Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2017

Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2017 Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2017 Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2017 By Mark Nichol The Oxford Dictionaries recently publicized its Word of the Year for 2017 and the runner-up shortlist, and the selections, and a comparison of them with those of Merriam-Webster, are intriguing. The Oxford Dictionaries (part of Oxford University Press) and Merriam-Webster, publishers of the predominant dictionaries in the United Kingdom and the United States, respectively, select a Word of the Year (and a shortlist of runners-up) each year, as do other dictionary publishers, and the primary criterion for selection is the same: Visitors to the respective publishers’ online dictionaries looked up the chosen word, and those in the shortlist, significantly more often than most other words. (These words, not coincidentally, tend to reflect the sociopolitical zeitgeist and are likely to have lasting cultural significance.) Two aspects of the shortlists interested me. First, the two lists have no words in common. Second, although I read widely and I was familiar with the circumstances by which nearly all the words on both lists had become so prominent, I had not encountered most of the terms on the Oxford Dictionaries list, though the meanings for some of them are (for me, at least) easily deduced. The top word, according to the Oxford Dictionaries, is youthquake, which reflects the significance of an unexpectedly strong turnout of younger voters in the 2017 snap election in the United Kingdom and an election in New Zealand later in the year. The term, which refers to a significant change prompted by young people, was actually coined in 1965 by Diana Vreeland, then editor of Vogue magazine, but it has maintained a low profile over the past half-century- and similar rumblings have not occurred in the United States on anywhere near the same scale, hence the lack of a concurrent spike in popularity for the term on this side of the Pond. The same is true of most of the runners-up. One strong exception is antifa, a loanword from Germany- a truncation of Antifaschistische (antifascist) dating to before World War II and referring to militant leftist political demonstrators- because of the ubiquity of such protestors at demonstrations in the United States. However, broflake (meaning â€Å"a politically conservative man easily offended by progressive attitudes†) did not make much of an impression in the United States. (The term is a play on snowflake, which in a sociopolitical context refers pejoratively to supposedly oversensitive liberals by comparing them to a very delicate meteorological phenomenon; it substitutes snow with bro, originally neutral slang for brother but here connoting a boorish conservative man.) Nor did the related term â€Å"white fragility,† coined by American academic Robin DiAngelo in 2011 to refer to the general inability of white people to withstand confrontational discussions abou t racial equality. Other terms on the Oxford Dictionary shortlist include kompromat, a Russian loanword derived from â€Å"compromising material† and denoting sensitive personal information that can be used against a political opponent; newsjacking, meaning â€Å"taking advantage of news or current events to promote a brand or product†; and â€Å"milkshake duck,† meaning a social media star who prompts disillusionment when he or she is discovered to have a character flaw- an allusion to being charmed by an internet meme such as video of a duck drinking a milkshake, only to find out that the duck is a racist. Then there’s gorpcore, describing a fashion trend featuring utilitarian clothing associated with outdoor recreation; the term is a play on normcore, which denotes pointedly drab, plain attire and is based on the use of the element -core, derived from hardcore. (Gorp, perhaps deriving from a verb meaning eat greedily, is another word for â€Å"trail mix.†) Finally, unicorn, originally a word for a mythical horned horselike animal (the name literally means one horn), pertains to a product featuring rainbow colors, glitter, and/or other colorful enhancements designed to distract consumers from their mundane lives; the term derives from the prominence of such features in children’s toys and entertainment that feature unicorns. (This sense also supplants the use of unicorn to denote something so rare as to be virtually unobtainable, such as an ideal romantic or sexual partner.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:25 Subordinating Conjunctions225 Foreign Phrases to Inspire YouStarting a Business Letter with Dear Mr.

Essay on The Person Whom I Admire Most Essay Example

Essay on The Person Whom I Admire Most Essay Example Essay on The Person Whom I Admire Most Paper Essay on The Person Whom I Admire Most Paper Whom I Admire Most Personal essay Virtually everyone has a person whom they admire. A majority of people seem to admire someone because of fame or fortune. I, on the other hand, do not place my admiration on material possessions or people who idolize them. My admiration is reserved for someone far more priceless than anything this world may offer. Therefore, my mother, is the person whom I admire most because she was supportive, she was tenacious, and she was a provider. First, I adore my mother because she was supportive. I participated in a lot of extracurricular activities as a kid, and my mother was always there to encourage me. For example, at age five I began to play soccer on Saturday mornings for an organized team and even though my mother’s only time away from work was Saturday mornings she came to every game. Also, during my high school years I wanted to go on a church trip to Mexico, however the trip was expensive and I was unable to collect enough money to go. Nevertheless, my mother paid the remaining balance by working extra shifts. Lastly, when I wanted to volunteer to join The United States Air Force three months prior to my high school graduation she drove me to the military enlistment processing station and watched proudly as I signed my contracts. In addition, my mother deserves my admiration because she was a provider. During my adolescent years, I began to understand how much she sacrificed to provide for me. I remember her having to sale items that were of significant personal value in order to pay our monthly bills. Additionally, my mother worked two jobs to ensure I had the essentials needed to enjoy my high school years. Also, my mother made whatever sacrifice was necessary to ensure our survival. For example, during the summer before my junior year of high school my mother was laid off from work and we lost our rental house; nevertheless, she sent me to live with my aunt for a year as she was more concerned with me having a stable living environment than her on personal well being. Most importantly, I cherish my mother because she was tenacious. My mother could have been misunderstood as being hardheaded; however, she stood strong for what she believed in and was unyielding to outside influences. My mother taught me to never give up on my dreams and to endure through the hard times. Consequently, I have accomplished many wonderful things, but none are more gratifying than the fact that I take care of my mother whom suffers from dementia. Her spirit has not grown weak and she continues to stand strong. For example, when I go to visit her she is constantly telling me that she will beat that dreaded disease and go home one day. However, I know the truth is that dementia will slowly take more and more of her away from me, but this will prove my mother’s tenacity once again through me. Because my mother was supportive, tenacious, and a provider she is the person whom I admire most. We may face many challenges in life, but to see how my mother stood solid and defeated most of those challenges is an inspiration. I have endured many hardships throughout life, but I my mother taught me two priceless lessons. First, nothing in life worth having will be easy. Second, no matter the circumstances never give up on your dreams.

Baskin Robins Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Baskin Robins - Research Paper Example Organizations within that industry can then access the information for a certain fee. Basin-Robins require syndicated data concerning organizations within its industry, especially those that serve the same or similar market. The information must be based on organizations that have changed their logo in the past. The effects the change had on customers’ purchasing patterns and overall sales and profitability can guide Basin-Robins on deciding whether changing the logo is a worthwhile venture or not. The secondary and syndicated data would serve to give insights on the viability of changing the logo for Baskin-Robins. Qualitative research provides information on changes that have been effected in organizations in a certain industry. The information obtained through qualitative research on competitors would inform Baskin-Robins on the expected reactions from customers upon changing its brand. Moreover, the impact of the reactions on profit margins and sales volume can be estimated using the qualitative research (Kolb, 2008). There are customers who have established an identity with the existing brand. These customers may be reluctant to accept the new brand. Changing the brand without considering its impact on such customers may be detrimental to the organization’s performance. On the other hand, the research can insightfully establish the need for brand change. The brand change may bring in more customers and persuade existing ones from seeking competitors’ products by taking care of their changed tastes and

Credit Card Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Credit Card - Essay Example If the student with a poor credit report is fortunate enough to land their dream job, the weight of the credit report will pull down a portion of their take home pay. They will be saddled with the existing debt, as well as pay higher prices on everything from cars to insurance. Insurance rates are based on a client's risk of filing a claim and the insurance companies adjust the premiums accordingly. A 2004-2005 study by the Texas Department of Insurance found that, "...[I]nsurance loss ratios for people with the worst credit scores are triple those of people with the best scores" (Overview... ). For the poor credit risk this results in higher rates on auto, home, and even life insurance premiums. Yes, even life insurance premiums are affected by a poor credit report because poor credit can damage your health and may result in your death. Endless financial worries and fears of collectors calling can manifest themselves in a myriad of medical problems. Hard to manage credit can cause stress, hormone imbalance, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer (Lawrence). The risk is even greater for young women where financial problems are a leading cause of suicide (Khaitova). Easy credit and the lure of the credit card companies can result in a lifetime of misery when out of control finances result in the loss of a student's dream job. When faced with a second rate job and escalating insurance rates, their health begins to suffer. For some, the cycle of mounting debt can result in death or even suicide.

Online Shopping Essay Example for Free

Online Shopping Essay Online shopping or online retailing is a form of electronic commerce allowing consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet without an intermediary service. An online shop, e-shop, e-store, Internet shop, web-shop, web-store, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or shopping center. The process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. When a business buys from another business it is called business-to-business (B2B) online shopping. The largest online retailing corporations are E-Bay and Amazon.com, both of which are based in the US. History In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee created the first World Wide Web server and browser.[1] It opened for commercial use in 1991. In 1994, other advances took place, such as online banking and the opening of an online pizza shop by Pizza Hut.[1] During that same year, Netscape introduced SSL encryption of data transferred online, which has become essential for secure online shopping. Also in 1994, the German company Intershop introduced its first online shopping system. In 1995, Amazon.com launched its online shopping site, and in 1996 eBay appeared. Customers Online customers must have access to a computer and a method of payment. Generally, higher levels of education, income, and occupation of the head of the household correspond to more favorable perceptions of shopping online. Also, increased exposure to technology increases the probability of developing favorable attitudes towards new shopping channels.[2] In a December 2011 study, Equation Research found that 87% of tablet users made an online transaction with their tablet device during the early holiday shopping season. Logistics Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the retailer directly or by searching among alternative vendors using a shopping search engine. Once a particular product has been found on the website of the seller, most online retailers use shopping cart software to allow the consumer to accumulate multiple items and to adjust quantities, like filling a physical shopping cart or basket in a conventional store. A checkout process follows (continuing the physical-store analogy) in which payment and delivery information is collected, if necessary. Some stores allow consumers to sign up for a permanent online account so that some or all of this information only needs to be entered once. The consumer often receives an e-mail confirmation once the transaction is complete. Less sophisticated stores may rely on consumers to phone or e-mail their orders (though credit card numbers are not accepted by e-mail, for security reasons). Payment Online shoppers commonly use a credit card to make payments. However, some systems enable users to create accounts and pay by alternative means, such as: * Billing to mobile phones and landlines[4][5] * Cash on delivery (C.O.D., offered by very few online stores) * Cheque/ Check * Debit card * Direct debit in some countries * Electronic money of various types * Gift cards * Postal money order * Wire transfer/delivery on payment * Invoice, especially popular in some markets/countries, such as Switzerland Some sites will not accept international credit cards. Some require both the purchasers billing address and shipping address to be in the same country in which the site does its business. Other sites allow customers from any country to send gifts anywhere. The financial part of a transaction might be processed in real time (for example, letting the consumer know their credit card was declined before they log off), or might be done later as part of the fulfillment process. Product delivery Once a payment has been accepted the goods or services can be delivered in the following ways. * Downloading: This is the method often used for digital media products such as software, music, movies, or images. * Drop shipping: The order is passed to the manufacturer or third-party distributor, who ships the item directly to the consumer, bypassing the retailers physical location to save time, money, and space. * In-store pick-up: The customer orders online, finds a local store using locator software and picks the product up at the closest store. This is the method often used in the bricks and clicks business model. * Printing out, provision of a code for, or emailing of such items as admission tickets and scrip (e.g., gift certificates and coupons). The tickets, codes, or coupons may be redeemed at the appropriate physical or online premises and their content reviewed to verify their eligility (e.g., assurances that the right of admission or use is redeemed at the correct time and place, for the correct dollar amount, and for the correct number of uses). * Shipping: The product is shipped to the customers address or that of a customer-designated third party. * Will call, lCOBO (in Care Of Box Office), or at the door pickup: The patron picks up pre-purchased tickets for an event, such as a play, sporting event, or concert, either just before the event or in advance. With the onset of the Internet and e-commerce sites, which allow customers to buy tickets online, the popularity of this service has increased. Shopping cart systems * Simple systems allow the offline administration of products and categories. The shop is then generated as HTML files and graphics that can be uploaded to a webspace.the systems do not use an online database. * A high end solution can be bought or rented as a stand-alone program or as an addition to an enterprise resource planning program. It is usually installed on the companys own webserver and may integrate into the existing supply chain so that ordering, payment, delivery, accounting and warehousing can be automated to a large extent. * Other solutions allow the user to  register and create an online shop on a portal that hosts multiple shops at the same time. * Open source shopping cart packages include advanced platforms such as Interchange, and off the shelf solutions as Avactis, osCommerce, Shopify, Magento, Zen Cart, VirtueMart, Batavi, PrestaShop, E-Junkie, Clickbank, Fetch, DPD, Pulley, BitBuffet, Dbox, PayLoadz, FastSpring, Cerizmo, Digital Content Center, byteCommerce, PHPurchase.[6] * Commercial systems such as BigCommerce can also be tailored to ones needs so the shop does not have to be created from scratch. By using a pre-existing framework, software modules for various functionalities required by a web shop can be adapted and combined. Online shopping Like many online auction websites, many websites allow small businesses to create and maintain online shops (ecommerce online shopping carts), without the complexity that involved in purchasing and developing an expensive stand-alone ecommerce software solutions. Design Customers are attracted to online shopping not only because of the high level of convenience, but also because of the broader selection, competitive pricing, and greater access to information.[7][8] Business organizations seek to offer online shopping because it is much lower cost compared to bricks and mortar stores, offers access to a world wide market, increases customer value and builds sustainable capabilities.[clarification needed] Information load Designers of online shops are concerned with the effects of information load whether consumers can be given too much information in virtual shopping environments. Information load is a product of the spatial and temporal arrangements of stimuli in the webstore.[10] Compared with conventional retail shopping, the information environment of virtual shopping is enhanced by providing additional product information such as comparative products and services as well as various alternatives and attributes of each alternative, etc.[11] Two major dimensions of information load are complexity and novelty.[12] Complexity refers to the number of different elements or features of a site, often the result of increased information diversity. Novelty involves the unexpected, suppressed, new, or unfamiliar aspects of the site. The novelty dimension may keep consumers exploring a shopping site, whereas the complexity dimension may induce impulse purchases. Consumer needs and expectations A successful webstore is not just a good looking website with dynamic technical features, listed in many search engines.[13] In addition to disseminating information, it is about building relationships and making money. Businesses often attempt to adopt online shopping techniques without understanding them and/or without a sound business model, producing webstores that support the organizations culture and brand name without satisfying consumers expectations. User-centered design is critical. Understanding the customers wants and needs and living up to promises gives the customer a reason to come back and meeting their expectations gives them a reason to stay. It is important that the website communicates to the customer that the company cares about them.[13] Customer needs and expectations are not the same for all customers. Age, gender, experience, culture are all important factors. For example, Japanese cultural norms may lead users there to feel privacy is especially critical on shopping sites and emotional involvement is highly important on financial pensions sites.[9] Users with more online experience focus more on the variables that directly influence the task, while novice users focus on understanding the information.[14] To increase online purchases, businesses must expend significant time and money to define, design, develop, test, implement, and maintain the webstore.[13] It is easier to lose a customer than to gain one and even top-rated sites will not succeed if the organization fails to practice common etiquette such as returning e-mails in a timely fashion, notifying  customers of problems, being honest, and being good stewards of the customers data.[13] Because it is important to eliminate mistakes and be more appealing to online shoppers, many webshop designers study research on consumer expectations.[15] User interface An automated online assistant, with potential to enhance user interface on shopping sites. The most important factors determining whether customers return to a site are ease of use and the presence of user-friendly features.[16] Usability testing is important for finding problems and improvements in a web site. Methods for evaluating usability include heuristic evaluation, cognitive walk through, and user testing. Each technique has its own characteristics and emphasizes different aspects of the user experience.[16] Market share E-commerce B2C product sales totaled $142.5 billion,[3] representing about 8% of retail product sales in the United States.[17] The $26 billion worth of clothes sold online represented about 13% of the domestic market,[18] and with 72% of women looking online for apparel, it has become one of the most popular cross-shopping categories.[19] Forrester Research estimates that the United States online retail industry will be worth $279 billion in 2015.[20] There were 242 million people doing online shopping in China in 2012.[21] For developing countries and low-income households in developed countries, adoption of e-commerce in place of or in addition to conventional methods is limited by a lack of affordable Internet access. Advantages Convenience Online stores are usually available 24 hours a day, and many consumers have Internet access both at work and at home. Other establishments such as internet cafes and schools provide access as well. A visit to a conventional retail store requires travel and must take place during business hours. In the event of a problem with the item it is not what the consumer ordered,  or it is not what they expected—consumers are concerned with the ease with which they can return an item for the correct one or for a refund. Consumers may need to contact the retailer, visit the post office and pay return shipping, and then wait for a replacement or refund. Some online companies have more generous return policies to compensate for the traditional advantage of physical stores. For example, the online shoe retailer Zappos.com includes labels for free return shipping, and does not charge a restocking fee, even for returns which are not the result of merchant error. (Note: In the United Kingdom, online shops are prohibited from charging a restocking fee if the consumer cancels their order in accordance with the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Act 2000).[22] Information and reviews Online stores must describe products for sale with text, photos, and multimedia files, whereas in a physical retail store, the actual product and the manufacturers packaging will be available for direct inspection (which might involve a test drive, fitting, or other experimentation). Some online stores provide or link to supplemental product information, such as instructions, safety procedures, demonstrations, or manufacturer specifications. Some provide background information, advice, or how-to guides designed to help consumers decide which product to buy. Some stores even allow customers to comment or rate their items. There are also dedicated review sites that host user reviews for different products. Reviews and now blogs gives customers the option of shopping cheaper organise purchases from all over the world without having to depend on local retailers. In a conventional retail store, clerks are generally available to answer questions. Some online stores have real-time chat features, but most rely on e-mail or phone calls to handle customer questions. Price and selection One advantage of shopping online is being able to quickly seek out deals for items or services with many different vendors (though some local search engines do exist to help consumers locate products for sale in nearby  stores). Search engines, online price comparison services and discovery shopping engines can be used to look up sellers of a particular product or service. Shipping costs (if applicable) reduce the price advantage of online merchandise, though depending on the jurisdiction, a lack of sales tax may compensate for this. Shipping a small number of items, especially from another country, is much more expensive than making the larger shipments bricks-and-mortar retailers order. Some retailers (especially those selling small, high-value items like electronics) offer free shipping on sufficiently large orders. Another major advantage for retailers is the ability to rapidly switch suppliers and vendors without disrupting users shopping experience.. Disadvantages Fraud and security concerns Given the lack of ability to inspect merchandise before purchase, consumers are at higher risk of fraud on the part of the merchant than in a physical store. Merchants also risk fraudulent purchases using stolen credit cards or fraudulent repudiation of the online purchase. With a warehouse instead of a retail storefront, merchants face less risk from physical theft. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption has generally solved the problem of credit card numbers being intercepted in transit between the consumer and the merchant. However, one must still trust the merchant (and employees) not to use the credit card information subsequently for their own purchases, and not to pass the information to others. Identity theft is still a concern for consumers when hackers break into a merchants web site and steal names, addresses and credit card numbers. A number of high-profile break-ins in the 2000s has prompted some U.S. states to require disclosure to consumers when this happens. Computer security has thus become a major concern for merchants and e-commerce service providers, who deploy countermeasures such as firewalls and anti-virus software to protect their networks. Phishing is another danger, where consumers are fooled into thinking they are dealing with a reputable retailer, when they have actually been manipulated into feeding private information to a system operated by a malicious party. Denial of service attacks are a minor risk for merchants, as are server and network outages. Quality seals can be placed on the Shop web page if it has undergone an independent assessment and meets all requirements of the company issuing the seal. The purpose of these seals is to increase the confidence of the online shoppers; the existence of many different seals, or seals unfamiliar to consumers, may foil this effort to a certain extent. A number of resources offer advice on how consumers can protect themselves when using online retailer services. These include: * Sticking with known stores, or attempting to find independent consumer reviews of their experiences; also ensuring that there is comprehensive contact information on the website before using the service, and noting if the retailer has enrolled in industry oversight programs such as trust mark or trust seal. * Before buying from a new company, evaluate the website by considering issues such as: the professionalism and user-friendliness of the site; whether or not the company lists a telephone number and/or street address along with e-contact information; whether a fair and reasonable refund and return policy is clearly stated; and whether there are hidden price inflators, such as excessive shipping and handling charges. * Ensuring that the retailer has an acceptable privacy policy posted. For example note if the retailer does not explicitly state that it will not share private information with others without consent. * Ensuring that the vendor address is protected with SSL (see above) when entering credit card information. If it does the address on the credit card information entry screen will start with HTTPS. * Using strong passwords, without personal information. Another option is a pass phrase, which might be something along the lines: I shop 4 good a buy!! These are difficult to hack, and provides a variety of upper, lower, and special characters and could be site specific and easy to remember. Although the benefits of online shopping are considerable, when the process goes poorly it can create a thorny situation. A few problems that shoppers potentially face include identity theft, faulty products, and the accumulation of spyware. Whenever you purchase a product, you are going to be required to put in your credit card information and billing/shipping address. If the website is not secure a customers information can be accessible to anyone who knows how to obtain it. Most large online corporations are inventing new ways to make fraud more difficult, however, the criminals are constantly responding to these developments with new ways to manipulate the system. Even though these efforts are making it easier to protect yourself online, it is a constant fight to maintain the lead. It is advisable to be aware of the most current technology and scams out there to fully protect yourself and your finances.[20]. One of the hardest areas to deal with in online shopping is the delivery of the products. Most companies offer shipping insurance in case the product is lost or damaged; however, if the buyer opts not to purchase insurance on their products, they are generally out of luck. Some shipping companies will offer refunds or compensation for the damage, but it is up to their discretion if this will happen. It is important to realize that once the product leaves the hands of the seller, they have no responsibility (provided the product is what the buyer ordered and is in the specified condition). Lack of full cost disclosure The lack of full disclosure with regards to the total cost of purchase is one of the concerns of online shopping. While it may be easy to compare the base price of an item online, it may not be easy to see the total cost up front as additional fees such as shipping are often not be visible until the final step in the checkout process. The problem is especially evident with cross-border purchases, where the cost indicated at the final checkout screen may not include additional fees that must be paid upon delivery such as duties and brokerage. Some services such as the Canadian based Wishabi attempts to include estimates of these additional cost,[23] but nevertheless, the lack of general full cost disclosure remains a concern. Privacy Privacy of personal information is a significant issue for some consumers. Different legal jurisdictions have different laws concerning consumer privacy, and different levels of enforcement. Many consumers wish to avoid spam and telemarketing which could result from supplying contact information to an online merchant. In response, many merchants promise not to use consumer information for these purposes, or provide a mechanism to opt-out of such contacts. Many websites keep track of consumers shopping habits in order to suggest items and other websites to view. Brick-and-mortar stores also collect consumer information. Some ask for address and phone number at checkout, though consumers may refuse to provide it. Many larger stores use the address information encoded on consumers credit cards (often without their knowledge) to add them to a catalog mailing list. This information is obviously not accessible to the merchant when paying in cash. Hands-on inspection Typically, only simple pictures and or descriptions of the item are all a customer can rely on when shopping on online stores. If the customer does not have prior exposure to the items handling qualities, they will not have a full understanding of the item they are buying. However, Written and Video Reviews are readily available from consumers who have purchased similar items in the past. These can be helpful for prospective customers, but these reviews can be sometimes subjective and based on personal preferences that may not reflect end-user satisfaction once the item has been received. Because of this, many consumers have begun going to real-world stores to view a product, before purchasing online, a practice known as showrooming[24] (using the store as a showroom for the online merchant). Brick-and-mortar merchants have responded with various countermeasures. For example, Target has requested distributors give them equally low prices, or alternatively, exclusive products available at their store only.[24] Product suitability This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help  improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012) Many successful purely virtual companies deal with digital products, (including information storage, retrieval, and modification), music, movies, office supplies, education, communication, software, photography, and financial transactions. Other successful marketers use drop shipping or affiliate marketing techniques to facilitate transactions of tangible goods without maintaining real inventory. Some non-digital products have been more successful than others for online stores. Profitable items often have a high value-to-weight ratio, they may involve embarrassing purchases, they may typically go to people in remote locations, and they may have shut-ins as their typical purchasers. Items which can fit in a standard mailbox—such as music CDs, DVDs and books—are particularly suitable for a virtual marketer. Products such as spare parts, both for consumer items like washing machines and for industrial equipment like centrifugal pumps, also seem good candidates for selling online. Retailers often need to order spare parts specially, since they typically do not stock them at consumer outlets—in such cases, e-commerce solutions in spares do not compete with retail stores, only with other ordering systems. A factor for success in this niche can consist of providing customers with exact, reliable information about which part number their particular version of a product needs, for example by providing parts lists keyed by serial number. Products less suitable for e-commerce include products that have a low value-to-weight ratio, products that have a smell, taste, or touch component, products that need trial fittings—most notably clothing—and products where colour integrity appears important. Nonetheless, some web sites have had success delivering groceries and clothing sold through the internet is big business in the U.S. Aggregation High-volume websites, such as Yahoo!, Amazon.com and eBay, offer hosting  services for online stores to all size retailers. These stores are presented within an integrated navigation framework. Collections of online stores are sometimes known as virtual shopping malls or online marketplaces. Impact of reviews on consumer behaviour One of the great benefits of online shopping is the ability to read others reviews, which could be from experts or simply fellow shoppers on one product and service. The Nielsen Company conducted a survey in March 2010 and polled more than 27,000 Internet users in 55 markets from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America to look at questions such as How do consumers shop online?, What do they intend to buy?, How do they use various online shopping web pages?, and the impact of social media and other factors that come into play when consumers are trying to decide how to spend their money on which product or service. According to that research,[25] reviews on electronics (57%) such as DVD players, cell phones or PlayStations and so on, reviews on cars (45%), and reviews on software (37%) play an important role and have influence on consumers who tend to make purchases and buy online. In addition to online reviews, peer recommendations on the online shopping pages or social media play a key role[26] for online shoppers while researching future purchases of electronics, cars and travel or concert bookings.[27] On the other hand, according to the same research,[25] 40% of online shoppers indicate that they would not even buy electronics without consulting online reviews first.

Fearful of Paying too Much when You Purchase a Web Site? :: website websites

Fearful of Paying too Much when You Purchase a Web Site? Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com I receive a lot of email from potential website buyers. Recently I received a note from a buyer who was very excited about a particular website but he was very fearful of overpaying. The website was a perfect fit for the buyer’s interest and experience. The website was in the same market that the buyer had worked in for the past 9 years. The web site had great traffic and the buyer could see potential to grow it. However, the buyer was still fearful of paying too much. The bottom line was that the buyer believed the seller was demanding about 15% more than the website was worth. This had caused the negotiations to reach a stalemate. The solution to this problem was very clear to me. The buyer himself had provided me with a very compelling reason why this website was an excellent fit for him. He would have the opportunity to grow an existing website in which his experience would allow him to hit the ground running. One way to approach this type of decision is to consider your best available alternative. If you don't buy this website, what is your best alternative? Is it a website with considerably less traffic? Is it a website in a market where you have less experience and so may be blind to potential pitfalls? Is it sitting on your money while this website is purchased by another buyer? Your best alternative may be quite less attractive than paying 15% more for the website. Perhaps this buyer had calculated the acquisition price as a multiple of sales, as is the norm. These calculations are merely guidelines – not straightjackets. These calculations must be adjusted to fit the reality of the buyer. If the buyer were to acquire a cheaper website with less traffic then how long would it take him to build traffic to the level of the superior website? The buyer could invest a lot of time sending email to other website requesting link exchanges to increase the visibility of the websites. But what is the value of the buyer’s time? Perhaps $50 an hour, or $60? The buyer should divide the amount that he would need to "overpay" by $50 -- his hourly rate – to determine the equivalent number of work hours. Perhaps the buyer will quickly justify paying the larger amount when he realizes the actual cost of his time if he purchased a lower quality website. Fearful of Paying too Much when You Purchase a Web Site? :: website websites Fearful of Paying too Much when You Purchase a Web Site? Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com I receive a lot of email from potential website buyers. Recently I received a note from a buyer who was very excited about a particular website but he was very fearful of overpaying. The website was a perfect fit for the buyer’s interest and experience. The website was in the same market that the buyer had worked in for the past 9 years. The web site had great traffic and the buyer could see potential to grow it. However, the buyer was still fearful of paying too much. The bottom line was that the buyer believed the seller was demanding about 15% more than the website was worth. This had caused the negotiations to reach a stalemate. The solution to this problem was very clear to me. The buyer himself had provided me with a very compelling reason why this website was an excellent fit for him. He would have the opportunity to grow an existing website in which his experience would allow him to hit the ground running. One way to approach this type of decision is to consider your best available alternative. If you don't buy this website, what is your best alternative? Is it a website with considerably less traffic? Is it a website in a market where you have less experience and so may be blind to potential pitfalls? Is it sitting on your money while this website is purchased by another buyer? Your best alternative may be quite less attractive than paying 15% more for the website. Perhaps this buyer had calculated the acquisition price as a multiple of sales, as is the norm. These calculations are merely guidelines – not straightjackets. These calculations must be adjusted to fit the reality of the buyer. If the buyer were to acquire a cheaper website with less traffic then how long would it take him to build traffic to the level of the superior website? The buyer could invest a lot of time sending email to other website requesting link exchanges to increase the visibility of the websites. But what is the value of the buyer’s time? Perhaps $50 an hour, or $60? The buyer should divide the amount that he would need to "overpay" by $50 -- his hourly rate – to determine the equivalent number of work hours. Perhaps the buyer will quickly justify paying the larger amount when he realizes the actual cost of his time if he purchased a lower quality website.

Explain Bentham’s Utilitarianism: (30 Marks)

Explain Bentham’s Utilitarianism: (30 Marks) A man called Jeremy Bentham had a theory called the ‘Utilitarianism theory’. He was born in London at the time of the great scientific and social change and wrote ‘The Principles of Morals and Legislation’ in 1789. Bentham had the theory that all humans seek pleasure and avoid pain at all costs. Utilitarianism has been described as an act or a rule rather than a theory. We break this down into three parts: -Motivation: Bentham was a hedonists (‘Hedone’ is Greek for ‘pleasure’).Bentham suggests that humans are motivated by pleasure and seek to avoid pain in every circumstance. Bentham quoted ‘Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. ’ Basically he is trying to say that humans pursue pleasure and fight to avoid pain, and beli eved that this was a ‘moral fact’, also that pleasure was the ‘sole good’ and pain was the ‘sole evil’, meaning humans naturally seek and avoid it.For example smoking, people know that it will harm them and damage their health but they smoke for the pleasure, giving up would be very difficult and would therefore cause pain that they’re trying to avoid. There are also very different examples from different peoples viewpoints such as.. * People who are motivated by pleasure: A person lives their life to go to Heaven. This means that the thought of going to Heaven (pleasure) motivates them to be a good person. * People who are motivated by pain: A person lives their life to stay away from Hell.This means that the thought of going to Hell (pain) motivates them to be a good person. -Principle of utility: utility means ‘usefulness’, this is Bentham’s moral rule. Once Bentham had identified pleasure and pain (moral) he conti nued on to the ‘utility principle’. This is where every action is judged by the rightness and wrongness by its utility (usefulness) to produce pleasure. Bentham said that pleasure is the cause of happiness, so it can be used interchangeably in the utility principle, so an action that causes or roduces the most happiness is the most moral. Everything is based on the end result, if the duration causes pain but it means it will end in pleasure, the utility principle is applied. Bentham devised a theory about ‘The Greatest Happiness For The Greatest Number’.This is explained best when split into two parts; * ‘The Greatest Good’- Good is the maximisation of pleasure so if an action is right it will produce the greatest good for the greatest number. The more pleasure that an action produces the better it will be. ‘Greatest number’- The ‘Democratic Theory’ is put in place, this is Bentham’s rule that pleasure canâ€⠄¢t be for one person alone. The maximum happiness for the most people should always been chosen when set with a range of choices in a moral decision. An example of ‘The Principle of Utility’ using the ‘Greatest happiness for the greatest number’ theory would be the assignation of Hitler, yes a person’s life would be taken and murder will be committed, but the death of one person would save many others people’s lives and cause happiness for the greatest number. Hedonic Calculus: was Jeremy Bentham’s system to measure how good/bad a consequence is. So if we was to calculate the greatest happiness for the greatest number, we must determine the quantity of happiness that will be produced from this action.The way that thus us evaluated is by applying these seven values: 1. Intensity- How intense it is (strong). 2. Duration- How long it lasts. 3. Certainty/ uncertainty- How sure it will happen. 4. Remoteness- How near it is to happening. 5. Richness- Like hood of repetition, how much pleasure it will lead to. . Purity- How free from pain is it? 7. Extent- How far reaching will be the consequences. The Hedonic Calculus system is a Quantitative assessment of situations, it is therefore concerned with the quantity of pleasure (it produces the highest amount of pleasure) for the greatest amount of people. An example and the set out to figure out a moral dilemma would be a question like: ‘Should I abort my disabled child? ’-then to figure out if it would be more pleasurable or painful it would be set like so: | Pleasure| Pain| . Intensity| 3/10| 7/10| 2. Duration| 7/10| 4/10| 3. Certainty | 9/10| 8/10| 4. Extent| 7/10| 6/10| 5. Remoteness| 8/10| 6/10| 6. Richness| 8/10| 5/10| 7. Purity| 2/10| 7/10| Total result:| 44/70| 43/70| So in conclusion- According to the hedonic calculus, the women would go and get an abortion because it would be the greatest good for the greatest number. So that is Bentham’s Util itarianism Theory all explained through three parts, the Motivation of pain and pleasure, the Principle of Utility and the Hedonistic Calculus.

Law Cases Essay

Our whole economy is based on the freedom of individuals to contract and a system of laws that enforces contracts freely entered into. But a lot of people may not be aware of what are the essential elements required to make an enforceable contract . Recently I was asked if a contract not in writing is binding . We are so accustomed to seeing contracts in writing that many people assume that a contract must be in writing (and lengthy) before it is enforceable . To form a contract , there are no particular words that must be used by the parties . However , there must be an offer by one side and an acceptance of the offer by the person to whom the offer was made . Without both an offer and an acceptance , there can be no consensus ad idem or a meeting of the minds which is essential to form a contract. No conditions can be attached to the acceptance and the terms of the offer cannot be changed. If conditions are attached or terms are changed, the parties are merely negotiating and may u ltimately reach agreement on the terms of the contract. For example, if your response is that you will pay me $5.00 to cut the lawn but I must cut again next month for the same price, there is no contract. You have made a counter offer which I am free to accept or reject. Likewise, the acceptance cannot be conditional on some other events. In the same way the Lady Gaga has cancelled her concert at the O2 . Harry a local entrepreneur has got 500 T-shirts and he has asked Mike Baldwin a local shirt maker , if it is possible than is he able to print Lady Gaga on the front of the T-shirt . Mike agrees to do it but when Harry went there for collection he saw that the word print on all the T-shirt was Lad Gaga and even the ink of the print damage the material of the T-shirt which is not good . When Harry makes complain about it, Mike told him to refer the contract which is placed on the front door that limiting liability for damaged items to 20% of the value .According to this generally a clause will incorporated if the party has given reasonable notice . These was clearly illustrated in Thompson v LMS Railway . Here the claimant was injured whilst stepping off a train . The railway company displayed prominent notices on the platforms excluding liability personal injury and damage to property due to negligence . The tickets also stated they were subject to terms and conditions displayed on the platform . The claimant was illiterate and could not read the signs. She argued that the exclusion clause was not incorporated into the contract as the railway company had not brought the clause to her attention at the time the contract was made. The clause was incorporated . There is only a requirement to take reasonable steps to bring the clause to the attention of a reasonable person. There was no duty to ensure that every traveller was aware of the clause . The claimant was therefore unsuccessful in her claim for damages. (accessed on e-lawresouces .co.uk , 5/12/12 ) Clearly this objective test will very according to the facts of eagh case but there are a number of factors that are relevant in determining reasonableness in this context , one more thing is required and that is degree of notice . Harry had a small notice at the front door which is limitation clause and it is stated therefor that less onerous than exclusion clause . It may be common notice of trade because the actual size of the notice may be more significant .This has been proved by stating some more case laws such as , Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking , The claimant was injured in a car park partly due to the defendant’s negligence . The claimant was given a ticket on entering the car park after putting money into a machine . The ticket stated the contract of parking was subject to terms and conditions which were displayed on the inside of the car park . One of the terms excluded liability for personal injuries arising through negligence. The question for the court was whether the term was incorporated into the contract ie had the defendant brought it to the attention of the claimant before or at the time the contract was made . This question depended upon where the offer and acceptance took place in relation to the machine . The machine itself constituted the offer . The acceptance was by putting the money into the machine. The ticket was dispensed after the acceptance took place and therefore the clause was not incorporated into the contract. According to previous decision of Spurling v Bradshaw , it is stated that some clauses are to be printed in red ink and with the red hand arrow pointed towards the notice, which could be held in a sufficient way . This reason was further been supported by Court of Appeal . Another relevant factor for the Harry’s present question of reasonableness that is the timing of the notice to be handed . The most effective time for handing the notice is before the contract has been made otherwise it is too late . This has been made abundantly clear in cases such as Olley v Marlborough Court Hotel and Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking . That’s the reason that if Harry had contracted in advance of arriving at the counter , the notice would be too late . However if he arrived to complete the agreement then the clause could be part of the contract . These states that even if the limitation clause is incorporated into the contract than it does not mean that it is an effective clause . The law has sought to protect vulnerable parties from exemption clauses . This protection has take two forms :- Judicial control through the common law and statutory control since 1977 . The judicial approach is known as the contra proferentum rule. According to this , if there is any ambiguity in the wording than that is strictly constructed against the party which seeking to rely on it . Limitation clause are construed in a more liberal manner as they are not as harsh as exclusion clauses .In Ailsa Craig Fishing v Melvern Lord Fraser reffered to this strict principle when they applied , A contract between existed between Securicor and Aberdeen Fishing Vessel Owners Association whereby Securicor were to provide security cover in the harbour where the claimant’s vessels were moored . As a result of negligence and breach of contract the claimant’s vessels sunk. The contract contained a clause which provided that in the event of negligence or breach , Securicor would not be liable for any amount exceeding  £1,000 in any one claim and that it would not be liable for more than  £10,000 in any twelve month period . The House of Lords held that where the clause limits liability rather than excludes liability altogether the courts should apply the natural meaning of the clause and not be too eager to find ambiguity . So the court would be more lenient in their interpretation of Harry’s clause since it limits liability . If Harry’s clause is clear and unambiguous there would be no scope for application of the judicial control system . As in certain circumstances the clause can even cover a fundamental breach as in Photo Productions v Securicor . According to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, the clause of Harry must be satisfactory . (accessed on Ailsa Craig fishing v Malvern Fishing (1983) . Here the Act clearly applies the Harry’s clause where a business seeks to exclude or limit liability . Under section 2(2) clauses attempting to exclude or limit liability for damaged property caused by negligence are subject to a test of reasonableness . The test is in section 11(1) and basically states that a clause is reasonable if in all surrounding circumstances of the case , than it is reasonable .This circular definition gives the trial judge a discretion to decide each case on it s own facts . under section 11(5) the burden of proving that the clause is reasonable is on the party seeking to rely on it .So Harry must prove that the clause is reasonable . Section 11(4 ) states two factors that the court must consider when determining the reasonableness of a limitation clause . Firstly the resource of party rely on the clause and also the question of whether he is in a position to insure against the risk of loss . Harry’s has the resource of profit making business as opposed to the resources of the community theatre and would also be able to insure against the risk of such losses . After determining the reasonableness of the clause which attempts to exempt liability implied in contracts for the sales of goods , this kind of act must be consider in court. However the courts such as House of Lords states certain factors in two different case laws , they are such as Smith v Bush down to the county court in Woodman v Photo Trade Processing . These two case law states that some of the factors of Schedule 2 are considered as case of negligence. According to the case law of Smith v Bush , it states that a survey report of the claimant’s house carried out by the defendant failed to advise on some structural damage to the property which resulted in the chimney breast collapsing. There was no contractual relationship between the claimant and defendant as the mortgage company arranged the survey and the claimant made payment to the mortgage company . The contract between the claimant and the mortgage company contained a clause exempting the surveyor from liability . In considering if such a clause was reasonable under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 , the court took into account the fact that it was a modest house to be used as the family home and concluded that it was an unreasonable clause and therefore ineffective. The House of Lords held that it might be reasonable for a surveyor to exclude liability if the property was of higher value or to be used for investment or business purposes . According to this case law , they are generally relevant to question of reasonableness , here on of the factor is related to the bargaining strengths of the parties . (accessed on Smith v Eric Bush (1990) , 5/12/12) . In the case law of Woodman v Photo Trade Processing , Woodman sent wedding photographs to PTP for processing . The film was sent in an envelope which contained , printed on the outside , an exemption clause limiting liability to a replacement film . The film was lost due to negligence (it would now be considered as failure to exercise reasonable skill and care under s13 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982). W sued. The court decided that this limitation on liability was (in these circumstances) unreasonable, since it was due to negligence that the film was lost , and the consumer had no choice over the contract. Since this decision , most postal film companies offer a choice of paying extra for insurance . Even with this option , there have been cases where these companies have been held to be acting unreasonably , because the clause has tended to be hidden , in small print on the envelope. (accessed on economic truth .co.uk , 5/12/12 ) . According to these two case laws, it is relevant that Harry and Mike are two businesses and would appear to have equality of bargaining strengths. This strength can be used as an opposition for both the customer and a business or even for any small business or multinational. Another relevant factor would be whether Mike’s knew or ought to known of the clause, perhaps from the trade . The trial judge suggested that the clause would be more reasonable if the customer had a choice from a two tier service, one will low costs but a high risk , and one with more protection but at a premium . The basic idea from this is logical , and if Harry does in fact offer such a two tier service it would go in his favour . In Phillips v Hyland Slade LJ , it demonstrates the action of the [Unfair contract terms act (1977)] . The plaintiff hire an excavator and driver from the defendant ; the driver negligently drove the excavator into the plaintiff’s building , causing damage . When sued for damages , the defendant relied on an exclusion clause that disclaimed liability for negligent actions of drivers . The plaintiff argued that the exclusion clause was inadmissible under the UCTA , which states that a clause disclaiming liability for damage resulting from negligence must be shown to be reasonable . The defendants tried to argue that the clause at issue was a duty-defining clause , and not an exclusion clause at all . The court , acting in the spirit of the UCTA , deemed that the clause was defensive , not duty-defining , and therefore an exclusion clause under the Act . The defendant also claimed that the clause was reasonable , and could therefore be upheld even if it were construed as an exclusion clause . The court held that the plaintiff , which hired excavators only rarely , was not in a position to estimate the risk involved in doing so ; the defendants , however , were operating in their main line of business , and should have been able to assess the risk accurately and take insurance to cover it . The clause was therefore deemed unfair and struck out .(accessed on lawiki.org/index.php , 5/12/12) . This application of the test of reasonableness turns on the facts of each case and will not be treated as binding precedent . So if the cause if similar to Harry’s than he had satisfaction of previous test of reasonableness , that is not to be taken as an indication of the validity of Harry’s clause . At the last it is clearly stated that this case is also turns on its own facts . REFERENCE :- * Ailsa Craig fishing v Malvern fishing (1983) , http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/cases/Ailsa-Craig-fishing-v-Malvern-fishing.php , 5/12/12 . * Image of leadership and management , http://www.transitions coaching service.co.uk/page/1lko/about_us_ , 5/12/12. * Philips v Hyland Slade LJ (1987) , http://lawiki.org/index .php?title= Philips_ products_v_hyland_(1987)&action=edit ,5/12/12 . * Smith v Eric Bush (1990) 1 AC 831 , http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/Smith-v-Eric-Bush.php ,5/12/12 . * Thompson v London ,Midland and Scotland Railway co , http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/Thompson-v-London-Midland-and-Scotland-Railway-co.php , 5/12/12) . * Woodman v Photo Trade Processing 1981 , http://www.economic-truth.co.uk/?page_id=148 ,5/12/12 .

Summary And Synthesis Of Mike Roses Lives On The Boundary Essays

Summary And Synthesis Of Mike Roses Lives On The Boundary Essays Summary and Synthesis of Mike Rose's "Lives on the Boundary" Carl Woodward's article in the Battalion relating to the idea that undergraduates do not care about important issues is on average totally inaccurate. "Lives on the Boundary", an excellent, informative essay by Mike Rose is a great example of how and why education should be equal for everyone. My fellow classmates and I mostly agree with Mike Rose's essay and disagree with Carl Woodward's opinion. We care about important issues and think that education should be equal for all. When Mike Rose was growing up he had only a few books available to him so he began to buy comic books because he "loved the heroes' virtuous omnipotence." And after comic books he moved to other items such as the instructions to his chemistry set and science fiction novels. He wrote very little in his schooling until his last year of high school where a teacher helped him find an interest in doing so. Although he was a good reader he did inefficiently on literacy tests. It can be said that he only thought about the concrete reality. Basically he was only educated by what entertained him, like Elizabeth Ewen's quote says (Rose 98-99). Rose further goes on in his essay to explain the circumstances of immigrants in our country and their struggle of learning the english language in order to improve their life style. He says "a failed education is social more then intellectual in origin." For example he explains the essence of a boy from Guatemala who saw his brother hacked apart, and how the boy has trouble learning the canonical education due to the trauma that he has experienced (Rose 99,101). Rose further goes on to argue that the great books are necessary and should be thought but the students must learn the material not just memorize it for regeration on exams. It would even be a good idea "to revise these messages and redress past wrongs would involve more than adding some new books to the existing cannon." (Rose 107) Basically Rose says that the cannon should be adjusted so that education will be more available for all. I feel that education should be equal for all and support most of Mike Rose's thoughts and ideas. It no difference what country or ethnic background people are from they should all have the same chances to succeed in America. However I feel that Rose favors the canonical or education by way of great books approach to education and I am more inclined to the revisionist's approach to education. I agree that the great books should still be read and taught but not necessarily in the numbers that they are now. Or maybe the teaching of the literature could change to a more student/learner friendly manner. Suppose that the students are allowed to pick from a list of the great books, which one would they want to read. If so then the student might actually get something out of the reading process, and the education system will have worked. When I discussed Mike Rose's essay with my fellow classmates I found that their thoughts and ideas regarding the article were very similar to my own. Drew suggested that "Students should read the great books that they are interested in because if they are not interested they won't get anything out of them." In addition David added "That students need to find the love of reading by books they are introduced and then they can love the great books, everyone needs to be introduced." Basically my peers believe in Rose's ideas except that they like me a favor a slightly more revisionist approach to education. We still support education by way of the great books we just believe it is time to modernize the learning process. In Conclusion, the way that english is taught in our classrooms needs to be changed so that people of all backgrounds have a better chance of learning and becoming productive citizens. It is obvious that students care about important issues and are working to change them. I am not saying that the great book or canonical approach to education should be abolished. However I believe that

7 Fascinating Facts About Fungi

7 Fascinating Facts About Fungi What do you think of when you think of fungi? Do you think of the mold growing in your shower or mushrooms? Both are types of fungi as fungi can range from unicellular (yeasts and molds) to multicellular organisms (mushrooms) that contain spore-producing fruit bodies for reproduction. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that are classified in their own Kingdom, called Fungi. The cell walls of fungi contain chitin, a polymer that is similar in structure to glucose from which it is derived. Unlike plants, fungi dont have chlorophyll so are not able to make their own food. Fungi typically acquire their nutrients/food by absorption. They release digestive enzymes into the environment that assist in this process. Fungi are very diverse and have even contributed to improvements in medicine. Lets explore seven interesting facts about fungi. 1) Fungi Can Cure Disease Many may be familiar with the antibiotic known as penicillin. Did you know that it was produced from a mold that is a fungus? Around 1929, a doctor in London, England wrote a paper on what he called penicillin which he had derived from the Penicillium notatum mold (now known as Penicillium chrysogenum). It had the ability to kill bacteria. His discovery and research started a chain of events that would lead to the development of many antibiotics that would save countless lives. Similarly, the antibiotic cyclosporine is a key immunosuppressant and is used in organ transplants. 2) Fungi Can Also Cause Disease Many diseases can also be caused by fungi. For example, while many associate ringworm with being caused by a worm, it is caused by a fungus. It gets its name from the circular shape of the rash produced. Athletes foot is another example of a disease caused by fungi. Many other diseases such as eye infections, valley fever, and Histoplasmosis are caused by Fungi. 3) Fungi Are Vital to the Environment Fungi play a key role in the cycle of nutrients in the environment. They are one of the main decomposers of dead organic matter. Without them, the leaves, dead trees, and other organic matter that build up in the forests wouldnt have their nutrients available for other plants to use. For example, nitrogen is a key component that is released when fungi decompose organic matter. 4) Fungi Can Last for a Long Time Depending on the conditions, many fungi, like mushrooms, can be dormant for extended periods of time. Some can sit dormant for years and even decades and still have the ability to grow under the right conditions. 5) Fungi Can Be Deadly Some fungi are toxic. Some are so toxic that they can cause instant death in animals and humans. Deadly fungi often contain a substance known as amatoxins. Amatoxins typically are very good at inhibiting RNA polymerase II. RNA polymerase II is a necessary enzyme involved in the production of a type of RNA called messenger RNA (mRNA). Messenger RNA plays an important role in DNA transcription and protein synthesis. Without RNA polymerase II, cell metabolism will stop and cell lysis occurs. 6) Fungi Can Be Used to Control Pests Some species of fungi are able to suppress the growth of insects and nematodes that may cause harm to agricultural crops. Typically the fungi that can have such impacts are part of the group called hyphomycetes. 7) A Fungus Is the Largest Living Organism on the Planet A fungus known as the honey mushroom is the largest living organism on the planet. It is believed to be about 2400 years old and covers over 2000 acres. Interestingly enough, it kills trees as it spreads. There you have it, seven interesting facts about fungi. There are many additional interesting facts about fungi that range from fungi being used to produce the citric acid used in many beverages to fungi being the cause for zombie ants. Some fungi are bioluminescent and can even glow in the dark. While scientists have classified many of the fungi in nature, it is estimated that there are vast numbers that remain unclassified so their potential uses are likely numerous.

The Golden Age of Byzantine Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Golden Age of Byzantine Empire - Essay Example The very issue indeed of Justinian I's ruling is the ruling of him in this period. For the traits and characteristics of this ruler opposed of those great rulers. The author of The Secret History added his descriptions to him as "deceitful, devious, false, hypocritical, two-faced, cruel, skilled in dissembling his thought, never moved to tears by either joy or pain, though he could summon them artfully at will when the occasion demanded, a liar always, not only offhand, but in writing, and when he swore sacred oaths to his subjects in their very hearing. Then he would immediately break his agreements and pledges, like the vilest of slaves, whom indeed only the fear of torture drives to confess their perjury. A faithless friend, he was a treacherous enemy, insane for murder and plunder, quarrelsome and revolutionary, easily led to anything evil, but never willing to listen to good counsel, quick to plan mischief and carry it out, but finding even the hearing of anything good distastef ul to his ears". One issue is the changing of the law in the Emperor's own favor. A definite instance is to permit him to marry a courtesan, in which the former law forbids him to. The ignorance in state of affairs of the Empress Euphemia permitted him to perversed the law especially after her death. Justinian's choice of wife put him in shame as Theodora is known and condemned for several abortions, but blinded by his own preference. Procopius put this marriage this way "I need hardly mention any other proof of the character of this man: for all the perversity of his soul was completely displayed in this union; which alone was ample interpreter, witness, and historian of his shamelessness". In an independent minded citizen during that period like Procopius, having someone like Theodora in the monarchial power is a disgrace that is yielded and majestically honored by many. Their marital affair affected christianity, as it was split in two, siding one side to the Emperor and the other to Theodora every time they were having disagreement. Each party stands as an opposition to one another. Theodora supported the Blues, and encouraged them to make the most of the heinous violence against the opposing party; while Justinian, lead the opposition pretentiously not opposing her orders. The Blues being punished and compensated whenever she was being defeated by her husband. Both were in guile to serve their own selfish intentions, even reached to the point of dropping their parties and stripping off the properties of the members once they were not in used anymore. Procopius clearly stated that "as soon as Justinian came into power he turned everything upside down" pertaining the perversion he made within the previous laws just to serve his intentions. As the Romans were in peace to the world before his term, he managed his way to set battle between the barbarians unfortunately for no logical reason. This proves his lust for slaughtering leveling him as a mass murderer indirectly. The slavery of the Roman empires under the Huns was through the will of the Emperor himself, even paying the Huns' chieftains to proceed on their barbaric domination. This condition of Romans invited others to robbed them off their own wealth, and after these

Entreprenuership -Trader joes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Entreprenuership -Trader joes - Assignment Example He opened stores designed with fish nets and boat oars on the walls. Employees were dressed in bright tropical shirts and the stores where packed with food items which are preferred by the customers during vacations. The enterprise also partnered with dealers worldwide to make the foods available at popular holiday destinations at their stores. The founder believed that if the people can spend huge amount of their money to experience great tastes available at those holiday destinations, people would definitely spend on those goods if they are available in store near their homes. The unique value proposition of the company includes availability of unique food items with new tastes, minimum price charged for products, high bargaining with suppliers. The organization researched about the products that the Americans prefer the most on their vacations. It also believes that the money saved by the organization while procuring goods from suppliers is the money saved by the customers. Thus, the company creates value by supplying goods at minimum prices. The enterprise also acquires goods directly from the suppliers to reduce their costs. Trader Joe’s also utilizes the loop holes of government regulations on wines. Since private label wines were not covered under the laws, the company persuaded them to sell their production under the label of Trader Joe’s. As the price of these labels were low than popular brands, they were preferred by the customers (â€Å"Understanding Trader Joe’s†). The key metrics are the measures which assess the performance of the company. Traders Joe’s growth in sales and the increase in the number of stores are the metrics used to understand the success of the enterprise. It has been observed that the sales growth of the company has increased over the years but in the recent times, there is a high competition in the retail sector and this may lead to