Low

The advent of mobile devices and their popularity among consumers in the electronics market has led to development of ultra low voltage microcontrollers. These devices are intended to increase efficiency of the mobile devices and extend the life of their power supply. This is particularly important since most mobile devices are designed to use portable batteries (Freescale, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Low-Power Microcontrollers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Power supply from portable batteries has a significantly low voltage component, which affects the efficiency of the supply and the ability of the devices to adapt to the capabilities of the batteries. Mobile battery energy storage and management has become an important issue, particularly due to the increased use of mobile devices for applications that were previously reserved for larger computers (Freescale, 2009). Dynamic voltage scaling is a n ew technology that has facilitated the development of ultra-low power microcontrollers. It is therefore necessary to use ultra-low power microcontrollers for devices relying on battery power in order to extend battery life and efficiency. There are various types of microcontrollers made for specific components of mobile devices. One particular type of ultra-low power microcontroller is the MSP430 class of microcontrollers introduced to the market by Texas Instruments. This microcontroller is specifically designed for power supply control in portable measuring instruments. Its microprocessor is able to operate on 16-bit words, and it is a remarkably powerful processor for a measuring device. The ability of the microcontroller to switch from low power and adapt to high power demands of certain processes within measuring instruments is one of its unique features. In addition, this class of ultra-low power microcontrollers is flexible since it has a dozen analog-to-digital converters an d a complementary set of digital-to-analogue converters. This makes it easy to interface the microcontroller with various peripheral devices such as sensors. The microcontroller features sixty four input/output pins, which are sufficient for most applications in the targeted instruments. MSP430 microcontrollers are aimed at providing a high standard of computing capabilities while consuming a reasonably small amount of power. However, due to the numerous input/output pins, many registers and converters, and a powerful microprocessor, these microcontrollers have an average performance in power conservation.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another company, Microchip, is offering a 16-bit option in PIC24F16KL402 class of microcontrollers. These microcontrollers are designed to provide better computing abilities than other microcontrollers with a lower limit for digital word proces sing. In addition, Microchip’s microcontroller is designed for low power consumption devices running on limited power sources. Microchip has ensured that there is power conservation while maintaining performance standards by including 16-bit capabilities in its package. This effort is reflected in dsPICÂ ® microcontroller meant for processing digital signals. The particular microcontroller uses modified Harvard design Architecture featuring several improvements in the functions of the microcontroller. A wide range of oscillators is provided for various applications. Four different configurations for oscillators are used depending on the intended application for the microcontroller. The microcontroller offered by microchip may not be as equipped as the one manufactured by Texas instruments. However, the microcontroller offers 16-bit computing capabilities with significantly low power consumption. This chip has a wide variety of applications. Atmel Corporation has also endeavo red to produce an ultra-low power microcontroller. ATmega48/88/168 produced by Atmel Corporation is an AVR microcontroller designed for low power consumption. RISC design architecture has been used in this microcontroller. CMOS semiconductor technology has been extensively applied in its manufacture. However, this microcontroller has 8-bit processing capabilities only. To compensate for this, the microcontroller is able to handle complex data in one cycle even with the limited 8-bit capacity. This microprocessor has considerable speed capabilities that enable it to execute a large number of instructions using a small amount of power. ARM Holdings is another company that is progressively becoming a significant player in the manufacture of modern ultra-low power microcontrollers. The company has developed a completely new design for ultra-low power microcontrollers due to the incorporation of new microprocessor technology.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Low-Pow er Microcontrollers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The LPC2114/2124 microcontroller built using ARM Holdings’ TDNI-s microprocessor features less transistors in the processing unit (NPX, 2011). This design feature limits the amount of the power consumed by the microprocessor unit, and results in overall conservation of energy. In addition to low power consumption, the microcontroller has a solid state memory which facilitates high-speed data transfer. The data transfer function has been enhanced by use of a 128-bit data bus. One unique feature of the microcontroller is that it is a 16 bit microcontroller with an accelerator that allows it to process larger 32-bit words (NPX, 2011). This makes the microcontroller technologically advanced that those manufactured by Microchip, Atmel Corporation and Texas Instruments. Furthermore, the ARM microcontroller has a sixty-four-pin input/output interface and several analog-to-digital co nverters. In addition, it has complementary digital-to-analog converters for flexible application. Due to the capabilities of LPC2114/2124 microcontroller, it is often used in medical instruments and industrial processes (NPX, 2011). Its 32-bit capabilities make it suitable for heavier applications compared to microcontrollers by Microchip, Atmel Corporation and Texas Instruments. Ultra low power microcontrollers are becoming important in electronics technology. This is due to the increasing need for compact electronic instruments and mobile communication devices (Freescale, 2009). As mobile devices assume tasks that were traditionally reserved for powerful conventional computers, their demand for more power is being countered by employment of ultra-low power microcontrollers in the electronics assemblies. References Freescale, S. (2009, May 6). Freescale Low-Power microcontroller solutions. Energy efficient solutions. Retrieved from www.freescale.com/files/microcontrollers/doc/broc hure/BRLWPWR.pdfAdvertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More NPX, N. (2011, June 10). Single-chip 16/32-bit microcontrollers;. Npx.com. Retrieved from www.nxp.com/documents/data_sheet/LPC2114 This essay on Low-Power Microcontrollers was written and submitted by user Fernando Zamora 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.

Obvious Marketing Moves I was Totally Missing on LinkedIn and Mobile!

Obvious Marketing Moves I was Totally Missing on LinkedIn and Mobile! Squeeze Pack Solutions While eating out of a nut butter squeeze pack a few weeks ago, I reached the point where I could not squeeze out any more- but I knew there was still plenty of almond butter stuck to the inside walls of the package. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I could cut the package open to extract the remaining goo. It was messy, but it worked. Shortly thereafter, I reached the end of a toothpaste tube and thought, â€Å"I wonder if there’s toothpaste stuck to the insides of this packaging too?† I cut open the tube and retrieved three brushings worth of paste. It took me what†¦ 40 years? to even notice this problem. The solution was easy. Blinding Flashes of the Obvious We all have moments where something happens, or someone makes a suggestion to us, and a light bulb goes off. Wow! That makes total sense! How did I not think of that? It was right in front of my face. How have I not done that already? My ActionCOACH coaches call these sudden revelations â€Å"Blinding Flashes of the Obvious.† When one of these ideas arises, I am surprised by it because I probably knew somewhere deep inside that I needed to do this thing, but it hadn’t risen to the surface as a priority. After an initial, â€Å"What have I been thinking?!† I get into action. This past week, I attended The National Resume Writers’ Association annual conference, where I garnered several â€Å"blinding flashes of the obvious† from conversations I had with my colleagues. Here are my top two: 1. Create more than one LinkedIn profile Experience entry for my â€Å"job† at The Essay Expert. You’d think that as a LinkedIn expert I would have maximized my LinkedIn SEO already. I tell other people all the time that if they held more than one position at a company, they should create more than one entry in order to include more keywords. But was I following this advice myself? Nope. I was like the proverbial overweight, cigarette-smoking doctor. Yikes. At The NRWA conference, a fellow resume writer showed me her LinkedIn profile to ask my opinion. She had eight (eight!!) entries for her current business, and she had stuffed keywords into every one. While I did not recommend that she use this tactic, and while I believe that â€Å"keyword stuffing† can backfire, I realized that with only one entry for my role in my business, I was missing out on a big opportunity to put more keywords into my own LinkedIn profile. As of Sunday night, I have created separate sections in my profile for my position as an Executive Resume Writer, Executive LinkedIn Profile Writer, and College Admissions Essay Consultant. I am in disbelief that for the past eight years, I had been cramming all these roles into one LinkedIn Experience entry. I am curious to see what happens with my profile views and inquiries for business now that I have followed my own advice! 2. Get texting capabilities to and from my business phone line. For at least two years, texting has been the most popular form of communication used in this country. It would seem obvious that people would want to send texts to my business number. In fact, I’m sure many people have sent texts to my business number, thinking they were reaching me. Until yesterday, those texts were going directly to nowhere. Not only that, but when I wanted to send a text to a client, I had to do it through my personal cell phone. I did not like texting clients because then they would call me on my personal cell phone number, and I much prefer to keep that number, well, personal. I was avoiding texting because of this issue, despite the fact that my clients probably would have loved to text me. Was I thinking of the most obvious solution to this problem? No. I was not prioritizing the issue, despite the fact that 95% of texts are read within 3 minutes, while only 12% of emails are opened. Enabling text was a no-brainer, and I apparently had no brain. It took me until last week’s conference, at the suggestion of my brilliant colleague Robin Schlinger, to bite the bullet and enable texting capabilities on my business line. She mentioned that several executive clients had texted her with inquiries for her services, and that was enough to convince me to get on the texting bandwagon! Now clients will be able to reach out to me via their preferred mode of communication, whether that is phone, email, or †¦ text!! And I can easily send texts without revealing my personal number. On a related note, I needed a better way to make calls from my cell phone that appeared to be coming from my business number. Purchasing texting capabilities led me to download the eVoice app, which solved that problem too. I had been wanting that kind of solution for years- getting the app was another blinding flash of the obvious! In order to have the types of revelations I’ve been describing, we have to be paying attention, listening for good ideas (they could appear at any moment), and willing to take new action. Are you ready? Are there nagging problems in your life that you have been ignoring, not even giving them the time of day? Maybe they are more important than you think, and easier to fix than you think. I challenge you to have a â€Å"blinding flash of the obvious† this week, and share below what it is!

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

International Business - Essay Example United Kingdom is a country with rich traditions and culture along with the influence of modernization. The business environment of UK is unique with respect to several aspects. There are certain established norms which are supposed to be followed in the British culture such as dress code, conversation mannerisms, dining etiquettes along with conduct related to titles and gift giving. In the field of business, you are required to exhibit judicious and ethical traits in order to win the confidence of the ever observant British businessmen. With globalization affecting the entire world, business strategies in UK have also transformed to yield innovation in markets as the key success indicator. As a result, you need to be very vigilant of the commercial atmosphere to facilitate growth in our subsidiary. I would advice you to understand the British culture scrupulously as well as develop the valuable tool of Cultural Intelligence. I am convinced that awareness of these dynamics will help you in having a prosperous three year contract in UK. INTRODUCTION As the regional manager for United Kingdom, I cordially welcome you to the local subsidiary of our Multinational Organisation. I am conscious of the fact that you are coming to United Kingdom for the first time; hence, I have made an attempt to facilitate your 3 year stay in this country by briefing you about the cultural nuances which you would come across in United Kingdom. Along with that, this paper would also enhance your understanding about the business environment of UK in addition to government policies with regard to subsidiaries and Multinational Corporations. You must be aware that this subsidiary of our company has been active in London, the capital of UK for quite sometime now. London has always been a business nucleus in this region. Recently, London was surveyed as the best city in Europe in terms of establishing a business, employing qualified people, and accessibility to market (UK Trade & Investmen t, 2011). Over the years, our company has earned its reputation in UK through exceptional services to customers and caring attitude towards employees and other stakeholders. However, the multidimensional dynamics of this country have often had a role to play in the functions of our subsidiary. RESEARCH It is necessary to provide you first with the fundamental research I conducted regarding United Kingdom so that you could get a feel of the country. It is a country which provides a perfect mix of traditions and modernism. Situated in Western Europe, its capital is London. The population of the country is estimated to be over 60 million (Directgov, 2012). The ethnic structure consists of a majority of whites including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish whereas smaller percentages of Blacks, Indians and Pakistanis are also found. With people migrating in huge numbers to the United Kingdom, the society has become rather a multicultural one. Though there is no declared official language, but since English is spoken by more than 70% of the population, hence it is considered to be the national language (Godfrey-Faussett et al. 2004). The United Kingdom is made up by four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (William, 2010). Foreigners often err in making use of the word ‘British’. It is imperative to know that British stands for a person who comes from any of the four countries while English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh are used when referring to the particular countries of the person. Though over the last few years, people from diverse races, castes and creeds have

COFFEE DIRECT UK SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

COFFEE DIRECT UK SOCIAL ENTERPRISE - Essay Example Due to the factors like technological advancements, developments in the communication process and globalisation, the terms of the trade are fast changing. The traditional beliefs and the conventional ways are being replaced by newer methodologies and tricks. The massive competition in the industry has helped the processes to become sharper and efficient. Traditionally, it was all about those companies that would have sold coffee powder and the coffees would specifically be prepared at home. But with time, the concept changed and new shops and organisations came up that claimed themselves to be professionally ran in order to sale various preparations of the celebrated drink. Coffee Direct is a front line organisation in that respect and claims itself to stock comprehensive selection of coffees. Established in 1990, Coffee Direct has been primarily a family run business. The group stocks wide range of coffees and teas and take pleasure to supply those to cafes, hotels, offices and also to home. The organisation also deals in the coffee machines all across the United Kingdom. Not only, it supplies but also it installs as well as commissions along with the add-on services like testing and maintenance of such machines. The Coffee Direct also provide free on-site training on the various of arts of coffee as it believe that without the knowledge of operating such machines, there is no point for the buyers to possess a high performance device. The training that the company provides is quite elaborate and includes the basic procedures of extracting the coffee in the proper and scientific way and also the organisation provides training on the various preparations of coffee like that of lattes, cappuccinos and various forms of espresso. The company makes it a point to carry out all the illustrations through adequately trained engineers (Coffee Direct, n.d.). The company acknowledges the fact that the two driving forces behind

Should Plastic Bags be Banned?

Should Plastic Bags be Banned? Plastic shopping bags are very cheap, useful and convenient:  Should they be banned? Introduction Universally, individuals and groups continue to advocate for the banning of plastic shopping bags, proposing that they be replaced with reusable biodegradable bags. Due to their synthetic nature, plastics are considered pollutants by critics. However, they are also very cheap, useful and convenient and a complete ban will have a significant negative economic impact for retailers, states and consumers. Both critics and advocates for the ban of plastic shopping bags have been outspoken, with each side presenting objective arguments to support their cause. By analysing the advantages and disadvantages of plastic shopping bags, the report attempts to examine the prospective economic, environmental and even social impacts that a ban on plastic could have in society. A realistic assessment based on objective studies will be critical in presenting an accurate evaluation of the plastic ban and will be helpful to all stakeholders involved. Background Ever since the emergence of plastics in the 1940s, they have grown to become extremely popular for consumers and industrial entities. Even in the 21st Century, the volume of plastic being manufactured annually continues to rise with the total production volume in the first decade of the century equalling the entire 20th Century’s production. An estimated 260 million tons of plastics are currently being produced annually for different purposes worldwide (Clapp and Swanston, 2009). Plastic shopping bags, defined as recyclable high-density polyethylene bags, are designed to be used only once. The increase in retail shopping and the emergence of retail venues in the 1970s led to the exponential increase in the popularity of plastic bags. Research by Clapp and Swanston (2009) indicate that plastic bags are the most popular grocery bag of choice for consumers worldwide. Estimates indicate that between 600 billion and 1.5 trillion plastic bags are used yearly around the world (Luis and Spinola, 2010). Plastics shopping bags are manufactured when fossil fuels are converted into polymers. Plastics are considered exceptionally durable and strong, an aspect that is counterproductive since it accounts for its negative properties. It is estimated that it takes between 400 and 1,000 years for a thin plastic to be broken down, hence they are considered a threat to the environment (Thompson, Moore, ComSaal, and Swan, 2009). Existing literature indicates that most citizens favour recycling rather than a complete ban of plastics. Surveys indicate that the majority of shoppers reuse plastic bags at least once (Ellis, Kantner, Saab and Watson, 2005). Current Situation The calls for a complete ban arise from the primary concerns associated with plastic shopping bags. The first concern is that plastics create a waste stream that is extremely difficult to eliminate or manage. Research carried out by the California Integrated Waste Management Board revealed that plastics of all kinds comprise an estimated 10% of the state’s disposable waste stream. A further estimated 0.3% and 0.13% of the total waste stream were plastic bags and plastic shopping bags respectively (Delaney Madigan, 2014). Plastic bags are also known to litter with different studies revealing that, of all the total litter collected in the world, between 1 and 5 percent are from plastic bags. In the US alone, consumers use a whopping 100 billion plastic bags annually, with a large proportion of this eventually becoming litter (Delaney Madigan, 2014). Another critical cause for apprehension is that plastic bags take a very long time to disintegrate. Research show that plastic bags can last for as long as 1,000 years, with the vast majority of this life cycle being within the end of life phase either as litter or in a landfill (Freinkel, 2011). The extensive lifespan results from its immunity to biodegradation, hence they can only photo degrade over very long time periods releasing toxic additives in the process which also pollute the ecosystem. A plastic bag’s lifecycle has also been noted for being greenhouse gas intensive since fossil fuels are the primary compounds used during their production. There have also been concerns about the effect of plastic bags on marine pollution. An assessment carried out by the United Sates Environmental Program (UNEP) revealed that an estimated 80% of all marine debris come from a land source of which 60%-80% are plastics (Delaney Madigan, 2014). Plastic marine debris exists in almost al l the regions of the world, hence it has created global pollution problems. Plastic directly affects more than 660 species of animals including fish, birds, turtles and a group of marine mammals (Bean, 2013). When the animals confuse the bags for food, their digestive tracks become blocked, a development which may eventually cause death. According to San Francisco marine officials, a study in which 370 autopsies were carried out found one in every three dead leatherback turtles to have some form of plastics in their stomachs (Bean, 2013). Call for Bans The documented undesirable effects of the plastic bags have led a number of individuals and groups to lobby for a worldwide ban on them. Studies show that even though the majority believed that consumer education would improve the situation, they have not achieved a significant reduction in single use bag consumption. According to Ellis, Kantner, Saab and Watson (2005), education campaigns have only led to a 5% decrease in voluntary plastic bag usage. As a result, certain nations have created mandatory ordinances to limit the use of plastic bags. In the United States for example, 17 states have ordinances that place bans and limitations on the use and distribution of plastic bags. Essentially, bans can be designed in various means although it will depend on how it reduces plastic bag use, limiting the overall environmental damage, the overall economic impact on consumers, manufacturers and retailers and the legislation’s ability to reduce plastic bag use (The Economist, 2007). A number of variables that may be considered when imposing a ban include the types of bags to be banned, whether or not to include a fee, promoting the use of alternative paper, attaching an amount to the specific type of bags, or specifying the type of bags to be used. Other variables should include the types and sizes of retail venues that the ban can affect, ordinance exemption and incentives that will enforce the ordinance such as fees or fines that accompany non-compliance (Clapp and Swanston, 2009). Potential Impacts of Plastic Bag Ban Economists and environmentalists have identified a number of potential economic impacts on the ban of plastics. A ban has the capacity of reducing the volume of plastic bags used in retail outlets. However, this will vary and can only be determined by customer feedback, retail venue feedback, analyses of baggage records, analysis of the disposition of waste stream and observational studies. A ban of plastic bags may be successful especially if retailers are subjected to charge customers for plastic bags as a measure for overall reduction. Using the case of Ireland which has achieved a 90% reduction in the use of plastic paper bags, it was evident that the initiation of a national fee served that purpose well (Sugii, 2008). A considerable environmental impact will also result from the ban of plastic paper bags if customers are subjected to pay for the use of the bags. The imposition of a complete ban or a fee for the usage will significantly reduce the environmental impact of plastic paper bag use. A complete ban on plastic paper bag may, however, be difficult to impose although it is estimated that this would result in between a 93% and 96% reduction in the reported environmental impacts. The goal should, therefore, be a step-by-step transition from the use of plastic bags to reusable bags so as to limit the eventual economic impact of plastics (Hasson, Leiman, and Visser, 2007). Economic Impact on Retailers A complete ban of plastic shopping bags or even a transition to other reusable bag types will have multiple economic effects. The effects will not only be on plastic manufacturers, but consumers, retailers and even entire cities and states will be affected. Retailers will be some of the worst affected entities with a ban on plastic shopping bags since in nearly all countries of the world, they offer them to customers at no charge. Although retailers purchase the bags at minimal costs, they are cost effective and can be charged on the retailer’s expense account. Retailers will still need to package goods for their customers in some way and the cost associated with alternative bags will be significantly greater for retailers. Retailers may also opt to sell the alternative paper bags to customers, a development which may be sustainable in the long run. Although in the short run retailers may suffer a loss due to the increase in the usage of paper bags, the loss can be mitigated if consumers start paying for their own reusable bags. Retailers may lose business if customers take their business elsewhere, especially when the ban is selective (Ellis, Kantner, Saab and Watsonm 2005). It is further documented that research from areas in which plastic bags were banned demonstrated a considerable decrease in sales. This is, however, disputable since the methodology used and the sample size of the study was relatively minimal and restricted within the boundaries of the Los Angeles County. Economic Impact to Consumers and Plastic Manufacturers A ban on plastic shopping bags would have a significant impact on consumers, since at present the bags are given free to consumers. However, a study by the United Nations Environmental Program revealed that plastic shopping bags are not actually free, but cost every household between $10 and $15 annually (Hasson, Leiman, and Visser, 2007). In order to estimate the potential economic impact that a ban on plastics could have on consumers, it is imperative to consider the price for the alternative reusable and paper bags. Although reusable bags are relatively costly, customers may actually save costs eventually since reusable bags are more durable and are designed to last for many years. Customers can even replace reusable stock a number of times further saving cost instead of paying recurring fees for paper bags (Hasson, Leiman, and Visser, 2007). Bans on plastic paper bags will also have a significant impact on plastic manufacturers since a significant proportion of their business is based on the domestic segment. A number of plastic manufacturers have aggressively opposed any proposed bans or measures to restrict the use of plastic bags. Although most of the manufacturers produce a wide variety of products, it is evident that any bans on plastic shopping bags will significantly hinder the companies’ revenue streams. Clapp and Swanston (2009) however argue that plastic bag manufacturing companies can mitigate the loss in business by switching to other product lines, such as the manufacture of reusable bags. Ellis, Kantner, Saab and Watsonm (2005) argue that it is not the shopping bag plastic manufactures that will lose, but the actual loss will be incurred by the larger plastic producers. Analysis and Conclusion Multiple arguments to support an opposition of the ban of plastics have been presented by opponents. According to Freinkel (2011), there is no need to ban plastics since the proportion of litter resulting from plastic shopping bag is too small to justify a total ban. He further argues that the ecological litter impact of plastic shopping bags, when quantified, is quite insignificant. A ban of the use of plastic paper bags could also cause significant job loses within the plastics manufacturing industry. Nonetheless, it has been argued that the job loses can be compensated when a number of businesses emerge to fill the need for reusable bags. Based on the analysis, the best option is to create measures with the objective of reducing the use of plastic shopping bags rather than implementing a complete ban. Even though there exists substantial literature documenting the environmental impact of banning plastic shopping bag, assessing the economic impact remains challenging. It is evident that a complete ban of the use of plastic shopping bags would affect a number of players within the plastic industry. Both retailers and consumers may be negatively affected in the short term as a result of an increase in baggage costs, but it is projected to decrease whenever a transition to reusable bags is effected. The plastic industry will, however, suffer even though plastic manufacturers can begin producing reusable bags. Bibliography AECOM Technical Services. (2010). Economic Impact Analysis: Proposed Ban on Plastic Carryout Bags in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles: AECOM. Bean,L. (2013). Silent Killers: TheDanger of Plastic Bags to Marine Life.  EcoWatch. Clapp, J. and Swanston, L. (2009). â€Å"Doing Away with Plastic Shopping Bags:  International Patterns of Norm Emergence and Policy†, Environmental Politics, 18:3, 315-332 Delaney, T., Madigan, T. (2014). Beyond sustainability: A thriving environment.  McFarland Company, Inc. Ellis, S., Kantner, S., Saab, A. and Watson, M. (2005). Plastic grocery bags: The Ecological  Footprint. Michigan Technological University. Freinkel, S. (2011). Plastic: A toxic love story. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hasson, R., Leiman, A. and Visser, M. (2007). The Economics of Plastic Bag Legislation In  South Africa. South African Journal of Economics, 75(1): 66-83. Luis, I. P. and Spinola, H. (2010). The influence of a voluntary fee in the consumption of  Plastic bags on supermarkets from Madeira Island (Portugal). Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 53(7): 1-15. Sugii, T. (2008). Plastic Bag Reduction: Policies to Reduce Environmental Impact. Tufts  University The Economist. (2007). The War on Shopping Bags: Plastics of Evil. The Economist, March  29th, 2007. Thompson, R.C., Moore, C. J., ComSaal, F.S., and Swan, S. H. (2009). Plastics,theenvironment and human health†, Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society, Biological Sciences, 364 (1526).

The Most Important Element of Style :: Writing Style Styles Essays

The Most Important Element of Style I've collected numerous ideas from both Joseph William's book Style Toward Clarity and Grace and William Strunk and E.B. White's The Elements of Style. These books serve as reference guides to writers seeking guidance in improving their writing skills. I feel the text format of any writing is the most important element of style. The text layout in regards to style deals with font, size and contrast. The font makes the text. You are able to change the font to show importance or the use quotes. An example would be "bolding" an example. A normal font such as Times Roman can be used to for the body. However, a font such as Arial Black allows the text to stand out. Changes in size also have the same effect. These adjustments in the format of the text also creates a contrast in the writing. This allows the reader to easily identify the important points. I feel Strunk and White choose a design that is easy to read and sticks directly to the point. The reader is able to locate the issue and find the solution and an example to problem. The style issue is listed by number and bolded to stand out. An example of the same correct style issue is given in different versions. This allows the reader to apply such style to their own writings. These different topics are stated in bold to be easily read. T he guide gives the reader good examples to assist in their writings. This is important because the reader is searching for something particular and seeking a particular resolution. Providing an easy to read guide is extremely helpful. A guide that is easy to navigate decreases the stress often associated with writing. The ability to find things easy is always helpful. The layout in Williams’ text is not easy to read. The paragraphs often seem connected. The effect of text format to prefered reading is evident in this guide. Several of my classmates agreed that this guide was not as easily accessible as Strunk & White. These feelings were solely based upon the format of the text.

Naked Economics Essay

Chapter 1: The Power of Markets †¢What are the two basic assumptions that economists make about individuals and firms? †¢What is the role and significance of prices in the market economy? †¢What’s so great about a market economy anyway? Market allocation 3 / Assume rational utility-maximizers 6 / Opportunity costs 9 / Profit max 11 / Prices allocate resources 12 / Barriers to entry 14 / Market price, pricing decision & price discrimination 15 / Lessons of markets 18 Chapter 2: Incentives Matter †¢Explain how each of the following relates to efficient outcomes in a market economy: -adverse selection -â€Å"perverse incentives† -principal-agent problem, -the prisoner’s dilemma. Wrong incentives lead to undesirable outcomes 23 / Creative destruction 36 / Tax & govt program disincentives 38 Chapter 3: Government and the Economy †¢In your own words, explain what an externality is. †¢Besides addressing externalities, what other important and beneficial roles does government play in our market economy? Externalities 43 / Govt solutions to externalities 48 / Govt makes market economy possible – rights, laws / regulations 51 / Public goods 57 / Redistribution 59 Chapter 4: Government and the Economy II †¢What are the main reasons why government should only take a limited role in a market economy? Govt inefficiency 63 / Govt allocation vs private allocation 67 / Effects of regulation 69 / Effects of taxation 74 / Summary 78 Chapter 5: Economics of Information Wheelan explains that basic economic models assume that all parties have â€Å"perfect information.† How does â€Å"informational asymmetry† undermine our market economy? Adverse selection 81 / Firm screening 89 / Branding provides information 90 / Branding versus commodities 92 / Signaling mechanisms 93 Chapter 6: Productivity and Human Capital †¢After reading Wheelan’s argument, do you agree that Bill Gates should be so much richer than you? †¢Evaluate the following statement from p. 113: â€Å"We should not care about the gap between rich and poor as long as everybody is living better.† Human capital 98 / Job creation 103 / Effects of human capital on standard of living 105 / Productivity 107 / Income inequality 111 Chapter 7: Financial Markets †¢Explain how get-rich-quick schemes violate the most basic principles of economics. †¢What advice about investing in the stock market did you find most interesting and/or useful? Purposes of financial instruments 118 / Efficient markets & index funds 126 / Investment guidelines 132 Chapter 8: The Power of Organized Interests †¢Why have mohair farmers earned a subsidy from the federal government for  decades? Interest groups & politicians’ incentives 137 / Some regulations benefit business 142 / Tyranny of the status quo 144 Chapter 9: Keeping Score †¢Why is a nation’s GDP a good measure of its economic well-being and progress? †¢Why is a nation’s GDP a poor measure of its economic well-being and progress? GDP: importance, real vs nominal, per capita 150 / GDP growth & wage growth 152 / GDP misses social progress 154 / Recessions 156 / Fiscal & monetary policy 158 / Other â€Å"vital signs†: unemployment, poverty, inequality, govt budget, deficit, current acct, national savings, demographics 160 Chapter 10: The Federal Reserve †¢What is the primary role of the Federal Reserve? †¢What is the significance of this role? †¢What is deflation, and why is it worse than inflation? Importance of Fed 168 / Easy money causes inflation 170 / FOMC & monetary policy tools 172/ Difficulty of policy decision-making 175 / Money 176 / Inflation & effects 179 / Political pressure to allow inflation 182 / Deflation 184 Chapter 11: Trade and Globalization †¢What is the â€Å"good news about Asian sweatshops†? Benefits of trade 187 / Comparative advantage & specialization 190 / Losers from trade 191/ Protectionism 193 / Trade raises real incomes 195 / Trade benefits for poor countries 196 / Cultural homogenization 199 / Sweatshops 201 Chapter 12: Development Economics †¢After reading this chapter, what do you believe are the two greatest obstacles preventing poor countries from becoming rich? Importance of policies (vs resources) 206 / Effective development policies 208 / Exchange rates 217 / IMF 225 Epilogue: Life in 2050 †¢What economic question do you have about life in 2050? About today’s economy? About life in general?