Study Review Micro Ch. 1 Essay Example

Study Review Micro Ch. 1 Essay Is the discipline of economics concerned with individual units such as a person, household, firm, or industry True Communism exhibits all the characteristics of a command system Which of the following describe a command system? Government ownwershiop of most or all property resources A government appointed central planning board Economics is a social Science concerned with the allocation of scarce Resources to meet the unlimited wants Of the members of a given society. Marginal analysis involves the comparison or evaluation of: * The incremental cost versus the incremental benefit of a decision * An good economic system must address the following questions: * What gods are to be produced? * How they are to be produced? Who gets what is produced? * * An equitable outcome is one where each individual affected is treated faily * * The economic question of what to produce is about decisions related to the mix of goods and services to make available in a given economy * * Which of the fol lowing results from scarcity with respect to economic resources? * The production of limited goods and services * The economic question of how to produce is about decisions related to the mix factor input land, labor, capital used to produce gods and services. * * True: In a command system, the government decides how a country’s resources will best be utilized * * A statement about economic behavior or the economy that enables prediction of the probable effects of certain actions is known as an: economic theory, and economic principle * * Due to scarce resources, every individual, whether rich or poor, is faced with an implicit cost when choosing to produce or consume more of one good over another. * False: Economcis, as a social science, is concerned with how to make money? * * Macroeconomics is the discipline that examines either the economy as a whole or in the aggregate. * * When comparing the additional or incremental cost verses additional or incremental benefits of a decision, one is engaging in: marginal analysis * * Which of the following describe the role of government in the United States form of capitalism? * Modifies the distribution of income, provides certain goods and services that would otherwise be underproduced or not produced at all. Promotes economic stability and growth * Pure capitablism is also known as laissez-faire capitalism. * * False: the three main decision that msut be addressed by an economic system include what gods are to be produced, who will produce them, and where they will be pr oduced. * * An economic system is a particular sset of institution arrangements and a coordinating mechansism that respons to the allocation of scarece resources to meet unlimited wants and needs. * * Natural resources, labor, human capital, physical capital and entrepreneurshop are all scarce resources priatley or collectibely owned by members of society. We will write a custom essay sample on Study Review Micro Ch. 1 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Study Review Micro Ch. 1 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Study Review Micro Ch. 1 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Where these scarce resources are used to produce goods or services, there is a cost borne by society in utilizing these resources to produce any good or service and no free lunch * * Private property rights, coupled with the freedom to negotiate binding legal documents enables individuals and businesses to obtain, use, and dispose of property resources as they see fit. * * False: Governemtn owns most of the property resouces usch as land and capital in a market system. * * Consumers derive personal satisfaction from goods and services by: acting in a their own self interest. Allocating their time, energy, money and other resources so as to maximize their satisfaction from consuming these goods * * The term â€Å"laissez-faire refers to keeping government form interfering in the economy. * * A central planning board sets the division of output between capital and consumer goods in a command system? * * Positive economic analysis concernes what is, whereas normative economic analysis represent subjective statement about what ought to be. * * Which of the following gare all possible because of private property rights in a market system? * Economic growth, investment, maintenance of property, innovation, exchange

Planned Strategy Essays

Planned Strategy Essays Planned Strategy Essay Planned Strategy Essay Planned strategy involves a centre authority, which formulates their intentions as precisely as possible and then strive for its implementation. To do this, the organisation needs to articulate its intentions in the form of a plan and then elaborate on this strategic plan in as much detail as possible. This is prepared by using measures such as schedules, budgets and forecasts. Planned strategy involves making formation assumptions and then following a strict strategy process approach, with strategic decision making taking place in a number of steps. Ansoff (1965) cited in Harris, Forbes Fletcher (2000) illustrates that strategic decision making takes place in four principle steps. These are the perceptions of the decision need or opportunity, formulation of alternative courses of action, evaluation of the alternatives in relation to their respective contributions and the choice of one or more alternatives. This process illustrates how planned planned strategy is. Planned strategy is useful in organisations because it breaks down the process into manageable units. The process of setting objectives and goals allows the management to plan and motivate for the future and this also stimulates employee discussion and debates. Furthermore, the control system enables organisations to periodically review progress and understand how closely their internal performance adheres to their strategic goals and intentions (Osborn, 1998). For planned strategy to be implemented successfully, numerous factors need to be considered. The market and organisation environment needs to be predictable so that strategies can be implemented in a steady and rational way. Planned strategy is useful for controllable elements where the processed are incremental and linear. However, in practical terms, this may not be possible in turbulent, dynamic environments. This is one limitation of the planned approach to strategy formation. When an environment is complex and somewhat uncontrollable or unpredictable, a variety of sub-units in the organisation need to able to respond, especially if there is rapid change (Brown Eisenhardt, 1998). In these situations, patterns in the organisation cannot be planned in one central place (Mintzberg Waters, 1985). Today, organisations are faced with numerous fluctuations in the economy and major technological change. As such, development time frames are becoming shorter and shorter and organisations need to constantly update their production processes. Therefore, the planned strategy may become obsolete over the planning period, due to the changes in the external environment. Brown Eisenhardt (1998) believe that planned strategies fail because they overemphasise the degree to which it is possible to predict which industries, competitors, positions and competences will be viable for what length of time. Furthermore, planned strategies underemphasise the importance and challenge of creating and executing the chosen strategy. Furthermore, planned strategy assumes that a common agreement can be found by all the parties involved in the planning process and it appears to ignore organisational conflicts and politics, or at least assumes they can be easily identified and changed (Burnes, 1996). Theorists have argued that planning is a system on control. This school of thought considers that planned strategy does not relate to a system of thinking, rather as a method of control. It can be seen that planned strategies are implemented in the organisation in a top-down hierarchy structure (Bourlakis Bourlakis, 2001). On the other hand, traditionalist illustrate that organisations that do implement their strategies in a vertical, top-down process, retain functional stability within their business units and have the potential to improve and expand. Planned strategies are found in organisations that simply extrapolate established patterns in environments that they assume will stay stable. In a previous study by Mintzberg Waters (1982) cited in Mintzberg Waters (1985), It was found that strategies appear not to be conceived in planning processes so much as elaborated from existing visions or copied from industry standards and, therefore, do not constitute a thinking or learning process. According to Mintzberg (1988) planned strategy distorts the process of crafting strategy and thereby, misguides the organisations that embrace it unreservedly. Planned and formal strategies can process more hard data and information than in semi-structured planning. However the pitfall to these strategies is that they can never internalise, comprehend or synthesise information (Mintzberg, 1994, p. 111). In other words, planned strategy is not learning and evolving. It consists of a rational sequence with a known outcome. Emergent Strategy The approaches to strategic management are undergoing considerable change. There has been a remarkable shift from planned strategies to more flexible contingent approaches, which can emerge from chance events, as well as from cognitive, cultural and political processes. The emergent strategy rejects the planned approach to strategy. It sees strategies as a one-off exercise and more as a continuous process of change and advancement. Emergent strategies seek to align and re-align the organisation in unpredictable and rapidly changing environments. Furthermore, the reality in organisations is that management does not follow along predictive and linear assumptions. Hamel and Prahalad, cited in Davies Ellison (1998, p. 463) state that the predictive horizon is becoming shorter and shorter. So plans do little more than project the present toward incrementally. It is important to understand the interacting non-linear influences that actions are affected by in order to formulate effective strategies (Macbeth, 2002). Emergent strategies are most likely to be found in organisations characterised as adhocracies or project structures (Shiner, 2001). Changing and complex environments with unique products, incorporating the use of multidisciplinary teams and project work, typify these. Emergent strategies have many advantages in todays organisational settings. First, it stresses the developing and unpredictable nature of change. It views change as a process that unfolds through the interplay of multiple variables (context, political processes and consultation) within an organisation (Burnes, 1996). Therefore, market structure and demands provide the environment that creates much of the need for emergent strategies. Turbulent, competitive and unpredictable markets, together with innovative products, increase the need for emergent strategies. However, emergent strategies tend to lack the coherence of methods and techniques accumulated by the planned approach to strategy. Emergent strategies also lack the presence of competitive advantage based on core competence. This is due to the strategies constantly changing, with no one major idea. Therefore, organisations cannot exploit or develop particular core competences. Emerging organisational strategies make use of a feedback response mechanism. Therefore, responses from competitors, employees, cross functional groups and internal/external environment all have an impact on the impending strategy formation. However, when organisations implement planned strategies, they often sever the vital feedback link between cross-function and dependent groups. This is means that useful information may not be responded to and as such, potential strategies and processes are unrealised. One example that depicts the development of an emergent strategy in an organisation is Honda Motor Companys entry into the United States motorcycle industry in 1959. This illustrates how the planned strategy of entering the market with high powered 250cc and 350cc bikes failed, whereas the strategy of selling 50cc machines emerged (Marsden, 1998). This emerged strategy was so successful that in 1964, nearly one out of every two motorcycles sold was a Honda (Marsden, 1998). Emergent strategies represent ideas that have surfaced from organisations interactions with its customers, markets and competitors and may suggest approaches that were not considered during formal planning (Osborn, 1998). Emergent strategies arise from the daily activities of the organisation and, in many cases, represent bottom-up structure. Furthermore, organisations which are employing emergent strategies, resolve their issues horizontally and across functional teams, reiterating their lack of formal control systems and heightened awareness of learning and thinking processes. Emergent strategies give the organisation the chance to self-organise and realise its potential in more advanced strategies, activities and complexities (Fitzgerald, 2002). A focus on emergent strategies changes the traditional relationship between planning and control. Effective control systems can play a central role in identifying problems and matching them with specific strategic solutions, even if both elements surfaced from apparently random fashion within different parts of the networked organisation (Osborn, 1998). Emerging organisational designs are more organised more explicitly around processes than controlled, traditional, and hierarchical structures. Emergent strategy sees that strategy is an open-ending and continuous process. It can be viewed as a process of learning and not just a strategy of changing organisational structures and practices (Burnes, 1996). Purely planned strategy precludes learning once the strategy is formulated and beginning to be implemented. Emergent strategy advances and encourages thinking and learning (Mintzberg, 1988).

This essay needs to be revised by grammar Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

This needs to be revised by grammar - Essay Example In his work â€Å"Animal Rights vs. Human Rights,† Edwin Locke declares that only creatures that possess the capability of thinking, reasoning and the capacity of making choices have rights. (1) He thus makes his stand very clear against the rights of animals. On the other hand, this viewpoint is strongly opposed by Tom Regan, who is a famous philosopher providing arguments for the provision of rights to the animals. In his work, â€Å"The Rights of Humans and Other Animals,† Tom Regan points out a few characteristics for having rights which mainly include rational autonomy and sentience. (17) However Regan gives up on rational autonomy shortly and opposes with Locke. The other controversy that exists between Regan and Locke is the point that whether animals have a moral community like humans or they do not form. To search for a link between characteristics and rights can be classified as not being moral and neither is it a respectful behavior towards other beings. To s tart with, rational autonomy is the capability of thinking, reasoning and making choices. By rational autonomy creatures have the capacity to decide the consequences of their actions. Locke claims that animals do not need rights owing to the fact that they do not reason and nor do they take decisions which will have an effect on their lives. Also, he argues that animals are instinctual and do not have the capacity of thinking as humans. Thus there is no strong justification according to Locke for the provision of rights to animals. On the other hand Regan argues that animals are not instinctual, they are living creatures and are capable of thinking just like humans. However, it is very clearly known that not all of the animals have rational autonomy and the same implies for humans as some of them also do not possess rational autonomy. If only creatures that can think or reason and make choices have the rights (Locke 1) then too many people and animals will be excluded from this grou p. Thus rational autonomy cannot be a criterion of having rights. Regan analyzes this problem and hence disapproves with Locke’s point of view. Locke asserts that rights are vital for humans, because the rational autonomy of human beings is the key element to lead a better life. Human beings need to think and make choices for choosing a path to live their lives. Locke claims that humans need rights for protecting their thoughts and themselves from other people. Thus he asserts that as long as animals are not rational they do not need rights for protecting themselves. In opposition to the justification of Locke, some animals which include dolphins, pigs are more intelligent than infants as well as mentally handicapped people. Regan argues that if rational autonomy is a criterion then these human beings would also be left out and they would also be excluded from the group of people who should be granted rights. Regan then expresses that sentience is an important characteristic for having rights. Having sentience is ability to feel pain and pleasure. By the implication of sentience as a measure for the provision of rights, all human beings irrespective of their mental state would have the approval of being granted rights. At the same time, the quality of sentience would make animals and humans equal as both of them possess the capability of sensing pain or pleasure and hence they would both deserve rights in an equal manner.

Analysis of Heart of Darkness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Heart of Darkness - Essay Example Referred to as the â€Å"dark continent†, Africa was one of the world’s ‘dark places’ that the Europeans had colonized by the 1890s. It is perceived in other the places (Africa, England and Brussels) that Conrad describes as depressing, dark areas. Darkness symbolizes the unknown, gaining power because we are afraid to find out what it is hiding from us (for example, in Section 2, Part II, when Marlow’s steamer enters an oppressive fog bank resulting in blurring and distortion of vision, the men aboard it are terrified when they hear a high-pitched scream followed by a clamor of savage voices; their terror emanates from their knowledge that danger is lurking somewhere in the foggy darkness, but they are unable to see it or gauge its potency (http://www.novelguide.com/heartofdarkness/index.html). It is the metaphoric meaning of darkness that is more prevalent throughout the novel. Conrad refers to darkness as the human inability to see beyond another individual’s personal faà §ade, and the inability to understand the feelings of that individual, both of which lead to inability to establish any sort of mutual understanding or sympathetic interaction with that person. Darkness is compelling and alluring. Unknown danger has always been a magnet that has drawn humans to dare and explore it. In the context of the novel, darkness conceals unknown dangers in Africa that Europeans dare to tackle for the rewards it would bring. To the company men, the reward is material wealth represented by ivory; to Marlow, the African darkness conceals adventure, this being the main reason he traveled to that place due to a map he came across (Section 1, Part I), depicting the region as unexplored land (http://www.novelguide.com/heartofdarkness/index.html). Darkness is used as a cloak to conceal acts of savagery. Conrad suggests that such a cloak of darkness can camouflage savage acts that would be impossible to contemplate in European civilization. For example, Kurtz

The methods and principles of accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The methods and principles of accounting - Essay Example Rules and principles of accounting are basically designed in such a way that they provide certain standardized frameworks which help in the assessment of the financial position of a firm or a government. Hence there may always be a difference from one country to another in the accounting practices that are followed. There can be a major influence of the accounting consequences of different kinds of available options with which the decision makers are faced with, on the final decision taken. Thereby, the choice between the different methods of accounting may not limit themselves to just the portrayal of results; they may also play a vital role in the actual shaping of future decisions including the organization's financial structuring, functioning and activities. Accounting is best known as the language of business and communicates the results of the business. As the accepted Lingua Franca in addition to being the medium of communication it also satisfies the role of understanding the existing as well as potential additions to the available literature. As with every credible language, Accountancy also has its own rules and syntax which comprises the principles on which the system is based, known as the Generally Accepted Principles (GAAP), International Accounting Standards, and US GAAP etc. forming the theoretical base of Accountancy, and the Double Entry bookkeeping for recording the transactions providing the Practical Base of the system. To communicate the necessary, vital and relevant information, the requirements of the prospective users are identified and a systematic process is adhered to resulting in the formation of "Financial Statements." They are primarily the Income Statement and the Position Statement which are popular as "Trading and Profit & Loss Account" and the "Balance Sheet" respectively. The Balance Sheet shows the financial status of a business at a given point of time. That is the reason, the heading of Balance Sheet reads as "Balance Sheet of Xxx Company as on 31st March, 20xx." The balance sheet shows the amount of funds the owner has in the business. To determine this amount, the assets owned are listed and a value is placed on them. Liabilities and their values also are listed. The difference between assets and liabilities is equal to the net worth, or the owner's equity in the business (Klinefelter, 2000). The income statement on the other hand reflects the performance of the entry over a period of time and hence it is headed as "Income Statement of Xxx Company for the year ended 31st March, 20xx." The major purposes of financial reporting are: Providing information which in turn becomes the basis for exercising decisions and actions by the potential users, Reflect the financial progress and present health of the business, Aid in the formulation of policies and procedures for the smooth and efficient conduct of the business, Enable the management to discharge their obligations and stewardship functions effectively Financial Reporting The end-users of financial statements need not necessarily be those of finance background. They might not be in a position to understand the complex technicalities of financial statement. People who do not have detailed understanding of the financial

An Analysis of Pakistan-India Relations

An Analysis of Pakistan-India Relations Introduction Relations are built on mutual trust. This is no different when these relations are between states. Salient features of Pak-India relations include strong feelings of mistrust and suspicion on both sides. This stems from a volatile past -i.e. the hasty separation of 1947, the wars of 1965 and 1971 and the Kargil Conflict- and is exacerbated by the on and off border skirmishes and standoffs between the two countries. Reservations of one country about the other are so strong that any terrorist activity/insurgency in either country is somehow linked with or blamed to have been caused by the other one. Also both countries have strong militaries with India’s being much stronger than Pakistan’s and with Pakistan’s having significant power independent of the governments so that even if relations are good on a diplomatic level, things often escalate and become heated at the borders between the two nations. In such conditions, envisioning positive relations is not only imp ractical, but letting our guard down in the face of a continuous threat, a poor strategy. 1971 war and India’s role in the creation of Bangladesh Bitterness over the 1971 war exists in Pakistan not only because of the direct war with India and the high casualties or the humiliation of defeat but because of the strong role played by India in the permanent alteration of Pakistan’s boundaries and the secession of East Pakistan. In the 1970 elections, Awami League (led by Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman), which was the largest political party in East Pakistan won a majority of the seats. However, General Yahya Khan, refused Awami League the right to form a government, which led to protests all across East Pakistan, with the population demanding self-determination and acceptance of the election results. In 1971, an operation was led by Yahya Khan against these protestors and all major political parties and newspapers in East Pakistan were banned. A West Pakistani-dominated martial law was imposed on the province. Kargil Conflict-1999 External Factors that have precipitated military standoffs on the borders Events in both countries have caused friction on both sides of the border, with the armies massing, on alert and prepared to fight if the need arise. Diplomatic ties become adversely affected and it is hard to taper these tensions and start anew. 2001: After the terrorist attacks on the Indian Parliament in 2001, there was a massing of troops on either side of the border and the LoC in the region of Kashmir. India alleged that the Pakistan-based terror groups of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad which were also carrying out an insurgency in Indian administered Kashmir and were purportedly backed by the ISI- a charge denied by Pakistan- were responsible for these attacks. Tensions were high and there were speculations of a nuclear war between the two nations in the western media. However, these deescalated following international diplomatic mediation which resulted in the October 2002 withdrawal of Indian and Pakistani troops from the international border. 2007 and 2008: The Samjhauta Express Bombings of 2007 were alleged to have been carried out by the Hindu fundamentalist group Abhinav Bharat. Even though these allegations were never proven to be true, they did give rise to Anti-India sentiments in Pakistan. In 2008, India held the Pakistan and the ISI directly culpable for the Mumbai attacks. This led to strained relations between the two countries for a period of time. An anti-Pakistan sentiment also rose in India. There was a standoff at the border with the navies, armies and air forces on red alert and it had the potential for dire consequences since both nations were nuclear powers and had already participated in many wars. John McCain said, The Indians are on the verge of some kind of attack on Pakistan. However the tensions were dissipated when both sides made an effort to have discussions and avert nuclear war. Border Skirmishes in the Recent Years Border skirmishes and cross border firing between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir area and Punjab have resulted in a high number of casualties of civilians and soldiers on both sides in the past decade. In 2011, shooting took place across the Line of Control in Kupwara District/Neelam Valley between 30 August and 1 September 2011. Casualties included five Indian soldiers and three Pakistani soldiers. Both countries accused each other for instigating the hostilities. From mid- January 2013, a series of armed skirmishes took place along the LoC in the disputed Kashmir area. They have been described as the worst bout of fighting in the region in nearly 10 years.† They were initiated after reports of a Pakistani border post being attacked by Indians, killing one Pakistani soldier. The Indian authorities denied having crossed the demarcation line and claimed that the attack was in retaliation to prior Pakistani ceasefire violations. On January 8th, Indian authorities alleged that two Indian soldiers had been killed when Pakistani forces crossed the LoC. Even though Pakistan denied these reports, the incident led to an outrage by the Indian army and government and an outcry in the media claiming that one of the soldiers had been beheaded. Talks were held between Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia and Major General Ashfaq Nadeem who agreed that tensions needed to be tapered. But these skirmishes continued and the death toll reached 9 Pakistani and 8 Indian soldiers in August. On 9 October 2014 Indian media claimed that a total of 9 military personal and 6 civilians were killed on Pakistani side. 12 Indian soldiers and 1 civilian were killed on Indian side These skirmishes continued well in 2014, with both India and Pakistan trading blame for the violence. In October, the situation became aggressive following which then Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley urged Pakistan to stop unprovoked firing and warned that the response by India would be unaffordable. His Pakistani counterpart, Khawaja Asif replied to the warning with subtle mention of nuclear power that the country would be able to respond befittingly to the Indian aggression. So far in 2015, Pakistan claims to have lost 12 of its soldiers. Conclusion India and Pakistan border disputes and skirmishes are not all as blatant as is believed. India is speculated to have been making strong efforts to manipulate the borders of Pakistan by financially backing Baloch separatist insurgents, causing unrest in the country. British Intelligence officials believe India is providing undercover support to insurgents in Balochistan according to WikiLeaks cables. This support is speculated to have strengthened after Pakistan’s purported role in backing the Lashkar-e-Taiba post the 2008 Mumbai attacks. According to a security official Pakistan is considering taking up the issue of Indian involvement in Balochistan unrest at the United Nations.,† This matter cannot be ignored. Also, for nations such as India and Pakistan, with a long-standing conflict over Kashmir, territorial integrity is a huge priority. This is evident from the large defense budgets of both nations. [Check] Given this, the on and off cross-border firings, the general sentiments in both countries towards the other, and the aggregate of thousands of casualties in the conflicts and wars over the past sixty-seven years, it is evident why the attempts at improving relations between the two nations fail.

Cost of Drug Abuse on Society Essay -- Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse

Drug abuse is a rampant problem in the United States. Drugs can be abused in a variety of different ways by people from every walk of life. Most of us have been affected by drug abuse either directly or indirectly. Drug abusers harm themselves, as well as their families and communities. Drug abuse takes an enormous toll on our society at many levels. The cost of drug abuse on our society is astronomical, not only financially but also personally, emotionally, socially and professionally. Drug abuse is the misuse or overdose of any medication or drug, including alcohol. Many people abuse drugs to deal with everyday life. â€Å"Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can effect a person’s control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs (Shannon 246)†. Many people, who abuse drugs, will develop a chronic condition called addiction. Once addicted, it is challenging for the drug abuser to stop abusing drugs. The cost of drug and alcohol recovery services can be expensive, not only to the recovering addict and their families, but also to society paying for services through government agencies. Drug addicts relapsing from their disease or those who are not interested in recovery cost society by involvement in crime, neglect, abuse and even death. Drugs being abused are classified under nine different categories: cocaine, hallucinogens, herion, inhalants, marijuana, pain relievers, sedatives, stimulants and tranquilizers. These drugs range from illegal, over-the-counter to prescription medications. â€Å"In 2007, an estimated 19.9 million Americans aged 12 or o... ...ddiction treatment, medical cost from overdoses, drug-related injuries and complications, time lost from work and social welfare programs (Grohsman). The cost of drug abuse on society applies to all Americans. Whether you are a drug abuser, family member, friend, co-worker or drug manufacturer to drug enforcement officer, we all have been affected by drug abuse. Works Cited Abbot, Ann. â€Å"Health Care Challenges Created by Substance Abuse: The Whole is Definitely Bigger than the Sum of Its Parts† Health & Social Work 27.3 (2002): 162, 4. MasterFile Premier. Web. 19 Nov 2011. Brennfleck Shannon, Joyce, ed. Drug Abuse SOURCEBOOK. Omnigraphics, Inc.,2010. Print. Grohsman, B. â€Å"Drug Addiction and Society.† Treatment Centers.net 23 May 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Magnitude: Drug Abuse is Costly.† National Institute on Drug Abuse.n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2011

Lucy and Ardi: Beginning of Human Origins Essay

Many people often consider our first milestone in life to be our first step. It is the beginning of many important developments as an individual. It was also the beginning of our development as a species. Dr. Donald Johanson and Dr. Tim White discovered two of the most amazing specimens that would be the stepping-stones to the beginning of evolutionary development. Australopithecus Afarensis (Lucy) and Ardipithecus Ramidus (Ardi) were the first fossils found in Africa that showed signs of early evolutionary development that is connected to Homo sapiens in the evolutionary tree. Lucy and Ardi are important to our evolutionary development because they were the first fossils to show upright walking as their primary locomotion. American paleoanthropologist, Dr. Donald Johanson, led the team that discovered Australopithecus Afarensis in 1974 at Hadar in the Awash Valley in Ethiopia. The discovery of Lucy was very significant, which was because the skeleton showed evidence of a small skull that resembled that of an ape and of bipedal upright walking that is akin to that of humans. Lucy is dated back to about 3. 2 million years ago. Lucy’s species survived for over 900,000 years, which is over four times as long as our own species has been around. A. Afarensis, which are similar to chimpanzees, grew rapidly after birth and reached adulthood earlier than modern day humans. Lucy was about the age of 11-12 years old but the formation of all of her teeth showed that he was fully matured for her species unlike modern day humans were that isn’t reach till later years (Johanson The Quest for Human Origins). This meant Lucy’s species had a shorter period of growing up than modern humans have today. A. Afarensis had both ape-like and human characteristics such as ape-like faces, which is described as flat nosed and sloping lower jaw that juts out underneath the braincase. Also Lucy had a small brain that was about 13 fluid ounces and 400 cubic centimeters, which is about one third the size of a modern human brain. They also had long, strong arms with curves fingers most likely adapted for climbing trees to hide the land animals that would attack them and also picking fruit from up in the trees. They also had small canine teeth that resembled early humans and most importantly had a body that stood on two legs and regularly walked upright. This was one of the most important features of A. afarensis because their adaptations for living both in the trees and on the ground helped them survive for almost a million years as the climate and environment changed (Johanson The Quest for Human Origins). Twenty years after the discovery of Lucy, Dr. Timothy White led a team into Middle Awash area of the Ethiopia where he discovered the first fossils of the second biggest discovery since Lucy. Ardipithecus Ramidus was uncovered in over 100 fossil specimens in the Awash area. At the time of the discovery, the genus Australopithecus was scientifically well established, so White devised the genus name Ardipithecus to distinguish this new genus from Lucy’s species. In 2009, scientists formally announce and published the findings of a partial skeleton nicknamed â€Å"Ardi†. Ardi is estimated to be about 4. 4 millions years old. Tim White and his team found bits and pieces of Ardi’s skeleton, which were heavily damaged due to erosion, and the pressure of geology. Ardi’s skull was flat with loping lower jaw that juts out underneath the braincase similar to Lucy. The pelvis of Ardi after being reconstructed from a crushed specimen, suggested that even though it was not as tall as the apes it showed similarities. Also it showed adaptations that combined tree climbing and bipedal activity. White and his colleagues that worked on Ardi suggested that Ardi was a female that was a bit large. She was about 1. 2 meters tall and about 50 kilos, which was a bit large since that was the size of a male afarensis (Johanson The Quest for Human Origins). Lastly a partial skeleton of Ardi combines human and other primate traits. Ardi moved in the trees using a grasping big toe, yet her pelvis was shorter and broader than an ape’s, indicating that she could walk bipedally. There were many pieces of evidence that proved Australopithecus afarensis to have been walking upright for thousands of years. Dr. Don Johanson brought up human like characteristics in Lucy’s bones that indicated she walked upright. One of Lucy’s most striking characteristics was her knee joint, which indicated that she normally moved by walking upright. Her greater trochanter, however, was clearly derived, being short and human-like rather taller than the femoral head (Lovejoy). Another piece of evidence that proves Lucy walked upright was the formation of her pelvis. Her pelvis and leg bones were almost identical in function to those of modern humans, showing with certainty that these hominids had walked bipedally. The third piece of evidence that made it undoubtedly that Australopithecus afarensis walked upright was the footprints found at Laetoli in northern Tanzania. In 1976, Mary Leakey discovered hominid footprints that was preserved in volcanic ash and unearthed 1978. â€Å"The Laetoli Footprints† and skeletal structure excavated showed clear evidence of bipedalism. Many believe the three individuals who made these footprints belonged to the species Australopithecus afarensis. The footprints demonstrated that Australopithecus afarensis walked upright habitually, as there were no knuckle or hand impressions found near the footprints. The footprints didn’t have the mobile big toe as the apes do; instead, they had an arch, which the typical modern humans have (Leakey 81-86). After the discovery of Ardipithecus Ramidus, Tim White and Owen Lovejoy came up with many pieces of evidence that would place Ardi on the Human Evolutionary Tree. The femur and pelvis of Ardipithecus have characters that indicate both upright bipedal walking and movement in trees. Ardi’s pelvis was more primitive than Lucy’s but still contained characteristics to walk upright bipedally. Researchers say Ardi was a facultative biped (Lovejoy). That means Ardi was able to walk on two legs but only for a short period of time. Donald Johanson said in â€Å"The Quest for Human Origins† that when moving on the ground Ardi would move bipedally, but when in the trees she was quadrupedal. Lastly Ardi had very large divergent great toe, which was probably used to climb trees. Using those feet to grasp on to the branches helped them stay out of the reach of the attackers on the ground and also climb to get fruit in the trees. Lucy and Ardi are two important specimens in history that helped us learn more about the past human origins. There were many differences and similarities between Ardi and Lucy. The main and probably most obvious similarity was the ability to walk upright. This was probably the most important characteristic that connected Homo sapiens, Australopithecus Afarensis and Ardipithecus Ramidus together. Also another similarity was the formation of both pelvises. Lucy’s was more distinctively similar to the modern human but Ardi’s still contained characteristics that made it more human than ape. Something that Ardi and Lucy also had in common was that both walked bipedally on the ground, but when in the trees they were quadrupedal. Being over a million years apart Lucy and Ardi also had some differences. Ardi was more primitive than Lucy in that she looked more like apes and had more characteristics of them. On the other hand Lucy was more developed than Ardi such as having a slightly bigger brain, having more human like anatomy when it came to the bones, and Australopithecus afarensis spent more of their days walking bipedally than in the trees. The discoveries of Australopithecus Afarensis and Ardipithecus Ramidus have changed the way we connect our human origins to the past. Dr. Donald Johanson and Dr. Timothy White have brought to us these wonders that help us understand not exactly where our species come from but where some of our human origins and characteristics started. With the evidence presented, I can agree with the interpretations of Ardi and Lucy because through science and reasoning there isn’t any doubts and anyone can bring up. There may be many subtopic arguments about the theory of evolution but they all end up with the same conclusions that Lucy and Ardi is the first stepping-stone to connect our human origins to the evolutionary tree. After Dr. Donald Johanson and Dr. Tim White discovered the two most amazing specimens that would happen to be the beginning of evolutionary development. Lucy and Ardi are important to our evolutionary development because they were the first fossils to show upright walking as their primary locomotion. After all the evidence that many anthropologist, archeologist, and paleoanthropologist discovered and examined to prove that Lucy and Ardi’s ability to walk upright is clear that they are ancestors in our human evolutionary tree.

Sun Tzu essays

Sun Tzu essays The Art of War' was written by Sun Tzu and translated by Samuel B. Griffith. The authorship and date of this book has been closely scrutinized since the eleventh century in prolonged and protracted debates among scholars. It is accepted that the work originated in China and was well known in the fourth century BC. While the very existence of Sun Tzu has been questioned, the chapter on The Biography of Sun Tzu' indicates that Sun Tzu was an author who later made a general when his successful writings gained him an audience with a king. The author's style is clearly informative, very much like an instructional book. He opens chapter one, Estimates', of his work by declaring, "War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied." The Art of War' is devoted to the discussion of strategies which the author claims leads to victory if carefully followed. His is the first known attempt to formulate a rational basis for the planning and conduct of military operations. Sun Tzu was not primarily interested in the elaboration of specific maneuvers or in superficial or transitory techniques. This is both a weakness and strength of the book. It provides sound advice and discussion yet stops short on providing excessive details on specific maneuvers. It is this very omission that makes the book timeless. His purpose was to develop a systematic guide for rulers and generals on an intelligent approach to warfare. He believed that the skillful strategist should be able to "subdue the enemy's army without engaging it, to take his cities without laying siege to them, and to overthrow his State without bloodying swords." The author approached his subject methodically with each chapter addressing a specific concern. Sun Tzu felt that all aspects of war could be quantified into five factors outlined in...

The Call of the Wild Essays

The Call of the Wild Essays The Call of the Wild Essay The Call of the Wild Essay Essay Topic: Call of the Wild Into the Wild Wild The Call of the Wild In the novel The Call of the Wild, by Jack London, a pampered dog named Buck lives a lovely life in the Santa Clara Valley. When one of the garden workers brings Buck toa train station and sells him, his whole life changes. Buck adapts to his new ways and now is tougher and more aggressive. He isnt the same dog anymore. The call of the wild affects Bucks behavior and leads him to his true destiny. He has a natural call to live in the wild. When Buck goes from house pet to alpha sled dog, everything about him changes. His new life brings him closer to the wild. Buck is a fearless and is a true leader. He accepts every challenge and gets stronger everyday. Buck wants to take control and be on top. The wild atmosphere turns Buck into a fighter. He wont back away from anything and he shows that. Buck and Spitz are both the strongest sled dogs in the pack. They are both rivals and are against each other. Before Buck became a sled dog, he couldnt stand up for himself very well and didnt have many fghting skills. Spitz is always Jealous of Buck and wants to get rid of him. Spitz attacks Buck and starts to fight him to the point where Buck is badly wounded. At the end, Buck prevails and shows Spitz he is changed and is the leader. After the fight, Buck is proud of himself and realizes that he belongs with the pack. Buck stood and looked on, the successful champion, the dominant primordial beast who had made his kill and found its good ( London 46). Bucks victory shows he is destined to be part of the wild. Buck is finding more signals that are making him realize that he belongs in the wild. Buck hears a call from the forest that sounds like the call of the wild. When he hears this noise, he feels like its a familiar sound that he has heard before. Its a part of him. From the forest came the call ( or one note of it, for the call was many-noted), distinct and definite as never before- a long-drawn howl, like, yet unlike, any noise made by husky dog. And he knew it, in the old familiar way, as a sound heard before ( London 105). Buck follows the noise and finds a wolf. They end up becoming very close and continually meet up every day. Buck feels very close and calls him wood brother. Buck now feels like he is part of the wild and there are times when he almost forgets about going back to John Thorton, his owner. Buck goes through a lot to find his destiny. Everything in life happens for a reason. All the events that happen through Bucks life lead him closer to his destiny. Buck comes back to his camp finding John Thorton dead. The Yeehats attack the camp and kill everyone there. Buck has so much fury that he attacks all the Yeehats. He scares them all away. Buck loves John Thorton more than anyone in the world. His death really upsets Buck and he wants to drift away from this tragedy. He finds the pack of wolves and they surround him. They all start howling and he does the same. He feels very comfortable around them and feels as though he belongs ith them in the wild. The leaders lifted the yelp of the pack and sprang away into the wood. The wolves swung in behind, yelping in chorus. And Buck ran with them, side by side with the wild brother; yelping as he ran (London 120). Buck feels like he is part of the pack and he fits in with the wolves. The call of the wild is something these wolves can all relate to and Bucks wants to feel par t of their family. The call brings him to his destiny. Buck goes through a dramatic change in his life. The call of the wild is his true destiny. He belongs with his own kind and is better off this way. Buck goes from a domesticated pet to a fearless, wild sled dog. He sees that he belongs in the wild environment. He grows and develops as he continues his Journey. At the end of it all, he finds the right path and howls the call of the wild. He is now free and is with his own kind. Some people find their true destiny right away, but for others it takes them time to realize where they belong. Buck changes for the good and finds out who he really as he travels a challenging path. Buck finds his call at the end of the path, which makes everything worth it at the end.

Students should not do H.W after school day Assignment

Students should not do H.W after school day - Assignment Example It does not allow the students to engage in other sectors of life thus they feel the topic has come to their rescue. The audience belief that teachers should at least make sure that students understand their homework before they give it to them. They also believe that students should use not more than thirty minutes undertaking their homework and that homework should not be allocated in the weekends. This is the time the students should conduct their own activities outside school. To convince the audience, I would use the causal reasoning. This would be reasoning where I identify the relationship that exist between a cause and the effects. I would explore the causes of giving out homework and the effects of giving out homework. From there, I would reach into a conclusion with them. I would elicit a hopeful emotion to my audience. This would be through driving my motion home and convince our school not to dish out homework to the students. They should allocate some time in school for students to complete their

Moda Textile Factory - Kyrgyzstan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Moda Textile Factory - Kyrgyzstan - Case Study Example They can also seek help from international agencies through their website and through networking sites like facebook and Youtube. Both these platforms can be effective for finding the type of business partners that they are looking for. Sergei and Olga should not abandon their dream of producing fashionable cashmere coats in their factory. Internet has emerged has very effective medium for entrepreneurs, big and small businessmen and people at large who want to expand their business across the globe. As Sergei has realized the potential of computer and internet, creating a webpage of their firm would hugely help their business. They can also develop design catalogue of their trendy ladies garments, including winter collection, showcasing fashionable ladies cashmere coats. It would be cost effective as against the printing of the same. This would help to expose their designs to larger client base, reaching across the continents. The social networking sites are also powerful medium for developing business contacts and customers. (words: