Vegetable Supply Chain in Sri Lanka free essay sample

Main elements of food supply chain are production, supply, inventory, location, transportation amp; information. This report is based on the field visit to Nuwara Eliya and we visited farmers amp; cultivations at kandapola. In order to gathered information regarding to practical usage of vegetable supply chain amp; the issues they faced, we interviewed Mr. Hemasiri as for our famer. Among other vegetables we selected leek cultivation, as for our crop. This report identifies the supply chain of leek cultivation amp; the issues faced by famers in Kandapola area. Then we recommend some propose some suggestion as final part in this project. Actually, our anticipation is thought this project, provide better conception about vegetable supply chain. Vegetable supply chain Vegetable supply chain is the process of moving vegetable from farmers to end customers. Here end customer means final consumer, restaurant or a hotel. It is shifting toward interconnected systems with a large variety of complex relationships. We will write a custom essay sample on Vegetable Supply Chain in Sri Lanka or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Changes in sourcing, producing and marketing as a result of the increased globalization of food trade, leads to exposure to new risks and greater potential consequences of food -borne illness outbreaks. During the last decade, concerns about food quality and food safety have risen among consumers. Farmers in intensive vegetable cultivation regions of up country or central province know well the requirements for planting safe vegetables. But in order to apply strictly these requirements, they must be very confident of the outlets because they have to pay costs and investment (net house, fertilizer etc. ). So there for they should concern about supply chain management concepts for cultivation. A vegetable supply chain system comprises organizations that are responsible for the production and distribution of vegetable products. In general, we distinguish two main Types: 1. ‘Vegetable supply chains for fresh agricultural products (such as fresh vegetables, fruit). In general, these chains may comprise growers, auctions, wholesalers, importers and exporters, retailers and specialty shops and their input and service suppliers. Basically, all of these stages leave the intrinsic characteristics of the product grown or produced untouched. The main processes are the handling, conditioned storing, packing, transportation and especially trading of these goods. 2. ‘Vegetable supply chains for processed food products’ (snacks, juices, desserts, canned food products). In these chains, agricultural products are used as raw materials for producing consumer products with higher added value. In most cases, conservation and conditioning processes extend the shelf-life of the products. Participants in both types of chains, e. g. farmers, traders, processors, retailers, etc. Understand that original good quality products can be subject to quality decay because of an inadequate action of another participant. For example, when a farmer keeps their harvest for pick-up on a roadside, under the sun, without any cover, there will be a loss of quality that may even render the raw material unfit for processing.

10 Ways to Stay Positive About Your First Job Out of College

10 Ways to Stay Positive About Your First Job Out of College We’re all so excited at the prospect of graduating and getting our first job out of college. Then we get there and the success feels start to wear off and the tedium of adulthood sets in. We feel a sense of let down. And it’s perfectly normal. You’ve worked hard for so long, but almost all things had an end point- courses, semesters, years, and even schools. Now your whole life is stretching out before you and you have†¦ buyer’s remorse? Boredom? Don’t worry. Your life doesn’t have to be tedious. You’re not done succeeding yet; you’re just beginning. Here are 10 things you can do to stay sharp and make the most of the world of grown-up opportunities. It takes a little longer, and a bit more strategizing, but it will be worth it in the end.1. Be purposefulYes, most people have to work. But if you’re in the privileged position of being able to choose the kind of work you do, that’s huge. Keep track of why youâ⠂¬â„¢re working. What about this field or career makes you passionate. Know your purpose- both for being where you are and for heading in the direction of your particular goal. Hold onto it. The day-to-day tedium won’t touch you.2. Connect with coworkersYes, you’re on the stairway to success. But you will need help along the way. Make friends. Your coworkers might not be your college pals, but you’re going to see a whole lot more of them. Invest in these relationships and they may prove to be invaluable. You’ll all work much better together and will succeed much faster.3. Keep learning new thingsThe difference between this job and college is this: you’re now getting paid to learn. Learn as much as you possibly can and keep looking for the next opportunity to learn. Make your success as much about the journey as the destination.4.  Pick up new skillsSet yourself goals to pick up new skill sets or certifications, or even degrees. Have targets for e very few months and every few years and hold yourself to them. If you commit to learning more and more, you’ll be amazed how much more quickly you succeed.5. Break  up your goalsIf you’re daunted by the future stretching out endlessly before you, break it up. Plot out milestones for yourself. First promotion. First big project. First big client. Fiftieth small victory. This will help you make better narrative sense of your time at this job, and any job, as a stepping stone on your way to greater things.6. Remember that your job funds your hobbiesEven if you’re not 100% fulfilled by your new job and you’d rather be at the movies all afternoon mainlining popcorn, remember that your job funds your fun. When you lose sight of all else, remember that your time at the office makes your social life possible. Save up for special things like trips to make the experience more meaningful.7. Go above and beyondBest way to combat boredom: keep looking for ways to do more. Challenge yourself to get things done before a deadline, or to double your quota, or to go the extra mile on a project. You’ll feel more satisfaction, and your dedication will be noticed, and hopefully rewarded.8. Talk to your bossChecking in regularly with your boss is a great way to keep tangible track of your progress. Having someone else help keep track of your goal-setting and goal-meeting will be useful to keep you dedicated and also to notice when you’re killing it.9. Rethink foreverYou’re sitting at your desk despairing. There’s no end in sight! Reimagine your situation. What if you think of it as endless possibility? An infinite horizon? Think bigger than you have been thinking†¦ and your open-ended forever job won’t feel so terrifying.10. Find a mentorA good mentor can make all the difference in keeping you motivated and focused on what’s most important in the scope of your career. Find someone you admire and respect an d ask them to help shepherd you through your early stages. After all, they blazed this trail before!

Process laboratories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Process laboratories - Essay Example According to Humphrey (2008), the distillation process consumes much energy that may be very costly. There is, therefore, need to understand the types of columns that should be put in place as well as the factors that affect the distillation column operation. The equilibrium of the vapor that is in liquid form should also be determined to ensure that no vapor escapes from these chambers. Classification of distillation columns mainly depends on the composition of the mixture, the temperatures involved and the flow of the vapor in each chamber. These are the main variables that are used to describe the types of columns used during the distillation. During this process, the fractions of the mixtures are removed through boiling and condensation. These distillation columns are fed with these mixtures in a different manner and the sources used also differ. For instance if the feed is from a source at a pressure higher than the distillation column pressure, it is only piped into the column. Otherwise, the feed is pumped or compressed into the column. The feed may be a superheated vapor, a saturated vapor or liquid and in a case where the feed is a liquid at a much higher pressure than the column pressure, the valves will inflate and undergo a partial vaporization resulting in a liquid-vapor mixture as it enters the distillation column (Humphrey, 2008). Humphrey (2008) describes Rigorous modelling as the process by which chemical reactors are successfully separated to ensure that the end products are free from impurities. Rigorous modelling ensures that uniformity is maintained so at to come up with accurate results and that the end products can be used. Rigorous modelling facilitates the Distillation process by ensuring that all mixtures are successfully separated and it ensures that there are no disruptions during the distillation process. Humphrey (2008) outlines that distillation columns are very dynamic and this may

International Project Management Assignment 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Project Management 2 - Assignment Example The member of these cultures are intrinsically not team players (Pheng and Leong 308). As such, it is incumbent upon project managers to develop the skills necessary for successfully interacting with individuals whose behavioral traits are affected by distinct cultural primacies. In the context of the global marketplace, project managers require efficient communication skills, competent leadership skills, suitable interpersonal skills, adaptability, and technical and functional powers (Pheng and Leong 308). Cross cultural management includes communications, dispute resolutions, organizational and national culture, and negotiations. Culture consists of an intricate whole that is comprised of arts, beliefs, customs, knowledge and morals. It also includes the competencies and customs assimilated by individuals as members of society. Thus, culture denotes a distinctive way of life of a group of people, as a comprehensive motif for existing (Pheng and Leong 307). Asian societies attach considerable importance to human relationships and the avoidance of confrontation. This is in marked contrast to the Americans, who do not deem personal relationships to be of greater significance, whilst conducting business. It is the proclivity of the Americans to swiftly and directly focus upon the subject matter or issue at stake (Pheng and Leong 308). This holds out the possibility of causing personal and public discomfiture to the people of other cultures. Lack of proper communication can develop into major issues. For instance, an American manager had stated that her Chinese staff would not inform her if they failed to understand her. These employees would agree to anything that she said, without having the least idea regarding what she was stating. In another incident, an American manager stated that their firm’s quality engineer was not proficient in English. This

Analyze and asses the economic effects of regulation on passenger vs Essay

Analyze and asses the economic effects of regulation on passenger vs. freight transportation - Essay Example This is when aspects of comparison are enforced in the market and the targeted performance by the airline companies. This paper analyzes and assesses the economic effects of regulation on passenger versus freight transportation. In the field of economics, once supply is reduced the tendency for price increase to be introduced is always very high. Regulations that inhibit airlines from taking a certain route within a timeline result in choked supply of the goods that are required. This means that there are people that want to travel and transport their goods from one area to the next. They are not able to do so because government regulations restrict them. The people and the goods have to be transported within set timelines. This results in so many people wanting to travel. In other cases, the flow of goods is hampered especially if the goods are perishable in nature. At this point, it is the mandate of the airline company to increase the air fares thus reducing the demand for the service. This means that if governments allowed airline companies to travel to regions as many times as they would want to, the demand would be evenly spread. This will also translate to cheaper airfares for anyone using the servic e (Abramowitz & Brown, 1993). In many instances, regulation has been viewed as a form of any government’s effort to reduce the number of people and goods using air transport. This is because many of them do not have the structural capacity to deal with the ever emerging need for transportation. Economically, this results in over congestion of other forms of transport and reduced revenue generation from the air companies. The aspect of coordination and relationships is greatly affected by the fact that regulations have been perceived as a form of dictatorial governance. This is a headache for very many governments and their transport systems. It is necessary to note that regulations affect economic relations between nations by stipulating the terms

Marketing strategy of Kimberly Clark corporation

Marketing strategy of Kimberly Clark corporation Kimberly-Clark Corporation has incorporated in Delaware in 1928. The Corporation is a global health and hygiene company focused on product innovation and building its personal care, consumer tissue, K-C Professional Other and health care brands .The global brands are Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, Kotex, Lightdays, Depend, Poise, Hakle, Page, WypAll, Kimtech, KleenGuard and Kimcare. A number of the Corporations products, such as diapers, training and youth pants, incontinence care products, disposable wipes and various health care products as Nonwovens, Surgical Drapes and Gowns, Infection Control Products, Face Masks, Digestive Health, Pain Management and Other Disposable Medical Devices. The Corporation is organized into operating segments based on product groupings. These operating segments have aggregated into four reportable global business segments: Personal Care; Consumer Tissues-C Professional Other; and Health Care. Personal care products group is a leading business group. The products are sold under a variety of brand names, including Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, Kotex, Lightdays, Depend, Poise and other brand names. This group contributed 44 % revenues by business and leaded revenues in 2009. Corporate responsibility: VOLUNTARILY PERFORMING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES At the core of Kimberly-Clarks values lies a commitment to caring for the communities where the corporation lives and works . From 25 North American hometowns to the 35 countries in which the corporation operate, the employees are steeped in the traditions and activities of each community. Through the philanthropic efforts and partner organizations, K-C is committed to creating a better life for families around the world, strengthening the communities and being a responsible steward of the environment. In 2009, K-C and the employees donated a total of $22.7 million in cash and product to causes worldwide and more than $900,000 to match time volunteered by U.S. employees as part of the Community Partners program. THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABILITY K- C changes to reduce product packaging in 2009 in Korea and U.S and Europe In Korea: With the Korean Ministry of Environments policy to reduce packaging, Yuhan-Kimberly has signed a voluntary pact to reduce secondary packaging between 2008 and 2012. In 2009, Yuhan-Kimberly changed the packaging of feminine sanitary napkins to a lighter material by using a plastic bag instead of paper. In U.S. and Europe: Kimberly-Clark Professional launched new refill packs for Scott facial tissues. The innovative refill packs contain 14 percent more tissues than existing cartons at no extra cost to the customer, and with no added storage space. CLIMATE CHANGE With goal is to achieve a year-on-year reduction of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per unit of global production for manufacturing and emissions related to U.S. product transportation.Kimberly-Clark is committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency at manufacturing sites and finishing product distribution. Many strategy have done such as : Developing a Global Climate Change Management Strategy for K-C in 2008. Using units report their growth plans through 2015 to project emissions for each business and for the company as a whole to set a corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target. GHG emissions from manufacturing decreased more than 7 percent between 2005 and 2009 The Global Sustainability Strategy Team helps business units to implement measures and report their progress . THE COMPANY ENGAGES WITH EXTENAL STAKEHOLDER The company engages with a wide range of stakeholders investors, consumers, employees, communities, non-governmental organizations . Customers, shoppers and users : Environmental campaigns, e.g. recycling stations in Wal-Mart stores in Costa Rica and consumer education in Taiwan Product labeling , including environmental labels such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo Online information e.g. ANDREX sustainability zone and HUGGIES sustainability website Suppliers : Sustainability guide for suppliers Communication of our fiber policy Supplier Sustainability Summits Governments and Non-governmental organizations Meetings between mill staff and local government officials, e.g. on discharge permits to air and water, incentives for energy reductions World Business Council for Sustainable Development work including Sustainable Forest and Paper Initiative, Future Leaders Team, water, and ecosystems Contribution to industry initiatives such as industry body, EDANAs sustainability reports THE CRISIS MANAGEMENT : The world faced the largest global economic downturn in more than 70 years which brought extraordinary challenges and opportunities for Kimberly-Clark.Global economic conditions could continue to adversely affect the Corporations business and financial results.Unfavorable economic conditions, including the impact of recessions in the United States and throughout the world, may continue to negatively affect the Corporations business and financial results.Significant increases in prices for raw materials, energy, transportation and other necessary supplies and services could adversely affect the Corporations financial results.Increases in the cost of and availability of raw materials, including pulp and petroleum-based materials, the cost of energy, transportation and other necessary services, supplier constraints, an inability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relations or an inability to avoid disruptions in production output caused by events such as natural disasters, power outages, labor strikes, and the like could have an adverse effect on the Corporations financial results. Kimberly-Clark team reacted quickly and focused on cost reduction, margin improvement and cash flow..At the same time, the corporation has continued to take steps to build for the future and drive sustainable, long-term growth for our shareholders while leading the world in essentials for a better life. Kimberly-Clark Corporation delivered all-time record cash flow. This outstanding cash generation allowed Kimberly-Clark to invest more than $750 million in strategic acquisitions in targeted growth initiatives and organic sales about 3 percent and improved corporations profitability, which translated into a 12 percent increase in earnings per share. STRATEGIES Company strategies à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Manage portfolio to balance growth, profitability and cash flow à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Invest in brands, innovation and growth initiatives Business Unit Strategies Win globally in personal care: K-C will grow its strong positions in this high-margin business by leveraging its powerful brands and providing winning innovations. Targeted growth and margin improvement in consumer tissue: K-C will bring differentiated, value-added innovations to grow and strengthen its brands while focusing on net realized revenue, improving mix and reducing costs. Drive rapid growth throughout K-C international (KCi), with a particular focus on china, Russia and Latin America: K-Cs business in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa will continue to execute targeted expansion and growth plans, take advantage of attractive market opportunities and deploy K-Cs strong brands and innovation capabilities. Grow in higher margin segments in K-C professional (KCp) and health care: K-C will continue to shift mix to faster-growing, higher-margin segments within KCp and health care, including safety and wiping in kcp and medical devices in health care. Leveraging the power of K-Cs brands: K-C has increased strategic marketing spending by nearly $300 million over the last five years and plans to continue to accelerate spending faster than sales through 2015 to support product innovation, growth in KCI and to further improve brand equity and market share. Innovate: K-C has a strong legacy of innovation. In fact, we have created five of the eight major consumer product categories in which we compete. K-Cs innovation philosophy is based on identifying insights into what consumers and end-users want and need and then translating those insights into innovative solutions that generate growth. Innovation investments going forward will focus on improving existing brands, enhancing margins and exploring new category opportunities. VISION, MISSION, GOAL Vision To enhance the Health, Hygiene and Well Being of People Everywhere, Every day. Mission To enhance the Health and Hygiene of people in Africa through quality, trusted and intelligent solutions that clean, care and protect.

Gay Marriage Should Be Legal Essay examples -- Papers Gay Marriage Hom

'Would legalization of gay marriage be good for the gay community?' Sam Isaacson wrote an article analyzing the opinion of the gay community on legalizing same sex marriages. It is somewhat of a controversial issue with the gay community whether or not marriage is a good thing. He divides the community into two groups: integrationists and liberationists. The controversy is caused because of these two different philosophical views. The integrationists want to be as normal as can be. They want to 'integrate' themselves into society. On the other hand, the liberationists cherish their gay culture with their own customs and values. The integrationists want gay marriage and the liberationists object to same sex marriage. Isaacson's belief is to consider the objections of the liberationists. However, he believes that legalization of marriage would benefit gays and society. The liberationists do not care for being part of the ?normal? society. They believe marriage would take away from their way of living and would show that marriage is the right way to live. Isaacson states, ?...

Determinism and the benefits of Taylor’s theory Essay

In Metaphysics Richard Taylor outlines the different views on the concept of freedom. The traditional view is that of the compatibilists which states that freedom is the ability to act, or not to act, according to the determinations of the will. It is so defined to make it compatible with the theory of determinism, which essentially states that all actions have a causal explanation due to the state of the world in the moment previous. However, the definition is clearly inadequate due to the fundamental flaws of determinism and its failure to account for deliberation or personal choice. A superior alternative is offered by what Taylor calls the theory of agency, but is more commonly known as libertarianism. In discussing a theory one must start with some data in order to prove the validity of the theory, and in discussing determinism this is no different. Two suitable criteria dealing with the decision making process are: firstly that we at times deliberate with the view of making a decision , and secondly regardless of whether I deliberate I sometimes have a personal choice in the decision making process. These criteria are ideal because they are both things that we as individuals are fairly certain of so any acceptable theory must account for them in some way. For common sense, a virtue in argumentation, suggests that it is easier to accept the veracity of partial self-determination in the decision making process than an abstract philosophical theory. To asses the applicability of the data to determinism a more in depth examination of determinism is needed, which Taylor defines as having three tenets: Firstly, that the theory of determinism is true. Secondly, that voluntary behaviour is free unless constrained, and finally that causes of voluntary behaviour are certain states, condition, decisions, and desires. The principle problem of determinism is precisely this last tenet, for what are the causes of the inner states that cause my actions? Where do they come from? Are they under my control? If determinism is true then the problem of infinite causality arises for the causes of the actions must themselves have causes. When applied to the two original data the infinite causality of determinism  renders these data false. Take deliberation as an example. I can deliberate only about future actions, but there are always causes to everything I do making the outcome of the deliberation inevitable and the process itself irrelevant. The incompatibility of determinism and deliberation does not bode well for the second datum, as if I am to have a personal choice in an action then I must be able to concretely execute any of the options associated with the action. But if determinism is true there can again only be one option due to the chain of causes thus negating the option of personal choice. A better theory, one that incorporates these two essential data is what Taylor calls the theory of agency, but is more commonly known as libertarianism, which postulates that human beings are frequently, but not always, self-determining beings. To further understand the theory of agency and thus its advantages it is first necessary to examine how it deals with the causation of actions. If an individual is relatively free in his decision making it follows that the individual agent can be considered a cause for the resulting action. For example, if I move my hand then the obvious cause of the motion is me and not some infinite series of causes. The lack of such a sequence of causes, unlike the one put forward by determinism, is an advantage for it allows the theory of agency to be rid of the problems of determinism discussed above. Moreover this allows libertarianism to incorporate the two criteria originally put forth. Under libertarianism deliberation becomes not just possible, but quite logical as it makes sense to ponder a matter over which I have control of the outcome. Then obviously, if I am at least a partially self-determining entity then I have a fair amount of personal choice in what course of action I should pursue. Aside from avoiding the problems of determinism, perhaps libertarianism’s greatest advantage is its common sense appeal. For example, if I am considering whether to order a Big Mac for lunch or a McChicken, it makes much more sense to me that through deliberation I can choose which sandwich I would like to eat, rather than the existence of some infinite chain of events that pre-determines that I will eat a Big Mac. It is of course necessary to acknowledge that common sense and simplicity are not absolute truths, but as Bertrand Russell wrote, in support of common sense,  in The Problems of Philosophy, â€Å"Since this belief [in the existence of physical objects] does not lead to any difficulties, but on the contrary tends to simplify and systemize our account of our experiences, there seems no good reason for rejecting it.† (Russell, 24) While Russell was addressing another problem the logic of common sense he applied most definitely applies to the case at hand as well. As a concluding argument in favour of libertarianism consider, the very fact of reading and grading this essay. If determinism were true then this essay’s grade would have long been pre-determined by a series of causes stretching back to before its very creation thus rendering useless the whole process. Texts Cited Russell, B. Problems of Philosophy. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1997. Taylor, R. Metaphysics. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice Hall, 1993

Cleopatra Study Guide - Important Facts and Timeline

Cleopatra Study Guide - Important Facts and Timeline Study Guides Cleopatra OverviewImportant FactsDiscussion QuestionsWhat Did Cleopatra Look Like?PicturesTimelineTerms Cleopatra (January 69 B.C. - August 12, 30 B.C.) was the last pharaoh of Egypt. Following her death, Rome took over as ruler of Egypt. She was not an Egyptian, however, despite being pharaoh, but a Macedonian in the Ptolemaic dynasty that a Macedonian Ptolemy I Soter started. Ptolemy was a military leader under Alexander the Great and possibly a close relative. Cleopatra was one of several children of a descendant of this first Ptolemy, Ptolemy XII Auletes. Her two older sisters were Berenice IV and Cleopatra VI who may have died early in life. Berenice staged a coup while Ptolemy Auletes was in power. With Roman backing, Auletes was able to regain the throne and have his daughter Berenice executed. An Egyptian custom that the Macedonian Ptolemies adopted was for pharaohs to marry their siblings. Thus, when Ptolemy XII Auletes died, he left the care of Egypt in the hand of Cleopatra (aged about 18) and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII (aged about 12). Ptolemy XIII, influenced by his courtiers, forced Cleopatra to flee from Egypt. She regained control of Egypt through the help of Julius Caesar, with whom she had an affair and a son named Caesarion. Following the death of Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra married an even younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. In time, she ruled along with another Ptolemaic male, her son Caesarion. Cleopatra is known best for her love affairs with Caesar and Mark Antony, by whom she had three children, and her suicide by snake bite after her husband Antony took his own life. The death of Cleopatra put an end to Egyptian pharaohs ruling Egypt. After Cleopatras suicide, Octavian took control of Egypt, putting it into Roman hands. OverviewDiscussion QuestionsWhat Did Cleopatra Look Like?PicturesTimelineTerms Overview | Important Facts | Discussion Questions | What Did Cleopatra Look Like? | Pictures | Timeline | Terms OverviewImportant FactsStudy QuestionsWhat Did Cleopatra Look Like?PicturesTimelineTerms Study Guide Describe the relationship between Octavian and Cleopatra.Why did Caesar not adopt Caesarion as his heir?What gave Rome the right to Egypt?Does Cleopatra deserve her reputation as a seductress?Was Cleopatra more of an Egyptian or Greek monarch? Bibliography , edited by Susan Walker and Peter HiggsShakespearesGeorge Bernard Shaws OverviewImportant FactsStudy QuestionsWhat Did Cleopatra Look Like?PicturesTimelineTerms This is part of a series (study guide) on the legendary Egyptian queen Cleopatra. On this page youll find basic facts like her birthday and names of members of her family. The Cleopatra Study Guide: OverviewImportant FactsStudy QuestionsWhat Did Cleopatra Look Like?PicturesTimelineTerms BirthCleopatra was born in 69 B.C. in Alexandria, Egypt. She died August 12, 30 B.C.Family of OriginShe was a daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy XII Auletes. Her mother is subject to dispute. She may have been the daughter of Cleopatra V Tryphaina, although Strabo 17.1.11 says only one of the daughters of Ptolemy was legitimate, and that not Cleopatra.Cleopatra married her younger brother Ptolemy XIII and after his death, married her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. Later she married the Roman Mark Antony.ChildrenCleopatra had one son by Caesar, named Caesarion. She had twins with Mark Antony, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and later, a son, Ptolemy Philadelphos.Name/TitleShe was actually Cleopatra VII, the last pharaoh of Egypt (although you could argue that role was her sons) because Rome took control of Egypt following her death.DeathAfter Mark Antony committed suicide, so did Cleopatra. The story is that she took an asp to her breast and let the poisonous snake bite her.AncestorsAlt hough her family had adopted Egyptian customs, like having pharaohs marry their siblings, Cleopatra and her family were really Macedonians who had gone to Egypt with Alexander the Great. Overview | Important Facts | Study Questions | What Did Cleopatra Look Like? | Pictures | Timeline | Terms

3 Stoic Strategies For Becoming Happier

3 Stoic Strategies For Becoming Happier Stoicism was one of the most important philosophical schools in ancient Greece and Rome.   It has also been one of the most influential.   The writings of Stoic thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius have been read and taken to be heart by scholars and statesman for two thousand years. In his short but extremely readable book A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy (Oxford University Press, 2009), William Irvine argues that Stoicism is a admirable and coherent philosophy of life.  Ã‚   He also claims that many of us would be happier if we became Stoics.   This is a remarkable claim.   How can the theory and practice of a philosophical school founded fifteen hundred years before the industrial revolution have anything relevant to say to us today, living in our constantly changing, technology dominated world? Irvine has many things to say in response to that question.   But the most interesting part of his answer is his account of specific strategies that the Stoics recommend we all use on a daily basis.   Three of these in particular are especially important: negative visualization; internalization of goals; and regular self-denial. Negative visualization Epictetus recommends that when parents kiss a child goodnight, they consider the possibility that the child might die during the night.   And when you say goodbye to a friend, say the Stoics, remind yourself that you perhaps you will never meet again. Along the same lines, you might imagine the home you live being destroyed by fire or by a tornado, the job you rely on being eliminated, or the beautiful car you have just bought being crushed by a runaway truck. Why entertain these unpleasant thought?   What good can come from this practice of what Irvine calls â€Å"negative visualization†?   Well, here are a few possible benefits of imagining the worst that can happen: Anticipating misfortunes can lead you to take preventative measures.   E.g. Imagining your family dying of carbon monoxide poisoning may prompt to you install a carbon monoxide detector.If you have already imagined how something awful might happen, if it does occur you will less shocked.   We are all familiar with this on a mundane level.   Many people, if they take an exam, imagine or even convince themselves that they have done badly so that if it turns out that this is the truth, they will be less disappointed.   Negative visualization, here and elsewhere, prepares us mentally and emotionally to deal with unpleasant experiences when they arrive–as they inevitably will.Contemplating the loss of something helps us to appreciate it more fully.   We are all familiar with the way we have a tendency to take things for granted.   When we first buy a new house, car, guitar, smart phone, shirt, or whatever, we think it’s wonderful.   But within a fairly short ti me the novelty wears off and we no longer find it exciting, or even interesting.   Psychologists call this â€Å"hedonic adaptation.† But imagining the loss of the thing in question is a way of refreshing our appreciation of it.   It’s a technique that help us to follow Epictetus’ advice and learn to want what we already have. Of these arguments for practicing negative visualization, the third is probably the most important and the most convincing.   And it goes well beyond such things as newly purchased technology. There is so much in life to be grateful for, yet we often find ourselves complaining that things aren’t perfect.   But anyone reading this article is probably living the sort of life that most people through history would have viewed as inconceivably pleasant.   Little need to worry about famine, plague, war, or brutal oppression.   Anesthetics; antibiotics; modern medicine; instant communication with anyone anywhere; the ability to get to just about anywhere   in the world in a few hours; a vast amount of great art, literature, music, and science available through the internet at the touch a of key.   The list of things to be grateful for is almost infinite.   Negative visualization reminds us that we are â€Å"living the dream.† Internalization of goals We live in a culture that puts tremendous value of worldly success.   So people strive to get into elite universities, to make lost of money, to create a successful business, to become famous, to achieve high status in their work, to win prizes, and so on.   The problem with all these goals, though, is that whether or not one succeeds depends in large part on factors outside one’s control. Suppose your goal is to win an Olympic medal.   You can commit yourself to this goal entirely, and if you have enough natural ability you may make yourself one of the best athletes in the world.   But whether or not you win a medal depends on many things, including who you are competing with.   If you happen to be competing against athletes who have certain natural advantages over you–e.g. physiques and physiologies better suited to your sport–then a medal may simply be beyond you.   The same goes for other goals, too.   If you want to become famous as a musician, it isn’t enough just to make great music.   Your music has to reach the ears of millions of people; and they have to like it.   These are not matters you can easily control. For this reason the Stoics advise us to carefully distinguish between things that lie within our control and things that lie beyond our control.   Their view is that we should focus entirely on the former.   Thus, we should concern ourselves with what we choose to strive for, with being the kind of person we want to be, and with living according to sound values.   These are all goals that depend entirely on us, not on how the world is or how it treats us. Thus, if I’m a musician, my goal shouldn’t be to have a number one hit, or to sell a million records, to play at Carnegie Hall or to perform at the Super Bowl.   Instead, my goal should just be to make the best music I can within my chosen genre.   Of course, if I try to do this I will increase my chances of public recognition and worldly success.   But if these don’t come my way, I won’t have failed, and I shouldn’t feel especially disappointed.   For I will still have achieved the goal I set myself. Practicing self-denial The Stoics argue that sometimes we should deliberately deprive ourselves of certain pleasures.   For example, if we usually have dessert after a meal, we might forego this once every few days; we might even once in a while substitute bread, cheese and water for our normal, more interesting dinners.   The Stoics even advocate subjecting oneself to voluntary discomfort.   One might, for instance, not eat for a day, underdress during cold weather, try sleeping on the floor, or take the occasional cold shower. What is the point of this kind of self-denial?   Why do such things?   The reasons are actually similar to the reasons for practicing negative visualization.   Self-denial toughens us up, so that if we have to deal with involuntary hardship or discomfort we will be able to do so.   There is really a very familiar idea.   It is why the army makes boot camp so hard.   The thinking is that if soldiers become accustomed to hardship on a regular basis, they will cope better with it when being able to do so really matters.   And this sort of thinking by military leaders goes back at least to ancient Sparta.   Indeed, the militaristic Spartans were so convinced that depriving men of luxuries made them better soldiers that this sort of denial came to be integral to their whole way of life.   Even today, the word â€Å"Spartan† means lacking luxuries.Self-denial helps us to appreciate the pleasures, comforts and conveniences that we enjoy all the time and are in danger of taking for granted.   Most of will probably agree with this–in theory!   But the problem with putting the theory into practice, of course, is that the experience of voluntary discomfort is––uncomfortable.   Still, perhaps some awareness of the value of self-denial is part of the reason why people choose to go camping, or backpacking. But are the Stoics right? The arguments for practicing these Stoic strategies sound very plausible.   But should they be believed?   Will negative visualization, internalizing goals, and practicing self-denial really help us to be happier?   The most likely answer is that it depends to some extent on the individual.   Negative visualization may help some people to appreciate more fully the things they presently enjoy.   But it could lead to others becoming increasingly anxious over the prospect of losing what they love.   Shakespeare, in Sonnet 64, after describing several examples of Time’s destructiveness, concludes: Time hath taught me thus to ruminateThat Time will come and take my love away.This thought is as a death, which cannot chooseBut weep to have that which it fears to lose. It seems that for the poet negative visualization is not a strategy for happiness; on the contrary, it causes anxiety and leads him to be even more attached to that which he will one day lose. The internalization of goals seems very reasonable on the face of it: do your best, and accept the fact that objective success depends on factors you can’t control.   Yet surely, the prospect of objective success–an Olympic medal; making   money; having a hit record; winning a prestigious prize–can be tremendously motivating.   Perhaps there are some people who care nothing for such external markers of success; but most of us do.   And it’s surely true that many wonderful human achievements have been fueled, at least in part, by the desire for them. Self-denial is not especially appealing to most people.   Yet there is som reason to suppose that it really does do us the sort of good that the Stoics claimed for it.   A well-known experiment done by Stanford psychologists in the 1970s involved having young children see how long they could hold off eating a marshmallow for the sake of getting an additional reward (such as a cookie in addition to the marshmallow).   The surprising upshot of the research was that those individuals who were best able to delay gratification did better in later life on a number of measures such as educational achievement and general health.   This seems to bear out will power is   like a muscle, and that exercising the muscle through self-denial builds self-control, a key ingredient of a happy life.

MW Petroleum Corporation (A) finance case Study

MW Petroleum Corporation (A) finance - Case Study Example Apache on the other hand is seeking to grow. This is a good opportunity for the company to do so. This transaction would be beneficial to Apache the portion of MW Petroleum that Apache is considering is located in the same general area where the company currently operates and so consolidation will further reduce costs. This should allow for increased economies of scale in the form of reduced direct operating costs and even more so overhead costs for Apache. It is cheaper for Apache to buy an existing business as it has been doing rather than carry out exploratory drilling. This acquisition will also allow the company to diversify geographically its portfolio of assets which is important when the riskiness of the operations is considered. This diversification will somewhat help to stabilize Apache’s earnings even though both gas and oil prices are highly volatile. The acquisition of Amoco will also enhance Apache’s standing among US independents and lead to even further acquisition opportunities. The company is considering further growth opportunities in the future and this represents a stepping stone that will allow Apache some amount of bargaining power and would therefore put the company in a better position to compete with other companies. It is reasonable to expect that the MV properties are more valuable to Apache than to Amoco because Apache will benefit from synergies and rationalization of expenses. Table 2 below shows the present value of the aggregate overheads that Apache could reduce substantially if the acquisition takes place. Amoco would be better off if it had cash in hand which the company could invest in more profitable ventures. Currently, the properties are not contributing substantially if any at all to the company’s overheads. Part 1 (b) The sources of value that most plausibly account for the difference between buyer and seller are: The exclusion of fields in Michigan and the Gulf of Mexico; Expected synergies; Other opportunities mentioned; and The beta value that was used. Exclusion of Fields in Michigan and the Gulf of Mexico Apache was only interested in fields containing approximately 78% of MW’s proved developed reserves and 75% of the Proved undeveloped reserves. These account f or approximately $120 million of the difference. No details were given of the percentage of the probable and possible reserves that would be included in the fields in Michigan and the Gulf of Mexico. However, these could be substantial. Assuming that these fields are in the same proportion as the proved undeveloped reserves then the total value would be approximately $906 million. This is 294 million less then the $1.2 billion that Amoco indicated that the properties were worth. See APV Calculations in the Appendix. Table 1 Reserves Total (MMBOE) Proportion included in Purchase Value included in APV Total Value Proved Developed Reserves 155.2 78.22% 121.4 247,750,571.44 316,728,901.87                   Proved Undeveloped Reserves 25.6 75% 19.2 151,257,604.86 201,676,806.48 Sub Total          399,008,176.30 518,405,708.35                   Probable Reserves    75%    145,575,867.21 194,101,156.28                   Possible Reserves    7 5%    145,125,191.13 193,500,254.84                   Total          689,709,234.64 906,007,119.47 Synergies The synergies can be quantified as some overheads would be much reduced as well as some direct operating costs. The table below shows the present value of the projected aggregate overhead expenses. Apache is expected to save a substantial portion of this approximately $201 million. Table 2 Year Aggregate Overheads PV Factor (13%) PV Cash Flow 1 36.6 0.885 32.39 2 38.7

Expert Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Expert Systems - Essay Example As its name indicates, expert systems are used to perform specific tasks which involve the knowledge and skills of experts. At the present, expert systems have become very important for the majority of business organizations. In fact, they are currently being used in every walk of business organization. Expert systems are used to perform different operations in different organizations. This paper presents a detailed analysis of expert systems. This paper discusses the advantages, disadvantages and evolution of expert systems. This paper also discusses the examples of earlier and latest expert systems. Definition and Description of an Expert system Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for more than fifty years, it has been just recently that a lot of organizations all over the world are beginning to utilize AI based tools and applications to help them become more competitive in the ever-increasing competitive world. In the past few years, AI has been rapidly turning i nto an imperative technology and there is at this time an explosion of interest centering on this field. In fact, both industries and educational institutes are assigning more resources than ever before to AI. Basically, the artificial intelligence is a wide-ranging trend and it consists of a lot of sub domains such as game-playing systems, vision systems, computer-aided instruction, natural language translation, voice synthesis and recognition, robotics, and expert systems. Expert systems are possibly the fastest progressing sub domain of AI (Schon & Helferich, 1989). Expert systems are acknowledged as a significant subject of artificial intelligence. Basically, an expert system offers a method to collect and transform the knowledge of experts. The expert system consists of computer programs that try to be like the way people think. The history of expert systems can be traced back to over twenty years ago in the labs of Stanford University where it was first used to help make a dia gnosis of infectious blood diseases. In fact, since that time expert systems have been using into almost every walk of life that involves human knowledge and judgment. In addition, the expert systems are normally based on three most important elements: the clarification generator and user interface, the inference engine, and the knowledge base. Additionally, in the beginning while using expert systems at Stanford, the knowledge base encompassed medical "rules" to demonstrate IF-THEN conditions and statements with a related confidence factor. The example of this rule can be like this, IF the patient is diagnosed with symptom A AND symptom B THEN the result/disease is X, and confidence is Y%. If the patient is diagnosed with symptom C, then this rule would not even be applicable. Moreover, the decision regarding the selection of the rules is made automatically by the inference engine (MoreBusiness, 1998). In simple words, â€Å"an expert system is an information system that collects and stores the expertise of human experts and then reproduces