William Potter s Macbeth - 1247 Words

Macbeth, a tragedy play written by Shakespeare, illustrates the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. Harry Potter, a series of fantasy, fiction novels written by J.K Rowling, chronicles the life of a young wizard, Harry Potter, a chain adventure of his friends, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite the fact that these two books may seem completely unreliable, there are indeed, certain connections in presence between one another. History and time has proven that from time to time, the presence of witches, prophecies and violence in a fiction novel has always acted as the essential success criteria. The general of aspect of a fiction, fantasy novel can be identified as to entertain the readers, to reveal central message, and to propose a virtual, imagery, but vivid world of wonder and magic towards the readers. Even though Macbeth and Harry Potter are categorized in two diff erent styles of literacy, they share similarities in terms of characters, themes, and symbols in a variety of aspects; ultimately, the omnipresence of fantasy, magic and dichotomy is the reason why both literatures are so wildly successful. First and foremost, characters from both books have shared many similarities with one another. To begin with, Macbeth and Ginny weasley are both plagued by self-doubt, and because of this, they are easily manipulated and influenced by the forces of others.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Act 3 Scene 4 Of Macbeth1072 Words   |  5 PagesIntroductory Page To recreate Act 3, Scene 4 of â€Å"Macbeth† by William shakespeare in the modern era, we decided to have the members of our group assume the roles of the characters of Macbeth. The scene will revolve around the issue of cheating on the SATs. This examination is something we are extremely familiar with, which is why we are the characters. The recreated scene will take place in the the present time, 2017, in Queens, New York. A young family of five, living in the vibrant and livelyRead MoreThe Historical And Cultural Value Of The Ancient Mesopotamia1442 Words   |  6 PagesNarrative† written by Babylonians, is undoubtedly the crystallization of Sumerian culture. From the content of the story, one can see ancient Sumerian’s early civilization, society, and religion culture. Comparing this poem to modern plays such as â€Å"Macbeth† by William Shakespeare, this ancient narrative epic still has an important historical and cultural value so far. The Gilgamesh story took place in ancient Mesopotamia, where developed the earliest human civilization. Mesopotamia means the â€Å"land betweenRead MoreRhetorical Devices3007 Words   |  13 PagesSonnet 116) – figura etymologica | |portmanteau words (blend, |words formed by blending two words into one | |contaminatio) |spellotape (spell + sellotape in Harry Potter) | | |brunch (breakfast + lunch) | |symploce |A combination of anaphora andRead MoreBritish Arts5612 Words   |  23 Pagessafe opportunity to look behind the mask of accepted social behavior. The countrys most successful and respected playwrights are usually those who explore the darker side of the personality and of personal relationships such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth†¦. British theatre has such a fine acting tradition that Hollywood is forever raiding its talent for people to star in films. British television does the same thing. Moreover, Broadway, when looking for its next blockbuster musical, pays close attentionRead MoreGoal Movie Review10720 Words   |  43 Pagesthe few actors you’ll ever meet that literally will never moan about anything. It’s very admirable.† *** The filmmakers then sought to back up Becker with a stellar supporting cast. Similar to the ensembles of the â€Å"Lord of the Rings† and â€Å"Harry Potter† films, the filmmakers â€Å"wanted to make it about the story, not the actors. That was really important to us—having really talented, no-fuss actors around Kuno,† explains Matt Barrelle. â€Å"We wanted to take away from who the actors were and really make

Love Poetry By Edna St. Vincent Millay - 1927 Words

Courtly Love Poetry Whenever modern poetry is mentioned, there is an overwhelming consensus that it involves an onslaught of free verse with irregular structure â€Å"Modern poetry was seen as not rhyming, even when it did rhyme; as obscure and difficult, even when it was at its most lucid and limpid† (Schmidt, 3). There is also a stereotype that traditional forms of poetry that were popular in the past were abandoned. However, when looking at examples of modern poetry, it becomes clear that this is not the case. Whilst it is true that many modern poets have embraced the free verse form of poetry, others have adopted classical poem forms. Tweaking them slightly so that can adapt to the modern world. Thus reviving these forms and making them more fresh and relevant. American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay can be seen to fit into this category. She is particularly well known for her sonnets. This essay will analyse one of Millay’s sonnets in to context of the evolution of courtly love poetry. The history of the sonnet will also be examined to demonstrate how Millay has faithfully refashioned her poems. However, whist Millay has kept the construction of sonnet pure she has differed in the message it portrays. Hence this essay will also deconstruct Millay’s poem and discuss how its tone differs from traditional courtly love poetry. According to Burt and Mikics (6) the origins of the sonnet can be traced back to France and the courts of Sicily in the thirteenth century. It isShow MoreRelatedEssay about Edna St. Vincent Millay957 Words   |  4 PagesEdna St. Vincent Millay Her career that spanned three decades and her work that ranges from lyrics to verse play and political commentary. Edna St. Vincent Millay is mostly known for her earlier works, such as Renascence, Few Figs Thistles, and Second April. Millay wrote about things such as mystical views on the universe, god, death, celebration of feminism, and free love. Its almost as if she was a writer from today and with that, I believe that she would be comfortable with todaysRead MoreComparing And Contrasting Two Sonnets1141 Words   |  5 PagesLips Have Kissed, And Where, And Why† by Edna St. Vincent Millay are both sonnets that discuss companionship and a glimpse of each poet’s experiences. In ‘Sonnet 116’, Shakespeare illustrates how capability is weakened by its metaphysical stereotype and ideals such as, love, while on the contrary, in ‘What Lips My Lips Have Kissed, And Where, And Why† Millay feeds on the chaos between the ideal of love and its harsh reality, heartbreak. Both poets seem to be love struck but there is a significant differenceRead MoreFree Verse Techniques Conveying Structure an Analysis of â€Å"Spring† by Edna St. Vincent Millay1512 Words   |  7 PagesFree Verse Techniques Conveying Structure An Analysis of â€Å"Spring† By Edna St. Vincent Millay Composed in free verse, the poem â€Å"Spring† by Edna St. Vincent Millay contains many poetic elements that create a feeling of structure throughout.   As free verse challenges the conventions of writing, so too, does St. Vincent Millay’s interpretation of Spring challenge societies conventional beliefs associated with the season. Millay uses various different poetic elements of writing as effective alternativesRead More Edna St. Vincent Millays Sonnet I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed1368 Words   |  6 PagesEdna St. Vincent Millays Sonnet I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed Edna St. Vincent Millay’s sonnet, â€Å"I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed,† serves as an excellent example of a multi-faceted piece. From one angle, it is simply a Petrarchan sonnet, written with a slight variation on rhyme scheme – but that variation, taken deeper, reveals new layers of meaning. Added to Millay’s choice of meter and end-stop, along with a background of Millay’s person, this sonnet seems not so â€Å"simple† afterRead MoreReview Of The Spring And The Fall By Edna St. Vincent Millay1993 Words   |  8 PagesFall† by Edna St. Vincent Millay Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of the most famous poets in the early nineteenth century. She was knowns for being a spectacular American lyric poet whose personal life and verse burned meteorically through the imaginations of rebellious youth in her work during the 1920s (Poetry Foundation). Millay’s literatures consist of many unique mind set and language that brings the author and reader together, which procured the world’s attention. Many people know Millay throughRead More What lips my lips have kissed by Edna St. Vincent Millay Essays685 Words   |  3 PagesWhat lips my lips have kissed by Edna St. Vincent Millay While reading What lips my lips have kissed by Edna St. Vincent Millay, I realized many things about myself. The first thing was that I, after thinking I would never be able to decipher one word of poetry, actually could. I also found that I was able to enjoy it. Another thing was that the narrator (whom I felt was a woman- no man could portray these feelings like a woman) and I had strikingly similar feelings. There happened to be manyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnet 116944 Words   |  4 PagesAnd Why† by Edna St. Vincent Millay are both sonnets that discuss companionship and a glimpse of the poets’ experiences. In ‘Sonnet 116’, Shakespeare illustrates how capability is weakened by its metaphysical stereotype and ideals such as, love which never seems to wither away according to Shakespeare while on the contrary, in ‘What Lips My Lips Have Kissed, And Where, And Why† Millay feeds on the chaos between the ideal of love and its harsh reali ty, heartbreak. Both poets seem to be love struck butRead MoreSonnet Analysis1471 Words   |  6 Pageswidely-read poets have risen to fame as sonneteers. Typically sonnets address romantic love or lust, but occasionally poets will lyrically meditate on nature, spirituality or other universal aspects of the human condition; however, modern poets have broken from the traditional sonnet form and subject matter to put a contemporary twist on the popular fourteen-line model. American poets E.E. Cummings and Edna St. Vincent Millay both experimented with the traditional sonnet form in the early twentieth centuryRead MoreEssay Millay Sonnett Analysis: Not in a Silver Casket2240 Words   |  9 PagesAnalysis of Millay’s â€Å"Not in a silver casket cool with pearls† Edna St. Vincent Millay’s unconventional childhood, growing up without a father because her mom kicked him out and having to learn independence and responsibility by the age of twelve, influenced her poetry and shaped her as an motivated and self-sufficient individual. By the time â€Å"Vincent†, as she liked to be called, was nineteen years old, she already had already made a name for herself as a formidable poet. A couple discoveredRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem If I Should Learn858 Words   |  4 PagesAfter first reading Edna St. Vincent Millay’s lyric poem, â€Å"If I Should Learn, in Some Quite Casual Way,† one may be taken aback by just how unconcerned the speaker, possibly Millay herself, seems to be with this scenario. Only after going back through the poem a time or two can one understand what Millay truly means. Figures of speech are methodically placed to give the impression that not much effort went into this mere thought. In the opening lines of Millay’s poem, it seems as if she is speaking

Wiccan Beliefs and Practices Free Essays

When I think of martial arts, I think about the first time I saw my first Bruce Lee movie. With all the fast movements of Karate or Tae Kwon Do, it seems as though every movie they put out about martial arts in the beginning you would have the teacher training the student and then the student taking on the teacher and once he demonstrates that he can beat the teacher or he is proficient at whatever task the teacher has assigned then he can move on to the next journey or stage. Each stage of martial arts is practiced, and each student must learn concentration. We will write a custom essay sample on Wiccan Beliefs and Practices or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this paper I will show you the comparison between martial arts in the United States and other countries of origin. The only reason martial arts are so great is because it strengthens each of these aspects of body and mind to make a beautiful display of movement. Martial arts are commonly associated with East Asian cultures, but are by no means unique to Asia. Throughout Europe there was an extensive system of combat martial arts, collectively referred to as Historical European martial arts, until modern times and now they are being reconstructed by several organizations. Native Americans have a tradition of open-handed martial arts, that includes wrestling and Hawaiian’s have historically practiced martial arts featuring small and large joints manipulation, it’s a mix of origins that occur in the athletic movements of Capoeira that was created in Brazil by Slaves, based on skills brought with them from Africa. Also, there is an early legend in martial 3 Comparing the teachings of martial arts in the US and Asia arts that tells the tale of an Indian monk Bodhi dharma (also called Daruma), believed to have lived around 550 A. D. He is credited with founding the meditative philosophy of â€Å"Zen Buddhism† and with influencing the unarmed combat arts of the Shaolin temple in China. The martial virtues of discipline, humility, restraint and respect are attributed to this philosophy. The teaching of martial arts in Asia has historically followed the cultural traditions of teacher-disciple apprenticeship. Students are trained in a stri ctly hierarchical system by a master instructor: Sifu in Cantonese or Shifu in Mandarin; Sensei in Japanese; Sa Bum Nim in Korean. The native peoples of North America and South America had their own martial training which began in childhood. Some First Nations men and more rarely, some women were called warriors only after they had proved themselves in battle. Most groups selected individuals for training in the use bows, knives, blowguns, spears, and war clubs in early adolescence. War clubs were the preferred martial weapon because Native American warriors could raise their social status by killing enemies in single combat face to face. Warriors honed their weapons skills and stalking techniques through lifelong training. Martial arts in the United States have evolved into everything from simple to complex system of fighting. The truth of the matter is all martial arts are similar, they teach similar principles but in different ways. It’s like religion, there are many different 4 Comparing the teachings of martial arts in the US and Asia religions but they all have something in common, they worship some form of deity. The one thing they have in common is they promote self-defense. Some martial arts are linked to spiritual or religious beliefs, philosophies such as Daoism, Shinto or Buddhism and other have their own spiritual code of honor. Martial arts are another way of saying the â€Å"art of combat† or it is a weapon used to survive. Kill or be killed. It is a set of movements used for offensive or defensive purposes (called Kata’s or forms). It can also be a set of movements used to promote health, it has structure and every movement has a meaning. It has been said that the late Bruce Lee taught that one should take the best from all arts and adapt them to whatever situation one finds oneself in. No matter where you look, or where you are in the world, you will see different kinds of martial arts dojo and training centers. Martial arts have also evolved to accommodate the needs of different ages, from kids and toddlers to grownups. For example, a dojo that offers karate can teach different classes for male and female from varying age levels. What martial arts have expanded beyond their countries of origin and become popular in the US and why? Martial arts like karate, taekwondo, judo and other oriental styles may have come from Asia. There are other forms of martial arts that originated from countries like Europe and South America. Each style has a unique facet that 5 Comparing the teachings of martial arts in the US and Asia makes them different from other martial arts, methods of training vary and may include sparring or forms (kata), which are sets or routines of techniques that are performed alone or sometimes with a partner. The Western interest in East Asian Martial arts dates back to the late 19th century, due to the increase in trade between America with China and Japan. Relatively few Westerners actually practiced the arts, and considering it to be mere performance. Exposure to martial arts during the Korean War was also significant and as Western influence grew in East Asia a large number of military personnel spent time in China, Japan, and Korea. In the late 1970s and 1980s there was an increase interest in martial arts thanks to Asian and Hollywood martial arts movies. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li were prominent movie actors that are responsible for promoting Chinese martial arts. In Europe, with the rise of firearms, martial arts declined. As a result, martial arts with historical roots in Europe do not exist today, to the same extent as in Asia, since the traditional martial arts either died out or developed into sports. Swordsmanship developed into fencing. Boxing as well as forms of wrestling have endured. European martial arts have mostly adapted to changing technology so that while some traditional martial arts still exist, military personnel are trained in skills like bayonet combat and marksmanship. Some European weapon systems have also survived as for sports and as self-defense methods. 6 Comparing the teachings of martial arts in the US and Asia In conclusion when comparing Eastern religions and martial arts in the US and in Asia, how martial arts are taught and practiced differently I found that all martial arts are similar, they teach similar principles but in different ways. In order to learn martial arts you must have self- discipline. The martial virtues of discipline, humility, restraint and respect are attributed to the Zen philosophy. The teaching of martial arts in Asia has historically followed the cultural traditions of teacher-disciple apprenticeship; however in the US the teachings are more along the lines of self-defense and competition styles. How to cite Wiccan Beliefs and Practices, Papers

Retail Industries Oil & Gas

Question: Write an essay on Development in Oil and Gas Retail Industries? Answer: Introduction The UK downstream oil sector consists of over 200 companies that are involved in refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products. The range of oil companies is members of UKPIA, other supermarket groups and independent retailer groups. There has been quite a growth and development in this sector as the market is split among power generates, industrial and transport, agricultural, government agencies, public services and military. There has been growth cited in the jet fuels and other transport fuels due to the rising demands. Thus, petrol covers 38 % of the road transport demand, and diesel represents 62% of the total demand. Hence, the following paragraphs discuss and uncover the factors that have lead to the development and have led to the growth of this sector (Steinberg, 2012). 1. Consumer needs as a business driver The consumers are essential factors of any business. The retailers use the consumer needs and want to market their products. Hence, consumer needs are not always inherently present but are also made. This consumer needs should be understood and catered to by the retailers to drive their business. According to the Deloitte report, the ultimate consumer needs for fuel and petroleum is the ease and convenience as well as the price. It is seen that consumers want better performance and service together. They feel that the (Petrol Filling Stations) PFS should be situated in 10miles interval. Also, due to the rising price of petroleum and other fuel, the availability of cheaper fuel, the customers are ready to drive an extra mile (Deloitte Study of the UK Petroleum Retail market, 2012). Market assessments done by forecourt retailing, finds the consumers paying more attention to price over distance. Thus, the availability of PFS is given second priority due to the price hike. Surveys show that consumers are ready to hunt for cheaper fuels across greater distance for finding conveniently priced fuel. Thus, the convenience of the availability was failing to get the right attention and success. A need was cited to use this behaviour to direct effective sales. A range of deals were introduced, and it has been seen that attractive fuels deals are the need of the hour. Apart from these factors, there are a few other features that attract the customers to the forecourts (UKPIA Statistical Review 2014 Statistical Review 2014, 2014). These are the grocery shops, loyalty card schemes, cash point and ATM services and also car wash features. Availability of this value added services will make sure people drive up to the PFS stations. The recent studies conducted by the Palmer an d Harvey shows that forecourts should be a more secure and safer place for nights and parcel pick-up services, or post offices could be a better way to get customers (Lode Napier, 2014). As already said and discussed that the majority of demand is for jet fuels but as these are not produced enough, the surplus fuel oil are converted to petroleum and diesel for export cases. The downward demand in transport fuel due to the economic crisis has affected the consumption. However the efficiency of the cars and the high performance has gained raise the demand for transport fuels, especially of diesel. It is also judged by some call centre programs and customer relationship programs. It is found that customers like the idea of a loyalty scheme and when prompted offered great insights into their needs and demands regarding the filling stations. Other recent customer needs are the efficiency of fuels and less impact on the environment. The biofuels are heavily in demand, and lead-free petroleum is the recent trend that is widely being adopted. Hence, to gain customer trust and foster sales, the companies and refineries must invest in providing cleaner fuels that will burn less. It's a huge demand, but the popularity of the idea has gained much access in the market, thus driving changes and newer growths into the market. 2. Relationship with fuel suppliers The major oil terminals are supplied by the pipeline, rail and sea from UK refineries. Around 3000 miles of pipeline are used in delivering the oil. These pipelines are owned either privately or by the government and provide various kinds of oil product, and thus the distribution system is far and wide. It takes several days for the fuel to reach the destination and hence the pipelines and tanks should be regularly maintained (Rahmoun and Debabi, 2012). The filling station retailers make their purchase of fuels from the supply division of the oil companies and the independent fuel suppliers. Thus, a contract, or supply agreement is formed between the two parties that are maintained by the relationship. The contract refers to the price that is needed to be paid by the PFS retailers. It is a Platts Plus charge where, Platts is the international benchmark, whereas the plus is the extra that the supplier charges. Thus to enhance this relationship and the framework of business other elements are also added to the contract. This is the credit card system, fuel cards and loyalty cards, pump maintenance and stock management services (Collins, 2014). This relationship is affected by the availability and the types of fuels that are available with the supplier. The nature and form of the contract also define the stability of the relationship. The payment terms are often revised and thus can change the balance of the relationship. Finally, the logistic arrangement and delivery also matters in maintaining the relationship (WU, ZHANG and WANG, 2010). The independent dealers have a different approach in maintaining the relationships with fuel suppliers. These approaches are, the payment terms are shorter, the choice is much reduced, the contract terms are different and the delivery site is included in the contract (Ogj.com, 2015). In a lot of markets, the oil companies have tried to ease out and reduce the cost of trading through channels and putting more focus on the implementation or operation models on multiple sites. However, the focus should also be on the sustainability of the channel of trade and efficiency in the service. Thus, there is a need to engage in building a stable relationship with the suppliers so as the cost reduced and value is maintained at all level. This will ensure that better product is delivered to the customers. A range of activities like supplier management and monitoring could be taken up to foster the relationship with suppliers. It is a key segment of driving business growth and marketing as well as organisational communication activities will achieve the target ('UK oil and gas development potential assessed', 2000). 3. Level of competition There are already many fuels available in the market with different features and attributes and of different use. It is already sighted that there is greater demand for jet fuels, but the other major fuel segments are LPG, petrol, diesel, etc. Also, there are quite many refiners in the UK market raising the level of competition (Economicsonline.co.uk, 2015). The Deloitte report suggests that there is certain brand loyalty to the public. But owing to the recent fuel hike, the consumers are becoming largely price sensitive and thus the ones with the best offers are gaining the market shares. Other factors that led to competition are distance and the time was taken to arrive at a PFS or the number and size and geographical condition of the place where the PFS is situated. Another important factor is the type of company operating in the PFS area. The growth of hypermarkets is another factor that has lead to the PFS owners compete with the retail price. This reduces the gross margins. The hypermarkets offer more discounts to the customers and thus, the PFS owners have to upgrade themselves to face the completion. The entry of large supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury in the retail petrol scenario has upped the competition in the market by reducing the retail price. Another most crucial factor that has driven the business is the growth of non-fuel sales that attracts the customers. The forecourt that offers better shopping opportunities to the customers are more appreciated, and thus a competition has arisen out of the urge to deliver better options to the customers. The intense completion has led to many PFS and petrol pumps shutting down and the ones at the hypermarket staying back. But those who are sustaining had to integrate a wide range of new attributes and marketing activities to thrust the business (Macalister, 2014). On the other hand, it is reported that the UK oil companies are lagging behind in the international scenario, and this is due to the rising cost of exploration and recovery of oil. Thus, the completion regarding resources, including human and other physical resources is also significant in driving the competition. The UK government department and agencies have helped the industry sustain its competitiveness. Competitiveness leads to an urge to fight and excel and thus would ensure business growth. Hence, the competitive ground must be maintained at all levels. Another strategy that is being adopted recently to foster the completion is the merger and the acquisition, and it has to be proven that the merger would not degrade the level of competition (Promoting Competition in the Natural Gas Industry, 2002). The competition had also been beneficial in driving employment, as attaining human resource was one of the factors of competition. Also, these means great values are being provided to the customers. Increased satisfaction means growth in demand and thus in a way, completion will also have a huge impact on driving the business growth in the particular sector. 4. Government and regulatory policy The oil industry and more particularly the PFS system of UK are affected but the government policies and regulations. The regulatory policies like environment and safety standards, along with the Fuel duty, VAT, business rates and corporation tax are the drivers of government policies that have quite an impact on the oil industry of UK (Rutledge, Wright and Boardman, 2010). The increase in the business rates or the rateable value will lead to forecourts closing down after 2015. Thus, the impact on the industry will be huge. Also, currently the fuel duty and VAT consists 60% of the ultimate retail price. Thus, the increase in the VAT and fuel duty will be different for different PFS owners as they have different contract terms. Thus, the rising costs will impact the retailers and the PFS owners in a different manner (Simpson, 2011). The environmental and safety policy is another factor that is paid more attention recently. The biofuels, air pollution and vapour recovery are important factors that are essential to kept in check. Biofuel are more or less renewable energy sources and is the answer to the future energy use. The E10 and E5 petrol with a proportionate mixture of ethanol and petrol have increased the share of the renewable energy sources in the transport sector. Thus, the supermarkets and PFS owners must keep sufficient stock of these fuels to receive the good eye of the government fuel emission and service standards. Inability to do so will lead to closing down of many companies (Managi, 2007). Another feature is vapour recovery that prevents and reduces the emission of volatile gases and other organic compounds. Thus, the PFS owners and other companies must integrate vapour recovery to their systems to attain the Petrol stage II. This will raise the standard and efficiency of the system and will suffice the government. Another key driver is the government's urge to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 80%. This means engineering of efficient cars to get cleaner fuels. A rise in the cost of fuels is cited due to this reason and the competition in the industry to provide and distribute cleaner fuels to the mass. It means a reinvigorated competitive scenario, this tome with serious and different implications (Ambituuni, Amezaga and Emeseh, 2014). Finally, the last factor that is paid attention is the safety process in retrieving and distribution of oil to different stations and pumps. Occupational health and safety must also be held by the PFS, hypermarkets and the refineries so that quality is maintained and at the same time, the government regulation is followed and appeased. The refining and the marketing industry have already maintained a high standard in this sector, thus gaining complete support from government agencies when it comes to human control and management. Injuries reported are very low as the high level of attention is paid to safe practices. Thus, the workplace situation is healthy and less environmental implications. The government supports the industry in context to these features, and there is a wide scope of business growth for the industry owing to this attributes and futures that are followed strictly. Conclusion The business in the UK petroleum retail market is a combined discussion of the hypermarkets, refineries and the PFS ownership. There are many factors that have driven the business growth, and these include the high fuel prices owing to the fewer resources and costly recovery methods and unavailability of upgraded features. Thus measuring all the factors four specific points are highlighted which impacts the business growth. These factors like consumer demand, relationship with suppliers, the level of competition and the governmental policies and regulations have had a quite impact on the business growth and thus are discussed elaborately. Finally the opportunities and the future market trends are also guessed at. References Ambituuni, A., Amezaga, J. and Emeseh, E. (2014). Analysis of safety and environmental regulations for downstream petroleum industry operations in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. Environmental Development, 9, pp.43-60. Collins, N. (2014). Fuel prices: the 'rocket and feather effect' explained. [online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11212890/Fuel-prices-the-rocket-and-feather-effect-explained.html [Accessed 9 Aug. 2015]. Deloitte Study of the UK Petroleum Retail market. (2012). DECC Report. Economicsonline.co.uk, (2015). The market for oil. [online] Available at: https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/Competitive_markets/The_market_for_oil.html [Accessed 9 Aug. 2015]. Lode, N. and Napier, C. (2014). Recognition of Actuarial Gains and Losses under IAS 19 among UK Listed Companies. Jurnal Pengurusan, 40, pp.15-24. Macalister, T. (2014). Petrol retailers urged to cut prices in line with falling oil costs. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/nov/06/petrol-retailers-urged-cut-prices-falling-oil-costs [Accessed 9 Aug. 2015]. Managi, S. (2007). Technological change and environmental policy. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Ogj.com, (2015). Total sells UK retail, fuel distribution assets. [online] Available at: https://www.ogj.com/articles/2011/06/total-sells-uk-retail.html [Accessed 9 Aug. 2015]. Promoting Competition in the Natural Gas Industry. (2002). OECD Journal: Competition Law and Policy, 4(2), pp.67-145. Rahmoun, M. and Debabi, M. (2012). Dependence and Commitment: Main Determinants of Negotiation between Suppliers and Retailers. IJMS, 4(3). Rutledge, I., Wright, P. and Boardman, B. (2010). UK energy policy and the end of market fundamentalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Simpson, B. (2011). The Effect of Environmental Regulations and Other Government Controls on Oil and Gasoline Production. Energy Environment, 22(3), pp.151-166. Steinberg, R. (2012). Corporate CultureDriving Business to Failure, or Success. EDPACS, 46(1), pp.1-8. UK oil and gas development potential assessed. (2000). First Break, 18(11), pp.453-453. UKPIA Statistical Review 2014 Statistical Review 2014. (2014). Statistical Review 2014 Statistical Review 2014. WU, J., ZHANG, L. and WANG, M. (2010). The Relationship Model Between Suppliers and Retailers Based on System-collaboration. Contemporary Logistics, pp.115-121.

The Great Baby Einstein Scam free essay sample

The text â€Å"The Great Baby Einstein Scam† was written by Mira Jacob. It’s a magazine text that has the sole purpose of informing the public of Disney’s inconspicuous way of apologizing for their attempt at misleading parents to believe that they had developed a â€Å"Baby Einstein† video for babies. The language used by the writer is bold, to the point and seems to promote a â€Å"Hell Yeah† or â€Å"duh† attitude within the reader. Unlike most articles the writer formulated her thoughts to obtain a reaction from the readers. To stand up for themselves and let the large corporations know that we are paying attention. This is a consensual argument that made its point which sparked into a tradition argument of, â€Å"What do we do about it to win. † Clearly the writer is upset with the â€Å"deceptive advertising† used by Disney. A video produced by Disney that will allow your infants to become some sort of wonder kid? Her article and view was supported by documentation provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommending that children under the age of two should stay away from television screens. We will write a custom essay sample on The Great Baby Einstein Scam or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This support leads a class-action lawsuit by public health lawyers hired by Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Refunds were offered to minimize any major damage to Disney and to give the buyers a since of winning. Although I’m not one of the parents that were fooled into buying one of the videos I can truly relate to the viewpoint of the writer. It was a very well thought out marketing plan to utilize an educational foundation babies to build upon to stimulate the impulse to buy the video. Who wouldn’t want to give their child a shot at becoming a Genius? The only problem with all of this is the video didn’t work. Parents need to just take a moment when they hear or see something that seems to be â€Å"too good to be true† because it most likely is.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Essays

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Essays Strategic Petroleum Reserve Essay Strategic Petroleum Reserve Essay For over a period of 60 years and above some of the technical organizations, government agencies, and regulatory bodies have introduced the nomenclature for the definition of the reserves in petroleum. The organizations later gained acceptance, and they became the standards for the reserves classification across more industries. The definitions of reserves in petroleum will be discussed with relevant to different agencies since they will have an impact on the industry, affecting changes that would bring about the industries acceptance. United States Petroleum Reserves According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), 1978 agency, the reserves are defined according to the intended purpose which according to the agency is reporting securities. The other parameter used is a qualitative description which is commercially recoverable (Parshall, 2009). It makes no proved reserves that are below the lowest known hydrocarbon as it makes positive revisions should the performance history indicates the need for more. They are usually limited to directly offsetting the DSU. The reservoirs are supported by seismic wire line that conveys sampling, logs, and cores. Its classification to enhance recovery exists in the poorer analogous quality reservoir (Parshall, 2009). It contains both the developed and undeveloped reserves where the reserves are obtained through the wells that exist. The additional gas and oil are supposed to be fetched by the injection of fluid or other recovery techniques. An increased recovery is set so as to notify when the pilot project is done, and the program is allowed in the context of increase in production. The agency considers the reserves that are recovered from wells that are new on the undrilled acreage to be a significant expenditure for completion (Harrell Gardner, 2005). The estimates of the reserves can be done using the deterministic methodologies. To them, treatment of unconventional hydrocarbons includes the conventional hydrocarbons. The mined bitumen is also a mining reserve and not a petroleum reserve. Reserves should have limits to quantities and are expected to be produced during concessions and leases. The assumption to carry out a renewal should only be made if the registrant has a history demonstration of getting them. According to SPE/WPC Reserve Definitions : 1997 the definition of the reserves with the economic conditions that were current at that time (Harrell Gardner, 2005). The agency allowed coal bed methane to be classified as proved reserve if the recovery was to be economical. Their definitions were to be used for the determination of quantities of oil and gas reserves. The agency believes that there should be probabilistic analyses, and the disclosed quantities should be defined in the deterministic data. For the agency reserves served a general application and not a country specific. It reasonably curtailed to a commercially recoverable since its qualitative description was not proven. Petroleum Reserves in United States There seemed to be no proven reserves that were below the lowest known hydrocarbon. Reserves were to be obtained from the wells similar to the ones behind the pipe. They were to be improved from intervals that were estimated since the improved recuperation reserves are considered developed as the enhanced project becomes operational (Harrell Gardner, 2005). The reserves that are not produced rather they can be taken from the different reservoir or where a significant expenditure is required so that installation of a well or transportation can occur, additional drilling, deepening existing wells. The reserves approximation is being prepared using the deterministic or probabilistic methods. The proved reserves are based on the existing economic conditions while the unproven are based on the price and cost forecast. About the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 1980, the definition of reserves of petroleum lies on various factors. The agency is responsible for the assessment of the US and world resources like petroleum (Greene, 2003). The agency states that the resources include reserves and all the accumulation that can eventually be available with those that are not recoverable under the economic situations. The identified resources are however considered to have a specific geologic timeline and information. The classification is done depending on the feasibility of the recovery made by the economy and also due to the marginally economic and sub-economic. Marginal reserves are considered to be a part of the reserve base which on the borders of being economically producible and a perfect time for determination, it can give essential characteristic to the economic uncertainty (Greene, 2003). Uncertainty is only registered because of the discovered and undiscovered potential of recoverable resources. Resources that are discoverable are classified according to either being inferred, measured or being indicated. How Much Oil Reserves does the US Have The estimates made of the total crude gas, natural gas liquids and natural gas to be recovered in the reservoirs and also the field to increase the development and production also increases. As a result, the additions will be commonly the reserves (Greene, 2003). The growth of a reserve is the part of the resource that is identified over and above all the measured reserves that are estimated to be added to the existing fields and also in the defined time frame that was defined. The growth of the reserves occurs due to the delineation of hydrocarbons, new reservoirs, improved recovery, and recalculations. The agency had classified the reserves according to three types of technically recoverable resources which are the oil and natural gasses from the untested cells of continuous accumulations, undiscovered conventional accumulations and natural gas and potential future additional reserves. According to Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), 2001, reserves in petroleum does not depend on the definitions made of commercial or sub-commercial factors, but it depends on the status of the categories although no regard for decisions was made. Contingent resources are considered as the resources of petroleum that have been discovered without any decisions being made (Denney, 2007). The reserves with license include the projects that are yet to be approved by the authorities or the plan that need to be granted exemption after that. The differentiation from the contingent resources depends on the approval of the internal committee so that the development can be continued. The government gives approval of the plan development occasion that aligns the interest and the way that development takes place. The primary principle that is used in the definition system of NPD is that the original recoverable resources can be found in the field or discovery according to their position in the development chain and up to the identification stage until the completion of production (Denney, 2007). The NPD reflects the current understanding of the extension, the characteristic of the recovery made and the estimation of the stochastic method. It uses the quantification of probabilistic just like the SPE. There is no precision in consideration of the economic and the technical criteria that define the reserves. The U.K. Statement of Recommended Practices (SORP), 2001 approaches the definition of reserves in providing recommended evaluation practices. The reserves can be disclosed at the choice of the company according to this agency. The developed and undeveloped oil and gas reserves are mutually exclusive (Odo, Ani, Obialor, Ugwunta, 2016). It concentrates however on the fact that the quantity of the recoverable reserves will be more than the amount estimated as proven should be 50% (Odo, Ani, Obialor, Ugwunta, 2016). Reserves can be considered to be either proven or probable if the producibility is supported by the actual production or the conclusive formation test.

The impact of port privatization on economic development in Nigeria Essay

The impact of port privatization on economic development in Nigeria - Essay Example This however does not necessarily mean that the government stays away from the entity (Obed & Emeghara, 2012). It sticks to its role as a regulator of laws regarding the activities of the body. Port, privatisation in relation to ports, has two degrees of variation (Ogwezzy & Bello, 2013). One is comprehensive privatisation where the successor company becomes the sole owner of the entire ports and all the land and water areas including assets within the port. This is the same as selling the whole port to a private company (Ogwezzy & Bello, 2013). Partial privatisation is a scheme where only part of the assets and activities of a public port are transferred to the private sector. An example of this is where the government sells its existing berths to a private company or where the government concedes with a private company to build and operate a specialised port facility (Ogwezzy & Bello, 2013). Privatisation, therefore, expands the role of the private sector in the ownership and development of existing port facilities, together with developing new services. Economic development is the progress in the economy which usually involves the change of policies, adoption of new technologies and improvement of living standards. It is measured by the level of economic productiv ity. Economic productivity is the ratio of outputs to a volume measured by inputs to a volume measured by inputs. The growth of productivity of ports means that they can produce more output from the same level of input given before (Ogwezzy & Bello, 2013). Development and operation of ports in Nigeria started in the middle of the 19th century. Efforts to provide facilities for vessels using the ocean began with the opening of Lagos Lagoon in the early 1990 (Nwanosike, Tipi & Warnock-Smith, 2012). Development of the Apapa Port, which is the South West of Nigeria was allotted in 1913 and started in 1921. In 1913, the

Japanese city Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Japanese city - Research Proposal Example Kobe has once been considered the most earthquake safe part of the country until 1995 when the great Hanshin Earthquake devastated the city. Kobe is known for its delicious cakes and coffee, "row of historic houses and precious cultural assets and various other delights" (asiatravelling.net). It also boasts of a rich natural heritage as relics are displayed in the museums. In fact, one of the great places in Kobe is the Kobe Archaeological Center which sorts, stores and exhibits artifacts from excavations of remains in the city (Kobe Convention and Visitors Association). Kobe is known as an "international city" with a diverse population of foreign residents. It is highly industrializes, with a variety of industries such as production of parts to manufacture of finished products, the leading edge R&D and the growing information technology (Overview of Kobe). Being a port city, some of its industries are port-related such as steel production, ship-building, foodstuffs, shipping and warehousing. Blessed with abundant natural resources such as the bodies of water, Kobe government has moved from the traditional method of fishing to modern aquaculture (Overview of Kobe). One of the most bankable and easiest jobs for me in Kobe is an English teacher. There are numerous opportunities for teaching jobs in Kobe, in elementary, middle school and high school. With formal education in English and a TESL certification, one can easily teach the English language in Kobe and there are various institutions such as "public schools, conversation schools, language and research institutes and corporate English training centers in Kobe" (NaukriHub). As Japanese seek to learn the English language, there is a vast opportunity for English teachers in Japan. 3. Being an "international city", there are various facilities and amenities by and for the foreign communities such as "international schools with foreign language-based curriculum, places of worship for a vast number of religions, businesses geared to foreign visitors and both short-term and long-term residents, as well as multitude of dining establishments representing almost all of the world's cuisine. (Overview of Kobe). "It is the base for many multi-cultural friendship organizations and has a great many facilities for such activities and for assisting non-Japanese residents of the city and the surrounding areas and there are also a number of places to study the Japanese language and culture" (Overview of Kobe). The city also boasts of a large number of parks where people can meet, with 16.61 sq.m of parkland per person. 4. There are a large number of beautiful places to visit in Kobe. Its parks are truly calming to the souls and satisfying to the eyes. Among these famous parks are Fruit and Flower Park which also houses hotels and hot springs with an admission fee of 500 yen, the Kobe City Suma Rikyu Park which is a blue expanse of water and of course the Sorakuen garden which is a Japanese style garden with important cultural properties. Kobe is blessed with beautiful bodies of water, therefore cruising is one of the precious activities one can have while staying there. At the Harborland/Meriken

Business Analysis of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Dissertation

Business Analysis of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream - Dissertation Example 4. Critical review of the existing strategy: position, alternatives and options as well as 5. Recommendations on how the existing strategy can be improved. In attaining the objectives above, the paper will undertake a review of the case study of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. This will provide a primary source of information and ideas. There will also be an evaluation of secondary sources to identify relevant theories and concepts that define the landscape and set the scope for the cases at hand. Question 1 What makes Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream a Successful company? In order to assess the reasons for the success of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, there is the need to conduct a SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis involves the examination of the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organisation in order to make inferences about the components of the business (Bailey, 2004 p17). Ben and Jerry's successes can be attributed primarily with how they utilised their strengths to take advantag e of opportunities. Also, they minimized their weaknesses and threats in order to navigate through tough times to be able to attain their current status. Strengths 1. A clear vision and an efficient effort to attain the vision: This led to the creation of a successful business model for Ben and Jerry's. The business model of Ben and Jerry's is so strong that it can enable the company to create numerous brands and also expand its operations to different parts of the world. The main operations in USA, Europe and Asia provide high turnover that enables the company to attain extremely high results. 2. Focus on healthy products and brands to build a strong customer base: The company has managed to build a reputation for the production of healthy products. This has caused the company to become popular amongst major customers around the globe. These brands can thus be well promoted and marketed throughout the world. 3. A strong corporate social responsibility system and environmentalism: B en and Jerry's have a strong reputation for being socially responsible. In consolidating the company, they had a policy of spending up to 7.5% of their profit before tax on corporate social responsibility (Greenfield and Cohen, 1997: Hopkins, 2004). This amounted to as much as $1.1 million annually. With such a commitment to giving back to society, Ben and Jerry's created a reputation of being a socially responsible organisation. With this feat, they could convince customers that they were more interested in the development of the society with their money than the profit motive. This boosted Ben and Jerry's Ice Creams' image and enabled them to gain a solid reputation. 4. A heavily diversified range of ice creams: Although Ben and Jerry's specialized in ice creams, they have a wide range of ice cream, frozen yoghurt and ice-cream novelties. This way, they were able to serve different customers with different brand requirements. This enabled them to continue generating revenue in all situations. This is because their range seemed to fit all potential ice cream demand. Hence, they managed to capture a large share of the market. 5. A strong network of shops: Ben and Jerry's have a strong network of shops throughout the world. They have maintained a powerful system of franchising that enables them to get entrepreneurs to invest capital in their

Theories of Work and Identity

Theories of Work and Identity Discuss: Work is a big portion of a person’s life. To say that work is a big portion of a person’s life is a understatement of large proportions. Children are raised with one or both parents who make it a priority. They are raised to make it a priority. They work virtually all their lives. They retire from it. It can be intrusive and ubiquitous and the fact that it is both a noun and a verb does not begin to hint at the complexity of it. In beginning to consider it, a nature path would be to define its nature. Is it feathered or scaled, or more accurately, is it to be relegated as a science of economics, sociology or something else entirely? Many regard it as a pure function of applied economics (Block, Berg, Belman 2004, p. 94). It seems right to regard it as such as at its most basic level it is a about an exchange relationship in which two parties trade something the one owns for something the other owns. Whether this exchange is of time, expertise, property, or ideas is irrelevant. The exchange takes place in a form of a market while both discrete and often not-so-discrete forces are at ‘work’ to set the value of the exchange. These forces, laws of supply and demand, invisible hands and the like seek to maximize the utility of the trade to both parties. As a consequence of the nature of the relationship being able to be characterized by an ‘exchange’, work can also be considered by a legal or contractual basis. By virtue of this, there are certain very explicit rules that govern the conduct of either party with regard to the fulfillment of their respective duties. Such laws, as for example in the United States, often fall under a Department of Labor and generally includes such standards as a forty-hour work week, harassment and discrimination provisions, minimum pay and pay frequency specifications as well as provisions regarding collective bargaining. The goal of such a perspective is to serve as something of a bridge between not only the economic interests of both parties but the social impact of work to the workers. In modern world, a typical exchange takes place between the individual and the organization. With this type of exchange, there are a number of additional concerns and issues that become relevant. In the first place there is generally an asymmetry of power in which the owners of capital employ individuals in masse to literally make up the corporate body and to wield profit maximizing power on employees. This imbalance is potentially offset by the previously mentioned ability of certain workers to partake in collective bargaining actions such as the formation of unions that ultimately can help to give the individual worker a larger voice. This power is wielded as a consequence of the corporation’s greater resources to enforce the often contractual nature of the exchange. Also, as corporate budgets generally exceed those of individuals the ration of the loss to the total ‘budget’ is greater. In addition, as a corporation does not have emotions, the consequences of a ‘failed agreement’ are often of significant magnitude to the individual. Though the worth of the individual worker is indeed significant to the corporation for, without him, the corporation would ‘die’, the time horizon of the two parties is vastly different. This idea is eloquently expressed by Adam Smith, â€Å"In the long-run the workman may be as necessary to his master as his master is to him; but the necessity is not so immediate† (Smith 1976, p.84). As the nature of work is at least partly economic, to ignore the basic issues of business management would be unpardonable. From Taylor’s beginning of scientific management to the â€Å"high performance work systems† of today, the nature of managing the individual worker presents a range of methods devised in order to maximize the economic return of work. While Taylor’s command-and-control methods largely regarded the average laborer as incapable of being able to self-manage, they did nonetheless create vast increases in efficiency and paved the way for the development of very large organizations. Interestingly enough, these techniques, or at least, the implementation, of them has been supplanted by the like’s of Stanford’s Pfeffer is able to rigorously document the superlativity of a complete system of seven key human resource practices that, when fully integrated into an organization produce superior financial returns to the organization. In place of timed work, close supervision and continuous thrusts for greater efficiency through centralized decision-making, consider the characteristics of the ‘modern’ high performance organization (Taylor 1917; Pfeffer 1998, pp. 64-65): Employment security Selective hiring Decentralized decision-making Comparatively high compensation Extensive training Egalitarian work place Extensive information sharing. Despite the fundamental economic nature of work, there is another side that, were it go unmentioned, the discussion would utterly fail to consider the other perspective on work: that of the individual employee. Even as an economic premise entirely, the goal of which is to increase the profit and well-being of the individual, the sociological aspects of work merit full consideration (Stiglitz 2002, p. 1). In consideration of the individual, it is reasonable that one might consider the very contractual nature of work to be akin to that of a â€Å"social exchange† process through which individuals and groups of individuals engage in transactions (Dreher Dougherty 2002, p. 41). These exchanges are clearly governed first by applicable laws and regulations, perhaps secondly by organizational policies and procedures and thirdly and perhaps most notably, they are regulated by the very nature of individuals to ascribe to something that might resemble a common values system. In this system is the seemingly natural component of a sense of â€Å"fairness†. This guides innumerable behaviors as the individual inevitably seeks a form of â€Å"reciprocal altruism† in which, in addition to following self-serving fulfillment of their own needs, individuals appear to operate on the assumption that there is a bigger picture of morals and the â€Å"right thing† involved (Fred erick Wasieleski 2002, pp.284). An additional consideration of the social nature of work and ensuing issues is the idea that, for many, work is the process by which â€Å"identity† is established. Consider the typical introduction at a party or other function†¦ first, one gives their name and then, almost inevitably either their occupation or work relation status to the host (i.e., â€Å"I work with Ted†, â€Å"I am a client†, etc.). This phenomenon, Social Identity Theory, is quite relevant to the workplace in that it forces one to consider the psychological implications of doing business (Ashforth Mael 1989, pp. 20-21; Stiglitz 2002, p. 1). Bridging this concept with the representation that work is fundamentally an exchange relationship is the idea of the psychological contract. Just as there are explicit rules governing work expectations, so too are there implicit rules. The rules are communicated by the culture of the firm, the seemingly accepted behaviors of others in a similar posit ion and other verbal and non-verbal queues. The conditions of the contract are primarily mediated by the individual’s manager, the immediate representation of the organization in the mind of the individual (Rousseau 2000, February). Thus, it is through the social processes of work that an individual gains an understand of who they are but also gain particular knowledge of the mutual obligations of the economic exchange. In summary, work is. It is: what, why, how, when. It is the noun and the verb, the result as well as the process. A discussion of which cannot omit the fundamental economic nature of it yet one cannot ignore the precepts of sociology and psychology woven into every single ‘unit of production’, the individual worker. Any discussion of work which does not give full deliberation the simultaneous dichotomy is to only give half the argument and less than that for the appreciation of what work represents, to the organization, the individual and to society. Works Consulted Ashforth, B. F. Mael. (1989). â€Å"Social Identity Theory and the Organization†. Academy of Management Review (14), 1, pp. 20-39. Block, R., Berg, P. and Belman, D. (2004). â€Å"The Economic Dimension of the Employment Relationship†, in Coyle –Shepard, J. Shore, L. Taylor, M. and Tetrick, L., (eds.). The Employment Relationship: Examining Psychological and Contextual Perspectives. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK. Dreher, G. and Dougherty, T. (2002). Human Resource Strategy: A Behavioral Perspective for the General Manager. McGraw-Hill Irwin: Boston, Massachusetts. Frederick, W. and Wasieleski, D. (2002). â€Å"Evolutionary Social Contracts†. Business and Society Review, (107), 3, pp. 283-308. Pfeffer, J. (1998). The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First. Harvard Business School Press: Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Rosseau, D. (2000, February). Psychological Contract Inventory Technical Report. Carnegie Mellon University: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA . Smith, A. (1976). An Inquiry into the Nature and the Causes of the Wealth of Nation., R.H. Campbell and A.S. Skinner, eds. Clarendon Press:. Oxford, UK Stitlitz, J. (2002). â€Å"Employment, Social Justice and Societal Well-Being†. International Labour Review, (141), 1-2, pp. 9-29. Taylor, F. (1911). The Principles of Scientific Management. Harper: New York, New York.

Censorship of the Internet for Children Essay -- Computers Technology

Censorship of the Internet for Children The Internet is one of the most profound and important technological advancements of this era. It has touched the lives of hundreds of millions of people all over the world. The Internet has become so embedded into our everyday life that for many, life would almost be unbearable without an internet connection. The Internet has enabled so many people who are so far away from each other a means of communication. It eased the burden of contacting loved ones across the world from each other. Not only does the Internet provide a digital communication playground for users, it also provides them with a sea of invaluable resources. The wealth of information that is available on the Internet is both overwhelming and incredible. Almost everything imaginable to the human mind can be found on the Internet. Whether or not some of this information is legitimate, it still exists and is available to anyone who wants to access it. The Internet has empowered the individuals who are connected t o it with an abundance of resources and information. The Internet has brought about a new means of doing business. It seems that all business models today include the Internet some how. On the surface, the Internet may seem great, wonderful and ingenious however, the ability for everyone to access the Internet is both a blessing and also a curse. It is beautiful that the Internet and its contents are available to everyone, but that â€Å"everyone† includes children who are under the age of 18. The implications of this type of access are extremely problematic both socially and ethically. According to Internet World Stats, the estimated population of the world is about 6.45 billion people with approximately... ...itehouse.com/ â€Å"Whitehouse.com† [11] http://www.craiglist.com â€Å"Visit the Best in Adult Sites† [12] http://www.snapshotspy.com/stats.htm â€Å"Child Computer Usage Statistics† [13] http://www.utilitarianism.com/utilitarian.htm â€Å"Utilitarianism† [14] http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031025-1.html â€Å"Protection From Pornography Week, 2003†, President of the U.S, Oct. 25, 2003 [15] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58610-2002Nov15.html â€Å"Congress Approves ‘Dot-Kids’ Measure†, David Maguire, Nov. 12, 2002 [16] http://www.kids.us/sitelist.html â€Å"Current Site List† [17] http://www.icra.org/ â€Å"Internet Content Rating Association† [18] http://www.icra.org/_en/about/ â€Å"ICRA At A Glance† [19] http://www.isc.meiji.ac.jp/~sumwel_h/links/linkJ04.htm â€Å"Laws of Japan† [20] http://www.ageofconsent.com/japan.htm â€Å"Age of Consent for Japan†