Adjusting free essay sample

â€Å"Dad, the clouds look like waves!† I exclaimed at the age of four, sitting in a plane that was 30 minutes away from America, and 16 hours past China, my native country. In 1995, my dad decided to move me and my mom to America. After living in California for a short time himself, he was fascinated with how advanced and clean the country was compared to China. Then he thought how nice it would be, for me to grow up in the country that can offer me a better future. The decision to move meant that sacrifices were inevitable. When my parents left China, they were officially leaving their family, friends and careers; my dad’s job working in the government, my mom’s position as a doctor.. Above everything my parents had to give up, they also had to come to terms with the fact that living in America for the first few of years will be exceedingly difficult. We will write a custom essay sample on Adjusting or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After all, they were coming to a country where they didn’t speak the language, and continuing their old careers was impossible. Despite all the negative aspects of moving, they were determined to focus on the long term goal, which was to provide a better future for me, their only daughter. Once my parents and I arrived in America, we were immediately hit with the first conflict; English. This language barrier was the reason why my dad was only eligible to work at a sushi restaurant washing dishes while my mom worked as a babysitter. Because of this disadvantage, our income was extremely low, which made us search for every possible way to earn extra money. At age five, me and my mom would carry a plastic bag and collect empty cans to recycle. Through the hard times I’ve face with my parents, I rapidly matured at a very young age. Even though I was only five, I accepted the fact that we needed to work hard as a family and that giving up was never an option. I learned to appreciate what I had and to always focus on my dreams and goals. These lessons eventually helped me through my own struggles during my childhood. When I started 2nd grade, I was able to communicate in English, which was a huge accomplishment; however, I still had trouble with writing correct English sentences, and my comprehension skills were lacking. At times I felt frustrated with my inability to master the language, but I attempted to turn my frustration and angry into determination and a desire to do better. My parents felt helpless seeing that I was struggling with something they couldn’t help me with. All they could do was remind me that in order to achieve my goal, I needed to be patient. As the years went by, I had improved from; barely getting a message across, to engaging in long conversations. My writing skills improved simultaneously. In 6th grade, I felt so confident that I even entered a short story in the annual Reflections contest, and was later announced a winner in the literature category. From then on, I feel in love with literature and dreamed of becoming a journalist. I knew that my English had to be even better to even consider the career, so in 9th grade I took the test to get into the honors program. After taking the honors test for the first time, my confidence was crushed when I found out I didn’t pass. I was so disappointed in myself and I felt like giving up. Luckily, my parents were understanding and encouraged me to try again. They reminded me of how far I had come, and through their lecture I realized I was a fool to even think about giving up. If my parents had given up on their aspiration, I would never be able to be fluent in two languages, or have the opportunity to apply to a UC. With this new mindset, I proceeded with my ambition, and was admitted. When my counselor told me I passed the test, I felt that my hard work had finally paid off. It was a long and frustrating process, in which I had patiently stuck with since the beginning of my childhood, and at last, with my parent’s guidance, I have succeeded in getting one step closer to my dream.

Chemical Warfare Essays - Nerve Agents, Free Essays, Term Papers

Chemical Warfare Essays - Nerve Agents, Free Essays, Term Papers Chemical Warfare Chemical Warfare In this report I will be giving a history of chemical warfare. I will also be showing a chart that includes the Agent, and many other useful information about nerve gas agents which are the main item for chemical warfare. This report will also include the effects of nerve gas on the human body. Chemical Warfare is an extremely dangerous form of warfare. An inquisitive scientist accidentally stumbled upon the engineering of nerve gas agents in the 30s by the name of Gerhard Schrader. He was working on a solution to the troublesome insects in Germany when he stumbled onto a solution for a larger problemhumans. With World War II less than a decade later the Germans now possessed an extremely efficient killer. The Soman, Tabun, and Sarin that Gerhard had engineered were some of the most toxic substances known to humankind. Fortunately, Adolf Hitler never used these devastating weapons during the war. The reason why he made this decision is still unknown to many people. The most popular explanation for Hitler's decision goes back to the previous World War where toxic gases were used in combat. Hitler had been harmed by these chemical agents and was unwilling to introduce new and more toxic agents. There is also evidence that suggests that Hitler was advised against using the agents and even stopped their production. Hitler's Minister of Production, Albert Speer, said after the war that sensible military leaders turned gas warfare down as being insane, since, America's airforce was the best at the time and probably still is. It would not be long before it would wreak havoc on German cities if Hitler had even considered chemical warfare had be used. After the war, British chemist R. Ghosh (his first name was never mentioned in my research) discovered another more indestructible agent known as VX. It had a more stable structure, which allowed it to live longer in the air and ground, killing more life. Since VXs discovery in 1949 there has only been minor advancements in the nerve gas agents. Most of the more powerful countries began to stockpile their chemical weapons as if saying, We are more powerful than you. There have only been two real incidents where nerve gas agents have been used. One of the events was the Iran and Iraq war that lasted from 1984 to 1988. Iraq used the nerve agent Tabun against Iran. Another incident was when a Japanese Cult known as the Aum Shinrikyo Cult put a Sarin gas bomb in a heavily populated Tokyo subway. This posed an all new problemTerrorists have the most deadly substance known to mankind. The following chart contains the key for the Nerve agents, the route into the human body, the form in which it goes in, the effect and how much is needed to do that damage: AGENT ROUTE FOR EFFECT TYPE DOSAGE Sarin inhalation vapor incapacitation ICt50 35 mg-min/m3 inhalation vapor death LCt50 70 mg-min/m3 percutaneous liquid death LD50 1700 mg/70 kg man ocular vapor meiosis ECt50 *2 mg-min/m3 Soman ocular vapor meiosis ECt50 *2 mg-min/m3 inhalation vapor incapacitation Ict50 35 mg-min/m3 inhalation vapor death LCt50 70 mg-min/m3 percutaneous liquid death LD50 350 mg/70 kg man Tabun percutaneous liquid death LD50 9.3 mg/kg (MONKEY) inhalation vapor death LCt50 187 mg-min/m3 (monkey) inhalation vapor death LCt50 135 mg-min/m3 (MAN) VX ocular vapor meiosis ECt50 *.9 mg-min/m3 inhalation vapor incapacitation ICt50 25 mg-min/m3 inhalation vapor death LCt50 30 mg-min/m3 percutaneous liquid death LD50 10 mg/70 kg man Nerve agents are generally colorless, odorless, and are readily absorbable through the lungs, eyes, skin, and intestinal tract without producing any irritation. They are also extremely potent, so even a brief exposure can be fatal. Death may occur in 1 to 10 minutes, or be delayed for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the concentration to which a victim has been exposed. The symptoms that you would develop and the order that they come in are near to extraordinary. First, your nose would begin to run, then your chest would feel constricted. Your vision would dim as your pupils contracted into pinpoints. You'd begin to drool and sweat excessively. Then would come nausea and vomiting, intestinal cramps and involuntary urination or defecation. You'd twitch, jerk, and stagger as you're overcome with

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Case Study Example Both companies are facing the prospects of the impending technological obsolescence of the personal computers, should they not be able to update their product design and construction to the present trend in consumer. Clients’ tastes are moving towards maximum integration, involving all-in-one solutions for personal, business, and other consumer applications. The industry is thus experiencing a consolidation that is forcing IT hardware, OS and applications developers to combine into converged firms; those unable to do so will have to quickly develop internal capabilities to meet the integrated technology – which is highly unlikely – or certainly lose out market share to the competition (International Business Times, 2011). New trends include (1) growing popularity of tablet computers and other mobile web surfing gadgets that are expected to eventually and totally replace personal computers; (2) cloud computing, which involve wharehousing data in third party servers; and (3) verticalisation, which involves an integration of product stages such that hardware, operating systems and applications developers tend to assimilate each others’ businesses. Presently, neither Dell nor HP are in the position to significantly meet these trends in the immediate future. Looking back, the same strategies that gained early success for Dell and HP are no longer relevant. Dell relied on supply chain cost-cutting efficiencies, while HP on product diversification (calculators to computers to printers). These early strategies were not proprietary and were quickly copied by competitors. Admittedly, a major strategic error was for DELL and HP to cut down on their R&D just as Apple surged on with its iPod , iPhone and iPad products. Consequently, HP and Dell sales are cut down (The Economic Times, 2011). The two company’s leadership in the PC technology has also become the reason for its present inadequacy. PCs are still seen

Why are environmental issues becoming more important for international Essay

Why are environmental issues becoming more important for international business - Essay Example It is a fact that environmental issues have managed to strike â€Å"increased discussion on the international business horizon† (Cherunilam 2010: 670). It is generally suggested that environmental trends and standards play a significantly valuable role in determining relative success of different products in the international market so the importance of efforts directed at protecting the global environment should not be undermined on the basis of a few negative effects. This belief has resulted in fueling the development and implementation of many environmental management systems around the globe. Different ways by which environment influences business are heavily acknowledged now (Lozada & Polonsky 1993: 20). Recently, the popularity regarding the existence of the link between business and environment has exploded. A wide variety of reasons could be found explaining why businesses now lay a greater emphasis on their environmental policies and services instead of solely focusi ng on profit maximization which would be contemplated in this essay with the help of research literature. Research evidence identifies that modern environmental concerns challenging the business world â€Å"have their roots in the 1960s† (Johnson & Turner 2010: 382), but it has only been some years that these issues have really exploded onto the surface. General consensus today is that with growing awareness the business world has undergone gigantic transformation for the better and as a result of which international business has remarkably affected the environment as well. It is proposed that environmental issues are becoming increasingly important for businesses because low environmental protection standards lead to depressing losses every year. Even those countries which have embraced high environmental standards and where business organizations take great pains to establish strictest policies have to suffer from significant losses which are estimated to be 1-2% of GNP. Th e condition is even worse in the developing world where businesses have not yet adopted high standards due to gross economical contractions and where losses resulting from poor environmental protection have been reported to reach 3-5% of GNP (Wysokinska & Witkowska 2005: 270). This is why more stress is laid on environmental protection in the modern business world now because flawed policies and insufficient investments made in this field adversely affect business organizations. Also there are more governmental environmental regulations and requirements set by the government, customers, and suppliers now due to which business organizations come under pressure to address these issues (Lozada & Polonsky 1993: 20). Research literature makes it obvious that this obsession of international business with different environmental issues encompass a wide variety of subjects from promoting protection of natural resources and discouraging the imports of products deemed destructive to the envir onment to banning any products which may pollute the atmosphere or contain toxic metal compounds. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency in the US establishes certain restrictions on â€Å"the importation of lead and lead articles that constitute toxic substances† (Hinkelman et al. 2005: 829). As a consequence of banning the import of all goods which hold the potential to negatively interfere with natural environment, both positive and negative effects influence the economy of a country. Research indicates that while limiting the import helps in raising the environmental standards by reducing the rate of goods which could destroy or pollute the environment like noisy vehicles, this practice also exerts a bad influence on the regular â€Å"

Christian Iconography Essay Example for Free

Christian Iconography Essay 1. Compare and Contrast: Hosios Loukas, Greece (before 1048) v. San Marco, Venice, Italy (building consecrated 1073; mosaics 12th c.) and the Cappella Palatina, Palermo, Sicily (1142/3) Typical Byzantine churches, like all architectural forms, employ relatively standard layouts and similar mosaic programs. Hosios Loukas, preceding both San Marco and Cappella Palatina, is an example of adherence to Byzantine conventions of visual programs and spatial planning. However, the churches of San Marco and Cappella Palatina are departures from such convention. Experiencing greater influence from the West, the churches of San Marco and Cappella Palatina, in their architectural forms and decoration, at once show their Byzantine roots and strides toward westernization. Hosios Loukas, though appearing irregular in its floor plan, is actually two adjoining churches. Built on the space that marks the site of Saint Lucas’ death, the church is an excellent example of Byzantine planning and decoration. With a large central dome, the church can be divided into three main parts: the sanctuary, which is east of the dome; the naos, which is the central portion; and the narthex, or entry porch. Possessing a cross-like plan, the church is for the most part centrally planned. In the narthex, the typical mosaics of the Pantokrator, the Crucifixion and the Anastasis are employed. The apse mosaic, which is at the far end of the sanctuary, depicts the image of Theotokos sitting on a throne with the Christ Child; above the alter and the apse mosaic rests the mosaic of the Pentecost in the domical vault. In the central dome, which houses the Pantokrator, the circle converts to the square through an octagonal form, a feature shared by Cappella Palatina. The squinches created by the octagon depict scenes from Christ’s life. Furthermore, the likenesses of saints decorate the church. Most importantly however, the decoration of the church contains little extraneous detail. San Marco, however, exists as a transition from the traditional Byzantine format to more westernized looks. Still displaying a cruciform floor plan, the basilical form is integrated into the church. The four lateral domes and one central dome imply this focus on symmetry and centrality, while still allowing for the western influence. The naos is elongated, to create greater linearity and the cross arm of the cross-square is actually a transept. Though exhibiting much of the same scenes, those of San Marco have a particularly greater focus on narrative. One can observe such effects in the Anastasis scenes of both churches. In the Anastasis of Hosios Loukas, only five figures appear: Christ, David, Solomon and Adam and Eve; the five figures possess enough detail to identify them and the scene. In the San Marco example, eleven figures are present. The crowded quality enhances the narrative, allowing them to be read as more of a story and less as a symbolic image representing an event. Similarly, the crucifixion scene of Hosios Loukas and San Marco are respectively simplified and elaborate. Cappella Palatina, built by Roger II a Norman, focuses even greater narrative. The church also further employs the basilical form, while displaying forms from all the cultures that influenced it. Baring less architectural resemblance to the Byzantine church, Cappella Palatina’s mosaics, though depicting much of the same scenes as Hosios Loukas and San Marco, are composed in a rather haphazard way. For example, the nativity, which is usually streamlined to the most integral parts, shows multiple scenes in the same mosaic. In fact, some figures, such as the magi, appear more than once. This technique, allows the viewer to trace out the story of the birth of Christ. The eastern apse looks like a traditional Byzantine church, with a Pantokrator and seated Virgin. However to the west, the basilical nave shows the Western Christian influence. Its use of Old Testament imagery references Western precedents—from Genesis to Jacob wrestling the angel. Similarly, while the walls depict the same scenes as Byzantine churches, their format is different. Its use of registers is unseen in Byzantine counterparts. Also, the multiple Pantokrators that appear in the church, while a Byzantine form, are used in a uniquely un-Byzantine way. Lastly, the church ceiling, which is decorated with muqarnas, shows the Islamic influence. The basilical influence in San Marco and Cappella Palatina is unmistakable. Much of the imagery and its hierarchical placement—with the holiest at the top and most earthly at the bottom—is drawn from Byzantine churches. However, the use of Old Testament scenes and the greater focus on narrative are symptoms of the western influence. San Marco and Cappella Palatina are consequences of the time and place. They are at once Churches of the West and parts of an imperial history and religious tradition from the East. As a result, their appearance reflects the Byzantine influence, in its similarities to Hosios Loukas, and their Ravennic and Roman precedents. 2. Compare and Contrast: Pilgrim eulogia ampulla, Crucifixion and Women at the Tomb, pewter, 6th-7th c. v. The Limburg Staurotheca, 968-985 Though created centuries apart and strikingly different in size and style, the pilgrim eulogia ampulla and the Limburg Staurotheca are similar in many ways. Both are vessels of holy materials and depict Christ and various religious figures. However the ampula represents the more egalitarian form of relic collecting. The Limburg Staurotheca, on the other hand, in its materials and relics is one of the most elite forms of collectorship. Both the Pilgrimage ampulla and the Limburg Staurotheca are composed out of metals. The ampula is made out of pewter, a metal that was readily available at the time and not costly. The Limburg Staurotheca, on the other hand, is made out of gold gilt medal, enamels and gems. The difference in materials is indicative of their intended patrons. The ampulla, which predates the Staurotheca, was created for pilgrims that visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The latter, however, was commissioned by an imperial official and was intended to be viewed by elites. Additionally, both possess the ability to be hung. While the ampulla often hung around the neck of a pilgrim, the Staurotheca, which has a hoop at the top, could have been hung in a devotional space or carried during processions. The function—to hold holy objects—also differs due to its intended viewers. Ampullae such as this were often used to hold holy liquids or soil. However, due to the inscription and its iconographic reference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the True Cross, this pilgrimage ampulla was used to hold the oil from the True Cross. Therefore, in a sense, both of these vessels hold parts of the same relic. However, the portability and reproducibility of the oil, made it better equipped for pilgrim patrons. The Staurotheca, contrastingly, holds seven splinters of the true cross. Arranged in such a way to show the historical form of the true cross, the slivers are held in place by jewels and gold framing. Additionally, the Staurotheca also was a reliquary for various other relics, such as Christ’s purple robe, the hair of John the Baptist, etc. Housed behind the ten different panels with inscriptions describing that which is behind them, the Staurotheca is an interactive reliquary. The viewer is able to open the panels and see the relics. The iconography of the vessels also differs. The ampulla depicts two scenes. The first is the Adoration of Cross. The meaning of the iconography is twofold. It looks like the scene of the Crucifixion, with the other two crucified flanking Christ and with worshipers in attendance. However, the more pertinent interpretation of the imagery, as it relates more directly to the vessel, is the pilgrims visiting and worshiping the True Cross. On the back of the ampulla, the Women at the Tomb is depicted. It also has two significances; it can be read as the Mary’s visiting the tomb of Christ and pilgrim women visiting the tomb of Christ erected within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The iconography, therefore, draws parallels between the events of Christ’s life and the activities of pilgrims. The Staurotheca, on the other hand, is rich in detail yet does not contain any narrative. On the front of the reliquary is Christ enthroned, with Theotokos, John the Baptist and arch angels flanking him. Above and below are three pairs each of the apostles. Surrounding the nine conjoined panels, are portrait busts of saints. Upon opening the lid, the viewer is confronted with the slivers of the True Cross described above. Depictions of angels adorn the interior as well, and flank the inscribed panels behind which rest other important relics. Rather than expressly depict the relics that were encased, the reliquary simply depicted the True Cross and the portraits of angel, all of which were considered to be the image of God himself. Therefore, the ampulla and the Staurotheca differ in their iconography, their function and their materials. All results of the intended viewers and collectors, both the ampulla and Staurotheca represent the Byzantine desire to obtain primary and secondary relics. Representing the power of Christ and God, these vessels’ contents gave their owners assurance of success and salvation. 3. Essay Question Related Directly to Readings: The issue of images in Byzantine art The lineage and use of images in Byzantine art is perhaps on of the more interesting and complicated aspects of Christian iconography. The Christian imagery in Byzantine art, as noted in Heaven on Earth, became intertwined with imperial icons and ceremony. The course of Iconoclasm, however, remains the most controversial historical discourse about Christian images and their appropriate role. The Iconoclasts believed that images were inappropriate in worship and were similar to the worship of idols, which breaks one of the commandments. Iconophiles, on the other hand, venerated images and opposed the Iconoclasts in the destruction of images. Given the volatile opposition of the two, understanding the Christian image in Byzantine art allows one to understand their forms of worship and relation to the holy. Firstly, it should be noted imperial and religious tradition often created a relationship between Christ and the Emperor. Occurring fairly early in the history of Byzantium, the Emperor Justinian was likened to Christ in the apse mosaic in S. Vitale. Adorned with a halo, Justinian stands in the center among twelve soldiers and religious officials. Although, as Treadgold et al. noted in Procopius and the Imperial Panels of S. Vitale, though the artist had not intended on creating the twelve apostles symbolism, as the feet show that some of the heads were added as an after thought, the resulting effect is the same for the contemporaneous viewer. The emperor, the most powerful and godly of men, is likened to Christ. Such an occurrence, while prevalent throughout cultures and history, undoubtedly watered down the holy significance of Christ images in the realm of worship. However, as noted above, the Iconoclast controversy, which lasted from 726 to 843 AD, is most illustrative of the Byzantine treatment of images. Affecting artistic production during the controversy and in its wake, the debate centered on t he appropriateness of images in the Christian context. Iconoclasts, or â€Å"image breakers,† believed that their fellow Christians had become idolaters. Images, perhaps believed to be a source of power by laymen, the Iconoclasts contended, must be restrained. Militaristic failures reaffirmed Iconoclastic believes that they had sinned and incurred the wrath of God. In the Church of Saint Sophia, for example, depictions of saints were replaced by the cross. Similarly, St. Irene sports a cross instead of a human likeness. (The example of the Church of the Dormition in Nicaea seems to show that the Virgin and Child mosaic replaced the Cross, post-Iconoclasm.) Therefore, the Iconoclasts effectively replaced images with the Cross. Contrastingly, the Iconophiles, or â€Å"image lovers,† argued for the preservation and continuation of images, given their long history. As discussed in the Abgar of Edessa identification, the likeness of Christ was venerated in biblical times. Being an ancient tradition, that Christ himself allowed/encouraged, images should be respected. Furthermore, as mentioned in Mango, the Iconophiles argued that God created man in his likeness, and specifically incarnated himself in the human form of Christ, and therefore allows for representation in the human form. Though they were temporarily victorious between bouts of Iconoclasm, the Iconophiles were ultimately successful in securing the role of images in Christianity. After the ideological defeat of the Iconoclasts, the Iconophiles restored much of the Christian imagery that had been washed away. St. Sophia, having had images removed by the iconoclasts, exists as a testament to the great controversy. The St. Sophia apse mosaic is an excellent example of post-iconoclast image restoration. A mosaic of Theotokos and Child was erected with an inscription condemning the Iconoclasts; the inscription is known to refer to them as imposters. Similarly, written and illustrated texts, such as the Khludov Psalter, describe the heresy of the Iconoclasts. It likens them to the Jews. As the Jews killed Christ, the Iconoclasts washed away and killed his image. Furthermore, much of the margin illustrations depict figures holding a medallion image of Christ, as a testament to the devotion to images. The Iconophiles believed that icons and images of the holy and saintly sanctified churches and practiced such post-iconoclasm. Post-iconoclasm, much of the ravages were rectified and restored. Beautifully decorous images adorned churches and texts in the wake of the controversy. The Psalter of Paris, for example, rather naturalistically depicts David composing the Psalms. Personifying the location and muses, the image gives the layman the opportunity to pictographically read the origin of the Psalms. Ultimately, the images not only teach through visuals, but inspire awe. The illuminating mosaics of churches produced miraculous, luminary effects that created a greater sense of the sacred. Consequently, the use of images in Byzantine art is an issue of great complexity. Once deriving influence from the iconography of pagan religions, the Iconoclasm controversy returned to the Christian-pagan associations. The Iconoclasts believed that the worship of images was like that of idols by the pagans. In an attempt to remain in the right with God, they sought to rid Christianity of its idolatrous icons. Though, in accordance with sanctity, egalitarianism and tradition the debate was won by the image lovers, restoring the place of Christian icons.

Why Hybrid Cars Should Not Be Purchased Essay -- Automobiles

As the gas price is rising up to 140 cents per litre in Canada, many people switch their vehicle to gasoline-electric hybrid car to gain savings from the better fuel efficiency. Many potential consumers for hybrid vehicle and hybrid vehicle owners think that the hybrid system is worth the extra penny due to better fuel economy. However, the realistic is that it has higher maintenance despite of its outstanding fuel economy figures. In fact, the hybrids cause more environmental damage than conventional petro powered vehicles and there are better alternatives. Therefore, hybrids should not be on consumers’ shopping list due to a numerous negative facts that consumers are unaware of. Many Automobile manufactures want consumers to believe that hybrids are cheaper to maintain despite of its higher MSRP or Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price. Therefore, many people assume hybrids pay off at every pump at gas station which eventually will cover the higher purchase price. However, that is not the case. As a comparison, Toyota Camry LE has base price of $23,700 whereas Hybrid is $3300 more expensive than base Camry to get all the hybrid technology. According to Edmunds.com, there will be a difference in ownership cost after four years of purchase for hybrid vehicles. Therefore, leasing consumer would lose money which they believe they gain back. Also, if the comparison is between two luxury sedans such as Lexus LS 460 and LS 600h, it would take it would take 102.6 years to make up the difference (HowStuffWorks). Also in long run, which most of the Canadians choose to do with their car, the nickel hydride battery pack will have to be replaced. Although, many man ufactures offer 160,000km or 8 years for hybrid components warranty (Toyota.ca... ..., Kristen. "HowStuffWorks "5 Reasons Not to Buy a Hybrid"."HowStuffWorks "Auto". N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. . 2. Reed, Phillip. "True Cost to Own (TCO) Calculator on Edmunds.com."New Cars, Used Cars, Car Reviews and Pricing - Edmunds.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. . 3. "TOYOTA CANADA: Camry Hybrid > Warranty ." TOYOTA CANADA: TOYOTA.CA LANGUAGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. 4. " Lexus.ca - Language Page / Page de langue." Lexus.ca - Language Page / Page de langue. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. . 5. "Honda." Honda. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. . 6. "Does a Prius Consume More Energy than a Hummer?." Does a Prius Consume More Energy than a Hummer?. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. Why Hybrid Cars Should Not Be Purchased Essay -- Automobiles As the gas price is rising up to 140 cents per litre in Canada, many people switch their vehicle to gasoline-electric hybrid car to gain savings from the better fuel efficiency. Many potential consumers for hybrid vehicle and hybrid vehicle owners think that the hybrid system is worth the extra penny due to better fuel economy. However, the realistic is that it has higher maintenance despite of its outstanding fuel economy figures. In fact, the hybrids cause more environmental damage than conventional petro powered vehicles and there are better alternatives. Therefore, hybrids should not be on consumers’ shopping list due to a numerous negative facts that consumers are unaware of. Many Automobile manufactures want consumers to believe that hybrids are cheaper to maintain despite of its higher MSRP or Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price. Therefore, many people assume hybrids pay off at every pump at gas station which eventually will cover the higher purchase price. However, that is not the case. As a comparison, Toyota Camry LE has base price of $23,700 whereas Hybrid is $3300 more expensive than base Camry to get all the hybrid technology. According to Edmunds.com, there will be a difference in ownership cost after four years of purchase for hybrid vehicles. Therefore, leasing consumer would lose money which they believe they gain back. Also, if the comparison is between two luxury sedans such as Lexus LS 460 and LS 600h, it would take it would take 102.6 years to make up the difference (HowStuffWorks). Also in long run, which most of the Canadians choose to do with their car, the nickel hydride battery pack will have to be replaced. Although, many man ufactures offer 160,000km or 8 years for hybrid components warranty (Toyota.ca... ..., Kristen. "HowStuffWorks "5 Reasons Not to Buy a Hybrid"."HowStuffWorks "Auto". N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. . 2. Reed, Phillip. "True Cost to Own (TCO) Calculator on Edmunds.com."New Cars, Used Cars, Car Reviews and Pricing - Edmunds.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. . 3. "TOYOTA CANADA: Camry Hybrid > Warranty ." TOYOTA CANADA: TOYOTA.CA LANGUAGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. 4. " Lexus.ca - Language Page / Page de langue." Lexus.ca - Language Page / Page de langue. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. . 5. "Honda." Honda. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. . 6. "Does a Prius Consume More Energy than a Hummer?." Does a Prius Consume More Energy than a Hummer?. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2012.

New Heritage Doll Company Write-up Essay

Introduction New Heritage Doll Company is a firm that has ventured into doll production which has sought to extend its brand in order to broaden its market framework and more importantly capitalize on high levels of customer loyalty. The vice president of the Company, Emily Harris, is to forward her project proposal to the Budgeting Committee for evaluation. The Vice-president’s objective for proposing the project was based on potential to strengthen the Company’s division of production and drive future growth. Emily Harris has to produce a compelling project to avoid the committee from declining the proposal. Basis of Assessment There are two projects between which the company can choose from or drop the proposals in their entirety. The methods of project evaluation would be based on discounting cash flows analysis and thereafter determining the Net Present Value (NPV) of each of the proposed project with Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Profitability Index and Payback Period. If the project has a positive NPV, it would suggests the project is generating more cash than is required to service the debt and provide the appropriate returns; thus, the higher NPV, the better it is for the company. The project proposal with the positive and highest NPV, IRR and profitability index along with the shortest payback period would be acceptable for investment. New Heritage Doll Company managed to produce a capital budgeting structure in order to evaluate the revenue generated in the Doll industry. It is clearly evident that a segment of the Doll industry generates income progressively with an increasing rate of 4.6%. Cash flows forecast is used to capture the incremental effect of a proposed project in order to acknowledge the breakeven point and profit or loss time frame. If the company continues with its investment in the toy and game segment, it is going to experience the economies of scale and have high operating profits. However, for a company  to embrace another project proposal, it has to evaluate its financial capacity to fund the project. Thus, any project which does not generate significant revenue, the company must cultivate the capital rationing. Similarly, the company must consider some factors in the assessment of project’s risk, such as whether the project product’s required new traders or consumers who are willing to accept the goods or services rendered by the company; where the project proposal requires high level of the fixed costs, the project to be appraised is at very high risk considering such costs do not generate high returns; sensitivity of the selling price of the finished goods, and high level of breakeven production volumes. The prudent way to evaluate the company’s feasibility whether or not to inves t on a new venture is by analyzing the returns or the operating profits. If the firm’s expects to experience some losses, it should reject the proposal. However, if the firm is operating at a breakeven point, the company may have the option to forecast whether it is an on-going concern. Problem Identification The Heritage Doll Company is appraising two proposed projects, Match My Doll Clothing and Design Your Own Doll. Emily Harris, vice president of the company’s production division must have compelling reasons to influence the budgeting department to accept the project for implementation. The theoretical reasons behind Match My Doll Clothing to be implemented by the company budgeting committee is that the products produced fully match all seasonal clothing for the young girls and their preferred doll; the popularity of the company’s product; and it is the best time for expansion due to its popularity. The reasons for choosing Design Your Own Doll is that the company’s products would have high correlation with the consumers; the company’s doll can be customized based on the tastes and preferences of the consumers; permanent customer loyalty; dolls demand a strong selling probability; and the company’s potential to strengthen its future growth. However, the company is also limited to take this project due to several constrains including: low production runs and volumes, limited gradation of customization increased manufacturing complication; increase in production and development costs for the technology modification and infrastructure. One of the key distinctions between the two projects is that Design Your Own Doll and Match My Doll Clothing are two mutually exclusive projects. Their  cash flows are related and have the same function and they compete with each other meaning that the acceptance of one project eliminates consideration of the other project. DCF and Sensitivity Analysis The Company should maximize on cash management by capital rationing on the project accepted. NPV of the project should be implemented as it reflects the time value of money invested in the accepted project. Similarly this can be further elaborated by computation of IRR of both project proposal. The analysis was performed by comparing the two projects using the same fixed terminal growth rate of 3% because both projects include a terminal growth rate element. For both projects, it would also be beneficial to know how the terminal growth rate value is generated. Because the â€Å"medium†- risk projects in the production division received a discount rate of 8.4% in 2010, this rate was used for the Match My Doll Clothing line’s DCF analysis. Design Your Own Doll project is long-term project and it is considered to have a higher risk; thus, the rate of 9.00% was used in the analysis. The results of the analysis are presented below. Design Your Own Doll Match My Doll Clothing NPV = $7,310.21 The NPV is positive – the project is feasible. NPV = $7,139.18 The NPV is positive – the project is feasible. IRR=18.24% IRR=23.6% Profitability Index = 1.26 Profitability Index = 2.03 Payback Period = 9.3 years Payback Period = 9.2 year Recommendations From the Working Capital requirements assumptions, Design Your Own Doll requires a higher amount of working capital than Match My Doll Clothing; however, the results of the analysis of the Operating Profit show that Design Your Own Doll line would generate a higher operating profit than that  of the Match My Doll Clothing line. Also, Design Your Own Doll generates higher cash flows compared to the Match My Doll Clothing and this is another argument for choosing Design Your Own Doll for its investment. From the NPV method standpoint, the NPV rule chooses a project in terms of net dollars or net financial impact on the company; thus, it can be easier to use when allocating capital. Also, NPV method requires an assumed discount rate and also assumes that this percentage rate will be stable over the life of the project. In the real world, this assumption does not always work because the interest rates are fluctuating. From the analysis, both of the projects are feasible but Design Your Own Doll has the higher NPV than the Match My Doll Clothing line. IRR method doesn’t assume a discount rate and the worthiness of the investment is purely a function of the internal inflows and outflows of that particular investment. However, IRR does not assess the financial impact on a firm; it only requires meeting a minimum return rate. The internal rate of return is the most critical method to determine the decision option for accepting the project proposal. Also, the highest operating rate of returns with the shortest payback period of the cost of capital is opted to be accepted. From the analysis, Match My Doll Clothing line has the higher IRR than the Design Your Own Doll line. In conclusion, even though both projects are feasible and Design Your Own Doll has the higher NPV, Match My Doll Clothing line project has a higher IRR, profitability index and a shorter payback period. Thus, the budgeting committee should accept Match My Doll Clothing line instead of Design Your Own Doll since Match My Doll Clothing line has the higher IRR, profitability and the shortest payback period. The NPV of both proposals are not significantly different.