Wednesday, October 30, 2019
BBA-Strategic Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
BBA-Strategic Analysis - Essay Example BBA-Strategic Analysis According to Geurden, some banks are good at customer management or even in creating customer access points. The banks plan to focus on the customer service area and outsource the other banking functions like creation, running and operating technologies that implement new financial products. Most banks now days outsource of their technical jobs to data centers. Even bank of America is outsourcing its many parts in the banking infrastructure and this includes the automatic teller machines. Large banks such as the world well known Citibank go even further by putting into place a full range of financial services within each one stop shop bank location to service their clients’ banking needs (Rubin & McNeil, 1977). The banks are in much need of flexible information technology infrastructure to integrate and hasten the accurate reporting of banking services applications with the banks’ bank – end systems. Another trend that banks are happily engaged in is that the banks are convincing companies to outsource the financial services jobs to them. A big bank, Nordea of Scandinavia, even gives companies access to automated payment processing with Microsoft’s Biztalk accelerator for accounting services. Many big banks were originally smaller banks that consolidated and merged to form a big bank. The advantage of mergers and consolidations are that the formerly competitive banks can now share a common database of customers and to blaze the other combining partners’ uncharted territory t generate more sales and interest income.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Microeconomics And Tourism In South Africa Tourism Essay
Microeconomics And Tourism In South Africa Tourism Essay South africa is a country that a has a famous history of racial divisiveness and diversity, but today the rainbow nation is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa and in the world as a whole. In the following report we will analyze the microeconomic situation in South Africa. This will help us decide weather the hotel we have chosen is, in fact, the best one. In order to achieve our goal, we will look at the history of the country and talk about South African government and politics. We will also analyze the countries economic situation by looking at the economic growth since 1980, the principal trading partners, the impact of the 2010 World Cup and finally the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as the type of the market economy. Furthermore we will analyze the local economy of the city of Cape Town where the Hotel is located. Thus looking at the lodging Industry and analyze weather the economic strategy is successful or not. We will achieve this by identifying its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the tourism industry as well as for the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa. Finally we will identify the competitors of the Hotel. With this in mind we will begin to define what are our criteria to classify the best hotel and identify weather this Hotel is indeed the best one or not. In the end we will present our conclusions that prove that Hotel can be classified as the best one in South Africa. History of the Country South Africa is located at the southernmost point of the African continent. It has a long 2798 km coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans. It is one of the largest and most powerful states in Africa with a population of over 50 million inhabitants. The African country has been inhabited for more than three million years. This country is also known as the cradle of mankind. Diversity in South Africa began very early with the San and the Khoekhoe peoples in the 6th century BC and evolved ever since making it one of the most ethnical diverse country in the world. This diversity is a big part of the rainbow nations conflictual history. In 1487 white settlers set foot for the first time with the portuguese explorer Bartolomeo Dias Today. Later in 1961 it became a republic, but apartheid rules did not leave with the British retreat. Apartheid gave a bad image of South Africa in the world, and other wealthy nations of the world began to boycott its economy because of its racial policies and oppression. But when Nelson Mandela was freed in 1991 the situation started to change, he was elected as president on the first non-racial elections on 27th of April 1994. Since then South Africa came a long way, a black man Jacob Zuma is currently at the head of the state since he was elected in May of 2009. The country has been given the trust and privilege to host last summers biggest event worldwide: the FIFA World Cup which showed the world what South Africa has achieved. They have 11 official languages, the main ones are Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans followed by English. It is a member of the African Union, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Common Wealth of Nations, the International Monitory Fund and the NEPAD (New Partnership of Africas Development). Mandelas nation has three capitals, Cape Town which is the legislative capital, Pretoria which is the executive capital and Bloemfontein which is the judicial capital. Johannesburg is not a capital although it is the largest city. It is a middle income emerging country that has a large amount of supplies thanks to their natural resources. The country has a very developed finance, communication, energy and transportation sectors and is ranked as 17th largest stock exchange in the world by the WTO and is in the top 30 in the world in accordance to its GDP. Economy in South Africa The South African economy is ranked as a upper-middle income economy by the World Bank. About a quarter of the population is unemployed and lives on less than US $1.25 a day. This table shows the economy growth from 1980 to 2010 : Year Gross Domestic Product (bln USD) US Dollar Exchange (early January) Unemployment rate Per Capita Income (as % of USA) 1980 80.547 0.8267 Rand 9.2 22.56 1985 57.273 2.0052 Rand 15.5 9.81 1990 111.998 2.5419 Rand 18.8 13.10 1995 151.117 3.5486 Rand 16.7 13.24 2000 132.964 6.1188 Rand 25.6 8.47 2005 246.956 5.6497 Rand 26.7 12.34 2010 354.414 7.462 Rand 24.8 15.06 The majority of economical transactions occur around 4 areas: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Pretoria. They are the economical heart of the country and the hubs to the rest of the world. Although these megalopolis can be compared to those of the western world, disparity amongst the countrys region remains. The development is marginal and poverty and HIV are still prevalent. The government demonstrated its commitment to open market, privatization and a favorable investment climate with its introduction of the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy which is a South African neoliberal macroeconomic strategy implemented in 1996. As its name says the GEAR strategy has four more objectives that are embedded on this strategy namely: economic growth, full employment, price stability and balance payment stability. The Rand is the most actively trended emerging market currency in the world. The Rand was the best performing currency against the US dollar between 2002 and 2005, according to the Bloomberg Currency Scorecard. Principal international trading partners of South Africa include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, The United Kingdom and Spain. Chief exports include corn, diamonds, fruits, gold, metals and minerals, sugar and wool. Machinery and transportation equipment make up more than 1/3 of the value of the countrys imports. Other imports are chemicals, manufactured goods and petroleum. Also, South Africa has a big agricultural sector and an exporter of farming products. There are almost a thousand agricultural cooperatives and businesses throughout the country. Agricultural exports constituted 8 % of the countrys exports for the last 5 years and it contributes that 10% of formal employment to the country. Finally, South Africas economy depends largely on the tourism industry which has been identified as one of the key economic sectors with excellent potential for growth. Directly and indirectly, tourism constitutes approximately 7% of employment in South Africa. To develop and exploit the countrys tourism potential, infrastructure and support facilities of which hotels, like the one we chose, are an integral part. The hospitality industry in South Africa has experienced a steady growth during the past years. Different issues in the government really affected the hospitality sector of the country, but there is a reason now to be optimistic. By hosting the FIFA World Cup it was a great opportunity to boost their economy and especially the tourism sector. A total of 309.554 foreign tourists arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of attending the event. The continent counted 34% of the worlds foreign tourists, followed by Europe with 24% and Central and South America with 13% The total expenditure in South Africa by tourists who came specifically for the 2010 FIFA World Cup amounted to 3.7 million euros. The average length of stay of tourists during this period was 10.3 nights.Total awareness of South Africa as a leisure and tourism destination increased by 9% following the event. The intention to visit South Africa in the Short term increased by 35% following the event. The industry is creating jobs and wealth, it could also play a crucial role in making the countrys economy to be a better one. However, fragmentation remained some serious impediments to South Africas hospitality industry growth. The industry revolved in different types of businesses, such as airlines, boats, bus companies, hotels, car hire, festivals and events, tour guides, retailing and sightseeing destinations. Therefore the South Africans must be proactive and take responsibility to continue to drive change. After the positive market sentiment recorded last September 2010, the tourism industry is in a very good shape especially since 2009 was a particularly bad year also due to the world economy crisis. South Africas tourism boom has had a predictable effect on the performance of the countrys hotels. South Africa GDP per capita The GDP has grown by more than 4 times in 30 years, that is due to the political and social development since 1980 and especially the abolition of the apartheid which lead to more open economical choices. According to the World Bank, South Africas GDP per capita is currently U$D 3,764 (South Africas GDP adjusted by inflation, divided by the total population). From 1960 until 2008 this figure was U$D 3096.02, with a historical peak of U$D 3764 in December 2008 and a historical low of U$D 2207 in 1960. Although the GDP seems to be increasingly rising, the unemployment rate has reached a dramatical number, 24.8% of the South Africans population is unemployed the rate rose by 15 points since 1980. Demand According to the Horwath Worldwide Hotel Industry Study (2001) South Africa remained the most popular African destination in terms of arrivals in 2000. South Africa is also increasingly becoming a popular international conference destination attracting a large amount of customers from the MICE market. In addition, South Africas hospitality industry continues to attract international investors especially once it was set to host the FIFA world cup and since then investors have been flowing in. In 2010 South Africa recorded 5.5 million arrivals. There was growth in tourist arrivals to South Africa from all regions, with the highest growth coming from the Americas at 91.3% (74,545). Asia and Australasia grew by 41.0% (30,216) and the Africa air markets grew by 30.8% (20,611), while Europe and the Africa land markets grew by 19.1% (43,672) and 5.3% (63,770) respectively.The demand in the tourism industry in South Africa is growing exponentially and the government, investors and hospitality professionals are working together so that the supply meets the constantly rising demand. Supply Profit maximization Profit maximisation is the process by which a hotel determines the price and output level that returns the greatest profit. There are 2 typical ways to achieve profit maximisation: Focus on minimising and control expenses Focus on maximising revenue The Leisure and Tourism Industry South Africa South Africa is known as one of the most sophisticated and promising countries in the whole African continent, and has shown as we have seen it, a strong and consistent improvement in the economy. Its scenic beauty, cultural diversity and reputation for delivering value for money have made it one of the worlds fastest growing leisure and business travel destinations (BRICS countries). Being highly diverse in terms of its, culture, tourist activities and infrastructure. It adapts to every tourism niche, from business, eco- and cultural tourism through to adventure and sport tourism. Its tourism sector began growing significantly since 1994, and due to the importance government gives to tourism in the country. Tourism also generates much of South Africas tax revenue as much as $655 billion in 2005 and influences government spending in infrastructure such as highways, airports, etc. Growing three times faster then the world average. It has become a really important sector, which is creating millions of jobs, employing 212 millions of people. South Africa is becoming more popular among tourist destinations, with 860 000 arrivals per month (statistics from 2008) from which over 10% come from outside of the African continent. The tourism industry has generated a revenue of $3.4 trillion, which represents around 3% GDP. The hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June and July 2010 remarkably contributed to the countrys economy and development of hundreds of hotels and other hospitality establishments Sà  ¾uth à  friÑ à  ° is therefore tà  °rgà  µting numerous different segments of tourism industry. Such as the afore mentioned domestic tourism, business tourism, eco tourism, cultural tourism but also the adventure tourism. Business Tourism The award of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was just one sign that South Africa was seen as a stable and modern country compared to other African countries. It proved that it posses first-class infrastructure and is an ideal location for intà  µrnà  °tià  ¾nà  °l Ñ à  ¾ngrà  µssà  µs à  °nd Ñ à  ¾nvà  µntià  ¾ns.Thà  µ Ñ à  ¾untry hà  °s wà  µll à  ¾và  µr 1 000 wà  ¾rld-Ñ là  °ss Ñ à  ¾nfà  µrà  µnÑ à  µ à  °nd à  µxhibitià  ¾n Ñ à  µntrà  µs. Sà  ¾uth à  friÑ à  ° is tà  °rgà  µting businà  µss trà  °và  µllà  µrs for the main reason that they spà  µnd à  ¾n à  °và  µrà  °gà  µ thrà  µÃƒ  µ to four timà  µs mà  ¾rà  µ thà  °n the là  µisurà  µ travellers. This thrà  ¾ugh tà  ¾urs and leisure activities such as experiencing the African culture and safari, but also luxury golf courses, shopping and relaxation- bà  µfà  ¾rà  µ à  ¾r à  °ftà  µr thà  µir businà  µss à  °Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ tivitià  µs à  °nd thrà  ¾ugh rà  µturn trips. à  n à  µstimà  °tà  µd 6-7% à  ¾f Sà  ¾uth à  friÑ à  °s fà  ¾rà  µign visità  ¾rs in 2007 wà  µrà  µ businà  µss tà  ¾urists. Tà  ¾tà  °l dirà  µÃƒâ€˜Ã‚ t spà  µnding by businà  µss tà  ¾urists tà  ¾ $ 2.4 billià  ¾n that year. Sà  ¾uth à  friÑ à  °s Ñ à  ¾nfà  µrà  µnÑ à  µ industry mà  ¾và  µd up tà  ¾ 3oth plà  °Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ à  µ in thà  µ Intà  µrnà  °tià  ¾nà  °l à  ¡Ãƒ  ¾ngrà  µss à  °nd à  ¡Ãƒ  ¾nvà  µntià  ¾n à  ssà  ¾Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ ià  °tià  ¾ns là  °stà  µst tà  ¾p-40 list à  ¾f là  µÃƒ  °ding dà  µstinà  °tià  ¾ns in thà  µ wà  ¾rld. Domestic Tourism In 2006 domestic travel grew by 2.7%, nearly 12 million South Africans inhabitants took 37 million internal trips. In those trips 29 million tourists were visiting their family and friends, 2.8 million were traveling for holiday and 1.9 million for business reasons. The issue the tourism department is dealing with, is the challenge to turn the domestic tourism market from visiting family to leisure tourism and thus optimize the increase in the market. Furthermore, the tourism department is running a program called Shot Left, which works on the principle that encourages South African population to travel inside of the country. This is achieved by providing information about tourist attractions, access to tour operators, reasonable prices and tour packages. Eco Tourism Eco tourism is the fastest growing segment of tourism in South Africa thanks to its divà  µrsà  µ Ñ limà  °tà  µs rà  °ngà  µ frà  ¾m trà  ¾piÑ à  °l in thà  µ sà  ¾uth-à  µÃƒ  °st tà  ¾ dà  µsà  µrt in thà  µ Ñ à  µntrà  °l rà  µgià  ¾n. Thà  µ Ñ à  ¾untrys wildlifà  µ is và  °rià  µd , à  °nd is suppà  ¾rtà  µd by à  °n à  µxtrà  °Ãƒ  ¾rdinà  °ry bià  ¾là  ¾giÑ à  °l divà  µrsity. It creates opportunities for tourists which include bird-watching, nature photography, hiking and mountaineering, botanical studies and snorkeling. National and provincial parks in South Africa the world famous Kruger National Park as well private reserves, involve local communities in the management and conservation of natural resources. These communities are becoming aware of their responsibility to the environment, and with that they are also financially benefiting from ecotourism. The countrys prà  ¾tà  µÃƒâ€˜Ã‚ tà  µd à  °rà  µÃƒ  °s increased to 8%, à  °nd its mà  °rinà  µ prà  ¾tà  µÃƒâ€˜Ã‚ tà  µd à  °rà  µÃƒ  °s grew up tà  ¾ 20%, in 2010. Adventure Tourism Bà  µing à  °t thà  µ sà  ¾uthà  µrn tip à  ¾f à  ° là  °rgà  µ Ñ à  ¾ntinà  µnt, Sà  ¾uth à  friÑ à  ° à  ¾ffà  µrs 3 000 kilà  ¾mà  µtrà  µs à  ¾f Ñ à  ¾Ãƒ  °stlinà  µ à  °là  ¾ng with the mà  ¾untà  °ins. Thà  µ Ñ à  ¾untrys divà  µrsà  µ tà  µrrà  °in, tà  ¾gà  µthà  µr with à  ° Ñ limà  °tà  µ suità  µd tà  ¾ à  ¾utdà  ¾Ãƒ  ¾r à  °Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ tivitià  µs mà  °kà  µ it à  °n idà  µÃƒ  °l hunting grà  ¾und fà  ¾r à  °drà  µnà  °linà  µ sà  µÃƒ  µkà  µrs. Sà  ¾uth à  friÑ à  ° à  ¾ffà  µrs wà  ¾rld-Ñ là  °ss Ñ limbing, surfing, diving, hiking, hà  ¾rsà  µbà  °Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ k riding, sà  °fà  °ri, mà  ¾untà  °in biking, rivà  µr rà  °fting à  °nd just à  °bà  ¾ut à  °ny à  ¾thà  µr à  µxtrà  µmà  µ à  °Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ tivity. Cape town Cape Town is the most popular tourism destination for international arrivals as well as locals. Approximately 1.6 million tourists visited Cape Town in year 2006 and their total spending resulted in $10 billion of revenue. Cape town has recently expanded their International Convention center and now hosts 10% of all conferences and meeting of Africa for international and local business tourists. Also real estate business and construction market has hit its peak, when during the 2010 World Cup many people started to buy summer houses in the city or relocating there permanently. As we can see, there is a tendency for international tourists to visit South Africa more from year to year, which results in overnight stays and demand for accommodation and FB. Furthermore, the Cape Town beaches are very popular for their uniqueness and layout because of the difference in the water temperature. The Atlantic Coast average water temperature is around 13 ° Celsius, and the False Bay has an average temperature between 16 and 17 ° Celsius. Though colder, the Atlantic Coast is famous for its big waves and hosts different events including the Red Bull Big Wave Africa. Issues Unemployment Has an extreme unemployment rate, which interacts with other social and economic problems( education, crime and poor health outcomes) over 60% of unemployed have been without jobs more than a year. In second quarter of 2010 a number of people with work fell from 61.000 to 12.700 million. Income inequality The country is ranked in the top 10 countries in the world for income inequality. Black people are poorer than colored people Indians and Asians who are poorer than Whites. Public sector strikes In August and September 2010 SA unions organized a 4 week national strike involving 1.3 million public sector workers, demanding a 8.6% wage increase. The strike ended when the government had raised its 5.2% wage increased to 7.5%. Illegal immigration Many South African employers have employed migrants from poorer neighboring countries( Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and others) for a lower pay than South African citizens. Electricity crisis After unsuccessful attempts by the government to encourage private construction of power generation capacity, the state-owned power supplier Eskom started experiencing deficiency in capacity in the electrical generating infrastructure in 2007. The lack of capacity was triggered by a failure at Koeberg nuclear power station. The supplier has been criticized for failing to adequately plan for and construct sufficient electrical generating capacity. The crisis was resolved in few month, but the margin between available capacity and national demand is still low. The government and Eskom are planning new power station (in 2025). SWOT analysis of the Tourism Industry Strengths: Weaknesses: Emerging economy Union strikes Low labor and fixed costs High poverty level Low tax Lack of skilled labor Better infrastructure and increased destination Unstable currency awareness since FIFA 2010 High rates of HIV/AIDS Opportunities: Threats: Growth of tourism from USA and European countries High crime level Low cost airlines companies (domestic market growth) Economic recession Government spending in tourism Unstable US Dollar Hosting of the 2020 summer Olympics Racial differences Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa Description Created in 1998, the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is situated on the Southwestern coast of South Africa 45 minutes, by car, from Cape Town. The hotel is embraced by the Kogelberg Mountains and bordered by the Bot River Lagoon. The Hotel is near the Cape Wine Route in the the souther tip of Africa near Cape Agulhas, and only 15-minute drive from Hermanus. Perfectly suitable for those who want to relax from the hectic life but dont want to go far away from civilization, the region where the hotel is located is rich in bird life, exquisite mountain landscapes and endless recreational activities. For guests on business there are special conference facilities that deliver standards of professionalism and comfort. General Manager Rob Kucera has been promoted to GM of the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa after three years as a hotel manager at the Westin Grand in Cape Town. Rob joined The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays as an experienced hotelier, his most notable achievement is the establishment of an extremely focused and effective management team. His business acumen and leadership skills will undoubtedly add tremendous value to the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa and its employees. Rob Kucera has extensive experience, impeccable values and immense dedication added to a huge passion for the industry. These mentioned qualities have definitely earned him the respect from his seniors, peers, employees and guests alike. Rob Kucera has made a tremendous impact on the hotel industry this far in his career and we look forward to his continued success, says Friedrich Schaefer, COO and Area General Manager of Arabella Starwood SA. Facilities Apart from the standard facilities and services as: business center, shopping mall, valet and car rental service, airport transportation service (pick up and drop off), beauty salon, 24 hours Front Desk and Concierge service, childrens playground and babysitting service, restaurants with classic or traditional food, an wireless high internet access coverage on the premisses. The Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa provides its guests with : Chapters Library Arabella Spa with indoor and outdoor pools and jacuzzis and massage treatments The African Rainforest Experience- a world first sauna treatment developed in South Africa using African products and inspired by African rains The Sport club with a fitness center, tennis courts, horseback riding, fishing and kayaking The Unique golf course, recently voted the Number Two Golf Course in South Africa and the Top Golf Course in the Western Cape by The Complete Golfer magazine Rooms and Rates The Hotel has 265 rooms in total and brings Deluxe Rooms ( Rate is 1.672 ZAR) These large rooms are perfectly arranged for utmost comfort. Each Deluxe Room has a private balcony or terrace that overlooks garden or swimming pool. Most of 46 rooms are furnished with king size beds or twin single beds. The room can accommodate 2 adults and 1 child under two in a camping cot. Grand Deluxe Rooms (Rate is 1.950 ZAR Around 213 Euro) Offer the same style and comfort as Deluxe Room but has the additional benefit of a magnificent view of the Bot River Lagoon and Arabella Golf Course. Deluxe Suites (Rate is 2.850ZAR around 310 Euro) The room has a separate bedroom and lounge, divided by wooden sliding doors for additional privacy. The bathroom is large and for extra luxury equipped with TV set. A large balcony with loungers offers view of the perfectly manicured grounds and swimming pool. The Deluxe Suites can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 12 and one child under the age of 2. Grand Deluxe Suites (The Rate is 3.500 ZAR around 380 Euro) The Grand Deluxe Suite provides the exceptional luxury and comfort of the Deluxe Room, with the addition of magnificent views of the Bot River Lagoon and Golf Course. Presidential Suites (The Rate is 6.500 ZAR around 705 Euro) The room offer luxury and comfort in a superbly appointed private setting complete with a 24 hours butler service to attend to your requirements. The entrance lobby affords access to the guest bathroom and beautiful lounge furnished with a fireplace. A study, accessible through the lounge, ensures a quite area to work or conduct business. Awards Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is the Winner of: Africas Leading Luxury Hotel Africas Leading Spa Resort South Africas Leading Spa Resort Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc alliance The Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. Founded by Barry Sternlicht, it is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world, with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries with over 145,000 employees. They have a variety of brands include : Le Mà ©ridien ®, ElementSM Hotels, AloftSM Hotels, Sheraton ® Hotels Resorts, The Luxury Collection ®, St. Regis ® Hotels Resorts, Westin ® Hotels Resorts, W Hotels ® and Four Points ® by Sheraton. In 1993 Starwood Capital buys its first hotels and by 1994 owns interests in more than 30 properties. Nowadays Starwood celebrates the opening of its 1000th  hotel in China named The Sheraton Qiandao Lake hotel. Environmental sustainability: Starwood aims to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and enhance indoor environmental quality for Starwood guests. This year, in more than 90,000 rooms, guests staying in Starwood properties will be encouraged to turn off the lights. Properties will participate by dimming or turning off non-essential interior lighting, using candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants and bars. Starwoods trailblazing eco-chic boutique Element Hotels brand was launched as the first major hotel brand to mandate that all U.S. properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Councils (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate. Globally, Starwood is increasingly focused on integrating environmental sustainability into its operations and it was important to create a partnership with a world-class organization like CI to continue to move that work forward in the most inpactful way, said Sandy Swider, Vice President of Global Citizenship for Starwood. SWOT analysis of the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa Strengths: Location: The Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is situated only 45 minutes from Cape Town offering all the benefits of the city but, at the same time, giving its guests the tranquility and privacy of a remote location. Upscale hotel: Rated a 5 star hotel The Arabella offers only the highest quality service Web page: Very interactive and beautifully designed Starwood alliance: High quality standards and strength of the brand name, the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa profits of the Starwoods achieved awards and new projects such as the Green policy History of the country: Rich historical heritage monuments and architecture Multicultural surrounding Developed infrastructure and superstructure Weaknesses: Location: The hotel is outside of the city area thus the hotel guests have some trouble getting transportation to it, even though the local transportation has improved, the regional transportation is not used at its fullest Lack of skilled labor: All though the school enrollment percentage has grown, this mainly concerns the primary education level. Skilled hoteliers are therefore still foreigners, such as Hotel School students like ourselves. Opportunities: Sports tourism: As we have seen in 2010, South Africa has been given the FIFA World Cup and presented an important economical growth, increasing the potential of their tourism sector. Having this experience, South Africa qualifies for the 2020 summer Olympic Games. We think that The Arabella Western Hotel and Spa should prepare its facilities to accommodate not only the visitors there to watch the games but also the athletes and their needs. Going green policy: Cape Town is ranked 30th greenest city in the world, plus the Arabella is following Starwoods Green Project and by incorporating the ideas and start attracting an eco friendly market segment. Threats: Unemployment rate: With the recession the unemployment rate has increased over the years. making the recovery harder. Furthermore the growth in the South African tourism will feel the crisis if the unemployment rate doesnt decrease, directly influencing the hotel. Seasonality and Occupancy level South Africa is rarely affected by seasonality issues because being situated at the most southern tip of Africa it has an ideal climate whole year round. During high seasons : November January, March April, June July and September October; the occupancy level at the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is situated, in average, between 85%-95% For the rest of the year, on few occasions that we can call a low season, the occupancy level at the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is in average 60%-65%. Competitors Within South Africa there are a lot of hotels and up and coming hotels. There is also a necessity for hotel rooms as there is a continuous increase of various tourists. The Marine Hotel Price: 200 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ for standard room No of rooms:64 40 minutes ride to city center Facilities: Spa, small conference room for 80 people and The collection boutique Auberge Provence Guesthouse Price : 390 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ for standard room No of rooms:90 1 hour drive to city center Facilities: 3 restaurants, Spa and Wellness center, conference rooms max 50 people. Mosselberg On Grotto Beach Price: 190 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ No of rooms: 110 1 hour ride to city center Facilities: Swimming pool, Lounge area, Games center, Free Wireless. One and only Cape town Price : 550 Euros No of rooms : 131 Located in the city center Facilities : OneOnly Spa Cape Town, Beauty Center, one Michelin star restaurant (chef Noby Matsuhisa), Conference room for 112 guests maximum. The Vendome Hotel Cape Town Price: 260 Euros No of rooms: 143 Located in the city center Facilities: outside pool, Conference facilities for approximately 220 guests, classic lounge, airport transfer. Based on the research, all the nearest 5 star hotels are very similar when it comes to location. However the prices are different. We discovered that Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is larger than all the nearest hotels. Our hotel is the best place and offers the most, not only for leisure travelers but also for business ones. Long term sustainability Finally we are looking at the actions and ideas that the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa can implement in order to continue to develop and become what we call sustainable in long term. An effective sustainable plan will help and maybe even ensure long life span for the hotel. By thinking about the environment and how our actions affect it we can predict issues that we will have to deal with in the near future. Therefore we can anticipate the loses and c
Friday, October 25, 2019
Essay --
How Hybrids Beat Out the Electric Vehicle in the US Automarket Car companies like Toyota and Honda are finally starting to warm up to the idea of marketing more fuel-efficient vehicles, introducing models like the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and the Honda Civic Hybrid, the three top-selling hybrid vehicles on the market for 20061. While these more fuel-efficient cars do increase the MPG rating to averages of 47mpg, 25mpg, and 46mpg2, one has to wonder why car companies are still turning out vehicle models that are dependent on gasoline at all. In the mid-1990's GM introduced the EV1 in response to the California Air Resources Board (CARB)'s 'zero-emissions' standards, a vehicle that got 55-75 miles per charge (mpc) with lead-acid batteries and 75-150 mpc with the Generation 2 Ovonic nickel-metal hydride batteries3 without zero emissions at the vehicle level whatsoever. So why have car companies forsaken the electric vehicle in favor of the low-emission (but still emitting) hybrid? Car companies like Toyota and Daimler-Chrysle r have partnerships with oil companies like ExxonMobil to improve fuel-economy standards for future vehicles, but none of them involve the development of an all-electric vehicle. Simply, the Bush Administration, backed by oil companies and car manufacturers, can not profit from the mass-production of electric vehicles. Instead, hybrid vehicles that still consume oil and emit greenhouse gases, are this century's compromise between environmentalists and Bush's Big Oil. General Motors has a history of partnering with oil companies to increase profits, starting with the Great American Streetcar scandal in the early 20th century. National City Lines, a holding company of Genera... ...ons. ExxonMobil, February 2006. www.exxonmobil.com 7 Shell Hydrogen: About Shell Hydrogen http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-en&FC2=/hydrogen-en/html/iwgen/leftnavs/zzz_lhn2_0_0.html&FC3=/hydrogen-en/html/iwgen/about_shell/who_we_are_1208.html 8 Flomenhoft, Gary: ESCI 420 In-class lecture, 2/7 9 Energy Task Force - Wikipedia.com 10 Taxpayers for a Common Sense Whitepaper Website: Vehicles that Qualify for the SUV Tax Break. http://www.taxpayer.net/TCS/whitepapers/SUVtaxbreak.htm 11 Toyota Website: Vehicles: RAV-4 EV http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/ravev/rav4ev_0_home/index.html 12 Tesla Motors website - www.teslamotors.com 13 "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Documentary: Sony Pictures Classics, 2006. 14 Toyota Website: Vehicles: RAV-4 EV http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/ravev/rav4ev_0_home/index.html
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Examine the problems some sociologists may face when using different kinds Essay
?Examine the problems some sociologists may face when using different kinds of experiments in their research (20 Marks) To have control over variables and the environment they are researching, sociologists often use laboratory experiments in research. Lab experiments are used to test a hypothesis in a controlled environment, by altering an independent variable to see the dependant variable being tested changes. Positivists favour this method of research as it is a more scientific approach to research, which aims to identify correlations and patterns in behaviour whilst gathering quantitative data. Carrying out such experiments can cause practical issues for sociologists. One of the main practical issues is that the effect of society on people’s behaviour is very complex, and it is very difficult for researcher’s using lab experiments to identify and control all the variables that may have an influence on behaviour. It would be impossible for a sociologist to research all the influencing factors in a lab experiment, as this is far too complex to carry out in one controlled environment. Furthermore, lab experiments usually involve the study of a small sample as it would not be possible to study a large group of individuals in a controlled laboratory, unless you had a lot of time and this could become costly. This makes it difficult to research large scale social issues that affect behaviour and may also reduce the representativeness of research carried out. For example, Stanley Milgram carried out research on obedience to an authorative figure. He wanted to investigate whether Germans were particularly obedient to authority figures as this was a common explanation for the Nazi killings in World War II. To do so he studied 40 Americans all of whom were male. This is a small scale sample which only represents males and is ethnocentric to American males; therefore it would be difficult to generalise findings to the wider population and other countries. The unnatural settings of a lab experiment means the participants are aware of the experiment taking place. This creates what is called the ‘hawthorne effect’ where the behaviour the participants changes in response to the artificial surrounding and the fact they know they are being studied. As a result this reduces the validity of the results as the participants are not behaving in true-to-life ways and this would not provide a true account of the behaviour being researched. Interpretivists argue that the unnatural setting and low validity means that sociologists cannot gain verstehen, an empathetic understanding of the world from the viewpoint of those being studied. Furthermore, there are ethical issues when conducting experiments on human beings. As a general rule, researchers must gain the informed consent from the research participants. However, when researching child participants or people with learning difficulties it may be difficult to gain informed consent as they would not full understand what they are consenting to
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Introduction to Sociology: The Concept of Deviance Essay
Understanding that society has unavoidably primary influences on what is deemed deviant or not significantly reduces the confusion that abound concerning the subject. This paper presents this assumption and emphasizes the pertinent works of several experts in the field. Ahmad and Rosenhan in their separate treatises try to put forth convincing proofs and arguments as to their respective positions. In essence, this paper explains the stand of Ahmad and the discoveries and conclusions drawn by the experiment performed by Rosenhan. Culture, creed or religious persuasions unavoidably are crucial to the behavior of people which may be the benchmarks with which people base their actions, decision making and choices (Navada, 2009). II. CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS The following questions will help the reader and student to make objective judgments on several key issues regarding their outlook on issues. The idea is that deviance according to society’s dictates can and will make or break certain ways of living, probably leading even to the annihilation of a number of people as the perpetrators might perceive their victims. Ahmad appears brilliant as to how he pursued the arguments concerning the validity of the West’s allegations about who are terrorists. The gist of his article was that the problem with society is that it has no permanent definition of a concept in particular. In the issue of terrorism, when it happened that a group of people or a country deemed another one lesser influential in terms of politicking, then the more influential or powerful a person is, the more he or his group sets the tone of morality and ethics: what is moral and ethical hinge on the degree of greed and selfishness of individuals. Rosenhan shows that being insane cannot be actually determined by whatever instrument or tool, or by what is dictated as the â€Å"normal curve. †The kind of study he made was an in-depth one and brings reality check to the people seriously involved in mental illness and restoring health. There were many observations that indeed were valid including the fact that grave responsibility lies with the head of these hospitals or organizations whose modelling or example mean death or life, recovery or real insanity for the individual patient. 1. Ahmad’s Article The point of view of Ahmad (1998) succinctly described in his article Terrorism: Theirs and Ours` must be read with as much as the removal of colored â€Å"glasses†which may be a hindrance as to getting this author’s point of view. It means that filtering his ideas through one’s personal biases and perspective may not be a very good idea at all. Rather, a Jewish person with his own arguments should probably pretend first that he is at the side of the writer and later take on his identity and worldviews (Ahmad, 1998). What is the author’s point in writing the paper? Ahmad simply states that terrorism depends entirely on who’s benefited by the action especially in grand scale (Ahmad, 1998). In the case of Palestine and Israel, and on the world’s stage, terrorism cannot be ascribed as such for as long as the West such as the United States remains in such a lofty position as a superpower. Their might and clout spell dominion and their own definition of what terrorism. Contemporary milieu shows that since the Palestinian people are not on the American side according to Ahmad, then this particular group of people has no say; and whenever they take up arms, it is not termed as a nationalistic campaign. Rather, it is terrorism. Ahmad also meant that America and its relationship to influential nations can be considered farce and the display of concern as charade (Ahmad, 1998). How does the author prove his point? The use of logic and/or deductive reasoning was how the author Ahmad tried to persuade his audience (Ahmad, 1998). What evidence do they use to prove their point? Ahmad saw to it that archival evidence supports his arguments well. He utilized the news and editorial clips and other sources to put forth the allegations that during the times that Israel was not yet a State, Jewish uprisings were acceptably known as terrorism. Evidences from print communications then turned around which made Palestinian revolts as works of terrorists (Ahmad, 1998). What do their findings say about deviance and society in general? Ahmad’s arguments simply posited that deviance is dictated by politics and power (Navada, 2009; Ahmad, 1998). It is the fact that in any given society, the ideology that permeates is one that is held by those in positions of authority, wealth and power. In the case of the existence of the Jewish State or that of the Palestinian identity, he argues that in their respective â€Å"reigns†these two races the emergence of the term terrorism is defined by the point of view of each. When the Palestinians were occupying the place, Jewish reformers or the Jewish desire for a country represented a threat and was described as terrorism; their leaders, called terrorists. Deviance, normality, or abnormality are terms inherently critical to society as the definition of the terms rests on the people governing a particularly society or institution. It is probably correct to think and draw conclusions that Mr. Ahmad is right concerning this point of view (Ahmad, 1998). However, it is entirely another thing when terror continues to be wrought in various places of the world by the vast network established by people of similar persuasions. It would be entirely simplistic to think along strictly along the line of thought that Mr. Ahmad was thinking (Ahmad, 1998). The world of humans is oftentimes unpredictable, changing and wondrously exciting. However, when these attributes become extremely bizarre and painfully detrimental, humans become sick and worried about to what extent can other humans afford to inflict harm against them. Suicide bombing is, if not the most, one of the most gruesome acts anybody can commit. It is outright crazy and stupid. One must be beside the normal to be entertaining such a thought in mind. Ironically, fanatics who have committed and attempted suicide bombings in the past, were deemed normal until the day when the execution of their ultimate plans were made public whether foiled or completed. People who are afflicted with mental disorder may, as other people, travel for the same reasons – vacation, visiting friends or relatives, business, recreation, and sometimes for religious or spiritual focus (Miller & Zarcone, 1968). Others indeed may travel for reasons other than the normal – for reasons triggered by malformed mental state such as the men who carried out the 911 attack of the Twin Towers in New York. Along the 911 attack, suicide bombing through aircraft came to prominence resulting in the stirring of the awareness among the international public of the fact that the regular traveller might not be that â€Å"regular†anyway. It is probable that some of them are driven by excessive anger or motivated by utopic hope as taught in the communities wherein they have pledged their life allegiance (Silke, 2003). 2. Rosenhan research What is the author’s point in writing the paper? Rosenhan’s breakthrough (1973) in mental institutions was a very interesting and inexplicably raw to the minds of figures or people who are in helping profession (Rosenhan, 1973). It is critical and contributes a sensitive fibre to a huge institution that caters to mental illness. There may be loopholes as to how the experiment was carried out including ethical issues to human participation but the results and the procedures were â€Å"loudspeakers†and are considered significant to the idea of labelling and the diagnosis of the mental illness (Rosenhan, 1973). How does the author prove his point? Rosenhan proved his point by direct and firsthand experiences of people who were participants in the study (Rosenhan, 1973). What evidence do they use to prove their point? With the thorough handling of data derived from these individual participant’s observations, he made generalizations and conclusions as to the state or condition of the Mental Institutions, the capabilities and efficiency of Mental Health Professionals were in question. His findings which were consistent to a large extent with many of his volunteers’ observations push the issue of proper diagnosis and labelling, use of diagnostic criteria, the abilities and qualifications and work ethics of people practicing in the mental health field to the fore and pose as challenge to the kind of profession being handled here (Rosenhan, 1973). What do their findings say about deviance and society in general? Specific items observed especially important to making generalizations in the discipline include the length of time that nurses, attendants and most importantly, the psychiatrists and psychologists spend with patients. By empirical evidence criterion alone, the practice drastically falls short on this aspect. In the area of diagnosis and subsequent intervention measures, the initial assessments, description aspect play a major role hence can never be relegated to a minor place in the practice. Mental illness then or deviance for that matter hinges on many issues brought out in the experiment (Rosenhan, 1973; Navada, 2009). III. REFERENCE PAGE Ahmad, Eqbal (1998). `Terrorism:Theirs and Ours. ` Accessed June 13, 2009 online at http://www. sangam. org/ANALYSIS/Ahmad. htm Gordon, Harvey, Mike Kingham, Tony Goodwin (2004).. Air travel by passengers with mental disorder. Psychiatric Bulletin 28:295-297. The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Jourad, Sydney (1963). Personal Adjustment. 2nd Ed. New York: MacMillan Company. Navada, Marianne Ryan-Go (2009). Principles of Sociology; Chapter 8, pp. 1-4. Accessed June 13, 2009 online at http://book. gonavada. com/html/Chapter8. html Rosenhan, David (1973). `On Being Sane in Insane Places. ` Accessed June 13, 2009 online at http://www. walnet. org/llf/ROSENHAN-BEINGSANE. PDF Silke, A. (2003). The psychology of suicide terrorism. In Terrorists, Victims and Society (ed. A. Silke), pp. 93 -108. Chichester: Wiley. Tiffin, Joseph and Ernest McCormick J. (1958). Industrial psychology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Horace Boigraphy essays
Horace Boigraphy essays Quintus Horatius Flaccus was born at Venusia, Italy, Dec. 8 65 B.C.E and died in Nov. 27 8 B.C.E (Crystal, crystalinks.com/horace.html). He is recognized as one of historys greatest poets. Horace was a humble person, for this he was loved by all his friends. He had very few enemies. His favorite subjects for poetry were love and nature. Later in his life he went from writing poetry to writing philosophy (Gilleland, kirjasto.sci.fi/horatius.htm). There were many things that affected Horace in his youth which influenced his adulthood. Horaces father was a freed slave and found employment in the areas of tax collecting and as an auction broker. Horace lived a modest childhood (Crystal, crystalinks.com/horace.html). Even though his family was barely getting by, Horaces father made sure that Horace got the best education possible. At a young age, Horace was sent to Athens to study, and after went to Rome to find a career. Horace always expressed his gratitude towards his father for getting him a good education and teaching him deep-rooted morals. Horace joined the army at the age of nineteen. He fought on the side of the conspirators, Brutus and Cassius, as a military tribune, which was exceptional for a freemans son. When the war was lost, all his assets were seized and he was forced to return home penniless. Along with living a modest childhood, war greatly humbled Horace. By the age of twenty he had already experien ced loss, death, and tragedy, which made him want no more excitement in his life (Gilleland, kirjasto.sci.fi/horatius.htm). Horace was a renowned writer. He was known mostly for his poems. Earlier in his career, his poems were about love, pleasure, wine, friendship, and the beauty of a simple life. Later in his life, his subjects turned more serous, involving the race for power and position, the folly of extremes, the desirability of ...
Monday, October 21, 2019
Feedback TAC (for Spa) system
Feedback TAC (for Spa) system Feedback TAC stands for Tele Assistance Collaboration that helps businesses and especially those in the hospitality industry to remotely manage their daily operations. In the cotemporary and very competitive world, businesses are looking for appropriate technologies to enable them establish a competitive edge over their rival firms.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Feedback TAC (for Spa) system specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has pressurized many firms to embrace appropriate technologies that enable them to run more efficiently. The Feedback TAC system is a good example of such a technology that has greatly boosted the performance of many businesses in the hospitality industry. The TAC System operates depending on the kind of data it receives. Therefore, the TAC system can be used to by the marketing department of hospitality industry to strategically position their firms’ services as well as products in the market. The TAC system should be used in Spa to determine the most appropriate lead time in order to increase its performances. Lead time entails the duration between the initialization of any idea of production and the time when the idea generates revenues. In most cases most firms do their best to reduce their lead time in order to avoid time wastages. It is believed that when these firms reduce their lead time accordingly, they are able to avoid accumulation of unfinished tasks that assists them to operate more efficiently. Conversely, other firms increase their efficiency by increasing their lead time. They argue that an extended lead time gives them an ample time to prepare to attend their customers. The Spa marketing department should use the TAC system to help it to determine the most viable time for customers to do their booking. The Spa management should feed its TAC system with the right data of when it opens as well as when it closes. For, instance, the Spa TAC system should be designed to accept those bookings that are done between 16:00 and 20:00. This will help those customers who are doing their booking, to book at times when Spa operates. The Spa management should make sure that they advice their IT experts to ensure that the Spa TAC System they adopt have an extended lead time. An extended lead time will enable the customers to do their booking in advance. Through this process the management will be able to plan in good time on how to serve its customers.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Similarly, early booking will help the management to buy appropriate materials its employees may require when attending their clients. Through this process, Spa will run more efficiently. Subsequently, it will attract more customers because more people will be willing to use its services because its efficiency services. The TAC system should allow people to do their booking even three weeks in advance. In addition to an extended lead time, the TAC System embraced should regulate Spa booking processes. The system should only accept those bookings that the Spa employees can manage to handle at a time. In order for it to regulate the bookings accordingly, the system should be fed with the correct data of the numbers of tasks the Spa employees can manage at a time. Thus, when a client books to be attended in a schedule that is full to capacity, the system should direct the customer to the next available and most appropriate options to select from. For instance, the system should allow only one person to book for the hair cut at a go because Spa is able to serve one person at a time. The customer should direct those other customers who book for hair cut to the next available options. The TAC system should on the other hand allow three people to book for the treatment at a go because Spa has can accommodate three chances for treatment at ago. Other consequent bookings should be directed to the next appropriate options. The TAC system should allow people to book for hair cut as well as treatment from Monday to Friday. Conversely, it should allow people to book for hair dressing only on Mondays and Tuesdays. Through this method, the Spa is likely to perform very well and command a greater market share in its area of specialization. The TAC system should only allow customers to make their booking between 16:00-20:00 because that is the time frame when Spa operates. Any booking that is made before 16:00 or after 20:00 should not be accepted by the TAC system. Similarly, the TAC system should not allow people to book for any services on Sunday since SPA does not operate on Sundays.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Feedback TAC (for Spa) system specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The TAC system to be installed by Spa ought to have appropriate dis counts for its customers. The customers who provide referral services as well as those who provide repeated business to the company should automatically be assigned special discounts when booking. Similarly, the TAC System should have some special packages for its royal customers as well as promotions that are meant to enhance the awareness of the firm. Technology is a very important strategy that firms use to augment their performances. When firms adopt appropriate technologies in their system, they are able to perform more efficiently. Spa will improve its performance greatly when it adopts the TAC System. The system will help it to run more efficiently. Subsequently, Spa will be able to win more customers and help it make more profits as a result of its increased market share.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Famous vs. Infamous
Famous vs. Infamous Famous vs. Infamous Famous vs. Infamous By Maeve Maddox I have long bewailed the misuse of the word famous to apply to bad people, reminding readers that the word for widely known people of ill repute is infamous. Now I’ve discovered that not only is famous erroneously applied to gangsters and murderers, but now the word infamous is being flung about as if it meant noted or simply, known. The site that brought this latest misuse to my attention features a slideshow about male celebrities who are shorter than average. Each slide provides information under the following headings: Height Date of Birth Number of Children Infamous for One or two of the celebrities are â€Å"infamous for†cocaine use, but the information that appears under the â€Å"infamous†heading for the others is nothing to be ashamed of. Here are a few examples of the behavior labeled infamous on this site: was a dishwasher once was the son of scientists sometimes hides his hand in his pocket to conceal its trembling wears thick black horn-rimmed glasses worked in a beauty salon after high school was godfather to another celebrity’s children These acts hardly fit the OED definition of infamous: Of ill fame or repute; famed or notorious for badness of any kind; notoriously evil, wicked, or vile; held in infamy or public disgrace. Here, for example, are some infamous people noted for their infamous acts: Ivan the Terrible Jack the Ripper Pol Pot Heinrich Himmler Adolf Hitler Josef Stalin Delphine LaLaurie Josef Mengele Tomas de Torquemada Actions that warrant the description of infamous include: burning people to death, performing surgical experiments on conscious children, blinding your architects, boiling your treasurer–that kind of thing. The preoccupation with the celebrity of people–famous or infamous–has coined a new expression: â€Å"famous for being famous.†In the past, the usual way to acquire fame or notoriety was to excel at something, whether writing, acting, or governing. With the advent of self-generated publicity, some people manage to become a focus of public attention for nothing at all. Frequently cited examples of this type of non-fame are: the Kardashian sisters, Paris Hilton, Kato Kaelin, Heidi Montag, Kelly Osbourne, and Ivanka Trump. Here are some words other than famous or infamous that may be used to describe a well-known person: well-known prominent famed popular renowned noted eminent distinguished esteemed celebrated respected illustrious acclaimed great legendary lionized notorious Most of these words are applicable to people known for doing commendable things. The other kind of people are perhaps best ignored as much as possible. Famous and Infamous on Newspapers Monsanto to ditch its infamous name after sale to Bayer (www.theguardian.com) - Syrian Kurdish fighters have detained two British men infamous for their role in the Islamic State’s imprisonment, torture and killing of Western hostages, according to Am (www.nytimes.com) on Broadway’s least-discovered northern stretch.Broadway is arguably the most famous thoroughfare in the world (by one measure, 250 million hits on Google versus 6 million for the Champs-Élysà ©es) (www.nytimes.com) Related posts: â€Å"Famous Doesn’t Apply to Murderers or Gangsters†Video Recap 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 Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect ObjectsHyper and HypoA Yes-and-No Answer About Hyphenating Phrases
Saturday, October 19, 2019
The compromised Neonate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
The compromised Neonate - Essay Example Results also showed that the time needed for stabilisation of bilirubin levels increases along with the gestational age of the neonate. In addition, despite the various methods employed for the treatment of neonatal jaundice and the wide ranges in the treatment levels used, there has been an overall median plateau of around 72 hours for the stabilisation of bilirubin levels in most of the neonates. However, because the date of the release of the NICE guidelines was in proximity with the release of this article, it can be inferred that the national guidelines were not yet fully disseminated in most hospitals and other neonatal units during the time the participating units were contacted, as suggested by the conclusion of the article in the high variability and wide variations in the threshold levels used among the 72 units contacted by the researchers. ... r this paper since it discusses both the use of phototherapy to treat neonatal jaundice, as well as in discussing the importance of using guidelines in managing bilirubin levels for improving the symptoms of neonatal jaundice. Physiological Jaundice in the Neonate Jaundice is a condition which is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin or broken down red blood cells in various parts of the body, and is most visible as a yellow discolouration in the sclera of the eyes and on the skin starting from the head and moving down to the lower regions of the body (Robertson & South, 2007). The yellow colour is attributed to the inability of the infants’ bodies to rapidly catabolise foetal red blood cells through the liver and to expel these through bowel movement. While there are two forms of bilirubin circulating in the neonate’s blood: the unconjugated bilirubin (fat-soluble) and the conjugated bilirubin (water soluble), it is the unconjugated bilirubin which causes the yellow discolouration due to its fat-soluble nature earning its capacity to enter cellular membranes and becoming deposited in tissues such as the skin, gums, and eyes (Percival, 2002). As a result the bilirubin that builds up in the bloodstream due to the slow breakdown of red blood cell catabolism can reach to about 5-7mg/dL or 85.5-119.7?mol, binding to fatty deposits within the neonatal body and causing the yellow discolouration (Varney, et al., 2004). This amount of bilirubin build-up in the infant’s bloodstream is enough to give off the typical yellow discolouration of the skin among those affected, with the intensity of the colour associated with an increase in bilirubin accumulation. Up to 50% of neonates are typically affected by this condition and usually does not pose grave problems unless
Friday, October 18, 2019
Black holes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words
Black holes - Essay Example Photons flew out across of the universe, energized to the limit found in nature and billions of years later, the space stations have detected them above our space. Our ability is to discover the mysteries through our present new age high energy astronomy. The universe is full of amazing astronomical and scientific features, but according to scientists and researchers up till now Black holes are considered as one of the most puzzling phenomena in the universe. The definition of a black hole is enough to get one’s attention as a black hole is a celestial body of extremely intense gravity from which nothing, not even light, can escape (Wald, 1984). The significance of black holes in the cosmos is obvious and same they have the importance to gravitational physics. The theory of presence of the black holes in the universe is our real test that how much we understand the concept of strong gravitational fields. This paper mainly deals with this topic i.e. â€Å"the strong gravitational singularity†of black holes. Primarily â€Å"a quantitative approach†is applied to involve the use of library sources, journals and â€Å"online search†as well. The facts about the topic (black hole) are probable emergent themes based on literature reviews and personal research. This document is developed in three segments. It starts with the brief introduction of black holes and their basic characteristics and particularly the gravitational singularity which is the most distinguished property they possess. This part is based on the previous literature review. The preceding segment deals critical analysis regarding the gravita tional singularity of black holes. In the last segment, a conclusion is made based upon literature review and critical analysis. A black hole is a hypothetical cosmic body of extremely intense gravity from which nothing, not even light, can escape (Wald, 1984). The borderline of this region where nobody can escape, is called
Issue in global business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Issue in global business - Essay Example The author posits that a more global atmosphere is facing many challenges in the present, despite a high point in the latter part of the twentieth century. â€Å"Synchronized economic slowdowns in Asia, Europe and the United States, the three engines of global commerce, have decimated international trade†(Kurlantzick, 2003). This article presents one side of the issue in terms of these abovementioned regions and their impact, and it does it in great detail. The author is very convincing in arguing that global expansion is something that carries a lot more risk in the present than it used to in the past, because of regionalism being more widespread. A lot of this expansion of regionalism has to do with the interstices between the relatively recent formation of the EU and the valuation of law in society. Randomness and chaos rule both systems. â€Å"The rotation of the presidency entails a lack of continuity in the agenda-setting procedure; the Summit agendas are overloaded with gritty details and each presidency pursues more or less specific topics (‘shopping lists’). This is why the Council currently fails to fulfill its original strategic purpose. Thus, the EU definitely needs a reform of its institutions†(Bilefsky, 2005). Other issues are also dividing regional law in the present can be seen in the case example of subsidies, or government help, offered to agricultural interests. Recently, before the government of Brown, â€Å"The issue of farm subsidies has also divided the European Union into nations favoring more open markets and those who want to maintain protection for their domestic industries. Pri me Minister Tony Blair of Britain called the summit meeting Thursday in the hope of persuading European Union countries to adopt a more modern, liberalizing approach†(Bilefsky, 2005). Regionalisation can either encourage or discourage free trade, depending
No Country for Old Men Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
No Country for Old Men - Movie Review Example This can be substantiated through his killing of the boss and other rivals coming his way concerning money. Moss tries to keep away from the drug dealer, although what follows is extensive blood spills while he tries to get Moss to give him the lost money. It comes as a surprise for Moss as he tries to run away from the relentless Chigurh (Chisholm). In the meantime, Sherriff Bell supervises and directs all the investigations concerning the case in order to prevent similar crimes that had been on the argument within the region. In the movie, Bell has managed miniature, concerning delivery of justice in one case that the convicted person got death row judgment. He considers that the region has a different viewpoint although while handling the case a lot seems to have changed (Chisholm). Every aspect of the society had considerably transformed into something that cannot be explained in a more profound manner than what is depicted. Chigurh dispatches his hit men to kill Moss and his you ng wife and take the satchel back. However, they are unable to execute the plan since Moss and wife manage to run away from the hit men dispatched to recuperate the lost satchel. The events that transpire in the region catch Bell by surprise since, in the time that he has lived in that region, there were little cases of violence (Chisholm). The region gets marred with violence in the period that Chigurh and his gunmen undertake the task of recapturing their moneybag. The community that Bell knew was quiet and peaceful with little misfortunes although, at that time, it had turned into something majorly dissimilar. The source of the violence that the region experiences are from Aton Chigurh as he tries to repossess the satchel with the assistance of a radio transponder that had been implanted on the bag. The transponder allows Chigurh, and the other gunmen to track the movement of Moss although Moss is unconscious of the device on the satchel. Chigurh is considered a psychopath since, in previous dealings, he had killed many people who he considered having ties with his monies. The violence that occurs within the movie can be profoundly linked to the actuality that he has access to homemade weapons for instance, silencer guns that allow him to execute people with little attention to the locals and authorities (Chisholm). The character is considered the most creations according to critics because most themes are linked to him especially the genre of violence. Violence dominates most scenes of the movie with other genres being considered inferior to violence, which is contemplated principal in the creation of the story. Chigurh not only kills the people who mess with his money but also individuals who offer comments that he does not like. Bell informs Moss and his wife about the violence that ensues within the region as well as the peril that the couple has to face with the drug dealers and other arsonists. However, Moss is convinced that he can take Chigurh and h is clue down through the experiences and intelligence that he had earlier obtained in Vietnam as a war veteran (Chisholm). Moss seems experienced through numerous tasks that he undertakes in Vietnam with other war veterans. However, the violence that ensues around the place that Bell seeks to reexamine the situation concerning his capacities to undertake certain measures. He feels obliged to deal with the fresh criminal brutality that ensues in his place of
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Computer Simulation of Action Potentials in Squid Axon Assignment
Computer Simulation of Action Potentials in Squid Axon - Assignment Example During the experiment, it was seen that the latency of the response was dependent on the strength of the stimulus, and not on the duration by which the membrane is exposed to the stimulus. However, in contrast to latency, the strength of the action potential was not modified by either strength or duration of stimulus. As well, it was observed that another stimulus cannot produce an action potential if given immediately after a previous stimulus. This refractory period is caused by the deactivation of voltage-gated Na+ channels and opening of K+ channels, resulting to the return of the membrane potential to its negative state. In conclusion, the action potential, and subsequently the signal transmission based on it, is dependent on the opening and closing of ion channels present along the membrane. INTRODUCTION Action potentials are rapid changes in the membrane potential. In turn, this potential is based upon the differences in concentrations of ions, each of which is charged either negative (anion) or positive (cation), across the membrane. The concentration difference is due to a selectively permeable membrane, which prevents the ions from transferring sides to equalize the number of ions between inside and outside a cell. But why is there a concentration gradient in the first place? The Na+-K+ pumps along the cell membrane force three Na+ outside and two K+ inside the cell. As a result, there is a net deficit of positive ions and a resulting negative potential inside the cell. In a resting state, the membrane potential is -90 millivolts (90 mV). Upon depolarization, the membrane rapidly becomes very permeable to Na+, through its voltage-gated channels, allowing the excess of Na+ to pass through into the cell. As a result, the resting potential is changed to as much as +35 mV. Through repolarization, the resting potential is gained back not long after depolarization, when Na+ voltage-gated channels close and K+ passively diffuse down its concentration gradien t through its own voltage-gated channels (Guyton and Hall, 2006). However, entry of Na+ does not immediately cause depolarization. The number of Na+ that enter the cell must be more than the amount of K+ that gets out of the cell since the membrane is more permeable to K+ than Na+. Thus, the sudden change of membrane potential to -65 mV is the said threshold for stimulating the action potential (Guyton and Hall, 2006). Any electrical stimuli above this threshold produce an action potential with the same amount of strength, as stated by the all-or-none concept (Purves et al., 2004). In addition, a new action potential cannot occur unless the membrane is still depolarized. This is because the Na+ voltage-gated channels necessary for depolarization is still deactivated during repolarization. At this point, called the refractory period, no amount of stimulus can initiate action potential (Finkler). Hodgkin and Huxley characterized the voltage-gated channels involved in the generation of action potential. According to these scientists, the Na channels have two gates (the activation and inactivation gates), while K channels only have one. At resting state, the Na+ channels have the activation gate (facing extracellularly) closed while the other gate is opened. At this time the K+ channels are closed as well. When the channels are activated, both the activation and inactivation gates of Na+ channels are opened. Finally, upon repolarization, the inactivation gate is closed, while the other is opened. K+ channels are opened as well. To mathematically describe the effects of such changes on membrane potential, they also provided equations to describe the relationship among Na+
Is counselling for people with a learning disabilities inclusive Literature review
Is counselling for people with a learning disabilities inclusive - Literature review Example Dawson (2003) argues that people with learning disability interact with others and may have various talents other than in the field of learning they should therefore not be ruled out to have no contribution in the community. After efficient skill sharpening and counselling, they can be involved in various events other than being guided. They therefore feel appreciated and gain courage in the process facilitating the various aspects of counselling put into practice. Identification of the type of learning disability may help in categorising the counselling group or manner to be adopted. Thus the process becomes inclusive in all dimensions. In this review analysis, the method to be applied will include research based on internet websites in order to obtain different findings and opinions of other counsellors. This includes the research on journals posted in such related websites. Another procedure will be the finding as per various government postings concerning this kind of counselling. There will be a review of findings from research carried out by other researchers in this field. According to Cresswell (2009) personal observation and analysis of various methods applied in this area of jurisdiction. Another method that will be put into use in this research will include the use of software for data analysis. This document is a research paper review that contains analysis of various documents in relation to the topic. The parameters of the initial search included the use of internet service in searching web materials in relation to the topic of study. Various books were also used including journals and newspapers. Most peer reviewed journals available in the internet databases were also put into use. Different researchers have carried out analysis of data collected in relation to counselling those with learning disabilities. From these researches, it has been evident that the process is more of inclusive than not. It will be discussed in the subsequent sections
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Computer Simulation of Action Potentials in Squid Axon Assignment
Computer Simulation of Action Potentials in Squid Axon - Assignment Example During the experiment, it was seen that the latency of the response was dependent on the strength of the stimulus, and not on the duration by which the membrane is exposed to the stimulus. However, in contrast to latency, the strength of the action potential was not modified by either strength or duration of stimulus. As well, it was observed that another stimulus cannot produce an action potential if given immediately after a previous stimulus. This refractory period is caused by the deactivation of voltage-gated Na+ channels and opening of K+ channels, resulting to the return of the membrane potential to its negative state. In conclusion, the action potential, and subsequently the signal transmission based on it, is dependent on the opening and closing of ion channels present along the membrane. INTRODUCTION Action potentials are rapid changes in the membrane potential. In turn, this potential is based upon the differences in concentrations of ions, each of which is charged either negative (anion) or positive (cation), across the membrane. The concentration difference is due to a selectively permeable membrane, which prevents the ions from transferring sides to equalize the number of ions between inside and outside a cell. But why is there a concentration gradient in the first place? The Na+-K+ pumps along the cell membrane force three Na+ outside and two K+ inside the cell. As a result, there is a net deficit of positive ions and a resulting negative potential inside the cell. In a resting state, the membrane potential is -90 millivolts (90 mV). Upon depolarization, the membrane rapidly becomes very permeable to Na+, through its voltage-gated channels, allowing the excess of Na+ to pass through into the cell. As a result, the resting potential is changed to as much as +35 mV. Through repolarization, the resting potential is gained back not long after depolarization, when Na+ voltage-gated channels close and K+ passively diffuse down its concentration gradien t through its own voltage-gated channels (Guyton and Hall, 2006). However, entry of Na+ does not immediately cause depolarization. The number of Na+ that enter the cell must be more than the amount of K+ that gets out of the cell since the membrane is more permeable to K+ than Na+. Thus, the sudden change of membrane potential to -65 mV is the said threshold for stimulating the action potential (Guyton and Hall, 2006). Any electrical stimuli above this threshold produce an action potential with the same amount of strength, as stated by the all-or-none concept (Purves et al., 2004). In addition, a new action potential cannot occur unless the membrane is still depolarized. This is because the Na+ voltage-gated channels necessary for depolarization is still deactivated during repolarization. At this point, called the refractory period, no amount of stimulus can initiate action potential (Finkler). Hodgkin and Huxley characterized the voltage-gated channels involved in the generation of action potential. According to these scientists, the Na channels have two gates (the activation and inactivation gates), while K channels only have one. At resting state, the Na+ channels have the activation gate (facing extracellularly) closed while the other gate is opened. At this time the K+ channels are closed as well. When the channels are activated, both the activation and inactivation gates of Na+ channels are opened. Finally, upon repolarization, the inactivation gate is closed, while the other is opened. K+ channels are opened as well. To mathematically describe the effects of such changes on membrane potential, they also provided equations to describe the relationship among Na+
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
The environmental impacts of the cruise industry on Caribbean island Research Paper
The environmental impacts of the cruise industry on Caribbean island nations - Research Paper Example In the Caribbean region tourism has contributed to the growth of the overall economy which had been suffering due to stagnation in tradition economic sectors. Moreover, the Caribbean island nations have been bestowed with natural beauty, decorated with exotic flora and fauna, surrounded by blue seawater and natural breezes. However, the environmental degradation caused by the cruise industry in the Caribbean region far outweighs the economic benefits. Cruising started as preferred mode of travel by the social elite in the 1920s and the latter part of the 20th century has seen tremendous growth in the industry following a decline post World War II (Johnson 2002). Worldwide cruise tourism has catered to 8.5 million customers between 1980 and 1997. The passenger figures are expected to reach 14.2 million by 2010 (Butt 2007). Today the super-mega cruise ships use cutting edge of design and technical innovation, and they offer multifaceted recreational experience on board. In 1998, the Caribbean received 50% of the world’s cruise tourism customers (Johnson 2002). In fact, the Caribbean destinations receive more cruises than stopover tourists. However, while the economy of the island nations has grown, the cruise tourism sector has expanded with sophisticated liners and offering on-board recreation, cruise tourism in the Caribbean has been exerting pressures on the fragile environments and the host communities. This is because t he cruise ships consume significant amount of resources as a result of which great pressure is exerted on the places they visit (Butt 2007). The Caribbean islands have 44% share of the world cruise market. The environmental impact has exerted pressure on the small towns, islands and island groups in the Caribbean. However, the environmental impacts also depend upon the facilities available at the destinations to manage the degradation. Tourism is the major economic activity in the Caribbean
Monday, October 14, 2019
The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living | Discuss
The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living | Discuss The unexamined life is not worth living (Socrates). The inquiry performed by those endowed with a rational element, consists of attaining an end towards which this inquiry directs itself towards. The life of inquiry is that experienced by human beings and not beasts; since beasts do not desire in a manner that seeks fulfillment outside of a bodily sense but rather live according to instincts and methods that allow for the preservation of their species. This examination or inquiry begins with the desire of attaining some effect produced by an object or perhaps the object itself; although the end in question may differ, the components that compel one to act in realization of the end are the same: action stems from desire which empowers a choice. A choice is a deliberate desire and is followed by a contemplation of the means that would direct the search towards its desired end. A commonly desired end by all of mankind is that of knowledge, acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles stemming from an investigation. One elicits knowledge from a source which is discovered through an investigation in which the vestibule for this inquiry as well as that which produces a result becomes the science. Science allows for the examination of truths and knowledge under a particular form, whether it be experiential or perhaps in an a priori manner. In philosophy as well as many other areas that involve inquiry and pursuit of such ends, the role of science makes possible the study of all that exists, because whatever we seek in existence has truth in that it exists. That which does not exist may still be desired and produced but does not become discernable by scientific methods and exploration. Rather, it occurs as a distortion of a truth that does in fact owe its existence to an efficient cause. In order to conduct a meaningful and complete inquiry by use of a scientific approach, the sources of truth must not be mistaken for those which may provide some good for a temporary fulfillment as such misstep results in a deviation from knowledge and renders an individual restless since they cannot discern the falsehood contained in such an object which seeks to mirror the image of something greater. This new knowledge acquired is pernicious in that it has been attained not through an investigation in respect to a proper science but rather it has occurred under its pretensions. One may readily ask oneself what is the difference between a true scientific endeavor and that which falls under pretensions? Both of these endeavors begin with the same root of aspiration in which one seeks to expand the realm of knowledge which is contained in the mind, but the pretension occurs when one seeks to gain knowledge in order to gain some sort of appraisal or another effect. Although appraisal i s a response that is merited after hard labor, ones pride may hinder the actual knowledge that can be gained from the object. Secondly, one who searches for the truths scientifically in a pretentious manner is not actively engaging in this search but assumes that nature holds the answers and therefore does not compel nature to answer the questions a man of interest would have. Man in this respect chooses to take the answer provided to him. This knowledge gained is superficial and those who speak of it speak without knowledge, they loquaciously speak about its content and perceive to understand its form but in fact have not united both for a complete understanding. Although all philosophers and other individuals agree that true knowledge exists, many disagree on its nature and how it can be attained. David Hume and many other empiricists believe that the source of any knowledge that a being may have comes about through his/her experience with objects of existence. These objects are perceived by human beings who create ideas after having had these objects impress themselves upon the facilities which make sensory experience and its translation possible. Other thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and Saint Augustine do not make such an emphasis on human experience but rather agree that humans posses forms of understanding with in themselves so that they may be able to acknowledge the existence everything outside of themselves. Experience does in fact relay information to beings about the earthly life but can any other sort of concept lying outside of this realm be known? Can it be made known through the use of human innovations or does it require a wisd om and spiritual intensity that only a select few posses? Mankind has been compelled by his own physical existence as well as that of the physical world that exists around him to ask questions concerning his own existence and of its cause. In this journey one may not gain certainty, since human beings have not come into direct contact with its efficient cause. Human beings have sought ways to improve technology and other materials so that valuable information about their object in question may be learned which may lead them to finding certainty. Through this desire and ability to create and conduct such an investigation, humans have learned to conduct and at times manipulate the laws of nature in order to gain more information about the world they live in. Through Saint Augustines Confessions, the reader witnesses his struggle against the worldly things that sought to bring him asunder, and his quest for truth and complete knowledge. This quest for knowledge although it began in the physical world, places its end in the heavenly realm, where God can be found. The source of the knowledge that Saint Augustine searches for would encompass methods of investigation that he has not been familiar with but ensures that his reason is purified and it does not intend to expand it, and would keep our reason free from errors (Kant 24). Saint Augustine drew knowledge about himself and the physical world by introspection, looking inward and reflecting about oneself in context with everything else. Although this may be perceived as quite boastful and an overly confident activity from human beings, this is not done in the same manner that Rene Descartes did. Conversely, Saint Augustine came to understand that he is limited and lacking in the being which is possessed in perfection, understood that he was created by Him and through his decree all things that exist were made possible. In coming to such an understanding of the Necess ary Unconditional who is the cause of the existence of all else, he admitted human ignorance and praised the enigmatic nature of God. God needed no proof in the manner that humans proved the existence of other material things but rather contained in Him a self evident truth that radiates to those who sense with the mind and not the eye which is deceptive and creates illusory images if they are perceived as the origin of knowledge. He who believes in good is moved to attribute other forms of existence to such a creator, and Saint Augustine believed that this was as much that human reason unaided by revelation can come to know about the existence of God. Although this may seem as though Saint Augustine has regressed in his possession or amount of items which he has sustained as objects of his knowledge, the education which he has received provided perversions of the love that should be directed towards the Creator rather than things such as rhetoric, arithmetic and such. The love that one has for knowledge is the same that one has for God since God is the source of truths and all that exists; however, pursuing things of the worldly realm is an empty pursuit for the things that exist do not contain him. The love expressed for these transient objects imitates that which is reserved for its expression with God and its limitless impression causes injurious effects to the one who seeks them: this love runs rampant without fulfillment and consumes man in an infectious manner leaving man to recover from the malady of misery that follows after. This friendship with the world is deceptive and perversely jealous in that it prevents man from seeing his proper end in relation to his Creator, it seduces the senses until one discovers the impurities contained in the physical world. The manner in which he previously sought to prove the existence of an entity that cannot be described in words, understood by our limited capacity, nor imagined with our senses, was a manner that pulled him further from the source of truth and closer to the sources of heretical beliefs and sects which believed greatly in human power of reason. Under Saint Augustines confessional memoir, he abandons all sorts of superficial knowledge in search of pure knowledge which leads one not astray but fills the emptiness experienced when one places faith in fleeting objects. This kind of intellectual and spiritual labor requires that the mind be prepared in order to find truth, the best way to do such is by way of introspection which contemplates using the rational element which we have been gifted with and not our sense which provide limited understanding. Three crucial elements in the study of metaphysics and theology as well have come together in Saint Augustines pursuit, the source of knowl edge, the existence of God, and the role of science. These crucial elements provide the best proof possible for the existence of God which cannot be provided through the use of human innovations like technology because the material cannot encompass or comprehend the immaterial which exists outside the constrictions of time and space. The best existence comes not from the ability to prove him through the use of words, but it requires that one agree with the law of cause and effect and acknowledge that the modes of investigation conducted by man is only befitting to things of the physical world. God does not need to be proven for he is. One must possess faith so that he may come to acknowledge and attribute all that exists to Him. He who is certain and stable does not need to be secured by conducting a scientific investigation but rather it is the shaky human existence which needs this security to prove its existence and its purpose. The sciences, which derive its nature yet again from the Principal Cause, are intended to come to an adequate understanding of the world that surrounds humans and is not to be taken out of that context for such an action is a misuse of a gift which is worthless if not attributed to its original creator and not to man who also owes his existence to God. Man participates in this uncondit ional knowledge not upon the recognition of the existence of the Supremely Perfect Being, but rather reason requires the aid of God himself which must make an impression upon the individual who engages his mind in this endeavor. The possibility of knowledge about God occurs not in this world but occurs after ones end has been fulfilled in the physical realm and it occurs through the doctrine of the Beatific Vision which is upheld by many devout believers and instructors of the faith. The best proof of the existence of God occurs through an intimate and personal experience and is also found in the words of Saint Augustine in his Confessions. This source of evidence in regards to Gods existence is relative and faces an obstacle to prove itself to those who doubt that the existence of things outside of us can be definitively proven. Although many appreciate and admire the zeal and devotion Saint such an entity which he referred to as God, it is not a sufficient way to prove Gods existence according to thinkers like Kant who believe that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the required proof must show we have experience, and not merely imagination of outer things; and this it would seem, cannot be achieved save by proof that even our inner experienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.is possible only on the assumption of outer experience(Kant 245). Although Kant in the Critique of Pure Reason attempts to save metaphysics from the destructive powers of skeptics like David Hume, he does not find sufficient proof for the existence of God; rather through his scientific inquiry, he establishes the proper role of human reason in the phenomena which seeks to extend its boundaries towards the noumena. Things that exist in the noumena are perfect ideas and concepts which are contained in the forms of understanding so that a human being recognizes the concept of things such as duty from within, but God himself and what human beings has fabricated to describe the First Cause is not natural to the noumena. Therefore the existence of God per se is not so much grounded in that he is God but rather in the most perfect concepts and ideas. The existence of God cannot be proven in that manner of introspection according to Kant. Many believers and magistrates in the Christian faith believe that human beings come to know about God, although in a limited sense, through their participation in the eternal laws, which is called the natural law or conscience which is imprinted in them. Through this participation one comes to know about the moral laws and attributes the strict adherence to such laws being worthy of heavenly compensation. This belief also follows the principle of cause and effect but to Kant this is not sufficient and the contingence of a perfect unconditional on a conditional undermines the perfection and absolute quality that it possesses. In making such a connection, the existence of a so called God is undermined in that because he is only recognized through the moral law and in order for the existence of God to exist in a perfect manner it cannot have a dependence on anything else for that it is chief and final needing no additions or supplementation. Like Saint Augustine, Immanuel Kant believed that the content of the experience resulted in erroneous conceptions of certainty. Throughout the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant properly defines which subject matters fall under the category of a science, a study that is secure and in by no means pretentious, and examines the nature of knowledge which is comprised of three important components: understanding, judgment, and reason. Kants endeavor in the Critique of Pure Reason equaled that of Saint Augustine, he sought to prove that we can have certainty in some aspects but not in others. Although their endeavors were similar in their quest, the conclusions that would be formed about the basis of knowledge in respect to that of God, who exists in a supernatural realm, would differ so much so on the basis of the power accredited to reason by both of these great thinkers. Certainty can be found in the form of reason itself and not in the content of experience which is subject to changes and therefore fail to be reliable sources. The content of experience belongs to the phenomena whereas the concepts and ideas exist in the noumena. The forms of understanding can be analyzed, which we bring to each and every concept in order to come to certainty which produced by the mind in a logical sense and does not deal with the specific content of all experience. The mind analyzes concepts and ideas which form the basis for experiences. For example, the mind, without reference to experience can think of the law of cause and effect and then find examples which fit such laws. Since this has been done independent of experience, it is natural for the mind to think that every effect derives its occurrence from a cause which is the effect to yet another cause until one understands that a singular cause is responsible for this linear progression. In this respect, this is all that can be known about the First Cause by human beings because of the limitations that human reason comes across. Human beings have been given the power to explore within the phenomena and assert this claim: that the noumena does in fact exist but we cannot come closer to understanding in so much that it relates to the necessity of the things that exist in that realm. In this sense, the science which entails the study of God existence in the noumena as he is understood by Christians has yet to become secure because of the methods used, according to what Kant defines as a science in the Critique of Pure Reason. Although many are moved to believe that the Efficient Cause contains all the attributes described in the Bible and in the various monotheistic religions as well, humans are motivated to think of these qualities such as omnipotence, benevolence, and omniscience because they desire to do so. These desires to describe the Supreme Being in terms that describe the qualities of a human beings personality, character, and such arises from the need or want to identify and comprehend that which has been described as limitless yet fulfilling but both of these thinkers admit that human beings cannot come to such knowledge, either on their own or at all. Works Cited Page Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Pure Reason
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