Friday, December 27, 2019

The Role of Project Manager - 1140 Words

Introduction Nowadays, with the development of project management, project success has been defined clearly. A definition of project success from Lock is that if the project finish on time, within budget and in good quality, the project is considered as a successful project (Lock, 2007). However, our understanding about the role of project manager is unclear. Different people hold various viewpoints about it. According to Lewis, people have a vague understanding of what is the role of project manager, because a majority of project managers are promoted from other jobs such as engineers or technologists and so on (Lewis, 2007). Some individuals think that the role of the project manager is to command and control. Is it enough for a project†¦show more content†¦Actually, Project managers do need to command and control. As I stated above, project manager is responsible for the project, which means that a project manager needs to control the project’ process for obtaining a successful completion of the project as well as to command the stakeholders to follow the right path to realize the project’ objective. But it is important to emphasize that â€Å"command and control†is a purpose, not a process. Just like Bull said that there is essential difference between a dictator and a leader, a dictator gives command to people for doing something, but a leader inspires people to let them want to do things. The role of project manager should be a leader, not a dictator (Bull, 2010). Lewis also thought that the biggest part of project manager’s job is dealing with people. Even though project manager has quite little authority, it is not zero (Lewis 2010). Therefore, for project managers, the biggest challenge should be how to your limited authority effectively. To optimize the use of the authority, project managers need to build their leadership. Instead of using your authority to build your leadership, project managers should use their people skill which involves personality, management skill and communication skill. (Lewis, 2007, p. 27) So, â€Å"command and control†is a purpose, not a process. Which means that project manager should be a leader, not a dictator. More important thing than â€Å"command and control† AsShow MoreRelatedRole of a Project Manager1009 Words   |  4 PagesProject management The role of a project manager is the most challenging roles within the project team. As the project goes on and takes advances in its various stages a project manager should ensure that they are able to adopt according to the demands of the project that are ever changing. Clearly this particular project in the organization has been marred with many challenges. These challenges need a good project manager who ill ensures that the project gets completed successfully. The currentRead MoreRoles Of A Project Manager1647 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many roles that a project manager must fulfill. The most important roles of a project manager though, may not be the roles one may first think of. Of course there are the visible roles such as integration of processes, managing project scope and cost, and managing risks (Gomes, Yasin, Small). Less visible roles such as effective leadership and communication affect all of the visible roles of the project manager. Because these less visible ro les take on many forms and touch many aspectsRead MoreRole of Project Manager2484 Words   |  10 PagesNICMAR ASSIGNMENT ON â€Å"ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS† SUBMITTED BY: JHA PRAVIN KUMAR JOSHI SOURABH MALANI GOVIND 221071 221074 221094 GUIDED BY: Prof. T.K.GANGULI ACM 22-SECTION 2 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH, PUNE ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 1 NICMAR INDEX Contents 1. Introduction 2. 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A project manager sets up the estimates, budget and construction timetable for the clients and alsoRead MoreProject Management And The Roles And Responsibilities Of Project Manager922 Words   |  4 Pages Initially I had a view that project management is organized planned objective of an organization with the consideration of all other constraints like budget cost, man-power and utilizing resources. From the classes my knowledge on project management has enhanced. Here I comes to know the different kinds of management in an organization and the roles and responsibilities of project manager, line manager, functional manager and sponsor. Project manager responsible for coordinating and merging activitiesRead More1.The Role Of The Project Manager On Construction Projects..1062 Words   |  5 Pages1.The role of the project manager on construction projects. Generally, as a project manager, he(or she) should be able to have thorough control of time, cost and quality of the project, and have the overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of a project. The following are some specifications: 1) Leader of the team A project manager should form and lead a team which has the professionals and specialists, and enable themRead MoreProject Manager s Role On Construction Project Essay1802 Words   |  8 PagesPart 1. Investigation 1. The project manager plays a vital role on the construction project, from the very beginning of its initiation and planning to execution, to completion and handing over the complete project to the client. The project manager identifies and select the discrete processes to meet the project objective and target, considering the constituting inputs and outputs for the process (Project Management Institute, 2013). 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INTRODUCTION: In management, command and control refers more generally to the maintenance of authority with somewhat more distributed decision making [Command and Control Research Program 2011]. Being an effective project manager is among the most challenging jobs in the industry for two reasons. First it requires management skills and abilities different from those required in a traditional functionalRead MoreRole Of A Project Manager Within A Building Information Model2240 Words   |  9 PagesBefore we delve into the role of a Project Manager within a Building Information Model (BIM) project and how, if at all, that role has altered, lets step back and understand how BIM evolved. The concept of BIM has actually existed since the 1970’s with the term building model first used in papers in the mid-1980’s. However, it wasn’t until around 10 years later that the terms Building Information Model and Building Information Modelling (including the acronym BIM) became more mainstream

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Design And Cross Pollination Of Fields And Practices

It is believed that due to the high level of risk undertaken by the client and intrusted in the designers that it is now a safer option to put the contractors in the driving seat rather than the architects who simply provide the design (Jamieson.C, 2010and that larger multidisciplinary practices containing architects, surveyors and contractors would be even more prevalent in fifteen years time because they are able to carry the risk on behalf of the client (Jamieson.C, 2010). So surely if architects are no longer trusted or believe in themselves there is no longer a need for them to carry out certain duties or training? If an architect no longer carried the same responsibilities then there is no need for them to work in the same methods.†¦show more content†¦Weston believed that ‘the stylistic postmodernism of the 1980’s (risk), had threatened to reduce architecture to a stylish fad.’ He believed that the risk architects felt upon themselves meant that â €˜In its place it was argued the case for buildings that are monumental and anti-heroic, and grounded in the familiar routine and environments of daily life( Weston.R, 2011). Due to the amount of money and time needed to be invested into building architecture the industry can take astronomical hits during financial crisis such as the credit crunch in 2008. Risk plays a huge part in the way we build and create architecture. For the architect, a great deal of risk is encountered by intrusting the client to pay for our services. One London based boutique architecture practice described â€Å"our main threat is not being paid for the work we do- particularly the brief making part- but we never turn down unpaid work because It might lead to paid work in the future†(RIBA the future for architects, 2010). But it is not just the architects who feel the ‘risk’, it is also the clients who are effectively putting their money, land or property and quite often their reputa tions at stake, so there is a lot riding on the architects back to make the whole operation run smoothly. The guardian stated that in 2008 ‘40% of architects lost their jobs’ causing many practicing Architects to brake off into different fields. For example in the 1970’s, 50% of architects

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Cloud Computing and its Services

Question: Discuss about Cloud computing and its services. Answer: Introduction Deployment of applications in the cloud has not been rampant among the cloud consumers because many consumers have been ignorant on what it takes for one to deploy an application and the roles that they play in ensuring the success of the application. When the client is aware of their roles and does a proper planning prior to the deployment of the application, the success rate in the performance of the application in the cloud increases. To guarantee this, the customer to the cloud service must go to an extra mile and gauge what is required of them by the cloud provider and what the service level agreement entails as a guarantee of the services offered. However, these services have not been utilized by the customers because most of them do not understand what services the cloud vendor offer. The SLAs provided by the cloud service providers are often drafted in a way that terminologies and jargons used in its content are difficult for the consumers to decipher hence making the resulting relationship between the cloud vendors and the consumers a challenging one. Misconceptions also exist in that most of the consumers believe that their responsibilities and duties as it pertains security and management of the deployed application ends immediately the application has been deployed to the cloud. The end result is a failed application that does not meet the expectations of the consumer and ends up being withdrawn from the cloud hence mistrust by the consumer on the capability of the cloud services. To curb these misconception and to reduce the fallout between the cloud vendor and the consumers, it is mandatory for the consumer to understand its roles and responsibilities together with those of the cloud provider before it does the deployment of the application to the cloud. Before making any agreement with the cloud providers, customers should seek to understand what to expect from the vendors and what its SLAs entail. This will give an easier platform for the enterprise to make comparisons of different cloud vendors and to get to know which of the vendors offer the best in terms of their services. The following subsections discusses the requirements that DSI should adhere to when deploying the OSDS application to the cloud. The requirements are broken down into remote administration, SLA management and resource management. This is coupled up by the guarantee for application resilience by the cloud provider and the backup and recovery services offered by the cloud. The paper also discusses the general standards followed when coming up with an SLA agreement. Management Requirements Management is the major role in cloud computing and this is necessary for all the parties to the cloud computing services. Understanding the proper management roles necessary for the cloud service provider and that of the end user is mandatory as it helps to ensure that the services of the cloud are well enjoyed by the customers to the cloud. Several things come into play when management in the cloud is talked of and this involves remote management, SLA and resource management. Dalbhanjan and Morad provides a clear specification that is essential for the management needs of the cloud services. The specific requirements for each category of the cloud management services is discussed in details in the subsequent sections. Remote Administration Requirements When remote administration is mentioned in regard to cloud computing, the same is actually used to mean the configuration and management of the cloud provided information technology resources by the enterprise administrators. This is normally done through the tools and interfaces like portals, which have been developed by the cloud providers for such purposes (Mustard Harrison, 2004). Several remote management tools have been provided by the cloud vendors and this can be used by the clients as the basis for choosing the best cloud vendor based on the provided tools (Rimal, Jukan, Katsaros, Goeleven, 2010). Amazon Web Services provides some of the tools that can be used for remote administration and this are listed below; The users to the cloud services are granted access with the help of an identity management tool known as Identity Access management abbreviated as IAM. Clients who wish to make requests to the cloud services are identified using particular credentials that are provided prior to the access. The cloud vendor utilizes a good operating system for client access credentials which guarantees that each and every client is issued with a unique identifier and this identifier is matched with AWS key pair such that everyone has its own unique way and does not need to share details with that users. Agreeing to business or endeavor bolster AWS represents the creation of the application and consolidating it with the AWS Trusted Advisor reports. Resource Management Requirements Resource management is yet another term that is tied with cloud computing and it simply means the coordination of IT resources by the cloud vendors and the clients who use the cloud services. Resource management in the cloud is the most essential thing as it determines how best the resources can be put into use for the betterment of the cloud services and to guarantee the application success in terms of performance and availability (Schubert and Jeffery, 2015). Using the AWS checklist for cloud management, there are several tools available offered by cloud vendors and can be utilized by cloud clients to ensure that the resources allotted to them are well managed. These tools are listed below together with their requirements. Understanding which of the venture examples is Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) - supported when contrasted with occasion put away sponsored. The undertaking ought to pick what is best for them as far as capacity and see the type of implications that this will have on the information tirelessness, reinforcement and recuperation (Lee, 2016). The DSI should be able to decide on whether they need to combine the working framework together with the AWS EBS volumes or have them stored separately. The DSI ought to comprehend the requirement for a customary reinforcement of the Amazon EC2 occurrences either with the assistance of the Amazon EBS depictions or by using an outsider for the administration. SLA Management Requirements SLA management is the actual things undertaken on the part of the cloud vendor and the cloud customer to ensure that the agreement entered between them is binding. Management of SLA ensures that whatever service is guaranteed in the SLA document is actually offered by the cloud vendor and it is to the satisfaction of the client. The same also ensures that the customer uses the services rendered to them by the cloud vendor in accordance to the agreement signed between them (Gillam, Li, O', and Loughlin, 2014). Several SLA management requirements and tools have been listed down in the AWS checklist and these include; Amazon Machine Images, Amazon EBS preview and bootstrapping are used in the routine testing of how practical it is to use the Amazon EBS volumes and the Amazon EC2 for recovery whenever there is a looming disaster. Ensuring that all possible loopholes for any failover has been identified and proper measure has been put in place to ensure that upon the occurrence of such failover, the application is able to still perform well. The features useful for provision of metrics for SLA management are routinely checked and tested to ensure that the procedure of securing and fixing them is possible and again, upgrade can be done without interruption to the services offered. The application to be deployed in the AWS cloud has been tested thoroughly and that no bug or problem has been left to chance just before the application is uploaded to the cloud. Sensitive and confidential information is highly protected and removed from the application before it is uploaded to the server. Other information that may pose security threats and become a vulnerability are encrypted just before being shared to the cloud. Backup and Disaster Recovery Application Resilience One of the basic requirement for the OSDS system is the high availability feature since most of its uses such as remote sensing, scanners, radars and photogrammetric instrumentation and these technologies are meant to constantly send data to a remote database stored with the app so that the data can be accessed by the users of the OSDS application, hence at no point should this system be down (Beach, Rezgui, Parashar, and Rana, 2013). Users to the OSDS system have varied need for the data stored and distributed by the system and may need to access it at different times. Subsequently, for an application to be sent, diverse contemplations ought to be made. Such contemplations are outfitted towards guaranteeing flexibility of the application furthermore guarantees that reinforcement of information is done at ongoing to guarantee that the information is accessible notwithstanding when there is a cataclysm that requires loss of information. For DSI to accomplish high accessibility necessity for the OSDS framework, looking for the instruments gave by the cloud administration supplier is a prerequisite. These instruments incorporate; Utilizing the auto scaling instrument this aides in running robotized example recuperation or scaling The utilization of flexible burden adjusting this is a device that help with burden adjusting over different zones that are utilized by the undertaking. The utilization of Amazon EBS previews this takes point-in-time depictions of the Amazon EBS volumes Storage of articles in Amazon S3 or utilizing Amazon CloudFront to help as a part of substance dispersion Utilization of the non-concurrent information replication innovations this incorporates such advances as database reflecting and it empowers propagation of information in a few databases such that on the off chance that one database comes up short, there is constantly another to fall again into (Varadharajan and Tupakula, 2016). Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan Thought of how the cloud administration supplier will provide food for reinforcement and recuperation of the application and information if there should arise an occurrence of any debacle is additionally a noteworthy sympathy toward the DSI division with respect to its online spatial conveyance framework (Arean, 2013). Having a decent cloud administration supplier that has great administrations for the reinforcement catastrophe recuperation will empower the association influence more from the administration supplier (Sohal, 2013). Several tools and technologies have been listed down in the AWS checklist that can be used for backup and recovery in case of an impending disaster. These tools are available and DSI can choose to leverage on them to better shield their application from unforeseen disasters. The checklist includes; Use of non-concurrent information replication innovations The utilization of EBS Snapshot duplicate crosswise over districts Capacity of information in various cloud supplier administration districts Utilizing on S3 object lifecycle arrangements to chronicle information Taking occasional EBS depictions to guarantee speedy recuperation from information misfortune Cloud Service Level Agreement Assessment Distributed computing licenses individuals, associations and general society zone to store their data and do data taking care of in remote servers, setting aside to 20% all things considered. An SLA is an agreement which describes a particular and honest to goodness parts of the organization that is provided by the administration supplier (B.S., Dakshayini, and Guruprasad, 2015). This is important for anyone that wishes to use the cloud services. Regardless, defenselessness over SLAs goes about as a hindrance which banishes the cloud consumers from comprehending how the cloud services are offered amidst the lack of clarity, vocabularies, standard structures, phrasings and estimations that specify a couple. The challenges experienced are becoming an obstacle to several customers that have a need for cloud computing and those looking forward to adopting an SLA agreement from the cloud vendors and this is the reason that explains why several people are slow to take up cloud computing services (Li and Du, 2013). Small enterprises are affected the most because they lack the necessary resources that are used by the large companies in trying to make sense of the terms and conditions contained in an SLA agreement that is to be signed between them and the service provider. Understanding and adhering to a standard method for thinking of an administration level assention is the most ideal method for unite every one of the partners (Gillam, Li, O', and Loughlin, 2014). There are a few methods that the DSI can leverage on to carry out survey and get an understanding of the cloud supplier to be utilized for the organization of the OSDS application. These methods incorporate; Recognizing the partners to the SLA the partners to the consent to be marked by the DSI division ought to be resolved so as to know the sort of relationship that exists. There are five interesting on-screen characters to the cloud SLA understanding and these are; cloud purchaser, supplier, transporter, intermediary and reviewer. Each has its own interesting parts and obligations to play and the right SLA report will unmistakably set out these obligations (Stanik, Kao, and Koerner, 2015). Assessment of the business level strategies after getting the approaches which are communicated in the SLA, it is the obligation of the venture to decide and contrast these arrangements and their own business level approaches. On the off chance that these approaches are not in concordance, then it will convey an issue to the administration of the endeavor and result to poor use of the cloud administrations. In this manner, the cloud strategies ought to be predictable with those of the business. Decide the cloud measurements the motivation behind the SLA is to decide the degree to which the supplier meets its administrations that it expressed that it will give. To know whether these guarantees have been met, there ought to be a method for measuring the achievement and this should be possible by touching base at standard measurements. It is consequently the obligation of DSI as the customer to decide the measurements utilized by the administration supplier as a part of measuring such limitations as accessibility and reaction time. Security the DSI ought to decide the security prerequisites gave by the administration supplier and the necessities from its side with a specific end goal to guarantee an ensured security of the cloud assets. Discovering these necessities is compulsory since the greater part of the guidelines/directions overseeing cloud administrations differ with nations and a sweeping presumption may influence the asset security of the DSI endeavor. Understanding the SaaS, PaaS and IaaS the undertaking ought to comprehend what the terms implies and the sort of cloud that runs them i.e. private, open or half and half. Ordinarily, the terms and conditions in the SLA will be controlled by the many-sided quality of the variables which are given to the shopper by the cloud administration supplier. Conclusion The DSI department needs to carry out a lot from their side in ensuring that the application deployment to the cloud is successful. This entails carrying out a prerequisite assessment of the cloud service provider to ensure that all the services and guarantees in the service level agreement is carried out to the latter by the cloud service provider. To make the work simple, a checklist is used to ensure that all details are considered. This checklist provides a guideline for the cloud customer to ensure that he/she has met all the requirements and that all the assessments have been done in order to facilitate proper deployment of the application. The DSI departments deployment of the OSDS application has to meet all the constraints placed to it in order for the application to be successful in delivering the spatial services to the end user. To facilitate this, Morad and Dalbhanjan AWS requirements checklist has been used to counter-check all the requirements for remote administration, SLA management and resource management. This document was also considered in order to assess the services offered by the cloud vendor as regards application resilience, backup and disaster recovery. The document also highlights the proper guideline for a standard service level agreement between the DSI and the cloud vendor. References B.S., R., Dakshayini, M., Guruprasad, H. (2015). Service Level Agreement based Scheduling Techniques in Cloud: A Survey. Beach, T., Rana, O., Rezgui, Y., Parashar, M. (2013). Cloud computing for the architecture, engineering construction sector: requirements, prototype experience. Journal Of Cloud Computing: Diez, O. Silva, A. (2014). Resilience of Cloud Computing in Critical Systems. Qual. Reliab. Engng. Int., 30(3), 397-412. Herrera, A. Janczewski, L. (2014). Issues in the Study of Organisational Resilience in Cloud Computing Environments. Lee, C. (2016). Cloud Federation Management and Beyond: Requirements, Relevant Standards, and Gaps. IEEE Cloud Comput., 3(1), 42-49. Li, X. Du, J. (2013). Adaptive and attribute-based trust model for service-level agreement guarantee in cloud computing. IET Information Security, 7(1), 39-50. Meland, P., Bernsmed, K., Jaatun, M., Castejn, H., Undheim, A. (2014). Expressing cloud security requirements for SLAs in deontic contract languages for cloud brokers. International Journal of Cloud Computing, 3(1), 69. Mustard, S. Harrison, S. (2004). Future requirements for remote telemetry units. Computing and Control Engineering, 15(1), 44-47. Rimal, B., Jukan, A., Katsaros, D., Goeleven, Y. (2010). Architectural Requirements for Cloud Computing Systems: An Enterprise Cloud Approach. J Grid Computing, 9(1), 3-26. Schubert, L. Jeffery, K. (2015). New Software Engineering Requirements in Clouds and Large-Scale Systems. IEEE Cloud Comput., 2(1), 48-58.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The History of Tourism free essay sample

A popular folklore says that the name â€Å"Socorro† was delived from the Spanish priest’s plea for â€Å"help† when the sailboat he was boarding with his church worker-companions was about to capsize due to gigantic waves brought about by the coming thunderstorm while approaching towards the sitio to officiate mass on a Sunday morning in 1920 . The said priest and company were saved by the brave men of the place who rushed to the scene notwithstanding the wrath of nature. Such heroic acts prompted the priest to name the place â€Å"Socorro† in honor of the fearlessness of the men and as a way of paying tribute to the populace who were willing to offer help and assistance to others even in times of danger. Since then, the sitio, which was converted into a barrio, rose from a sleepy settlement into a progressive locality. On February 22, 1961. Socorro was granted the status of a municipality with the entire Bucas Grande Island as its jurisdiction with the signing of Executive Order No. We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Tourism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 219 by then President Diosdado Macapagal. Socorro, same as with other places, had a history to be proud of. But unlike its contemporaries, Socorro’s history is written in blood. A group with religious proclivity called the Cofradia de Sagrado Corazon de Jesus settled in the island in 1917 from Maasin,Leyte. The earlier settlers joined the group. But the leader of the Cofradia broke up with the oman Catholic Church and joined the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in 1923. The enraged Catholic priest in Dapa reported to the Provincial Constabulary Command in Surigao that a colorum group in the island will rebel against the government. A troop was sent to the island but committed atrocities and the islanders retaliated. A military mission was sent from Dapa and some members were killed. Another encounter occurred in January 1924 resulting to the death of 16 soldiers and 40 local men. The American colonial government later sent men to attack and later negotiated the surrender of the local combatants. The municipality is composed of fourteen (14) barangays covering an area of 12,445 hectares. The town proper located in the eastern side of the island nestles tranquilly along the seashore of a bay where one can behold the first ray of sunlight arising out of the bosom of the Pacific Ocean in the wee hours of the morning. It has nine (9) comely natural attractions, with the Sohoton Lagoons emerging as the most popular, as well as three (3) man-made attractions that enticed a number of tourists to flock to the island. Its populace numbering 15,208 based on the 1995 census,are mostly immigrants from Leyte, Bohol, Cantilan and Tago towns in Surigao del Sur and Mainit and other towns of Surigao del Norte. The islanders are noted for nurturing and practicing the â€Å"Bayanihan† way of life, a proud legacy of their forebeas, whereunto, each and every socorronhon vow to uphold and pass on to the next generations. POCKET PROFILE Land Area: 12,445 has. Mun. Waters: 34,000 has. Population: 17,932 (2000 NSO survey) No. of Barangays: 14 Congressional District: District I, Surigao del Norte   Ã‚  Ã‚   Classification: 5th Class GEOGRAPHY The Municipality of Socorro, which comprises the whole island of Bucas Grande, province of Surigao del Norte, Caraga Region is situated at latitude 9? 33’ 49† – 9? 7’ 00† and longitude 125? 58’ – 126? 04’ 30†. It is 60 kms southeast of Surigao City. It faces the Pacific Ocean to the east (direct east towards Saipan), and the red mountain (Iron Mountain) of Mindanao in the west. In the north. It is bounded by the Municipality of Dapa (Siargao Island), and in the south by the Carrascal Cantilan peninsula and sea water. The Municipality has a total land area of 12,445 hectares. The Municipal Seawater of Socorro is estimated at 20,000 hectares. Its expense is situated at latitude 9? 32’ 15† – 9? 47’ 00† and longitude 125? 52’ 00?. How to get there? Pump-boat ride: Surigao to Socorro trip 12:30 noon at Pantalan #2 (daily) Dapa to Socorro Trip 7:30 – 8:00 A. M. (daily) 3:00 – 4:00 P. M. (daily) Cantilan to Socorro Trip 9:00 – 10:00 A. M. (daily) TOURIST ATTRACTIONS SITE ATTRACTIONS SOHOTON LAGOONS Maze of interconnected clear water pools clasped by karst hills of almost uniform shape. Most hill are thickly vegetated and wonderful water zoning like a city. Rock formation and caves along the waterways with some cultural importance. ROCK ISLANDS Scattered along the coast from Nakawit point to Poblacion Socorro. The rock island have Sculptural effect. Those with lush vegetation Have effect of dish gardens floating in the sea. WHITE BEACHES Intermittently Characterized the coast from Nakawit point to Socorro town center. Mostly Set againts karst cliffs with thick vegetation, Many are still intact forest. Some border deep Bays ATOYAY FARMSTEAD Communal housing units set-up by cooperatives amidst coconut and pineapple farm management has high human-interest value. Trails to mangrove area brook and revived forest. LIMESTONE FOREST Maybe the most accessible intact limestone forest in the country. Extra-ordinary biodiversity of plants. Shelter such endangered species like tarsier, hornbill, cockatoo, civet cat and sea hawk. LAKE There are 13 but 3 accessible. Clear water and surrounded by thick forest making these ideal trekking destinations. The three (3) are connected to the sea by underground channels and are reputed to shelter the the highly endangered salt-water crocodile. Unstudied physical and biological characteristics. COLORUM UPRISING Landmark Site of series of fighting Between the troops of American colonial Administration and native people . But the Landmark needs cleaning and sprucing up. MAGKAHUYOG FALLS the waterfall can be a beauty to see from the sea during rainy season when the stream flow is high. SPORTS FISHERIES Has good potential for small to medium size pelagic species (tuna and mackerels) and deeper water of about 20 to 25 miles of the island can yield large ones, marlins, dolphin and yellow fin tuna. MANGROVE AREAS The island is blessed with numerous Mangrove grown up to more than 40 feet High as big as a mature coconut tree. CAVES Numerous undiscovered / unknown caves. SOCORRO SWIMMING POOL A Swimming pool teemed with cool waters Source from multiple springs situated in the Scenic sitio tugop, Barangay Taruc Constructed through â€Å"Bayanihan System† In 1953 by Don Albino B. Taruc and Refurbished in 1997 under the leadership Of his son, Hon. Dominador L. Taruc, Incumbent vice-Mayor. It is perfectly understandable if you haven’t heard of Bucas Grande Island prior to reading this article. Information about Bucas Grande Island is commonly transmitted by word of mouth among locals and a few people who have visited its shores over the years. You can even say that it is a well-kept secret by those who wish to preserve this pristine paradise. And what a paradise Bucas Grande Islands truly is! Once you arrive at Bucas Grande Islands, it is like stepping into a world taken directly from imagination. Magnificent stretches of white beaches borders a picturesque landscape of islets, caves, waterfalls, and inland lakes that are deeply accentuated by lush green vegetation to give that feeling of an almost surreal tropical paradise. Bucas Grande Island is also designated as a national park registered as Sohoton Cove National Park. It was named Sohoton Cove after one of the numerous caves around the islands. To this day there are still caves that have yet to be discovered. So if you are up for some spelunking try the Sohoton Caves. Half-submerged, this cave is only accessible during low tides and features a lagoon inside which sparkles with bright reflections from the sun and illuminates the cave’s interior. Getting up close with a jellyfish is another rare experience you can have at Bucas Grande. You can go snorkeling at Tojoman or Jellyfish Lagoon which is home to millions of jellyfish. Don’t be alarmed by the jellyfish though. These particular species are non-stinging and are quite friendly and playful. With a little push from the Department of Tourism who want to develop Bucas Grande as an international tourist attraction, local businessmen have established facilities that can cater to the needs of both domestic and international travelers. The easiest way to get to Bucas Grande Islands is via Surigao City. From Surigao Airport you can get a ride to the City’s Pier 1 and then take a two-hour boat ride to Bucas Grande Island. Make your way to Bucas Grande Islands now and experience this peaceful virgin island in the Philippines Family Trip #5: Sohoton Cove, Jellyfish Sanctuary amp; the Hidden Garden  Resort Posted on  April 13, 2013  by  bukidnonoutdoors Standard Every two years, the Roque family (with the kids’ nannies in tow), embarks on a trip outside Bukidnon. Our history of family trips began in 2005. Before that, we usually had outings here at the farm (where we live) during Holy Week. However, in 2005, Grama and Grampa decided to bring us all for a trip to Boracay. That started the tradition of our family trips. These are the places our family has been to since this â€Å"tradition† started:  1)2005 – Boracay,  2)  2007 – Palawan,  3)  2009 – Camiguin,  4)  2011 – Pampanga amp; Subic (where we held a reunion with your Grampa’s siblings), and  5)  2013 – Surigao. During this trip, among the breath-taking sights of the Bucas Grande Islands, we explored and enjoyed three noteworthy places: Sohoton Cove, the Jellyfish Sanctuary, and the Hidden Garden Resort. Bucas Grande Islands  Ã‚  Bucas Grande Island is worthy to be called a tropical paradise. Thriving with crystal clear waters, hardwood trees (with ironwood in abundance), ornamental flowers, untouched vegetation and   bounded by fine white sands, and offshore islets dotting its surrounding waters, Bucas Grande Island is a natural wonder in itself. Its rocky islets, stalagmites and stalactites strewn caves, inland lakes, rock stacks, and pristine waters only illuminate this landscape that will surely transport you to another world. Sohoton Cove  Ã‚  Sohoton cove is situated in Bucas Grande Island, and is part of Siargao Island. The half submerged entrance is the only entrance and exit point in this blue lagoon and is only accessible during low tide. The cove is home to the  Hagukan Sea-Cave,  Magkuku-ob Cavern, and the  Dagongdong Wall. Hagukan (snoring) sea-cave is a cave which has a half-submerged, small entrance that is adorned with rock -oysters and whose ceiling is decorated with awe-inspiring stalactites. The  Magkuku-ob Cavern  offers a stunning display of mineral-encrusted stalactites and stalagmites. Once inside, a short climb brings you to a small make-shift platform where the brave of heart jump off 5-meters into the clear, blue waters below. Entrance to the Cove at high tide Inside the entrance to the Cove Magkuku-ob Cavern and jumping platform Dagongdong Wall Jellyfish Sanctuary  Ã‚  The Jellyfish Sanctuary is a landlocked region of the Bucas Grande group of islands. This placid lagoon, surrounded by islets is home to a huge population of non-stinging jellyfish called the Spotted Jellyfish or Lagoon Jellyfish whose scientific name is Matigias papua. To visit the jellyfish, tourists – only two people – ride on a small paddle boat (banca), paddled by a boat man who also acts as the guide. The bancas paddle some 10 minutes into the lagoon to be able to see these exquisite creatures. For several years, swimming with the jellyfish was a popular attraction among tourists. However this year, swimming with the jellies has been prohibited due to the decreasing number of jellyfish. It was later observed that injuries from getting snagged on life jackets or getting hit by paddling feet or hands, and the chemicals from sunscreen or sunblock lotion that tourists applied on their skin, was killing the jellyfish. This year, the Department of Tourism decided that tourists only be allowed to handle or touch the jellyfish for a few seconds so their delicate skin is not injured or affected by chemicals from sunscreen lotion. This proved to be the best and most unforgettable part of our trip. Hidden Garden Resort  Ã‚  The Hidden Island Resort at Bucas Grande is apt;y named. If you don’t know the place, it would be difficult to find as it is hidden behind a small island at the south western part of Bucas Grande Island in Siargao, Surigao. The resort was constructed at the side of an island with most of the buildings sitting on top of the water, forming an inverted letter C with both ends jutting out into the water. At one end is the Karaoke bar and the other end is a floating wharf with four covered kiosks at the edge. The waterfront teems with ocean wildlife and one is greeted by the different sea creatures that roams its depths as soon as you leave your room. Located between some of the walkways are huge fenced off â€Å"aquariums† that are home to some huge fishes, sharks and a giant sea turtle. Apart from these attractions, we also went island hopping, snorkelling and the ubiquitous past-time, swimming and shell hunting. This trip was a chance for us to experience the greatness of God’s creation and to teach RD about taking care of what God has created. We were also able to emphasize the importance of family and relationships. A bonus for the homeschooler is that these jaunts count as a field trip! 🙂 Sources: Enchanting Sohoton Cove of Bucas Grande gt;gt;  SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008 By Alfred A. Yuson We’ve all heard of how Siargao has been attracting surfers from all over the world, along with their groupies, and in their wake, photographers, sporting aficionados, waterworld freaks and trendy spectators who can’t be caught far behind whenever a fresh recreational haunt is spoken about. Why, Cloud 9 has entered the globetrotter’s lexicon as a famous surfing spot in Siargao — certainly an elevation from its original status as a brand name for a local chocolate bar that’s chewy but holds up well in tropical heat. After frequent forays to a sari-sari store that sold  Cloud 9, some surfers appropriated the name for the area where they loved the  breaking waves. Siargao takes pride of place in the view of  Surigao del Norte’s officialdom. It’s certainly a distinctive tourist come-on, and has only just begun a sunrise industry that also relies on white-sand beaches and a wondrous environment, other than surfing delights that are but seasonal. Still relatively unknown is another island that also bids fair to wondrous discovery and enchantment. Off the northeastern coast of Surigao del Norte, a two-hour boat ride south of Siargao, lies  Bucas Grande Island, officially under Siargao’s aegis but often overshadowed in the latter’s favor. Its main town of  Socorro  is home to a population of 21,000 farmers and fisherfolk. All around are clusters of isles and islets beckoning with lovely beach strips, lustrous coves and hidden lagoons. From the air, as a promotional poster sports its bird’s-eye-view attractions, Bucas Grande appears as an emerald maze of inlets and verdant forests. Accessibility poses a hindrance, keeping visitor volume low, thus far. Come July 21 2008, however, PAL Express restores its direct flights to  Surigao City  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s airport, making both Siargao and Bucas Grande within easier reach from  Manila  . Last week, we still had to take the afternoon flight to  Butuan, then motor for 2. 5 ours to Surigao City, where we lodged at the Tavern Inn — still being rehabilitated and expanded, but boasting of a fine restaurant, free WiFi, and capacious rooms that overlook a coastal boulevard with the sea right across, thus privy to splendid views of sunrise and sunset. It wasn’t until the following morning that we motored back down the highway to Claver, where a junction marker claims â€Å"The World’s Biggest Iron Mineral Deposit. † It takes 90 minutes by road from Surigao City to Bgy. Hayanggabon of Claver, from where the pumpboat ride to Bucas Grande takes only half an hour. A morning flight to Butuan would allow one to motor from the airport to Bgy. Bad-as of Placer town, only a 90-minute ride, and which also offers a proximate takeoff point for the island. As luck would have it, our mid-morn crossing rewarded us with a close encounter with a baby butanding or whale shark that was frolicking lazily along with a school of escort fish. As its fin suddenly came to view, the 10-foot-long gentle giant with the familiar white speckles met our boat headlong. We tried to slow down. It actually grazed the side of our boat, right under the outrigger, giving us a close-up view of its full shape. But the opportunity came too quickly and briefly for any image documentation. The fascinating creature simply moseyed along. Entering Sohoton Cove, the island’s major attraction, assured us that we were coursing into an idyllic habitat, with forested limestone mounds rising on all sides in a welcome embrace. Dominating the lush greenery were stands of a variety of agoho or casuarina that I’ve seen only in Mindanao , with curling leaf clusters that differentiate it from Luzon ’s agoho or the Benguet pine. Plentiful, too, was the Philippine ironwood, locally called magkuno, which is known to defy ordinary saws. When successfully cut, it makes good, hardy furniture. I hadn’t known that this remarkable tree sported radiant red flowers, not too many and quite small, until we glided close to some overhanging branches. Sohoton Cove has 13 inland lakes, with three of these considered accessible. They’re all part of the Sohoton Ecotourism Park , which is covered by a Protected Landscape and Seascape fiat. Awaiting us at the Robert â€Å"Bobby† Z. Barbers Visitors Center, a docking station on stilts on the water’s edge, was park rangers’ head Roger Pimentel, who welcomes visitors and collects all entrance and docking fees. He tells us how the eco-park’s splendiferous flora meet their match in the endemic exotic fauna, which include tarsiers, two kinds of hornbills or kalaw, the serpent eagle and white-breasted eagle,  green sea turtles, and 19 kinds of fruit bats! Visitors can choose among three types of boat and trek tours. Tour A, for seeing all the lakes and lagoons, costs P1,500. An additional P500 or P700 allows participation in Tours B and C, which include trekking through forest trails. The prime attraction is the elongated and seemingly endless Sohoton Cove, which leads to a point where a transfer is necessary from the large pumpboat to a smaller, low paddleboat. This allows entrance, but only during low tide, through a cavern opening to get to the Hidden Lagoon. Primeval is the look and feel of this extended maze of placid waterways that wind around limestone islets and outcroppings, with robust stalactites dropping towards the water’s calm surface. There are caves galore. One allows an intrepid swimmer to barely make it through a low-ceilinged opening and walk up a rocky passageway to a skylight that leads to a wooden platform, right on a ridge cleared of underbrush, for a dive back into the lagoon. Skimming around the water maze to marvel at crystal-clear waters, subterranean prospects and florid greenery takes about an hour, before the boatman finds another way to the same single entrance at low tide. Another come-on, this time man-made, officially opens next month. The high-end Club Tara Resort nestles at yet another cove’s end, where a breakwater creates a private  blue lagoon. A row of 10 newly-built suite-cottages stand at the lagoon’s edge, with balconies of wooden flooring featuring see-through glass for peering into the waters lapping at the concrete stilt-posts underneath. Each suite, which will go for about P10,000 a night, has a large air-conditioned bedroom that is elegantly finessed, with a California King-sized bed, a ref, cable TV and DVD features. The bathroom is strikingly charming, with flat black rocks covering the entire floor. At one end is a jacuzzi pool for two, bordered by a three-sided bay window that looks out into the blue lagoon. Majestic seduction is clearly spelled out. Eighteen-year-old Deven Joe Baculpo, nicknamed Jojo, is currently the resort’s all-around facilitator. He serves as a conceptualizer, designer, crafts artist, and when the resort opens, an entertainer. Influenced by the Talaandig tribe of Bukidnon, Jojo formed an indigenous percussion group called Kalsanon (meaning â€Å"native wildlife†) that used to perform at bars in Surigao City and Butuan. A fellow everyone calls Mr. Kang, a Korean visitor, was so impressed with his music and artistry with bamboo and wood that the young boy was pressed into service as a design consultant for the resort. Where Club Tara now stands used to be the modest resort Kwaknitan (a large bat), which had been set up by Dr. Potenciano Malvar and the Gen. Miguel Malvar Foundation. A friend of the good doctor, Mr. Kang offered to help upgrade the resort into a honeymooners’ getaway, presumably for Korean couples. There are plans to build more modest family cottages that will go for P2,500 a night. A divemaster is all set to open a dive center and chart the best diving sites around. A five-minute boat ride or 20-minute trudge up and down a green hill leads to Kanlunes Beach of fine, shimmering white sand. We had dinner and a long conversation with Governor Ace Barbers on our second and last night. The young, amiable fellow of striking good looks (nearly a dead-ringer for movie actor Albert Martinez, especially now that he sports more than a five-o’clock shadow), was both earnest and avid in sharing his plans for the province. Traditionally beholden to mining, Surigao del Norte has now embarked on an environmentalist thrust to promote eco-tourism. How can the two co-exist, we ask Gov. Ace. His answer is forthright. A balance can be struck, he confidently avers, provided that the provincial officials, led by him, do their part. The grand enchantment provided by  Siargao Island  and Bucas Grande Island alone, in particular the natural marvels of yet little-known Sohoton Cove, is guaranteed to keep Surigao del Norte on the good map as reflected on any global radar. THE JELLYFISH SANCTUARY OF BUCAS GRANDE ISLANDS September 20, 2011  By  Olan Emboscado  43 Comments Among the many breathtaking natural attractions that I have explored in the whole  Bucas Grande Islands, there is one magical place that until now bedazzled me. This place is called  Jellyfish  Sanctuary. Having toured to the key tourist spots in the whole islands, I thought I had seen enough. Truthfully, all these wonders of nature were captivating. But when our tour guide led us to the Jellyfish Sanctuary, everything seemed surreal. As if we were brought to the other world. Here’s the story. After our island tour at Bubon Group of Islets, we sailed back to Sohoton Reception Center. It was already late afternoon. Upon reaching the Center, we were told that we will be transferring to small paddleboats in going to the Jellyfish Sanctuary. Motorized boats are strictly not allowed getting inside the whole sanctuary. The small paddleboats can carry two passengers and a boatman. In my case, I was the only passenger. The sail going to the Jellyfish Sanctuary was out of the ordinary experience. The waters were calm. The whole environs were wrapped by tranquility I can hear the rowing of the paddles. The enigmatic chirping of various wild birds made the sail more exciting. I’ve tried boating in different places but this one was entirely surreal. The Entrance of the Jellyfish Sanctuary Nearing the mouth of the Sanctuary, my boatman named  Richmond  began narrating the story behind the mystical beauty of the Jellyfish Sanctuary. I learned from him that some years ago the whole place was originally inhabited by multitude of  sea urchins  locally known as  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Tujom†Ã‚  hence they formerly called the place  Tujoman. One day, for some unknown reason, this huge number of sea urchin dwelling at Tujoman began disappearing until none of them was left. As days gone by, a smack of jellyfishes began congregating the place. It was becoming a larger group and local folks began noticing. Soon, the locals found out that these jellyfishes dwelling in the waters of Tujoman were non-stinging. The smack of jellyfishes grew into a great number. It even multiplied to millions of jellyfishes permanently dwelling in the place. Soon after, they called the place â€Å"The Jellyfish Sanctuary†. They later opened the place for tourists but intense protection and preservation of the Sanctuary were maintained. Limestone forests abounds inside the Jellyfish Sanctuary As we enter the opening of the Jellyfish Sanctuary, there was one thing I instantly noticed about the place. There was a profound tranquility that enveloped the whole environs. Everything that I see there was filled with calmness and peace. It was a very contagious serenity I can feel it inside me. The first jelly fish that i saw made me shout in amazement. Sailing forward, jellyfishes began to appear in the waters. I shouted in amazement seeing the very first jellyfish that appeared in the waters. Another smack of jellyfishes we passed by. And then another. And another. As we moved towards the very heart of sanctuary, multitude of jellyfishes surrounded our boats. Again, I felt I was on another planet. This was surreal. Slowly, I was beginning to get emotional. Teary-eyed, I looked around praising and admiring such a spectacular body of water fully inhabited by millions of stunning jellyfishes. Sitting at the edge of the boat, I noticed a smack of jellyfish flocking around out tiny vessel. I learned from Richmond that jellyfishes here are naturally friendly. They even come closer when boats are coming in. Since these creatures are non-stinging, I excitedly caught one jellyfish out of the water and held it in my hands. As soon as I felt its texture and seen its form, I let go of it. Richmond told me jellyfishes can only last for ten seconds out of the water. So, I had to put it back. I had to admit I fear jellyfishes. They are noted to be stingingly perilous. But the jellyfishes of the Bucas Grande Islands are non-stinging and friendly. They even came closer towards us. It seemed they wanted play around with us. They were so welcoming. I put my hands in the waters at once and they came nearer. They were like wonderful pets. Amazing creatures. Before the sundown, the group started to leave the Sanctuary. All of us left the place charmed and amazed by what we saw. In my case, I felt overly joyous having experienced such tremendous encounter with the jellyfish. I was very lucky too that my boatman Richmond was kind and smart enough to tell me everything I want to know about the Sanctuary. After all, it is one of their prides. This is ME with a non-stinging jellyfish in my hands. Having gone and experienced this unique adventure with the Jellyfishes of Bucas Grande Islands, I felt another dream of mine has realized. I used to dream of going to the island nation of  Palau  and swim with the jellyfishes at the  Jellyfish Lake of Eil Malk  but now I need not to go out of the country to fulfill this bizarre experience. My  beautiful island of the  Philippines now boasts the Jellyfish Sanctuary of Bucas Grande Islands that is undeniably a world-class natural attraction that can definitely put all tourists, local and foreign alike, in so much awe and amazement like those in Palau. Me and travel buddies amazed by the enchanting Charms of the Jellyfish Sanctuary. My closest encounter with jellyfish at the Sanctuary is the highlight of my  Bucas Grande Island Exploration. Other natural wonders of the Island are indisputably attractions to behold. But experiencing Jellyfish Sanctuary is absolutely an exceptional experience. It is commendable and worth to experience again. If given a chance, I shall back there and swim and play with the jellyfishes again. Meet Richmond, my gracious boatman. Many thanks. Experiencing Jellyfish Sanctuary of the Bucas Grande Islands is the final stop of my Bucas Grande Island Exploration. Jellyfish Lake Philippine Version – Where Is It? A  Jellyfish Lake, the local version of which is called Jellyfish Kingdom, is one of the emerging  natural attractions  and  tourist spots  frequented by  island vacations  lovers situated in a  seaside lagoon  with  crystal clear water  within the vicinity of the Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines. Jellyfish Lake Philippine Version – Why Visit The Tourist Spot? As local and foreign tourists are rolling into Bucas Grande Island, my family-owned and operated Island Vacations Travel and Tours had finally started its business with a group of 11 combined guests from Panabo City, Davao del Norte and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur in Mindanao Island, Philippines as our maiden clients. During our email correspondence, I advised the group leader to spend one full day in order to savor the beauty of the island. And true to my suggestion, they came in time for the past 4-day respite courtesy of the 2-day holiday in addition to the usual 2-day weekend break. After checking in at the Island Vacations Country Inn, we escorted the group for a 2-hour swim at the Puyangi White Sand Beach. At exactly 4:00 in the afternoon, we proceeded to the Kapihan View Park to catch-up the sunset and engage into sightseeing and stargazing activities. Back into the town center, the group went on a sunrise photography session at the feeder port . After breakfast, we proceeded to the Sohoton area doing island hopping and adventure diving at Sohoton Cove, boating at Tiktikan Lagoon and caving at Crystal Cave. We then proceeded to the Jellyfish Lake of Bucas Grande, dubbed locally as Jellyfish Kingdom, before strolling at the majestic Club Tara Resort. As all, except 2, of the mentioned destinations were already featured in my previous blog posts, I will be discussing in detail the Jellyfish Kingdom trip while the caving adventure will be featured in my future post. From the Sohoton Tourist Assistance Center,we were supposed to ride on small paddle boats with a maximum capacity of 2 persons per boat, excluding the paddler, towards the Jellyfish Kingdom. Nevertheless, the sea current was swift by that time due to the onset of high tide, hence, we opted to ride on a pump boat. On board our rented boat, we maneuvered at the narrow passage leading to the Jellyfish Kingdom . . . The tour guide expertly maneuvering the frontal section of the pum boat as it entered the narrow passage of the Jelly Fish Kingdom The area may not be comparable to the famous Jellyfish Lake in Palau as it is not exactly a lake but a lagoon with a constricted entrance. . . The azure waters of the Jellyfish Kingdom with its surrounding verdant hills. . Seen from a distance, the minute lagoon seemed to be just an ordinary scenery but as we moved forward, I had proven to myself that millions of golden jellyfish were really lurking beneath the crystal clear water. I then briefed the group that the underwater creatures surrounding us actually belong to a jellyfish specie who do sting but their stings are too mild to feel, hence, they were often referred to as non-stinging jellyfish. One of our guests enjoyed staying afloat on the water surrounded by golden jellyfish.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Vik Muniz Photographs Essay Example For Students

Vik Muniz Photographs Essay I observed a very unique series of photographs by Vik Muniz called Seeing is Believing. Vik Munizs images are not simply photography but are pictures of complicated pieces of art he has produced at earlier times. Utilizing an array of unorthodox materials including granulated sugar, chocolate syrup, sewing thread, cotton, wire, and soil Muniz first creates an image, sculpturally manipulates it and then photographs it. Munizs pictures include portraits, landscapes, x-rays, and historical images. One work that particularly caught my attention was a photograph called Big James Sweats Bullets from the series Sugar Children. The content or subject matter of the artwork is representational. The photograph depicts the hardworking children of sugar cane plantations in South America. This particularly photo is a portrait of a dark skinned boy, slightly overweight, standing and grinning. The photo is of neatly arranged granulated sugar across a piece of black paper which produces the image of the boy. We will write a custom essay on Vik Muniz Photographs specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Many different sensory properties compose the artwork. There is a soft light that seems very natural coming off the boys face. The light shines at the boys face at an elevated level, as if he were outside on a hot afternoon with the sun overhead. There is a wide range of tones from very bright, in the reflection off the boys cheeks to very dark in the skin of the boys face. Muniz does an excellent job using shadows to provide a feeling of depth and adding curves to the boys body and face. The shape of the boy is positive, but the background is not defined, allowing a negative shape or void in the picture. Although there is no actually texture on the photograph the texture from the original work of art is apparent. The use of sugar gives off a hazy effect preventing the photo from having a clear focus. The portrait of the boy has a frontal vantage point with his body centered and balanced on at all angles. This shows the expression on the boys face and the size of the boys body, which is important to the title of the work. When looking at the photograph the eyes are immediately drawn to the boys face and grin. I chose this piece of art in particular because of the strong emotional message it sent to me. You could sense the hard work and labor the children experienced at these plantations. You tend to feel sorry for this child when considering what he must go through. What I enjoyed must about this photo was Munizs use of symbolism. The fact that he produced the image of a sugar cane working boy with actual sugar was both impressive and significant.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Diplocaulus Essays

Diplocaulus Essays Diplocaulus Paper Diplocaulus Paper The Duplicitous is a very strange and mysterious animal from long ago. Scientists dont know much about the creature. They know that the Duplicitous is a 4 foot long amphibian that lived in the early Permian period 250 million years ago. The Duplicitous lived in the USA and northern Africa. The Duplicitous lived near present day Texas, Oklahoma, and Morocco. At the time these areas were very wet and swampy. This is a perfect habitat because this gives the Audiovisuals the ability to be sneaky and to hide. The Duplicitous needs stealth to catch its prey. The Duplicitous ate small animals like rodents and small reptiles. The Dimension was the main threat to the Duplicitous. The Dimension can eat the Duplicitous because of its razor sharp teeth. Its teeth can crush and eat the Duplicitous boomerang shaped head. The Duplicitous is like a present day alligator, but it has a boomerang shaped skull. The Duplicitous may not be the biggest animal out there, but it is very strong and it animal is fast. The boomerang shaped skull acts as a hydrofoil which helps it get away from its predators. The Duplicitous hides in the mud and waits for prey to come and get a drink. Snap! If the Duplicitous was alive today people would never want to go swimming again. The Duplicitous is an interesting animal because of all of its unique and amazing features. It was an excellent hunter. The Duplicitous was great at adapting and surviving in the extremely harsh environments.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Best of Intentions Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Best of Intentions - Case Study Example Some of the key issues include the following: Business decisions which are made based on race or gender rather than an evaluation of strong or best performance Discriminatory clients or customers influence decision making in the AgFunds company. The issue of minorities is evident with the company having low expectations for blacks becoming successful. The company has made little effort in reforming customer attitudes and supporting their previous minority representatives Racial and cultural differences strongly influence company decisions which show racial biases. Analysis and explanation of decisions will be made based on expert discussions. Researchers agree that Cynthia should offer Steve the job. According to Humphreys et al (2002), Cynthia should give Steve a good list of prospects after finding out the clients. These clients assume that she will not send to them a representative that under performs. Therefore, clients will be more open to Steve. Also, Cynthia needs to act as St eve’s sponsor through working with Steve but at the same time work with others to communicate the high expectations she has for him. This effort may not be successful though because Peter Jones, Cynthia’s boss, believes that the clients are not yet ready for a black person to become their representative. That is why he shows unwillingness to risk proving that he is wrong. Therefore, Peter is denying Steve a chance to prove himself in a cross cultural environment. According to Morris (Humphreys et al, 2002), Cynthia should offer Steve a job because he has the right qualities and he is the best qualified candidate. He states that if Cynthia allows discriminating clients to influence her decision to hire Steve, it may put the AgFunds Company at risk of a discrimination claim. He proposes that strong performance could be a great equalizer in the organizational culture. In this case, some prospective clients may be in need a high performer irrespective of race or gender bec ause the district has been losing customers for fifteen years. Again this might not be possible because of Peter’s paternalism which is rather offensive and lack of effort by the company to change the attitude of customers. Also, the company lacks support to previous representatives considered as minorities. Based on these facts, the causes of lack of effective communication across cultures is the clients’ unchanging attitude and the lack of support and mentorship for representatives from the black minority. Koehn & Leung (Humphreys et al, 2002) work in collaboration on research examining ethical problems that arise during cross cultural interactions. Koehn is for the opinion that Cynthia should offer the job to Steve if she thinks she is the right person. She says that Steve may be in a better position than other sales representatives at AgFunds to handle the Arkansas farmers. This is based on several studies that have shown that minorities who were being treated as o utsiders have often outperformed others in handling difficult and stressful situations. However, this might not apply in this case because Peter with other district managers may be already set to push Cynthia into not hiring Steve. Koehn’s and Leung’s research give an example of gender bias in decision making where male executives have over the years argued that female employees should not be given international postings. They argue that nationals

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Classic airline and marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Classic airline and marketing - Essay Example After insignificant loss in this sector, many of the airline companies utilized this chance and have emerged as the top players in the airline business. The financial crisis also contributed to aggravate the situation and paved the way for the decline of this airline company. However, they have recorded earnings of over eight billion dollars and this has given scope for revival. These profits are not insignificant if one considers the crunch in travel sector due to global financial crisis. But, problems including the failure in the marketing have again caused this airline to show poor performance. They found a decrease of 10% relating to the shareholders. Again, due to the global economic crisis, the board of directors of Classic Airlines has been forced to decrease the rates by 15%. They has also been a little hesitant to improve their marketing technologies. These made them to pay badly and struggled to withstand in the current competition. The company has also failed to provide su itable offers to attract customers to their services. Most of the other companies came up with numerous offers on hands to attract new customers and retain the old ones. Thus, the previous loyal customers and some of the frequent flyers started to migrate to other airlines that offered them higher value in their services and are also ready to travel for low prices. When Classic Airlines has sensed this idea, they were not able to implement a marketing plan to retain their loyal customers because of the rate problems. They were not able to run their operation on a cost that the other companies offer. Thus, the marketing tactics to retain the reputation of the company among the passengers did not bear any fruits. Currently, Classic Airlines are not able to find an alternative to escape from their dilemma. They are not ready to reduce the cost from what they have decided in their budget. They are now trying to

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Oman Telecommunication Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Oman Telecommunication Company - Case Study Example There is a 49%cap on foreign ownership in Omantel.However no single party can hold more that 5% of the company's shares currently. The telecom landscape is primarily dominated by the state owned incumbent operator Oman Telecommunication Company (Omantel) It is the sole licensed operator of public fixed lines, telecommunication services including local, long distance and international telephony besides data communication and value added services, dominates the telecom landscape in Oman. It has launched its digital cellular network in 1996 and was the only mobile service provider in Oman until 2005, when new entrant Nawras telecom forayed into the market.Nawras won the tender for a second cellular license in June 2004 and received it in Feb 2005.Omantel's cellular subsidiary, Oman Mobile was given a the formal cellular license in Feb 2004.Both the players operate in the cellular market under a three year period of exclusivity that will expire next year. For the year ending Jan 2006,there were an estimated 1,78,000 internet users in the sultanate, out of which a vast majority accounted for Omantel's subscriptions. Howver since it's launch in March 2006,second mobile license holder Nawras has claimed 20% of the market share and has added over 3,00,000 new subscribers In the current scenario, there is no schedule for awarding the third generation (3G) universal mobile telecommunication system (WMTS... The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority(TRA)expects to license a second national public fixed line network operator as well as a second national public data operator in the near future but has not yet set a schedule for the endowment of the license. Market Potential. Statistics from the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority reveal the following: Mobile phone subscriptions: 1.5 million Fixed phone lines: 2, 69,000. Out of this Omantel's subscriber base amounted to 1.242 million (all services) in June 2005.For mobile services its market share was a staggering 91.7% for the same period. There has been a significant rise in the number of internet users, yet the penetration rates in Oman are low compared to other regions in GCC. Most of the internet users are concentrated in and around the capital region of Muscat. Despite persistent attempts, little progress has been made in other parts of the country, particularly in regard to the access of high-speed ADSL services. Therefore, it maybe inferred that there is a lot of untapped market potential in Oman. The Arab Advisors group forecasts that by the end of 2009 increased penetration figures, greater account usage and multiplier ratios might account for as many as 5,08,000 internet users in the sultanate. The installation and access charges are plunging, therefore the internet and data services market is promising. In recent times, Nawras has introduced wireless EDGE broadband services. High-end business users constitute a major chunk of the clientele, but it is a small segment of the market and nearing saturation. In this context, the under twenty-five market segment is likely to drive growth. In markets like Europe and East Asia

Friday, November 15, 2019

Zoonotic Foodborne Pathogens | Essay

Zoonotic Foodborne Pathogens | Essay Zoonoses describe diseases that can be transmitted from vertebrate animals to humans. Zoonotic diseases are common and are caused by various types of agents, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites [12]. According to the study by Taylor et al. 2001 that out of the 1415 infectious organisms that are pathogenic to humans 61% of them are zoonotic [8]. And over 200 zoonoses related diseases are known [12]. Zoonoses related diseases can be caught from foodborne zoonoses, non-foodborne zoonoses, helminthic parasitic zoonoses, protozoan parasitic zoonoses and zoonotic ectoparasites. However this work is only focusing on the common bacterial related foodborne zoonoses. Every year bacterial foodborne zoonoses is the cause of millions of people becoming ill [12]. The most significant bacterial zoonotic pathogens associated with foodborne disease are Campylobacter, Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 [5]. Other bacterial foodborne zoonotic pathogens are Mycobacteria, Listeria, and Brucella all of which are from dairy products. The zoonotic foodborne pathogen Campylobacter causes the illness campylobacteriosis which causes often bloody diarrhoea, malaise, fever, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. The incubation period is usually between 2-5 days before onset of symptoms. Most Campylobacter infections are mild, without the need for hospitalization and with complete recovery within 10 days. However the severity of the disease varies and in some cases may be life-threatening or resulting in long term health problems. People that tend to die by the disease are often suffering from immuno-deficiencies, or other diseases like liver disease or cancer. Guillain-BarrÑ  syndrome (GBS) is a complication of Campylobacter infection that occurs in approximately 1 in every 1000 reported cases of campylobacteriosis (CDC, 2008, May 21). GBS an autoimmune disease that targets the nerves cells of the body may lead to permanent paralysis. Another neurological related syndrome that may occur subsequent to campylobacter iosis is Miller Fisher Syndrome. [2, 5, 10] In the UK there are approximately 55,000 cases a year of Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter jejuni being the predominant Campylobacter species that causes foodborne gastrointestinal illnesses in humans, other similar closely related species that causes diseases in humans are C. coli and C. fetus. C. jejuni are curved gram-negative, microaerophilic, thermophilic rods with optimum growth temperature at 40oC and low oxygen concentrations. It is these qualities of C. jejuni that enables it to colonise the intestines of warm-blooded birds and mammals. The reservoir for C. jejuni ranges from healthy domestic and wild animals such as dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, birds, chickens, rodents, ducks and geese. As C. jejuni is ubiquitous in nature food products particularly poultry meat, beef and pork are at risk of environmental contamination during processing. Campylobacter can survive in livestock water troughs, stock ponds, lakes and dairy lagoons all of which may introduce the infecti on into the animal flocks. Also rodents, wild birds, faecal contaminated equipment and footwear may all serves as potential vehicles of transmission of bacteria into the animal flocks. Once the infection is introduced into the flock rapid transmission between the animals occur with subsequent colonization of commercial meat that if undercooked may lead to foodborne enteritis in the consumer. Poultry meat tend to carry high bacterial numbers of C. jejuni, being the main source of infection in humans as it has a high level of consumption so the risk is greater. The consumption of unpasteurized milk should also be avoided as it is an identified source of Campylobacter, but pasteurization of dairy products eliminates the pathogen. [2, 5, 10] Control and prevention measures have been established in order to reduce Campylobacter pathogens entering the human food chain. These control strategies are aimed at preventing colonization of the pathogen in food animals through the implementation of strict bio-security measures, good hygiene practices at harvest level in an attempt to control and minimise the level of faecal contamination during poultry transportation, slaughtering and carcase dressing. Other incorporated control methods include decontamination strategies, rodent control, exclusion of wild animals and insect eradication that are potential carriers of the pathogen, and chlorination of drinking water to 2ppm. Gamma irradiation of animal carcasses is also effective at reducing the colonization levels of the pathogen in the carcass, but this method although endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and others is not well accepted by consumers. Increased public awareness of foodborne Campylobacter infection is nec essary as in the end the only measure to ensure reduce risk is at the consumer level through increased hygiene when storing, preparing and handling raw-meat to avoid cross-contamination via utensils and through adequately cooking of the poultry at recommended temperatures by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure destruction of C. jejuni. Undercooked poultry has been responsible for >50% of cases of C. jejuni. [2, 5, 10] The second most common bacterial foodborne zoonoses pathogen reported is Salmonella which are gram negative rod-shaped bacteria that are closely related to the Escherichia, and is responsible for causing salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is associated with enteric infections and since the discovery of the first strain of Salmonella in 1885 called Salmonella choleraesuis there have been over 2300 strains known to cause salmonellosis; the most common being S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium. In the UK there are approximately 11,000 cases a year reported on Salmonella which causes gastroenteritis. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In severe cases the diarrhoea may be bloody just like in Campylobacter infections. The incubation period for Salmonella varies from 6 to 72 hours. Complications may also arise such as bacteraemia or Reiters syndrome. Bacteraemia occurs when the Salmonella pathogen enters the infected individuals bloodstream. Reiters syndrome although uncommon may result from Salmonella infection, it is a disorder associated with at least two of three seemingly unrelated symptoms: reactive arthritis, eye infection and urinary tract infection. The people most susceptible to contracting Salmonella infection include immuno-compromised individuals such as AID sufferers, cancer patients, or transplant recipients. Or individuals that are in close proximity to other infected people, such as sharing a household, or individuals that possess pet lizards, birds, or reptiles. Salmonella has a low infectious dose, probably from 15-20 cells. [3] Salmonella are present in the environment as well as cold and warm blooded animals. The Salmonella serotypes in food animal species like poultry can be divided into host specific and non-host specific infections. The host specific infections are those that affect the bird host and are of little public concern, such as S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum. They are the common serotypes implicated in poultry disease. As for the non-host specific infections they are the cause of Salmonella foodborne poisoning in humans such as S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium. Most of the serotypes associated with human foodborne disease cause no disease in poultry, but can be spread by them between flocks and once in the food chain the product is contaminated food. Poultry meat and products like eggs are the main source of Salmonella infection in humans. [3] Similar to the Campylobacter control strategies, on farm prevention and control methods are undertaken to control Salmonella in poultry. Strict bio-security measures and farm pathogen reduction strategies are the first steps in minimising the occurrence of foodborne pathogens in eggs and meat. Surveillance of poultry flocks for Salmonella should be conducted to identify any infected flock which can then be immediately dealt with using appropriate measures to minimise spread within the flock and the risk of transmission to humans. Infected flock should be slaughtered and disposed of appropriately to reduce human exposure to Salmonella. One of the ways in which poultry may contract Salmonella is through contaminated food, thus it is necessary to monitor the poultry feed status. It is recommended to use bactericidal treatment or heat treated food to prevent Salmonella contamination. Poultry food should also be contained in clean closed containers to prevent access by rodents or wild bir ds. Rodent control should be used as a repellent. Vaccines against Salmonella can also be used but should not be used as the sole control measure, rather as an additional prevention measure. Good hygiene practices should be used such as cleaning and disinfection of equipment and the bird house, disposal of litter in a safe manner especially contaminated waste to prevent exposure to humans, livestock and wild-life to Salmonella. The use of antimicrobials as a treatment of Salmonella infection in poultry should not be used as it may contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, or mask the infection during sampling. Also it is vital that public awareness and education of foodborne Salmonella infection is raised so that poultry consumers can take necessary precautions to avoid contracting the infection. The precautions that consumers can take include the cooking of meat adequately before consuming, cooking of eggs until the yoke is solid, not consuming food containing raw eggs, not consuming unpasteurized milk, and the washing of hands after handling any animals. [7, 10] The third and last foodborne bacterial disease to be discussed is the gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. The O and H denotes the cell wall and flagella antigen number respectively. E. coli bacteria colonise the intestinal tract of warm blooded animals, such as humans and mammals. There have been over 700 serotypes identified but those that produce the Shiga toxin (Stx), such as E. coli O157:H7 have been associated with foodborne illnesses and is responsible for most of the E. coli related illnesses in humans. In the UK alone there are approximately 1,100 cases per year of E. coli O157:H7 with just a small dosage (

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg Conner Mahan Period 5 Presented to Stephen Dame February 24, 2013 Table of Contents Cover Page : Page 1 Table of Contents : Page 2 Biography Page : Page 3 Films Page : Page 4 Songs Page : Page 5 The Letter to the Famous Person : Page 6 Gallery : Page 7 Works Cited : Page 8 Mark Wahlberg Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an actor, movie and television producer, and also a former rapper. He was known for being called Marky Mark in his earlier years of fame but then became more famous in 1991 with his debut of being the frontman of the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.He was named number one of VH1’s 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90’s. Wahlberg has been in several movies, one of the most famous for him was Fear because it was the first film that he had a good roll in. Mark believes in the religion of Catholicism. He is married and has four children. He married Rhea Durham in 2009 and they are still married to this day. He has two brothers, Donnie Wahlberg and Ro bert Wahlberg. Mark was born in Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. on June 5, 1971. He is 41 now and still making movies. His current occupations are being an Actor and a Producer. His most recent production that will be coming out very soon is Pain and Gain.In this movie he had to go on a rigorous diet and workout a lot. If you take a look at two different images before and after the movie was made you can tell a large difference in his muscle mass. In this movie they corrupt a company man that happens to sell an illegal substance. They blackmail him about what he has done and get him to give them all of their money and runs of. Movies That He Starred In —- The Substitute : 1993 Renaissance Man : 1994 The Basketball Diaries : 1995 Fear : 1996 Traveller : 1997 Boogie Nights : 1997 The Big Hit : 1998 The Corruptor : 1999 Three Kings : 1999 The Yards : 2000The Perfect Storm : 2000 Planet of the Apes : 2001 Rock Star : 2001 The Truth About Charlie : 2002 The Italian Job : 2003 Entoura ge : 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010. I Heart Huckabees : 2004 Four Brothers : 2005 Invincible : 2006 The Departed : 2006 Shooter : 2007 We Own the Night : 2007 Saturday Night Live : 2008 The Happening : 2008 Max Payne : 2008 The Lovely Bones : 2009 Date Night : 2010 The Other Guys : 2010 Cubed : 2010 The Fighter : 2010 Contraband : 2012 Ted : 2012 Broken City : 2013 Pain & Gain : 2013 2 Guns : 2013 Transformers 4 : 2014 Ted 2 : 2014 Movies That He was Producer/Executive Producer In –Entourage – Executive Producer. We Own the Night – Producer. In Treatment – Executive Producer. How to Make It in America – Executive Producer. The Fighter – Producer. Contraband – Producer. This is Mark Wahlberg on the Red Carpet. (2005-2007) This is Mark Wahlberg on the Red Carpet again. (2010-2011) Letter to Mark Wahlberg : Hello Mr. Mark Wahlberg. I would like to inform you of me being a big fan of yours. I would someday like to meet you. I don’t have m uch to talk about. Sincerely, Conner Mahan Works Cited : â€Å"Mark Wahlberg. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Five Forces of Competition Essay

Air travel has changed the way people live and experience the world today. The airline industry is a strategic sector that plays a fundamental role in the globalization of other industries since it promotes tourism, world trade, foreign investment and, therefore, leads to economic growth. However, all airlines within the industry operate in a highly dynamic environment where various legal, social, technological and economic forces interact with each other, thus influencing their decisions and actions In the industry where airlines can face severe financial distress due to oil crisis, recessions and terrorist attacks, In order to survive, as well as succeed, the business needs to assess its competitive environment and identify key factors that may influence its actions (Porter, 1998, p. 5). The airline industry is very competitive and Michael Porter’s five-forces model can be used to analyse the intensity of the competition and the profitability of this industry. Porter’s five forces model is a business unit strategy tool which is used to make an analysis of the value of an industry structure (Hubbard, 2004, pg 35). The analysis is made by the identification of 5 fundamental competitive forces. These include: Threat of new entrants is high  One of the forces identified by this model is the threat of new entrants which refers to the possibility of new competitors entering the industry and undermining the profits of the established businesses. In the world today, the airline industry is so saturated that there is hardly space for a newcomer to enter the market. The biggest for this is the cost of entry. The airline industry is one of the most expensive industries, due to the cost of buying and leasing aircrafts, safety and security measures, customer service and manpower. Other barriers to entry which will recess new comers into the airline industry include Government restrictions and high capital costs to develop new airlines. However, the entry barriers for new airlines is lower today since the Australian domestic airline market was deregulated in 1990. This has produced far greater competition than before deregulation in most markets. The deregulation has allowed Jetstar and Tiger Airways enter the market and reduce the market share for Virgin Blue and with the added competition, together with pricing freedom, means that there is a major onstraint on profitability for the airline industry. Moreover if borrowing is cheap the likelihood of more airlines entering the industry is higher. Bargaining power of Buyers is high The bargaining power of buyers is another force that can affect the competitive position of a company (Porter, 1998, p. 48). This refers to the amount of pressure customers can place on a business, thus, affecting its prices, volume and profit potential (Porter, 1998, p. 45). The various airlines flying from the Gold Coast airport are competing for the same customer, which also results in strengthening the buyer power. Individuals wishing to travel to and from the Coolangatta airport are presented with various choices when selecting an airline but price is usually the most important factor, especially for students and families. Hence, the bargaining power of customers in the airline industry is very high since they are price sensitive and search for the best deals available. Virgin Blue attracts travellers that are price sensitive by offering them low fares and those that are convenience oriented by providing them with frequent flights. Qantas on the other hand has created a frequent flyer program to create switching costs which may be a significant factor to a traveller when choosing which airline to fly with. Bargaining Power of Suppliers is high Suppliers can also exercise considerable pressure on a company by increasing prices or lowering the quality of products offered which are mainly dominated by Boeing and Airbus. The bargaining power of suppliers depends on supplier concentration, substitute supplies, switching costs, threat of forward integration and buyer information. However, other suppliers who work with the airline such as the providers of on board snacks do not have the same bargaining power as they are a larger industry which allows for Virgin Blue to have a choice over who they are purchasing from. Virgin Blue will purchase their on board snacks from the supplier which is the most economic so Virgin Blue can make a higher profit margin from the goods when they are sold. Threat of Substitutes is low for international carriers/ little higher for short distance The availability and threat of substitutes is another factor that can affect competition within the airline industry. It refers to the likelihood that customers may switch to another product or service that performs similar functions (Stahl, M, Grigsby D 1997, pg 145). Substitutes for air travel include travelling by train, bus or car to the desired destination. The degree of this threat depends on various factors such as money, convenience, time and personal preference of travellers. The competition from substitutes is affected by the ease of with which buyers can change over to a substitute. A key consideration is usually the buyers switching costs, however due to their low fare non-stop flights, Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Tiger airways can lure both price sensitive and convenience oriented travellers away from these substitutes. Competitive Rivalry is high  Industries that are very competitive generally earn low profits and returns since the cost of competition is high. The airline industry is usually characterized by the cut-throat competition that exists among the rival airlines due to its low cost nature. Since the carriers are involved in a constant struggle to take away the market share from each other, industry growth is average and as it is easy for buyers to switch between the airline companies, depending on price, the rivalry is increased. Rivalry is also high in the airline industry due to high fixed costs, as much of the cost of a flight is fixed, there is a great opportunity for airlines to sell unsold seats cheaply, which resolve in pricing wars between the airlines (Hubbard, 2004, pg 38). The airlines are continually competing against each other in terms of prices, technology, in-flight entertainment, customer services and many more areas. The net result of this competition between companies is an overall slow market growth rate. In conclusion we can understand that the airline industry is very competitive and Michael Porters five-forces model can be used to explain why the potential for returns is so low in this industry. Firstly, the threat of new companies entering the industry is high and the entry barriers are low. Secondly, the bargaining power of customers is high since they are price sensitive and search for the best deals. The third force, bargaining position of suppliers, is strong since they are concentrated and this limits the control airlines have over suppliers to reduce prices and earn higher profits. The availability and threat of substitutes is another factor that can affect a company’s competitive position. However, the degree of this threat depends on various factors such as time, money, convenience and personal preferences of travellers. The final force in Porters model is competitive rivalry between the companies within an industry. Cut-throat competition exists among the airlines and since there is a constant struggle for market share, the over all profit potential of this industry is low.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Book of the Dun Cow essays

Book of the Dun Cow essays Biblical Relationships in Wangerins The Book of the Dun Cow The relationship between good and evil in Wangerins novel, The Book of the Dun Cow, is conveyed by farm animals that portray characteristics of religious characters and events from the Holy Bible. Wangerin, being a preacher and long-term religious writer clearly shows examples of these biblical events. The plot and events that happen throughout this novel are very closely related to the events that happen in the Holy Bible, and can easily be interpreted by the reader. Biblical events such as David and Goliath, the Birth of Christ, War in Heaven, and King Alexanders decapitation (Old Testament) can be linked into this novel. In the early chapters of the novel we are introduced to an evil being known as Wyrm. Wyrm represents the Devil in the novel. Wyrm is described as something that lived in the darkness, in dampness, in the cold. He stank fearfully, because his outer skin was always rotting, a runny putrefaction which made him itch, and which he tore away from himself by scraping his back against the granite teeth of the deep. (Wangerin, 23) Wyrm, much like the Devil lived underneath the earth. Wyrm and the Devil both spent all their spare time spreading their evil ways and taking over the animals souls. Senex, an old rooster, was one of the animals that the evil invaded. Wyrm visited Senex through a dream. Wyrm said, And you have no son. A son would make your death honorable. And heir would preserve your name. A prince upon any one of them would snap your Hens into order. (Wyrm, 27) Wyrm then says, ...I promise you that you shall have a son. (Wyrm, 28). Wangerin uses Wyrm much like God uses Mary to give birth to his son. However, the two linked events are rather contrary to one-another because Wyrm picks a male character to bear his child, unlike god who p...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Financial Reporting and Stock essays

Financial Reporting and Stock essays Financial Reporting and Stock Price Movements The relationship between financial reporting numbers and stock price movement is an important one to anyone studying accounting. We spend four years learning the ins and outs of financial reporting so that some day we can get a job to prepare or audit the financial statements. Do these statements and the numbers that are in them actually affect shareholder value and if so then to what extent? Studies show that earnings do have an affect on stock price. That fact leads us to consider how managers can use GAAP to manipulate those earnings. Open up any intermediate accounting textbook, flip to chapter one and you e bound to come upon the section dealing with the principal users of financial statements. Investors and creditors are the individuals for which financial reporting exists to give information. It not enough to provide them just with financial statements, but information that is useful for decision making. We use the term ecision usefulness quite often but if you were to ask most people what that really means they wouldn be able to define it well enough for a serious discussion. Information has decision usefulness if it has predictive and feedback value. In other words, it must have some ability to d While this may seem boring and redundant it does offer a good foundation for this analysis. Financial reporting is the most important and widely distributed information source for anyone having anything to do with the stock market (and therefore stock prices). If financial statements provide no decision usefuln ess then they have no concrete impact on stock prices. Numerous empirical studies show that the earnings figure at the bottom of the income statement has a direct impact on stock price. In essence, earnings convey a measure of firm value to investors. As 2003 came to a close, companies in the S&P 500-stock index were on track to post a 20%-plus rise in stock price and a ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Investigation of Current Performance in Inverleith Hotel (B&B) Edinbur Assignment

Investigation of Current Performance in Inverleith Hotel (B&B) Edinburg - Assignment Example Additionally, a SWOT analysis of the hotel has been conducted with the aim of understanding strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Inverleith Hotel (B&B) located in Edinburgh, which is a B&B hotel. A comparison is also made between the hotel with other similar size B&B hotels in the same geographical area. Alternatively, it also intends to explain the methods through which the current performance of the hotel can be maintained properly and the possible solutions for the expansion of the business. In order to determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Inverleith Hotel (B&B), a SWOT analysis has been conducted. In this respect, the strengths, as well as weaknesses of the hotel, can be determined. The possible opportunities related to the success and development of the hotel can also be ascertained. After identifying the weaknesses and threats, the hotel can reduce the weakness by applying new strategies to improve the performance of the hotel (Practical Entrepreneurship, n.d.). The hotel is one of the leading fast food hotels in England. The hotel focuses on the preferences of the customers, which is one of the important strength of the hotel. This strength helps the hotel to attract the more customers to increase the sale as well as increase the profit of the hotel. It also helps to improve the performance of the employees so that the objectives of the hotel can be accomplished. It has multiple numbers of customers in the market. The financial growth of the hotel has increased to a substantial extent. The geographical area of the hotel is good for marketing or doing business. The facilities provided by the hotel are based on quality standards and in accordance with the needs of the customers. The rooms of the hotel are equipped with modern equipment like telephone and broadband access and with self-catering accommodation (Practical Entrepreneurship, n.d.).