way Back to the Middle†, that a man in his fifties with a college degree is expected to make 81 percent more than a man without one. Years prior to it was 52 percent. Without education people are more susceptible to undesirable lifestyles then those who graduate. Besides the dilemma of having no education, dropouts face a number of challenges that could have possibly been avoided if they had decided to finish schooling. First, the non- graduate has challenges obtaining employment, consequently, they engage in criminal activity. As a result of criminal activity, non-graduates tend to end up in the penal system, and are then stigmatized against future employment. With the job market being so scarce and work wages so low, those with no diploma or degree will have no chance of coming out of poverty. In addition, low income people are often eligible for assistance, such as reduced cost housing, food stamps, child care and insurance. These programs are managed by the state, and the amount of assistance and how it is supplied varies according to income and family size . Though these programs are meant to help temporarily, poor people decide to become comfortable with not having to do too much. Government assistance helps, but it also allows people to make a choice to become lazy and unwilling to work. They then, find ways to scheme the system and boast about it. The government may not offer a lot per individual, but something to be thought about is this, if more â€Å"needy† people used government assistance programs for what they were set in place for, instead of robbing it, there would be more money allocated for those needed it, instead of those who are just used to having it. An indigent person becoming complacent with what they are given keeps them right where they are. Finally, the revolving door that most perpetuates poverty is a teens decision to have a baby. Babies having babies before they have education and experience put their children at risk of having the same hardships they’ve had to endure . Once a child has a child they are then faced with financial, emotional and physical limitations that they have not been able to yet master themselves. The fathers of these babies are often absent and in most cases too young to provide for a child, which leaves the mother looking to welfare as a means for support. When babies arrive mothers are forced to put everything, including school, on hold. And because child care is an ongoing job, young mommies don’t make to college until later on in life, if at all. Once teen pregnancy rates are lowered, a drastic change will be noticed in the poverty rates. In the journal article, Class Matters, David Leonhardt, a correspondent for the New York Times, interviewed Any Blevins, a southwest Virginia native. Blevins stated, a decade after the fac,t that the biggest decision he regrets, was not going to college. All because he was complacent with what he had at the time. He now has a child and a wife that he can barely support. Even with having a high school diploma and waiting to have his son, Lucas, at more appropriate age, Blevins now sees how his decisions in the past have greatly impacted his present and his family’s future. More parents need to make their children aware of how bad choices at an early age, will affect them later on in life, if their hope is for their children to do better than they did. Everyone makes mistakes, but some have such a profound impact that they effect the generations to come.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Organizational Competitive Strategies-Porter’s Five Forces Model (AIR ASIA) Essay

The Porter’s five forces model, in this assignment, can be used to access the competitiveness of the airlines industry. It can review the competition within the industry plus checks for threat from outside. Bargaining power of supplier-High- In every industry, there has to be someone to play the role of a supplier. It is important to know the power of the supplier as it will affect the industry. There are only two main suppliers in the airline industry, Airbus and Boeing, thus there isn’t much of an open option. Not forgetting the global economic catastrophe which has limited the new entry of competitor plus reducing the necessity of upgrading of planes in near future. However, both suppliers grant almost similar standard aircrafts; hence the switch to AirAsia is low. Furthermore, AirAsia places a bulky amount of order from Airbus in order to expand its routes internationally. Therefore, the authority of suppliers may weaken as Airbus’s profit may be influenced by Air Asia. Bargaining power of customer-High- Customers are the main factor which influences the industry to either make a loss or profit. Nowadays, customers are much more knowledgeable and comparative compared to previous. Thus, they are very sensitive to the hike and drop of prices, regardless the product or service. In this assignment, AirAsia always provides the lowest price to customers, but the act of comparing between airlines still exist. AirAsia is not the only one providing an airline service thus, for a customer to switch between airline services is simple. For example, customer may still choose MAS, Tiger Airway or even Firefly. Internal rivalry within the industry-High- In every business sector, there exist either a positive or negative tendency towards an industries rate of development. Result of a positive trend would be in companies not stealing the share market among them. Nonetheless in an airline industry, the rate of development is low by reason of the inadequate amount of consumers. Hence, AirAsia has to steal the market share from its contenders to develop and succeed further. The main key advantage is its low operating overhead, this factor enables it to be the prime in the main field in price. Nonetheless, there are many other upcoming competitors or rivals immerging into the airline industry, who have key carriers as their backbone, which may direct to an ugly price clash in the coming years. There are few other minimal cost airline services such as Firefly, Tiger Airways and etc, making them possible competitors of AirAsia. Barriers to Entry/Potential entrants-Low- there is a high barrier to emerge in the airline industry since the capital required is very high, such as the need to purchase airplanes, office buildings and hiring staffs. Hence this reduced the threat for AirAsia. Plus brand awareness is also a main leading factor. A new line of aircraft can’t make a mark so fast in the industry and it requires a lot of capital and time to build its name. Consumers always prefer a brand that has been there for an adequate amount of time, a brand that they can trust. This also reduces the threat. Not forgetting the governmental legislation also is a barrier by itself. For example, MAS has got the backing and protection by the Malaysian government on the route to Sydney and Seoul, so AirAsia finds it tough in getting a new route from the government. This reduces the profit margin able to be made by AirAsia, but also has reduced emergence of new entries. Power of Substitutes-Medium- Substitute are products or services which can replace the originals, and still able to provide almost the equivalent fulfillment to clients. In the airline industry basically, two types of substitutes are present, indirect and direct. Indirect substitute are ferry, bus and further forms of transportation except from airline, while direct substitute are the other rival airlines. Consumers usually go for those that cost less. If the trip covers a short distance and mainly connected to the peninsula then forms of transport will include train, bus or air travel. However if the trip is budgeted the preferable choice would be by bus. Moreover the development in technology has highly contributed in this matter by making ticketing and pricing of air tickets available to travelers on the internet and also allowing them to compare the rates. Even if the travelers may prefer to take a bus or train to their preferred location such as travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, it is still an undeniable fact that air travel is much more convenient and consumes less time.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Great Horned Owls Facts

Great Horned Owls Facts Great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) are a large species of true owls that inhabit many parts of North and South America. These nocturnal avian hunters take a wide range of prey including mammals, other birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Fast Facts: Great Horned Owls Scientific Name: Bubo virginianusCommon Name(s): Great horned owl, hoot owlBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: 17–25 inches tall; wingspan to five feetWeight: 3.2 poundsLifespan: 13 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Boreal forests of North and South AmericaPopulation: Unknown, stable over the last 40 years in North AmericaConservation Status: Least Concern Description Great horned owls were first described in 1788 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, a German naturalist who published the 13th edition of Systema Naturae by Carolus Linnaeus. That edition included a description of the great horned owl and gave it the scientific name Bubo virginianus because the species was first observed in the Virginia colonies. Sometimes called hoot owls, great horned owls range in length from 17 to 25 inches, have a wingspan of up to five feet, and an average weight of 3.2 pounds. They are the second heaviest owl in North America (after the Snowy Owl), and they are powerful hunters that can grip and crush a full-grown rabbit: their talons form an oval between 4–8 inches in diameter. Theres a good chance that youve heard the hoo-hoo-hoo call of the great horned owl if youve spent any time in the woods at night; young great horned owls will hiss or screech, especially when disturbed or frightened. Characteristics vital for their hunting success include large eyes, excellent hearing, and silent flight. Their eyes are adapted for night vision but are relatively immobile, directed forward. To compensate, their cervical vertebrae are quite flexible, allowing owls to turn their head over 180 degrees. Great horned owls have prominent ear tufts atop their head, one of several owl species that possess ear tufts. Scientists disagree as to the function of these ear tufts: Some suggest that the ear tufts serve as camouflage by breaking the contour of the owls head, while others suggest that the tufts serve some role in communication or recognition, enabling the owls to convey some kind of signals to one another. Experts agree though, that the ear tufts play no role in hearing. Because they remain largely inactive during the day, great horned owls are cryptically colored- that is, their coloration is patchy so that they can blend with their surroundings while they rest. They have a rust-brown colored facial disk and white feathers on their chin and throat. Their body is a mottled grey and brown color above and barred on the belly. NNehring / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Great horned owls occupy the most extensive range of any owl species, including most boreal forests of North and South America, from Alaska and Canada, southward throughout the United States and Mexico, into Northern parts of South America and throughout Patagonia. Since they find hunting is somewhat difficult in thick forests and underbrush, owls prefer habitats with open clearings near secondary-growth woodlands and tree-edged meadows and swaths. They also adapt well to human-modified environments, agricultural fields and suburban areas where there are places to perch and open fields to hunt in. Diet and Behavior Great horned owls are carnivores who eat a very wide range of prey. Like all owls, these fascinating carnivores eat their prey whole and then regurgitate pellets containing fur and crushed bones. Usually active at night, they are also sometimes spotted during the late afternoon or during the hours around dawn. These unique and beautiful birds prefer to eat rabbits and hares but will settle for any small mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian that comes within its reach. They are the only animal that feeds on skunks; they also hunt birds such as American crows, peregrine falcon nestlings, and osprey nestlings. They require an average of 2–4 ounces of meat per day; larger animals are killed and may be fed on for several days. Reproduction and Offspring Great horned owls nest during the months of January and February. During mating season, male and female great horned owls hoot back and forth to each other in a duet. Their mating rituals also include bowing to each other and rubbing bills. When ready to nest, they do not build their own nest but instead seek out existing sites such as the nests of other birds, squirrel nests, tree holes, crevices in rocks and nooks in buildings. Some great horned owls mate for many years. Clutch size varies with latitude, weather, and food supply, but generally, are two or three eggs. When prey is available, nesting begins earlier in the year; in leaner years, nesting is later and sometimes owls will not lay eggs during very poor years. Stan Tekiela Author / Naturalist / Wildlife Photographer / Getty Images Conservation Status Great horned owls are long-lived birds, known to live a typical 13 years in the wild, and have been known to live as long as 38 years in captivity. Their biggest threats come from the activities of human beings, who shoot and trap owls, but also build high-tension wires and run into owls with their cars. Owls have few natural predators but are occasionally killed by members of their own species or by northern goshawks, a species that often battles with the owls for available nesting sites. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the great horned owl as Least Concern. Sources Armstrong, Aaron. Eagles, Owls, and Coyotes (Oh My!): Taphonomic Analysis of Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Fed to Captive Raptors and Coyotes. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 5 (2016): 135–55. Print.Bubo virginianus. BirdLife International. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T61752071A132039486, 2018.  Newton, Ian. Chapter 19: Irruptive Migrations: Owls, Raptors and Waterfowl. The Migration Ecology of Birds. Ed. Newton, Ian. Oxford: Academic Press, 2007. 563–86. Print.Smith, Dwight G. Wild Bird Guides: Great Horned Owl. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 2002.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 Essay

Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 - Essay Example This research will try to find out how the DHS was implemented, its strategies and objectives. In its establishment though, the department's mission were added with four more significant missions that are deemed necessary for further strengthening homeland security. The following are the four other primary mission of DHS enacted in 2002: ensure that the functions of entities transferred to the Department that are not related directly to securing the homeland are not diminished or neglected except by a specific explicit Act of Congress In reference to this definition and mission, and with its continuing battle for terrorism, the United States federal government enacted the Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296) which initiated a major reorganization and expansion of the federal government. It is rather recognized as the most monumental event that happened since 1947 with regards to foreign policies. (Inamete, p. 20) Along with its goal of creating an efficient and effective government structure that provides immediate response to the threats of terrorism, new government agencies were created and the old ones strengthened. Extreme efforts have been demanded from the government in order to create this new department. There were 22 federal agencies, meaning, 22 diverse organizational cultures were consolidated within 92 other already-existing federal departments to form the DHS. (Inamete, p. 20) In his Congressional Testimony in July 2002, then Gov. Tom Ridge stated that the creation of the Department of Homeland Security is the result of the most significant transformation of the US government in over a half-century. The creation of DHS would aid in developing a more focused federal agency that would provide efficient solutions to the threat on terrorism. (Ridge, para 5) Before the enactment of P.L. 107-296, homeland security responsibilities were distributed into various government agencies. There is no single department in the US government that addresses solely this major concern of the American society. Therefore, the development of DHS paved the way to a more unified and competent agency that prioritizes this most crucial problem in the society - homeland security. (Ridge, para 7) With DHS'

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Is There an Inherent and Morally Required Connection Between Love and Essay

Is There an Inherent and Morally Required Connection Between Love and Sex - Essay Example The paper provides a brief philosophic discussion of what love and sex are and reevaluates the significance of the love-sex connection in philosophy. Keywords: sex, love, philosophy, connection, morality. Is There an Inherent or Morally Required Connection between Sex and Love? Philosophy is one of the most interesting sources of information about reality and life. Philosophy provides a unique channel for self-reflection and analysis of the most controversial aspects of the social, economic, and cultural reality. The value of philosophy is not only in the questions it raises but in the answers it provides and the analytical and systematic nature of the philosophic method (Halwani, 2010). It would be fair to say that philosophy reacts to the emerging issues, to understand their nature and provide possible solutions. The topic of sex and love has long been a matter of hot philosophic debate. Most world religions, especially in the western world, treat sex without love as inacceptable a nd immoral. In the meantime, the postmodern world is moving toward greater rationality in all life decisions, including sex. Sex provides physical pleasure and creates an atmosphere of intimacy, for which many people long. In the postmodern reality, there is no required connection between love and sex; there is nothing immoral in pursuing sexual desire, if it is mutual; love can add intensity to sexual relations but it is not mandatory in physical contacts among humans. Humans consider themselves as higher creatures. They have mind, cognition, and language which no animals have. They also have a unique capacity to be in love and love others. This is why love is often believed to be a mandatory component in the sexual relations among humans. However, the connection between love and sex is not simple but multidimensional. It involves a broad range of feelings, from pure sexual desire, to the feeling of victory, intimacy, and love. In the postmodern world ruled by rationality and reaso n, love gives place to other mundane considerations, and sex without love is no longer considered immoral. Yet, to clarify why the connection between love is neither required nor relevant, we first need to understand the nature of love and the philosophic implications of sex and sexual desire. Sex remains one of the most controversial aspects of philosophy, morality, and ethics. Thousands of people keep to a belief that sexual desire is immoral, if it is not linked to attraction and love. Others claim that sex is empty without feeling. Whatever the reason, the nature of sex, especially plain sex, in philosophy raised different interpretations. Basically, sexual love was always considered as inferior to platonic love (Goldenberg et al., 1999). The latter presupposed that people who engaged in sexual intercourse had greater moral goals, namely procreation, and based their sexual desires on the constant exchange of other, non-sexual beliefs, interests and experiences. Religions in all parts of the world supported this view, trying to equate the nature of chastity with the meaning of virtue (Goldenberg et al., 1999). In the non-western world, sex is favored and desired in marriage but not beyond it; Indian and African cultures treat sex as an indispensable component of people’s daily lives. At the beginning of the postmodern era, sex has acquired new philosophic coloring, being both the