COFFEE TRENDS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

COFFEE TRENDS - Essay Example Due to the high caffeine content and other chemical substances in coffee, critics argue that coffee is addictive and to some extent, it contributes to weight gain, thus, its consumption should be restricted. On the contrary, coffee has played an imperative role in human lives in various ways such as cultural, social, political, globalization, economical, and medicinal aspects, and thus its consumption should not be restricted. First, coffee plays a significant role in cultural and customary occasions in many societies. For example, it is presented and consumed in many communities whereby it plays various roles with regard to a particular culture. For instance it acts as ethnic or religious representative of many groups, matrimonial or funeral essential commodity, irreplaceable element for individuals and professionals at all times. In addition, coffee is a symbol of hospitability, whereby social hospitable norms of many ethnic and religious groups require them to offer at least †Å"a cup of coffee to their guests† as their standard etiquette (Topik 86). This is commonly seen in various religious societies, in which guests are often presented with a cup of coffee. For example, Muslims either in Ramadan or in their traditional weddings, keep coffee as a mandatory item for their guests. Similarly, Catholic, Jews and orthodox also keep this social beverage at important events such as funerals, marriage ceremonies, political and social meetings, and most importantly at professional work places (Croegaert 468). Secondly, coffee has been a crucial component of political and revolutionary movements’ gatherings and meetings. Throughout history, coffee houses have been social places for political and revolutionary movements across many nations. Companies such as Starbucks, Nestle, Proctor and gamble among others are popular for promoting a coffee culture where people can go relax in their coffee outlets and lounges, and consequently catch up or discuss po litical and social issues. Starbucks even went as far as providing Wi-Fi in their coffee lounges in Australia so that customers can even work while enjoying coffee and connecting. During the era of globalization and industrialization, coffee places were highly valued, and it represented a culture of class of people. Likewise, this era witnessed increasing activities of social movement groups, and as customary, coffee houses became their favourite meeting places. Hence, people planned, discussed and organised their social and political revolutions in â€Å"kefeteria† or in coffee houses against the government of that time (Croegaert 468). Therefore, restricting consumption of coffee would destroy such cultures and the values attached to it. Thirdly, coffee plays a crucial role in development of economy, which is evident from various companies that have made profit from coffee processing and sales. In the twentieth century, in USA 80% of the coffee production and supply was ass ociated to the four renowned brands namely; Nestle, Proctor and Gamble, Sarah Lee and Philip Morris. Likewise, Starbucks, MacDonald’s and Dunkin doughnuts have been responsible for the expansion of this social beverage throughout the world, especially in USA (Topik 100). With variation in the forms of coffee like espresso, cappuccino, cold-coffee; it overwhelmed cola-drink trend in the youth. Moreover, Dunkin Doughnuts and

The Automobile Industry in the Early 1900s Essay

The Automobile Industry in the Early 1900s - Essay Example Nonetheless, the automobile continues its role of an everyday necessity in developing countries and in the third world. As the Economist states the current situation: The car industry makes nearly 60 million cars and trucks every year and employs millions of people around the world. Products are responsible for almost half the world’s oil consumption and their manufacture uses up nearly half the world’s annual output of glass and rubber and 15% of steel. The car industry is the epitome of mass production, mass marketing and mass consumption involving some of the strongest brands in the world. However, in America, Europe and Japan, where over 80% of the world’s cars and trucks are sold, the industry has been running out of growth (The Economist, 2004). Despite the fact that the earlier inventions of the automobile were done in Europe, the city of Detroit in the United States played an important role in the evolution of the automobile industry. Since as early as the 1920’s Detroit has been called â€Å"The Motor City† in acknowledgement of the historical milestones and current achievements it has had in this regard. Although Henry Ford is well known for greatly adapting the assembly line to change how the car was made, the concept was invented by Oldsmobile pioneer Ransome Olds. Ford took that basic concept and improved on it by adding a conveyor belt, and with it, efficiency and mass production took place. At the turn of the century, cars were being invented and produced in a very small-scale manner, many of which took place in backyards of homes mostly in Europe and in US states such as Michigan. In 2000, Wibbeling and Heng describe the period thus: The beginning of the automobile industry was characterized by craft production. The organizations were extremely decentralized and many of the skilled craftsmen were their own bosses, service as independent contractors within a plant. This mode of

Tax Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tax Law - Essay Example Realized income is the money generated from normal business processes, and also additional cash generating issues like investment earnings. Recognized income entails recognizing revenue which is both received and earned. Revenue is recognized after the occurrence of significant transactions. Credit sales are not recognized income unless the business is adequately sure of getting payments. Return of capital illustrates investment returns that are not viewed as income. It illustrates when the total invested amount, is paid back to the investor. Investors are not taxed in return of capital unless the initial investment value is exceeded. Constructive receipt is applied to illustrate if the cash-basis taxpayer got the gross income. The taxpayer is taxed in the present year if he has adequate control in the determination of whether the income items will be paid. The tax benefit rule explains that if the taxpayer recovers loss and expense which was written off in the last year income, then the included value should be added to the present year’s gross income. Wherewithal to pay concept explains that tax collected must be done when the taxpayer can effectively and efficiently pay it. For example, appreciation in property values should be taxed in the tax transaction. The beneficial concept to the taxpayer is the return of capital concept because it ensures easy recovery of invested amount. The beneficial doctrine to the internal revenue department is the tax benefit rule; because it increases the gross income for taxation purposes.

The Strength of the Nuclear Family Within the Anglo-Saxon Economy Essay Example for Free

The Strength of the Nuclear Family Within the Anglo-Saxon Economy Essay This article is about England family set up and how this is related to the economy. This is an economy which is market oriented, and capitalistic in nature. England has unusually small families. Her family structure explains how family owned businesses are run in England. Family firms in England are managed by individuals. The writer claims that small families set up in England need civil society more as they need markets and commercial services. Additionally, small families are ideal for capitalistic economies as they are open and market facing. They are associated with high GDP. The writer asserts that economies with small families have GDP per capita of around â‚ ¬5,000 which is higher than that of regions with extended and egalitarian families. Family is one of the topics learnt in sociology. A small family is usually preferred due to economic advantages accompanied with it. It is easy to sustain and provide for. Most developed countries prefer small nuclear families. Usually as a country employs policy aimed at keeping population down through encouraging small family sizes. Small families are positively associated with good economic performance. They also affect business ownership and management. Borrowing from this article, encouraging small families will benefit the society at large. I never knew that the family structures in the society affect performance of the businesses and the economy. I thought it is through management and good governance economy will grow-family sizes plays a big role This article could have discussed the optimal family size and specify how many members should a small family constitute. It could have also discussed the negative effects of small families both in the social relationships and economic performance. There is a lively debate across Europe about what is happening to our families. And there is the endless argument about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Anglo-Saxon economic model. In my new book I try to show the links between the structure of our families and the structure of our economies. Here is an account of England in the flat language of modern sociology: The majority of ordinary people in England†¦are rampant individuals, highly mobile both geographically and socially, economically rational, market-oriented and acquisitive, ego-centered in kinship and social life. But the quotation is from a description of England in 1250 by Alan Macfarlane, the historian who together with the great French thinker Emmanuel Todd has revealed the significance of family structures. England has had unusually small families, unusually weak local magnates, and unusually free peasants. It is not just different from Papua New Guinea or Pakistan, it is also quite different from France and Italy and most of continental Europe. This difference was recognized by Montesquieu that shrewd 18th-century French observer of human cultures, who observed: I too have been a traveller, and have seen the country in the world which is most worth of our curiosity—I mean England. Just as aerial photography can reveal the outlines of some long-lost medieval village so, if we know how to look, we can discern deep features of English society that endure to this day. So for example, we attribute the long-standing weaknesses in the productivity of the British economy to our lack of a Mittelstand, the strong medium-sized family businesses of the sort they have in Germany or France. We appear to be good at starting small businesses, and some of our big companies are very strong indeed. It is the high performance, solid, long-term, high-investment medium-sized companies in the middle that we seem to lack. It is not that we have fewer family owned firms—about 30% of mid-sized British firms are owned by a family, very similar to France and Germany. But we run them differently. Englands family structure helps to explain this. In France, unlike in England, land or a firm are not the freehold property of the individual; instead, they belong to the familys bloodline with an automatic right of inheritance within the family for all the children. In England, family firms are more likely to be run as the personal property of an individual who often manages the business himself or herself. In France and Germany, family firms are more likely to be held in common by whole family and seen as long-term property of a dynasty across several generations. As a result, they are more willing to bring in professional managers to run the business on behalf of the family. In France, 31% of family owned firms are run by an external manager as against only 23% in the U. K. (It is 60% in Germany. ) Of firms still owned by the founder, 44% in France are externally managed whereas it is only 14% in the U. K. (Again, it is 60% in Germany. ) This has a big effect on economic performance: If an inherited family firm brings in an outside manager it raises returns by six percentage points, a significant improvement in return on capital. There is no single right family structure. But the Anglo-Saxon model has its advantages, too. Small families need civil society more. But it was not just voluntary societies that provided mutual support. You need markets and commercial services as well. Instead of the mutual exchanges of the extended family, small families must buy services. If we need something we turn to yellow pages, not to an uncle. For example, insurance schemes, annuities, and savings help protect you when there is no wider family with any such obligation—one reason why England has a long history in financial services. Small nuclear families are open and market-facing, and that drives a particularly dynamic model of capitalism. Even now, when you control for country-level effects, areas of Europe with Anglosphere-style families have GDP per capita of around â‚ ¬5,000 a year higher than regions with extended and egalitarian families. Indeed, they are higher than all other family forms. Over the past 30 years, they have also outgrown them. These Anglosphere economies are outward-looking and flexible so they are good early adopters of new technologies. But they may not be so good at steady incremental improvements in performance with a given technology. And sometimes, as we have seen with new financial instruments, their sheer restless innovativeness can do catastrophic damage. Nevertheless, their flexibility can sustain them in the long run: It is very possible that in this coming decade, for the first time, more than half of the economic output of the developed world will be in English-speaking countries. We cannot easily change these fundamentals of our national identities. Indeed we specialize in different activities and structure our economies differently because of them. Vive la difference! —David Willetts is Member of Parliament for Havant. His book, The Pinch: How the baby boomers took their childrens future and why they should give it back is published by Atlantic

COMPOSITE MATERIALS Essay -- Sturctures, Types, Mechanical Propertie

The word composite comes from the latin â€Å"composititus† meaning made up of distinct parts. A composite material is a material composed of two or more distinct materials[1], or constituents, with one constituent acting as the reinforcing phase and the other as the matrix[6]. A composite material is defined by having different macroscopic behaviours, or chemical and physical properties then its constituent materials, and has a distinct interface boundary on the microscopic level[5]. Structure of Composites In a composite material the constituents are arranged generally with the reinforcement phase embedded in the matrix phase. Due to a composite being essentially a mixture between the reinforcement phase and the matrix there is no intermolecular bonding between the two, however, as in the case of fibrous composites, the most mechanically efficient structure is a criss-crossed fibrous lattice suspended in a material matrix. In the case of particulate composites however, the reinforcement phase acts essentially to strengthen the matrix material adding support. Types of Composites Composite materials are usually classified according to the type of their reinforcement phase. The two main types of composites are fibrous composites and particulate composites, which may again be divided further. In fibrous composites the fibres acting as the reinforcement, may be either continuous or chopped, and suspended in a material matrix. In composites in which the reinforcement phase is composed of either chopped or discontinuous fibres, the composite may have an either random or biased orientation. They may be used to make single layer composites or lamina. In particulate composites particles are suspended in a ... ...onent which gives little deflection when acted upon by a given weight is desirable, so a material with maximum ties in tension (E/Ï ) component which gives the least deflection for a given weight is that made of a material with a maximum E/Ï  (ties in tension), E1/2/Ï  (beam in bending) or E1/3/Ï  (plate in bending). As explained in the diagram below.[4] Works Cited 1 - http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composite 2-http://composite.about.com/od/aboutcompositesplastics/l/aa060297.htm 3 - http://www.fibersonixx.com/Composites%20101.htm 4 - http://afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.rs/~rzoran/263-276%20from%20Engineering%20Materials%202.pdf 5-http://www.scribd.com/doc/36051965/Intro-to-Composite-Materials 6-DT260-2 BSc in Industrial and Environmental Physics - Mech Properties and Materials- CERAMICS 7-http://www.ehow.com/about_5149655_uses-composite-materials.html COMPOSITE MATERIALS Essay -- Sturctures, Types, Mechanical Propertie The word composite comes from the latin â€Å"composititus† meaning made up of distinct parts. A composite material is a material composed of two or more distinct materials[1], or constituents, with one constituent acting as the reinforcing phase and the other as the matrix[6]. A composite material is defined by having different macroscopic behaviours, or chemical and physical properties then its constituent materials, and has a distinct interface boundary on the microscopic level[5]. Structure of Composites In a composite material the constituents are arranged generally with the reinforcement phase embedded in the matrix phase. Due to a composite being essentially a mixture between the reinforcement phase and the matrix there is no intermolecular bonding between the two, however, as in the case of fibrous composites, the most mechanically efficient structure is a criss-crossed fibrous lattice suspended in a material matrix. In the case of particulate composites however, the reinforcement phase acts essentially to strengthen the matrix material adding support. Types of Composites Composite materials are usually classified according to the type of their reinforcement phase. The two main types of composites are fibrous composites and particulate composites, which may again be divided further. In fibrous composites the fibres acting as the reinforcement, may be either continuous or chopped, and suspended in a material matrix. In composites in which the reinforcement phase is composed of either chopped or discontinuous fibres, the composite may have an either random or biased orientation. They may be used to make single layer composites or lamina. In particulate composites particles are suspended in a ... ...onent which gives little deflection when acted upon by a given weight is desirable, so a material with maximum ties in tension (E/Ï ) component which gives the least deflection for a given weight is that made of a material with a maximum E/Ï  (ties in tension), E1/2/Ï  (beam in bending) or E1/3/Ï  (plate in bending). As explained in the diagram below.[4] Works Cited 1 - http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composite 2-http://composite.about.com/od/aboutcompositesplastics/l/aa060297.htm 3 - http://www.fibersonixx.com/Composites%20101.htm 4 - http://afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.rs/~rzoran/263-276%20from%20Engineering%20Materials%202.pdf 5-http://www.scribd.com/doc/36051965/Intro-to-Composite-Materials 6-DT260-2 BSc in Industrial and Environmental Physics - Mech Properties and Materials- CERAMICS 7-http://www.ehow.com/about_5149655_uses-composite-materials.html

Travel Agency Strategy

H Travel Agency Strategy Plan February 25, 2013 This paper will look at the challenges that the travel agency is facing, detailing a plan for change based on observations of challenges that the HR department is facing. Using metrics to explain change and how they can assist senior management during the planning process. Furthermore there will be an outline for the determination of the HR strategic plan combined with methods for the recruitment and selection methods. The details provided should help in assisting the travel agency overcome their challenges with a new plan to help them grow and become a formidable opponent to the competition.The travel agency appears to have challenges with the employees and the HR department. There are no goals or structure for the employees to rely on, and no goals to achieve. There are six major functions of HR that are needed to be implementing in order for the change to begin in the Travel agency. According to Byars and Rue (2008) The Society for H uman Resource Management (SHRM) has identified six major functions of human resource management: 1. Human resource planning, recruitment, and selection. 2. Human resource development. 3.Compensation and benefits. 4. Safety and health. 5. Employee and labor relations. 6. Human resource research. (Byars & Rue, 2008). The HR department can start to outline a plan if HR, management and the employees all have clear communication and direction of what the HR department is for and how they assist the company and the employees. The challenges that the HR department will face is using, HRP (Human resource Planning), to align the company’s overall strategic plan with the appropriate employees in place to achieve this goal.According to Byars and Rue (2008) Human resource planning (HRP), also referred to as workforce planning or personnel planning has been defined as the process of â€Å"getting the right number of qualified people into the right job at the right time. HRP involves appl ying the basic planning process to the human resource needs of the organization. To be effective, any human resource plan must be derived from the strategic and operational plans of the organization.In essence, the success of HRP depends largely on how closely the human resource department can integrate effective people planning with the organization's business planning process. 5 Unfortunately, HRP is often inadequately tied to overall corporate planning. (Byars ; Rue, 2008). There are four statistical modeling techniques that can be used by the HR department to forecast the needs that the agency will need. The can use time-series analysis, personnel ratios, productivity ratios and the regression analysis.Another technique that can be used is benchmarking, â€Å"benchmarking involves thoroughly examining internal practices and procedures and measuring them against the ways other successful organizations operate. ’ Byars and Rue (2008). In order to meet the Demands of the co mpany and put a solid plan into place, a skills inventory should be completed to see what types of employees the company has and their skill sets to determine future training and advancement opportunities. A skills inventory consolidates information about the organization's human resources.It provides basic information on all employees, including, in its simplest form, a list of the names, certain characteristics, and skills of employees. Because the information from a skills inventory is used as input into promotion and transfer decisions, it should contain information about each employee's portfolio of skills, not just those relevant to the employee's current job. (Byars & Rue, 2008). The next step will be metric for the HR department to gather data that can be used to show the senior management areas of improvement, or areas that need a deeper focus.These metrics can show where the company spends the most of their time and money along with, areas of the company or departments tha t do not meet the desired metric goals. Metrics can show productivity based on a set desired goal for the companies employees. Metrics refers to any set of quantitative measures to assess workforce performance. Examples of metrics that HR might use include such things as analysis of the cost per hire, average length of time to fill a position, training cost per employee, turnover cost per employee, and new-hire performance by recruiting strategy. Byars & Rue, 2008). The reason that metrics are so important to the decision making of the senior staff is that they provide a starting point for the company to see where they need to start their focus for change. Being able to evaluate an employee’s performance will help coach and mentor the employee. Metrics provide real numbers that can show areas were training is needed to get the employees to a desired output or percentage goal. Communication of the desired results or a t new strategic plan can be tricky, especially to a skeptic al bunch that has really had no definition or goals in place.They are going to want to know what is in it for them. Communication is the key to ensure understanding. The whys must be answered, why this necessary, why are we doing this what is in it for me. In order to communicate these new changes all of these must be answered. The goal is to let the employees to know what HR does and what will be changing, for instance career planning, development and training. This will be to ensure that all employees have or will have the knowledge and skills to perform to the level that the company wants their employees to be at.Letting the employees know that they are here to assist them in getting to where they want to be, while providing them an outline of career path and training to keep them interested. Where there is room for advancement there is room for recruiting new staff member with skills to help the company grow. When it comes to recruiting, there are several methods that can be use d. Using internal sources at first, the organization will keep moral up as they seek already trained and qualified personnel.Another method is reaching outside the organization to bring in new talent with other perspectives and fresh ideas to bring to the team. â€Å"Organizations have at their disposal a wide range of external sources for recruiting personnel. External recruiting is needed in organizations that are growing rapidly or have a large demand for technical, skilled, or managerial employees. † (Byars & Rue, 2008). The external sources bring all types of employees plus they bring a wider skill set to choose from. Other sources include using job boards, advertising, web sites, job placement agencies, employee referrals and walk- ins.When it comes to the selection process there are things that need to be looked at, what exactly is the company in need of, where do they want to go, where have past internal and external employees gone within the company. Use the metrics to see what has panned out in the past. In conclusion the travel agency has been lacking clear direction for future growth. In order to grow and to achieve success, the HR department and management need to determine how to incorporate the strategic plan and goals of the company into the HRP.The HRP will then create goals, training and structure for growth in the company by determining what the company has in terms of employees and their skills. By determining the skills of employees then HR and management can determine the new metrics based off of the old ones and by using the metrics they can determine what changes need to be made first. By determining where the company is lacking in production will the help senior management determine what types of employees are needed for future success. References Byars, L. L. , & Rue, L. W. (2008). Human resource Management (9th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Blood Brothers Essay

You are the director of a new production of blood brothers. Give advice to the actors playing the roles of Eddie and Mickey about how to tackle the age changes. You must comment on at least two scenes in detail. If you have seen a production of Blood Brothers you may also refer to this. In the scene when you both meet for the first time you must consider your body language. You must consider how an eight year old would walk and stand. An eight year old would have fewer worries than someone who is older than them so they would walk not really paying much attention to what is around them. You would also have to think how someone who is better off would walk compared to someone who is from a less well off background. You have got to consider how to use the tone of your voice. At first they were a bit shy. But after they first met you would have to consider how an eight year old would not be shy so they would say anything so say your lines so the audience have no clue to what you will say next. Another important factor to consider is the way you deliver your lines. You should deliver your lines in a free flowing way. When they are swearing you should not feel like people might be offended. In the scene when you Mickey and Eddie meet for the first time after they have both moved to the country you should pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both 16 – 17 years olds. So you have to think about how a 16 – 17 year old would act. A 16 – 17 year old would have more problems than a person of 8 years old but still not as many as an older person. You still have to consider how a person who is better off would act compared to a person from the ghetto. Again you would have to consider the tone of your voice. You would expect a teenager to swear more and they may speak with a slight mumble. Again you should consider the way you deliver your lines. In the scene when Mickey is trying to kill Eddie you should again pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both in they’re thirty’s. Mickey is depressed and he has a lot of problems an example of which was that he was put in jail for his brother shooting someone. While Eddie on the other hand has few, because he has a successful business. Mickey has just realised that Eddie is seeing his girlfriend Linda. When Mickey is pointing the gun at Eddie, Eddie has to act scared because he fears for his life. Mickey is holding the gun so that he feels in control instead of having Eddie control his life. Mickey has to act confused because Eddie made his life; he gave him a job and a nice home. You again have to consider the tone of your voice. Mickey should say his lines in a sort of stuttery way. Eddie should deliver his lines in a scared voice, while Mickey should deliver his lines in a scared and confused way.