Saturday, August 31, 2019

Porter 5 forces for JetBlue Airway Essay

Potential Competitors: Low – Rivalry among existing firms is intense, which affect the profits to be low. It ¡Ã‚ ¦s unattractive to the potential competitors. – High initial investments and fixed costs such as lease a fleet of safe and reliable aircraft, negotiate reasonable gate access and landing fees as well as high labor and fuel costs. – There are the price competitions in the airline industry, which some major airlines offer the low-price fares that is very difficult for new entrants to gain enough profit to cover the investment and fix cost in this industry. Rivalry among Existing Firms: High – Currently, there are many major airlines such as Delta, United and American that exist in the same market as Jet Blue. Those airline companies have used similar strategies as JetBlue. United and American Airline flies to the same cities as Jet Blue and appeal to the business travelers who have the least sensitivity on price. – Airline industry is extremely sensitive to economic cycles. Mature industry life cycle. The Bargaining Power of Buyers: Medium to High – Internet gives the power to the customers to search for the low fares. – Leisure travelers who are not sensitive with the price and most of them are loyalty to the particular industry that offer the best service and offer the best flying experience. – There are many airlines in the market that offers the same flying experience in the low-price. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: High – Boeing and Airbus are the only two suppliers of new aircraft for commercial passenger airlines. This allows them to have power of suppliers in the airline industry. – Airline workers are unionized, which let them have power of labor supply. – OPEC countries have the significant impact for airline industry. The reason is that the fuel is another substantial input cost for airlines, ranging from about 8% to 10% of revenues. Currently, the fuel for the aircraft are rising then the affect from oil price increasing push some airline companies to loss revenue in year 2005 such as Delta and Jet Blue. Substitute Products: Medium – For short flight, the substitute could be the automobile. – Faxes, teleconferencing and videoconferencing can substitute traveling by plane for business travelers. – Switching cost for customers from airplane to automobile and other technologies save the money for a lot of travelers. Relative Power of Other Stakeholders – Internal Revenue Service has just published the mileage deduction rate for 2006. It is 44.5 cents a mile. That’s down from 48.5 cents a mile for the last four months of 2005, which reflected a special adjustment for rising gasoline prices; – Long Beach communities files charges against airlines for noise violations. – Customers file against Jet Blue for showing the passengers data to the third party.

Friday, August 30, 2019

American Comfort Food & Culture

Comfort food, in common parlance, refers not just to the sustenance obtained from edibles, but also to the sense of well-being obtained from eating. In this case, it may be psychological or emotional satisfaction. As defined by YourDictionary. com, comfort food is â€Å"any food eaten not only for its pleasing taste but also for a sense of contentment, nostalgia, etc. that it provides. † The sad reality is, the pleasing taste in most cases does not equate with healthy food. Comfort food, while it provides feelings of soothing warmth and gratification, may have ill effects on the body, and the persons concerned may or may not even realize it.Yet one wonders why people, though aware that certain foodstuffs (like the nicest tasting fries) are unhealthy, still partake of it. Upon closer analysis, one sees that food and diet are inextricably linked to, if not embedded in, evolving society and culture. Take the case of America, where one can witness comfort food in two distinct and interesting dimensions: fastfood that is usually devoid of nutritional quality; and traditional gastronomy handed down by one generation to another, as exemplified by authentic South American cuisine, painstakingly prepared by the matriarch of the household as younger family members look on and assist.Fastfood has become a highly profitable industry and global phenomenon, while home cuisine preparation is becoming a vanishing art. As families become immersed in the vicious cycle or struggle to survive, attain work success or recognition, traditional meal preparations are being replaced by cheap instant meals. â€Å"Saturated fats and meats are displacing grains and fresh vegetables. Mealtimes are shrinking. McDonalds is everywhere. † (Walsh 36). Regular fastfood fare like burgers and fries continually entice young and old alike, in America and other parts of the world.â€Å"The flavors of childhood foods seem to leave an indelible mark, and adults often return to them, witho ut always knowing why. These comfort foods `become a source of pleasure and reassurance, a fact the fast food chains work hard to promote† (Schlosser 123). Huge marketing budgets have been allocated to convince consumers to head for fastfood restaurants with kids and other family members in tow. What people easily take for granted is that as they opt for fastfood meals, â€Å"they consume more calories, less fiber, and more fat† (Schlosser 241).Fats may be categorized as good or bad, and among the most undesirable kind is trans fat found in fastfood staples like french fries. Trans fats contained in hydrogenated cooking oil pose a big risk to heart health, as studies have revealed. â€Å"It serves to justify current efforts to get trans fats out of the American diet† (Boyles, parag. 5). Obesity, fatty liver and heart problems are but some of the dangers of regular fastfood consumption in big servings.Fortunately, helping curb the health decline among America†™s population are medically backed reports and a growing health consciousness that have spawned concerted efforts by consumer groups to ban â€Å"the use of trans freats in restaurant food in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago† (Boyles, parag. 5). This had also generated â€Å"pledges from a growing number of fast-food restaurant chains to make their products trans-fat free† (Boyles, parag. 5). Showing an earnest gesture of support in such initiative or clamor to give consumers healthier food options are fastfood companies like Wendy’s and KFC, to name some.Home-produced food may be the norm in certain societies, and â€Å"it shouldn’t be surprising that the societies that have been most successful at retaining food cultures are the ones that have also resisted the pull of Westernization† (Walsh 39). This is not to say, though, that traditional fare like Southern American cuisine is not laden with calories, sugar and fat. South ern American food with multicultural influences includes deep-fried foods and rich gravy made with pan drippings and leftover coffee (Brant parag. 3).If not taken in moderation, they may pose some undesirable health effects, Economics likewise lays a big role in people’s food options. â€Å"Most Southerners were subsistence farmers who relied upon their on harvests to feed their families† (Brant, parag. 3). Delectable dishes, notably â€Å"big country breakfasts of eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and grits, and supper plates of chicken-fried steak, corn bread and collard greens provided farmers with the fuel to work from sun up to sun down in the scorching heat and humidity of the south† (Boyles, parag. 5).While certain recipes and ingredients of south American cuisine stand out, the myriad, longed-for flavors reflect â€Å"a combination of culinary heritages from around the world† (Brant, parag. 1). In many parts of America and major cities around the world, contributing to the decline of traditional mealtimes are the trappings and offshoots of the modern technology era. There is media, with its powerful influence; and migration from slow-paced rural communities to cities marked by fast-paced lifestyles. â€Å"Not only do these changes add stress for families, but nutritional quality declines as well† (Walsh 38).Cornell University Professor of Nutritional Science Jeffrey Sobal, was quoted by TIME as saying that †parents complain that they make [traditional] dishes, but the kids won’t eat them. They want the things that they see on television† (Walsh 38) and consenting adults acquiesce. Indeed, various interweaving factors shape today’s American food culture and while â€Å"we might – indeed must – clean up the worst of the fastfood excesses, trying to preserve the diets that keep us both culturally and physically healthier, no one pretends we’re ever going to turn back the cl ock entirely† (Walsh 39). It is, after all, the age of convenience products.Further boosting the popularity of fastfood restaurants is the business strategy of focusing not just on product innovations but also in providing a complete customer experience. Hence, McDonalds has its Playland to appeal to tots. Other fastfood restaurants strategically focus on a theme, slogan or attitude to further lure customers, wittingly or unwittingly. All told, fastfood has both an upside and downside, While most present-day comfort foods meld flavor and texture for utterly enticing eating options, consumers will do well to take a moment to determine if these foods are worth the momentary pleasures they provide.As for restaurants who have made a giant step towards offering consumers the healthier route through food alternatives that limit dangerous ingredients, it is high time they sustain their initiatives that will put a country’s burgeoning population down the healthier path. Househ olds that find it difficult to reshape their dietary paths are usually hindered by budgetary limitations. It can be gleaned that inexpensive, time-saving fastfood has fueled the rapid growth of fastfood outlets on a global scale, Individuals with high standards of living, on the other hand, are better able to experiment and widen their food choices.Indeed, given today’s societal trends and the fastfood phenomenon, only time will tell if healthier and tastier alternatives to trans-fat-laden `comfort food’ will see the day. In the meantime, America is seen grappling with diet-related illnesses even as health empowering news updates are gradually holding sway Works Cited Boyles, Salynn. â€Å"Researchers Say Findings Justify Move to Reduce Trans Fat in U. S. Diet. † Emedicinehealth. com. 26 March 2007. 13 August 2008 . Brant, Kelly. â€Å"Southern Comfort. † Allrecipes. com. 13 August 2008 n. â€Å"Comfort food definition. † YourDictionary. com. 13 Au gust 2008 . Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Walsh, Bryan. â€Å"How the World Eats. † TIME June 2-July 2, 2007: 36.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

A Critique of the Movie, The Birdcage (La Cage aux Folles)

This film criticizes the gay couples of La Cage aux Folles who live in homosexual apartments, homosexuals' boys on homosexual nightclubs are in homosexual city. . . They need to organize it in one night. In 1996, La Cage aux Folles (French drama in 1978) was reinterpreted as The Birdcage by MGM, evolved with the times, redefined family values. We combine talent from Robin Williams (Armand), Nathan Lane (Albert), Hank Azaria (Agador) with writer Elaine May and director Mike Nichols. The movie is added to the story through the excellent uniqueness of each character and the content they bring to the screen. this There is no movie that better describes the energy and excitement of Miami in the 1990's like bird cage. In the vibrant story of the French farm in 1978, La Cage Aufoll, the story is focused on his plan to marry a middle-aged, luxurious homosexual couple's life, their son . Robin Williams and Nathan Ryan are shining under the guidance of Mike Nichols. Please visit Mississippi an d learn about personal cultural sympathies about ethnic tensions. This is also a proof of those who are unjustly brave. When Brett appeared in a cyber television documentary on his small town change, he became an unlikely activist to be a citizen. Premiere of Tribeca Film Festival by independent film director named Oscar, directed by Raymond De Felica This film criticizes the gay couples of La Cage aux Folles who live in homosexual apartments, homosexuals' boys on homosexual nightclubs are in homosexual city. . . They need to organize it in one night. In 1996, La Cage aux Folles (French drama in 1978) was reinterpreted as The Birdcage by MGM, evolved with the times, redefined family values. It combines talent with Robin Williams (Armando), Nathan Ryan (Albert) and Hank ... criticism of William  · Shakespeare's Mike  · White protagonist. I have never seen such a bad and impartial day. This is a famous quote from William Shakespeare's classic Macbeth tragedy Macbeth's opponent. Th is line occurred when Macbeth and Banco returned to the battle. Norwegian. Looking at it from the wider Macbeth 's victory and defeat, he went from the warrior hero to the murderer, and finally to his

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Summary of the reading material Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Summary of the reading material - Article Example The stakeholders are now experiencing the shape of the new regulations and the resultant changes, which are about to influence the strategic imperative driving the strategy of leading hedge fund organizations (Citi Investor Services, 2014). Notably, this marks a shift of the factors driving change in the hedge fund industry. A shift in the investor base had been driving major industry evolution since the GFC until recently. Indeed, the article reckons that the emergence of large institutional investors seeking to allocate capital to hedge fund managers have been driving changes in the industry for the past five years (Citi Investor Services, 2014). These changes adopted diverse strategic imperatives as institutional investors emerged as the industry’s main source of capital (Citi Investor Services, 2014). The investors’ demands changed key structural aspects of the market. Ideally, by financing the industry with huge sums of capital within a concentrated period, institutional investors determined the behaviors of the investment managers and fostered structural changes in the industry (Citi Investor Services, 2014). However, response to regulatory changes is now the main driver of change in the industry where it creates different opportunities and challenges for the hedge fund industry. The survey establishes the reality and eminent approach of major implementation deadlines upon the industry players. The formulation and implementation of a broad and significant set of global regulations is now the dominant force of industry change. These regulations include the Volcker Rule, Dodd-Frank, EMIR, OTC derivative rules, Liikanen Proposal among other rules (Citi Investor Services, 2014). The new regulatory changes are offering new opportunities to hedge funds where they can optimize their business approach. The Volcker Rule and Liikanen Proposal has eliminated the proprietary trading talent from sell side organizations that allowed hedge funds and other

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Why I chose funeral service as a career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Why I chose funeral service as a career - Essay Example A funeral service career provides an individual with an opportunity to engage in assistance of his fellow beings by providing them guidance and emotional support in a time when they need it the most. The loss of a close friend or a family member is a very difficult period and a funeral service career provides an opportunity to be of help to these people by comforting and soothing them. This career raises a person’s self confidence and it earns an individual respect in the society as well. A funeral service career requires the qualities of being sympathetic, considerate and caring. It is a career where an individual needs to feel the pain of others so that he can help them in the most appropriate way. I believe I possess all these qualities and I am more than willing to be of all help to my fellow beings. Therefore, funeral service is the best career option for

Monday, August 26, 2019

News Corporation Near Collapse (1990) & Recovery Essay

News Corporation Near Collapse (1990) & Recovery - Essay Example This may have been partly due to the fact that, at the time there was a sharp advertising recession, the worst in two decades (Roger Cohan 1990). The situation was that News Corporation was saddled with massive debts. Alex Burns (2002) reported that Murdoch's News Corp, which remains precariously afloat, had a colossal $11 billion in debt worldwide, nearly four times the annual turnover of the entire newspaper industry in Australia. In an effort to save the business a refinancing plan was put in place, but at the last minute, one small bank in Pittsburgh refused to go along with the scheme, demanding repayment of a $10 million loan. (Stephen Galloway and Paula Parisi, 2005) The task we have set ourselves within this document is to look at four key areas. Firstly to ascertain where the origins of responsibility for the crisis lay. Secondly to investigate how the crisis position was resolved without resorting to the irretrievable act of bankruptcy, and thirdly we will endeavour to examine how, when other notable media giants have failed, Murdoch was able to escape. Finally we shall discover how Murdoch has been able to revitalise the fortunes of News Corporation, successfully transforming itself into one of the top five hundred global TNC's2 Behind every corporate disaster, there is inevitably an attempt to apportion blame. With the News Corporation situation, the majority of financial media and other experts tended to place most of the blame at the feet of the management. But others were just as culpable. Management's role Rupert Murdoch is that inveterate breed, a corporate gambler. He thrives on risks and the bigger the stakes, the bigger the buzz and the bigger the payout. (Stuart Crainer.1999). In the 1980's he spent considerable amounts on acquisitions for his empire. Whilst the risks he took at that time are reaping benefit now, at the time they would, to any conservative financier, have seemed unacceptable. Perhaps a better example of how Murdoch chooses to live and do business comes in the events, which led up to the great credit crunch of 1990. These began in Murdoch's American acquisition spree of the middle 1980s. He bought the 20th Century Fox network in the US in 1985, the Metromedia chain of television stations the same year, and then in 1986 launched Fox, the first national TV network since 1959. He didn't have the money to pay for all of this, so he raised it by revaluing his company under Australian accounting3 rules, raising its worth from $166 million to $1.6 billion (Lanchester) The most costly corporate move Murdoch made in the late eighties was the investment in Sky. At that stage it was an enormous drain on the businesses cash resources. At the time the satellite subsidiary was posting substantial year on year losses. Despite Murdoch's somewhat dubious adeptness at moving funds around the various and numerous group subsidiaries to cover overextended cash flow positions, Sky had a cash thirst which could not be quenched without dramatically impacting on News Corporations liquidity, seriously reducing its ability to cover other commitments. Thus when the time came to repay $2 billion of bank debt, there were insufficient resources available to meet these contracted commitments. It is apparent from all the researches

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Endogenous variables, affecting the U.S. foreign policy decision to Essay

Endogenous variables, affecting the U.S. foreign policy decision to invade Afghanistan - Essay Example The actor makes decisions based on the goals he or she intends to attain and the best course of action based on cost- benefit considerations. The primal objective, in this case, is the security of the state. Constructivists, on the other hand, approach the decision making process on the ideology of the state’s social role in its social environment. In addition, there is a consideration of the role to be achieved through the decisions in relation to other countries. The proximal goal is ensuring states security but in relation to the states social role. Foreign approaches therefore reveal the behaviour of actors, such as the president and the government, in decision making process regarding foreign policy. The 9/11 terror attacks of United States brought about a significant impact on the U.S. foreign policy. Indeed, the attack changed the focus of the foreign policy which was under the Bush administration moving from a focus on relations with great powers such as China and Russ ia to an emphasis on the nexus between non-state terrorist groups and â€Å"rogue states† with known or suspected WMD programs. ... According to utilitarian and neorealist approach this can be explained through personalised goals that the president and the congress intended to meet. The desire for President George W. Bush and most of the members of congress to seek support in the 2004 elections contributed to the decision of Afghanistan’s attack. George. W Bush had a goal to convince the citizens that he could ensure their security and enact policies necessary for the security of the state. This desire led to his endorsement of the attack to demonstrate his active position of addressing issues affecting his nation. He had to demonstrate his courage and strict stand in this incidence by commanding an attack (Rittberger, 2002) so as to capture the head of the terrorism group. Another goal that Bush desired to meet was to demonstrate his power as the constitution of the greatest nation. He did not rush into new actions or policy changes but gave himself time to consider the administration’s policies. S imilarly a great proportion of the members of the congress had to appear significantly in addressing this issue for the same reason. According to the constructivist approach, the role of the leadership can be interpreted through a critical look at America’s role globally. America is one of the super powers in the world, regarded for its great strength of its army, air force, and the navy. It is one of the custodians of peace on the globe giving it the role to ensure that peace is maintained at all costs. Due to the desire to still prove itself as a superpower and remain relevant as a custodian of peace on the globe, then the idea of eliminating the Al-Qaeda seemed persuasive enough.

Should the animals be used for scientific research Is it humanly Essay - 1

Should the animals be used for scientific research Is it humanly - Essay Example My claim is based on the fact that I am a person of high moral standing and as a specialist in bio-medicine I understand the challenge of using human beings for certain tests. I believe that animals have rights which should be respected much like human rights should. This in effect means that I am against the use or misuse of animals in some ways. Since the issue of animal experimentation is an issue of great concern, my audience comprises politicians, medical experts, animal rights activists, those who view animals as an exploitable resource, and those who have no idea about the subject. It is believed that each year over 50 million animals are used for research world wide. Some people have argued that this goes against animal rights as testing causes pain to the animals. However, this claim is in whole a generalization. One only needs to consider the developments that have been achieved in medicine today to realize how important animal testing is to human kind. Modern societies have developed regulations that govern the use of animals for experimentation. One such regulation is Britain’s Cruelty to Animals Act (1876). Some of the requirements are concerned with the minimization of pain and other unsuitable effects to the animal being used for a test. Claude Bernard (125), the prince of vivesectors himself stated that animal testing is exclusively for the â€Å"hygiene† and â€Å"toxicology† of man. Many people have claimed that animals have their moral rights. For example, Tom Regan believes that animals have self consciousness, desires and beliefs and are therefore beings. These beings have inherent value and therefore rights that must be respected (Singer 346). However, Regan also states that to save human lives, killing animals is allowed. Animal testing is carried out as a measure to preserve or protect the human being from harm. This is more clearly understood by asking; how many

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Current legislation, standards and guidance require microbial Essay

Current legislation, standards and guidance require microbial monitoring of utilities (eg steam and water), facilities (eg the c - Essay Example The design of the sterile services department facility must be perfect in every detail to prevent microbial contamination of the area and the products. The entryway must be set up as to prevent unauthorised persons from gaining access and to stop workers from entering while wearing improper or insufficient protective clothing, since this traffic would bring outside contaminants into the sterile area. There must be space to separate sterilized equipment from contaminated equipment, so that no microbial cross-contamination occurs. Washrooms and changing rooms must be available to the staff and set up so that workers' outside clothing never comes into contact with their sterile gear (Sterile Services 2004). Due to the strenuous nature of these and dozens of other requirements, many hospitals and medical offices now choose to obtain their sterile equipment through a commercial retailer rather than have their own sterile services department on-site (Lawrence & May 2003). ... vel of particulate matter in the air is used to calculate the possible amount of microbial life present in the clean room facility, as well as dust and other contaminants such as ski and hair. (Rousseau 2004). It is monitored by a discrete-particle counter, which can detect particle diameters anywhere between 0,1 and 5 ?m to aid in determining the ISO clean room class of the facility (Schicht 2003). A sterile services department is required to contain the necessary equipment to disinfect medical products in an approved manner, following a validated sterilization process; the preferred method is steam sterilization (Russel, Hugo, & Ayliffe 1999). Steam sterilization is used because it is non-toxic and provides the most effective method for destroying many types of microbial life. Unfortunately, many contemporary surgical tools and medical devices are made of plastic, and would not survive a steam sterilization cycle. These items are decontaminated with a low-temperature method, such a s acid immersion (HIPAC 2008). Because many medical devices are considered critical risk, designed to come in contact with a patient sub-dermally, it is vitally important for a sterile services department to keep their sterilization equipment in perfect working order. The sterilizer itself must be tested daily to ensure it functions properly and completes an entire sterilization cycle, weekly for safety and function, and annually by a testing technician to check the steriliser against manufacturer specifications (Lawrence & May 2003). These tests help the sterile services department ensure that their sterilizer is actually removing the microbial load. Since the margin for error with sterilization is so narrow, a sterile services department must also ensure all incoming utilities, especially