Tuesday, November 26, 2019

3 Sentences That Confuse Instead of Explain

3 Sentences That Confuse Instead of Explain 3 Sentences That Confuse Instead of Explain 3 Sentences That Confuse Instead of Explain By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, the manner in which the statement is constructed hinders rather than aids comprehension. In each example, discussion describes the problem, and a revision provides a solution. 1. To what extent are you expected to know your customers, a term that refers to identifying and validating client identity? â€Å"Know your customers† is referenced in this sentence as a concept, not as a term for a concept, so the definition of the implied term should be set off as an entirely distinct parenthetical (perhaps even defined in a footnote): â€Å"To what extent are you expected to know your customers? (The phrase ‘know your customer’ refers to identifying and validating client identity.)† Alternatively, to avoid the issue, revise to something like â€Å"To what extent are you expected to adhere to the know-your-customer principle, which pertains to identifying and validating client identity?† 2. Supervising flight operations in the control car or gondola, Pruss ordered the Hindenburg back down the Jersey Shore coastline. The location of the person supervising flight operations is described as â€Å"the control car or gondola,† but there are two problems with this description. First, the phrase includes two alternate names for a single location, but it is incorrectly uninterrupted by parenthetical punctuation, suggesting that the entire phrase represents a single term. Second, why use the more familiar term followed by a more technical one? Doing so in that order renders the latter superfluous. Better to introduce the less well-known term, followed by the first term as a helpful parenthetical gloss: â€Å"Supervising flight operations in the gondola, or control car, Pruss ordered the Hindenburg back down the Jersey Shore coastline.† 3. The EPA’s regulatory reform task force’s pending 30-day public comment period is intended to gather such input. Avoid stacking two possessive constructions in sequence. Here, the first possessive can easily be converted to an adjective: â€Å"The EPA regulatory reform task force’s pending 30-day public comment period is intended to gather such input.† Better yet, however, reorder the sentence to eliminate one apostrophized term: â€Å"The pending 30-day public comment period established by the EPA’s regulatory reform task force is intended to gather such input.† 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 Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Contronyms (Words with Contradictory Meanings)8 Writing Tips for BeginnersMay Have vs. Might Have

Friday, November 22, 2019

Buonaparte - Relationship of Bonaparte and Buonaparte

Buonaparte - Relationship of Bonaparte and Buonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte was born as Napoleone Buonaparte, the second son of a Corsican family with dual Italian heritage: his father Carlo descended from Francesco Buonaparte, a Florentine who had emigrated in the mid-sixteenth century. Napoleons mother was a Ramolino, a family who arrived in Corsica c. 1500. For a while, Carlo, his wife, and their children were all Buonapartes, but history records the great emperor as being Bonaparte. Why? A growing French influence on both Corsica and the family caused them to adopt the French version of their name: Bonaparte. The future emperor changed his first name too, to just Napoleon. French Influence France gained control of Corsica in 1768, sending an army and a governor who would both play key roles in Napoleons life. Carlo certainly became close friends with the Comte de Marbeuf, the French ruler of Corsica, and fought to send the elder children to be educated in France so they could rise up the ranks of the much larger, richer and more powerful French world; however, their surnames remained almost wholly Buonaparte. It was only in 1793 that the use of Bonaparte begins to grow in frequency, thanks largely to Napoleons failure in Corsican politics and the familys consequent flight to France, where they initially lived in poverty. Napoleon was now a member of the French military, but had managed to a return to Corsica and involved himself in the power struggles of the area. Unlike his later career, things went badly, and the French army (and the French mainland) were soon their new home. Napoleon soon found success, first as an artillery commander in the siege of Toulon and the creation of the ruling Directory, and then in the triumphant Italian Campaign of 1795-6, whereupon he changed almost permanently to Bonaparte. It was clear at this point that the French military was his future, if not the government of France, and a French name would aid this: people could still be suspicious of foreigners (as they still tend to be.) Other members of his family followed as their lives became intertwined with the high-politics of France, and soon the newly named Bonaparte family ruled vast areas of Europe. Political Motivations The changing of the family name from Italian to French seems clearly political in retrospect: as members of an up-and-coming dynasty who ruled France, it made perfect sense to appear French and adopt French affectations. However, theres debate over the scant evidence, and its possible there wasnt a deliberate, family-wide, decision to rename themselves, just the constant and subversive effects of living among French culture working to lead them all to change. Carlos death in 1785, well before the use of Bonaparte became even remotely common, may also have been an enabling factor: they could well have stayed Buonaparte if he had still been alive.​ Readers may wish to note that a similar process happened to the Buonaparte childrens first names: Joseph was born Giuseppe, Napoleon was Napoleone and so on.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Chinese and Comparative Company Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinese and Comparative Company Law - Case Study Example Nowadays, globalization has become a trend. If we want to develop our economy, we'd better cooperate with others and adjust ourselves to the environment. In such a situation, more and more foreign companies have swarmed into China and become one of the strong strength to support the development of the economy. In our country, there are also many aspects of company law in order to protect people's legal profit. For instance, there is an established system of the company, the capital system of the company and the restructuring system of the company. Company law is concentrated on the management of the companies. It is helpful for all of the stuff to get equal chances and gain equal treatment. For the head of the companies, it is good for them to organize and manage the whole company much better. "The company law is just like a pair of glasses for the shortsighted. Putting on it, you can see much clearer and strengthen your judgment. Without it, you shall not have sharp insight. "2 It is a good metaphor. If there is no law for a company, we have no way to protect people's legal right and the equal computation will get nowhere. Besides, it also can limit some people's right who are in high position. "If a member of a liquidation group is found to have abused his or her power to seek personal g ains by resorting to deception, or speculated the company's property, he or her shall be ordered to return the property to the company, have the illegal proceeds confiscated and be imposed a fine one time to five times the amount of the illegal proceeds. If the case is serious enough to constitute a crime, criminal responsibility shall be affixed according to law."3 Aim at not abusing the right, the law has made out the punishment. If anyone confirms it, they will be punished undoubtedly. Although the company law is just one part of Chinese law, it also promotes Chinese law's development. In worldwide, merger&acquisition companies have become one of the most popular forms. However, the complicated work model must be under the control of sound law. Merger&Acquisition Company is considered as a kind of system to welcome winners and eliminate losers in nowadays economical condition.  

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Spinozas Conception of God Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Spinozas Conception of God - Essay Example In his writings, especially The Ethics, Benedict de Spinoza logically defined existence and provided logical proof of his definitions. He used logical progressions and relationships among those statements he considered to have been proven to make his conclusions. In the readings consulted, Spinoza did not really argue for or against the existence of God, though he stated that the existence of God was a logical conclusion. He took that as a given. What Spinoza was attempting was a definition of the nature of God and of all existence. What he finally proved to his satisfaction was that God is everything which exists, that God is infinite and eternal and that everything else proceeds from the mind of God, that is, all existence is thought in the mind of God.In the translated work â€Å"Of God† Spinosa began with simple precepts which he related, such as: â€Å"PROP. VII. -- Existence belongs to the nature of substance.DEMONSTR. -- The production of substance is impossible (by Coroll. to preceding Prop.). Substance, therefore, is the cause of itself; that is (by Def. 1), its essence necessarily involves existence; or, in other words, existence belongs to its nature. Q. E. D.PROP. VIII. -- All substance is necessarily infinite.†(Spinoza 7)This proof is at the beginning of his writing, and it identifies â€Å"substance† (something which exists) as being infinite and states the conservation of matter theorem very simply.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Racial Diversity in Society Worksheet Essay Example for Free

Racial Diversity in Society Worksheet Essay Complete the following using the MySocLab Social Explorer Map: Income Inequality by Race (located on the student website) as a reference: †¢Select 1 racial group from the list below: African American Asian American Arab American Hispanic American/Latino White/Caucasian †¢Write a 150- to 300-word summary of the economic, social, and political standings of that group. Use additional resources if necessary, from the University Library or your textbooks. Provide citations for all the sources you use. Hispanic Americans or Latinos in America descend from many different countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and The Dominican Republic. They come to the United States as immigrants for a variety of different reasons, but the most common is that they come here in search of the American Dream. From an economic point of view Hispanics remain at the bottom of the job ladders due to the fact that many of them are not educationally equipped and are not fluent in English which are both necessities when it comes to the jobs in demand. Their lack of formal education is what is keeping them down in our nation’s technology run job market. Studies show that less and less Hispanic Americans are finishing high school, and without the skills that education will teach them they will continue to flounder in todays economy. When it comes to social statistics it is overwhelmingly clear that faith and family have and continue to be the cornerstone of the Hispanic American Family values and a huge part of their religious based culture. Politically, due to the fact that the majority of  Hispanic Americans are lower or middle cla ss, they tend to agree with the democratic views when it comes to politics. Part II Answer the following in 50 to 150 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use. †¢What is racism? In what ways does racism affect diversity? Racism can be defined as the belief that a specific racial group is superior or inferior to another and that there is nothing that any individual who belongs to that racial group does (economically, socially, politically) can change it. Racism affects diversity through outlets such as discrimination and prejudice that we hold against one another due to the fact that our skin is not all the same color. Today, we hear words like that (prejudice and discrimination) and we are quick to object to the accusation that we can still, after all we as a nation have overcome when it comes to touchy subjects like this, be guilty of such negative ways of thinking. However, it is clear that some things clearly have not changed when we look at statistics that show that in American society whites are still hired for high paying jobs in greater numbers than minorities with the same credentials or that minorities still seem to make up the majority of inmate populations in todays prisons. †¢How do racial groups interact in contemporary America? Are interactions positive, negative, or neutral? Support your response using proper citations. Today, it is not uncommon for racial groups to interact with each other in a mostly positive way due to the fact that in most communities we are not separated based on our racial background when it comes to things such as the schools we attend and jobs that we are allowed to hold like we have been in the past. This is thanks to desegregation and affirmative action laws that have been put into action over the past several years. However, even with these laws we are not a perfect nation and there is still cases where social  inequities can allow discrimination and prejudices to rear their ugly heads in today’s society. Social inequities can affect a particular races basic human rights such as the right to live in a certain area, be hired for a certain job, be able to travel freely, acceptance into schools or colleges, and even the right to vote. †¢Are there existing social inequities based on race? Why or why not? Social inequities is one of those touchy subjects that some people say still exist and some people say does not. Like many subjects similar to this one (racism in general, prejudice, and discrimination) people’s views on it can differ tremendously. Some speak from experience and some speak on it based on facts that they are taught. I’ll touch on an example that I previously mentioned to support the argument that yes, social inequities are existent in today’s society. When you look at prisons today, it is clear that minorities make up a much larger chunk of the inmate population than whites. People who argue that social inequities are the cause of this say that this is a result if whites having always been a more protected race in the US and because of this so called protection, they are favored in the justice system and are given more access to better attorneys. People who support the idea that social inequities don’t exist can of course use the argument t hat the reason that minorities make up most of the inmate population is simply because they are the ones who are responsible for committing the crimes that get them in trouble in the first place. †¢What do you believe to be the causes of racial prejudice and discrimination in today’s society? Looking back at our Nation’s history, it’s clear that racism has and continues to be a problem here. However, it’s also clear that he have taken huge steps, which include legal actions, in order to eliminate it. Unfortunately it is not something that can be completely abolished overnight, and we have to have patience in order to keep the movement pressing forward. The awareness that courses such as this one provides are also great tools when it comes to educating more people on the issue, the  causes, and what can be done to keep it from spreading. I believe that the main cause of racial prejudices is the fact that although as a nation (united) we are against it there are still individual people and families amongst us who refuse to stop it in their personal lives and who continue to teach it to their children generation after generation. Racism is something that is taught, as there is now way for it to be passed genetically or inherently. References Braubach, M. (2010, January 4). Social inequities in environmental risks associated with housing and residential location—a review of evidence. Oxford Journals. Retrieved from http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/1/36.abstract?sid=4aa802c1-b338-41e1-b724-eef7ecee7791 Huffman, A. (2012, November 15). How Hispanics Impact Political, Social and Economic Climate. Charisma News. Retrieved from http://www.charismanews.com/us/34581-how-hispanics-impact-political-social-and-economic-climate Schaefer, R. T. (2012). Racial and Ethnic Groups (13th ed.). : Merrill Prentice Hall.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Solomon Essay -- essays research papers

The biblical account of Solomon’s reign contains criticisms; these criticisms illustrate the date of the narrative. Solomon was looked upon as a ruler of peace and welfare. He inherited his throne at a young age from King David. The land he inherited in 970 BC, Israel, ran all along the Mediterranean in the west, up to the Euphrates River in the north, and down all the way to the desert in the south and east.(George Konig, 68) Solomon did not expand his territory any further; rather he built alliances with surrounding countries and developed trade. The traditional powers of the ancient world, the Egyptians and the Hittites, and the empires yet to appear, Assyria and Babylon, were not aggressive during either David’s or Solomon’s rule.(George Konig, 68) David had expanded Israel’s sphere of influence by war; Solomon was a diplomat, who held what his father had gained. During Solomon’s reign, Israel’s wealth and power diminished. Solomonâ€⠄¢s broad-mindedness weakened Israel’s wealth and power. (Anderson, 241) Solomon wrote thousands of proverbs and songs and he is commonly known for his wisdom. His proverbs and songs were what made him known as man of peace and kindness. He however, soon did not stay true to his own writing, his life became promiscuous and materialistic. "Every part of the book bears the mark of foreign influences ... The close connection between the first part of the Thirty Sayings with Egyptian Wisdom ... is only a special instance."(J.C. Rylaarsdam, 444) The gift Solomon requests is the wisdom to govern well. Yahweh is so pleased that he gives Solomon more than he has asked for: he will receive unparalleled wisdom (v. 12) and, with it, wealth and fame (v. 13). The story of Solomon’s dream has been expanded editorially by the insertion of certain materials lacking in the parallel version of the event in 2 Chron. 1:3-13, which seems to have escaped Deuteronomistic editing. Thus, 1 Kings 3:6 has been elaborated to connect Solomon’s succession to David’s throne with the dynastic promise in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Kings 3:14 has been added to qualify Yahweh’s promise; and v. 15 has been altered to shift the place of sacrifice from Gibeon to Jerusalem. (1988) In Judgment of Solomon the account of the divine gift of wisdom is followed by an example of its practical application. The sagacity with which Solomon arbitra... ...ve much to live on and their ruler was wrapped up in his own life and in making himself happy. It was a time when the monarchy was being weakened by the monarch. Solomon was criticized for not being like his father, a great military King. Work Cited A.S. Herbert. Ruth. Black & Rowley Editors. Peake’s Commentary on the Bible. Routledge Co. Ltd. 1962. B.W. Anderson. Understanding the Old Testament. Fourth Edition. (Upper Saddle River, NJ.)1986. Konig, G. Solomon (King): About Bible Prophecy. 2001-2005. Solomon. 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Kings (books of Bible). 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The Reign of King Solomon. 2005. http://www.medialdea.net/historyguy80538/kingsolreign.htm

Monday, November 11, 2019

Disney Case Analysis Essay

It is 1984, and Disney is the target of a potential takeover by notorious greenmailer Sual Steinberg. Disney is faced with the option of fighting the takeover through the courts and media, or to repurchase Steinberg’s shares, in effect, giving in to his greenmail attempt. However, there are many other important issues which are facing Disney. These range from Disney’s abysmal return on investment in recent theme park investments, to the complete failure of Disney’s motion picture division, to Disney’s alarmingly high dividend payout rate. In the following four sections, we will address these four issues Disney faces and recommend solutions to improve the financial health of Disney. Theme Parks Issue Recently, Disney has been following a bad investment policy. Disney invested a total of $1. 9 Billion in Epcot over a 6 year period and has increased its capital expenditures on theme parks by a total of $1. 277 Billion from 1981 to 1983. Despite these massive investments in its theme parks, Disney has only earned a return of 4% on Epcot and an overall return on Theme Park assets of 6% in 1983. Disney needs to find a way to more efficiently invest its capital and produce greater returns on its investments. Analysis In order to understand why Disney’s Theme Park investments have been so unsuccessful, we must analyze a number of different contributing factors. Why Disney is investing in Theme Parks? In order to understand why Disney is investing in Theme Parks, we need to take a look at the financial results of Disney’s different segments. Out of Disney’s 3 segments, Entertainment and Recreation (or theme parks) is Disney’s only segment which is nicely growing its profits in addition to attaining a healthy profit margin. Motion pictures is currently suffering, and actually losing money. Whereas, Consumer Products is producing profits and holding the greatest profit margin, however profits are not growing significantly. After looking at this analysis and nothing else, it appears as though Entertainment and Recreation is Disney’s most profitable segment and the one which they should be investing in. This is exactly what Disney is doing. Why are additional Theme Parks are the Wrong Investment? Before the expansion on new theme parks, Disney’s older theme parks had enjoyed much success. As recently as 1978, Disney’s Entertainment and Recreation segment had experienced a return on assets of 15. 7%. However, as Disney introduced new theme parks, they reached a point where the optimal supply of theme parks had surpassed the demand. This â€Å"oversupply† of theme parks can be seen by taking a look at the United States Demographic data provided in the case. First, it must be understood that Theme Park attendance, and in turn revenues, are driven by the younger demographic. According to the information above, the population group that drives Theme Park revenues (0 to 14 years old) is actually shrinking from 1970 to 1995. This represents a decrease in demand for Disney’s Theme Parks. Yet, at the same time, Disney is investing in and opening new theme parks. Essentially, Disney is increasing the supply despite a decrease in demand. This is counter intuitive by any economic standard. To further back the claims that Disney’s increased investment in theme parks is a bad move; let’s quickly analyze some measures of financial performance for their theme park segment. Clearly, the Entertainment and Recreation segment has experienced an abysmal return on assets recently. These numbers are even more disappointing when considering the Entertainment and Recreation segment produced an ROA 15. 7% as recently as 1978. Disney has made the wrong move in investing heavily in additional theme parks despite the population decrease in its main customer segment. In order to improve Disney’s position, it must make some changes. Suggested Changes Overseas Theme Parks The demand for additional theme parks does not exist in the United States, as can be seen from looking at the demographic data above. Therefore, there is no reason for Disney to continue expanding and investing in additional United States theme parks. Disney needs to immediately stop United States theme park expansion. However, this does not mean that Disney must stop investing in theme parks altogether. Disney should look to other countries where there is a demand for theme parks. By looking for countries where the demographics are in their favor and there is sufficient demand without oversupply, Disney can begin to earn sufficient returns on their theme park investments. Management Change Disney’s management should have foreseen the downside of overexpansion. It’s even possible that management did realize the lack of demand, however they may have wanted to extract us much demand as possible by building more theme parks. Either way, the decision to invest so heavily in theme parks despite their main market segment shrinking for the foreseeable future is incomprehensible. Earning a ROA of 6% in 1983 on theme parks assets when a 1983 T-Bill earns 8. 86% shows an abysmal utilization of assets. Management responsible for the decision to invest so heavily in theme parks needs to be fired from the company. Implementation How to Expand Overseas First, Disney needs to conduct market research in numerous modernized foreign countries. The focus of this research needs to be on the demand levels for a theme park, and whether the demand outweighs the current supply of theme parks in each country. Once Disney chooses the country with the most favorable supply and demand situation, it can begin analysis to determine whether or not they should actually construct a theme park in that country. They will estimate costs and future cash flows in order to conduct a NPV analysis in order to determine whether or not Disney should actually construct a theme park in that country. How to Implement Management Change Ask around management, and conduct interviews with high level managers in order to determine who was responsible for the decision to invest more heavily in theme parks. Once you have identified the main individual or individuals responsible for the decision, you let them know that they are being let go for their ineptitude. Then, search for top management at other similar companies (or any promising prospects within Disney) to fill the open positions. Motion Pictures Issue The motion pictures business has been historically one of Disney’s strongest segments since the company was founded. Over the years, classic films like Snow White and Cinderella have provided valuable revenue streams for the company. Films have accounted for a significant amount of Disney’s earnings and had a large impact on the performance of the company. However, in recent years the motion picture segment’s performance has been lackluster and recording an operating loss of $33. 3M in 1983. The recent failures in the motion picture segment had a profound ripple effect on Disney’s financial performance. Just two years ago the same division boasted a 17. 59% profit margin and operating income of $34. M. Analysis The recent missteps can be attributed to a failed TV channel startup, lack of a blockbuster movie hit, and the cancelation of a new Disney TV show on CBS. Although the film industry in general was suffering in 1983, the performance of Disney’s motion pictures division was abysmal. Suggested Changes New Management Performance in this division has steadily declined over the past three years. New talent needs to be brought in to help revitalize this division. Disney has been a household name since the advent of cinema and should not be lagging behind their rivals. Management needs to be held accountable for these failures. Increased Investment in Film Disney has arguably been one of the most successful film companies in the world since it was started in 1923. Creating, distributing, and selling films have been a core competency of Disney for many years. Disney needs to invest more money into creating innovative films and future blockbusters. For the past several years, there has been a disparate amount of funds invested into their park business compared to the motion picture segment. Disney needs to focus on their core competency of film and invest into motion pictures. Historically, this business has proved to be lucrative and these additional resources will help finance future blockbuster movies. Implementation How to Acquire New Management Currently, many of the Disney executives worked under Walt Disney, himself, and often won’t accept projects due to the reasoning that â€Å"Walt wouldn’t do that†. It is hard for creative talent to come up with great ideas and have them put down without any reasoning, other than a dead man wouldn’t have approved their ideas or projects. The current executive’s ties are too strong to the late Walt Disney and at least some of them need to be replaced with fresh blood. Fire the executives who are the most repeat offenders of the above mentioned offense. In order to replace them, we suggest that Disney looks to other top movie studies for executive talent. How to Increase Investment in Film While Disney is halting its theme park expansion in the United States and conducting market research overseas for new sites, a lot of additional capital will be lying around waiting to be invested. Once the new executives are in place, we suggest that Disney allocates a considerable amount of its free capital to motion pictures and see what kind of results that its newly hired executives can produce. Dividend Policy Issue One of the many vital points of interest that Ron Miller must address as Disney moves into the future is making a decision on its dividend policy. When looking at the dividend policy of the company, it is critical to conduct a financial ratio analysis of the company. Upon doing so, certain trends can be noticed. One of these noticeable trends happens to fall within the dividend payout rate. For over a decade, the dividend payout rate fluctuated only slightly staying in the range of 4% to 8%. Then beginning in 1978, the dividends began to increase exponentially arriving at a rate of 44. 4% only five years later in 1983. This five year spike in the dividend payout rate has come at the same time as the earnings per share continue to fall. This immediately should raise concerns for the financial security of the company. Analysis In deciding on a dividend policy, it is crucial for the company to decide how growth oriented it would like to be. Speaking simply, the mor e dividends Disney decides to pay out, the less retained earnings it has to put into future positively valued projects. This can be seen in the company’s sustainable growth rate. Calculating for 1883, the growth rate is only 3. 70% Given the large dividend payout rate of 44. 44%, Disney cannot grow with retained earnings at anything more than a modest 3. 70%. If Disney wanted to grow more than that, it could consider taking on more debt. The company has historically been averse to taking on too much debt and will most likely want to continue that trend into the future. If Disney wants to continue to grow without taking on debt, the company will need to consider lowering the dividend payout rate. Suggested Change Lower Dividends To align the dividend payout rate more closely with earnings per share along with setting the company up for more future growth projects, it is crucial in Disney’s financial planning that they cut back the dividend rate. It is our suggestion that Disney reduces its dividend so that its dividend payout ratio is in line with its historic payout of about 7. 50%. This will require Disney to cut its dividend down to $. 20 per share (based on 1983 EPS of $2. 70 per share). Decreasing the dividend to $. 20 per share would nearly double Disney’s sustainable growth rate, increasing it to 6. 16%. As a result, Disney would be able to finance more projects through retained earnings and continue to keep its leverage down. Implementation How to Lower Dividends Obviously, shareholders are not going to be happy to hear that you want to cut the dividend by 83%. This is why you have to issue a press release for general shareholders and at least a conference call or meeting with major shareholders to inform them of your intentions. During the conversation with shareholders, you are going to have to explain how it was a mistake in the past to increase dividends as earnings per share continued to slide. Let the shareholders know that you are going to correct this mistake now, rather than letting it continue to slide. Finally, mention that decreasing dividends will also help Disney remain a financially healthy company by keeping its debt low. Corporate Takeover Attempt Issue Possibly the most important issue faced by Ron Miller and the leadership of Walt Disney Productions is the imposing takeover attempt by well-known corporate raider, Saul Steinberg. This attempt has been sparked by Walt Disney’s current financial situation and performance. Currently, Disney seems to be an ideal target for a takeover. Disney has a great amount of cash on hand, totaling about $18 million. This, along with Disney’s underperformance and inefficiencies, are strong motivating factors for Steinberg’s attempt. It is likely that Saul Steinberg believes Walt Disney Productions to be undervalued. This is a conclusion shared by most raiders about the targets in takeover attempts. Disney is currently trading at $50 per share. Steinberg just initiated a tender offer for 49 percent of the company for $67. 50 per share. This is where Ron Miller must face a difficult decision by giving in to the greenmailing attempt by agreeing to purchase back Steinberg’s shares at a premium, or letting Walt Disney Productions fall victim to a takeover. Analysis It is essential for the future of Disney for us to examine the value of the company. From there, Disney must decide at what price, if any, should they buy back Steinberg’s shares. As stated earlier, Disney’s stock has been recently trading at $50 per share. (Graph) For our analysis of valuing the company, we calculated a WACC of 16. 6%, as well as three different possible growth rates of 8%, 11%, and 13%. From these calculations we were able to surmise an estimated company value of $68. 12 per share. This would lead us, as well as Saul Steinberg, to believe Disney to be undervalued. Recommendation Don’t Buy Steinberg’s Shares To successfully ward of Steinberg and his attempted takeover, Disney must offer him a hefty premium for the purchase of his shares. With his ownership of 12% of the company and his recent attempt for 49 percent of it, a pivotal decision must be made. However, after valuing the company and weighing possible options, we have come to a recommendation. For the sake of both the shareholders and stakeholders of the company, it would be not be wise to buy the shares owned by Saul Steinberg. A decision to succumb to Steinberg’s greenmail would greatly cripple the company from a financial standpoint. If Disney were to buy his share of the company, investors would experience a huge decline in their shares. Such a decision would be made solely to preserve the jobs and welfare of top managers of the company. Disney would be failing to maximize shareholder value, thus weakening Disney’s position in the market. We concluded that in order to avoid the takeover attempt, Disney would have to pay Steinberg $69 per share. This is $0. 88 more than our estimated value of the company and a 38% premium with respect to the current share price. This would leave Saul Steinberg with $289. 8 million, or a profit of $24 million at the expense of Disney’s shareholders. Implementation Don’t Buy Shares, Improve Company Instead of buying the shares, Disney should focus on cleaning up its act as a financially sound company, as well as a leader in its respective industries. With the likely replacement of Ron Miller and top executives, Disney would find itself in a position to change its current business policies. Disney is already highly capital intensive, with the recent increased spending on theme parks. The company should not be acquiring more debt by purchasing two new companies with no apparent synergies. Disney should immediately dump these unwisely obtained businesses. The money from these sales would enable Disney to invest in new business ventures, like expanding abroad and tapping into new markets.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature Sample

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES FOREIGN STUDIES In its broadest sense, impeachment is the process by which public officials may be removed from office on the basis of their conduct. Strictly speaking, it is the decision by a legislature to accuse an official of one or more offenses that warrant removal according to constitutional standards. A vote to impeach then triggers a trial based on those charges. The most famous impeachment proceedings have involved presidents, but every state has its own procedures. Most follow the federal model in general, but vary widely in their specifics.At the federal level, impeachment starts in the House of Representatives, where members may initiate resolutions to impeach a sitting president. The House Judiciary Committee decides if a resolution merits a formal impeachment inquiry. A simple majority vote in the full House can launch a formal inquiry. The House Judiciary Committee conducts an investigation to determine if allegations against a president warrant charges, or articles of impeachment. If a simple majority of the full House votes to charge a president with at least one article of impeachment, that indictment will move to the Senate for trial.At that point, the president has been â€Å"impeached† by the House. House members act as or appoint congressional prosecutors. The chief justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial in the Senate chamber. A two-thirds vote is required to convict and remove from office. The U. S. Constitution states that, â€Å"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanours. † (Article II, Section  ). The House of Representatives has impeached two Presidents: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.Johnson was charged in 1868 with eight articles of impeachment, but was acquitted by a single vote in the Senate tri al (depicted in the above engraving). Bill Clinton was charged with four articles of impeachment by the House in 1998, but was acquitted by the Senate early the next year. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before a final vote in the full House could send him to trial on three articles of impeachment. Each state constitution outlines a unique impeachment procedure, including variations on the list of impeachable offenses, protocol for an impeachment trial and the body responsible for an initial investigation.According to the Associated Press, seven governors in U. S. history have been removed from office following impeachment proceedings. The National Conference of State Legislatures said that a longer list would include states that have investigated governors for alleged offenses, voted to impeach a governor ahead of a trial, or held trials that resulted in acquittal. The only governor to be removed from office in the last 80 years was Gov.Evan Mecham of Arizona, who was convicted in 1 988 of obstructing justice and misusing $80,000 in state money that he was charged with funnelling to his car dealership to keep it afloat. In January 2008, the Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich for abuse of power in connection with the federal investigation that had led to his arrest the month before. Mr. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and with seeking to extort campaign contributions in return for official actions, including providing reimbursement to a hospital.Following the process that has been generally adopted by state legislatures in recent decades, the Illinois House created a special investigative committee, which made a recommendation in favor of impeachment to the entire body. In all states except Alaska, Nebraska and Oregon, the House votes on articles of impeachment ahead of a trial. In Alaska, the process is reversed, according to The Book of States. That state's Senate mu st impeach a governor by voting on impeachment articles in order to initiate a trial in the House. Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.Without a state House, the Nebraska Senate votes to impeach before passing articles on to the state Supreme Court for a trial. Oregon is the only state without constitutional provisions for impeachment of a governor or other executive and judicial officers, according to the NCSL. Those officials may be removed from office, but not by the state's legislature. State courts in Oregon may try public officials for criminal offenses, but the procedure depends upon the jurisdiction of a crime. LOCAL STUDIES Section 1, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution declares that â€Å"Public office is a public trust.Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and  lead modest lives. â€Å"   These words echo loud and clear today as our country’s leaders find themselves at the brink of conducting this constitutional process. Impeachment has been defined as a national inquest into the conduct of public men. It is a necessary safeguard to ensure that public officers have the moral fitness and integrity to fulfil their mandate.The provisions on impeachment are enshrined in Article XI of the 1987 Constitution. Under the Constitution only the following public officers may be impeached: The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman. This list of officers is exclusive. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment. The grounds for impeachment are: culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.These grounds are exclusive and offenses not falling within these parameters shall not be sufficient for impeachment purposes. The process begins at the House of Representatives, which has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment. A verified complaint must be filed by either a Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof. Once the verified complaint has been filed it shall be included in the Order of Business within ten session days, and referred to the proper Committee within three session days thereafter.The Committee, after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House within sixty session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution. The resolution shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten session days from receipt thereof. In the committee hearings, a vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House shall be necessary either to affirm a favourable resolution with th e Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or override its contrary resolution.The vote of each Member shall be recorded. If however, the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed. The Senate has the sole power of sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not vote.No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate. The person impeached shall be  removed from office  and shall be  disqualified to hold any office under the Republic of the Philippines, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to prosecution, trial, and punishment accord ing to law. It is clear that the liability does not end at the Senate, the person impeached shall also be held for appropriate action as a result of his illegal and improper acts.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

lady lazarus Essay Example

lady lazarus Essay Example lady lazarus Essay lady lazarus Essay Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath Lady Lazarus is a poem by Sylvia Plath, which is about the three attempts of suicide of the narrator who corresponds to the poetess in many ways. And Lazarus is considered as a man, at the command of Jesus, who rises from the dead, in the Testament of the Bible. The poem starts by telling us that she had done it again. We do not know what this â€Å"it† is yet. In every decade, she manages to do this act that we do not know what it is about. The narrator sees herself as a walking miracle and describes it with a bright skin, a paperweight right foot and a face looks like Jew linen. She speaks to an unidentified enemy and says that her â€Å"sour breath will vanish in a day†. We see that she compares herself to a victim of Holocaust and states that she is 30 years old and like a cat, she has nine lives. Later on we understand that â€Å"it† connotes to dying, but she keeps returning to life again and again like a cat. In her first atte mpt to suicide, it was an accident she says, and the second one was intentional. She did not expect to return from it. She thinks â€Å"dying† is an art -like everything else- and believes that she does it well. It is like a theatrical event for her and thinks that everyone comes to see her doing it. In fact, it seems like she’s performing the third suicide in front of a crowd (which she explains â€Å"peanut-crunching crowd†) in a place which seems like a circus. Then she thinks that she has been burning to death in a crematorium in Concentration Camp. At the end of the poem she warns â€Å"Herr God† and â€Å"Herr Lucifer† to beware, because she is going to rise again from the ash and â€Å"eat men like air†. This poem of Plath’s is so dark and full of death imageries. It is estimated that this poem could be an autobiography because she is known for her suicidal acts, and she had committed suicide by sticking her head in a gas oven shortly after writing this poem. The

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

War of 1812 Overview - Campaigns of 1814

War of 1812 Overview - Campaigns of 1814 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace A Changing Landscape As 1813 came to a close, the British began to focus their attention on the war with the United States. This began as an increase in naval strength which saw the Royal Navy expand and tighten their full commercial blockade of the American coast. This effectively eliminated the majority of American commerce which led to regional shortages and inflation. The situation continued to worsen with the fall of Napoleon in March 1814. Though initially heralded by some in the United States, the implications of the French defeat soon became apparent as the British were now freed to increase their military presence in North America. Having failed to capture Canada or force peace during the wars first two years, these new circumstance put the Americans on the defensive and transformed the conflict into one of national survival. The Creek War As the war between the British and Americans raged, a faction of the Creek nation, known as the Red Sticks, sought to halt white encroachment into their lands in the Southeast. Agitated by Tecumseh and led by William Weatherford, Peter McQueen, and Menawa, the Red Sticks were allied with the British and received arms from the Spanish in Pensacola. Killing two families of white settlers in February 1813, the Red Sticks ignited a civil war among between the Upper (Red Stick) and Lower Creek. American forces were drawn in that July when US troops intercepted a party of Red Sticks returning from Pensacola with arms. In the resulting Battle of Burnt Corn, the American soldiers were driven away. The conflict escalated on August 30 when over 500 militia and settlers were massacred just north of Mobile at Fort Mims. In response, Secretary of War John Armstrong authorized military action against the Upper Creek as well as a strike against Pensacola if the Spanish were found to be involved. To deal with the threat, four volunteer armies were to move into Alabama with the goal of meeting at the Creek holy ground near the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. Advancing that fall, only Major General Andrew Jacksons force of Tennessee volunteers achieved meaningful success, defeating the Red Sticks at Tallushatchee and Talladega. Holding an advanced position through the winter, Jacksons success was rewarded with additional troops. Moving out from Fort Strother on March 14, 1814, he won a decisive victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend thirteen days later. Moving south into the heart of the Creek holy ground, he built Fort Jackson at the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa. From this post, he informed the Red Sticks that they were surrender and sever ties with the British and Spanish or be c rushed. Seeing no alternative, Weatherford made peace and concluded the Treaty of Fort Jackson that August. By the terms of the treaty, the Creek ceded 23 million acres of land to the United States. Changes Along the Niagara After two years of embarrassments along the Niagara frontier, Armstrong appointed a new group of commanders to achieve victory. To lead American forces, he turned to newly promoted Major General Jacob Brown. An active commander, Brown had successfully defended Sackets Harbor the previously year and was one of a few officers to have escaped the 1813 St. Lawrence expedition with his reputation intact. To support Brown, Armstrong provided a group of newly promoted brigadier generals which included Winfield Scott and Peter Porter. One of the few standout American officers of the conflict, Scott was quickly tapped by Brown to oversee the armys training. Going to extraordinary lengths, Scott relentlessly drilled the regulars under his command for the upcoming campaign (Map). A New Resilience To open the campaign, Brown sought to re-take Fort Erie before turning north to engage British forces under Major General Phineas Riall. Crossing the Niagara River early on July 3, Browns men succeeded in surrounding the fort and overwhelming its garrison by noon. Learning of this, Riall began moving south and formed a defensive line along the Chippawa River. The next day, Brown ordered Scott to march north with his brigade. Moving towards the British position, Scott was slowed by an advance guard led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Pearson. Finally reaching the British lines, Scott elected to await reinforcements and withdrew a short distance south to Street Creek. Though Brown had planned a flanking movement for July 5, he was beat to the punch when Riall attacked Scott. In the resulting Battle of Chippawa, Scotts men soundly defeated the British. The battle made Scott a hero and provided a badly needed morale boost (Map). Heartened by Scotts success, Brown hoped to take Fort George and link up with Commodore Isaac Chaunceys naval force on Lake Ontario. With this done, he could begin a march westward around the lake towards York. As in the past, Chauncey proved uncooperative and Brown advanced only as far as Queenston Heights as he knew Riall was being reinforced. British strength continued to grow and command was assumed by Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond. Unsure of British intentions, Brown dropped back to the Chippawa before ordering Scott to reconnoiter north. Locating the British along Lundys Lane, Scott immediately moved to attack on July 25. Though outnumbered, he held his position until Brown arrived with reinforcements. The ensuing Battle of Lundys Lane lasted until midnight and was fought to a bloody draw. In the fighting, Brown, Scott, and Drummond were wounded, while Riall was wounded and captured. Having taken heavy losses and now outnumbered, Brown elected to fall back on Fort Erie. Slowly pursued by Drummond, American forces reinforced Fort Erie and succeeded in repelling a British attack on August 15. The British attempted a siege of the fort, but were forced to withdraw in late September when their supply lines were threatened. On November 5, Major General George Izard, who had taken over from Brown, ordered the fort evacuated and destroyed, effectively ending the war on the Niagara frontier. 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace Up Lake Champlain With the conclusion of hostilities in Europe, General Sir George Prevost, the governor-general of Canada and commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, was informed in June 1814 that over 10,000 veterans of the Napoleonic Wars would dispatched for use against the Americans. He was also told that London expected him to undertake offensive operations before the close of the year. Assembling his army south of Montreal, Prevost intended to strike south through the Lake Champlain corridor. Following the route of Major General John Burgoynes failed Saratoga Campaign of 1777, Prevost elected to take this path due to antiwar sentiment found in Vermont. As on Lakes Erie and Ontario, both sides on Lake Champlain had been engaged in a ship-building race for over a year. Having built a fleet of four ships and twelve gunboats, Captain George Downie was to sail up (south) the lake in support of Prevosts advance. On the American side, the land defense was headed by Major General George Izard. With the arrival of British reinforcements in Canada, Armstrong believed that Sackets Harbor was under threat and ordered Izard to leave Lake Champlain with 4,000 men to reinforce the Lake Ontario base. Though he protested the move, Izard departed leaving Brigadier General Alexander Macomb with a mixed force of around 3,000 to man the newly built fortifications along the Saranac River. The Battle of Plattsburgh Crossing the border on August 31 with around 11,000 men, Prevosts advance was harassed by Macombs men. Undaunted, the veteran British troops pushed south and occupied Plattsburgh on September 6. Though he badly outnumbered Macomb, Prevost paused for four days to prepare to assault the American works and to allow Downie time to arrive. Supporting Macomb was Master Commandant Thomas MacDonoughs fleet of four ships and ten gunboats. Arrayed in a line across Plattsburgh Bay, MacDonoughs position required Downie to sail further south and round Cumberland Head before attacking. With his commanders eager to strike, Prevost intended to move forward against Macombs left while Downies ships attacked the Americans in the bay. Arriving early on September 11, Downie moved to attack the American line. Forced to combat light and variable winds, the British were unable to maneuver as desired. In a hard-fought battle, MacDonoughs ships took a beating were able to overcome the British. During the battle, Downie was killed as were many of the officers on his flagship, HMS Confiance (36 guns). Ashore, Prevost was late in moving forward with his assault. While artillery on both sides dueled, some British troops advanced and were achieving success when they were recalled by Prevost. Having learned of Downies defeat on the lake, the British commander decided to call off the assault. Believing that control of the lake was necessary for the resupply of his army, Prevost argued that any advantage gained by taking the American position would be negated by the inevitable need to withdraw down the lake. By evening, Prevosts massive army was retreating back to Canada, much to the astonishment of Macomb. Fire in the Chesapeake With the campaigns underway along the Canadian border, the Royal Navy, guided by Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, worked to tighten the blockade and conduct raids against the American coast. Already eager to inflict damage on the Americans, Cochrane was further encouraged in July 1814 after receiving a letter from Prevost asking him to assist in avenging the American burnings of several Canadian towns. To execute these attacks, Cochrane turned to Rear Admiral George Cockburn who had spent much of 1813 raiding up and down the Chesapeake Bay. To support these operations, a brigade of Napoleonic veterans, led by Major General Robert Ross, was dispatched to the region. On August 15, Ross transports passed the Virginia Capes and sailed up the bay to join with Cochrane and Cockburn. Discussing their options, the three men elected to attempt an attack on Washington DC. This combined force quickly trapped Commodore Joshua Barneys gunboat flotilla in the Patuxent River. Pushing upstream, they swept aside Barneys force and began landing Rosss 3,400 men and 700 marines on August 19. In Washington, the Madison Administration struggled to meet the threat. Not believing Washington would be a target, little had been done in terms of preparation. Organizing the defense was Brigadier General William Winder, a political appointee from Baltimore who had previously been captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek. As the bulk of the US Armys regulars were occupied in the north, Winder was forced to largely rely on militia. Meeting no resistance, Ross and Cockburn advanced rapidly from Benedict. Moving through Upper Marlborough, the two decided to approach Washington from the northeast and cross the East Branch of the Potomac at Bladensburg (Map). Massing 6,500 men, including Barneys sailors, Winder opposed the British at Bladensburg on August 24. In the Battle of Bladensburg, which was viewed by President James Madison, Winders men were forced back and driven from the field despite inflicting higher losses on the British (Map). As American troops fled back through the capital, the government evacuated and Dolley Madison worked to save key items from the Presidents House. The British entered the city that evening and soon the Capitol, Presidents House, and Treasury Building were ablaze. Camping on Capitol Hill, the British troops resumed their destruction the following day before beginning the march back to their ships that evening. 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace By the Dawns Early Light Emboldened by their success against Washington, Cockburn next advocated for a strike against Baltimore. A pro-war city with a fine harbor, Baltimore had long served as a base for American privateers operating against British commerce. While Cochrane and Ross were less enthusiastic, Cockburn succeeded in convincing them to move up the bay. Unlike Washington, Baltimore was defended by Major George Armisteads garrison at Fort McHenry and around 9,000 militia who had been busy building an elaborate system of earthworks. These latter defensive endeavors were overseen Major General (and Senator) Samuel Smith of the Maryland militia. Arriving at the mouth of the Patapsco River, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack against the city with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the navy attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Going ashore at North Point early on September 12, Ross began advancing towards the city with his men. Anticipating Ross actions and needing more time to complete the citys defenses, Smith dispatched 3,200 men and six cannon under Brigadier General John Stricker to delay the British advance. Meeting in the Battle of North Point, American forces successfully delayed the British advance and killed Ross. With the generals death, command ashore passed to Colonel Arthur Brooke. The next day, Cochrane advanced the fleet up the river with the goal of attacking Fort McHenry. Ashore, Brooke pushed on to the city but was surprised to find substantial earthworks manned by 12,000 men. Under orders not to attack unless with a high chance of success, he halted to await the outcome of Cochranes assault. In the Patapsco, Cochrane was hampered by shallow waters which precluded sending forward his heaviest ships to strike at Fort McHenry. As a result, his attack force consisted of five bomb ketches, 10 smaller warships, and the rocket vessel HMS Erebus. By 6:30 AM they were in position and opened fire on Fort McHenry. Remaining out of range of Armisteads guns, the British ships struck the fort with heavy mortar shells (bombs) and Congreve rockets from Erebus. As the ships closed, they came under intense fire from Armisteads guns and were compelled to draw back to their original positions. In effort to break the stalemate, the British attempted to move around the fort after dark but were thwarted. By dawn, the British had fired between 1,500 and 1,800 rounds at the fort with little impact. As the sun began to rise, Armistead ordered the forts small storm flag lowered and replaced with the standard garrison flag measuring 42 feet by 30 feet. Sewn by local seamstress Mary Pickersgill, the flag was clearly visible to all of the ships in the river. The sight of the flag and the ineffectiveness of the 25-hour bombardment convinced Cochrane that the harbor could not be breached. Ashore, Brooke, with no support from the navy, decided against a costly attempt on the American lines and began retreating towards North Point where his troops re-embarked. The successful defense of the fort inspired Francis Scott Key, a witness to the fighting, to write The Star-Spangled Banner. Withdrawing from Baltimore, Cochranes fleet departed the Chesapeake and sailed south where it would play role in the wars final battle. 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Gym Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gym - Assignment Example As a function of this level of similarity, the following analysis will be concentric upon discussing and analyzing what uniformity of social constructs and/or identity formation is able to take place within these respective spaces. Is the further hope of this author that through such analysis the reader will come to a more informed and profound understanding with respect to the way in which identity formation and social constructs are encouraged and denoted within the average local gym. As such, the analysis will be concentric upon how features are responsible for shaping the social or hierarchical nature of this space, the subtle, implicit, and explicit means through which this social dynamic is encouraged, and the uniformity as compared to the utilitarian purpose that the gym necessarily espouses. Firstly, before delving into the unique dynamics of any particular gym, it must be understood and denoted that individuals utilize a gym for one of two unique reasons. The first reason an d rationale that an individual takes use of their local gym is with regards to the fact that this space is a means to an end as a function of increasing vitality, improving overall well-being, and generally seeking to provide a level of fitness and exercise to the body. Secondary group that integrates with the gym is one that can be categorized as utilizing this particular space for the sole purpose of aspect improvement. Whereas aesthetic improvement can most certainly be seen as a tangential benefit for the first group, the prime focus of the second group is to engage with this space as a function of drawing attention to their own bodies and maximizing certain features that they had targeted for improvement. The subtle differentiation between these two groups, although somewhat mundane, is ineffective measurement of how each and every gym is ultimately set up. The underlying rationale for this has to do with the purpose for which both of these groups engage with the service that t he gym provides. As such, prior to delving into the way in which a gym is able to speak to the needs of all of its participants, understanding the way in which these two dynamic groups exists in a contemporary setting is pivotal in understanding the manner through which social hierarchy, identity, and understanding of self is evidenced within this particular space. From such an understanding, the first aspect of social hierarchy that can be determined is concentric upon the way in which those individuals within the first group integrate with one another and with other gym goers. As such, even a cursory analysis into any generic gym will revealed the fact that those individuals who utilize the gym as a means of aerobic enhancement, self betterment, and vitality improvement, are most always place in positions throughout the gym in which they do not face one another. This lack of contact with fellow gym goers allows these individuals to focus specifically on the goal of betterment that they have without the pressure of others judging them, staring at them, or analyzing their progress. As such, machines such as stair steppers, treadmills, rowing devices, crossfit machines, and a litany of other machines are spaced strategically in rows that face the wall, a set of televisions, or