Free Essays on St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Two Ways in Proving the Existence of God

St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Two Ways in Proving the Existence of God It is my view that God exists, and I think that Aquinas’ first two ways presents a successful argument for the existence of God. No doubt, the arguments have weak points which are subjected to criticism but nonetheless, in my opinion, these propositions by Aquinas do indeed accomplish their purpose in establishing the existence of a Greatest Conceivable Being that is the unmoved mover and uncaused cause. I believe that this ultimate Being is unchanging and started the universe, time and all matter and concepts of existence. In my view, this Being is what we understand to be God. St. Thomas Aquinas recognized that there were some people who doubted the existence of God because, to them, logic did not allow for or explain God’s existence. His first two ways are two proofs based on logic and observation of nature in proving God’s existence to those who could not accept or believe God on faith alone. Aquinas’ first way is based on motion. He calls it the most obvious way. This first argument, the Argument from Motion, tries to prove the existence of God as the first mover which is unmoved. Now, it is certain as a matter of sense-observation that some things in this world are in motion. Whatever is in motion, Aquinas states, is moved by something else. Aquinas then defines one type of motion as the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality, and says that nothing can make this movement except by something that is already in actuality in the same respect as the first object is in potentiality. For example, something which is actually hot, like fire, makes something which is potentially hot, like wood, to be actually hot. In this way the fire moves and alters the wood. Now, it is not possible for the same thing to be, at the same time and same respect, in actuality and in... Free Essays on St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Two Ways in Proving the Existence of God Free Essays on St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Two Ways in Proving the Existence of God St. Thomas Aquinas’ First Two Ways in Proving the Existence of God It is my view that God exists, and I think that Aquinas’ first two ways presents a successful argument for the existence of God. No doubt, the arguments have weak points which are subjected to criticism but nonetheless, in my opinion, these propositions by Aquinas do indeed accomplish their purpose in establishing the existence of a Greatest Conceivable Being that is the unmoved mover and uncaused cause. I believe that this ultimate Being is unchanging and started the universe, time and all matter and concepts of existence. In my view, this Being is what we understand to be God. St. Thomas Aquinas recognized that there were some people who doubted the existence of God because, to them, logic did not allow for or explain God’s existence. His first two ways are two proofs based on logic and observation of nature in proving God’s existence to those who could not accept or believe God on faith alone. Aquinas’ first way is based on motion. He calls it the most obvious way. This first argument, the Argument from Motion, tries to prove the existence of God as the first mover which is unmoved. Now, it is certain as a matter of sense-observation that some things in this world are in motion. Whatever is in motion, Aquinas states, is moved by something else. Aquinas then defines one type of motion as the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality, and says that nothing can make this movement except by something that is already in actuality in the same respect as the first object is in potentiality. For example, something which is actually hot, like fire, makes something which is potentially hot, like wood, to be actually hot. In this way the fire moves and alters the wood. Now, it is not possible for the same thing to be, at the same time and same respect, in actuality and in...

System Tray Delphi Application

System Tray Delphi Application Take a look at your Task Bar. See the area where the time is located? Are there any other icons there? The place is called the Windows System Tray. Would you like to place your Delphi applications icon there? Would you like that icon to be animated - or reflect the state of your application? This would be useful for programs that are left running for long periods of time with no user interaction (background tasks you typically keep running on your PC all day long). What you can do is to make your Delphi applications look as if they are minimizing to the Tray (instead of to the Task Bar, right to the Win Start button) by placing an icon in the tray and simultaneously making your form(s) invisible. Lets Tray It Fortunately, creating an application that runs in the system tray is pretty easy - only one (API) function, Shell_NotifyIcon, is needed to accomplish the task. The function is defined in the ShellAPI unit and requires two parameters. The first is a flag indicating whether the icon is being added, modified, or removed, and the second is a pointer to a TNotifyIconData structure holding the information about the icon. That includes the handle of the icon to show, the text to show as  a tool tip when the mouse is over the icon, the handle of the window that will receive the messages of the icon and the message type the icon will send to this window. First, in your main forms Private section put the line:TrayIconData: TNotifyIconData; type TMainForm class(TForm) procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject); private TrayIconData: TNotifyIconData; { Private declarations }public{ Public declarations }end; Then, in your main forms OnCreate method, initialize the TrayIconData data structure and call the Shell_NotifyIcon function: with TrayIconData dobegin cbSize : SizeOf(TrayIconData); Wnd : Handle; uID : 0; uFlags : NIF_MESSAGE NIF_ICON NIF_TIP; uCallbackMessage : WM_ICONTRAY; hIcon : Application.Icon.Handle; StrPCopy(szTip, Application.Title); end; Shell_NotifyIcon(NIM_ADD, TrayIconData); The Wnd parameter of the TrayIconData structure points to the window that receives notification messages associated with an icon.   The hIcon points to the icon we want to add to the Tray - in this case, Applications main icon is used.The szTip holds the Tooltip text to display for the icon - in our case the title of the application. The szTip can hold up to 64 characters.The uFlags parameter is set to tell the icon to process application messages, use the applications icon and its tip. The uCallbackMessage points to the application-defined message identifier. The system uses the specified identifier for notification messages that it sends to the window identified by Wnd whenever a mouse event occurs in the bounding rectangle of the icon. This parameter is set to WM_ICONTRAY constant defined in the interface section of the forms unit and equals: WM_USER 1; You add the icon to the Tray by calling the Shell_NotifyIcon API function. The first parameter NIM_ADD adds an icon to the Tray area. The other two possible values, NIM_DELETE and NIM_MODIFY are used to delete or modify an icon in the Tray - well see how later in this article. The second parameter we send to the Shell_NotifyIcon is the initialized TrayIconData structure. Take One If you RUN your project now youll see an icon near the Clock in the Tray. Note three things.   1) First, nothing happens when you click (or do anything else with the mouse) on the icon placed in the Tray - we havent created a procedure (message handler), yet.2) Second, there is a button on the Task Bar (we obviously dont want it there).3) Third, when you close your application, the icon remains in the Tray. Take Two Lets solve this backward. To have the icon removed from the Tray when you exit the application, you have to call the Shell_NotifyIcon again, but with the NIM_DELETE as the first parameter. You do this in the OnDestroy event handler for the Main form. procedure TMainForm.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject);begin Shell_NotifyIcon(NIM_DELETE, TrayIconData);end; To hide the application (applications button) from the Task Bar well use a simple trick. In the Projects source code add the following line: Application.ShowMainForm : False; before the Application.CreateForm(TMainForm, MainForm); E.g let it look like: ...begin Application.Initialize; Application.ShowMainForm : False; Application.CreateForm(TMainForm, MainForm); Application.Run;end. And finally, to have our Tray icon respond to mouse events, we need to create a message handling procedure. First, we declare a message handling procedure in the public part of the form declaration: procedure TrayMessage(var Msg: TMessage); message WM_ICONTRAY; Second, the definition of this procedure looks like: procedure TMainForm.TrayMessage(var Msg: TMessage);begincase Msg.lParam of WM_LBUTTONDOWN: begin ShowMessage(Left button clicked - lets SHOW the Form!); MainForm.Show; end; WM_RBUTTONDOWN: begin ShowMessage(Right button clicked - lets HIDE the Form!); MainForm.Hide; end; end;end; This procedure is designed to handle only our message, the WM_ICONTRAY. It takes the LParam value from the message structure which can give us the state of the mouse upon the activation of the procedure. For the sake of simplicity well handle only left mouse down (WM_LBUTTONDOWN) and right mouse down (WM_RBUTTONDOWN). When the left mouse button is down on the icon we show the main form, when the right button is pressed we hide it. Of course, there are other mouse input messages you can handle in the procedure, like, button up, button double click etc. Thats it. Quick and easy. Next,  youll see how to animate the icon in the Tray and how to have that icon reflect the state of your application. Even more, youll see how to display a pop-up menu near the icon.

Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Financial Management - Essay Example Further, public sector enterprises are more accountable to the stakeholders, being government and public, than private sector undertakings. Financial management field is basically responsible for generating valuable information for the purpose of investing, financing and decision making and the role remains the same regardless of the type of organization. The finance managers in a public sector enterprise play many roles including: 1. Accounting and record keeping: The nature of public sector accounting is quite different from that of private sector. In order to show the users of financial statements as well as the stakeholders the position of the entity and all its assets and liabilities, the status of funds etc the finance managers are responsible to maintain appropriate, correct and timely accounting records. That includes both financial and management accounting records. This in turn ensures that the funds are properly allocated to the areas of concern, the risks and returns are highlighted and presented to the top management and the state for decision making purposes, the areas facing a decline and requiring special 2. Effective utilization and allocation of funds: The earnings or funds allocated to public sector organizations are quite restrained and in that restricted budget a public sector entity has to achieve its goals. Finance managers play an important role in the effective utilization of scarce funds to achieve as many objectives as possible within limited resources. For example if $20 million are annually allocate to a government hospital, the finance managers have to practically analyze the ways in which other costs can be reduced and more patients are treated in the allocated funds. 3. Making fund raising efforts: Proper financial management and record keeping will lead to the financial managers identifying situation wherein they need to double their

Business Formation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Formation - Coursework Example The entrepreneurs are required to make judgments based on their knowledge, understanding and size of the business. A small business with less capital may be established as a sole proprietor rather than a partnership or a company. Similarly, a company with high capital requirements and extended future expected growth may be established as a company/corporation. The advantages and disadvantages related to each of these business forms should be given appropriate consideration before making a decision. These advantages and disadvantages are discussed below to aid your judgment in the decision making process regarding the types of business formation structures available. Sole Proprietorship Sole Proprietorship is a form of business which is usually preferred by single owners to manage their small-sized businesses. Sole proprietorship is a form whereby the whole authority of managing the daily activities of the business, its management and decision making is limited to the owner of the bus iness. The owners, under sole proprietorship, are the sole holders of any gains or losses generated by the business. They are solely and entirely accountable for the liabilities and rightful holders of the assets that business owns. The legal phenomenon is that business and the owner are equal or the same when it comes to any charge against or for the business. The business’s liability may be termed as the liability of the owners. There are a number of benefits that sole proprietorship brings for the business and the owners. These advantages distinguish this form from other legal forms of businesses. The first and foremost advantage of this kind of a business is the least complex structure of the business. The simplicity of the structure keeps the costs of starting the business and managing it to the minimal. Hence, it may be termed as a cheaper way of establishing a business. Since sole proprietors are the owners of the business with full authority to make decisions and chan ges in the business, this form provides an autonomous position to the owners. They have the authority to change suppliers, the way activities are performed and even the proportion of income which is to be reinvested and so on without any external opposition or conflict. In simple words, we can say that this form brings an independent authority to the proprietors for strategic and managerial decision making without any disagreement from any other party. Moreover, the advantage of enjoying the business profits alone is yet another charm for the proprietors to go for this option (Boone & Kurtz 2008). They are free to reinvest the whole profit that business generates or withdraw it wholly without any need to justify their decisions. In addition to all these benefits, sole proprietorship is also beneficial when the business is required to be dissolved. The simple structure helps in uncomplicated closure of the business. Regardless of the benefits this form of business brings, the disadva ntages must be kept in view when making a decision regarding the expansion of your business. The autonomy that sole proprietorship brings is accompanied with the risk of losing all business and personal assets in case of any liability against the business.  

Fires Role in the Ecosystem Essay Example for Free

Fires Role in the Ecosystem Essay Scientists have studied forests and fires to determine the secret of Natures success in attaining this necessary balance. They have learned that a natural fire results from a certain fuel condition. Some forest types produce and accumulate fuels faster than others; some decompose fuels more readily than others. However, at some point in time, every forest type has fuel of the right quantity and quality for that forest to be ready to burn. In the past, forest fires would benefit the whole forest ecosystem because their frequency and intensity was determined by the systems natural readiness to burn. When there is a departure from the natural fire point, the ultimate, inevitable fire will be more severe. Fed by extraordinary amounts of fuel, a fires intensity may increase beyond the beneficial point for some parts of the ecosystem. Soils can be overheated and root systems damaged. Living tree crowns, as well as dead needles and branches, may be reduced to ashes. The Dilemma Scientists are studying things other than forests and fires things like population increases, wildlife needs, recreation needs and demands, increased hunting pressures, and a diminishing natural resource base. Obviously, all forest fires cannot be permitted to burn uncontrolled according to the whimsical dictates of lightning strikes or the carelessness of humans. Yet, in attempting to protect these forest values, the powerful role of fire has almost disappeared from the ecosystem it once shaped and created. The inevitable release of natural energy is only postponed-the probability of a devastating wildfire is increased. How, then, can the powerful force of fire be used in a way that cooperates, not conflicts, with nature? No Simple Solution Periodic natural fires prevent the heavy buildup of fuel which, when ignited, can harm our forests and ecosystems. Controlling fires in accordance with Natures scheme must be based on fuel management. There is no general prescription or formula for controlling fuels. Forested sites differ, and objectives range from essentially unmanaged wilderness to intensively managed recreation areas. However, in areas where the forest management  objectives require maintaining or reproducing forest or other natural communities natures method fire is a valuable and effective fuel management tool. Fires natural role in reducing fuels is partly replaced in timber-producing areas by the harvest and removal of wood products. However, slash, resulting from these activities, creates another fuel problem. Better use of harvested wood is one answer fire is another. Controlled burning of non useable slash further reduces the fuel load and provides nutrients for the plants and animals that inhabit the area. The technical and scientific refinement of ways to use fire as a management tool has been a major subject of forest research. Scientists are focusing on forest fuel chemistry, fire behavior, meteorology, and other fields to best determine when, where, and how excess fuels are to be burned. Only in the last century has fire in the forest been viewed as a monster. We are now beginning to realize that fire is a natural agent essential for maintaining the natural ecosystems of Florida. Fire is neither all good nor all bad. It is natural. It is powerful. In the proper places, in the right hands, at the right times, fire can be an asset and an ally. To employ fire as a useful friend is much more logical than confronting it as an enemy. Fire is a significant force in the forest environment. Depending upon specific land management objective, plus a host of environmental variables, fire will sometimes be an enemy, at times a friend, and frequently its effects will be mixed between the two extremes. To extend knowledge of fires role in Florida forests, this publication has been developed from scientific literature review and observations by experienced personnel. To be most useful, the general principles that follow must be localized to specific environments or management units in that way, in-depth knowledge of fire can be used to enhance productivity of the earths ecosystems in all their infinite variety. One great truth of this environmental age is that it is far better to complement natural systems than to manipulate them for single-purpose gain. It is through recognition of ecological interrelationships that we can best manage natural resources for the public good. Ignorance of ecological interrelationships is no excuse for land management errors. To meet future  environmental demands, land managers must build uncommon strength in all three fire activities: prevention, protection, and fire prescribed for ecological benefits. Fire management, in full partnership with other environmental factors, is necessary for quality land management. The Two Faces of Fire The Monster Uncontrolled wildfire raging through a forest can have disastrous effects. Healthy trees are reduced to blackened snags; shrubs that provided food and cover for wildfire become ashes; under the intense heat some soil nutrients are vaporized and become airborne in clouds of choking smoke. Ash falls on rooftops, window sills, and darkens clothes drying outdoors in nearby towns. Where people once enjoyed a green, scenic landscape, they see a stark, gray landscape. A forest has been grossly changed; the web of life it encompassed and nurtured has been broken. Here, fire has shown its mastery over the land and has behaved as a monster. The Friend Think about fire for a moment. If you have warmed your hands in its welcomed heat and enjoyed its friendly light, you know that all fire is not the raging holocaust. Fire, along with air, water, and earth, is a basic environmental factor. We do not judge air as bad because of periodic, destructive hurricanes. We are drawn to water rather than avoiding it despite its potential to cause devastating floods. We do not fear the earth though we know that forces beyond our control can cause it to quake and slide. Fire, no less than air and water, has been a natural directing force in human evolution and the earth we inhabit. History indicates that humans learned to use and control fire. Fire was, perhaps, our first tool. Yet today the acceptance of fire in the forest seems basically contrary to our beliefs in modern times. Perhaps we feel we have progressed beyond the need for direct dependence on this natural force. Or maybe we simply do not know and understand it any longer. Lightning In the Making Continued sunny and warm except for isolated afternoon or evening thunderstorms. Thirty percent chance of rain. This is a familiar midsummer  weather forecast in Florida. From over the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, air   masses directly affect Floridas weather. Warm air is lifted high into cool, upper air layers. The cooling of this rising air causes its moisture to condense and clouds to form. Moisture droplets form in the upper; cold parts of the clouds. When they reach a certain size, the droplets begin to fall earthward, away from the influence of the cold air back into warm, uplifting currents. The droplets may again vaporize and be lifted even higher into the upper air layers. A repeated cycle of warming, lifting, and cooling causes the buildup of tall columns of billowy clouds. The bases of the clouds may be 3,000 feet above sea level the tops of the cloud columns develop upward to levels of 60,000 feet. The Ignition Source Inside the clouds electrical charges build up and separate into positive and negative centers. The upper portion of the cloud becomes positively charged and the lower portion becomes negatively charged. The negative charge near the cloud base induces a positive charge on the ground a reversal of the fair weather pattern when the ground charge is negative. Potential gradients between positive and negative centers, with some assistance from friction caused by falling water droplets, lead to those large sparks known as lightning discharges. Cloud-to-ground lightning is usually a discharge between the negative lower portion of the cloud and the positive charge on the ground. Most thunderstorms in Florida are accompanied by rain. Lightning fires occur when the lightning bolt strikes outside the area of rainfall or it ignites dry fuels that smolder through the rain shower and begin to burn as the area dries out following the shower. Energy to Use or Burn From a distance, pines and other vegetation look fresh and green. Close inspection reveals that the greenness is a shell enveloping a core of dry needles, twigs, and branches. In the needled or leafy part of the tree, known as the crown, growth occurs at the branch tips, so the youngest, greenest parts are always around the outside edges. Here, photosynthesis occurs. Photosynthesis is the major function of every green plant. It is the process by which light energy from the sun is converted to a form of energy that can be stored and used by the plant. Generally, the conversion is to  chemical energy and involves the formation of a series of complex organic compounds. Some of the compounds impart the piney odors we enjoy in forests. What we cannot tell from their pleasant aroma is that these compounds are very flammable. Once stored, the energy can be used in different ways. For example, it can be used by the plant to produce wood or grow more needles in which more energy conversion will take place. It can be used as a source of food by animals that browse the leaves and twigs where the compounds are stored. The energy can also be used to produce seed to germinate and produce another plant. This energy storing process takes place with shrubs and grasses as well as trees; photosynthesis and the energy conversions and transfers that occur are complex, but the result is clear enough: during one growing season in one acre of forest, enough sun energy is converted and stored in plant material to equal the energy reservoir in 300 gallons of gasoline. Fire and the Forest We often regard fire as an agent of destruction, but to Nature, it is an agent of necessary change. Fire changes one form of energy to another. Green plants change light energy to chemical energy, fire changes chemical energy to heat energy. Fire breaks down complex organic molecules to smaller ones the same thing that occurs when we digest food. The protein in a piece of meat cannot be used directly by the human body to build cells and tissues. We must eat the meat before large protein molecules can be broken down to smaller amino acid molecules, recycled through our bodies, and rebuilt into human tissue. When a fire changes a log to ash, nutrients bound in chemical compounds are released and changed to a form that is more water soluble. In this soluble form, nutrients percolating into the soil are again usable in the growth of other plants. Fire also effects a more visible change. Ash and nutrients occupy less space than trees and shrubs. By creating openings in forests, fire changes space relationships. Species that remain in these openings may be fire tolerant. Other species that cannot withstand fire are eliminated. Thus, fire changes both the composition and the density of the forest. This change will remain for several years and affect the fuels available during the next burning cycle. Scientists who study plant and  animal relationships tell us that forests in this part of the country owe their existence and continued presence to a long history of periodic fires. This association of some tree and shrub species with fire is an example of adaptation. Forests in Florida have existed here for at least 12,000 years. During that time, thousands of fires occurred annually. Plant species that survived these fires did so because of special features or characteristics they possessed. Plant species lacking these features were eliminated from frequently burned areas; their distribution has been confined to areas where fires are less likely to occur, moist areas such as bays, swamps, and creek bottoms. Fires, like many natural events, are somewhat cyclic. The cycle is governed by conditions such as general climate, topography, soil type, existing vegetation, and other factors. Accordingly, the repeatability of the cycle varies. Before 1900, fire-susceptible areas probably had fires every 3 to 10 years. In areas less likely to burn, the cycle may repeat every 10 to 100 years. Cyclic, recurrent fires of the past 12,000 years were important agents of selection in determining plant species and distribution in Florida. Trees Born of Fire Special adaptive features have allowed some plants to survive naturally occurring fire. Adult southern pines have a thick bark that insulates the inner, living tissues from fires heat. Longleaf pine is so fire resistant that some trees almost always escape fires injurious effects. These trees become seed trees for the reforestation of a burned area. Sand pine exhibits yet another adaptation for coping with fire. Sand pine cones remain closed until a fires intense heat opens the cone and allows the seeds to fall out. Seeds of cone-bearing trees that persist in fire-susceptible areas sprout and grow best under conditions created by fire: soil free from litter, an increased nutrient reserve, plus open areas with plenty of sunlight. In contrast, species less adapted to fire, such as oaks, gums, cypress, and cedar do not usually reseed a burned area directly. Seedlings of these species prefer partial shade and plenty of moisture. Generally, they will reestablish only after some other type vegetation is present. The Changing Natural fires keep Floridas forests dynamic, diverse, and beautiful. Florida was named by the early explorers because of the abundance of wildflowers in  areas kept open by frequent fires. Historically, timber stands were replaced by young trees; sometimes one type of forest was replaced by another. Changes in tree cover occur together with even more encompassing changes because a forest is more than just trees. A forest displays interdependence, interrelationships, and competition among trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, big and little animals, soils, microbes, minerals and nutrients in soils, and the air pervading and surrounding all of these. A forest is a complex life system. Each part has a place and a function in its organization an organization called the forest ecosystem. Because all parts of the system are interrelated, no one part can change without a widespread effect throughout the entire system. Forest fires affect more than trees. Fire-caused changes in ecosystems result in both stress and relief to plant and animal life both to individuals and to whole plant and animal communities. Thousands of years of natural fires achieved a dynamic balance between the stresses and relief. The fire-adapted pine forests thrived over vast areas. They provided habitat for hundreds of species of grasses and wildflowers, as well as dozens of animal species. All these species would quickly begin to decline in number and health and eventually disappear completely if fire is excluded. Fires Role in the Ecosystem A Balancing Act Scientists have studied forests and fires to determine the secret of Natures success in attaining this necessary balance. They have learned that a natural fire results from a certain fuel condition. Some forest types produce and accumulate fuels faster than others; some decompose fuels more readily than others. However, at some point in time, every forest type has fuel of the right quantity and quality for that forest to be ready to burn. In the past, forest fires would benefit the whole forest ecosystem because their frequency and intensity was determined by the systems natural readiness to burn. When there is a departure from the natural fire point, the ultimate, inevitable fire will be more severe. Fed by extraordinary amounts of fuel, a fires intensity may increase beyond the beneficial point for some parts of the ecosystem. Soils can be overheated and root systems damaged. Living tree crowns, as well as dead needles and branches, may be reduced to ashes. The Dilemma Scientists are studying things other than forests and fires things like population increases, wildlife needs, recreation needs and demands, increased hunting pressures, and a diminishing natural resource base. Obviously, all forest fires cannot be permitted to burn uncontrolled according to the whimsical dictates of lightning strikes or the carelessness of humans. Yet, in attempting to protect these forest values, the powerful role of fire has almost disappeared from the ecosystem it once shaped and created. The inevitable release of natural energy is only postponed-the probability of a devastating wildfire is increased. How, then, can the powerful force of fire be used in a way that cooperates, not conflicts, with nature? No Simple Solution Periodic natural fires prevent the heavy buildup of fuel which, when ignited, can harm our forests and ecosystems. Controlling fires in accordance with Natures scheme must be based on fuel management. There is no general prescription or formula for controlling fuels. Forested sites differ, and objectives range from essentially unmanaged wilderness to intensively managed recreation areas. However, in areas where the forest management objectives require maintaining or reproducing forest or other natural communities natures method fire is a valuable and effective fuel management tool. Fires natural role in reducing fuels is partly replaced in timber-producing areas by the harvest and removal of wood products. However, slash, resulting from these activities, creates another fuel problem. Better use of harvested wood is one answer fire is another. Controlled burning of non useable slash further reduces the fuel load and provides nutrients for the plants and animals that inhabit the area. The technical and scientific refinement of ways to use fire as a management tool has been a major subject of forest research. Scientists are focusing on forest fuel chemistry, fire behavior, meteorology, and other fields to best determine when, where, and how excess fuels are to be burned. Only in the last century has fire in the forest been viewed as a monster. We are now beginning to realize that fire is a natural agent essential for maintaining the natural ecosystems of Florida. Fire is  neither all good nor all bad. It is natural. It is powerful. In the proper places, in the right hands, at the right times, fire can be an asset and an ally. To employ fire as a useful friend is much more logical than confronting it as an enemy.

reincarnation :: essays research papers

The reincarnation system (tulku), a distinguishing characteristic of Tibetan Buddhism, is based the theory that Buddha's soul never vanishes, but reincarnates in succession to lead his followers and to accomplish his mission. One of first reincarnations among the Buddhist monks in Tibet is Karma Pakshi. In 1193, before Dusum Chenpa, a religious leader, the first Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, passed away, he told his disciples that he would return as a reincarnated being. His disciples soon led a search for his infant reincarnation in accordance with his will. Several years later, Karma Pakshi turned out as the first reincarnation in Tibet and trained to be Karma Kagyu leader. After Karma Pakshi's reincarnation, the reincarnation system was adopted by other sects gradually to keep a consistent religious leadership. By applying the system, heirs for hundreds of Gyalwas (Living Buddhas) were selected, among whom the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama are the mo st prestigious. The Yellow Hat sect, Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism also applied the system to hand down the titles conferred on the third Dalai Lama and the fourth Panchen Lama to keep their established religious and secular title and power. By the end of the Qing Dynasty there were 160 high lamas registered with the Board for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, each applying the reincarnation system to identify their next successors. Religious methods and rituals are used to identify a reincarnation of a late high lama. A search party headed by another high lama begins the search. After a religious retreat, lamas, dispatched in disguise, scour Tibet for special signs: new mothers who had unusual dreams, children who have special knowledge without being taught, and special physical traits, such as big ear lobes. The lamas refer to oracles, portents, dreams and the late lama's prophesy in order to aid them in their search. Some lamas are sent to Lhamo Latso, the Oracle Lake, to look for prophetic visions to help locate the reincarnation. Usually, dozens of candidates are sought. They will be tested with the late lama's possessions; those who have amazing knowledge in identifying their predecessor's belongings win and become the final candidates.

Iproject

MBA 504 – Managerial Economics (W. Troost) * Case study about the iPad Mini by Justin Sellers Kimberly Gadsden Krista Pauly Marjorie Venus Baliog Paulus Mirtschink Rob Hicks I have read the Student Academic Code of Conduct and this Assignment complies with the Code. 8th November 2012 * Table of Contents Table of Contents2 List of Figures3 1INTRODUCTION4 2FIRM, BRAND, LIFESTYLE4 3IINDUSTRY5 4COST8 5CONCLUSION9 APPENDICES11 A. Price Comparison of Generic Android Tablets12 B. Price Comparison of Premium Brand Tablets2 BIBLIOGRAPHY3 * List of FiguresFigure 1: Monopolistical pricing10 Figure 2: Technology life cycle11 Figure 3: VMP and MC in the US compared with China12 * INTRODUCTION Apple has clearly established itself as a market leader in the competitive market of consumer electronic products. Recently, the company released a smaller sized version of its highly successful tablet: the iPad. The launch has come under widespread criticism as many industry pundits believe the prici ng strategy may be incorrect and there are fears that the new product will cannibalize sales of other merchandise.Even the late Steve Jobs was strong in his view that Apple would never offer a smaller tablet product to the market as he felt it would provide less benefit to consumers. To properly assess whether or not Apple did in fact make the correct decision, the rationale behind the decision must be analyzed. As part of the analysis: the market structure, cost factors, competitive position, nature of product demand, and strategic vision will be scrutinized. FIRM, BRAND, LIFESTYLEUnder the direction of one of the most visionary CEOs of the modern era, Steve Jobs, Apple was able to completely revolutionize the way that consumer electronics are perceived, purchased, and manufactured. It started with a completely different concept of consumer preferences and has ultimately ended with the most valuable company in the world. Apple has a long history within the computer industry with a focus on building units for sale to the consumer marketplace. After success during the early 1980s with the launch of the Macintosh line of computers, the company failed to gain significant market share until the launch of the iMac in 1998.From the late 1990s Apple began a prolific campaign of acquiring other companies with specific technological expertise, which it began combining in both software and hardware components included in its subsequent line of products. Apple released the first of many important revolutionary products, the iPod, in 2001. The iPod became the ‘quantum leap’ the company had long been striving for and allowed the branding of Apple as a company with the Apple logo to become an industry heavyweight. The advertising that Apple used helped to produce an emotional response that resonated with consumers.Being seen with the iconic â€Å"white headphones† became as much about fashion and image as it was about the actual enjoyment of listening to mp3s on a personal device. Due to the vertical integration between devices, software and design based on a platform of â€Å"ease of use,† the company began to create immense brand loyalty. â€Å"Once you go Mac, you never go back,† is a phrase used to describe that once someone made the decision to purchase an Apple product (phone, computer, etc. ) the cost of switching becomes high.Apple intuitively created an opportunity cost for not purchasing newer Apple products because of the way their devices communicate with one another. Apple has gained such a significant brand following that demand for their products is much more inelastic than comparable firms. Demand for competitor’s products Demand for Apple products INDUSTRY There are significant numbers of manufacturers of tablet devices, but it can be argued that there are only several key players. The tablet marketplace is very interesting because of the dominant effect that Apple, Samsung, Google, and Amazon have on consumer behaviour.There is a significant split, both from a consumer and producer standpoint, between the ‘premium’ tablet devices and the ‘generic’ devices. In effect, there are two different marketplaces in operation simultaneously. In the generic market it is a competitive market, firms are essentially price takers as what they are offering is a standard tablet with limited features. In the premium market however, there is an oligopolistic situation where the major firms dominate both, market share and brand recognition. Please see Appendix A and B for Price comparisons of generic and premium brand tablets.The pricing strategy for the premium products is therefore very different than for generics. In the premium market, the products are seen as more inelastic based on their brand power, and thus a higher price can be charged in order to generate a higher economic profit. Apple uses the concept of â€Å"Prestige Pricing† for its product li ne. Prestige pricing happens when a firm charges a higher price for its products in an attempt to be seen as a ‘status’ item. Apple separates itself even from the other premium tablets by charging a price that is actually 2-5 times higher than some of its closest ivals. The reason that Apple has decided to launch at such a high price dates back to their theory of brand image and loyalty. With respect to the technology adoption lifecycle developed by Joe Bohlen et al. , Apple seeks to â€Å"reward† loyal customers by charging a high price so that only technologically conscious innovators and early adopters will have the product for a period. It is valuable to the innovators and early adopters to have the newest Apple product ahead of the vast majority of people and price point is a way to discriminate between groups.Once a product has been on the market for a sufficient amount of time, Apple will then drop the price to gain a larger amount of consumers that are wi lling to pay for the product at the given price. Graph Rob Directly related to the high price point that Apple charge is its monopolistic position within the industry. It is strategically beneficial from a firm standpoint to charge a price that causes the intersection of the marginal cost and marginal revenues when represented graphically. Figure 1: Monopolistical pricing For Apple, they experience higher economic profits when they charge a higher price initially.Only when they are about to release an updated version of the product will they drop the price to gain the additional consumer demand. When considering the product lifecycle, Apple seeks to have a different product in each section of the cycle. Rather than having different versions of the same model, the company simply relies on releasing a newer product, but still offering the old product for a period. When considering their new tablet the strategy will be as follows: 1) New tablet is released: iPad mini 2) After a designa ted amount of time, (typically 3-5 quarters) a new version will be released.Likely, it will be called the iPad mini S. 3) Following the same release schedule a bigger redesign will occur and the product will come out as the iPad mini 2. Figure 2: Technology life cycle Apple prices the tablet in #1 high in order to experience profits from the innovators and early adopters. By the time the newer version is announced, the company will drop the price in order to gain access to the early majority. When the new product is actually released #2 it will have a premium price point to again gain access to the innovators and early adopters.Product #1 is moving from early majority to late majority as the price drop has opened up a wealth of consumers willing to buy. When product #3 is announced the price of both product #1 and product #2 will be dropped. By this time product #1 will be 2 editions old and is likely to be purchased by the tail end of late majority and laggards. Product #2 will tak e its place in the early majority and innovators will desire product #3. When considering Apple’s brand loyalty it is also likely that by the time product #3 comes out some people that purchased product #1 will deem that it is time to upgrade. COSTAnother major consideration in the pricing of Apple’s products is the associated cost of producing them. Each item has a large array of inputs ranging from: hardware, software, development, advertising, testing, management, transport, and legal issues. Apple has sought out areas of the world where it is cheaper to assemble their units because the relationship between manufacturing and transportation costs results in higher profit. Figure 3: VMP and MC in the US compared with China Apple has formed a coalition of manufacturers that it uses to outsource many of the components that it uses within its products.In some cases the firms that manufacture parts for Apple are actually direct competitors within the same market. If you l ook at the decision to manufacture internally or outsource to another company it is very similar to the trade theories of competitive and comparative advantage. When considering the iPad mini, Apple had to decide whether to make the computing hardware themselves or have someone else make it for them. Apple deemed that they have a competitive advantage in software development and that Samsung and Intel have comparative advantages in production of hardware, thus they made the decision to have the parts made for them.Each iPad that Apple sells generates a large amount of profit for the firm because their total cost is significantly less than the price point at which it is sold. Generally, Apple sells their products for at least 3 times as much as their total cost, resulting in a huge amount of revenue. You guessed it†¦ a graph What the fuck Justin?!? CONCLUSION * APPENDICES Price Comparison of Generic Android Tablets Price Comparison of Premium Brand Tablets * BIBLIOGRAPHY *

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-Seven

Bounce Bounce Bounce Swish Catch Bounce Bounce Swish Catch Stefan stood on the free-throw line of the empty basketbal court, mechanical y dribbling and throwing the bal through the net. He felt empty inside, an automaton making perfect identical shots. He didn't real y love basketbal . For him, it lacked both the satisfying contact of footbal and the mathematical precision of pool. But it was something to do. He'd been up al night and al morning, and he couldn't stand the endless pacing of his own feet around the campus, or the sight of the four wal s of his room. What was he going to do now? There didn't seem to be much point to going to school without Elena beside him. He tried to block out his memories of the centuries of wandering the world alone, without her, without Damon, that preceded his coming to Fel ‘s Church. He was shutting down his emotions as hard as he could, forcing himself numb, but he couldn't help dimly wondering if centuries of loneliness were in store for him again. â€Å"Quite a talent you got there,† a shadow said, stepping away from the bleachers. â€Å"We should have recruited you for the basketbal team, too.† â€Å"Matt,† Stefan acknowledged, making another basket, then tossing the bal to him. Matt lined up careful y to the basket and shot, and it circled the rim before dropping through. Stefan waited while Matt ran to get the bal , then turned to him. â€Å"Were you looking for me?† he asked, careful y not asking if Elena had sent him. Looking surprised, Matt shook his head. â€Å"Nah. I like to shoot baskets when I've got some thinking to do. You know.† â€Å"What's going on?† Stefan asked. Matt rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. â€Å"There was this girl who I kind of liked, who I've been thinking about for a while, wanting to ask out. And, uh, it turns out she already has a boyfriend.† â€Å"Oh.† After a few minutes, Stefan realized he ought to respond with something more. â€Å"I'm sorry to hear that.† â€Å"Yeah.† Matt sighed. â€Å"She's real y special. I thought – I don't know, it would be nice to have something like what you and Elena have. Someone to love.† Stefan winced. It felt like Matt had twisted a knife in his gut. He flung the bal at the basket, not aiming this time, and it bounced back at them hard off the backboard. Matt jumped to catch it, then moved toward him, holding out a hand. â€Å"Hey, hey, Stefan. Take it easy. What is it?† â€Å"Elena and I aren't seeing each other anymore,† Stefan said flatly, trying to ignore the stab of pain from saying the words. â€Å"She – I saw her kissing Damon.† Matt looked at Stefan silently for what felt like a long time, his pale blue eyes steady and compassionate. Stefan was struck sharply by the memory that Matt had loved Elena, too, and that they had been together before Stefan came into the picture. â€Å"Look,† Matt said final y. â€Å"You can't control Elena. If there's one thing I know about her – and I've known her for our whole lives – it's that she's always going to do what she wants to do, no matter what gets in her way. You can't stop her.† Stefan began to nod, hot tears burning behind his eyes. â€Å"But,† Matt added, â€Å"I also know that, in the end, you're the one for her. She's never felt the way she does about you for anyone else. And, y'know, I'm starting to discover that there are other girls out there, but I don't think you're going to. Whatever's going on with Damon, Elena wil come back to you. And you'd be an idiot not to let her, because she's the only one for you.† Stefan rubbed the bridge of his nose. He felt breakable, like his bones were made of glass. â€Å"I don't know, Matt,† he said tiredly. Matt grinned sympathetical y. â€Å"Yeah, but I do.† He tossed Stefan the bal and Stefan caught it automatical y. â€Å"Want to play Horse?† He was tired and heartsick, but, as he dribbled the bal , thinking that he'd have to take it a tiny bit easy to give Matt a chance, Stefan felt a stirring of hope. Maybe Matt was right. â€Å"Are you crazy?† Bonnie shouted. She had always thought that â€Å"seeing red† was just a metaphor, but she was so angry that she actual y was seeing the faintest scarlet touch on everything, as if the whole room had been dipped in blood-tinged water. Meredith and Elena exchanged glances. â€Å"We're not saying there is anything wrong with Zander,† Meredith said gently. â€Å"It's just that we want you to be careful.† â€Å"Careful?† Bonnie gave a mean, bitter little laugh and shoved past them to grab a duffel bag out of her closet. â€Å"You're just jealous,† she said without looking at them. She unzipped the bag and started to dump in some clothes. â€Å"Jealous of what, Bonnie?† Elena asked. â€Å"I don't want Zander.† â€Å"Jealous because I'm final y the one who has a boyfriend,† Bonnie retorted. â€Å"Alaric is back in Fel ‘s Church, and you broke up with both your boyfriends, and you don't like seeing me happy when you're miserable.† Elena shut her mouth tightly, white spots showing on her cheekbones, and turned away. Eyeing Bonnie careful y, Meredith said, â€Å"I told you what I saw, Bonnie. It's nothing definite, but I'm afraid that the person who attacked that girl might have been Zander. Can you tel me where he was after you two left the party last night?† Focusing on stuffing her favorite jeans into what was already starting to seem like an overcrowded bag, Bonnie didn't answer. She could feel an annoying tel tale flush spreading up her neck and over her face. Fine, this was probably enough clothes. She could grab her toothbrush and moisturizer from the bathroom on her way down the hal . Meredith came toward her, hands open and outstretched placatingly. â€Å"Bonnie,† she said gently, â€Å"we do want you to be happy. We real y do. But we want you to be safe, too, and we're worried that Zander might not be everything you think he is. Maybe you could stay away from him, just for a little while? While we check things out?† Bonnie zipped up her bag, threw it over her shoulder, and headed for the door, brushing past Meredith without a glance. She was planning to just walk out but, at the last minute, wheeled around in the doorway to face them again, unable to bite back what she was thinking. â€Å"What's kil ing me here,† she said, â€Å"is what hypocrites you two are. Don't you remember when Mr. Tanner was murdered? Or the tramp who was almost kil ed under Wickery Bridge?† She was actual y shaking with fury. â€Å"Everyone in the whole town thought Stefan was responsible. Al the evidence pointed at him. But Meredith and I didn't think so, because Elena told us she knew Stefan couldn't have done it, that he wouldn't have done it. And we believed you, even though you didn't have any proof to give us,† she said, staring at Elena, who dropped her eyes to the floor. â€Å"I would have thought you could trust me the same way.† She looked back and forth between them. â€Å"The fact that you're suspecting Zander even though I'm standing here, tel ing you he would never hurt anybody, makes it clear that you don't respect me,† she said coldly. â€Å"Maybe you never did.† Bonnie stomped out of the room, hitching the strap of the duffel bag higher on her shoulder. â€Å"Bonnie† she heard behind her and turned to look back one more time. Meredith and Elena were both reaching after her, identical expressions of frustration on their faces. â€Å"I'm going to Zander's,† Bonnie told them curtly. That would show them what she thought about their suspicions of him. She slammed the door behind her.

Culture Identity Essays - Anthropology, Science Fiction Literature

Culture Identity Essays - Anthropology, Science Fiction Literature Culture Identity Many people go to different countries. Some of them go for school, some others go for business and some others go for living. However, some people adapt well to a new environment and others retain their original culture identity. I think adapting to a new culture or environment depends on three main reasons: background culture, where they stay, and their personality. The first reason is the background culture of people. There are many people who don't like their own culture or environment. They try to run away or change their culture. Therefore, it would be easier for those people to adapt to a new culture or environment. For example, many Russian people especially businessmen don't like the business system in their country. Their system is Communism, which means that the government controls all the production and distribution of goods. Therefore, when many Russian people go to a new environment or new culture, the United States for instance, they find it better than their country because it has a different system. The United States' system is Capitalism, which means that any person can be a private ownership. Therefore, it may be easier for those people to adapt a new culture or a new environment. For example, in The Plane Reservation, Massud Farzan states that he has stayed in the United States for a long time before he visited his family in Iran. When he arrived in Iran, he found a lot of changes. It can be understood that the writer didn't like his country and his culture before he left to the United States. When he lived in the United States, he found the right place for him that made it very easy for him to adapt to the American culture. Therefore, the background culture of people has a lot of effects on adapting to a new culture. The second reason might be where people stay the most. Some people think that when a person lives in a new culture, he or she can easily adapt to the new culture. However, they forget that with whom they stay the most in the new culture can make a difference. If a person stays mostly with his or her own people, it may be very hard for that person to adapt to the new culture because he or she would not learn the new culture by staying with people from that culture. On the other hand, he or she can easily retain to their original culture identity because they would not know much about the new culture. For example, there are many Hispanic people living in the United States. Some of them don't even know how to speak English. It is because they stay mostly with people from the same culture, speak the same language and do not communicate much with American people. That all can make it very hard for some people to adapt to a new culture. Therefore, the people and the community that a person stays with have a lot of effects on adapting to a new culture. The third reason is the personality of a person and where he or she has learned it. It might be sometimes very hard to adapt to a new culture whose people act and behave differently. For example, from the first week I've arrived in the United States coming from the United Arab Emirates, I lived in a school dormitory. However, I couldn't stay longer than a month in the dormitory. It was not because of the small room or one kitchen in each floor, but it was because of the bathrooms. Whenever I wanted to take a shower, I saw men naked, and they walk around in the bathroom without any underwear on. It was very surprising for me because I've come from a country where people consider walking naked in bathroom is a very bad habit. I could not stand or adapt to living in the dormitory anymore. Therefore, I moved to a three-bedroom apartment with two roommates from the same culture so that we could understand each other easily. Even though I've been in the United States for about five years, I still don't want to see naked men in the bathrooms. Therefore,

Difference Between a Chemical Reaction and the Equation

Difference Between a Chemical Reaction and the Equation What is the difference between a chemical reaction and the chemical equation? The terms are often used interchangeably, but they are technically different terms. A chemical reaction is a process that occurs when one or more substances are changed into one or more new substances. For example: Hydrogen and oxygen gas combine to produce water.Sodium chloride (table salt) dissociates in water to form sodium and chlorine ions.Methane combusts in oxygen to form carbon dioxide, heat, and water. A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. Atomic symbols are used to represent the elements that take part in a reaction. Numbers are used to represent the ratios of reactants and products to produce the reaction and arrows point the direction a reaction occurs where the arrow points from reactants to products. For example, using for the above chemical reactions: 2 H2(g) O2(g) → 2 H2O(ℓ)This chemical equation reads: Two hydrogen gas molecules and one oxygen gas molecule produce two molecules of water.NaCl(s) H2O → Na(aq) Cl-(aq)One molecule of sodium chloride dissociates in water into one sodium ion and one chlorine ion.CH4 2 O2 → CO2 2 H2O (DeltaH -891 kJ/mol)This equation shows one methane molecule and two oxygen gas molecules form a carbon dioxide molecule, two water molecules and release 891 kilojoules of heat. To review:Chemical reactions are processes where reactants become new products.Chemical equations are a symbolic representation of chemical reactions.

E-commerce law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

E-commerce law - Essay Example e, offer, or delivery of property, goods, services, or information, whether or not for consideration, and includes the provision of Internet access†2 E-commerce has developed rapidly and has a huge potential in the 21st century. In August 2005, one of the research institutes in America published that in the past several years the development rate of electronic commerce was up to 97%, occupied 8% of the total trade in American.3 According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the electronic commerce total trade figure was 12 ä ¸â€¡Ã¤ º ¿dollars in the world within 2006, which is 18% of international trade volume. It also indicated that electronic commerce will keep increasing with the rate of 50% within the future. In China, electronic commerce started developing rapidly within recent years, especially in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. In 2004, the total electronic trade value was 4400 million Yuan, which was an increase of 47% compared with 2003. The figure increased sharply into 6000 million in 2005.4 Xiaoping Song, the head officer of China Electronic Commerce Association, indicated that the development of electronic commerce in China will come within a booming era.5 This paragraph below shows the development of e-commerce trade value in China from 2001 to 2006. The unit of each year is hundred million Chinese Yuan. Although the development of electronic commerce has been both rapid and dramatic, it makes an ongoing process in taxation even more evident. It challenges both tax authorities and taxpayers throughout the world. How to maximize the potential efficiency gains of the Internet and protect the revenue base without hindering the development of new technologies are challenges for tax authorities. Tax bases are becoming more and more mobile.6 As to the issue of China, it is vital for Chinese government to make more effort for the protection and development of this sun-rise industry. However, due to the emergence of