Views of Slavery and Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreaus Work

Views of Slavery and Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau's Works Two men, similar in their transcendentalist beliefs and yet so different in their methods of expressing their beliefs on handling the issues of society, were major voices in the anti-slavery movement. While their focuses are more on the subjects of morality and individual choice, they still reflect on how slavery should be addressed by the American people, American referring to the free whites who actually make the decisions. Ralph Waldo Emerson is highly regarded for his views on Transcendentalism during what some of deemed the â€Å"American Renaissance.† Emerson establishes his place in history by expressing his liberal agenda through his beliefs that truth is based on intuition and law should be based on individual reflection. He believes that the only way one could truly learn about life is by ignoring knowledge from outside sources and relying on one’s internal voice; he incorporates this belief into the convincing rhetoric of â€Å"Last of the Anti-Slavery L ectures.† While Emerson asserts his views on self reliance, he is really trying to sway the views of his audience. This makes us ask the question: Is he really right, or is he only convincing us that he is right? Henry David Thoreau, however, serves as both a complement and a foil for Emerson; while he also expresses his transcendental beliefs, he converges on a split between these beliefs and reason. He articulates his ideas in â€Å"Slavery in Massachusetts,† a piece that illustrates how Thoreau separates himself from his own state because of his â€Å"contempt for her courts† (1991). While some would argue that Thoreau is somewhat of a better writer than Emerson, it cannot be denied that one cannot reach... ...ety. He strengthens his views with his inclusion of images of nature and his comparative analysis of the beauty of nature with the good of society. Both men support transcendental views that complement each other’s beliefs. While their paths to the solution differ, the resolution that slavery is an unscrupulous product of an immoral society unites their views. Works Cited Cadava, Eduardo. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism 98 (2001): 38-54. Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Last of the Anti-Slavery Lectures." Ed. Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology American Literature 6th ed., Vol A. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2003. 1207-1216 Eulau, Heinz. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism 21 (1989): 329-332. Hyman, Stanley Edgar. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism 7 (1984): 384-388. Thoreau, Henry David. â€Å"Slavery in Massachusetts.† Baym 1982-1992.

Gather facts interview

In most cases, information systems are formal, computer based systems that play an integral role in organizations. Some information systems include: transaction processing systems, which simply record the routine transactions needed to conduct business, like payroll, shipping, or sales orders: and office automation systems, which are intended to increase the productivity of office errors and include such systems like word processing, electronic mail, and digital filing. The various types of information systems in an organization are interconnected to allow for information sharing.Inventory management to a layman may be defined as a system used in a firm to control the firm investment in inventory. According to (T LUCY 1 996) it involves the recording and monitoring of stock levels, forecasting future demands and decides when and how many to order. 1. 1 Background of the Study Divine supermarket is located in Nassau town along Him road, it deals in grocery. It uses the manual system o f sales transactions and purchases. Sales recording, when a product is being sold the records are just written on papers and books manually.This leads to poor data Storage and retrieval. Customer registration, the details of the customers are recorded whenever they enters the supermarket and this is done manually with a pen and the book where the same details can be recorded many times leading to data redundancy. Stocks updating, in order for the staff to know the amount of stock available, the manager just count the products one by one. This takes a lot of time and onetime leads to counting errors hence producing poor results.The finding shows the challenges facing the manual system of inventory management system; the manual system requires everyday counting of items in the inventory, human errors are very prevalent during counting and recording and in case of disaster like fire or flood or poor communication, all the manual inventory records will be damaged and irretrievable. The accountant manually computes and totals the amount of monthly sales, purchases and expenses. In manual inventory, missing receipts, sales, expenses and inventory records are hard to track back. 1. 2 Problem StatementProcesses at Divine are managed manually which results into poor record keeping and management, time wastage in retrieving information, data redundancy, monetary loss resulting from poor calculations, duplication of data and data insecurity. 1. 3 Objectives of the Study 1. 3 . 1 Main objective To develop an automated inventory management system that saves time, reduce costs, and provide quality services for customers. 1. 3. 2 Specific objectives I. To study and analyses the current system. Ii. To design the system iii. To implement the system iv. To test the system 1. 4 Research Questions I. How does the current system work? I. What are requirements for designing an inventory management system? Iii. How the system is implemented? Iv. What are the methods used for testing the system? 1. 5 Scope of the Study 1. 5. 1 Geographical scope This research work covers stock control, sales management, customer registration, purchases and tends to correct anomalies in the supermarket database. It analyses stock updates and ability to view existing stock. It provides quick way of operation by capturing the manual processes and automates them. 1-5. 2 Time scope The study covered a period of five months from September 2014 to January 2015 1. Significance of the Study . To provide an effective supermarket database that handles sales, purchases and overall stock control to save time, prevent congestion of customers and provide data recovery program for effectiveness of the supermarket operations. Ii. To act as a ground for the future scholars or academics in future research in the field of improving inventory management. Iii. To reduce the costs of information storage and retrieval. CHAPTER MO LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 0 Introduction This chapter gives a view of the sel ected existing system from literature on inventory management.It covers the overview of the types of inventory kept ND system design and implementation. According to (S. C Sahara (1999). P. 509, 512). Inventory is considered as a systematic location, storage and recording of goods in such away that desired degree of service can be made to the operating shops at a minimum ultimate cost According to (Pander 1990) inventory management is stock of the product a firm is manufacturing for sale and the components that makes up a product. Firm hold inventory in a form of raw material, work in progress, finished goods and supplies.These inventories facilitates production and sales operation, guard against the risk f unpredictable changes in usage and delivery time and take advantage of quality discount and price frustration. Donnelly (1990) states that inventory management and control process are very useful in determining the optimum level of inventories and finding answers to the problem o f economic order quality, the re-order point and safety stock. 2. 1 Inventory Control and Management Inventory management is defined as the system in a firm to control the firm's investment in inventory.It involves the recording and monitoring of stock level, fostering future demand and deciding on when and how to order. The objective of inventory management is to minimize in total, the cost associated with inventory (T Lucy, 1996). According to Salem (1 997), inventory control refers to a planned method of purchasing and storing materials at the lowest possible cost without affecting the production distribution schedule. Inventory control therefore is a scientific method of determining what, when and how much to have in stock for a given period of time. 2. Importance of inventory Management Systems Inventory management is an important part of a business because inventories are usually the largest expenses incurred from business operations. Most companies will use an inventory manag ement system that will track and maintain the inventories required to meet customer demand. Most systems used by companies are linked to meet the management or accounting information systems increasing the effectiveness of their operations. (Kumara Nixon 2006) 2. 2. 1 Inventory Orders Inventory management system help business order inventory by accurately recording consumer sales.Electronic inventory systems can track sales in a real time- time format, ordering inventory automatically when current stock hits a predetermined minimum levels. Electronic ordering known as electronic Data interchange (EDI), allows companies to maintain the proper amount of stock by not increasing costs through over- ordering of inventory . EDI also ensures placed orders are placed immediately, ensuring shortly amounts o lead times to receive new inventory(junkyards Nixon 2006) . 2. 2. 2 Stock Maintenance Computerized inventory management system allows companies to properly order and maintain several diff erent types of goods.Different styles, colors or size can easily be managed to ensure that consumers demand is met through offering a variety of goods. Most companies use inventory management to pep stock items separate from similar goods this allows management to determine which items are selling and which items need to be reduced from inventory based on poor sales. (Saxons 2003) 2. 3 The existing inventory management system This is the manual system where the customer buys a product by moving around the stock looking for the product without specific directions and after words goes to the cashier and pays for the product.A t this stage the accountant just write using a pen and a book to record the transaction and the total amount for sales and purchases are computed manually using a calculator. And lastly a receipt is issued. This consumes a lot of time and even leads to data redundancy Customer registration is done manually whenever he/she enters the supermarket using books for re cord keeping which leads to redundancy of data. When stock is added, they just use man counting around stock to know the current status. 2. 3. Difficulties in the Manual Inventory System The current system operates manual inventory system, from stocks, products, ordering and purchases etc recorded in a book. This is faced with errors, incompleteness, and insufficient data for analysis. Information regarding tock, products, sales and purchases are still in black and white which is not properly organized and managed. From the wholesalers to retailer bills, tickets, vouchers, receipts of products are recorded in a book but further operations are not being properly handled. As a result it is difficult in processing, updating and managing.The factors for these difficulties are: Time Consumption, Manual inventory systems are time consuming, as the business owner must keep track of inventory sales on a daily basis, while updating the system manually at the end of the day. Poor Communicatio n, A annual inventory requires employees and managers to write down each time an item is removed from the inventory. If one employee forgets to mention that the last coffee product has been removed from the inventory, a manager expects the item to still be available for a customer during a sale.Compared with a technical inventory system, a manual inventory system does not help the communication in the workplace. Physical Counts, A manual inventory system does not provide any number, as all numbers from the inventory are gained through physical inventory counts. One of the difficulties of running a annual inventory system is that physical inventory counts must be performed frequently to control the items in the inventory. This is time consuming and can cost the business money, if employees must come in to help out outside of business hours.Daily Purchases, Keeping track of daily purchases is another difficult controlling measure with manual inventory systems. A manual inventory syste m requires the employees to write down the items sold during a single work day. This can be a difficult task, as one employee may lose the list of items sold or another may forget to write down a sale. Ordering Supplies, A manual inventory system does not update at the end of the day with updated inventory counts. This means you must go through the inventory items each time you need to place an order for new raw materials, products or supplies for the inventory.This can be a time consuming process, as you will physically have to go through each product box and browse through the items. 2. 4 The proposed inventory management system This is an automated inventory management system where all transactions are done electronically. In this, when a customer picks a product from stock takes it to the checkout assistants. Then the checkout assistants use bar code readers to scan purchases which are linked to the application program that uses a bar code reader to find the price of the item fr om the product database and then the stock is automatically reduced by the system.The program then reduces the number of such items in a stock and displays the price on the cash register. And customers' details are recorded. Most companies use inventory management to keep stock items separate from similar goods this allows management to determine which items are selling and which items need to be reduced from inventory based on poor sales. Saxons 2003) 2. 4. 1 Benefits of the proposed system I. Optimize the security and validity of the number of supplies, sales, purchases, expenses every month. Ii. Easier tracking down the purchases, expenses and inventory records. Ii. Support for inventory management that helps record and track materials on the basis of both quantity and value. Iv. Uses less of time for the accessing data or information. V. All data or information that currently stored in the drawers or racks will be transfer to the database system that will be safely saved in the computer. CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. 0 Introduction This chapter contains the research design, population study, sampling design, data collection and system analysis. A qualitative research will be used by the research. . 1 System investigation This will involve investigating the weaknesses of the system where the system investigation techniques like case diagrams will be used. Case diagrams depict the system's operation where they demonstrate system processes. Questionnaires given to a large number of users Formal interviews with selected key personnel Observing a sample of users as they go about their daily tasks with the current system Analyzing existing documents to understand what data is created and how it is then manipulated by the system. . 2 Population study The study area was Divine supermarket and the study population consisted of the manager, and staff and customers. The sample size 30 respondents were interviewed with the use interviews, questionnaires and ob servations 3. 3 Data gathering techniques 33. 1 Interview This will involve face to face direct conversation were questions and answers where he main theme. The researcher will approach the users directly in order to obtain comments and notes about the current supermarket inventory management system.The interview questions will be designed in line with the objectives Of the study . The interviewees mentioned the problems that where encountered in the use manual system and also gave the possible causes of the problems which where faced. It is unlikely that a single interview with a user will cover everything the analyst needs to know. Therefore part of the plan should include 3 interview types I. An initial interview This interview is to scope out the overall problem that the new system is to solve and any shortcomings in the current system.This interview provides the analyst with a context for the project. This information is recorded in the definition part of the the requirements d ocument ii. Gather facts interview The initial interview allowed the analyst to have a view of the project and begin to understand what needs to be done. This second interview is intended to gather detailed information about the system. This information helps build up the draft requirements document iii. Final interview The draft requirements document has been written.This interview goes through the relevant part of it with the interviewee (who could be user, management or customer). They confirm that the requirement document is correct or they provide feedback if any changes need to be made. 3. 3. 2 Observations. This will include observation of the services of the current system. The researcher will use this process to verify the data collected from the above methods and also to capture some more data that could have been ignored. And will be done by looking at the systems performance of the supermarket. Methods of observation could be either direct or indirect. . Direct. As in si tting next to the user and viewing work done. This has the advantage f being able to ask questions as you go along but has the disadvantage of users being uncomfortable with someone looking over their shoulder. This may lead to people carrying out the task as it ‘should' be done rather than how they really do it. Ii. Indirect With their permission, users could be viewed with remote video cameras. This avoids the awkwardness of being right next to them but it has the disadvantage of being less able to ask questions on the spot.It is also more costly to set up and may be impractical in open-air environments (for example fire-brigade or ambulance systems perhaps). 3. 3. Questionnaires The questionnaires were closed ended to enable the respondents to understand them and answer them appropriately with ease. It will include the liker scale that is Agree, strongly agree, not sure, disagree, and strongly disagree. I. Closed questions (multiple choice), These are easy to analyze but th e choices provided must be different enough to make it simple for the user to select one. They must also include the most relevant choices. I. Open questions, these offer the chance to obtain more detailed answers and to seek opinions. They are however more difficult to analyze than closed questions and people may not provide useful answers. 3. 4 System analysis This will involve careful analysis and study to understand how the designed system would differ from the old system. It describes what system should do so as to satisfy the needs of the user. It will also involve study of sets of interacting entities, including computer systems analysis. This field is closely related to requirements analysis or operations research.It is also â€Å"an explicit formal inquiry carried out to help someone (referred to as the decision maker) identify a better course of action and make a better decision than he eight otherwise have made. † This will be done in form of expressing responses a s squares correlation of the population and by use of frequency distribution tables and SPAS. 3. 5 System design This will involve a detailed specification of the computer-based solution to the above-mentioned requirements. Context diagram, Data flow diagrams and entity relationships diagrams will be used for designing the proposed system. . 5. 1 Data Flow Diagram The DEED Diagram for Inventory Management System is a data flow diagram of graphical representation and commonly used also for the visualization of tortured design data processing through an information system, it's an important technique for modeling process aspects with a system's high-level detail by showing what kinds Of data will be/how to input and Output from the system, where the data will come from and go to by sequentially, and where the data result will be stored through functional transformations.

Assessment For Learning Essay

Although Hamlet and Agamemnon both follow Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, I believe Hamlet is a more tragic play. Many more innocent lives were taken in Hamlet than Agamemnon. Hamlet, Gertrude, Ophelia, Polonius and Laertes were all killed due to Claudius’ deceptive and cheating ways. In Agamemnon, Cassandra and Iphigenia were the only innocent lives taken, both caused by Agamemnon’s lack of morals. The sheer number of deaths in Hamlet that were caused by unjust means and intentions brings a great amount of unrest to the audience. It holds even greater unrest for the audience when compared to Agamemnon. The level of understanding I had with all the characters was far greater in Hamlet than in Agamemnon. Hamlet, the tragic hero in his play, was the main character. The audience was able to connect and sympathize with him through his struggles with avenging his father and his many soliloquies. Touching on the topic of Hamlet’s desire for suicide in his soliloquies gives the impression that he is trapped in his life. Even though he may be miserable in the world he lives in, suicide is forbidden by his religion, and thus he is trapped to stay in a world he hates. Agamemnon does not appear in his play until at least half way through. This makes it difficult to justify Agamemnon, the tragic hero in his play, as the main character. His wife, Clytemnestra is the main character since her story is followed from the beginning to the end of the play. Making a connection with the tragic hero in Agamemnon is much more difficult since the audience does not have a chance to connect with him, ultimately making his death less tragic and compelling to the audience. An element of Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is involving a tragic hero of higher standing. Both of these plays follow that element. Hamlet is the prince of Denmark. Agamemnon is the king of Argos, Greece. Both of these men make and error in judgement that eventually leads to suffering and their final downfall. Hamlet accidently kills Polonius, believing him to be Claudius. This sets a chain of events in action that leads to the death of not only himself, but many people around him. Agamemnon makes the mistake of trusting his wife upon his return. He walks on the purple silk into his palace, where Clytemnestra kills him. This event feels less tragic since the audience almost believes Agamemnon deserves death for sacrificing his own daughter and taking Cassandra as a concubine.

Use Of Tobacco In Australia Health And Social Care Essay

Australia has been one of the taking counties that have a great path record of baccy control. In Australia, there are around 3 million people who smoke on a regular basis between the ages of 18 to 25. The addition in baccy control strategies that increased the monetary value of baccy merchandises have changed the manner people smoke. In a recent survey, economic experts valued the nest eggs associated with avoided deceases and related diminutions in unwellness and disablement due to cut down baccy usage in Australia over the last 30 old ages at $ 8.6b ( NTS 2004 ) . The aims of the National Tobacco Strategy are the undermentioned: To assist forestall smoking uptake To assist and promote as many tobacco users as possible to discontinue smoke every bit shortly as they are able. To take exposures to harmful tobacco fume among non-smokers. If able, cut downing the harmful effects of continued usage of baccy and nicotine. Tobacco control schemes such as these increases the monetary value of baccy merchandises which changes people ‘s attitudes towards smoking through ordinances and runs that cut down baccy usage. ( NTS 2004 ) Regulation of Tobacco Promotion of Quit and Smoke free messages Cessation services and intervention Community support and instruction Addressing societal, economic and cultural determiners of wellness Tailoring enterprises for deprived groups Research, rating and monitoring & A ; surveillanceRegulation of TobaccoThe purpose of the NTS is to extinguish all promotional merchandises of baccy by those in the baccy trade, and to seek to turn to to them of the injury caused by other positive portraitures of smoke in the media.Promotion of Quit and Smoke free messagesThe purpose of the NTS is to do the wellness hazards of smoking more personal and to increase people ‘s resoluteness in discontinuing and assist them be cognizant of many effectual therapies and contact inside informations for services.Cessation services and interventionThe purpose of the NTS is to guarantee that every Australian tobacco user who are in contact with the wellness attention system are identified and be advised to discontinue, and that tobacco users who are likely to hold jobs discontinuing from smoking have easy entree to many appropriate and effectual pharmacotherapy ‘s.Community support and instructionThe purpose of the NTS to lend attem pts to forestall kids from smoke, and to guarantee that the community is intelligent about smoke.Addressing societal, economic and cultural determiners of wellnessThe purpose of the NTS is to cut down societal disaffection, along with many other negative effects by smoking and to put in baccy control as a cardinal scheme for forestalling and cut downing societal disadvantage.Tailoring enterprises for deprived groupsThe purpose of the NTS is to guarantee easy entree to many intervention, information and services for people in extremely disadvantaged groups who suffer from many smoking related injury.Research, rating and monitoring & A ; surveillanceThe purpose of the NTS is to guarantee that research is conducted to measure the demands and place utile attacks and that appropriate systems are in topographic point to measure the cost-effectiveness of plans and policies and the extent to which these are being achieved. Harmonizing to the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotions, wellness publicity actions means Building Public wellness policies, Create supportive environments, Strengthen Community actions, develop personal accomplishments, Reorient Health service and traveling into the hereafter.Build Healthy Public PolicyHealth publicity policy combines attacks including financial steps, revenue enhancement statute law, and organisational alteration. Health publicity policy now requires the designation of obstructions to the acceptance of healthy public policies in non-health sectors, and ways of taking them. The purpose must be to do the healthier pick the easier pick for policy shapers every bit good ( Talbot and Verrinder, 2010, erectile dysfunction. 4, p.266 ) .Create Supportive EnvironmentsThe guiding rule for the universe, states, parts and communities likewise, is the demand to promote them to take attention of each other, our communities and our natural environment. The demand to conserve natu ral resources throughout the universe should turns into a planetary duty.Strengthen Community ActionsCommunity development needs bing stuff and human resources in the community to better societal support and to increase public engagement in wellness affairs. This will necessitate uninterrupted entree to more information and changeless support support.Develop Personal SkillsTeaching people to larn throughout their life, to fix them to manage populating with chronic unwellness and hurts is really of import. This has been maintained at place, school, work and in the community.Reorient Health ServicessHealth services will be required to encompass an expanded authorization which is really sensitive and respects cultural demands. This authorization will be required to back up the demands of different persons and communities for a more fitter life.Traveling into the FutureHealth is created by caring for oneself and others, by being able to take determinations and have control over one â₠¬Ëœs life fortunes, and by guaranting that the society one lives in creates conditions that allow the attainment of wellness by all its members ( Talbot and Verrinder, 2010, erectile dysfunction. 4, p.266 ) .Progress/ ImprovementsIn my sentiment, the National Tobacco Strategy 2004-2009 was a well designed plan but there are still countries in the plan that needs farther betterment. The effectivity of this plan is reflected on the consequences of the figure of baccy consumption in Australia since the plan started. The NTS 2004-2009, in relation to the Ottawa Charter for Health publicities has met the demands on what wellness publicity actions truly intend such as Building Healthy Public Policy and so on. The National Tobacco Strategy 2004-2009 has built on the accomplishments of the old National trust 1999 to 2003-04, Much has been achieved by the actions of the province and district authoritiess since the early 1980s and more than 30 old ages of candidacy by non-government bureaus b ut there is still the demand for farther betterments. It was merely until 15 old ages ago ; publicities of baccy merchandises were legion. Many immature people were invariably shown legion advertizements which portrayed smoke to be merriment and made you look sophisticated. Even though the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 ( CDHA 2003 ) has enormously reduced advertisement through the media, many makers still continue to advance their baccy merchandises through many popular locales such as dark nines. It was merely late that the act has been reviewed and many amendments have been proposed to greatly implement limitations on current and lifting signifiers of advertisement. Adding more financess on Quit Smoking runs would assist to promote more people to discontinue smoke. This will besides increase the gross revenues of many pharmaceutical companies by promoting people to utilize their merchandises that improve the rate of people who chose to discontinue smoke. Many behavioral support services such as the state quitline now operate in many province and district but will necessitate to hold increased support if it is to manage an increasing demand from referrals from wellness professionals ; it besides needs to increase publicity in the media. Even thought there are around 80,000 people who call the Quitline in 2003 ( Kriven S, 2003 ) , but this lone nowadays a little sum of Australian tobacco users but this would besides increase if it is promoted even more. Records of baccy excise responsibility payments suggest that baccy ingestion in Australia has fallen well over the past 30 old ages since the debut of baccy control policies Among big males, smoking prevalence dropped from 45 % in 1974 to around 27 % in the late ninetiess ; among females it fell from 30 % to 23 % ( Scollo, M VCTC ) . Smoking among secondary school pupils in Australia began to worsen in the late 1980s ; it increased once more in the early to mid-1990s and declined once more at the terminal of the last decennary. The smoke around non-smokers has besides dropped significantly, with more and more workplaces censoring smoke at work. Scollo M. Annual per capita ingestion in Australia, 1903 to 2001-02. VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control, Melbourne, 2003. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vctc.org.au/tcres/PublicConsumptionEstimatesAus1901to2002.xls. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 Issues Paper. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2003. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/drugs/tobacco/ consult/index.htm on August 2003. Th vitamin E Cancer Council Australia. Review of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act: entry on behalf of Australian wellness administrations. 2003, Melbourne: VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control. Wakefi eld M, Freeman J, and Donovan R. Recall and response of tobacco users and recent quitters to the Australian National Tobacco Campaign. Tob Control. 2003 ; 12: ( Suppl 2 ) : II15-II22 Scollo M. Towards an Australian national policy for the intervention of dependance on tobacco-delivered nicotine. 2003, Melbourne: VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control. Kriven S. Estimate of calls to the Quitline, 2003, personal communicating. 2004, Tobacco Control Research and Evaluation: Adelaide.

O great god-king Xerxes Essay

O great god-king Xerxes, I have heard that you are planning to launch a full-scale invasion of the Greek nations following on the steps of your father, Darius. I come here before you to attempt to dissuade you of your plans for Greece. As I am once a prominent citizen of one of the many city-states in the nation, it would do you well to listen to my advice as it contains extensive knowledge of what you are about to face if you push through with your plans. O King, barely ten years ago, your father Darius launched a similar invasion against the Greek city-states in retaliation to the Athenians’ aiding the Ionians in their revolt against his rule. Although it had been initially successful, the invasion was ultimately put to an end by his defeat during the Battle of Marathon. It could be worth noting that, despite the battle being a victory, it was a desperate attack by the Athenian army that caused the defeat of your father’s armed forces. Sparta, perhaps the state with the most powerful military in all of Greece, was absent from the battle and even then the Greeks scored a victory. Each city-state in Greece acts independently from each other. They are each governed by their respective rulers and are not influenced by the affairs of the other city-states. However, it is not impossible for each of them to call for aid to one another as evidenced by the Ionian call for aid during the previous war. Sartus was taken thanks to the aid provided by Athens, who had the major contribution in the allied army, and by Eretria. Sparta had chosen delay sending military aid as it had decided a full moon needed to pass before they do anything and were thus absent from the Battle of Marathon, where your father’s army was defeated utterly. Had Sparta’s forces been present, its superior military might compared to Athens would likely contribute to utter decimation of the Persian forces under your father’s command. However, even then, your father’s soldiers lost under the Greeks. If you attack now, O King, you risk provoking an even greater alliance that can now include Sparta, which is your most formidable enemy on the plains of Greece. The Spartans are a race that places utmost emphasis on military training and raising superior soldiers that have been tested in war. Furthermore, the Spartans will never participate and are not interested in any alliance that will not mean leadership to them. They can be a vain and arrogant nation but with the strength to back their vanity up. If you threaten the entire Greek country now, your Majesty, the major powers of the nation will definitely ally themselves with Sparta at the helm. With Spartan tactics and warriors at the vanguard, your army – no matter how great – will run into serious opposition which can result into an even greater demise than what has happened to your father’s forces in Marathon. As could be expected from any nation, the Greeks have devised battle tactics that are best suited to their terrain. They know their land; you can expect them to take advantage of that and lure your forces into a disadvantage in battle. With a possible alliance under Spartan leadership, the Greek can have a tactical and strategic advantage even if your army is greater in number. O Wise King, great wisdom it would be not to rely on the greater numbers of your armed host. The Greeks, especially the Spartans, will not be easily daunted. They have tactics that can be quite effective when employed in terrain which they know well. For example, your father Darius in Marathon faced a tactic called the phalanx. By definition, a Greek battle line deployed in a phalanx means there is equal strength in all sides of the battle formation. However, in Marathon, the Greek commander faced superior numbers but was able to modify the phalanx into an effective variant: he strengthened the wings of his battle formation while weakening the center. At first you would think that the Greeks were committing suicide and, indeed, the Greeks seemed to be at the point of desperation. However, stronger wings meant that the Greeks managed to hold off the wings of your father’s formations, holding them back and disabling them from reinforcing the center of King Darius’ battle lines. Thus, it was then that the Persian armies were surrounded and routed by the Greek army in Marathon. The results of the battle were horrific. Your father lost a sizable portion of his soldiers, sixty times more than what the Greeks lost in that same battle. A second Marathon is not the only thing that you should worry about in the conduct of battle in this planned invasion. A worse battle awaits your forces if you push through. In Greece, there is a place which we call the â€Å"Hot Gates† or Thermopylae. This place is a narrow pass bordered by a sheer cliff wall on one side, and the sea on the other side. This is a battleground ideal for the phalanx. In such a narrow pass, the phalanx will serve as a wedge that will drive through your attacking forces. The Greeks need only to strengthen their front lines with the rear guard merely pushing the front soldiers forward. In here, the superior numbers of your great army will definitely count for nothing. The Greeks, especially the Spartans and the Athenians, are aware of this pass; they will definitely use this to their advantage to hold off your army while a greater force amasses for retaliation. A Spartan-led phalanx could be as devastating as any phalanx, which had been proven by the Athenian tactics in Marathon. As you could see, Great King Xerxes, the sheer size of your army is both your strength and your liability. To support such a large host, you need a sizable navy to carry supplies back and forth. Your navy will be stretched thin supporting your great army; it will also have to endure against whatever naval counterattacks and offensives that the Greeks may launch against you. You could face a naval situation similar to Thermopylae in Salamis. It is a narrow channel, one which can reduce your navy into a bottleneck and reduce their effectiveness. The Greeks can pick your ships off one by one even if they may be smaller in size. Consider my wisdom in this matter, King Xerxes. I daresay that, even if you hold the greater number of forces, you would find it hard to manage them effectively at smaller levels. The Greeks, my former countrymen, are geniuses both in scholarship and in battle; your father Darius learnt that the hard way in the fields of Marathon under the Athenians alone. With a possible pan-Greek alliance – with the mighty Spartans leading – your forces face yet another humiliating defeat similar to Marathon, only this time you will be facing the combined might of all the city-states of Greece. Abandon this plan now, before this results to destruction of your mighty host. Sources: Wheeler, Kevin. (2001). â€Å"Ancient Greek Battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, Artemisium and Salamis. † Retrieved November 30, 2008, from Ancient World Battles website: http://www. geocities. com/caesarkevin/battles/Greekbattles1. html Lendering, Jona. (2005). â€Å"Phalanx and Hoplites. † Retrieved November 30, 2008 from Livius. org website: http://www. livius. org/pha-phd/phalanx/phalanx. html Lopez, Vincent. (2008) â€Å"Shock Tactics on the Ancient Battlefield. † Retrieved November 30, 2008 from Armchair General website: http://www. armchairgeneral. com/shock-tactics-on-the-ancient-battlefield. htm/5 Stewart, Michael. â€Å"People, Places & Things: Xerxes I†, Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. Retrieved November 30, 2008 from Messagenet website: http://messagenet. com/myths/ppt/Xerxes_I_1. html Freedom44. (2004). â€Å"The First Persian War – Greek Wars. † Retrieved from Free Republic website: http://freerepublic. com/focus/f-news/1196577/posts

Material prices influence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Material prices influence - Research Paper Example Question 2 a) Monthly profit position for each of L Ltd and M Ltd if the sales of L Ltd : i. at their present level Particulars M L Selling prices 9 20 Sales in litres 750000 250000 Sales in drums 30000 10000 Total sales 270000 200000 Raw materials - 9 Other cost 5 3 Total VC for a month 150000 120000 Fixed costs 60000 40000 total cost 210000 160000 Profit 60000 40000 Assumptions 1. 1 drum = 25 litres 2. Current production capacity of L ltd if 1000 kilolitres p.m 3. Current production level of L ltd is 75% 4. Production and sales are same, no stock in hand (ii) at their higher potential level indicated by the market research, subject to a cut in price of 20%. Particulars M L Selling prices 9 16 Sales in litres 750000 450000 Sales in drums 30000 18000 Total sales 270000 288000 Raw materials - 9 Other cost 5 3 Total VC for a month 150000 216000 Fixed costs 60000 40000 Total cost 210000 256000 Profit 60000 32000 b) i. Difficulties when the market prices are used as transfer price produces underthe conditions outlined in (a) (ii) above. When the market prices are used as the transfer prices, it is disadvantageous for L ltd. This is because, it is planning to reduce its selling price by 20%, thereby increasing its sales by 80%. If this reduction in selling prices happens, then the profits enjoyed by L Ltd decreases even though there is an increase in sales by 80 %. The raw material prices are same for L ltd. There is no decrease in the raw materials which is purchased from M Ltd. As the production increases for L ltd, the raw material consumption also increases and which should bring down the raw materials cost down. The raw materials cost charged by M ltd, is based on the market price and hence, it does not benefit L Ltd. (ii) Factors to be...This is because, it is planning to reduce its selling price by 20%, thereby increasing its sales by 80%. If this reduction in selling prices happens, then the profits enjoyed by L Ltd decreases even though there is an increase in sales by 80 %. The raw material prices are same for L ltd. There is no decrease in the raw materials which is purchased from M Ltd. As the production increases for L ltd, the raw material consumption also increases and which should bring down the raw materials cost down. The raw materials cost charged by M ltd, is based on the market price and hence, it does not benefit L Ltd. As an accountant, I would consider the dual approach to fix the transfer prices. M ltd is currently selling for two parties, one L Ltd and other external parties. For L Ltd, the transfer price can be based on full cost approach and for the external customers, it can be based on the market prices. The actual cost of production should be estimated, including the research and development cost and other costs that are traceable to the division. A full cost absorption approach can be adopted to overcome these kind of problems.

MEDIATION between Saudi Arabia and The U.S Thesis

MEDIATION between Saudi Arabia and The U.S - Thesis Example With a shift in public policies, increasing numbers of corporates and legal firms are using alternative dispute resolution or ADR processes for conflict resolution. This paper explores mediation, which is a type of  alternative dispute resolution  process, where a third member or party, known as the mediator, helps the disputing parties to  reach a settlement. It will also study the mediation processes followed in the US and Saudi Arabia, while also taking into consideration the mediation methods not adopted by these two countries. Alternative dispute resolution or ADR (also referred to external dispute resolution  in countries, as Australia)1 is a process other than litigation or adjudication in court, in which there is the presence of a neutral third party who helps to resolve conflicts or disputes.2 The process includes  conflict resolution  procedures and mechanisms, which allows the conflicting parties to reach an agreement that would not result in litigation. ADR is actually an umbrella term for different ways in which the conflicting parties can work out a resolution, with or even without the presence and assistance of a third party. Despite a general perspective that ADR processes are capable of elevating the outcome quality and the degree of justice achieved in a conflict situation, ADR has faced a great deal of resistance in the past. As experts claimed, â€Å"for decades different forms of dispute resolution (ADR) have been proposed, developed, critiqued, modified, renamed, redefined and slow ly brought within the usually suspicious, and sometimes hostile, edifice of state-based normative ordering. Some see this as†¦democratic storming of the Kafkaesque citadel of the law†¦[While] others see it as a dangerous dilution or even undermining of justice.†3 Despite the initial resistance, ADR has currently gained global popularity and acceptance amongst the common people and those in the  law