Sunday, November 17, 2019
Trends in consumption patterns Essay Example for Free
Trends in consumption patterns Essay Although no single definition of economics will ever satisfy the demands of all analysts or even of all interested parties, attempts to succinctly define economics as a science, or even as a part of nature have persisted for centuries. A good, but certainly not exhaustive, definition of economics is that it comprises the study of how human beings allocate scarce resources to produce various commodities and how those commodities are distributed for consumption among the people in society with the added provision that the essence of economics lies in the fact that resources are scarce, or at least limited, and that not all human needs and desires can be met. (Economics, 2004)            This latter observation forms a central part of all economic theories and in some cases can be regarded as the central premise for the study of economics altogether. The fact of scarce resources has its counterpart in the availability (or unavailability) of currencies, and also in the desirability of specific resources among specific consumers. The general terminology associated with such considerations is known as the law of supply and demand. From this central idea springs most of what has comprised and still comprises economic theory and practice.            The law of supply and demand is at once simple to comprehend and perilously difficult to thoroughly understand. In its simplest sense, the law of supply and demand refers to the reality that resources, goods, or commodities which are in high-demand and short supply will command higher prices than resources, goods, or commodities which are abundant but in low demand by consumers. A readily comprehensible case-in-point would be the example of a rare book, or first edition publication. Such an antiquity may be of value, but its pricing and market value will depend utterly upon demand and availability (supply): The law of supply and demand will determine the value of a first edition, in other words, by how many collectors are interested in obtaining a copy, compared with the number of copies available. Even if a book is in scarce supply, it will have little value if it is not wanted by collectors and equally, a book which has a print run of several thousand copies can still be worth a great deal if there are more collectors requiring a copy than there are copies available. (Law of Supply and, 2005, p. 13)            Such simple models grant an elementary understanding of the law of supply and demand; however, the true implications of the seemingly simple paradigm are many and the nuances of what influences trends in supply and demand is much more difficult to predict and quantify than the basic attributes of the theory itself. In some ways, entire markets are basically an extension of the law of supply and demand; a concrete representation of it in action, what is called a market is simply a label for an intersection of supply and demand correspondences, from which equilibrium allocations may be deduced but whether or not equilibrium allocations may be determined by scientific study remains ambiguous given the very real influence of psychological factors which impact demand among consumers and are perilously difficult to gauge or predict. (Loasby, 1999, p. 107)            On the supply side of the equation, it is possible to pinpoint certain trends and tendencies which lead to imbalance. The law of supply indicates that production should not exceed demand, nonetheless, Economic imbalance caused by overproduction or shortages is a recurring leading cause of business cycle downturns and despite the fact that under most economic theories, this situation should not occurthe pricing system is supposed to create an environment in which supply and demand always match at the market price the ambiguity of consumer demand proves much more difficult to anticipate to gauge with precision. (Schaefer, 1995, p. 17)            One reason for this difficulty on the supply side is that fact that When the economy is at full capacity, certain industries become carried away with the prospects of unlimited growth as they expand production capacity to meet rising demand which,in turn, often leads to overcapacity. Because most business operations tend always to experience fluctuating sales and cost pressures, they concentrate on immediate business problems-not realizing the severity of the overcapacity. (Schaefer, 1995, p. 17)            The same principle holds true for currency itself: when overcpacity is reached in forms of currency, inflation is the result: an increase in the amount of circulating currency beyond the needs of trade; an oversupply of currency is created, and, in accordance with the law of supply and demand, the value of money decreases. Deflation is brought about by the opposite condition and yet despite the working, theoretical paradigm, a balance in supply and demand is usually fleeting. Modern economics admits a new form inflation: government borrowing, the increase in the money supply, and a diminished supply of consumer goods which can increase demand relative to supply and force rising prices. (Inflation, 2004)            On the demand side, ambiguities and uncertainties flourish. The law of demand dictates that demand for a product or good or commodity plus its relative availability will create the price. However, since consumer demand is a fickle and unpredictable force shaped by myriad factors, it is often difficult to spot or predict trends which will yield a good balance between supply and demand.            An example of just how subject to vagaries and random events is the notion of consumer demand, is the notion of the umbrella company looking to sell umbrellas Contingencies open up a very wide field. Rain on May 15, 2006 certainly matters, but so does rain on May 14, since this is likely to bring forward some purchases, and therefore to affect both supply and demand on May 15 which is hardly a mathematical paradigm susceptible to logical scrutiny, much less production quotas. (Loasby, 1999, p. 110)            It becomes incumbent upon the observer to regard the demand side of the supply and demand paradigm as somewhat beholden to psychological vagaries the laws of value and exchange as dependent on the (psychological) law of diminishing returns of satisfaction as the presumed basis of the entire theoretical study of consumption. In this sense, the universal catallactic law of supply and demand involves a (psychological) linkage with the realm of consumption (Zafirovski, 2003, p. 19).            As such it is often useful to regard consumer trends as psychologically driven and to avoid using the market specification as a framework for investigating demand, and instead considering the variety of intentions among potential purchasers in order to specify the market correctly. (Loasby, 1999, p. 110) Another factor which contributes to consumer demand is personal disposable income and this aspect of economics is influenced by many things: The amount of personal disposable income that consumers have available to spend in retail outlets is influenced by a number of general economic factors including: †¢ unemployment levels; †¢ regional employment patterns; †¢ interest rate levels; †¢ inflation levels; †¢ earnings levels. (Varley Gillooley, 2001, p. 61) With such a wide range of considerations, it is no surprise that the intricacies of supply and demand have not bee reduced to formulaic consistency de spite centuries of analysis.                                                           References Inflation. (2004). In The Columbia Encyclopedia (6th ed.). New York: Columbia University     Press. Law of Supply and Demand Determines Value of First Editions. (2005, January 8). Western     Mail (Cardiff, Wales), p. 13. Poindexter, J. T. (1993). Labor and Economic Trends: Effect on U.S. Workforce. Review of     Business, 15(1), 34+. Schaefer, H. G. (1995). International Economic Trend Analysis. Westport, CT: Quorum Books. Varley, R., Gillooley, D. (2001). Retail Product Management: Buying and Merchandising.    London: Routledge. Zafirovski, M. (2003). Market and Society: Two Theoretical Frameworks. Westport, CT:          Praeger.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Darkness and Death in Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night :: Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
Themes of Darkness and Death in â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night†     One of the forms of analysis and criticism that is best used with many works is the analysis of archetypal images. Many words and objects are images that have much deeper meanings and values than you, as a reader, take at face value. Many of the words and sentences in Dylan Thomas’ â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night†give away the poems underlying theme of darkness and death.     One of the archetypal images Thomas uses is that of the wise old man. â€Å"Though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words forked no lighting they do not go gentle into that good night.† This passage speaks of wise men that fail. The archetypal definition of the wise man is one who possesses the qualities of insight, wisdom, cleverness, a spiritual principle, and much more. But aside from the fact that these men are wise, their words still mean nothing. This passage gives the reader an unmistakable image of darkness in the lives of even those who are wise.     A second image that portrays this theme is the fourth stanza of the poem. â€Å"Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, and learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, do not go gentle into that good night.† Here the image of the sun represents the passing of life. And the men, who were too late in catching the sun and grieved it on its way, are giving us the image that the sun is setting. Or, as it could be interpreted, the sun for that day is dying. Here again we have a passage that is giving us a clear image of darkness. And here, also, we see Thomas referring to death.     One of the strongest, if not the strongest, images of darkness and death is shown in the last two lines of the poem. â€Å"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.† The death of the light here shows us blackness: the ultimate darkness.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Business document comparisons Essay
Document name Public council letter Thank you letter for participating in a marathon for a charity Purpose of the document To inform a member of the community to put a halt to the constant barking of their dog between certain times of the night To congratulate a member who took part in the run of a marathon for charity and thank him/her for His/her efforts in participation. Also inform the participant of his/her position in the competition. Target audience Specified house owner ages 18+ Specified participant in competition. Writing style and tone. Formal language but written so that the matter is taking seriously with no use of passive language i. e. â€Å"please can you stop that dog barking, but don’t worry if you cant do it straight away†because this takes a sense of seriousness away from the letter. A congratulating and formal passage of writing. Specified to respect the recipient and his/her efforts. Presentation style This document is not set out to attract or catch the eyes of people; it is purely to present the recipient with the purpose/problem. So a variety of colours and shades are not used as there is no reason to. This document is based as a certificate with a letter. As it was produced to congratulate someone’s achievement. it has lots of colours and images on the topic of sport. Layout Logo. Address of recipient and councils address. Text (the main point/purpose of the document). Signature from person who wrote the letter. Logo. Address of recipient and councils address. Text (the main point/purpose of the document). Signature from person who wrote the letter. Accuracy, clarity and consistency The letter was made for its purpose; the letter goes straight to the point and does need anything else. The writing is specific and formal, with no spelling mistakes. It is also sticking to specifics and with formal language. It is more recipient friendly, what I mean by this is that the language is congratulatory towards the person and is of less urgency, in the way that something has been done wrong and needs to be acted on. What I would improve I don’t think there is any improvement needed on this invoice, it has said what it has needed to and given the appropriate details for the recipient This is a good letter but I think there is an area of improvement for the presentation style. Dean smith 11k Letter comparison Dean smith 11k Letter comparison.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Villa Savoye
Constructed by Le Corbusier in 1929-31, the Villa Savoye, one of the greatest masterpieces of modern architecture, has been widely contested on the part of its originality and its accordance to the practical significance requirements every building should meet.Following the tradition of International style (a major architectural style in the 1920s and 1930s, also known as a Modern movement, the modernistic style of maximum minimalism), the Swiss architect Le Corbusier dreamed of breaking all architectural rules and principles (such as scope, tectonics, prossemic etc) and building simple, geometrically designed, unornamented, spacious houses: as he called them, â€Å"machines to be lived in†(`machines à habiter').Of course, this outburst of the twentieth century architecture towards the total mechanization and simplicity was numerously criticized for the lack of humanism (box-shaped building dehumanize and deprive people of their individuality, they say), yet Le Corbusierâ €™s (and other modern architects’, such as Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Mart Stam, Hans Scharoun, as well) intention was absolutely humanistic – to provide every man with a place to live in this constantly growing world.Le Corbusier sought efficient ways to house large numbers of people in response to the urban housing crisis. He was a leader of the modernist movemnet to create better living condition and better society through housing concepts.But apart from the problem of efficency, many art historians prefer to look on his works, and particularly on the Villa Savoye, as on the works of art which provide many artistic effects and influence human perception with unexpected geometry. As a matter of fact, Le Corbusier disproves Umberto Eko’s functionalistic theory of architecture by costructing buildings to exceed all levels of expectation (as it is required from works of art). Many critics refer to his buildings as to the true masterpieces.William J. R . Curtis, for example, analyzing the elaborate shape of the Le Corbusier’s building, compares the Villa with a Cubistic painting. While Mark Wigley pays much attention to the colour of the Villa Savoye – his admiration of its glairing whiteness is unconcealed. So, let’s take these two critics’ analyses into pieces in order to find out who sounds more convincing and whose point of view looks more original and advanced.William J. R. Curtis takes the most evident uniqueness of the Villa Savoye for analysis – the shape. What he actually notes is Le Corbusier’s excellent ability to combine severe and inanimate square horizontal forms with intricate curvatures and asymmetrical forms. This is the top formalistic skill, he claims.It is a well-known fact that Villa Savoye in Poissy is Le Corbusier’s major work, associated to his cousin Pierre Jeanneret. In this construction he pioneered to concretize the revolutionary â€Å"five points for a new architecture†:1.     constructing buildings that stand on pilotis: thus they should elevate the mass from the ground. The loads are carried punctually and release the peripheral walls, allowing points 2), 3) and 4). Pilotti was one of the most favorite Le Corbusier’s devices to free the lower levels for pedestrians.2.     a free plan3.     a free faà §ade4.     long horizontal windows running from one wall to another and outcropping the frontage. They allow generous opening on light and sun.5.     a roof garden : the terrace, build on the roof, totally resembles the garden.  Curtis is free to operate almost all the principles, although he pays more attention to deconstructing the overall shape of the Villa Savoye. That’s why any principle he includes into the analysis serves to show this unordinary combination of forms and lines, which make the whole building opened toward the â€Å"conversation†with the outdoor atmosphere and the horizon behind it.â€Å"It is sculpted and hollowed to allow the surroundings to enter it, and its formal energies radiate to the borders of the site and to the distant horizon†, – keenly observes William J.R. Curtis in his essay about the Villa. In fact, he uses many arguments to sound more convincing. For example, he speaks of the faà §ade to be somewhat blank and forbidding in the whole picture of the first-level box that at first sight makes an impression of only horizontal lines predominance. While the faà §ade is a simple key to open an elaborate asymmetry of the Villa, hidden in the other three sides one can â€Å"rediscover†the building from.The faà §ade with its long horizontally placed ribbon of windows  seems to be a difficult riddle that at first glance requires a simple answer (â€Å"the Villa is incorrigibly symmetrical†) but can be solved only after taking a glance f rom the rear (â€Å"its symmetry is upset by the curved volumes behind†).Another argument the author refers to is the use of pilotis, which Le Corbusier favored so much. The cylindrical pilotis are actually the only vertical lines of the building helpfully holding the massive first-level box so that create an impression of hovering.Thus, Le Corbusier not only frees the low-level space for pedestrians but also breaks the architectural archetype of tectonics (in a common view such a thin pilotti cannot hold such a massive ‘box’). But it is the architect’s great achievement to be able to supply this huge â€Å"machine to be lived in†with an airy sense of lightness.Mark Wigley chooses another path to the Villa Savoye. Unlike William J.R. Curtis, who takes a drive to the Villa and a walk around it so that grasp the overall expression, Wigley assesses the close picture of it, i.e. analyzing the colour of the building Le Corbusier preferred, having been i nfluenced by the vernacular whitewash technique.For the design of the buildings themselves, Le Corbusier said that all buildings should be white by law and criticized any effort at ornamentation. What Wigley states in his essay is that the nature of white colour in LeCorbusier’s houses is not as simple as only an echo of Mediterranean vernacular whitewash the Swiss archtect admired so much during his travel to the East at the end of 1910. His new found love of white is of a complex origin, Wigley claims. For example, he cites Le Corbusier’s letter to his friend William Ritter, in which the architect share his newly made discovery of white, as a proof for his guess.This subtle critic cannot accept the view that the reason for such a faithful love to the white colour is only a result of submission to â€Å"the irresistable attraction of the Mediterranean†. In fact, â€Å"the architect’s appeal to the universal status of white seems to be founded on a h ighly specific and idiosyncratic set of personal experiences and fantasies†. Le Corbusier’s choice of the white wall is motivated by synthesis rather than by a simple influence.That’s why the phenomenon of white in modern architecture surely exceeds all the discourses (a collective idea of the white colour) and rests on the intimate emotional experiences of every architect that rediscovers the colour for him/herself.To some extent I really feel this personal modernistic view on white. I can feel the author’s attitude towards the colour that obviously contradicts the common idea of white as a symbol of purity (yes, Le Corbusier was a purist architect, but only in terms of the usage of simple geometrical forms) and sanctity. His white is deprived of the collectivistic views and is rather a symbol of vanguard blank page. Le Corbusier rubbed off the messages scripted by the previous cultures.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Relation between The Bell Curve and Racial Genetics essays
Relation between The Bell Curve and Racial Genetics essays While walking the path of life, travelers must ask themselves whether they were destine to walk a specified course laid before them, or if their surroundings subconsciously direct them free of fate. The idea of fate is an interesting concept; it is predetermined yet many times it cannot be proven or predicted. However, various applications of predetermination can be predicted. One such idea that applies this sense of predetermination is The Bell Curve. The argument of The Bell Curve suggests that depending upon the race of an individual they are predisposed to having either a lower than average or higher than average Intelligence Quotient also known as I.Q. This Intelligence Quotient indicates a person's mental abilities relative to others of the same or different ethnicity and similar age group. Everyone has hundreds of specific mental abilities, if measured accurately can be used as reliable predictors of academic and financial success. In America today, you are much better off kno wing a child's I.Q. score than her parents' income or education if you want to predict whether she will drop out of high school. according to Race, Genes and I.Q, an Apologia article. The concept that I.Q. scores are affected by race and ethnicity is highly supported. However, ethnic differences in measured cognitive ability have been found since intelligence tests were invented. The battle over the meaning of these differences is largely responsible for today's controversy over intelligence testing itself. (Herrnstein and Murray, 1994) The suggestion that race and ethnicity determines I.Q scores highly contested throughout the science community. There are countless online blogs, debate sessions, and persuasive works that have tackled this topic head on. They oppose The Bell Curve due to its racist roots and counter those beliefs with their own theory of how I.Q. is developed. Even to this day people are still disputing the conc...
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Ninth Grade Math Course of Study
Ninth Grade Math Course of Study When students first enter their freshman year (ninth grade) of high school, they are confronted with a variety of choices for the curriculum they would like to pursue, which includes which level of math courses the student would like to enroll in. Depending on whether or not this student chooses the advanced, remedial, or average track for mathematics, they might start their high school math education with either Geometry, Pre-Algebra, or Algebra I, respectively. However, no matter which level of aptitude a student has for the subject of math, all graduating ninth grades students are expected to comprehend and be able to demonstrate their understanding of certain core concepts related to the field of study including reasoning skills for solving multi-step problems with rational and irrational numbers; applying measurement knowledge to 2- and 3-dimensional figures; applying trigonometry to problems involving triangles and geometric formulas to solve for the area and circumferences of circles; investigating situations involving linear, quadratic, polynomial, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions; and designing statistical experiments to draw real-world conclusions about data sets. These skills are essential to continuing education in the field of mathematics, so its important for teachers of all aptitude levels to ensure that their students fully comprehend these core principals of Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry, and even some Pre-Calculus by the time they finish the ninth grade. Education Tracks for Mathematics in High School As mentioned, students entering high school are given the choice for which education track they would like to pursue on a variety of topics, including mathematics. No matter which track they choose, though, all students in the United States are expected to complete at least four credits (years) of mathematics education during their high school education. For students who choose the advanced placement course for mathematics studies, their high school education actually begins in seventh and eighth grades where they will be expected to take Algebra I or Geometry before entering high school in order to free up time to study more advanced maths by their senior year. In this case, freshmen on the advanced course start their high school career with either Algebra II or Geometry, depending on whether they took Algebra I or Geometry in junior high. Students on the average track, on the other hand, begin their high school education with Algebra I, taking Geometry their sophomore year, Algebra II their junior year, and Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry in their senior year. Finally, students who need a bit more assistance in learning the core concepts of math may choose to enter the remedial education track, which starts with Pre-Algebra in ninth grade and continues to Algebra I in 10th, Geometry in 11th, and Algebra II in their senior years. Core Math Concepts Every Ninth Grader Should Graduate Knowing Regardless of which education track students enroll in, all graduating ninth graders will be tested on and expected to demonstrate an understanding of several core concepts related to advaned mathematics including those in the fields of number identification, measurements, geometry, algebra and patterning, and probability. For number identification, students should be able to reason, order, compare and solve multi-step problems with rational and irrational numbers as well as understand the complex number system, be able to investigate and solve a number of problems, and use the coordinate system with both negative and positive integers. In terms of measurements, ninth grade graduates are expected to apply measurement knowledge to two- and three-dimensional figures accurately including distances and angles and a more complex plane while also being able to solve a variety of word problems involving capacity, mass and time using the Pythagorean theorem and other similar math concepts. Students are also expected to understand the basics of geometry including the ability to apply trigonometry to problem situations involving triangles and transformations, coordinates, and vectors to solve other geometric problems; they will also be tested on deriving the equation of a circle, ellipse, parabolas, and hyperbolas and identifying their properties, especially of quadratic and conic sections. In Algebra, students should be able to investigate situations involving linear, quadratic, polynomial, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions as well as being able to pose and prove a variety of theorems. Students will also be asked to use matrices for representing data and to master problems using the four operations and the first degree to solve for a variety of polynomials. Finally, in terms of probability, students should be able to design and test statistical experiments and apply random variables to real world situations. This will allow them to draw inferences and display summaries using the appropriate charts and graphs then analyze, support, and argue conclusions based on that statistical information.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Effective team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Effective team - Essay Example communication between members, the team has clear objectives and goals it wants to accomplish; there is positive and open criticism in the team and members feel free to air their concerns during team meetings. Other attributes include there is active participation of members, the team is self-conscious, and finally, the team moves forward when all members are satisfied about a given issue. In effective teams have such attributes as minimal or no communication at all, serious personal differences between the team members, the team has no clear set objectives or goals it want to accomplish, negative criticism, which limits members’ participation, in active members during team meetings, etc. When new members join a team, it is imperative that formal introductions are made before the agenda of the meeting is discussed to enable the new members feel at easy and part of the team. When discussions break-down in a team, it is the duty of the team leader and members collectively to help iron out the differences without taking any sides. Therefore, team leaders and members have a responsibility of ensuring that there is good communication and trust between team members, and as leader, you are enthusiastic, fearless, and charismatic (Cranmer, 2011). However, as a leader you must ensure that demeaning behavior like laziness, complacency, power coalitions, and strong silos are not tolerated in the group if you want to build a strong and effective team. Ultimately, I am a strong team builder, with charismatic attributes, good communication, and interpersonal skills. However, I must state that I like making fun and teasing others, missing some group meetings attributes, which have sometimes landed me in problems with my team members. Therefore, during my end of semester course project, I will ensure that I will maintain the highest discipline, be punctual in all my team
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