Sunday, December 29, 2019

Domestic Violence A Threat Faced By Women - 1936 Words

CHAPTER ONE 1.1 INTRODUCTION Domestic violence is a threat faced by women all over the world. It is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. In Nigeria, women experience violence mostly from their male counterparts. According to findings from the National Violence against Women Survey, one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Domestic violence and abuse is still a ‘hidden’ issue in our society as people believe that it is the private matters of the family and therefore should remain in the private sphere. A culture of silence reinforces the stigma attached to the victim rather than condemning the perpetrator of such crimes (afrolNews, 2007). Women keep quiet about being violated and the cycle of violence still continues because nothing is being done about it. Laws have been made to criminalize the act in the international scene but these laws have not been incorporated as domestic laws in Nigeria. Nigeria herself has few states which have laws against domestic violence (Lagos, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi and Jigawa) and some have also passed laws against female genital mutilation, widowhood practices and early girl child marriages, but ‘are these laws sufficient enough?’ The consequences of domestic violence can be very devastating and can cross generations and truly last a lifetime and they include physical or psychological harm or eventualShow MoreRelatedDomestic Marital Abuse Against Women1697 Words   |  7 PagesSilenced Cry: Domestic Marital Abuse against Women In the United States, there are about ten people who die from domestic violence every single day. The U.N identifies October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. What happens when ‘Home’ is not the safest place to be? Domestic abuse occurs across the world, in various cultures and affects society, irrespective of their economic status. Behaviors that are adopted by a person to control their partner in a relationship refers to domestic violenceRead MoreDomestic Violence Is The Violent Confrontation Within A Family Household1195 Words   |  5 PagesValentina Marmol Women’s Literature Ms. Bruno 6 June 2016 Domestic Violence Domestic violence is the violent confrontation within a family household including physical abuse or sexual assault. This assault usually occurs in former spouses or relationships. Approximately four million women have faced sexual assault from a significant other in our world today. Even though domestic violence is defined as the physical abuse inflicted by someone onto another individual, but it also relatesRead MorePsychological And Emotional Effects Of Domestic Violence986 Words   |  4 Pages In 2 out of 3 women homicide cases, they are killed by a family member or intimate partner. Domestic violence is typically the aggressive or violent behavior in a household that involves the physical abuse of a spouse or partner. Physical abuse is one of the major ways men control the behavior of women. More than 4 million women experience physical assault and rape by their partners. The abuser may also do other acts of violence such as psychological and/or emotional abuse thatRead MoreDomestic Violence Occurrences in Same Sex Relationships1346 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Domestic Violence Abstract In this paper, I have discussed domestic violence occurrence in same sex relationships. I have assessed the reasons and consequences of domestic violence in such homosexual partnerships. I have also provided a comparison of the findings with that in heterosexual relationships. In the end, I have given my opinion about what should be done to avoid this brutal crime. Domestic violence is initiated when the pattern of violent behaviors in an individual tries to controlRead MoreDomestic Violence Victims Should Leave The Perpetrator1718 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic violence victims should leave the perpetrator, who committed violent acts against them is an easy phrase that is commonly used for individuals that has never experienced domestic violence. On average there are approximately twenty people that are abused by an intimate partner per minute, and this alarming statistic affects almost ten million people a year. There many alarming stats about domestic violence, however what is being done for the victims and other family members who options isRead MoreDomestic Violence And Sexual Violence1411 Words   |  6 PagesThe term domestic violence is defined as the deliberate frightening, sexual and physical assault, or a behavior that is abusive or intolerable to others as a part of the regular sequence of power and the domination executed by one c onfidant companion to the other. The patterns of domestic violence usually comprise of the sexual violence, abusing the partner emotionally, psychological assault, and the physical violence. It is dramatic that how the severity and the frequency of the occurrences of theRead MoreDomestic Violence research proposal1573 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract The purpose of this study is to see whether or not domestic violence causes a damaging affect on children. The study will included criminal justice students in College and the age range will be between 18 and 23 years old. The method is qualitative and will be an interview. Introduction Domestic violence can be defines as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. AbuseRead MoreDomestic Bias Of Domestic Violence1659 Words   |  7 Pages Domestic Bias in Violence Unprovoked battering. Over the years the term domestic violence has been given mass popularity in society. This is due to the many highly publicized events ranging from the Ray Rice’s abuse charges all the way to the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. The term domestic violence has emerged from a vow of silence in households to a prevalent discussion that has flourished throughout society. Or has it? Yes, domestic violence has been recognized as an issue in society. This hasRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Women : A Global Issue1564 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic violence against women is a global issue that is happening all across national boundaries as well as socio-economic, cultural, race, and class distinctions. It is a problem without frontiers. Not only is the problem happening all across the world, but it’s incident is also large, making it a typical and accepted behavior because it happens a lot. Domestic violence is not an individual event but a repeated behavio r that the batter uses to gain control and power over the victim. Domestic violenceRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On Victims And Varies1700 Words   |  7 PagesDefinition, strengths and limitations, and occurrence Domestic violence as a form of trauma can have an impact on victims and varies in the form in which it occurs. Domestic violence can occur directly to an individual or family or indirectly as exposure to domestic violence. The Department of Justice defines domestic violence as â€Å"a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner†. According to Cross

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Ecumenical Developments in Australia Essay - 829 Words

Account for TWO ecumenical development in Australian Christianity since World War II. Ecumenism, in the sense of Australian Christianity, is the religious initiative towards unity within the Christian church. It is the promotion of co-operation and improved understanding between distinct religious groups or denominations within Christianity and other religions. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN AUSTRALIA (NCCA) The NCCA is an example of an ecumenical movement Ââ€" it brings together a number of Australias Christian churches in dialogue and practical support. It was also the first recognized coalition between the Catholic Church and other leading Christian faiths. Out of the desolation of World War II sprang the Australian Committee for†¦show more content†¦During the civil war in Ambon, Indonesia, the Muslim Council of Australia and the NCCA held a united Prayers for Peace rally. The combined Prayers for Peace rally is an example of inter-faith dialogue. The NCCA has been a significant ecumenical movement in Australian Christianity since WWII, through its federation of all the major Christian churches in Australia and its faithful commitment towards the unity of the Christian church. Such an ecumenical council is needed for the unity of a once divided religion, and as the influential voice of the Church in political matters. SYDNEY COLLEGE OF DIVINITY (SCD) The SCD is a national ecumenical alliance of Christian theological colleges operating together to offer the highest achievable standard of education in theology, ministry, arts, and associated disciplines; while being both diverse in its theological traditions and inclusive in its operation. Formed in 1983, the Sydney College of Divinity started as an association of theological colleges in Sydney. Additional growth has seen the College reach outside the Sydney basin to provide theological education across Australia, in New Zealand, and across the world. They are a community of learners, teachers and researchers . The SCDs member institutes present courses in step with their church traditions and culture, while all workShow MoreRelatedThe Influence Of Ecumenical Movements And Interfaith Dialogue1585 Words   |  7 PagesEcumenical movements and interfaith dialogue are of great importance as they have had a significant contribution towards harmony, acceptance and unity between Christian sects, world religions and society in general. The establishment of both religious movements was due to the viciousness of the Second World War and the distress, which was present in humanity at the time. The two religious initiatives hold great value due to the effect they had on Australia post-World War II; they aim and work towardsRead MoreImportance Of Christian Ecumenical Movements And Interfaith Dialogue1573 Words   |  7 Pagesimportance of Christian ecumenical movements and interfaith dialogue in Australia post World War II is of great significance to the broader Australian society. It plays a great r ole in uniting and celebrating the differences and recognising the similarities of the religions, as well as appreciating the uniqueness of the various religions. Ecumenism and interfaith dialogue have been an important feature due to a range of reasons including the abolishment of the White Australia Policy, the arrival ofRead MoreThe Ethics Of Environmental Ethics1299 Words   |  6 Pagesconcerned about these negative consequences; and since these consequences all focus on harm to humans, it will be described as an anthropocentric environmental ethic. An ecological agency eestablished in May 2002, created by the Catholic Church Australia known as Catholic Earth Care devotes its purpose to allow a tender and sustainable relationship with the natural world. This is conducted through the work of education, research, national networks, advocacy and transformations. Key initiatives ofRead MoreThe Story of Christianity by Justo Gonzalez925 Words   |  4 Pageswhich he received as a result of his ecumenical work of bringing together churches of different denominations Summary Dr. Gonzalez’s book; The Story of Christianity is a very informative summation; a continuation of Volume 1 which covered the beginning of the church up to the Protestant Reformation, while Vol. 2 dealt with the Protestant Reformation up to more modern time period. 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The developedRead MoreEssay Christianity1851 Words   |  8 Pagesspread Christianity to major cities throughout the Roman Empire. Today, Christians make up the largest religious group in the world. Christianity has about 1 1/2 billion followers. It is the major religion in Europe, the Western Hemisphere, and Australia. Many Christians also live in Africa and Asia. Christianity has had an enormous influence on Western civilization, especially on art, literature, and philosophy. The teachings of Christianity have had a lasting effect on the conduct of business

Friday, December 13, 2019

Skywest Inc Free Essays

Case 6 : Sky West Inc. and the Regional Airline Industry 1. 3 Business Model 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Skywest Inc or any similar topic only for you Order Now Network Carriers legacy carriers Hub-and-Spoke 2007 United, Northwest, American, Continental Delta 2005 5 82 % 10 0 25. 3 2. Low Cost Carriers low cost business model point-to-point Southwest JetBlue legacy Low Cost Low Cost United Airlines Low Cost United Ted Airlines Delta Low Cost Delta’s Song Airlines 3. Regional Carriers Jets Legacy Network (Hub-and-Spoke) short-haul flight Regional Airlines block-hour incentive Regional 95 % Regional Regional Hub-and-Spoke Legacy Regional Airlines Partner SkyWest Inc History Origins in the Early 1970s SkyWest Dixie Airline St. George Utah 1972 J. Ralph Atkin 4 Dixies Commuter Airline Atkin Fixed Base Operation (FOB) Air Charters Air Ambulance Service Mar 1972 Atkin SkyWest Airlines 1974 Jerry C. Atkin Ralph Atkin’s nephew $25,000 Oct 1975 Reorganized 3 SkyWest Expansion in the Late 1970s 1976 Hughes Air West Cedar City-Salt Lake City SkyWest Navajo Chieftans 5 National Parks Transportation Company Avis Franchises 2 Cedar City St. George. 1977 Interline American Airlines ? Check-in Interline SkyWest 1978 1. SkyWest Commuter Airline ( Regional Airline) 3 Certified Air Carrier Federal Government Regulations Major Airlines 2. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) SkyWest 3 $160,000 Page Arizona Yuma, Kingman, Prescott, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Winslow Phoenix, Arizona, Blythe, Los Angeles, and El Centro, California. 3. SkyWest Fairchild Metroliner II $1. 4 ( $150,000) Growth from Deregulation, Acquisition, and Affiliations in the 1980s 1978 Major Airlines United, Western American Airlines Regional Airlines SkyWest 1983 Metros 7 Navajo Chieftans 5 Cessna 207s Charters SkyWest Reagan Reagan Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association 24 Sep 1981 SkyWest Arizona Metro SkyWest 1982 SkyWest 10 Republic’s Escort 1980s SkyWest Mail, Small Packages, and Bank Documents 10 % 1983 SkyWest 2 Regional Airlines St. George 17 6 250 Customer Service Aug 1984 SkyWest Las Vegas Palm Springs, California Southern California Palm Springs Sun Aire 1968 Borrego Springs, California San Diego 90 1983 Sun Aire 330,000 1985 Sun Aire SkyWest Metros SkyWest 12 14 Sun Aire 28 Sun Aire Facilities American Airlines Los Angeles SkyWest/Sun Aire Major Market SkyWest Regional Carrier 11 Holding Company SkyWest, Inc. , 3 1. SkyWest Airlines Inc. SkyWest Aviation Inc. ) 1998 Regional Airline 5 12 Business Travelers SkyWest Commuter Airline Ski Resorts California SkyWest Airlines Delta Continental Airlines 2. Scenic Airlines Air Tours, General Aviation Scheduled Flights Grand Canyon Arizona, Utah, N evada 3. National Parks Transportation franchise Avis 1985 SkyWest Code-Sharing Western Airline Salt Lake 70% 1987 Delta Airlines Western Airlines SkyWest Delta Code : DL SkyWest SkyWest/Sun Aire Western Express Delta Connection. Logo Code-Sharing Major Regional Airlines 1980 United Airlines Regional United Express American Airlines American Eagle Network 1980 SkyWest Brasilia EMB-120 Turboprop Regional Airlines SkyWest California 1986 Sun Aire acquisition SkyWest NASDAQ 1987 SkyWest Air Transport World’s Commuter/Regional Airline 500 Regional Airlines 988 SkyWest $2. 3 California 28 Events in the 1990s Jun 1993 Aviation Services West, Inc. Flight Tour Scenic Airlines, Inc. , Las Vegas Grand Canyon Aviation Services West Scenic Airlines, Inc. 1994 SkyWest Delta Salt Lake City 5 Casper, Wyoming; Butte, Montana; Burbank, California; Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota SkyWest Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) Bombardier, Inc. Brasilias 50 540 1,200 miles 41,000 Oct 1995 SkyWest Continental Airlines Code-Sharing SkyWest Continental Connection Los Angeles SkyWest 3% Continental Flights 1996 48% Delta 1996 SkyWest 2. 5 16 SkyWest Brasilias 50 Canadair Regional Jets 10 Metroliner 1 Oct 1997 SkyWest United Airlines United Express SkyWest Connecting Flight Los Angeles 1997 SkyWest 25 SkyWest 585 45 12 Salt Lake City Vancouver Canadair Regional Jets 19 Jan 1998 SkyWest United United Express San Francisco Hub United June 1, 1998 1998 SkyWest Connecting flight 3 Major Airlines Delta, United Continental 1 July 2002 SkyWest Tucson Arizona. 8 Dec 2002 United Airlines Partner SkyWest Chapter 11 2003 SkyWest Bombardier CRJ700 70 30 United Express 9 May 2003 SkyWest code-share Continental Airlines SkyWest regional Continental Houston, The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 2003 SkyWest DOT SkyWest 1 5 regional carriers DOT 2004 †¢ hub Chicago, IL (ORD) †¢ Colorado Springs, CO (COS) CRJ †¢ Delta Dallas/ Fort Worth Hub (DFW) SkyWest †¢ SkyWest ,000 †¢ DOT SkyWest 2004. [pic]2005 †¢ SkyWest, Inc. Atlantic Southeast Airlines Delta Air Lines. †¢ Chicago O’Hare. †¢ Sky West Inc. Partner United Delta 2006 Legacy 2 2006 †¢ SkyWest CRJ900 †¢ Dec 2006 SkyWest Inc. SkyWes t Midwest Partner [pic]2007 †¢ SkyWest Airlines Midwest Connect / Delta Connection / United Express Legacy 2 (Delta Connection / United Express) Outsource 20 SkyWest Inc. Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles San Francisco United express SkyWest Inc. Outsourcing Delta †¢ SkyWest Delta Connection Department of Transportation Cedar Utah 8 Jan 2008. Source: Annual Report 2007 SkyWest Inc. Skywest Inc. 2. : Bridging the Region Gap from West to East SkyWest Inc. Regional Airline Western Eastern SkyWest Airlines ASA artner Legacy Airlines : safety / on time arrival / service and quality / fairness and consistency / working together as a team / personal and corporate integrity and maintaining profitability Efficient Use of All Resources. SkyWest Inc. : Partner Legacy Airline / : Developed industry-leading reputations for providing quality, low-cost regional airline service. 3. (Functional Level Strategy) [pic] Inbound Logistics: Service , , , Ground Handling Equipment, Operations: Outbound Logistics: Marketing and Sales: †¢ Distribution Legacy Airline Partner †¢ Product Design Service : (Functional Level Strategy) (Competitive Advantage) 3. 1 Superior Efficiency : Superior Efficiency SkyWest Inc. Product Design: †¢ 0. 03 USD 0. 095 USD. †¢ Partner Legacy Airline †¢ (routine maintenance) Human Resource: †¢ †¢ – 90 - Retirement Plans SkyWest Inc. – Teamwork Information System Function: †¢ Interline American Airlines Check-in †¢ Republic’s Escort Marketing: Product: (Cost per Available seat mile) Place: – Code Sharing Market Share – Partner Legacy SkyWest Inc. 2006 SkyWest Inc. 3,114 2005 1,964 ( Exhibit 6) 3. 2 Superior Quality Superior Quality SkyWest Inc. Reliability: The Aviation Safety Action Program Program Stetson Quality Suite SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Airline Regional Airline 15 2004 2005 SkyWest 84. 5% SkyWest 1% 50% 2006 SkyWest Airlines 1. 2 % 1. 7 % Reliability SkyWest Airlines . 3 Superior Innovation: Process Innovation – SkyWest Airline ASA 2 – Partner Legacy Airline 3. 4 Superior Customer Responsiveness SkyWest Airlines DOT 2 2003-2004 Functional Strategy SkyWest Inc. Superior Customer Responsiveness †¢ Superior Efficiency : Product Design Upgrade 0. 103 USD 0. 095 USD. †¢ Superior Quality : Customer Service 4. (Business Level Strategy) (Functional Level Strategy) . What needs will be satisfied? SkyWest Inc. Regional Airline Legacy Airlines partnership 2. Who will be served? Connecting flight Legacy Airlines (Broad Target) 3. How will those needs be satisfied? On-time service with quality. Business Strategy SkyWest Inc. Cost Leadership Competitive Positioning Efficiency Quality – – Business Leisure (Broad Target) Legacy Airlines partner – Western Eastern – Customer Services) Business Strategy Functional Strategy Superior Efficiency Superior Quality Superior Customer Responsiveness 5. (Corporate Level Strategy) SkyWest Inc. 1. Concentration Growth: †¢ Horizontal Growth ASA Partner Legacy Airline Partner Legacy Airline Partner (Contract Agreement Term) †¢ Intensive Growth Improve Competitive Position Regional Airline 2. Retrenchment Sell-out National Parks Transportation Scenic Airlines Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) [pic] (Concentration Strategies) 1. Market Penetration SkyWest Inc. Upgrade ( CRJ 50 ) Legacy Airline (Contract Agreement Term) Legacy Airlines 2. Market Development ASA ( ) Eastern Partner Legacy Airline 6. 6. 1 (Organizational Structure) SkyWest Inc. Geographic Structure (Destinations) SkyWest Airline Atlantic Southeast Airline (ASA) Functional Structure Decision Making SkyWest Inc. Centralized ( www. SkyWest. com/about/exec. php , www. flyasa. com , www. SkyWest,Inc. htm ) 6. 2 (Organizational Culture) SkyWest Inc. Efficiency and Quality Efficiency : Part Time 3 Ticket Agents / Baggage Handlers SkyWest Airlines $40,000 $202,000 ASA Airlines Quality: †¢ SkyWest Airline Maintenance Department AMT Award 3 2004 – 2006 †¢ The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 2003 2004 6. 3 (Organizational Leadership) â€Å"Chairman, President and CEO Jerry Atkin accept the Airline Business magazine award for Regional Airlines Leadership† Efficiency and Quality 7. (Strategic Control) 7. 1 Efficiency: †¢ SkyWest Inc. ASA Delta SkyWest Inc. SkyWest SkyWest 70 90 50 †¢ 2007 SkyWest Inc. SkyWest ASA ? †¢ ASA Regional SkyWest ASA Cost per available seat [pic] 7. 2 Quality: †¢ SkyWest Inc. The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 2003 2004 †¢ SkyWest Inc. the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Stetson Quality Suite software SkyWest Inc. ? Partner Legacy Airline 7. 3 Innovation : †¢ Midwest, Bradford R. Rich , CEO Treasurer SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Midwest †¢ ASA Teamwork ? 7. 4 Customer Responsiveness : The US Department of Transportation SkyWest 003 2004 Legacy Airlines 8. (Strategic Evaluation) 8. 1 Established standards and targets : Regional Airline Partner Legacy Airline FAA / DOT TSA Regional Airline Legacy Airline Partner Legacy Airline 8. 2 Create measuring and monitoring system : Yield/RPM, Revenue/ASM, Cost/ASM Miss baggage handling rate 8. 3 Compare actual performance against the established targets : ? 8. 4 Evaluate result and take action if necessary : (Statements of Income / Balance Sheets / Air Travel Consumer Report) easuring and monitoring system 9. SkyWest Inc. (Functional Level Strategy) : Superior Efficiency Superior Quality Superior Customer Responsiveness †¢ Superior Efficiency : Product Design 0. 103 USD 0. 095 USD. Superior Quality : (Customer Service) (Business Level Strategy) : Cost Leadership Competitive Positioning Efficiency Quality – – Business Leisure (Broad Target) Major Airline Partner – (Customer Services) – Western Eastern (Corporate Level Strategy) : 1. Market Penetration SkyWest Inc. ( CRJ 50 ) Legacy Airline (Contract Agreement Term) 2. Market Development ASA ( ) Eastern Partner Legacy Airline Bridging the Region Gap from West to East Regional Airline Western Eastern Operations Developed industry-leading reputations for providing quality, low-cost regional airline service. 10. (Effectiveness of Strategies) Profitability (ROIC) Profit Growth 5 5 5 MESA AIR, ALASKA AIR, EXPRESSJET, PINNACLE AIRLINES REPUBLIC AIRWAYS 6 002-2006 : |Airlines |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |SKYWEST |86. 87 |66. 79 |81. 95 |112. 27 |145. 81 | |MESA AIR |-11. 27 |25. 31 |26. 28 |56. 87 |33. 97 | |ALASKA AIR |-118. 60 |13. 50 |-15. 30 |-5. 90 |-52. 60 | |EXPRESSJET |84. 28 |108. 18 |122. 77 |97. 99 |92. 7 | |PINNACLE AIRLINES |30. 79 |35. 07 |40. 73 |25. 70 |77. 80 | |REPUBLIC AIRWAYS |7. 69 |36. 14 |38. 85 |60. 65 |79. 51 | |Total |79. 75 |284. 98 |295. 28 |347. 58 |377. 05 | (Source : Annual Report year 2002-2006 ) Plot 2002-2006 [pic] SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Inc. 2005 SkyWest Inc. SkyWest Inc. ASA Delta 2005 ASM (Available Seat mile) SkyWest Inc. (Passenger Revenue) Ground Handling Service Major Airline Partner ASA 2005 SkyWest Inc. 2002 – 2006 :    |   |   |   |   |   | |   |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |OPERATING REVENUES: | | | | | | |Passenger | 769,427 | 882,062 | 1,139,580 | 1,938,450 | 3,087,215 | |Ground handling and other | 5,020 | 5,964 | 16,464 | 25,598 | 27,441 | |Total operating revenues | 774,447 | 888,026 | 1,156,044 | 1,964,048 | 3,114,656 | |   | | | | | | |OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | | | |Total operating expenses | 654,892 | 779,546 | 1,011,268 | 1,743,640 | 2,775,496 | |   | | | | | |Interest expense |3,611 |9,891 |18,239 |53,330 |118,002 | |   |   |   |   |   |   | |   |   |   |   |   | |   |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |OPERATING REVENUES: | | | | | |Passenger |14. 64% |29. 19% |70. 10% |59. 26% | |Ground handling and other |18. 80% |176. 06% |55. 8% |7. 20% | |Total operating revenues |14. 67% |30. 18% |69. 89% |58. 58% | |   | | | | | |OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | | |Total operating expenses |19. 03% |29. 73% |72. 42% |59. 18% | |   | | | | | |Interest expense |173. 91% |84. 40% |192. 0% |121. 27% | |   |   |   |   |   | 2002 -2003 2004 2002 – 2006 |Airlines |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | |SKYWEST |71. 96% |-23. 11% |22. 71% |36. 99% |29. 87% | |MESA AIR |76. 56% |324. 57% |3. 86% |116. 37% |-40. 27% | |ALASKA AIR |-173. 27% |111. 38% |-213. 33% |61. 44% |-791. 53% | |EXPRESSJET |75. 31% |28. 36% |13. 49% |-20. 18% |-5. 4% | |PINNACLE AIRLINES |116. 10% |13. 91% |16. 13% |-36. 90% |202. 74% | |REPUBLIC AIRWAYS |26. 73% |370. 00% |7. 51% |56. 12% |31. 09% | |Total |190. 78% |257. 33% |3. 62% |17. 71% |8. 48% | Plot 2002-2006 [pic] SkyWest Inc. 2002-2006 2003 CRJ200s EMB120s ROIC |ROIC |= |Net Profit (After Tax) | |   |   |Invested Capital | ? Invested Capital = Total Equity + Total Long-term Debt ( http://finapps. forbes. com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/) (Annual Report) Sky West 2001-2006 ROIC : | |2002 |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | | | | | | | | |Net Profit (After Tax) | 86,866 | 66,787 | 81,952 | 112,267 | 145,806 | | | | | | | | |Total Asset | 999,384 | 1,529,210 | 1,662,287 | ,320,646 | 3,731,419 | | | | | | | | |Total Equity | 638,686 | 709,063 | 779,055 | 913,198 | 1,178,293 | |Long-Term Debt | 125,379 | 462,773 | 463,233 | 1,422,758 | 1,675,626 | | | | | | | | |Total Invested Capital | 764,065 | 1,171,836 | 1,242,288 | 2,335,956 | 2,853,919 | | | | | | | | |ROIC |11. 37% |5. 70% |6. 60% |4. 81% |5. 11% | (Source: Annual Report from www. SkyWest. com) ROIC SkyWest Inc. ROIC 5 MESA AIR, ALASKA AIR, EXPRESSJET, PINNACLE AIRLINES REPUBLIC AIRWAYS 6 2002 – 2006 ROIC Airlines |2002 |2003 |2004 | 2005 |2006 | |SKYWEST |11. 37% |5. 70% |6. 60% |4. 81% |5. 11% | |MESA AIR |-5. 67% |8. 14% |3. 87% |6. 99% |4. 44% | |ALASKA AIR |-7. 84% |0. 85% |-0. 92% |-0. 33% |-2. 74% | |EXPRESSJET |31. 53% |39. 46% |42. 49% |27. 21% |20. 37% | |PINNACLE AIRLINES |37. 52% |48. 96% |34. 67% |18. 41% |35. 68% | |REPUBLIC AIRWAYS |- |7. 18% |3. 97% |3. 44% |3. 99% | Plot [pic] SkyWest Inc. ROIC 2003, 2005 2006 2003 CRJ200s EMB120s 005 ASA Delta ROIC 2005 ROIC 11. (Problems) SkyWest Airline : (Miss baggage handling) Atlantic Southeast Airline : – Cancel flight – – (Miss baggage handling) – (On-time) ASA 12. (Issues) 1. Partner Low Cost Airlines (South West Airline and Jet Blue) 2. Partner 13. (External Environment Analysis) (External Strategic Factors) (Opportunity) (Threat) (Attractive or Unattractive Industry) 13. 1 General Environment [pic] a) Economic segment 4 US Inflation rates | |[pic] |Current Inflation Rate | |Year | |Jan | |Feb | |Mar | |Apr | |May | |Jun | |Jul |Aug | |Sep | |Oct | |Nov | |Dec | |Ave | | | |2009 | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | |NA | | | |2008 | |4. 28% | |4. 03% | |3. 98% | |3. 94% | |4. 8% | |5. 02% | |5. 60% | |5. 37% | |4. 94% | |3. 66% | |1. 07% | |0. 09% | |3. 5% | | | |2007 | |2. 08% | |2. 42% | |2. 78% | |2. 57% | |2. 69% | |2. 69% | |2. 36% | |1. 7% | |2. 76% | |3. 54% | |4. 31% | |4. 08% | |2. 85% | | | |2006 | |3. 99% | |3. 0% | |3. 36% | |3. 55% | |4. 17% | |4. 32% | |4. 15% | |3. 82% | |2. 06% | |1. 1% | |1. 97% | |2. 54% | |3. 24% | | | |2005 | |2. 97% | |3. 01% | |3. 15% | |3. 51% | |2. 0% | |2. 53% | |3. 17% | |3. 64% | |4. 69% | |4. 35% | |3. 46% | |3. 42% | |3. 9% | | | |2004 | |1. 93% | |1. 69% | |1. 74% | |2. 29% | |3. 05% | |3. 27% | |2. 99% | |2. 65% | |2. 54% | |3. 9% | |3. 52% | |3. 26% | |2. 68% | | | |2003 | |2. 60% | |2. 98% | |3. 02% | |2. 22% | |2. 6% | |2. 11% | |2. 11% | |2. 16% | |2. 32% | |2. 04% | |1. 77% | |1. 88% | |2. 7% | | | |2002 | |1. 14% | |1. 14% | |1. 48% | |1. 64% | |1. 18% | |1. 07% | |1. 46% | |1. 0% | |1. 51% | |2. 03% | |2. 20% | |2. 38% | |1. 59% | | | |2001 | |3. 3% | |3. 53% | |2. 92% | |3. 27% | |3. 62% | |3. 25% | |2. 72% | |2. 72% | |2. 65% | |2. 13% | |1. 0% | |1. 55% | |2. 83% | | | |2000 | |2. 74% | |3. 22% | |3. 76% | |3. 7% | |3. 19% | |3. 73% | |3. 66% | |3. 41% | |3. 45% | |3. 45% | |3. 45% | |3. 39% | |3. 8% | | | |1999 | |Fiscal Year |Domestic |International |Total |% change | |2006 |660. 9 |89. 7 |750. 6 |0. 46 | |2007 |693. 3 |75. 8 |769. 1 |2. 46 | |2008 |713. 8 |79. 8 |793. 6 |3. 19 | |2009 |735. 7 |84 |819. 7 |3. 29 | |2010 |758. 9 |88. 3 |847. 2 |3. 35 | |2011 |782. 6 |92. 9 |875. 5 |3. 4 | |2012 |807. 7 |97. 6 |905. 2 |3. 39 | |2013 |833. 4 |102. 3 |935. 7 |3. 37 | |2014 |860. 5 |107. 2 |967. 7 |3. 42 | |2015 |888. 4 |112. 3 |1,007. 1 |4. 07 | |2016 |917. 7 |117. 6 |1035. 3 |2. 80 | |2017 |848. 4 |123. 1 |1071. 6 |3. 51 | Source: Forms 41 and 298-C, US Department of Transportation Forecast % Passenger change [pic] Source: RAA Industry Life Cycle †¢ Forecast % Demand Passenger change Airline Industry 2006 Life cycle Airline Industry Airline Industry Regional Airlines Regional Airlines 1970-2006 Life cycle Regional Airlines ? Industry Life Cycle Growth ) Strategic Groups [pic] Y Performance Performance Partner Airline Legacy X c) Strategic Types : Strategic Type Regional Airline Defender Regional Airline Performance Partner Legacy Airline Regional Airline †¢ Legacy Airline †¢ FAA TSA DOT Upgrade †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ d) Key Success Factors : †¢ On Time Schedule Sector †¢ Regional Airlines ? Hub Time Elasticity †¢ Destinations Regional Airline †¢ Cost Regional Airline Partner How to cite Skywest Inc, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Tax Case Study Capital Gains Tax

Question: Discuss about theTax Case Studyfor Capital Gains Tax. Answer: Case 1: Capital Gains Tax The 20th September, 1985 is a very important date in the life of entire Australian citizens living in Australia as well as anywhere in the world having Australian citizenship, particularly for those who are having any type of capital assets purchased by them, inherited by them directly or by way of will, or by way of partnership with someone else. On this date the Capital Gains Tax Act, 1985 was brought into Law and those who are owners of capital assets from this date or became so after this date is bound by this CGT is they sale any of these properties anytime. But those who have property ownerships before this date are exempted from this with certain exemptions to such exemptions (ATO, 2016). CGT is assessed under Income Tax Assessment Act, 1997 or ITAA, 97 and if any gain or loss arises out of any sales of capital assets are made and all such are treated under CGT which gives 50% relief in calculation. The Australian citizens are very unique in relation to CGT. If any citizen who stays away from Australia but have valid citizenship then such citizens will be liable to be treated in the purview of the CGT if any capital asset is sold and any capital loss or any capital gain is arisen out of this. Records keeping of all related transactions are very important for all citizens owning capital assets after 20th September, 1985 (Ato, 2016). The records are always to be very much helpful with the CGT calculations for making actual payments. The assets purchased before 29th September,1985 are 100% exempted from paying any CGT but those who owned assets after this date will be subject to CGT if they sale any assets and they require to pay any CGT, hence they will be assessed under ITAA 1997, and will be liable to present all documents related to such assets to the authorities. The complex rule of CGT is that it is compulsory for keeping 5 years record for presentation on demand and it will punishable by way of penalty for not giving the details so much required to calculate the cost base and produce all proof of such demand of exemption. A helping example of record keeping is that Peter Parker, a son have inherited huge mansion from his father by way of will but when he sold the mansion to use the money for some other purpose he needed all original documents to calculate the actual a CGT payable or else he may have to pay a huge CGT and will be at loss. Hence it was important for his father to have kept all related documents (Koulizos, 2016). Any type of assets whichever are used by any persons for their personal usage like furniture, car, etc are fully exempt from CGT. There are many assets which are used by a business for rental usage but are capital assets but are subject to depreciation then in such cases even a capital gain or loss is generated out of sale of such assets then these are fully exempt from CGT. When a loss is generated from the sale of any capital asset it is known as capital loss and if any profit is generated then it is known s capital gain. When a capital asset is sold and the loss is generated instead of profit then in such case the loss will have to be set off against any capital profit in the same year but it cannot be adjusted with any ordinary income assessment for general taxation purpose but can be set off at later date from any capital gain later. There is no practical time limit for carrying forward any capital loss for the purpose of making any adjustment hence it is imperative to keep all record regarding the assets for the purpose of getting the benefit of such capital losses in the future capital gains adjustments (Workingin-australia, 2016). There are two exceptions to the ownership date concept which are stated below for better understanding-- In case a property is inherited by anybody by way of will but the ownership will be the date on which the will provider dies and the will receiver will get the ownership only on death taking place. In case of a contract is made the date of ownership will be the date on which the party to take possession but not the contract date. Thus the date on which the actual usage of the property started will become the ownership date and not the contract date. Tax Calculation: Fred CGT Tax Liability Sale Proceeds $800,000 Less: Purchase Price $100,000 Stamp Duty $2,000 Legal Fees $1,000 $103,000 Improvement Cost $20,000 Index March, 1987 $45 August, 2015 $108 January, 1990 $56 Sale Proceeds $800,000 Less: Index cost of acquisition $245,563 Less: Indec cost of Improvement $38,434 Taxable Capital Gain $516,003 Less: Loss on capital gain $10,000 Total taxable capital gain $506,003 Tax on Capital gain Tax on 180000 $54,547 After 180001 to 516002.92 $146,701 Tax Payable $201,248 The major recordkeeping tips are as detailed below All receipts of purchase transfer. Valuation of market price. All details of borrowings and interest thereon for any property. All informations on accountant expenses, advertisement costs, and legal adviser. All informations on land tax, rates and taxes, and insurance expenses (Ato, 2016). Record keeping in CGT should provide the flowing All types of transactions. Details of all transactions as well as party informations. All information on transactions related to capital loss or capital gains. The details of the date of actual transactions are very important. CGT in Australia is used for many purposes related to assets but it is mostly centred with Capital Gain or loss related home selling (Ato, 2016). Income Tax Assessment Act, 1997 is the basic law under which CGT is working. An exemption of 50% of CGT is done in a broader sense and usage for many capital assets sales. Fringe Benefit Tax Fringe Benefits are benefits received by the employee in various types and forms from the employer only basically which does not form the part of Salary or Wages but are given separately from time to time and on special occasions and on happening of special events only or for very specific purpose then in such case a Tax is required to be paid by the receiver of the benefits. But in this case the provider of the benefit is going to pay the tax which is called Fringe Benefit Tax or FBT. That means that FBT is a benefit for employees by the employer with a motive to make them happy and satisfied but the Tax part will be borne and paid by the employer only (Ato, 2016). Lets see some examples of the Practical FBT provided by the employer to the employees Loan of various types at a very cheap interest rate or even for interest free. Any employee is provided companys car for personal usage for self or for family members. Agreement taken place between both the employer and employee to enjoy a salary sacrifice. An employees childrens school or any education related fees or any admission fees. Any employee using mobile phone, laptop with internet data card facility, etc. All employee or a part of the employee is providing with daily lunch and evening snacks or in some cases also breakfast and dinner or may be especial occasion treatment at big food joints with all employees and their families. The employers using swimming clubs, golf clubs, gyms, holiday clubs, etc but the related fees or costs are all borne by the employer only (Ato, 2016). FBT applicability special cases are as follows Sherlock was an employee in his grandfathers business. He passed his graduate exams with flying colours and his grandparents gifted him a very expensive car. But in this case the car was presented because Sherlock being the grandchild and a family member hence this will not be treated under FBT. Roger was an employee with an employer under a special industrial award judgement. The award says that the employer shall have to pay his mobile and internet expenses. The employer was bound to pay these as per the award order provision which he was not if the award was not there in place as Roger was an employee by virtue of the award only and by no other manner. In this case it will be treated as FBT (Business, 2016). FBT Tax Calculation: Emma FBT Tax Liability The taxable value of loan service $ 28,250 ($5,00,000 x 5.65%) Add: Bathtub benefit $ 1,300 Less: Interest paid on purchase of Shares as allowed as deduction $ 2,225 ($50,000 x 4.45%) Total Taxable fringe benefit $ 31,775 FBT Benchmark Interest Rate 5.65% The major types of Fringe Benefits that are falling under the Tax ambit are as follows For providing company car and for company car parking fees applicable. For providing cheap loan. Any entertainment benefit paid. For waiver of debt. For residual purpose. For property related. For housing for staying away from home. For providing house. For providing food and place to stay for more than one employee together. For providing tickets for airline or train or luxury bus. For tax exempt entertainment also. The various ways that an employer can apply to avoid FBT can be discussed below Employer can ask all its employees to make a contribution to a general fund which will be used to pay FBT only when such occasion arises and this fund will be transparent and subject to internal as well as external audit also for maintaining its actual purpose. The employer can in each case make an addition to the Salary or wages as required to increase the amount by the amount of Fringe benefit he have thought for the respective employee so that he will not be liable to pay the FBT directly but through the employees and the employees will bear the Tax on this as a part of salary income (Ato, 2016). In many cases the employer will ask the employee to make the payment of the benefit thus provided in general and the employees will directly place the bill to employer for reimbursement. This will save lot of FBT in the hands of the employer. GST and FBT GST (Input Tax) Credits are applicable to all acquisitions for the purpose giving it to the employees the input is allowable but there exceptions to this also where GST is not eligible for input credit. If the purchase is GST free or it is tax paid already. In case an employee makes a contribution for the FBT benefit received from employer either in full or part then the employer is bound to pay the GST involved in it (Ato, 2016). But if the employee directly makes a purchase suppose buying fuel then the employer will not have to pay the GST for fuel. This means the payment to third party by the employee is exempted from GST payment by the employer. There are certain areas where the employer makes payment to the employees but they should not be treated as the FBT at all by anyway whatsoever. These areas are as follows--- Salary or wages. Employees share purchases. Dividend payments. Superannuation fund contribution by employer. Employment termination payments. Payments of capital nature like First Home Saver Account or FHSA account. Payments to Associates. FBT will be treated along with income tax assessment for the employer and he will be getting benefit from the calculation of his income tax and can take credit of the payments he made for the same purpose. GST credit will also give certain advantage to the employees (Ato, 2016). References: Ato, 2016. ATO Interpretative Decision Sale of subdivided farm land - Income or capital gain? [Online] law.ato.gov.au Available at: https://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/view.htm?docid=AID/AID2002273/00001 [Accessed 30 Augustus 2016]. Ato, 2016. Capital gains tax. [Online] www.ato.gov.au Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Capital-gains-tax/ [Accessed 13 September 2016]. Ato, 2016. Capital gains tax. [Online] www.ato.gov.au Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Capital-gains-tax/ [Accessed 30 Augustus 2016]. Ato, 2016. FBT exemptions and concessions. [Online] www.ato.gov.au Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/fringe-benefits-tax-(fbt)/fbt-exemptions-and-concessions/ [Accessed 19 September 2016]. Ato, 2016. How to calculate your FBT. [Online] www.ato.gov.au Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Fringe-benefits-tax-(FBT)/How-to-calculate-your-FBT/ [Accessed 15 September 2016]. ATO, 2016. The indexation method of calculating your capital gain. [Online] www.ato.gov.au/General/Capital-gains-tax Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Capital-gains-tax/In-detail/Calculating-a-capital-gain-or-loss/The-indexation-method-of-calculating-your-capital-gain/ [Accessed 13 September 2016]. Ato, 2016. What is fringe benefits tax? [Online] www.ato.gov.au Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Fringe-benefits-tax-(FBT)/In-detail/Employers-guide/What-is-FBT-/ [Accessed 19 September 2016]. Ato, 2016. Work-related items exempt from FBT. [Online] www.ato.gov.au Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/fringe-benefits-tax-(fbt)/do-you-need-to-pay-fbt-/work-related-items-exempt-from-fbt/ [Accessed 19 September 2016]. Business, 2016. Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). [Online] www.business.gov.au Available at: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/tax/fringe-benefits-tax [Accessed 13 September 2016]. Koulizos, P., 2016. What is Capital Gains Tax? [Online] www.realestate.com.au Available at: https://www.realestate.com.au/advice/what-is-capital-gains-tax/ [Accessed 19 September 2016]. Workingin-australia, 2016. Understanding Australian capital gains tax. [Online] www.workingin-australia.com Available at: https://www.workingin-australia.com/money-and-costs/tax/capital-gains#.V-KJ5fl97MU [Accessed 18 September 2016].

Thursday, November 28, 2019

MUSIC IS EDUCATION Essays - Human Communication,

MUSIC IS EDUCATION THESIS STATEMENT Music in education is essential to our children because it increases their listening skills and is a common method of communication for cultures worldwide. Music is Education There are schools attempting to eliminate teaching musical arts to our children. The board of education claims they must provide education by concentrating on the basic academic courses, but what they don't realize is that music is a major part of basic education. We must not allow them to pull the teaching of music out of our school curriculums because music is an essential form of communication. Our children do not have to be fluent in the arts to receive the value of broad exposure to the different musical dialogues. Deprivation of a very valuable part of education occurs if we do not teach them to appreciate a wide variety of music. Metaphorically speaking, we often associate the terms language and grammar with the term music. This association leads us to believe that music is a form of language, possibly because no symbol system other than language has the same potential as music of infinite productivity and precision. It takes a multitude of directions and phonetic-type symbolism to produce a pleasant sounding musical composition. This relates very closely to the requirements of everyday language. The primary objective of any spoken language is to convey a person's thoughts in a comprehensible fashion, but we must remember that everyone thinks and comprehends everything differently. Musical language contains vast quantities of words to help people understand how original composers intended to play a specific piece. Musical language also has directions that allow and encourage some scope of original interpretation and minor departures from the written score, resulting in no two performances sounding exactly alike. The English language, as we know it, carries a very strong parallel to these same interpretable words. Dialect and slang are just two of the many connotative forms to speak different languages. All languages contain these variations and reinforce the need for striving toward understanding a basically generic language. It would be very difficult to speak to a non-English speaking person and clearly convey a message unless both persons were familiar with basic terminology. It would be just as unlikely to communicate a musical message to someone not educated or interested in musical interpretation. The term music in itself has many different connotations. One in the United States may not have the same perceptions as one whose origin is France or Australia, or elsewhere in the world. In my travels through Europe and South America I had a hard time finding any truly original, locally produced music. The majority of the music I searched through were also popular in the United States. It was very easy to find foreigners singing an American song using their interpretation of our language. The entire world seems to be able to communicate with music and seems to understand it enough to share their own musical interpretation. Music is a language of it's own and depending on how we speak it, it too can accomplish a multitude of results. People are no more able to understand a foreign language without education than they are to understand the unspoken language of music without proper musical education. A single score of music interpreted with a few of many available musical directions can tell as many stories as there are variations. For example, playing Cristofori's Dream by David Lanz entirely lento-pianisimo (slow and very soft), creates a very peaceful and tranquil mood. Played again allegro-forte (lively, brisk, and loud), emits an uplifting feeling. Yet, by using both interpretations progressively and regressively within this identical musical score, one could feel depleted and elated in the same timeframe. This is perhaps the most ascribable reason to pursue a knowledge of musical semantics. Within music one expresses many emotions, speaks many languages, conveys complex messages, and ! tells many stories. Music can be a selfish form of conversation and it is not always necessary to have a recipient to convey a message. One has only to listen while playing music to communicate with themselves, yet most would suspect the stability of a person who attempted this scenario by simply talking and responding while alone. Music merges the physical

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Zhidao - I Know in Mandarin Chinese

Zhidao - I Know in Mandarin Chinese When learning a new language and practicing it with native speakers, you often need to indicate your knowledge of the topic. In Mandarin you use zhÄ «dao (know) and bà ¹ zhÄ «do (don’t know). These are used as you would expect if translated directly from English. If you get asked a question, the most natural way of saying you dont know is  wÇ’Â  bà ¹ zhÄ «do (I don’t know). ZhÄ «dao is made up of two characters: çŸ ¥Ã© â€œ. The first character çŸ ¥ (zhÄ «) means to know,† or â€Å"to be aware† and the second character é â€œ (do) means â€Å"truth,† or â€Å"principle.† Do also means â€Å"direction† or â€Å"path† and in this context it forms the first character of â€Å"Daoism† (Taoism). Pleas note that this word is also commonly pronounced with a neutral tone on the second syllable, so both  zhÄ «dao and zhÄ «do are common. Examples of Zhidao QÇ ngwà ¨n, sheà ­ zhÄ «dao nÇŽli yÇ’u yà ³ujà º?è «â€¹Ã¥â€¢ , è ª °Ã§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ¥â€œ ªÃ¨ £ ¡Ã¦Å"‰éÆ' µÃ¥ ±â‚¬?è ¯ ·Ã©â€" ®, è ° Ã§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ¥â€œ ªÃ©â€¡Å'æÅ"‰é‚ ®Ã¥ ±â‚¬?Excuse me, does anyone know where the post office is?WÇ’ bà ¹ zhÄ «do.我ä ¸ Ã§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã¤ ¸ Ã§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œI don’t know. There are more words that have a similar meaning in Mandarin, so lets look at how  zhÄ «do related to words like 明ç™ ½ (mà ­ngbai) and ä ºâ€ Ã¨ § £ (liÇŽojiÄ›). Both these are better translated as understand, compared to just knowing about something.  Ã¦ËœÅ½Ã§â„¢ ½ (mà ­ngbai) has the added meaning that something is not just understood, but also clear. This is typically used to ask if someone understands something that was just explained or to express that you understand what your teacher just explained. ZhÄ «do is more commonly used when you just want to say that you have noted a fact someone mentioned or that youre aware of something. Update:  This article was significantly updated by  Olle Linge  on May 7thth, 2016.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Descriptive Statistics Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Descriptive Statistics Paper - Essay Example In the preceeding page is a pie chart that shows a set of nominal data of respondents according to gender. Notice that there are more females (52%) than the male respondents (48%). This differences in frequency in terms of population may affect the the result of data. Based on models, the disparities can be due to related factors such as demographic data and skills of the workers (Autor, Katz and Kearney, 2008), that demographic as well as factors that are non-economic can greatly affect the wages. The second chart above reveals the average years of work experiences between males and females. There is difference in the said years of experience according to gender and this is reflected on the chart. More female was found to have higher work experiences (21.11%) than the males (19.74%). Figure 3 presents the box plot chart shows that average wage per industry in areas of construction ($ 42, 225.07), manufacturing ($26, 402.29) and others ($31, 347.88) have variations. For these industries, employees in the construction had the highest wages followed by those in the field of manufacturing and the rest of other industries. Finally, figure 5 below depicts the fact that men receive salary far from the amount received by females. Comparison can be considered serious due to the continuous increase in gap between the wages of the male and female members of the workforce (Welch, 2000). The said study presents one of the specific problematic areas related to wage and wage earners. Welch, F. (2000). Women’s Labor-Market Gains in the 1980’s and Future Prospects: Growth in Women’s Relative Wages and in Inequality among Men: One Phenomenon or Two? AEA Papers and Proceedings, 90 (2),

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Rich Dad Poor Dad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Essay Example He tells the reader that financial literacy and intelligence is important in acquiring wealth. According to him, the difference between the rich and poor is that the former has financial education. The author wants to express that the rich people have their own businesses and poor people work for people. For this one need to have determination and drive. According to him, people can have tax advantages by owning business. The author states that owning a corporation, one get access to tax breaks that is not available to employees. By starting business, rich people make money using their skill and opportunities. The employees need to use their current job to learn skill and proceed to start business of their own. People need to acquire wealth in the right way that is by using education, intelligence and experience which are the key elements in the book. The philosophy of acquiring wealth by the author is justifiable as it makes sense and seems practical. A person can work for ages in a career and earn nothing. He might have the experience, talent and drive for it but may hesitate to start a business for lack of confidence or money. One needs to be financially independent which means that without it people can never prosper in life. Many investment opportunities are available which can help people to start business. Moreover the financial literacy is an important aspect to become rich. A person needs to enhance his financial knowledge to acquire wealth. Only having money would not make one acquire wealth but he needs to use it in a constructive way. The entrepreneurs get the advantage of tax and this is one thing missed by the employees. The author is right in saying that one need to make use of opportunities to acquire wealth. Wealth never comes by its won it need her work, intelligence, determination and risk taking. Rich people invest money and make others work for them. Rich

Monday, November 18, 2019

Negotiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Negotiation - Essay Example This study employed the dual-concern model in order to carry out the research objective. Dual-concern model is widely used theoretical model of conflict resolution styles and has considered by many researchers in their studies. This conflict resolution model has linked with the two frequently used variables of intercultural research such as individualism-collectivism and masculinity-femininity. Dual-concern model has two main dimensions. The first dimension includes the concern for the individual own outcome and the second dimension involves the concern for outcomes of others. These two dimensions of this model give way to four basic styles of conflict resolution process. These four basic styles are avoidance, accommodation, competition and collaboration. Avoidance is basically a strategy people adopt to go the conflict unsettled or allow others to resolve the problem. In this model, avoidance has low in concern for both self and others. Accommodation is basically sacrificing owns goal in order to fulfill the necessity of others. This style of resolving conflicts is low in concern for self but high in concern for others. Competition is mainly a win-lose style. It is an attempt to fully benefit own self while forget about others therefore competition is high in concern for self but low in concern for others. Collaboration is categorized as win-win proposition. This style has high in concern for self and for others as well. Individual who are collaboration oriented will resolve the conflict if really exists in a way that both the parties are equally satisfied and compensated. People belong to individualism culture consider themselves as a distinctive body. The people belongs from this culture are highly in concern for satisfying their own personal needs. However the people from collectivism culture are totally in contrast to individualism. They are not self oriented people. They

Friday, November 15, 2019

Tinnitus: Causes and Treatments

Tinnitus: Causes and Treatments What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is one of the most common conditions, 1 of every 5 persons suffers from it, but despite of popular belief it is not a disease. So, what is really tinnitus? Tinnitus is a condition that makes the patient hear a sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing or other sounds, when they aren’t really made by any exterior factors. The noise can have different levels of volume, and it is usually easier to notice in a silent environment when there are no other sounds. Most people are concerned that this condition could cause hearing loss. The people who have this condition have no hearing problems; in rare cases some of the people even develop a hypersensitive sense of hearing. Tinnitus can be persistent or it can come and go, it can affect just one ear or both. Even though it doesn’t cause hearing loss and it is not a serious condition, it still is a matter of concern for some people, sometimes they find it hard to concentrate because of the high-pitched noise they hear, and it even interferes with their sleep. When the condition reaches a level when it affects the patients sleep and concentration the patient must definitely take action. The causes of tinnitus are many, but the condition manifests when the inner cells of the ear are damaged. One of the most commonly experienced causes for tinnitus is the loud noise/sound exposure. Depending on the period of the loud noise exposure, the tinnitus can last from a few hours to many days, weeks, or until treated if a person has been exposed to loud noise for a long amount of time. Another common cause for tinnitus is the hearing loss due to age. Yes, even though tinnitus doesn’t cause hearing loss, hearing loss can cause tinnitus, especially amongst elders. The blockage of the earwax is also a common cause for tinnitus. The earwax is produce naturally by the ear for protection, but sometimes, it forms a blockage that can irritate the eardrum, or cause hearing loss, both of them leading to tinnitus. The good news in this case, is that if the tinnitus is caused by blockage, it can be easily taken away with a visit to the doctor. The first step toward healing the tinnitus is a visit to the doctor. Because it can have many causes, it is important to pay a visit to the doctor, and not just visit the pharmacy. Only the doctor can determine the cause of the condition and offer proper medication for it. The doctor can also provide more information about the condition according to the patient’s questions. Signs and symptoms of tinnitus Tinnitus is not a serious condition but it can cause complication on some patients, mostly because in some cases it affects the sleep or the concentration. Even if it does not cause hearing loss, it is very important to treat it, and the first step towards treatment is knowledge. The first thing everyone should know about tinnitus is how to recognize the signs of this condition. Knowing the signs may help determine earlier if the condition exists and get treatment. One of the earlier signs of tinnitus, and the most easily to notice is a ringing sound the patient hears. Most of the time the ringing can be a high pitched sound, but it can also be a low pitched sound. It can sound as a buzz, a hiss, a ringing or a whooshing. The sound can be persistent or not, it may progress or begin suddenly and it can best be observed in quiet places, when no other sounds interfere. Another sign of tinnitus is sleep deprivation and lack of concentration, all of this being caused by the noise the patient hears, regardless of the fact that the patient is or not fully aware of it at all times. The symptoms of the tinnitus depend on the type of tinnitus the patient has. There are two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. The subjective tinnitus is very common, 95% of the patients suffering from tinnitus have this type of condition. The symptoms of the subjective tinnitus are often associated with many other ear afflictions and disorders. The most common symptom is the hearing of a buzzing, hassle or ringing but there are other symptoms as well, which may vary from one patient to another, according to their condition and the patient’s reaction to it. Therefore, a patient with subjective tinnitus may also have some of the following symptoms: stress, inducted by the lack of sleep or lack of concentration and in some cases even anxiety. The other type of tinnitus is the objective tinnitus, and this type is only affecting 5% of the persons who suffer from tinnitus. This type of tinnitus is rare and it is often related to a muscular disorder or a vascular disorder. The patient suffering from objective tinnitus can be cured; this type may be observed by the doctor, who can hear with the stethoscope the ringing or buzzing in the patient’s ears. In some cases a sign of objective tinnitus is observed when the ringing sound in the ears is synchronized with the patient’s heartbeat. In both the cases of tinnitus, the signs and symptoms vary from one patient to another, which is why a person should visit the doctor at the first sign of ringing in their ears, in order to determine what condition they have. Learn how to treat tinnitus in a few steps Tinnitus is most of the time nothing serious and it is in fact a condition, not a disease. Tinnitus is, in many cases the condition of another underlying condition and it can be easily cured. There are a few simple steps which every patient has to follow in order to get better: The first and most important step towards healing tinnitus is a visit to the doctor. By taking this step the patient is going to find out the cause of the tinnitus and the underlying condition and get the proper treatment for it. Counseling. Regardless of the cause and treatment for tinnitus, a patient should get counseling from a specialist, to understand tinnitus, talk about it and learn how it affects them as well as how to cope with the condition. Sound. Since tinnitus is most easily observed in silent environments, sound therapy has been proved to be a very efficient way to deal with it. The patient can use a sound generator to be able to sleep, or a distraction from the tinnitus. Relaxation. The patients who suffer from stress because of tinnitus may find it helpful to do some meditation, exercise or even take yoga classes to relax and take their mind of the condition. Earwax removal. There are many cases of tinnitus caused by excessive earwax, and fortunately this can be easily cured with a quick visit to the hospital. Once the earwax is removed the tinnitus will go away, if earwax is the only cause for it. Medication. The tinnitus condition has no known medication cure, but depending on the cause of the condition, some medication can be taken to ease the symptoms. For example, if one of the symptoms is depression, the doctor will recommend antidepressants. Avoid certain substances. If one of the causes for tinnitus is blood flow associated, the patient must avoid substances rich in caffeine and alcohol. Supplements and vitamins. There are some supplements and vitamins that are known to ease the tinnitus symptoms such as magnesium, zinc and B vitamin. The doctor can recommend on or more of them, according to the patients needs. Music. A pleasant and simple way to make the tinnitus less disturbing is music. It can calm and relax the patient, as well as help with sleep and meditation. Avoid loud sound. Whenever possible, loud sound must be avoided, for it is one of the main causes for tinnitus. Even though not all of the patients suffering from tinnitus can be cured, there are a lot of ways to deal with the condition. The treatment is different for every patient, which is why a visit to the doctor is a must in order to get proper care. Learn to prevent tinnitus Tinnitus is not a serious condition, and it can sometimes be cured, by dealing with the underlying health problem that caused it, but it is always easier to prevent than deal with, which is why is important to learn how to prevent tinnitus. There are a few methods and precautions that can be used to prevent the tinnitus. Hearing protection. One of the most common causes for tinnitus is exposure to loud noise, which is why in order to prevent tinnitus one must wear protection when exposed to loud noises. Check your medicine. Some medicines have been known to have tinnitus as a side effect, so a patient must ask their doctor to check the medicine their using. There have been cases when the patient’s tinnitus has been cured when their medication was changed, because the tinnitus was only a side effect of the previous medicine. Stay healthy. Tinnitus is often a condition associated with blood vessel disorders, so a way to prevent tinnitus is to stay healthy with proper exercise, meditation and nutrition. Lower the headphones volume. It is well-know that many people use headphones for music, phone conversation, and radio and so on. Long exposure to loud volume can damage the hearing, thus causing tinnitus. The proper way to use headphone without getting tinnitus and hearing problems is to set the volume as low as hearing what goes around you as well. Avoid places with loud sound or loud music. Exposure to loud sounds and music can cause tinnitus. In most cases the tinnitus induced by loud sound exposure is temporary, but if the ears are exposed to loud sound for large periods of time, then the tinnitus may become permanent. Ease up on caffeine and alcohol. If a person has a blood vessel condition that person is more likely to develop tinnitus when consuming large amounts of caffeine and alcoholic beverages. Hearing aids. Most of the persons who have hearing problems may develop tinnitus, so that case it is important to use hearing aids for tinnitus prevention. Watch your weight. Tinnitus is more likely to develop if the person is obese because obesity is often related to heart problems. Proper alimentation can help maintain a healthy weight, as well as exercise. Tinnitus may not be a serious condition but it is, however unpleasant, and in certain cases it can be complicated, which is why it is better to prevent it. A healthy lifestyle and alimentation, exercise and proper care will definitely help you prevent tinnitus. All you need to know about tinnitus Tinnitus is a very spread condition. Despite to popular belief it is not a disease, but a condition often induced by other health problems. Most of the time the health problems that induce the tinnitus condition are ear related or blood vessel related. Even though in most of the cases the tinnitus is not a serious problem, it is important to stay informed and learn about it. One of the most important things to know about tinnitus is that up to this day there is no cure or medicine for it. However, depending on the case, the tinnitus can go away. If the tinnitus is cause by an earwax blockage, once the blockage is removed, the tinnitus will fade. Also if the cause of the tinnitus is another health issue, when that issue is solved the tinnitus may disappear as well. When the tinnitus cannot be healed, it is imperative to know that its symptoms can be diminished. Depending on the type and cause of the tinnitus, a set of measures may be taken to relieve the patient’s symptoms and help him cope with the condition. If one of the patient’s symptoms is depression, antidepressants may help with the condition, as well as meditation and exercise may help in case of stress. Another important thing to know about tinnitus is that every case is different, so a visit to the doctor should be the first thing on the list. The doctor can set the diagnosis, find the cause of the tinnitus, and cure it in case it is possible, or provide methods of help in case the condition cannot be cured. Preventing is easier than curing, so it is important to know that tinnitus can be easily prevented by following a few steps: avoid loud noise exposure or use hearing protection when exposed to loud noise, avoid long term use of the headphone with a loud volume, exercise, eat healthy, prevent obesity. It is vital to know that tinnitus is not a serious condition and that it can’t affect your life, abilities or personal relationships. Many people have had complications with tinnitus because they worried too much about it, instead on learning how to cope with it, thus leading to depression, stress and lack of sleep. Tinnitus can be easily prevented, however if you do get it remember that even if it can be cured all you have to do is be calm about it and remember it is not a serious issue and it can be easy to deal with. Country Comparison of Prices: Rice and Cocoa Country Comparison of Prices: Rice and Cocoa Surname: KAREKLA Name: MARIA Subject 1: As noted by Thompson (2001) absolute advantage occurs when a good is produced with the lower labor input per unit and comparative advantage â€Å"when relatively less of other goods must be sacrificed to produce a unit of the specialized good†(1). So, in this case, the amount of labor requirements per unit of output are: RICE COCOA NORWAY 1 1/3 ARGENTINA 3/2 3/2 So, Norway has an absolute advantage in producing both products, since its labor requirements are lower both in rice, 1 Furthermore, in the following table Opportunity cost table RICE COCOA NORWAY =3 =1/3 ARGENTINA =1 =1 it is shown that for Norway the opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of rice is =3 tons of cocoa and the opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of cocoa is =1/3 tons of rice. In Argentina, the opportunity cost for producing 1 ton of rice is =1 ton of cocoa and the opportunity cost of producing 1 ton of cocoa is =1 ton of rice. So, Norway has a comparative advantage in producing cocoa, since it has a lower opportunity cost in producing it (1/3 b) In autarky the Production Possibility Frontier (PPF) is the same with the Consumption Possibility Frontier(2). So, henceforth, LN and LA is the labor endowment in Norway and Argentina respectively, aNLR, aNLC and aALR, aALC is the amount of labor per unit of rice and cocoa in Norway and Argentina respectively, R and C is the quantity of rice and cocoa respectively(3). In Norway the PPF is: LN=aNLR ·R+aNLC ·C 130=1 ·R+1/3 ·C It takes 1 worker to produce a unit of rice and 1/3 to produce a unit of cocoa. As noted by Thompson (2001) employment in rice production plus employment in cocoa production sums the labor force of Norway(3). If 0 cocoa is produced: 130=(1 ·R)+(1/3 ·0) R=130/1=130 If 0 rice is produced: 130=(1 ·0)+(1/3 ·C) C==390 So, the autarky PPF,CPF diagram of Norway is as follows: As noted by Thompson (2001) Norway produces at the two endpoints of the PPF, (130,0) or (0,390) or at any other point between them(3). In the same way, in Argentina the PPF is: LA=aALR ·R+ aALC ·C 390=(3/2 ·R)+(3/2 ·C) If 0 cocoa is produced: 390=(3/2 ·R)+(3/2 ·0) R==260 If 0 rice is produced: 390=(3/2 ·0)+(3/2 ·C) C==260 So, the autarky PPF,CPF diagram of Argentina is as follows: Furthermore, the relative price of rice in Norway is 3 and of cocoa is 1/3, the opportunity cost of one relative to the other. The relative price of rice and cocoa in Argentina is 1 for each one of them. So, in autarky cocoa is relatively cheaper in Norway, since 1/31. Consequently, as noted by Agiomirgianakis, and Vlassis (2005) the international relative price of rice will be between 1 and 3. If it’s above 3 both countries produce rice. If it’s below 1, both countries produce cocoa. Since the international relative price of rice is 3/2, between 3 and 1, Argentina specializes in rice, producing 390.000.0001=390.000.000 tons of rice, and Norway in cocoa, producing 130.000.0003=390.000.000 tons of cocoa(4). Continuing, in free trade and since the world equilibrium price of rice is Pr/Pc=3/2. This is the Norway’s new Consumption Possibility Frontier(5): PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc=PcΆ¡390 (PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc)/Pc=390 (PrΆ¡qr/Pc)+(PcΆ¡qc/Pc)=390 [(Pr /Pc)Ά¡qr]+qc=390 qc=390-[(Pr /Pc)Ά¡qr] and since Pr/Pc=3/2 (the world equilibrium relative price of rice) qc=390-(3/2Ά¡qr) The slope of the free trade CPF is -3/2 and the diagram as follows: This is the Argentina’s new Consumption Possibility Frontier(5): PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc=PrΆ¡260 (PrΆ¡qr+PcΆ¡qc)/Pr=260 (PrΆ¡qr/Pr)+(PcΆ¡qc/Pr)=260 [(Pc /Pr)Ά¡qc]+qr=260 qr=260-[(Pc /Pr)Ά¡qc] and since Pr/Pc=3/2 and Pc/Pr=2/3 qr=260-(2/3Ά¡qc) The slope of the free trade CPF is -2/3 and the diagram as follows: As noted by Karagiannis, Katranidis, Palivos and Stoforos (2014) under free trade both countries can â€Å"consume combinations of the two goods that are not produced within the country†(5). c) As noted Karagiannis, Katranidis, Palivos and Stoforos (2014) the wage rates in Argentina can be calculated by WA=Pr/aALR and the wage rates in Norway by WN=Pc/aNLC. So, the wage in Argentina relative to wage in Norway can be calculated as WA/WN=(Pr/Pc)x(aNLC/aALR)=3/2x=x==1/2.(6) So, the wages in Argentina are the  ½ (half) of the wages of Norway and Argentinian workers would want to immigrate to Norway. Furthermore, as noted by Agiomirgianakis, and Vlassis (2005) one of the factors that affect the wage rates of the countries is the terms of trade, which is actually the world equilibrium price of the traded goods(7). d) As explained by Thompson (2001)(8) when a country opens to free trade and due to comparative advantage specializes in one good, importing another, the domestic firms that produced this other product in autarky but at higher prices than the world price, would have reasons to object to free international trade, since they would go out of business. Their stockholders and investors would strongly oppose to such an opening to free trade since they would lose their money. Also, a lot of specialized workers would also object to free international trade since they would have to retrain to find a job in the firms of the good their country specializes from now on. However, even though the cost of retraining workers and reforming the firms to the new specialised market will be considerable, it will also be temporary and the economy, after a small transition period, will readjust to the new conditions and in long term the gains from free trade will prevail. The producers will see their market and income increase and consumers will enjoy more cheaper goods. SUBJECT 2(9): a) In autarky the equilibrium price and quantity is where the supply and demand curve intersect, where Qs=Qd. So, Qs=Qd 2P=600-P 2P+P=600 3P=600 P=600/3=200 â‚ ¬ is the autarky equilibrium price. Having found the price, we can find the equilibrium quantity: Qd=Qs=2P=2200=400 b) On free trade the world price is Pw=125, the quantity supplied (QSw) and demanded (QDw) in the country is: QDw=600-P=600-125=475 QSw=2P=2125=250 The country’s quantity demanded of steel is 475, which is less than the quantity supplied (250), and consequently there will be QDw-QSw=475-250=225 imports. c) Tariff=T and price under the tariff is the world price plus the tariff: P2=Pw+T So, the new quantities supplied(Qs2) and demanded(Qd2) are: Qs2=2P2 Qs2=2x(Pw+T) Qs2=2x(125+T) Qs2=250+2T Qd2=600-P2 Qd2=600-(Pw+T) Qd2=600-(125+T) Qd2=600-125-T Qd2=475-T The amount that the government wants to raise, 3,750 Euros, equals the tariff times the imports(10), which are the quantity demanded(Qd2) minus the quantity supplied(Qs2), 3,750=T x (Qd2-Qs2) So, T=3,750/(Qd2-Qs2) T=3,750/[(475-T)-(250+2T)] T=3,750/(225-3T) T x (225-3T)=3,750 -3T2+225T-3,750=0 [With Δ=2252-(4 ·-3 ·-3,750)=50,625-45,000=5,625 and since it is positive:] T1=(-225-) /(2x-3)= -300/-6=50 T2=(-225+) /(2x-3)= -150/-6=25 So, the government can raise 3,750 â‚ ¬ by imposing a tariff on imports of either T1=50 or T2=25. Which one the government should choose depends on the consumers and producers gains and losses and the net effect of each tariff, relative to which part its politicians wants to protect the most. So, for tariff T1: The new price is PT1=PW+T1=125+50=175 and the quantity supplied and demanded is: QST1=2PT1=2175=350, QDT1=600-PT1=600-175=425. So, the change in consumer surplus is the difference between consumer surplus with the tariff minus the consumer surplus on free trade and can be seen on the diagram as -(a+b+c+d) areas(9). So,{[(600-175)x425]/2}-{[(600-125)x475]/2}=90,312.50-112,812.50= -22,500 â‚ ¬ the money consumers lose due to the tariff. The change in producers surplus is the difference between producers surplus with the tariff minus producers surplus on free trade and can be seen on the diagram as the scheme a(9). [(PT1-PW) ·QST1]–([(PT1-PW) ·(QST1-QSW)]/2}=[(175-125)x350]-{[(175-125)x(350-250)]/2}=17,500-2,500=15,000 â‚ ¬ the producers gain. The net effect of tariff T1=50 can be seen on the scheme by the two triangles b and d and is calculated as –(b+d), being actually the deadweight loss for society(9): -(b+d)= -{{[(QST1-QsW)xT1]/2}+{[(QDW-QDT1)xT1]/2}}= -{{[(350-250)x50]/2}+{[(475-425)x50]/2}}=-(2,500+1,250)= -3,750 â‚ ¬ the net effect. So, for tariff T2: The new price is PT2=PW+T2=125+25=150 and the quantity supplied and demanded is: QST2=2PT2=2150=300, QDT2=600-PT2=600-150=450. So, the change in consumer surplus is, as can be seen on the diagram, -(a+b+c+d) (9). So,{[(600-150)x450]/2}-{[(600-125)x475]/2}=101,250-112,812.50= -11,562.50 â‚ ¬ the money consumers lose due to the tariff. The change in producers surplus is the difference between producers surplus with the tariff minus producers surplus on free trade and can be seen on the diagram as the scheme a(9). [(PT2-PW) ·QST2]–([(PT2-PW) ·(QST2-QSW)]/2}=[(150-125)x300]-{[(150-125)x(300-250)]/2}=7,500-625 =6,875 â‚ ¬ the producers gain. The net effect of tariff T2=2 is as before –(b+d) (9): -(b+d)= -{{[(QST2-QSW)xT2]/2}+{[(QDW-QDT2)xT2]/2}}= -{{[(300-250)x25]/2}+{[(475-450)x25]/2}}=-(625+312.50)= -937.50 â‚ ¬ the net effect. Consequently, if the government wants to protect the consumers more than the producers, it should impose tariff T2=25 since consumers will lose less and the net effect is smaller, but if it prefers to protect producers it should impose tariff T1=50 since they gain more with it (15,000>6,875), even though the net effect is bigger. d) As noted by Thompson (2001) â€Å"a quota is a quantitative restriction on the level of imports†(10). So the quota is the difference between the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied under new price. Quota =QDq-QSq and the new price under the quota is the world price plus q: Pq=Pw+q So the new quantities supplied and demanded are: QSq=2Pq =2 ·(Pw+q)=2 ·(125+q) QSq=250+2q QDq=600-Pq=600-(Pw+q) QDq=600-(125+q) QDq=475-q The amount that the government wants to raise, 3,750 â‚ ¬, equals q (the price raise due to the quota) times the imports [the quantity demanded (QDq) minus the quantity supplied (QSq)], 3,750=q ·(QDq-QSq) So q=3,750/(QDq-QSq) q=3,750/[(475-q)-(250+2q)] q=3,750/(225-3q) q ·(225-3q)=3,750 -3q2+225q-3,750=0 [With Δ=2252-(4 ·-3 ·-3,750)=50,625-45,000=5,625 and since it is positive:] q1=(-225-) /(2x-3)= -300/-6=50 q2=(-225+) /(2x-3)= -150/-6=25 With q1=50, Pq1=125+50=175, and QSq1=2Pq1=2175=350, QDq1=600-Pq1=600-175=425 and so the Quota=QDq1-QSq1=425-350=75 With q2=25, Pq2=125+25=150, and QSq2=2Pq2=2150=300, QDq2=600-Pq2=600-150=450 and so the Quota=QDq2-QSq2=450-300=150 As in the previous answer (c), the government can choose between a quota of 75 and 150 imports, with the same result for its income. If the government wants to protect its consumers, it will impose a quota of 150 imports since it will set a smaller price than with a quota of 75 imports (150425. But if the government wants to protect producers it will impose a quota of 75 imports, since with it the producers sell more (350>300) and gain more (350175=61250 > 45000=300150)]. Subject 3: a) In autarky the equilibrium price (P) and quantity (Q) can be found setting quantity supplied and demanded equal: QD=QS 180-30P=20+10P 180-20=30P+10P 160=40P 160/40=P Since P=4, quantity is Q=QD=QS=20+10P=20+(104)=60 On free trade price=Pw=2 and the quantities supplied(QSw) and demanded(QDw) are: QDw=180-30Pw=180-(302)=120 QSw=20+10Pw=20+(102)=40 The export subsidy would put the price Ps=PW+2.5=2+2.5=4.5 â‚ ¬ and the quantities supplied and demanded: QDs=180-30Ps=180-(304.5)=45 QSs=20+10Ps=20+(104.5)=65 On free trade 40 units are supplied but 120 units are demanded, so (120-40=) 80 units are imported. The price is the world price, 2 â‚ ¬. With the export subsidy 65 units are supplied but only 45 are demanded in the country, so (65-45=) 20 units are exported. The new price is 4.5 â‚ ¬. Consumers consume less units that are more expensive. The consumers lose from the export subsidy and their income decrease can be calculated by ΔCS= -(a+b+e+f+g) areas of the diagram(11): a+e=(PS-PW)xQDS=(4.5-2)x45=112.5 b+f+g=[(PS-PW)x(QDw-QDs)]/2=[(4.5-2)x(120-45)]/2=187/2=93.75 So, -(a+b+e+f+g)= -(112.5+93.75)= -206.25 â‚ ¬ Producers gain from the export subsidy. On free trade they sell 40 units for only 2 â‚ ¬, but with the export subsidy they sell 65 units, (65-40=) 25 units more, for 4.5 â‚ ¬. The producers gain (income increase) can be calculated by ΔPS=a+b+c areas on the diagram(11): [(PS-PW)xQSs]–{[(QSs-QSW)x(PS-PW)]/2}=[(4.5-2)x65]-{[(65-40)x(4.5-2)]/2}=162.5-31.25=131.25 â‚ ¬ The government loses from the export subsidy. Its loss is the budget effect and can be calculated by –(b+c+d+f) areas of the diagram(11): –(b+c+d+f)= -[(PS-PW)x(QSs-QDs)]= -[(4.5-2)x(65-45)]= -50 â‚ ¬. The net effect, the deadweight loss of society, can be calculated by adding consumers lose+producers gain+budget effect= -206.25+131.25-50= -125 â‚ ¬ b) With the production subsidy the producers gain 2 (the world price) +2.5 (the subsidy)=4.5 â‚ ¬ per unit of output, which is the new price (PS) for them only(12). Consumers buy still at 2 â‚ ¬. The new quantity produced with the new price is Qs=20+10P=20+(104.5)=20+45=65. The quantity demanded didn’t change(120), so if there in no imports prohibition, consumers buy 65 from the country’s producers and (120-65=)55 are imported, all for 2â‚ ¬. So, consumers have no gains or loss from the production subsidy(12). The government loses the amount of the subsidy: 65unitsX2.5â‚ ¬= -162.5 â‚ ¬, the –(a+b+c+d) areas of the diagram(12). The Net effect can be calculated by the –(c+d) areas of the diagram(12): -(c+d)= -{[(QS-QSw)x(PS-PW)]/2}= -{[(65-40)x2.5]/2}=-(62.5/2)= -31.25 â‚ ¬ Producers gain from the production subsidy and their gains can be calculated by the a+b areas of the diagram(12): a+b= (a+b+c+d)-(c+d)=162.5-31.25=131.25 â‚ ¬ Subject 4: Several politicians in developed countries are in favor of free trade of goods between countries but strongly against immigration and free exchange of workers among countries. The question is whether one can be in favor of the first and against the second, especially since they are actually against free trade of the production factor of labor. According to the supporters of the above, immigration is created due to the differences of wages among countries and a certain equalization of wages would eliminate that reason, ignoring actually that a large part of immigration is due to asylum seekers. Continuing, according to them, free trade of goods between countries can provide the less developed ones with a really large market, the international one, to which they could export the goods at which they have a comparative advantage due to cheap labor, creating the conditions for the price of those goods to rise in a long term base due to the increasing demand for the exporting good. Increased demand for the good leads to an increased demand for labor and consequently, a raise on wages. In that way, free trade would eliminate the abovementioned reason for immigration. Based on that, for example Mundell (1957) sees free trade and immigration as substitutes, arguing that restrictions on free trade create immigration and restrictions of labor factors promotes free trade (13). According to the supporters of the above idea, immigration also reduces the labor endowment of the home country of the immigrants, and consequently the number of consumers. The market of the home country is in other words shrinking. In the same time, immigration increases the host country’s costs for health, security and other public services. Finally, some support that a large amount of foreign workers in a country might create serious unemployment problems to its citizens(14). However, the above arguments are not generally accepted. Markusen (1983) has proved that free trade and immigration are actually complements in cases where international trade is created for example due to differences in technology, preferences or lack of perfect competition(14). There are also others who argue that immigrants in a free trade environment create a whole new market for trade with goods for which there was no demand before immigration(15). Immigrants also pay taxes in the host country(14). In conclusion, the idea that a country should promote free international trade and prohibit immigration isn’t always the best solution, since it can be beneficial only under certain circumstances that are not always attainable. BIBLIOGRAPHY: (1) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific, p.29,48. (2) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.10. (3) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.29,40-41. (4) AGIOMIRGIANAKIS, G.M., VLASSIS, M. (2005) Economics for Managers: Volume 1 International Economic Environment. Patras: Hellenic Open University, p.41. (5) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.15. (6) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.18-19. (7) AGIOMIRGIANAKIS, G.M., VLASSIS, M. (2005) Economics for Managers: Volume 1 International Economic Environment. Patras: Hellenic Open University, p.45. (8) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.89-91. (9) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.117-8. (10) THOMPSON, H. (2001) â€Å"International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition†. Singapore: World Scientific,p.121-2. (11) KARAGIANNIS, G., KATRANIDIS, S., PALIVOS, T., STOFOROS, C. (2014) International Economics. 2nd Tutorial Meeting, MBA50: Economics for Managers, Hellenic Open University, 6th December 2014,p.39. (12) SURANOVIC, S.M., (2003) International Trade Theory and Policy. [Online], Chapter 95-1B, Available from: http://internationalecon.com/Trade/Tch95/T95-1B.php[Accessed: 9th January 2014]. (13) AGIOMIRGIANAKIS, G.M., VLASSIS, M. (2005) Economics for Managers: Volume 1 International Economic Environment. Patras: Hellenic Open University, p.138-150. (14) SCHIFF, M., Migration, Investment and Trade: Substitutes or Complements?.[Online] Agent Franà §aise de Dà ©veloppement. Availlable from: http://www.afd.fr/webdav/shared/PORTAILS/PUBLICATIONS/EUDN/EUDN2006/Schiff.pdf[Accessed: 14th January 2015]. (15) MARJIT, S., BELADI, H. Complementarily between Trade and Factor Movement: Revisiting Mundell-Markusen Propositions. KeiO Associated Repository of Academic Resources. Available from: http://koara.lib.keio.ac.jp/xoonips/modules/xoonips/download.php/AA00260492-20020001-0057.pdf?file_id=28397[Accessed: 14th January 2015].

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Life is Glamorous Essays -- essays research papers fc

â€Å"Life Is Glamorous†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whether you wander down random roads or plan precise paths, the exciting journey we call life involves many choices. The decisions we make on a day-to-day basis affect everything. Questions such as, â€Å"What should I wear today?† or â€Å"Should I really be eating this?† are asked by many people everyday. Sure, a simple beauty magazine could probably answer both questions in one article, but in order to live a happy, healthy life there are more important questions to be resolved. Glamour magazine answers every question, and includes unique highlights. Because of its superiority in the periodical market, Glamour has won over 75 editorial awards since 1990 (PRNewire 2). Much of this is due to its effective design in which the magazine is split up into seven main sections: beauty, fashion, health & body book, [men, sex & love], life & happiness, glamour news, and glamour buzz. Although there are numerous sections, they all tie into helping educate wom en on how to be happy with who they are and how to also make the most of what that is. Each part proceeds to give detailed professional advice on these topics. Also by understanding the broad range of potential readers, this periodical includes less inappropriately intimate articles like some other fashion/beauty magazines do. By providing factual information that is also interesting, Glamour makes it easy to find the answers to every quintessential question one might have about being a woman, and in doing so, empowers them with the knowledge needed to enhance their lives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A visible enhancement Glamour can provide deals with physical appearance. Beauty is a very important part of womanhood. Many people weight their self-esteem solely on this alone, and although this may be unhealthy, it is a common occurrence in today’s society. To help relieve some of the pressures of societal demands, Glamour features articles that inform readers of the most recent methods to help them look their best. In the beauty section, the magazine includes reviews on new beauty products and the latest technology. This proves to be very helpful when purchasing cosmetics, moisturizers, and cleansers, or when pondering a surgical enhancement of some kind. The product reviews detail how effective each product is and if the dollar value is reasonable for t... ...en need someone to tell them they are beautiful just the way they are (Bear 1). Glamour knows that with exceptional beauty, fashion, and health knowledge every woman can look and feel their best. The professional advice on men and relationships helps a woman expand socially, as do the various styles of news. By educating them on all of these levels, the magazine empowers women with the knowledge and capability to improve their quality of life. In doing this, Glamour magazine proves to be comprised of quality worthwhile journalism, equipped with factual and entertaining information that profoundly benefits all women. Works Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bear, Merryl. Friend Indeed. Winnipeg; Jul/Aug 2003. Vol. 20, Iss. 3; p.1, 1p. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Craig, Courtney. Great-fitting Jackets for All Shapes; Feb 2005. p.77, 1p. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hudephohl, Dana. The Dangers of Yo-yo Dieting; Feb 2005. p.92, 1p. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ostrow, Melissa. Jamie Lee Curtis: No Barbie doll. Mar/Apr 2003, Vol. 33 Iss. 3/4, p7, 1p. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PRNewswire. The American Society of Magazine Editors; Mar 21, 2004. p.2, 2p.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Succubus Shadows Chapter 24

â€Å"This†¦isn't possible,† I said. â€Å"I don't know,† said Roman dryly. â€Å"Looks pretty possible to me.† â€Å"But Seth's an author. These kinds of magazines don't care about people like him.† â€Å"He's so commonplace for you that you don't realize how famous he is. And, hey, if it's a slow week, they probably take what they can get. Sex sells – and that's pretty sexy.† I looked down at it again. It was pretty sexy. They'd taken it when I'd been lying on top of Seth, and the sarong had slipped enough that I was showing an awful lot of skin. Nausea rolled through me. â€Å"Maybe no one will see this.† Yet, even as the words left my lips, I knew that was wishful thinking on my part. As I'd noted before, this magazine was a favorite at the store, largely because of its outrageously ridiculous articles. Someone, somewhere was going to see this picture. And while the articles might be fabrications, a photo like this – which clearly showed our faces – could hardly lie. I let the magazine fall to the floor. â€Å"I can't†¦I can't deal with this. Not after everything else.† Roman frowned, legitimate concern filling his features. I don't think he was happy about either the picture or Seth's new resolve, but it had to be obvious that more than these bits of news were plaguing me. â€Å"Georgina, what else is – â€Å" I held a hand up. â€Å"Not now. Tomorrow. We'll talk tomorrow. Too much†¦too much has happened tonight.† Erik's lifeless eyes flashed in my mind. â€Å"It makes this seem like nothing.† He hesitated, then nodded. â€Å"Okay. You want to set aside some time for tomorrow night? I don't mean a date. Just, I don't know. Get dinner, talk about all this so it doesn't eat you up. I really am worried about you.† I started to say he shouldn't worry, that I'd be okay, but I backed off. I really didn't know if I was. â€Å"I'd like that,† I said honestly. â€Å"If my damage control doesn't conflict, then sure. I'll tell you all about it.† I stood up wearily. â€Å"But now – bed.† He let me retreat to my bedroom, his heart in his eyes. It made me feel worse, largely because of what a low priority his feelings were for me right now. Obviously, they were important to him, and I appreciated his ardor. And his feelings did mean something to me. There was something very sweet and comforting in his offer to breathe and just talk. But in light of everything else going on? I couldn't allow myself to process anything too deep with our relationship right now. Particularly when I had to face the gauntlet at the bookstore the next day. I'd had a number of past times entering Emerald City where I'd been met with curious and covert looks. More often than not, it had been over something ridiculous, and I'd had no clue until later. Today, I knew exactly what was going on. There was no question that the damned magazine had gotten around. And the looks this time weren't inquisitive or smug. They were accusatory. Disdainful. I couldn't face them. Not yet. I hurried through the store as quickly as I could, seeking my office – which I vowed not to leave for the rest of my shift. It was pretty hypocritical, considering my judgment on Seth avoiding his problems. Only, I didn't have as much luck getting away from mine. Maddie was sitting at my desk. I hadn't seen her in a week, not since she'd come to my condo. I'd told her then she could have indefinite leave from work and hadn't expected to see her back anytime soon. Now she stopped me dead in my tracks. Her face was much calmer than I would have expected. No, it was more than calm. It was still. Perfectly, eerily still. Like a sculpture. And when she looked up at me, it was like looking into the eyes of the dead. Cold. Emotionless. Nonetheless, I shut the door, fearing what was to come. â€Å"I had a million theories, you know.† Her voice was as flat as her expression. â€Å"Never, ever did I consider this one. I mean, I wondered if there could have been another woman. But I never thought it'd be you.† It took an impossibly long time for my lips to move. â€Å"No†¦it wasn't that. It wasn't like that at all. That's not why he did it†¦.† I couldn't finish and suddenly questioned my words. Wasn't that – by which I meant, me – exactly the reason he'd left her? Maybe our beach interlude hadn't been the direct cause, but I had certainly been the catalyst. The magazine lay on my desk, open to the guilty page. She picked it up, studying it with a calculating look. â€Å"So what then? You were just comforting him after the fact?† â€Å"Actually†¦well, actually, yeah. That shot was taken afterward.† It still sounded lame, and we both knew it. She threw the magazine down, and finally, the emotion came to her face. â€Å"What, and that makes it okay?† she cried. â€Å"You – one of my best friends – running off with my fianc? ¦ the day after he dumps me?† â€Å"It wasn't like that,† I repeated. â€Å"I went to find him†¦to see if he was okay.† â€Å"And then you made sure he was okay?† she demanded. Her words were sarcastic, but tears glittered in her eyes. â€Å"No†¦I didn't expect anything like that to happen. And really, nothing much did happen. The thing is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I took a deep breath. â€Å"We used to date. Before you guys were together. We never told anyone. Things ended†¦well, pretty much just before you started going out.† Like, almost the day before. That caught her off guard. Her eyes went wide. â€Å"What? You had a past†¦you went out with my boyfriend and never told me? He never told me?† â€Å"We thought it'd be easier.† â€Å"Easier? Easier?† She pointed at the magazine again. â€Å"You think seeing you guys back together in full color was easier?† â€Å"We aren't back together,† I said quickly. â€Å"He didn't end things because he was cheating – † Again, I had to admit the truth to myself. He hadn't been cheating on her when he broke the engagement, but we'd slept together earlier in the relationship. â€Å"I was as surprised as you were. And I was worried. I told you, I went to find him, but we didn't sleep together. Then I left. That's it.† The tears were on her cheeks now. â€Å"It wouldn't have mattered if you had slept together. You guys keeping that past from me – you guys lying is worse. I trusted you! I trusted both of you! How could you do this? What kind of person does this to their friend?† A damned soul, I thought. But I didn't say that. I didn't say anything. Maddie shot up from the desk, futilely trying to wipe away the tears that were still coming. â€Å"Doug warned me once, you know. He said there was this way you guys always looked at each other that made him wonder. I told him he was crazy. I told him he was imagining it – that it was impossible. That you guys would never do that to me.† â€Å"Maddie, I'm sorry – â€Å" She hurried to the door, pushing past me. â€Å"Not as sorry as I am for putting my trust in you. For putting my trust in both of you. I'm quitting. Right now. Don't expect to see me again.† She jerked the door open. â€Å"I don't know how you can live with yourself. You two deserve each other!† The door slammed loudly, rattling my ears. I stayed where I was, staring blankly at the desk, unable to move. Unable to think or react or do anything useful. I don't know how you can live with yourself. Me either. â€Å"Boy, things are pretty screwed up for you.† Carter materialized beside me, his angelic signature filling the room. Dressed as ratty as always – except for his hat – he strolled casually to the desk and picked up the magazine. â€Å"That's a good shot of you, though.† â€Å"Shut up,† I said. The agony I'd tried to keep locked up with Maddie began to burst out. â€Å"Just shut up! I can't handle your commentary right now, okay? Not with everything else. Certainly not with this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sank to the floor, leaning against the door and raking my hands through my hair. When I looked up at Carter, I expected one of his laconic smiles, but his face was all seriousness. â€Å"I wasn't being sarcastic,† he said. â€Å"Things are screwed up.† I suddenly wished I had a cigarette. â€Å"Yes. They certainly are. Erik's dead, you know.† â€Å"I know.† I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to feel the full grief over that. With so much going on, it didn't seem like I'd really allowed any of these problems to have the full mourning they deserved. Someone, I realized, would have to do the proper things for Erik now. Did he have family somewhere? Dante of all people might know. Otherwise, I was willing to take on any funeral arrangements – no matter the cost or work. I owed Erik that much. I owed him so much more. â€Å"It wasn't a coincidence,† I said softly. â€Å"It couldn't have been. Jerome says it was some revenge from the Oneroi's master†¦but I don't believe that. Erik had been trying to figure out my contract. Before he died†¦before he†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My voice caught as I recalled how I had been the one to take that last breath. â€Å"He told me there were two contracts. That it wasn't mine that was the problem. I don't know what that means.† Carter still said nothing, but his eyes were fixed so intently on me that they might as well have been pinning me to the wall. â€Å"But you know, don't you?† I asked him. â€Å"You've always known. And Simone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I frowned. â€Å"Before Jerome sent her away, he mentioned something about her knowing Niphon and ‘fucking up things even more.' That's a piece of all this too, isn't it?† Carter still remained silent. I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"But, of course, you can't say anything. You can't do anything. Hell's always got its hands in mortal affairs – or even lesser immortal affairs – but you guys? Nothing. How can you be a force for good in this world? You don't help bring it about! You just wait and hope it happens on its own.† â€Å"Most of the good in this world happens without any of our help,† he said evasively. â€Å"Oh good God. What a lovely answer from you. And you know what? I don't believe there is any good in this world. All this time†¦ever since I sold my soul, I've been clinging to this idea that there is something pure and decent out there. That there was something to give me hope that even if I was a lost cause, at least there was something bright and good in the world. But there isn't. If there was, Seth wouldn't have fallen. Erik wouldn't have died. Andrea Mortensen wouldn't be dying.† â€Å"Good can still exist when bad things happen, just as evil persists when good things happen.† â€Å"What good comes from Andrea dying? What good comes from leaving five little girls alone and motherless in the world?† I was choking on my own sobs. â€Å"If you – if any of you – could really affect the world, you wouldn't let that happen.† â€Å"I can't change fate. I'm not God.† He was still so fucking calm that I wanted to punch him. Yet, what could I expect? Jerome had no attachment to humans, and at the end of the day, angels and demons weren't so different. I buried my face in my hands. â€Å"You can't change anything. None of us can change anything. We're resigned to our fates, just like Nyx showed.† â€Å"Humans change their fates all the time. Even lesser immortals do. It starts small, but it happens.† I was suddenly tired. So, so tired. I shouldn't have come here today. I should never have left my bed. I no longer had the energy to argue with him or berate his frustratingly useless attitude. â€Å"Can Seth change?† I asked at last. â€Å"Are good intentions enough to redeem a soul?† â€Å"All things are possible. And I don't mean that as a clich? ¦,† he added, no doubt seeing the scowl on my face. â€Å"It's true. Mortals and mortals-turned-immortals don't always believe that – which is why Hell has such a foothold in the world. And I'm not saying that if you believe it, it will happen. Things don't always turn out for the best, but miracles are real, Georgina. You've just got to lift yourself out of the muck to make them. You've got to take the chance.† Yes, I was definitely getting a cigarette after this. Carter probably had one on him. I gave him as much of a smile as I could muster. â€Å"Easy for you to say. Can you make miracles?† â€Å"I try,† he said. â€Å"I try. Will you?† And with that, he vanished before I could bum a cigarette. Fucking angels. But his words stayed with me when I went home that night, maybe because even as depressing as they seemed, they were still more cheerful than enduring that shift. My managerial mandates were still obeyed, but otherwise, I could see the seething disapproval and condemnation in the eyes of my colleagues. It was a startling reminder of my village's reaction when everyone had found out I'd cheated on Kyriakos. Only this time, I had no way to blot it from these people's minds. I had nothing more to bargain with Hell. At the condo, I found a note from Roman, saying he'd be staying at the school for a while that evening to finish up some setup. If I wanted, though, he'd be happy to take me out for dinner as he'd promised. That gave me time to stretch out on the couch, seeing as I was still exhausted from the emotional miasma I'd been wading through this last week. No sleep came, just a kind of bleak malaise as I stared at the ceiling. Probably just as well. God only knew what I'd dream. Dream. I sighed. The man in the dream. It had been bugging me over and over in my subconscious, and without even mentioning it, Carter had somehow brought it back to the fore-front of my mind. The Oneroi had claimed Seth was the man in the dream. I told myself for the hundredth time that it was a ridiculous fantasy. I couldn't have any real relationship with a mortal. Seth had fallen from grace, and I'd refused him. It was all impossible now. All things are possible. Erik and Mei had said it was impossible for Seth to find my soul across the vastness of the dream world – yet he had. Kristin had told me my contract was airtight – yet Erik had sworn there was a flaw somewhere. He'd died for that knowledge, I was certain. Seth had claimed nothing could bring him back to Seattle – yet I had. Everyone who worked for Hell had told me darkened souls almost never redeemed themselves – yet Seth was striving to regain my good opinion. He was also sacrificing what he loved – his writing – to help the family he loved more. Would that be enough? Could he be saved? All things are possible. I sat up from the couch, my gaze falling on the spot where Aubrey and Godiva slept next to each other. Godiva had come to me after I'd dreamed her. The dream I still maintained was impossible. Miracles are real, Georgina. You've just got to lift yourself out of the muck to make them. You've got to take the chance. Could I? Would I? Was there a miracle somewhere in the muck of this despair, heartache, death, and betrayal? I couldn't see through it. I didn't know where to start. Carter had said change happened through small acts. All I had to do was pick something. Anything. Take the chance. Again, I focused on Godiva. The man in the dream. Maybe it was Seth. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe I could make it him. His love had been great enough to rescue me and then try to rescue himself. I realized now what had been bothering me. He was doing all of this – how could I do any less? All my life, I'd hidden from hard choices. I'd always found some compromise to avoid bad things, the results of which never really turned out that great. If anything, they'd become worse. My love for Seth was no less than his for me, but I hadn't been willing to do the things that might hurt. He'd told me there was no way the universe would let us stay apart. He was right – and this time, I would be the one who made sure we came together again. I wouldn't abandon him. I was moving toward the door, my coat and purse in hand, when Roman came home, carrying flowers. He took one look at me and offered a small bitter laugh that carried all the woe and resignation in the world. The bouquet sagged in his hands. â€Å"You're going to Seth.† â€Å"How did you know?† â€Å"Because†¦because you're shining. Because you look like you've found all the answers in the universe.† â€Å"I don't know about that,† I said. â€Å"But I've found some kind of answer. He's risked so much for me†¦. We found each other across all the other souls in the world†¦.† I trailed off, feeling horrible. My decision about Seth burned brightly in me, but Roman's face†¦there seemed to be nothing in this world that didn't end up causing someone pain. â€Å"I was wrong to abandon him. Especially now.† â€Å"Sounds like you better go to him,† said Roman at last. â€Å"Roman – â€Å" He shook his head. â€Å"Go.† I went. I hadn't been to Seth's condo in so long, not in the flesh. Walking up to the door, a barrage of memories flooded me, particularly that first night I'd stayed over when he had taken care of me†¦. It wasn't that late, but when he opened the door, there was a scattered, mussed look to him that made me think he'd been sleeping. Or maybe he'd just been too consumed by writing to properly groom. It happened sometimes when he got caught up with the worlds in his mind. From the look on his face, it was clear he was in this world now. I don't think he'd believed he'd see me for a very long time. I wondered if I was still shining the way Roman had claimed I was because Seth's eyes regarded me with more than just surprise. There was wonder and awe there. I'd only driven across town, made one impulse decision to come here, but we might as well have been meeting across time and space again. â€Å"Georgina,† he breathed. â€Å"What are you – â€Å" I didn't let him finish. I threw myself into his arms and kissed him. And this time, I didn't pull back.