Saturday, August 22, 2020

Starbucks Red Flags of Fraud

Starbucks Coffee Company Stephanie Deacon Colorado Technical University Online: ACCT 320-1203A-01 Professor White 6 August 2012 Abstract This paper will give an outline of Starbucks Coffee Company and distinguish seven warnings of conceivable false conduct inside the association. Steps to plan a misrepresentation counteraction program will likewise be talked about dependent on the recognized warnings. Starbucks Coffee Company opened its first store in Seattle, Washington in 1971 contribution new cooked entire bean espressos. Howard Schultz (Starbucks administrator, president and CEO) joined Starbucks in 1982 as chief of retail tasks and promoting. Starbucks starts giving espresso to fine cafés and coffee bars† (Starbucks, 2012). In 1985, â€Å"Howard establishes Il Giornale, offering fermented espresso and coffee drinks produced using Starbucks espresso beansâ€Å" (Starbucks, 2012). After two years Howard Schultz buys Starbucks resources with the assistance of neighborhood financial specialists and Il Giornale changes its name to Starbucks Corporation and stores open in Chicago and Vancouver, Canada expanding the absolute number of stores to 17.Starbucks as of now has more than 16,000 stores in 50 nations and considers the organization â€Å"the chief roaster and retailer of forte espresso in the worldâ€Å" (Starbucks, 2012). Starbucks statement of purpose is â€Å" to move and sustain the human soul one individual, one cup, and one neighborhood at a timeâ€Å" (Starbucks, 2012). Starbucks alludes to their representatives as accomplices and their center is to make a working environment that qualities and regards individuals from various foundations and to direct business in a moral manner.Starbucks has a business and morals consistence program set up to help guarantee that all representatives settle on moral choices in the work environment. Notwithstanding its retail outlets, the Starbucks brand of gourmet espressos, to drink Frappuccino and twof old shot beverages and frozen yogurts are additionally sold in basic food item and comfort store outlets. Starbucks all out net incomes as of â€Å"fiscal year finishing Oct 2, 2011 was $11,700. 4 (in millions) which was an expansion from both 2010 financial year end of $10,707. 4 and $9,774. 6 from 2009 respectivelyâ€Å" (Starbucks Annual Report, 2012).As of â€Å"three quarters finished July 1, 2012, Starbucks unaudited net income was $9,935. 4 (millions), up from $8,668. 7 from July 3, 2011. Seven warnings of conceivable misrepresentation Starbucks seems to have a decent tone at the top with its set up basic beliefs; anyway there can be cases of extortion going undetected by the reviewers due to management’s supersede of controls. For instance, with worries about rivalry in the market, upper administration could take part in making imaginary incomes to make Starbucks look as though the organization was performing better than it really is. â€Å"McDonald’s 2011 yearly incomes were $27. 1 billion† (Hoovers, 2012) in contrast with Starbucks $11. 70 billion and since McDonald’s presented the McCafe line in 2009 to contend with Starbucks, it has caught a sizeable segment of the espresso drinker’s advertise. As indicated by Keith O’Brien from the New York Times, â€Å"beverages, on account of smoothies and coffee drinks, are currently a $9 billion yearly business for McDonald’s in the United States† (O’Brien 2012). This sort of rivalry could pressure Starbucks the board to expand the company’s income and one key territory where this could be cultivated is with ill-advised income recognition.Starbucks sells store esteemed gift vouchers called Starbucks cards where clients load cash on the cards for later use in any partaking Starbucks area. â€Å"Revenues from†¦stored esteem cards, fundamentally Starbucks Cards, are perceived when recovered, or when we perceive breakage income† ( Starbucks Annual Report, 2011). Breakage pay is normally perceived when the recovery of the cards is probably going to be remote dependent on previous history. Remarkable card adjusts are remembered for conceded income on the equalization sheet.Management could record this conceded income on the pay proclamation rather at year end, consequently transforming a possibly powerless quarter into an a lot more grounded one. Income acknowledgment profoundly affects a company’s pay proclamation, and â€Å"not holding fast to income acknowledgment measures could bring about exaggerating income and net gain in one revealing period and downplaying income and net gain in an ensuing period† (Spiceland, Sepe, and Nelson, 2011, p. 30). â€Å"Typically, a senior official who is slanted to â€Å"cook the books† has ow moral measures, however this characteristic may frequently be hard to distinguish before the commission of a crime† (White Collar Crime Fighter, n. d. ). An other warning would be the executives reluctant to give mentioned material to inspectors, for example, money related reports for dread they will reveal the extortion. The second zone of worry for warnings of misrepresentation would credit to worker conduct. For example, a representative who won't take get-away or wiped out time could be participating in false activities.If a worker were stealing from the organization, â€Å"he would deny get-away or advancement because of a paranoid fear of detection† (Hancox, n. d. ). Extra warnings to look out for with representative conduct changes would obtain cash from associates, â€Å"excessive betting or drinking, or gloating about critical new purchases† (Hancox, n. d. ). High worker turnover is another pointer of potential misrepresentation particularly in a region of the association that is increasingly powerless against extortion, for example, payroll.High representative turnover can likewise be ascribed to low confidence a nd this could be a warning of harsh administration who might be participating in deceitful action and ought not be ignored. High turnover at the official degree of the organization would likewise be a warning marker that extortion may be happening. Inner controls identified with stock include an enormous zone ready for misrepresentation inside Starbucks. Stock arrangements with buying, accepting, transportation, preparing and distributions and if controls are neglected it could genuinely affect the company’s budgetary health.For model, high volumes of buys from new merchants could be a warning for extortion as this could show an imaginary organization has been made and merchandise could be dispatched to a phony location at that point taken. Another warning would be â€Å"purchasing operators that get seller installments as opposed to have it mailed† (Hancox, n. d. ). Bizarre increment in the book estimation of stock or moderate stock turnover could be a warning for mis representation. For instance, Starbucks stock for â€Å"year end 2010 was $543. 3(millions) and $965. 8 for year end 2011† (Starbucks Annual Report, 2012).The COSO report showed that â€Å"about 50 percent of the considered misrepresentation organizations exaggerated resources by recording imaginary resources or resources not proprietor or promoted things that ought to have been expensed†¦and the most normally misquoted resource was inventory† (Rezaee and Riley, 2010, p. 101). Finance is another territory that can be profoundly helpless to extortion. Various things to search for would be the faculty division announcing fresh recruits or fired representatives to the finance office to guarantee that checks are heading off to the perfect individuals and that imaginary workers have not been created.Another issue would have pre-numbered checks and having the succession checked. On the off chance that this interior control isn't set up, at that point it is conceivable t o give watches that have not been recorded in the framework. Finance checks ought to alos be approved by two people marks to guarantee that unapproved installments are not made because of mistake or misrepresentation. The company’s authoritative structure could be a marker of warnings for misrepresentation. The primary thing to search for would be the tone at the highest point of the company.Unethical business lead by administrators is a key warning notwithstanding high turnover of top officials. An away from of power is absent, â€Å"irresponsible corporate administration, and nonexistent corporate set of principles and a decentralized association structure without sufficient monitoring† (Rezaee and Riley, 2010, p. 107). The corporate strategic of amplifying benefits and that's it. The review advisory group is ineffectual, unpracticed and not fit for playing out their obligations. Money related execution warnings could incorporate uncommon quick development during an industry financial droop. Unforeseen and sharp reductions in profit or piece of the overall industry by the industry† (Rezaee and Riley, 2010, p. 110). Unfavorable lawful conditions could likewise prompt deceitful conduct. Starbucks is occupied with a court hearing with Kraft Foods charging a material penetrate of agreement by Kraft and Starbucks stopped their appropriation game plan with Kraft as of March 1, 2011. â€Å"On December 6, 2010, Kraft started a government court activity against Starbucks, entitled Kraft Foods Global, Inc. v. Starbucks Corporation, in the U. S.District Court for the Southern District of New York (the â€Å"District Court†) looking for injunctive alleviation to forestall Starbucks from ending the appropriation game plan until the parties’ contest is settled through the discretion proceeding† (Starbucks Annual Report, 2012). The order was denied and Starbucks has since kept up control of their bundled espresso dissemination. Star bucks is uncertain of the money related harm that the break by Kraft has caused and will undoubtedly have the option to gauge the harms in mid-2012. Extortion Prevention Program It is the association's obligation to make a culture of trustworthiness and high morals and to unmistakably convey adequate conduct and desires for each employee† (AICPA, 2012). The tone at the highest point of Starbucks must comprise of respectable, fair individuals with high respectability,

Friday, August 21, 2020

Experimental Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Test Study - Essay Example At first, member facilities, rather than singular members, were enrolled dependent on the accompanying incorporation measures: (1) eagerness to partake in the investigation; (2) the quantity of patients; and (3) similitude of clinical schedules. During this stage, there were a sum of 179 patients in all the facilities being thought of. The accompanying prohibition rules were embraced in the determination of individual members for the two gatherings: (1) term of diabetes of under a half year; (2) mental impediment; (3) absence of familiarity with the Dutch language. Just eight patients were avoided, however 80 patients would not take an interest. After the standard information have been acquired, 2 facilities were assigned for observing intercession and 2 centers were apportioned to control gathering. Educated assent was controlled among patients ready to partake in the examination study. The underlying example size is 46 patients for the intercession gathering and 45 patients for the benchmark group. Information assortment at pattern was not examined in detail in this examination, yet in the related investigation with a similar arrangement of creators (De mind, et al., 2007).  All patients and their folks were directed a booklet containing questions with respect to segment data and inquiries to survey their physical and psychosocial prosperity which were to be replied at home and returned via mail or submitted to the facility during one of their standard arrangements. Latest glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and treatment routine were recorded structure the patients’ outlines. Physical and psychosocial well-beingâ of the patients was estimated utilizing the 87-thing youngster report adaptation of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-CF87), while their folks finished the CHQ-PF50 equal to the CHQ-CF87. Wretchedness, as a major aspect of the psychosocial prosperity of the patients was evaluated utilizing the 20-thing Center for Epidemiological Studies Scale for Depression (CES-D)â for the two patients and their

Free Essays on Parnoid

..p.html..p.html Symptomatic Criteria A. An unavoidable doubt and dubiousness of others to such an extent that their thought processes are deciphered as noxious, starting by early adulthood and present in an assortment of settings, as demonstrated by (at least four) of the accompanying: 1. suspects, without adequate premise, that others are misusing, hurting, or beguiling the person in question 2. is distracted with unjustified questions about the unwaveringness or reliability of companions or partners 3. is hesitant to trust in others in view of ridiculous dread that the data will be utilized malevolently against the person in question 4. peruses concealed disparaging or undermining implications into considerate comments or occasions 5. diligently maintain longstanding animosity feelings of spite, i.e., is unforgiving of affront, wounds, or insults 6. sees assaults on their character or notoriety that are not obvious to other people and rushes to respond irately or to counterattack 7. has repetitive doubts, without avocation, in regards to loyalty of companion or sexual accomplice B. Doesn't happen solely over the span of Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, or another Psychotic Disorder and isn't because of the direct physiological impacts of a general ailment. Note: If standards are met before the beginning of Schizophrenia, include Premorbid, e.g., Jumpy Personality Disorder (Premorbid). Related Features Odd/Eccentric/Suspicious Personality Sensational/Erratic/Antisocial Personality Differential Diagnosis Hallucinating Disorder, Persecutory Type; Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type; Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features; Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition; side effects that may create in relationship with constant substance use; suspicious qualities related with the advancement of physical impairments; Schizotypal Personality Disorder; Schizoid Personality Disorder; Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders; Avoidant Personality Disorder; ... Free Essays on Parnoid Free Essays on Parnoid ..p.html..p.html Demonstrative Criteria A. An inescapable doubt and dubiousness of others with the end goal that their thought processes are deciphered as pernicious, starting by early adulthood and present in an assortment of settings, as demonstrated by (at least four) of the accompanying: 1. suspects, without adequate premise, that others are misusing, hurting, or beguiling the person in question 2. is distracted with unjustified questions about the dependability or reliability of companions or partners 3. is hesitant to trust in others due to unjustifiable dread that the data will be utilized malignantly against the person in question 4. peruses shrouded belittling or compromising implications into considerate comments or occasions 5. tirelessly has hard feelings of spite, i.e., is unforgiving of put-down, wounds, or insults 6. sees assaults on their character or notoriety that are not evident to other people and rushes to respond irately or to counterattack 7. has intermittent doubts, without legitimization, in regards to devotion of companion or sexual accomplice B. Doesn't happen only throughout Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, or another Psychotic Disorder and isn't because of the direct physiological impacts of a general ailment. Note: If models are met before the beginning of Schizophrenia, include Premorbid, e.g., Jumpy Personality Disorder (Premorbid). Related Features Odd/Eccentric/Suspicious Personality Emotional/Erratic/Antisocial Personality Differential Diagnosis Whimsical Disorder, Persecutory Type; Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type; Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features; Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition; side effects that may create in relationship with constant substance use; distrustful qualities related with the improvement of physical impairments; Schizotypal Personality Disorder; Schizoid Personality Disorder; Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorders; Avoidant Personality Disorder; ...

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Evaluation Essay Examples on Diets - Three Key Points

Evaluation Essay Examples on Diets - Three Key PointsIf you're going to write a good evaluation essay, you'll need to understand evaluation essay samples on diets. You can use these examples as a model for your own application. Once you have a grasp of the topic, you can move on to creating your own essay.The first point that must be understood is that the control should be used sparingly. By 'savvy control,' I mean that the writer must use the control to showcase his or her wisdom, not to force the information on the reader. In fact, in this case, most writers would not want to use the control at all, since it does not achieve its intended goal.This is one of the major areas of exercise in the area of essay samples on diets. The reason why it is so important is because most people use the control or rationalize their opinions with it, without ever allowing the reader to develop an open mind.Evaluation essay samples on diets would not be as good as they are without the control, since this is the route to go. However, this should only be used as a part of a larger argument, and only when the truth is presented. Too often, writers are afraid to take the more difficult path, and believe they are smarter than they actually are. This is why essay samples on diets are often so effective.Of course, another way to look at evaluation essay samples on diets is as the basis for solid writing skills. For the purpose of achieving a coherent argument, writing skills should always be present. The entire basis of writing comes from the ability to put ideas together.Evaluation essay samples on diets can only achieve this if they are well written. Therefore, it is important that you pay attention to your own style and attempt to copy itas closely as possible.There are many examples of great essays on the internet. It would help if you could consider the following three basic principles when you are writing an essay on dieting. Each one is a means for developing great written ski lls and solid reasoning.Put all of these points together, and you will be able to focus on just the most important points and your overall arguments. Evaluation essay samples on diets will begin to seem like a distant memory when you can focus on just those three things.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Bad passive voice advice from Strunk and White

Although I can be a stickler for grammar (a tendency that I do my best to keep in check in non-teaching/blogging/grammar book-writing)  life), there are nevertheless a handful of rules that I really and truly could not care less about. Among them are  split infinitives (a ridiculous attempt to treat  English like a purely Latin-based  language that fails to take its  Germanic roots into account); the use of they to refer to a singular noun when gender is not specified (no, he is not  actually  neutral, and seeing it used that way increasingly feels like an anachronism); and the prohibition against the passive voice. The passive voice, in case youre unfamiliar with the term, involves flipping the subject and object of a sentence around to emphasize that an action was performed by someone/something, e.g The man drank the water, becomes The water  was drunk by the man. It is also possible to omit the by part and simply say The water was drunk, the implication clearly being that it was drunk by someone. On the SAT and the ACT, answers that contain passive constructions are almost always wrong, if for no reason other than that they tend to be unnecessarily wordy and awkward. And in fact, passive constructions are by definition wordier than active ones. The awkward part†¦ Well, thats up for debate. The use of the passive voice is an issue  that blurs the line between grammar and style; there are instances in which the passive creates wordy, awkward horrors, but there are also cases in which it is useful  to create a particular emphasis. For example, most people  would never even be tempted to say The car keys were lost by my mother. On the other hand, it sounds perfectly normal to say The bill was passed by Congress yesterday the emphasis is on the fact  that the bill went through. I always assumed that the no passive rule was  simply something that had been  cooked up a couple of centuries ago by linguistic purists (much like the no split infinitives rule)  and handed down from masters to disciples through the ages. In this case, however, through the ages means more like since the 1950s, more specifically since the popularization of The Elements of Style. Now, I confess to having a soft spot for Strunk and Whites chef doeuvre. It was the first grammar book I  used in high school   English class (we were handed copies in September and instructed to memorize it progressive education this was not), and it introduced me to all sorts of wonders like non-essential clauses and the requisite semicolon before however at the start of a clause. As I recently discovered, though, Strunk and White got some things wrong. As is, major, big-time, crash and burn wrong. (In my own defense, I havent looked at the book in years). I knew that some people had issues with the little book to put it diplomatically but I always wrote that off as a matter of personal taste. Then, a couple of days ago, I stumbled across  Geoffrey Pullums delightfully titled Chronicle Review article Fifty Years of Stupid Grammar Advice, in which the author takes it upon himself to  enumerate the ways in which Strunk and White managed to mangle their explanation of the passive voice. Indeed, they barely understood it themselves. As Pullum points out: What concerns me is that the bias against the passive is being retailed by a pair of authors so grammatically clueless that they dont know what is a passive construction and what isnt. Of the four pairs of examples offered to show readers what to avoid and how to correct it, a staggering three out of the four are mistaken diagnoses. At dawn the crowing of a rooster could be heard is correctly identified as a passive clause, but the other three are all errors: There were a great number of dead leaves lying on the ground has no sign of the passive in it anywhere. It was not long before she was very sorry that she had said what she had also contains nothing that is even reminiscent of the passive construction. The reason that he left college was that his health became impaired is presumably fingered as passive because of impaired, but thats a mistake. Its an adjective here. Become doesnt allow a following passive clause. (Notice, for example, that A new edition became issued by the publishers is not grammatical.) Ive heard horror stories about college students getting marked down on papers because their TAs/professors mistakenly thought they had used the passive voice when that was not the case at all. (And at any rate, no one should get marked down just for using the passive voice.) Its always a problem when people have knee-jerk reactions to concepts they dont fully understand. To be clear, though, I understand the pushback against the passive, especially on standardized tests. Standardized tests are, by nature, crude tools; their goal is to touch on the most common and misuses  of various structures. Ive read enough wordy, repetitive, marginally coherent  SAT/ACT essays  to   last a lifetime, and given that experience, I dont have a problem with the tests  perhaps overzealous approach.  In this case, however, know that the rule is a little more flexible in real life. But try not to go crazy, or a hard time will undoubtedly be had by your readers.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Breast Cancer Essay - 1330 Words

Breast Cancer Kinds of support Breast Cancer Clients’ need. Harpreet Kaur Malhi Scholarly Writing in Nursing Wednesday October 27, 2017 Breast cancer is no longer a menace as it was years back; however, little is known on what the patients experience after treatment. Pauwels, Charlier, Lechner Van Hoof (2013) state that the period of transition to survivorship is filled with emotional distress and a low quality of life. It is evident that the survivors have to go through many struggles and in the recent past, there have been interventions that are meant to improve on their well being. No clear guidelines exist on how the psychological interventions that should be applied to assist breast cancer patients to make a quick†¦show more content†¦Learning on the best coping strategies will help to do away with their fears and learn on how to run the day to day stress. Depression, PTSD, or even psychological suffering may make treatment of breast cancer quite difficult (Hutchinson, 2010). Better handling of the accompanying emotions will help to improve the medical care that the patient receives. For younger women, the treatment procedure may be tougher on them. Changes such as induced early menopause, lower level of estrogen can bring issues such as hot flashes, sweating at night and even vaginal dryness. Besides cases of infertility due to lower estrogen levels, there is the possibility of experiencing lower sexual drive (Partridge, 2013). With the treatment-induced menopause, there is a high possibility of weight gain; it is commonly accompanied by sleep disturbance and fatigue. Due to the treatment, there is a possibility of having lower bone mineral deposits; this may lead to bone-related deficiencies. Cardiovascular health issues have also been reported; besides the bodily harm that they cause, there is a great possibility of physiological disturbance that will need expert care (Partridge, 2013). Support needed by the patients Partridge, (2013) states that; a comprehensive approach is needed to accord the patients the best care possible. With this knowledge, researchers developed a program that addresses the issues facedShow MoreRelatedMale Breast Cancer Essay861 Words   |  4 Pages Breast cancer in males is quite common, yet still many people are unaware of this disease. Often, it can go undiagnosed until the cancer is in the fourth stage. Every year over 2,000 men will be diagnosed, but only 54% will survive. Cancer in men is often overlooked as it is almost 100 times less common in men than women. During a man’s entire lifespan, the risk of having a diagnosis is about one in one-thousand. The most common symptom of this devastating disease are a lump or some swelling. ThisRead More Breast Cancer Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pages BREAST CANCER I) Anatomy of the breast nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The breast is a gland designed to make milk. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; II) What is breast cancer? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;These abnormal growths are called tumors. Not all tumors are cancerous. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Non-cancerous tumors – benign nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;CancerousRead More Breast Cancer Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesBreast Cancer Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. There are many different types of cancer that are affecting people all over. Breast Cancer is one of these, and is found in man and women. Over 200,000 women and 1,300 men have been diagnosed with breast cancer this year. One in eight women will detect breast cancer in their lifetime. 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Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed: one in eight women will have breast cancer (Walgreens, 2011; Chen, 2010). â€Å"I have to admit, like so many women, I always knew there was a chance. But like so many women, I never thought it would be me. I never thought Id hear those devastating words: You have breast cancer. â€Å"- Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a democratic representative of Florida (2011). Mutations turn genes on and off

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

What Is a AAA Video Game

A triple-A video game (AAA) is generally a title developed by a large studio, funded by a massive budget. A simple way to think about AAA video games is to compare them to movie blockbusters. It costs a fortune to make an AAA game, just as it costs a fortune to make a new Marvel movie—but the anticipated returns make the outlay worthwhile. In order to recoup general development costs, publishers will generally produce the title for the major platforms (currently Microsofts Xbox, Sonys PlayStation, and the PC) to maximize profits. The exception to this rule is a game produced as a console exclusive, in which case the console maker will pay for exclusivity to offset the loss of potential profit to the developer. History of AAA Video Games Early computer games were simple, low-cost products that could be played by individuals or by multiple people in the same location. Graphics were simple or non-existent. The development of high-end, technically sophisticated consoles and the World Wide Web changed all that, turning computer games into complex, multi-player productions incorporating high-end graphics, video, and music. By the late 1990s, companies like EA and Sony were producing blockbuster video games expected to reach a huge audience and rake in serious profits. It was at that point that game makers started using the term AAA at conventions. Their idea was to build buzz and anticipation, and it worked: interest in video games soared, as did profits. During the 2000s, video game series became popular AAA titles. Examples of AAA series include Halo, Zelda, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto. Many of these games are quite violent, drawing criticism from citizen groups concerned with their impact on youth. Triple I Video Games Not all popular video games are created by the makers of Play Station or XBox consoles. In fact, a significant and increasing number of popular games are created by independent companies. Independent (III or triple I) games are funded independently and the makers are thus freer to experiment with different types of games, themes, and technology. Independent video game makers have several other advantages: They are not reliant on franchises and sequels, so they can often reach new audiences;They are often able to build a high-end game with far lower costs than the big game makers;They are more flexible in their response to user feedback and can make changes rapidly. The Future of AAA Video Games Some reviewers note that the biggest AAA video game producers are running up against the same issues plaguing movie studios. When a project is built with a huge budget, the company cant afford a flop. As a result, games tend to be designed around what has worked in the past; this keeps the industry from reaching a wider range of users or exploring new themes or technologies. The result: some believe  that a growing number of AAA video games will actually be produced by independent companies who have the vision and flexibility to innovate and reach new audiences. Nevertheless, games based on existing series and blockbuster movies will not be disappearing anytime soon.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Rene Descartes Essay - 611 Words

Rene Descartes Rene Descartes was a math philosopher, he was born in Toures, on March 31 1596, and he died at Stockholm on February 11 1650. His father was forced to spend half the year at Rennes, where he was a councilman. The rest of the time he spent with his family of Les Cartes at La Haye. Rene was the second child out of four kids. At the age of eight, he was sent to the Jesuit School at La Fleche. The school had very good education and discipline. On account of his delicate health, he was permitted to lie in bed until late in the mornings. In 1647, he visited Pascal, he told himself that the only way to do good work in math, and to keep his health was to never allow anyone to make him get up in the morning before he felt†¦show more content†¦The values of x and y determined the co-coordinates of a number of points which forms a curve, of which the equation f(x,y)=0 has a geometrical property. Rene said that a point in a space could be determined by three co-coordinates. Rene pointed out the very important facts that two or more curves can be referred to one and the same system of co-coordinates, and that the points in which two curves intersect can be determined by finding the roots common to their equations. Rene wrote three Geometric books. The first two are about analytical geometry, and the third is an analysis of algebra that was current then. Rene also paid particular attention to the theory of tangents to curves. Back then the current definition of a tangent at a point was a straight line through the point such that between it and the curve no other straight line could be drawn, that is the straight line of closet contact. Rene described his theory by giving the general rule for drawing tangents and normals to a roulette. The method that Rene used to find the tangent or normal at any point of a given curve was he determined the center and radius of a circle, which should cut the curve in two consecutive points. The tangent to the circle at that point will be the required tangent to the curve. In modern text books it isShow MoreRelated The Meditations by Rene Descartes1003 Words   |  5 PagesIn Descartes’ Meditations, his goal to prove the existence of things could only be accomplished if he was logical, clear, and correct in his thoughts and writings. The most important issues he noted were the threat of being deceived and the potential of being incorrect in his judgments, both of which would lead him into error. Error exists as a problem that individuals encounter on a regular basis, and it also exists as a focal point in Descartes’ Meditations. Descartes defines error as â€Å"a privationRead More Rene Descartes Essay1094 Words   |  5 PagesRene Descartes was a famous French mathematician, scientist and philosopher. He was arguably the first major philosopher in the modern era to make a serious effort to defeat skepticism. His views about knowledge and certainty, as well as his views about the relationship between mind and body have been very influe ntial over the last three centuries. Descartes was born at La Haye (now called Descartes), and educated at the Jesuit College of La Flà ¨che between 1606 and 1614. Descartes later claimedRead MoreEssay on Renà © Descartes759 Words   |  4 PagesRenà © Descartes Renà © Descartes was a French philosopher and also mathematician. His method of doubt led him to the famous cogito ergo sum when translated means I am thinking, therefore I exist. This cogito was the foundation for Descartes quest for certain knowledge. He explored doubt and how we can prove our own existence, by taking the first steps of scepticism. His book Meditations On First Philosophy, was written in six parts. EachRead More Rene Descartes Essay1271 Words   |  6 PagesI think, therefore I am Rene Descartes was a man obsessed with finding things out for himself, an intellectual who contributed to the field of psychology. Born in the 16th century, Descartes grew up in a society where ideas, thoughts and perceptions were not questioned but were supposed to be understood and supported. While growing up and through his studies, Descartes began to make strides in the fields of philosophy, mathematics and science. Descartes was a man who challenged accepted ideasRead MoreAppraisal of Renà © Descartes1209 Words   |  5 Pages Meditations on First Philosophy and The Passions of the Soul, Renà © Descartes lays out his views on the mind. Descartes is a dualist, specifically an interactionalist, which is someone who believes that mental states and physical states are distinct from one another, yet still affect each other. This view, however, faces significant obstacles, to which Descartes believes he has an answer for. In this paper I will outline Descartes’ argument for the distinctness between the mind and body, explicateRead MoreA Brief Biography of Rene Descartes1580 Words   |  6 Pagesworks of philosopher Rene Descartes, who had endorsed the mechanistic conception of the world and the human body by coining notions such as mind, substance, and the knowledge argument; although his notions were not always accepted, he managed to provide valid support. Born in France, Rene Descartes, dubbed The Father of Modern Philosophy was, in a way, a Renaissance man having contributed influence amongst subjects such science, mathematics, psychology, and philosophy. Descartes was the medium ofRead MoreA Brief Look at Rene Descartes829 Words   |  3 Pages Rene Descartes was a brilliant man who came up with many inventions and thoughts to put in people’s minds and let them ponder off and question life in itself. In one of the many things Rene Descartes created, he wrote a book called Discourse on the Method and Meditations. Descartes discusses how there are two main proofs of God’s existence, the casual argument in meditation three and the ontological argument in meditation five. There are a few differences between these two meditations and one isRead MoreThe Meditations of Rene Descartes Essay493 Words   |  2 PagesThe Meditations of Rene Descartes In 1916 Rene Descartes wrote What I wish to finish is . . . an absolutely new science enabling one to resolve all questions proposed on any order of continuos or discontinuous quantities. (p8 Methods Meditations). He made this ambitious statement at the young age of twenty-three. Renes ambition would take him far but it kept him from becoming the Aristotle of the modern age. The Meditations were an attempt to solve the many questions about life, existenceRead MoreRene Descartes and John Locke698 Words   |  3 PagesRene Descartes was a highly influential French philosopher, mathematician, scientist and writer. Many elements of his philosophy have precedent in late Aristolelianism and earlier philosophers like St. Augustine. Descartes was a major figure in 17th century continental rationalism, later advocated by Baruch Spinoza and opposed by the empiricist school of thought consisting of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. His most famous statement is: Cogito ergo sum, translation in En glish I think therefore I am.Read MoreEssay about Rene Descartes1730 Words   |  7 PagesRene Descartes was born on March 31, 1596 in La Haye Touraine, France. Descartes was considered a jack of all trades, making major contributions to the areas of anatomy, cognitive science, optics, mathematics and philosophy. He has been referred to as the father of modern rationalism, soldier of fortune, scholar, pilgrim, traveler, and a firm adherent of the Roman Catholic faith. He was educated at the Jesuit college of La Fleche in Anjou. He entered the college at the age of eight years, just

Why Should Ratify The Constitution - 803 Words

Right now a debate is accruing about weather or not we should ratify the constitution. This is an important moment in our country history because if we ratify the constitution it could make our country better or make it worse.We are at a crossroads in the history of our country. The Articles of Confederation are not working. They give the states too much power and are too weak. We can not pay our debts as a nation.The proposed Constitution would give us a strong government so that we can rise money through taxes. It could create a strong system of representatives. For these reasons I think we should ratify the Constitution. One reason to ratify the Constitution is with the Constitution we could rise the money we need through taxes to pay off debts.According to the speech given by delegate James Wilson it is the federal government s job to protect our nation, support the dignity of the union, and pay off the nations debts. it is the federal government’s duty to provide for the national safety, to support the dignity of the union, and to pay the country’s debts.For the government to protect our nation we need to pay, feed, and provide shelter for all of our soldiers. To do that we need money and we get the money from taxes. To keep our nations dignity we need to pay off our debts and we can t do that without money and the money comes from taxes that aren t being fully payed.This quote of James Wilson says that the government should get to tax people directly in casesShow MoreRelatedShould We Ratify The Constitution?811 Words   |  4 Pageswe should ratify the Constitution. This is an impor tant moment in our countries history.It is important to our countries history because if we ratify the Constitution the Executive branch would have all of the power. If we didn t ratify the Constitution the states would have power. The proposed Constitution would give the Executive branch the right to tax the American citizens and the states wouldn t be able to say no to it. My position is an Anti-Federalist. One reason we should not ratify theRead Morecompany law Essay1659 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿QUESTION 1 Issue: the issue about company’s constitution and whether the loan contract between ABC bank and Sambal Pty Ltd is invalid. State the law: Section 140 of the corporations act states that: â€Å"A company’s constitution (if any) and any replaceable rules that apple to the company have effect as a contract: (a) Between the company and each member; and (b) Between the company and each director and company secretary; and (c) Between a member and each other member; Apply the law: AccordingRead MoreThe Rights We Now Have Because Of Our Forefathers1505 Words   |  7 Pagesenough history followed with the Constitution. Many people played a role in the development and this paper will examine the Federalists and their counterparts the non-federalist. This paper will also show the timeline pertaining to the articles of confederation and compare it to the constitution. To believe in something we need to understand why we need to do it in the first place. Why do we need to be governed and given a list of rules to be treated fairly? Why is an understatement, when peopleRead MoreShould The Constitution Be Ratified For The Future?978 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout American history the constitution has been the framework for democracy. Written in 1787, the constitution was a great conception for the thirteen colonies. Now two-hundred and twenty-eight years later the United States is not a county of freedom fighting European-Americans. In this diverse and modern society concerns have come to surface as to whether the constitution should be ratified for the future to come. Ratifying the constitution sounds like a good notion, but is nearly impossibleRead MoreAp Gov Unit 31006 Words   |  5 Pagesby the right to amend the Constitution guaranteed by Article V? Evaluate James Madison’s claim in Federalist 43 that the Constitution â€Å"guards equally against the extreme facility which would render the Constitution too mutable, and that extreme difficulty which might perpetuate its discovered faults.† Some critics of the amending process contend that amendments, once proposed, should be submitted to popular vote, bypassing state legislatures. Do you agree or disagree? Why? P1. According to professorRead MoreThe Articles Of Confederation From A New Constitution1506 Words   |  7 Pagesthis paper is to talk about the different actions taken to replace the Articles of Confederation to bring about a new Constitution. I will first start out by giving some background on the Article of Confederation as to what it was and why it was important for the US? Secondly, I will provide the reader with some of the strengths and weaknesses of the Article of Confederation. Why did the Article of Confederation fail? Third, I will talk about the actions that were taken to replace the Article ofRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And Federalist Papers Essay1640 Words   |  7 Pagestopics are discussed, but if it weren’t for the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Federalist papers. How far would the world get on a day to day bases? The constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed (Oxford Dictionaries). The Constitution was written the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed. The constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention,Read MoreTheu.s. Constitution And The Constitution1612 Words   |  7 PagesThe U.S Constitution is one of the most, if not the most, important documents ever written in political history. The constitution established America’s national government and provided the fundamental framework for the present and future legal parameters by which the american people would be governed by. The Constitution was officially signed September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia during a constitutional convention. In order for the constitution to actually be an official document, it had to have beenRead MoreThe Development to The United States Constitution Essay1643 Words   |  7 PagesWhy did the Americans select the constitutional order they did in 1787-1789, and why did they reject a more democratic and confederal form not more than a decade old? In 1787, twenty-nine delegates convened in Philadelphia to tweak the Articles of Confederation. Some delegates, however, arrived with the intention of creating a completely new constitution. James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, a plan which advocated a balanced, three-branch method of government with a bicameral, or two-house,Read MoreThe Dispute That Disconcertingly Didn t Win1872 Words   |  8 PagesThe Dispute That Disconcertingly Didn’t Win It is June of 1789. Nearly a year has passed since the ratification of the Constitution. Imagine your children and wife waking you up and asking you what is for dinner. You are not sure what to say because you lost your farm due to paying off debts. This endures and then something tragic transpires. Your youngest child perishes. In the 1780s there were two diverse types of people with dissimilar lifestyles. These encompassed Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Services and Automated Driving Capabilities †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Services and Automated Driving Capabilities. Answer: Introduction: A smart car is an automobile that can drive itself. It has all the software and algorithms installed, to control its speed and direction (Shaikh et al. 2017). The Artificial Intelligence (AI) system takes help of complex algorithms to make quick and prompt decisions. One of the main motives behind its development was to reduce traffic accidents by ruling out human error tendency management. This has eminently helped to solve traffic law issues. Their ability to use fuel efficiently, adds to the section of advantages (Rathore et al. 2016). However, several ethical dilemmas regarding the AI driven smart cars, have been brought to notice lately. This discussion aims at highlighting how artificial intelligence in smart cars can be socially problematic. A few ethical issues faced by automated cars are discussed below. Possible solutions to the same are also advised in due course management. One latest use of artificial intelligence has been found in the manufacturing of smart cars (Zohdy, Kamalanathsharma and Rakha 2012). Millions of lines of codes are written to build an AI. The artificial intelligence records every detail from the cars movement to the happenings in the nearest vicinity. It uses multiple sensors and cameras. It then analyses every such aspects and take quick and prompt decisions. The microprocessor guides the car according to the codes written into it. A robot car might have solved a few major traffic issues. They are also fuel-efficient. However, they are not completely dependable in regards to tackling social dilemmas. It is designed to take act independently and take quick decisions regarding its speed and mobility (Shaikh et al. 2017). Supposedly, it tracks a small tree branch ahead, on a highway. Human drivers would have driven past the branch and avoided the formation of a traffic blockage. The smart car would however not cross the double-yellow line, as it dutifully follows the law. It would halt. This would result in a traffic jam. The human drivers behind, will have to face problems for a silly reason. In case of any emergency, a human driver would generally apply some wit and luck. He or she would require boosting the car a few knots above the speed limit. This might break the law, but the emergency can be attended without a delay. On the other hand, a smart car is not designed to do so. It will never opt to break the law. Therefore, health or economical emergencies will prove to be fatal. The car, will refuse to drive in auto-mode, if the tire is a little under-inflated or the headlight is broken, though it being daytime. These kinds of situation might create tremendous problems for the owner or the travelling passengers. Cars going smart, make them heavily relied on the internet. The Gartner predicts there will be about a quarter of a billion wirelessly connected vehicles by 2020 (Gartner.com, 2017). This maximizes the threat of hacks or security breaches. Hackers nowadays can breach into any system connected to a network. A smart car is fairly a new device. It still has its own security vulnerabilities that are yet to be tested and fixed. If an AI system is hacked, it is open to commit any unreasonable duty as commanded. From revealing the cars GPS location to controlling the car remotely, great risks would lie ahead. The life of the passengers would be threatened (Ring 2015). A car in the control of cyber criminals can be made to do terrible things and disrupt traffic safety. If the car is left in a position where it can save either its passengers or the pedestrians, a social dilemma is faced. To abide by the law and moral ethics, it will make every attempt to protect the pedestrians. The life of the passengers will hence be sacrificed. This issue is still unsolved and requires further research, according to scientists (Bonnefon, Shariff and Rahwan 2016). For example, if the car suddenly tracks an approaching trolley with a baby in it, it will attempt to take a sharp turn. Now what if a tree blocks the turn; what should it do. This will leave the car in a moral dilemma. If it drives on straight, a child might get killed. If it attempts a sudden halt in the middle of the road, the vehicles might crash behind. Whereas, taking the turn to hit a tree, will make it kill or injure its own passengers. Philosophers term this situation as the Trolley Problem (Kamm 2015). To take the less harsh decision, the algorithms would generally guide the cars AI to sacrifice itself in order to save the child and avoid a traffic collision behind. This is a major drawback in the popularity of automated cars. The owners will never wish to purchase and ride such vehicles (Bonnefon, Shariff and Rahwan 2016). To resolve all the above mentioned social issues is a tough ask. However, attempts can be made to prevent or avoid such circumstances up to a certain extent. Firstly, in case of emergencies, the AI must be programmed to act differently. It must be fed with real life problem solving techniques. It must be designed to take actions that would minimize casualty. The lawmakers need to re-script certain aspects of traffic regulations, keeping in mind the increase in the usage of smart cars. Manufacturers and AI programmers must put in more efforts to strengthen smart car security management (Atamli and Martin 2014). From the above discussion, it can thus be concluded that the use of Artificial Intelligence in smart cars are destined to face too many social issues. From life threatening dilemmas and cyber security threats to mishandling of emergencies, many social problems are yet to be solved. The lawmakers and the car manufacturers must try out every alternative to solve these issues and dilemmas. Being a fairly new invention, more research is required in this field. Solving these issues to the farthest possible extent might prove smart cars to become one of the most useful achievements in the modern era of advancement of technology. References Atamli, A.W. and Martin, A., 2014, September. Threat-based security analysis for the internet of things. In Secure Internet of Things (SIoT), 2014 International Workshop on (pp. 35-43). IEEE. Bonnefon, J.F., Shariff, A. and Rahwan, I., 2016. The social dilemma of autonomous vehicles. Science, 352(6293), pp.1573-1576. Gartner.com. (2017). Gartner Says By 2020, a Quarter Billion Connected Vehicles Will Enable New In-Vehicle Services and Automated Driving Capabilities. [online] Available at: https://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2970017 [Accessed 9 Oct. 2017]. Kamm, F.M., 2015. The trolley problem mysteries. Oxford University Press. Rathore, M.M., Ahmad, A., Paul, A. and Rho, S., 2016. Urban planning and building smart cities based on the internet of things using big data analytics. Computer Networks, 101, pp.63-80. Ring, T., 2015. Connected carsthe next targe tfor hackers. Network Security, 2015(11), pp.11-16. Shaikh, A., Jadhav, P., Kulkarni, R. and Bhosale, S., 2017. Semi Autonomous Smart Car. 4(4) Zohdy, I.H., Kamalanathsharma, R.K. and Rakha, H., 2012, September. Intersection management for autonomous vehicles using iCACC. In Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), 2012 15th International IEEE Conference on (pp. 1109-1114). IEEE.

Australia failing to protect Great Barrier - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Australia failing to protect Great Barrier. Answer: Introduction: The term international relations can be determined as a division of political science that can be adopted for developing connections between two economies and also with international policies. The concept is further observed demonstrating the study of foreign affairs and international conflicts among the regions that include the roles and obligations of the economies intergovernmental, NGO, and multinational corporations. Global bonds can be both moot and public policy field and can be both optimistic and normative as it analyze and frame the foreign policies of the particular economy. Further, the concept is also concerned about the in explaining the connections of the states in the global regional system, and this approach also attempts to describe the interactions of others whose behavior originates within one economy and is targeted towards member of other countries. In simpler terms the study of international relations is totally focused and is based on explaining the behavior a cross the borders of different economies. The below presented essay has been analyzed for describing Australias climate change efforts. The essay has been focused on the climate change and global relations. As per the given scenario Australia has been proven unsuccessful to oblige an adequate role in the global response to climate change. Climate change and international relations: On the basis of the report presented by International institution of Governance program (2013), it has been observed that the climate change is one of the most empirical issues in the list of threats faced by the world. According to the research executed by American Metrological society it has been stated that there is a high range of probability of rising in global temperature from 3.5 to 7.4 degrees Celsius (6.3 to 13.3 degrees Fahrenheit) in less than one hundred years. These minor shifting in the environmental conditions can become reasons for widespread disasters such as rise in sea levels, violent and volatile weather patterns, famines, droughts, desertification etc. In November 2011, a warning was given by the International Energy Agency that the world may be fast moving towards a sloping point of change in climate and also it was suggested that the coming future will be prove vital for reduction in the efforts for greenhouse. According to The United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) it has been defined as a change of climate that is accredited unswervingly or indirectly to human practices and due to making modifications in the international atmosphere. Activities that lead to contamination are arising from the engineering practices and other sources that are held responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases. These gases include carbon dioxide and other harmful gases and also have the ability of absorbing the spectrum of the infrared light and contribute in the warming of the environment. These gases once produced remains imprisoned in the atmosphere for decades. There are number of reasons for the changes in the climate that are adversely affecting the climate or the surrounding. The prime reason behind the climate change is the emission of the dangerous gases and pollutants such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. It has been observed that the greenh ouse is the cycle due to which the mentioned pollutants and gasses gets imprisoned in the atmosphere and heat the planet. It has been observed that in the year 1827 Joseph Fourier a French mathematician and physicist projected that the worming process of earth is acted in the same way as a greenhouse traps heat. A procedure of noticeable lights and imperceptible radiations, in which the earths atmosphere is acting as a glass barrier, and the observable radioactivity from the sun that badges through the Earths environment will be engrossed by the land, water and vegetation but there are some pollutants and infrared radiations gets imprisoned in the atmosphere and remains in the environment. And it has also been noted that the oxygen and nitrogen and also the other natural key elements are unable to absorb infrared radiation. The mentioned gases feed-off the heat energy and a second source of radiation is emitted for warming the surface of the earth. This heat energy remains imprisone d in the environment and deteriorates the depending on the level of gases that are able of absorbing it. An increase in the level of greenhouse gases will make a growth in the absorbing power and that will make more absorption of more infrared radiation On the basis of the research it has been inferred that Australia has made commitments for taking strong domestic and international actions for the changes in the climate. It has been observed that the Australian governing authorities has been making implementation of national policies for reducing emission of pollutants and cope up with the effects of the climate change in relation to the co-ordinated international practices. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris (30 November to 12 December 2015) am historical global climate agreement was made (dfat.gov 2018). A durable and dynamic framework has been set by the Paris agreement for all the nations for taking climate action from 2020, development of existing global efforts in the duration of 2020. The prime outcomes of this agreement include: A global goal has been developed for holding the average temperature hike to well below 2C and efforts are pursued for keeping the warming level below 1.5C above per-industrial level. Mitigation targets are set by each and every nation from 2020 and targets are also required to be reviewed from a time interval of 5 years. Vigorous transparency and accountability norms for providing confidence in the nations practices conducted and also tracking the progress towards the desired targets. Promotion of the practices to be adopted and also building elasticity to climate change. Further, in the Paris conference, nations were send invitations for submitting indicative posts-2020 targets and that were termed as intended nationally determined contributions (INDCS). It has been observed that targets have been set by all the member nations to the UNFCCC. That comprise of all the G20 member nations. These set goals included 96% of international emission, over 39 percent of international GDP and this also included 99.8 % of the Australias two way trade. Mainly, these goals comprise significantly more that the Cancun agreements (2010) and under this agreement more than 100 countries took participation and made pledges for minimizing and setting limits to the greenhouse gases emission by the duration 2020 (dfat.gov 2018). Making reduction in the emission by 26-29 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 has been considered as one of the ambitious targets of Australia. This builds on the target of 2020 target minimizing or eliminating emissions approximately by 5% below levels of 2020. The attainments of the goals of Australia will be done by credible policy suite that has been made already engaged in the process of eliminating the emission, encouraging the technological development, etc. Australias response for climate change: In Australia, scientific evidence related to global warming is clearly available, and for preventing the general and dangerous impacts of climate change strong and strict actions are required by policy makers and industries. Response of departments related to the mitigation clearly state the need to reduce the rate of warming in the global climate system. On the other hand, adaptation response are necessary for the purpose of reducing the impact of current and future climate related issues and for managing the risk related to changes occurred in future climate (Durrant, n.d.). In 2016, Paris Agreement was enforced and the main purpose of this agreement is to strengthen the global response in context of risk related to climate change. For meeting its initial target in regards of Paris agreement, Australia committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28% in comparison of 2005 by 2030. Experts believe that mitigation and adaptation efforts conducted by Australia will be strongly enhanced by the adoption and development of science and technology innovations and these innovations must be supported by government policies. With strong leadership from government and active participation from industries, Australia is meeting the challenges and become the leader in grabbing the opportunities in context of climate change (ATSE, n.d.). However, there is one more side of coin which reflects that Australia is failed to address the issues related to climate change. Experts from military and climate department warned the government that there is possibility that Australia faces various disaster consequences because of the changes occurred in climate which ultimately results in other natural disasters and forced migration of 10 million peoples across the region. Chris Barrie, Former defense force chief Adm stated that ability of Australia to reduce and respond to the impacts of climate change is affected by the political shyness. Climate change regulations of Australia have suffered from serious lack of political leadership. Approval to Adanis new coal mine is the perfect example for that. When world is coming together for the purpose of reducing the carbon emissions to prevent global warning, at that moment governments of Australia are chasing new proposals of coal mine of Adani. Government gives approval to the proposal of Adani which would result in the open up of complete Galilee Basin for poison generated by new mines (Stop Adani, n.d.). This mine is not only the biggest coal mine in Australia, but it is equal to almost five times the area of Sydney Harbour. This is the time when there is need to take efforts for reducing carbon pollution, but this mine complete takes the efforts of Australia in the new direction (The Guardian, 2017). It must be noted that, Great Barrier Reef already experience the shocking coral bleaching from rise in sea temperatures because of the global warming. In case current trends of the climate will continue, then it is estimated that Great Barrier Reef will experience serious coral bleaching in every 2nd year. Changes occur in climate also upturn because of the land clearing for building the mine. Almost, 20,200 hectares of land which is equal to 28,000 soccer fields or 200,000 quarter-acre blocks is cleared for Adani mills. Over half of the land which is clear for this mine is mature woodland and bush land which is considered as important territory for number of animals and it also includes some threatened species such as koalas and echidnas and endangered birds (Coates, et. al, 2014). Heat waves generated from mines which cause serious health issues which result in more deaths in Australia in comparison of deaths occurred from natural disasters since 1890. Longer, hotter, and more intense heat waves in Australia are being determined by changes occurred in climate. Research stated that number of deaths in summer are increasing as compared to deaths occurred in winters which clearly states that changes occurred in climate affects the mortality rate. New mine project of Adani make this situation worse. Australia and other countries of the world already bear the consequences of polluting air and water, and we area also facing the dangers which cause because of the changes occurred in climate. We must conduct actions which ensure changes from polluting coal, oil, and gas to 100% renewable energy to stop greenhouse gas emissions which already reach to more dangerous levels. The first step in this context is the prevention of Australias biggest coal mine proposal, before it gets started. Greenhouse gas emission is not the only issue, coal mine also robs billions of liters of water and this water will be taken from the ground water systems and Queenslands inland rivers. This mine use up to 9500 million liters of groundwater which is draining into a vast coal pits and underground mines each year. Governments also take actions to make sure that Adani gets the groundwater for free, and for this purpose government also deprive farmers from their rights to file appeal against Adani for taking their groundwater (agarwal, 2017; Env law, 2015). This step of government results in permanent changes in the groundwater system and water table will also drop. In other words, Adani not only rob the local farmers but it also drain water from the rare and ancient Doongmabulla and Mellaluka springs which provide support to the native animals and plants. Coal mine of Adani also get permission to draw water from aquifers and for this purpose Adani dig deep. This water will be sprayed on the mine for getting billowing clouds of coal dust which will be generated by this project, and it will also be used for washing the coal which prepared for export. Mines of Adani create big risk for the water resources of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, n.d.). Shortage of fresh water results in famine, and starving people becomes the serious problem for Australia. Historical evidence suggests that under these situations there are chances of mass migration (The Guardian, 2017). After considering the above facts, it can be said that political system of Australia in context of climate change is corrupt, and it fails to fulfill its obligations. Australia also fails to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions which are combined with its investment in new coal mining projects, and these new investments threatening the long term future of the Great Barrier Reef. In 2016, almost 22% of the corals died in the reefs and these deaths occurred in the areas of northern part of the reef. Climate change is considered as biggest reason for the declining health of reef, which is increasing the ocean temperatures and acidification. World Heritage Organization pushes the nations, especially Australia to take actions to protect their coral reefs. World Heritage Convention wants that Australia take all necessary actions and use appropriate resources for the purpose of protecting its coral reefs. Clear evidences are present which reflect that climate changes endangered the coral reefs, but still Australia make new investments in the coal mines projects. Instead of fulfilling its obligation for protecting the Great Barrier Reef from the future events of coral bleaching, Australia is failing to take actions which are fair and help the government in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it can be said that Australia fails to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement (Davy, 2017). Tourism policy of Australia fails to support climate change: International journal of sustainable tourism reflects that only 21% of the tourism policies of Australia contain provisions related to the climate change, and these provisions only acknowledge the climate change as an issue. Instead of the fact that tourism is very important for the economy of Australia and its worth billions of dollars, and has been found by scientists that it also contributes in the climate change, only five tourism strategies of Australia recognize the impact of this sector on changes occurred in climate. After considering the documents related to the policy, it is found that tourism strategy of Australia mainly focuses on the adaptation strategies accompanied with mitigation. Documents further stated that certification and accreditation are also considered as adaptation measures by the tourism industry. State government of Australia is less proactive in considering the impact of tourism on climate change, and this can be understood through example, NSW fails to mention anything about the climate change in their tourism state level strategies. Experts stated that tourism sector has significant potential to improve and take action for preventing climate changes. In other words, tourism sector can develop mitigation and adaptation strategies. There are number of opportunities available to the tourism industry for the purpose of contributing in the sustainable management of climate change such as they can develop more green products and they can implement more environment friendly practices (QUT, 2017). Review of Climate change policies of Australia: In 2017, government of Australia reviewed its climate change policy for the purpose of ensuring that they are effective in achieving the target set for 2030 and obligation stated under Paris Agreement. This review was conducted by the Department of the Environment and Energy. As per this review report, government of Australia committed to addressing the climate change issues and at similar time they are taking steps to maintain the energy security and affordability and the competitiveness of our industries. The government recognizes that while reducing the emissions and for meeting the international obligations there is need to balance the economic impacts (DEE, 2017). However, reality is different from this review, as Lawyers while addressing the serious concern of UNESCO in context of coral bleaching and mortality rate related to the Great Barrier Reef caused by the changes occurred in climate stated, that Australia is not fulfilling its international obligation to protect the coral reef from the impacts of climate changes. Documents released by UNESCO show serious concern about the coral bleaching and mortality on the Great Barrier Reef caused by the Climate change (Environmental Justice Australia, 2017). As stated by the international and Australian lawyers To the UNESCOs World Heritage Committee must ask the Australia to do its fair share for the purpose of protecting the reef in the future. Recommendations: In light of the above stated facts, it is recommended to the authorities at international level to take following actions: International authorities must express their concern on serious note in context of coral bleaching and increasing mortality rate. Authorities must make call on Australia for not supporting and approving the new development projects that will directly or indirectly cause harm to the environment. Authorities must make request to the Australian government to monitors its current strategies and make necessary changes in it (SMH, 2017). Australia must review its progress in context of climate change on continuous basis and with honesty. Conclusion: This report mainly focuses on the climate change and international relations in Australia. As stated by the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC), change of climate is directly or indirectly related to human practices and because of altering the international atmosphere. Australia fail to address the issues related to climate change in different areas such as greenhouse gas emissions. Experts from defense and climate department warned the Australian government that country face various disaster consequences because of the changes occurred in the climate. After considering the above facts, it can be said that political system of Australia in context of climate change is completely corrupt and this system fails to fulfill its obligations. Australia also fails to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and instead of taking efforts Australia is investing in new coal mining projects, and these new investments threatening the long term future of the Great Barrier Reef. As stated above, Australia accept the obligations under Paris agreement but it fails to meet these obligations, and this fact is provided by different evidences such as approval of Australia government to the proposal of Adani new coal mine. In other words, instead of fulfilling its obligation for protecting the Great Barrier Reef from the future events of coral bleaching Australia is welcoming the proposals of new coal mines. References Agarwal, K, (2017). Adanis Australia Story: Whats the Fuss All About?, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://thewire.in/188092/adanis-australia-story-whats-the-fuss-all-about/. ATSE, Australias Response to Climate Change. Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.atse.org.au/content/publications/policy/australias-response-to-climate-change.aspx. Coates L, et. al. (2014). Exploring 167 years of vulnerability: an examination of extreme heat events in Australia 18442010. Environmental Science Policy. 42:33-44. Davy, C, (2017). Australia failing to protect Great Barrier Reef, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/9666-Australia-failing-to-protect-Great-Barrier-Reef-/en. DEE, (2017). Review of Climate Change Policies. Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/18690271-59ac-43c8-aee1-92d930141f54/files/2017-review-of-climate-change-policies.pdf. DEE, Australia's 2030 Emission Reduction Target. Assessed on 21st February 2018, https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/government/australias-emissions-reduction-target. Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Doongmabaulla Springs DIWA nationally important wetland, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/diwa-wetland-doongmabulla-springs/. Dfat.gov, (2018). Climate change, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://dfat.gov.au/international-relations/themes/climate-change/pages/climate-change.aspx. Durrant, N. The Australian Response to Climate Change: business as usual or legal innovation?. Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/39199/1/39199.pdf. Env Law, (2015). Expert Report on groundwater impacts to the Land Court by Dr John Webb as part of proceedings in Land Services of Coast and Country Inc Ors. v Adani Mining Pty Ltd (2015). Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://envlaw.com.au/wp- content/uploads/carmichael9.pdf. Environmental justice Australia, (2017). The world is watching: UNESCO monitoring Australias failure to protect Great Barrier Reef from climate change, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://envirojustice.org.au/media/the-world-is-watching-unesco. International institution and global governance program, (2013). The global climate change regime, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.cfr.org/report/global-climate-change-regime. QUT, (2017). News - Australian tourism policies fail to address climate change, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.qut.edu.au/news?news-id=124456. SMH, (2017). World Heritage And Climate Change: The Legal Responsibility of States to Reduce Their Contributions to Climate Change, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.smh.com.au/cqstatic/guuvte/reefwhc.pdf. Stop Adani (2017). Why #StopAdani, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.stopadani.com/why_stop_adani#wrecks_our_climate. The Guardian, (2017). Australia faces potentially disastrous consequences of climate change, inquiry told, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/11/australia-potentially-disastrous-consequences-of-climate-change-inquiry-told. The Guardian, (2017). Is this the end of the road for Adanis Australian megamine?, Retrieved on 21st February 2018 from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/07/is-this-the-end-of-the-road-for-adanis-australian-megamine.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Public Policy and Hurricane Katrina

Public policy refers to the guided approaches used by governments or government agencies to cover a specified class of issues that need the attention of the government (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007). Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Public Policy and Hurricane Katrina specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although public policy is meant to cater for a myriad of government initiatives, it sometimes become evident when a nation is faced with an emergency and it needs an elaborate plan to cater for such emergencies. When the US government was faced by the disastrous hurricane Katrina, it responded with elaborate policies to ensure that the disaster and its effects were contained. Hurricane Katrina is one of the most memorable natural disasters in the history of the United States due to its magnitude of destruction (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007). It led to loss of properties, loss of lives and deformation of the nat ural land, which is of great importance to human beings as well as for the economy of the United Sates of America at large. Its effects were extremely exhibited in such places like Mississippi, Louisiana City of New Orleans, and Alabama. Two days before the disaster, the president had declared a state of emergency in several regions such as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007) The government responded to the hurricane by use of several agencies. Among the agencies that were used by the government was Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Stewart, Hedge and Lester (2007) also note that other stakeholders that took part in this response were private individuals, NGOs and local-level agencies. This illustrated the concern and empathy that people showed towards the affected ones. People living in Louisiana and coastal Mississippi as well as in Alabama were quickly issued with evacuation orders either voluntarily or by use of force. Among those issued with evacuation orders were about one million, two hundred thousand residents in the Gulf Coast (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007).Advertising Looking for assessment on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was sued due to the failures of the hurricane protection measures especially due to the role of the identified agency in designing the levee system (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007). Army Corps engineers were found solely responsible, but their sovereign immunity protected them from being held accountable. The response that was received during the crisis from the federal state as well as local government was also investigated. This forced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director to resign (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007). The resignation of the director contributed to the slowness in the operation offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and of New Orleans Police D epartment (NOPD). However, there were areas where the response was highly commended such as the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Hurricane Center (Stewart, Hedge Lester, 2007). The government on its side failed in timely delivery of goods as well as early rescue of victims of the hurricane Katrina. Generally, the government of the United States of America should be solely committed to natural disasters that may occur in the country through timely response to the situation and provision of the necessities to the affected individuals. The public on the other hand should also play a role in giving support to the affected persons through their generous contributions. Non Governmental Organizations should offer their support to victims of such disasters fully. These include assisting homeless individuals through tent construction and also creating awareness on the effects of natural disasters. This would ensure full protection of the public as well as solidarity and un ity in the country. Reference Stewart, J., Hedge, D. M. Lester, J.P. (2007). Public Policy: An Evolutionary Approach.New York: Cengage. This assessment on Public Policy and Hurricane Katrina was written and submitted by user Delilah Benson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

RAppeal Essay Sample: Creating an Essay That Attracts Your Audience

RAppeal Essay Sample: Creating an Essay That Attracts Your AudienceThe appeal is a short paragraph written to give a summary of the argument in a persuasive writing essay. Although there are various styles and forms for the appeal, it is not a style of writing in and of itself but rather an illustration of how one uses many other styles to shape a persuasive argument.By reviewing the sample paper provided in this book, you will be able to recognize how the author has chosen to present their essay sample. Each paragraph begins with a similar subject matter, such as 'the common man.' This will help you relate to the essay sample as being from a specific person who is interested in economics or research on alternative energies.The goal of using the appeal for an analysis essay sample is to make your readers think about the logic they may have when making a decision. For example, in this essay, you will see how the tone of the entire essay provides an appealing look to the reader. Becaus e each paragraph is presented in a slightly different tone, it adds a unique feel to the reader that will allow them to consider whether or not the argument presented in each paragraph is possible. In addition, each paragraph may also end with a twist or turn that will provide the readers with a unique feeling for each argument.If you are interested in learning more about the style of writing that is used in this writing, it is important to read the essay sample because you will get a better understanding of what the style of writing entails. By the end of the essay, the style of writing will become apparent. There are many people who are interested in writing persuasive essays that will appeal to their audience.If you are considering using the RAppeal for an analysis essay sample, it is a good idea to learn more about the style because there are some differences between using the RAppeal style of writing and traditional forms of writing. Because it is a style of writing, you will f ind that there are rules that you can use to ensure that you do not produce an essay that makes your readers feel that they are reading something that was designed to appeal to others. By incorporating these ideas into your own writing, you will be able to produce a piece of writing that is appealing to your audience.When you begin to understand the rules of RAppeals, you will be able to determine if the way you write the arguments of the appeal is the right way to go. There are many rules that you should know when you are writing a persuasive essay. By adopting a basic set of rules, you will be able to avoid over-using certain words and phrases that may not be appropriate in a certain style.The RAppeal essay sample was created so that students who are interested in writing persuasive essays would understand the rules that are used when you write an essay for use in a college writing assignment. With the appeal, it is easy to determine whether or not the style is appropriate. Once y ou have decided that the style is right for you, it is important to follow the rules of grammar to ensure that your essay is accurate and polished.The final goal of the RAppeal essay sample is to reach the goal of creating a persuasive essay. By understanding the rules of grammar, you will be able to see how the style of writing will affect the overall appeal of the essay. This means that you need to know how to construct the points effectively and also need to know how to apply a professional style that will make your essay appealing to your audience.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Alternative Investment Fund for Senior Life Insurance Settlements †Business (600 Level Course)

Alternative Investment Fund for Senior Life Insurance Settlements – Business (600 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Alternative Investment Fund for Senior Life Insurance Settlements Business (600 Level Course) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alternative Investments Fund, LLC (â€Å"The Company†) is seeking to secure funding for the purpose of purchasing life insurance policies. The purpose of this document is to provide potentially interested parties with sufficient information to submit non-binding indications of interest to provide such funding commitments, but does not purport to be all-inclusive or contain all of the information that an interested party may require. Interested parties should conduct their own independent analysis. The information contained herein has been provided by the Company, their respective officers, employees, agents or representatives, or derived from publicly available sources. The Company does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of this document or the information contained herein – and no legal liability is assumed or implied. Any estimates and opinions have been prepared by the Company’s management and involve subjective judgment and analysis. This document shall not constitute or be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company. The Business The Company was founded to originate and finance the purchase of life insurance settlements in the secondary market. A life insurance settlement involves the transfer of ownership and the change of beneficiary of a life insurance policy in exchange for a lump sum cash payment from the purchaser. Life insurance settlements provide individuals who no longer want or need an existing life insurance policy with the opportunity to sell the policy and receive a cash settlement greater than the policy’s cash surrender value (amount insurance company will pay to cash out the policy). In the case of settlements involving term insurance policies, policy owners receive funds that they never expected to receive during their lifetimes. The policy owner may be planning to surrender the policy for any number of reasons including (i) corporate-owned key-man policies may no longer be needed due to the key-man leaving the business or the business being sold, (ii) insurance policies purchased for estate planning objectives are no longer relevant, (iii) the need for life insurance protection no longer exists du e to beneficiaries being taken care of by other investments or are financially independent or simply that there are no living heirs, (iv) continuing premium payments is no longer desirable, (v) cash from the settlement can be used to purchase new, more appropriate coverage (i.e., Second to Die or Long Term Care), and (vi) personal financial reasons. Senior Life Insurance Settlements are distinguishable from Viatical Settlements that were primarily focused on AIDS victims. Many viewed the viatical business negatively because of the perception that unscrupulous parties were preying on very vulnerable individuals. On the other hand, the Senior Life Insurance Settlement market has been viewed very positively. Typically, the policy size with a Senior Settlement is large and the seller of the policy is affluent and represented by a professional financial advisor. For these reasons, it is generally viewed as business that provides a valuable service – the opportunity to access values previously believed to be inaccessible. For the investor, the value proposition is driven by a few factors. First, the seller of the policy wants liquidity from the policy during his or her lifetime. Another motivation to sell is to eliminate the premiums that must be paid to keep the policy in force. In the process of evaluating the purchase of a life insurance policy, the life expectancy of the seller is a key determinant of the return to the investor. For this reason, every seller must have an evaluation of his or her health. Based on the evaluation (medical underwriting), a life expectancy (ex) is established, which determines the price at which the policy is purchased. In cases where the insured survives longer than the projected life span, the rate of return to an investor decreases. On average, these Senior Settlements are priced to produce a yield in excess of 15% per annum. The quality of the medical underwriting is the critical factor in developing appropriate pricing. Even with perfect underwriting, it is critical for an investor to have a sufficient distribution of lives in the investment pool. The pool should also possess a distribution of medical issues, in order to avoid concentration risk. For investors, life insurance settlements are unique. The returns have no correlation to the stock market or interest rates. Returns are purely a function of the factors discussed above. The Market Life insurance settlements began in the United States only in the last decade. They are now emerging as an asset class based on shear volume potential. The total potential size of the life insurance settlement market is estimated to include approximately $108 billion1 of life insurance in force. Most life insurance settlements have life expectancies ranging from 5 to 13 years, although some may be as short as one year. Demand for the Life Insurance Senior Settlements is already strong and can only grow as knowledge of this financial alternative becomes more mainstream. Currently, there are 23 million1 people in the United States age 65 or older who have life insurance policies in force. Nearly 8% of these policies lapse or are surrendered each year. LIMRA estimates that 97% of all term life insurance products sold in the United States will be lapsed before any death benefits are realized. As more individuals begin to learn that their policies have a value in the secondary marketplace that exceeds the cash surrender value (essentially that there is a better alternative to lapsing or surrendering the policy) – demand is certain to grow. Because the Life Insurance Senior Settlements are still relatively new and unknown (industry estimates suggest approximately 90% of financial planners and an even larger percentage of consumers are not yet aware of the availability of life insurance settlements), it is fair to assume that this market is poised to experience phenomenal growth over the next several years. Recently, the option to sell an unwanted life insurance policy, for a broad variety of financial planning reasons in addition to financial need, has dramatically increased the number of people considering this option. As a result, capital resources available to acquire those policies have been overwhelmed, creating a large backlog of policies in the market. Marketing The potential for a Senior Settlement occurs when the health of an insured has deteriorated to the point that the expected value of the future death benefit, which can be realized under a life insurance policy, significantly exceeds the expected value of the future anticipated premium payments. Historically, most policyholders did not realize that their life insurance policies represented â€Å"hidden assets† which could be used to better achieve their living goals. Transactions generally occur, when the life insurance policy owner works with an insurance agent, financial planner, or other financial advisor (â€Å"settlement broker†) who makes the owner aware that there are options available other than lapsing or surrendering an unneeded life insurance policy. These settlement brokers find the buyers for the life insurance policy and secure the settlement. It is estimated that of the 192,000 life insurance agents and approximately 34,000 certified financial planners in the United States today, only ten percent have working knowledge of Senior Settlements. Therefore, as the population ages and knowledge of Senior Settlements spreads, the potential exists for substantial future growth. Senior Settlements are a new and rapidly growing asset class. While Investment Bankers have viewed Senior Settlements as ideal for candidates for securitizations, the recent genesis of this asset class, taken together with the esoteric nature of the risks associated with projected cash flows and the inherit complexities of any securitization, have made the securitization of Senior Settlements mostly a theoretical exercise. As a result, capital allocations to this market have tended to be lumpy at best. The Company intends to source Senior Life Insurance Settlements in the secondary market from Life Insurance Settlements Companies, which have existing relationships with managing general agents and life insurance agents/brokers active in this market. Management Although the Company will use third parties to perform many functions associated with the evaluation and purchase of the life insurance policies, it will provide oversight of many functions including the following: Insurance Policy Underwriting Medical Underwriting Purchasing Policies Tracking/Servicing Purchased Policies The management team of the Company has substantial expertise in life insurance, actuarial pricing, accounting, taxation, capital markets, and life insurance settlements. Investment Returns A sample of 500 Insured lives was used to determine the expected rates of return for investors, and the volatility of the returns. The Insured lives modeled ranged in ages from 65 to 89, with an average age of 75. The net face amount of policies to be purchased was $453.1 million, and the assumed purchase price was $115.9 million. Under the â€Å"base case† or â€Å"assumed case†, the return to investors was determined to be 19.0%. This anticipated rate of return is consistent with current pricing in the Senior Settlement market. In the assumed case scenario, an investor would recover 100% of the amount invested in 7.46 years. The average ex for the group of Insureds, at the time of the assumed purchase, was 8.428 years. The most significant issue with Senior Settlements is not the return of principal, but instead the duration over which returns will be earned. Therefore, the expected rates of return were calculated using variations in the assumed mortality of the pool of insured lives. Projected cash flows were calculated assuming future premium payments, death benefits and expenses, using mortality rates that vary from the assumed case. Assuming that the actual mortality in all years is 10% less than the expected, the rate of return would decrease to 17.66%, compared to 19.0% in the assumed case. Conversely, if mortality is 10% higher than the assumed case, the rate of return will increase to 20.28%. Extreme cases were also tested. Assuming actual mortality is 33% lower than pricing results in the rate of return decreasing to 14.37%, while the break point is 21.01 years. Assuming mortality is 33% higher than anticipated results in a return of 23.11% and a breakeven period of 5.72 years. The rates of return under these assumptions are reflected in the table below: The extreme mortality variation used a 33% lower mortality rate than assumed and represents two standard deviations in a sample comprised of 500 lives. The probability of the actual mortality rate being less than 33% is therefore approximately 2.5%. Conversely, the probability that mortality would ever exceed 33% above the expected would also equal 2.5%. Industry Regulation As with any insurance transaction, some state Departments of Insurance regulate life insurance settlements. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted model regulation in 1993 when the industry focus was limited to individuals with catastrophic or life threatening illnesses. The Model developed contract, license requirements, and other consumer protections to protect these specific policy sellers. This Model was adopted by only about half the states. As the business has evolved and expanded well beyond the scope of the early regulations, the NAIC and the individual states have modified and expanded statutes and regulations to include a broader definition of the policy seller provide protections to investors in the transactions and formalize the regulatory filing and reporting requirements. Regulatory activity by the NAIC and the states, especially those states that took no action on the original Model, is expected to accelerate as the industry grows. Principals Steven W. Fickes, F.S.A., M.A.A.A Steven is an actuary and has been involved in the insurance industry his entire career. Early in his career, he joined Tillinghast, the largest actuarial consulting firm, where he focused on reinsurance, mergers and acquisitions and taxation. He ultimately was made a Principal and headed the firm’s International Reinsurance and Life and Health Insurance Practices. He later formed his own actuarial practice specializing in innovative, highly structured reinsurance transactions and mergers and acquisitions. His involvement as a consultant on mergers and acquisitions led him to become a partner in a leveraged buyout firm that was involved in the acquisition of 15 insurance companies, with an aggregate value in excess of $1 billion. Steve has also been involved in several successful start-ups including the formation of a life insurance settlements firm. During 1995, he formed a $100 million private equity fund, which ultimately completed two major acquisitions. Prior to starting his own firm, Raedel in 2001, Steve was a partner at Deloitte Touche, where he led the firm’s international actuarial practice. During his tenure at Deloitte he worked with the American Cancer Society in developing a lending program for terminally ill cancer patients collateralized by their life insurance policies. Since resigning from Deloitte Touche, Steve has developed an extremely sophisticated insurance information database that has as its subscribers some the largest insurance companies in the US, major investment banks and mutual funds. At the same time, he has pursued various other entrepreneurial opportunities in the insurance sector. Ransom Jones, C.P.A. Ransom has over 30 years of experience working in the insurance industry with major multi-national companies in various areas including accounting and income tax consulting, asset/liability management, product development, asset securitization, mergers and acquisitions, financing, general management, consulting for troubled insurance companies and developing strategic direction. He has worked at American International Group, Citicorp, Goldman, Sachs Co., and was a partner at KPMG Peat Marwick. He has served as chief financial officer at two publicly traded companies and was president of a group of property and casualty insurance companies. For two years, Ransom worked with a start-up senior settlements company in developing its business plan and identifying financing opportunities. During his career, Mr. Jones has been very active in insurance industry affairs. For three years, he served on the NAIC’s Working Group on Emerging Issues which promulgates insurance regulatory accounting standards. He has served on various other NAIC committees. For three years, he was on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Life Companies Over many years, he has been a frequent speaker and author of articles related to the insurance industry. Research Papers on Alternative Investment Fund for Senior Life Insurance Settlements - Business (600 Level Course)Lifes What IfsMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesTwilight of the UAWAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Incorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalOpen Architechture a white paperAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XRiordan Manufacturing Production Plan