Blog Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Blog - Article Example Lead as a heavy metal has wide industrial and home uses before it was realized it is too toxic for some people. Men in general can tolerate higher levels of lead in their blood without a significant adverse physiological effect; however, women manifest lead poisoning in a different way due to their peculiar bone turnover periods of women such as during pregnancy and during the menopausal stages (Vahter, Akesson, Liden,Ceccatelli, & Berglund, 2007, p. 85). Besides in gender, lead also manifests differentially in susceptibility among young boys than young girls. First question: Why are boys more susceptible to lead in terms of neurotoxicity while in girls, the lead manifests itself through adverse immunotoxic effects in these girls? What could be the deeper explanation for this variation in susceptibility and their manifestations? Second question: What is the exact biomechanism process by which men become more susceptible to arsenic poisoning than women? As it is, biotransformation of arsenic by a process of methylation is different in men than in women, resulting in the men more vulnerable to its bad effects especially in adverse skin-related reactions. Women seem to be more tolerant of arsenic. Vahter, M., Akesson, A., Liden, C., Ceccatelli, S., & Berglund, M. (2007, May). Gender differences in the disposition and toxicity of metals. Abstract. Environmental Research, 104(1), 85-95. Retrieved November 2, 2014 from

Hockey Cross Country Comparison Essay Example for Free

Hockey Cross Country Comparison Essay Hockey and Cross country are two completely different sports in many aspects for example one is played on ice and is very physical and the other you are running on dry ground and all you do is run. But in many aspects these two sports have more in common than most people would think. These two sports in some aspects are polar opposes but having played them both I can say they are very similar. First off they both require extremely high levels of physical endurance and strength. Hockey requires you to have physical strength, quickness, and hand eye coordination. As cross country requires physical strength as well, but it also requires you to put your mind over your body, this means that no matter what kind of physical pain you may be in you have to block out the pain and keep running. Now most people think that cross country is not a team sport and only individuals run cross country right? Well they are very wrong cross country is just as much of a team sport as hockey. In cross country you rely on your team mates to place well in their race to score points just as a hockey player would in hockey. Both hockey and cross country require immense amounts of training. Hockey you have to train your hand eye coordination as well as having good vision and being physically strong. Cross country you must train your endurance you must have massive amounts of stamina as well as mental strength. Cross country you need a strong core and legs and stamina, but hockey requires you to be strong in every muscle group. Hockey is a physical sport that requires you to be able to block out pain after a big hit or a player takes a puck where they don’t have any padding.

The Olfactory Process and its Effect on Human Behavior :: Biology Essays Research Papers

The Olfactory Process and its Effect on Human Behavior Early childhood memories can be evoked by many triggers, of which one of the most powerful is a particular smell. A couple of years ago, I was unpacking boxes of Christmas decorations from the attic. One of the boxes contained old, partially melted candles that were to be put on the fireplace mantle and lit on Christmas Eve. Unrolling each uniquely fragrant candle from the yellowed newspaper, I suddenly had a vivid recollection of a childhood experience. I was between the ages of two and three, wandering through a candle store with my parents in the Greek section of Detroit, Michigan. I gazed wide-eyed at the seemingly endless shelves of wax figurines, reaching through the restraining arms of my father in attempts to feel their smooth contours. After slowly returning to reality, I realized that the smell of the candles being used to decorate for the holidays triggered my earliest memory of childhood. I thought about the memory frequently after that, and longed to return to the store to see if my physical presence there would evoke other memories. When I visited Detroit a few months ago, I was disappointed to discover that the store had long been out of business and only my new memory would remain. I found it somewhat disturbing that my earliest memory was of an insignificant retail store that would have no bearing on my adult life. Why did I not remember a more significant event, such as an early Christmas, or my second birthday? The answer is that the sense of smell, that is, olfaction, has a powerful command over many behaviors, including memory. Intrigued with this connection as an example of sensory input influencing behavior, it is my goal to examine the neurobiology of the olfaction process in humans and to investigate the ways in which odors elicit particular behaviors. For humans, olfaction is a primitive sense, whereas other mammals, birds and insects rely predominately on their sense of smell for survival. The approach of a charging bear would be recognized by a human within seconds of its attack, while a dog would have certainly caught his scent long before the human companion had any knowledge of the bear's presence. Although smell seems far less meaningful to humans, there is an important link between olfaction and behavior. For example, in my memory described above, the simple visual cues provided by the sight of any ordinary candle does not evoke my memory of the sweet smelling store.

Janet Fitch Essay

Over the years, Janet Fitch has enjoyed wider and more diverse audience. Her works were appreciated by critics, regular readers and even by celebrities. One of the popular followers of Janet Fitch is the celebrity television show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey who â€Å"fell in love† with Janet Fitch’s works particularly White Oleander, a story which, according to Oprah herself, is something that moved her (Oprah Talks to Janet Fitch 2). But the power of Fitch’s works is appreciated even by ordinary individuals. One of the very good examples illustrating this fact is the numerous comments among readers and prospective readers found in the Amazon. com section for Paint It Black. The readers/bloggers also pointed to the fact that the stories depict a certain high degree of realism in comparison of real life and the story. It was enveloped in a wide range of emotions (Hughes 4), a sense of closeness to real life that others describe as stories told by characters, the story and the characters both ring with authenticity (West 2); While other critics believe that the talent of Fitch involves the creation of characters which possess distinct and believable characteristics typical of an ordinary human individual (Ginsberg 4). Janet Fitch’s works is considered as praiseworthy and notable by many critics. One of the reasons why this is the case is because of how Janet Fitch’s works transcend the literary realm and impact real life. The lessons and realizations derived from her works are constructed in a design that maximizes and optimizes the ability of the works to touch the senses of the readers through Fitch’s discussion of life, death and finding life’s paths (not before losing the sense of direction first) in her works, particularly in the White Oleander and Paint It Black. An essential approach that Janet Fitch takes in tackling the issues of real human life, that makes her works and stories appreciated by the readers and touches the emotions of the readers, is her use of contemporary setting (or close to contemporary setting) and tackling about issues that almost every individual is vulnerable to suffer or is constantly suffering. The readers are more attached to the stories that Fitch paint. There are many cases that the aspect of life as tackled by Fitch through her character are issues that are seldom addressed by society and issues that many individuals are easily vulnerable to, wrapping it up around a very emotional life not just for the protagonist but also exposing the depth of the serious emotional vein found in other major and minor casts in her stories. For example, the â€Å"White Oleander† is a work that breaks off from the traditional feel good reading that gives readers an escape. Through the White Oleander, Fitch does not provide escape from reality as fairy tales do, but instead, remind the readers of the social problems and real life as reflected in White Oleander and its characters, a story described by Laura Miller as something that is â€Å"no fairytale (Miller 1). † The impact of the stories Janet Fitch wrote is centered largely on realizations which readers often can relate to, particularly during the realizations happening in the end or close to the end of the story. It is an aspect of Janet Fitch’s writing style and design which is considered by some readers as one of Fitch’s strengths as an effective writer (West 1). One of the prevailing realizations about life is how the characters eventually end up getting enough courage to face the past and the present. This was the case of Astrid in White Oleander and the case of Josie in Paint It Black (Hughes 3). But the lessons and realizations is not just facilitated by the aspects of life, of being alive and living. The instances of death also often touch a raw nerve among the readers who are affected by the works. Death, especially the death of someone special or important to one’s life, is something that everyone experienced or will soon experience. Fitch has effectively painted the emotions engulfing the person during the time of death, like the anguish Astrid felt after the death of Claire Richards in White Oleander. Depiction of death-related emotions in Paint It Black involving the suicide of Michael and the impact it has on the state of emotional and mental stability of Josie immediately after the tragedy. It is an analogy of powerful emotions including anger and dislocation something considered as beautifully described by Fitch (Campbell 3). There are also other subplots and aspects of the stories Fitch creates that are constantly present like drug addiction and sex, issues that face many individuals today. It can be one of the linchpins that allows readers to relate to the story and to the main characters, like Astrid in White Oleander and Josie in Paint it Black, who tried to cope with emotional problems through alcohol and drugs (Boulter 1). It is the same predicament of Astrid and the same predicament of many individuals in today’s life. The greatest source of emotional impact that readers can easily detect and relate to is the presence of significant mother-daughter relations as well as problems (Oktay 256) and the strong role of family in the stories written by Fitch, and with focus as well to the narcissistic tendencies of mothers both in White Oleander and in Paint it Black (Valby 1). It was revealed in the musings of the lead characters like when Astrid noted how her mother â€Å"was not herself in the time of the Santa Anas (Fitch 1),† noting the central role of the mother in the daughter’s life, not just in White Oleander but also in Paint It Black. In White Oleander, the struggle of Astrid in her emotionally unstable relationship with her mother Ingrid, who she still loved in the end, despite how Ingrid treated her when she was young, provides many instances that many mother-daughter relationships experience. Astrid’s journey around several foster homes and the perpetual need to be loved, accepted and taken care of is also a perennial emotional issue many individuals struggle with openly or in their own private recluse. A more distorted or more complex mother-daughter relationship is found in Paint It Black (Campbell 4). In these two stories, several roles of the mother and the daughter and several different situations allow readers to pick points wherein they can relate to, allowing Fitch’s fanbase to grow because of this sense of attachment to the characters/story/predicament presented in Fitch’s works. In a way, it makes Fitch a catalyst or even a channel for individuals to find someone (even fictional) that they can relate to and share similar experiences with, in the hope that the later realizations can assist the readers towards certain realizations and closures in their own personal lives and in their own personal struggles, challenges and problems. There is no doubt that in the analysis of what critics, observers, analysts and even the ordinary individual reader, Janet Fitch is a writer above average. This is because of what she wrote, how she wrote it, how she developed characters, and how these characters and stories have the power to influence the emotions of the readers as it reflected real life, real death-related issues and the process and journey towards self discovery and the unfolding of the path for the individual despite what the characters have undergone in the story, despite Josie â€Å"couldn’t settle anywhere (Fitch 8). † It is, in its own way, inspiring the readers and empowering them towards inward personal values that can make them better individuals and cope better with their own personal challenges like how the characters of Fitch did in the stories, doing in a manner considered as masterful storytelling. Boulter describes Paint It Black as â€Å"well written† (Boutler 4). Ginsberg believed that Fitch was able to make an â€Å"indelible literary mark† because of her opus White Oleander (Gindsberg 1). Farr discussed in the book about the personal connections the reader has on the different aspects of White Oleander like story and characters and how these affected them and how they reacted to it (Farr 105). Works Cited Boulter, Maryann. â€Å"Paint It Black – Janet Fitch. † Nightsandweekends. com. 2006. 16 May 2009 . Campbell, Karen. â€Å"’Paint It Black’ is a compelling tale of suicide, memory, and perception. Boston Globe. † Globe Newspaper Company. 18 September 2006. 16 May 2009 . De Turenne, Veronique. â€Å"’White Oleander’ Author Returns with ‘Paint It Black’. † NPR. 4 October 2006. 16 May 2009

Maritime Domain Awareness

SYNOPSIS FOR PAPER 3 ON MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS AS A VEHICLE FOR EFFECTIVE NIGERIAN NAVY OPERATIONS GUEST LECTURER:Rear Admiral FD Akpan (Rtd) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. This paper discussed the concept of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the strategic dimension involving the security and safety of the maritime environment. It further stressed that safety and security of the maritime environment are critical for national security and economic wellbeing of any nation. While it highlighted the prospects of Nigeria’s littoral, the paper was quick to enumerate that there was need to present effective patrols, improve maritime security and provide a conducive environment within the maritime domain for enhanced commercial activities and foster the development of Nigeria. 2. The prospect of Nigeria’s maritime domain is enormous due to the presence of huge mineral deposit; however, the paper highlighted some threats to Nigeria’s adequate utilisation of the domain. These threats include nation state threat, terrorism, trans-national criminals, pirates, environment pollution and illegal immigration. Of interest to the presenter was the loss of revenue, employment opportunity and environmental degradation as a result of these threats to Nigeria’s maritime domain. The paper stressed the need for the NN to imbibe the tenets of maritime awareness by acquiring critical response architecture for effective naval operation. Some strategies proposed by the paper to address these threats include the preservation of the freedom of the seas/waterways through effective presence, facilitating and defending commerce and facilitating the movement of desirable goods and people, while screening out dangerous people and goods. 3. The paper enumerated the ISPS code and Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) as some international instruments for enhancing MDA. However, there was need to fuse information and intelligence between government agencies and private ector because sharing of common data bases has been identified as one of the key to the development of an effective MDA. In line with this development, the paper stressed the need for Nigeria to implement the provisions of these instruments as proposed in the code as soon as possible to meet international standards and practice. 4. Building capacity for MDA as posited in the paper could be enhanced through a bill and an enabling act, because the bill would seek to prov ide the national structures, roles and the various guide lines towards the actualisation of the instruments of the conventions on MDA. Though the maritime security Bill is before the national assembly, the paper suggested the partnering of the NN with other key stakeholders in making inputs. However, due to the inhibitive cost of MDA programmes which would cause strains in planning regimes, there is need to utilize the provision for partnership to build enviable capacities for MDA within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other well advanced countries. As part of measures to build capacity towards effective naval operation through MDA, the NN would need to acquire some infrastructure to facilitate the monitoring of vessels that enter Nigeria’s maritime domain. These infrastructures include Port Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS), coastal VTMIS, Automated Identification System (AIS), Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Radio, Radar and Telecommunication system. 5. The strategic approach adopted in the paper for MDA involves consistent domestic and partner-initiated programmes, as well as significant regional collaboration given the trans-national character of most threats and vulnerabilities. Hence the proposal in the paper is a strategy incorporating regional and global realities. However, to achieve the appropriate MDA, understanding the implications of threats would help stakeholders and government to better appreciate their respective roles. 6. The paper was also of the view that while the NN within its premises could provide the wherewithal to educate her personnel on the tenets of the code, the government must compliment the efforts of the NN with the acquisition of the right size and type of ships and platforms. Also, it was opined in the paper that in the short term timeline for the NN to provide the adequate response as required in the MDA strategy, the Forward Operational Bases would have to be developed appropriately to meet the demands of MDA. The development would involve construction of jetties; logistics support facilities and other infrastructures to support helicopters operation. While the long term suggestion in the paper was the phased refit of NN warships. The paper was of the view that the losses to the government could be reduced if the funds for the refit and acquisition of NN ships were provided. However, the paper stressed that the personnel are the greatest assets towards the realisation of effective MDA. Consequently, there was need for the NN to appropriate the right skills towards the management of the equipment required to actualise the regime. VERBATIM REPORT OF INTERACTIVE SESSION 7. The discussion session was conducted by the following resource persons: a. V/Adm J Ayinla (Rtd)-Moderator b. R/Adm OS Ibrahim-Discussant c. R/Adm J Kpokpogri-Discussant d. AVM Atawodei-Discussant e. Cdre IE Ibas-Discussant MODERATOR’ OPENING REMARKS 8. The moderator commended the presenter for doing justice to the topic. He stressed that maritime domain has been given several definitions, but most of the definitions had missed out one part of the definition. According to him the earth spherical and 70 per cent of it is covered by water. He further stressed that the underwater aspect of maritime domain has always been ignored. He then posited that discussants should pay adequate attention to the underwater aspect of the maritime domain. He stated that vision 20 started in 1979. However, timeliness had been a problem in the NN. He posited that NN had continued from where it was in 1979, the NN could have gone far. CDRE IE IBAS 9. The first discussant was Cdre IE Ibas. He thanked the CNS for giving him the opportunity to comment on the presentation. He acknowledged that the presentation was comprehensive, apt and the definitions of the variables of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) suited the theme of the conference. He stated that the presenter understood the goal of MDA as the early identification of threats at sea. According to him, the United States was the frontline proponent of the concept of MDA at all levels with the vision of multi layer domain picture involving identifying picture and observing known pattern of vessel movement in the MDA. 0. The discussant stressed the need for Nigeria to pursue an aggressive maritime domain culture. He further highlighted that Nigeria needs MDA in order to achieve 20:2020. The discussant emphasized that the SWOT analysis of the presentation gave an expose of the maritime environment. It was highlighted that MDA must go beyond platform sensors, consequently automated d etection system could be the basis for MDA as they could be employed for activities at sea. According to the discussant, the threats of terrorism are not as potent as militancy in Nigeria. Therefore, according to the presentation, all efforts could be geared towards addressing the potent threat of militancy. The militant attack on Atlas Cove was used for illustration. 11. The presentation also identified man as one of the key element in achieving MDA. However, the present attitude of personnel to attain MDA was stressed. The discussant enumerated the conditions that were prevalent in the 1980’s when the NN had been involved in arresting smugglers and pirates. The discussant stressed that the NN may not achieve the required rchitecture for MDA with the present behavioural attitude of the personnel. However, the discussant stressed that it was gratifying to note that the NN through the RMAC in the NN Base, Apapa through the installation of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) was making positive progress in MDA. He opined that the RMAC could be installed on NN helicopters. He was of the opinion that greater interaction was required between partners and stakeh olders. However, the challenge of inter agency and service rivalry would need to be overcomed in order to achieve MDA. R/ADM J KPOKPOGRI 12. The second discussant was R/Adm Kpokpogri. He thanked the CNS for finding him worthy to discuss this paper. He commended the presenter for a well delivered paper. The discussant stressed that he would look at the paper from one angle. He stated that the United States and the European nations started MDA. It was necessitated by the need to stop drugs trafficking and other illegal activities perpetrated at sea. 13. The importance of the NN is yet to be fully appreciated because the NN lacks the necessary platforms to cope with the present challenges. According to him, the NN needs new platforms in order to cope with the challenges. He stressed that it was alarming to note that about 80 per cent of ships operating in Nigeria’s water are not registered. Consequently, he posited that there was need for the NN to synergise with NIMASA and other maritime agencies such as DPR and NNPC on observation of certificate carried by vessels in our maritime environment in order to enhance efficiency. 14. According to the discussant, there was need for all involved in maritime security including retired senior officer to help the NN in repositioning her for the challenges. According to the discussant, Nigeria’s sub region is dominated by franco phone countries, consequently, he made some prayers for the NN to consider. The prayers made included the introduction of french language to enhance cooperation in the sub region, establishment of MDA watch in ENC and WNC and the need to involve foreign stake holders like the US and UK in perfecting MDA in Nigeria. R/ADM OS IBRAHIM 15. The third discussant was R/Adm OS Ibrahim and he stressed that he would look at the presentation based on 3 premises. The discussant highlighted his assumptions as: . It is upon the NN under the providence of God that the prosperity of the nation rest. b. Patrolling Nigeria’s EEZ is the only safe guard for control. c. Even if the money and resources required are made available today it will take a min of 5 days to achieve the much required state. 16. According to the discussant, MDA in line with vision 20:2020 would eradicate poverty, bring about peace and developmen t. He stressed that MDA could guarantee full security of the maritime domain, make waters safe and attractive for investment. He was of the view that the presenter was modest in his recommendations, however, he stressed that the presentation omitted logistics ship which was important for presence. 17. The discussant stressed that US mentioned capability gap in the regional maritime domain. To cover the gap, the US installed the RMAC in Nigeria. He further stressed that he was pursuing collaborative effort to enhance the utilisation of the RMAC. Consequently, the NN was able to organise a capability awareness discussion on the RMAC with representative from NPA and NIWA including the Director General of NIMASA. He was of the opinion that Nigeria’s maritime agencies would need to cooperate better in order to achieve the objectives of MDA. AVM ATAODE 18. AVM Ataode structured his discussion into 2 parts. He raised some observations which included: a. Was it the first time the NN was discussing MDA? b. He corrected the mistake on the deadline for compliance with ISPS code on para 25 from 21September to 31 July 2009. c. Why has Nigeria not passed its own bill as was done in Ghana. 19. He stressed that the focus for MDA would be on early detection by radars and radios. Consequently, he opined that the NN could set up a task force in determining NN capability on MDA. He stated that MDA could make the sea transparent and continuously available. According to the discussant, PICOMMS came about as a directive from IMO that all maritime nations should put in place a body to oversee the implementation of the ISPS code. He further enumerated that the government organisations were the ones defaulting in the implementation of the ISPS code, however, he stressed that 65 facilities have been declared compliant by the relevant authority. Most compliant facility was Niger dock while the least was the Atlas cove in Lagos. 20. He stated that the contract sum for COMMARAS was over bloated to the tune of 250 million euros, leading to the re-evaluation of the contract. He emphasised that PICOMMS was not meant to be a permanent establishment. According to him the COMMARAS was to be installed at 11 stations, with 93 personnel to man each radar stations. However, some of the locations of these radar station sites are uninhabited. PICOMMS has procured the DA 42 Opale Twin Star and King Air 350 aircraft. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FLOOR 21. Cdr Oluwagbamila. MDA is not an end in itself but a means to an end. Do we have a maritime security policy? Efforts of the government in achieving MDA were borne out of external influence. ISPS by IMO code and AIS by US, there was need to harmonise the 2, because both are meant to achieve the same goal. 22. R Adm Arogundade. MDA is a subset of the policing role of the NN. The absence of training in policing role has affected the capability of young officers from appreciating the recent challenges in policing functions. 23. Capt Carew (Rtd). PICOMMS primary duties is to coordinate international shipping and ports facility. The absence of a senior naval officer could act as an impediment to the functions of the agency. 24. R Adm Adedeji. Real MDA is what is happening at the national high command. Real Change has to come from the political masters. 25. Capt Okunbor. He suggested that papers presented in the CONSAC be forwarded to the national planning committee on the implementation of vision20:2020 as the NN repositions itself for development. 26. Sen Olajumoke. He stressed a point that his duty was to be present for the whole deliberations in order to tow the line of developmental needs of the NN. He noted Capt Carew’s suggestion. He had expected that someone would have reacted on the opinion of the first discussant. PRESENTER 27. The presenter agreed with Cdr Oluwagbamila in working out the terms for maritime strategy, he cited examples with the US. He stated that there was need for the NN to be in charge with issues bothering on maritime security. MODERATOR 28. In summarising the session, political will was needed from the national authority from where national aspiration derives all that needs to be done. He wanted to know the authority to deliver maritime security. He stressed that the national prosperity of Nigeria is dependent on sea power and NN. Also, he stressed that there was consider previous threat appreciation in order to re-align it. Failure of the NN could be hinged on inability to ensure deterrence. In this regard, he highlighted the absence of a compact force and capability of visual deterrence. He further stressed the sophistication of the militants in Nigeria was affecting capacity development for adequate MDA. 29. He enumerated that the budget for maintenance of ARADU was not enough to ensure 15 per cent availability of the ship. According to him there was need for the NN to come up with a plan to growth within a time frame say 2010, 2020 or 2030. Also, in his opinion, discussions bothering on ships could involve training considerations and motivations. These would ensure that the personnel are adequately motivated. The issue of 100 ships for the sub region was raised. He opined that, if Nigeria has to be relevant, Nigeria would have to provide at least 60 ships. In this regard, if Nigeria was to be among the 20 most developed economies, she was to develop her national and sea power. 30. Finally, he stated that the NN does not have the right platforms to counter the present threats in our maritime domain. He opined that the NN could realise effective naval operations through better inter-agency cooperation between the NN and PICOMMS, and also that the NN could rely more on force multipliers for early detection and countering of threats. POSERS FOR PAPER 3 1. How can the NN in collaboration with other stake holders in the maritime sector implement measures to achieve MDA? 2. How can the NN harness her FOBs for improved MDA? 3. How can a framework for setting up a dedicated body structure that would be responsible for coordinating MDA in Nigeria? 4. Identify the factors militating against effective MDA in Nigeria with a view to proffering solutions. 5. Based on an identified structure, does the NN need to pursue an act of parliament? 6. Is there an enabling act for effective MDA or are the existing terms good enough for an effective MDA? 7. Identify sources through which dedicated funding for MDA can be achieved outside government sources. 8. What strategies can be adopted by the NN in effectively combating identified threats so as to sustain effective NN operations? 9. Identify policies for implementing MDA and suggest ways of making them more effective. If none, suggest policies. 10. What infrastructures can be put in place to facilitate effective monitoring of vessels? 11. In what ways can partnership with the various stakeholders be harnessed towards achieving MDA? 12. In extending her influence to cover the Gulf of Guinea, what asset mix would the NN require to be effective? 13. What strategies can be adopted by the NN to ensure that personnel are adequately enlightened or trained on MDA? 14. In what areas should the NN key into or make input towards the proposed maritime security bill in order to ensure that the interests of the service are guarded?

Living in a Digital Nation essays

Living in a Digital Nation essays The United States and many other countries have now entered the digital age, an era where electronics, media, and the worldwide web are right at our fingertips anywhere and anytime that our hearts desire. Workplaces, schools, and households have now become more technology friendly and are assimilating into this fascinating age of discovery and innovation. According to Virginia Heffernan, a published author and writer for The New York Times, "65 percent of today's grade-school kids may end up doing work that hasn't been invented yet." Even children are being introduced to electronics and the Internet at a young age, which means the future holds a lot of promise. Technology has flourished and become apart of one's everyday life, and some might even say we abuse it because of our need to be constantly connected; however, it is a beneficial tool to have, and I have welcomed it into my life with open arms. It has allowed me to get my work done easily, helped me make connections, taught me realizations about myself. Also, technology and the Internet are here to stay, which has led me to the conclusion that they will greatly impact my future. Being part of the digital age has made work and business easier. For example, taking online classes is something I was recently introduced to over the summer, and my English course, being my third online class has made me see how a classroom can be brought into a digital setting. Classes offered online are very useful because sometimes a class' time conflicts with my schedule. I am able to do everything online, which leaves some sort of anonymity between my peers, which I like because I am able to state my opinion without fear of being judged in an actual classroom setting where everyone turns and looks at you when you have a contribution to make. Because of the Internet, people are able to get a vast amount of work done The Internet has come very far...

Research Paper on Intangible Assets including Goodwill

Research Paper on Intangible Assets including Goodwill IFRS versus GAAP: Assessing the Issue Major sources of investment capital have long favored greater harmony and transparency in global accounting standards (Ohlgart Ernst, 2011). While world accounting standards in the modern sense originated in the US, a divergence has occurred between GAAP criteria and the prevailing international accounting standards, currently represented by IFRS criteria. The latter are now in official use in 120 nations (Tyson, 2011, p. 27). In October 2002, FASB and IASB formalized the Norwalk Agreement, to converge in their accounting rules over time (Charron Moores, 2011; Tyson, 2011). Since then, both the major accounting associations and government regulators have moved toward convergence in accounting practices. In light of this development, this paper will look at whether to recommend that the SEC maintain GAAP criteria for firms that report in the US or move to IFRS criteria, especially concerning the issue of intangible assets. The Call for Convergence After the Enron and WorldCom accounting fiascos, which â€Å"culminated in huge financial losses and decimated capital markets worldwide,† there has been vociferous pressure, especially from European firms and auditing agencies, for the US to join the growing world community of accounting practice by moving away from GAAP and toward IFRS criteria (Tyson, 2011, p. 25). This assumes that globally standardized criteria would have improved transparency in financial reporting at Enron and WorldCom, raising awareness of irregularities earlier. Thus, some have argued that IFRS standards, which rely on principles more than rules, foment more professional judgment, which creates transparency (Tyson, 2011, p. 30). Admittedly, GAAP criteria are better at industry-specific detail, but there have also been arguments that they may encourage â€Å"financial engineering† (Tyson, 2011, p. 27). Nevertheless, credible academic sources find no evidence that IFRS standards are superior to G AAP criteria (Tyson, 2011, p. 30). Effect on Intangible Assets Henry, Lin, and Yang (2007) reported that intangible assets, including both goodwill and development costs (e.g., in research and development) play a central role in determining critical measures of value for â€Å"reconciling items for both net income and shareholders’ equity† (p. 710). Because the difference between GAAP and IFRS concern intangible assets more than any other area, especially in cases of mergers and acquisitions, this concern lies at the crux of the question of whether the US should move toward the IFRS model. Goodwill refers to the intangible benefit that comes from a company’s acquiring another firm at a cost that is less than its current fair-market price (Charron Moores, 2011). The key difference between GAAP and IFRS in measuring goodwill concerns how acquirers allocate this intangible value by unit in their own accounting structures. Under GAAP criteria, â€Å"the acquirer assigns goodwill to the various reporting units of the combined entity,† but under IFRS criteria, â€Å"goodwill is assigned to the various cash-generating units† (Charron Moores, 2011, p. 50). In fact, Henry, Lin, and Yang (2007) found that the largest differences between IFRS and GAAP in calculating shareholder equity related to goodwill. Moreover, between 2004 and 2006, pensions and goodwill have dominated disparities between GAAP and IFRS accounting, despite evidence of convergence over time (Henry, Lin, Yang, 2009).Shareholders’ equity under IFRS is lower than that reported under GAAP criteria, in most cases. Because the definition of control differs between GAAP and IFRS, some events qualify as mergers and acquisitions in one system but fall short of that definition in the other (Charron Moores, 2011). GAAP looks for a mathematical majority of shares to define having a controlling financial interest. In contrast, the IFRS looks at effective control, defining control as the â€Å"power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity to obtain benefits from its activities† (Charron Moores, 2011, p. 48). This requires judgment. To discern this, analysts must judge whether interested shareholders can appoint executives, dissolve a business unit, appoints board members, exercise special voting rights, or alter bylaws (Charron Moores, 2011). Benefits of Convergence The principle of convergence, as one of multiple paths to US adoption of IFRS criteria, involves first cooperatively adjusting GAAP and IFRS criteria, and then permitting US firms to adopt IFRS practices at a point at which the latter â€Å"would be adopting IFRS almost automatically or be very close† (Ohlgart Ernst, 2011, p. 41). The advantages of convergence include making US-based sources of capital funding more competitive in capital global markets, lower expected costs of capital overall, greater financial-reporting efficiency for US-based multinational sources of capital and auditing firms, and more transparency for investors (Tyson, 2011). Henry, Lin, and Yang (2007) noted that â€Å"the greater confidence in financial reporting† from harmonizing global accounting reporting standards â€Å"translates into a lower cost of capital† (p. 710). The pursuit of convergence between GAAP and IFRS criteria is also likely to encourage more repatriation of foreign ea rnings by US corporations (Epstein Macy, 2011). Recommendations Ohlgart and Ernst (2011) predicted that the SEC would permit a minimum of five years for US corporations to make the transition to IFRS criteria, assuming that it ultimately adopts the convergence plan. For some companies, however, the main disadvantages of convergence have to do with the time necessary to make the transition, rather than any permanent loss of financial advantage. Nevertheless, many firms will also have to adapt to new reporting systems after years of developing internal ERPs that will be vexing to rework. As Ohlgart and Ernst (2011) noted, many firms’ accounting ERPs â€Å"are a conglomeration of disparate systems pieced together over the years that will either not support a massive change,† even if such a change promises to afford substantial efficiencies at some point in the future (p. 43). Nevertheless, two-thirds of Fortune 1000 firms already favor eventually full convergence (Tyson, 2011, p. 30). While international organizations and major audit firms support proceeding with the transition to IFRS in the United States, industrial interests are far more reticent (Tyson, 2011). Most cautious are the aerospace, financial-services, and public-utilities sectors (Tyson, 2011), which have come out strongly in favor of convergence as the optimal path to adoption, with sufficient time for GAAP criteria to align with IFRS standards. Major multinational firms headquartered in the US have voiced similar concerns to those of the foregoing industry sectors. Lastly, US-based trade associations and large investment firms have come out in agreement with US-based industrial interests. In consideration of the effect on the cost of capital and more generally the benefits of having a more transparent international-accounting system, the only reasonable recommendation is to follow the advice of the foregoing US-based industrial interests. However, given that the IFRS criteria are actually the eventual offspring of accounting standards first formed in the US, a better solution is a policy of condorsement (Ohlgart Ernst, 2011, p. 42). This is a combination of convergence and the additional qualification that the FASB exercise oversight over residual changes that need to occur in both GAAP and IFRS criteria. In this way, the product may be an optimal combination of rules-based criteria and principles-based criteria, which may thus permit greater objectivity and lesser subjectivity in the accounting rules that currently prevail in IFRS criteria alone. This way, there may be an opportunity to resolve the ambiguities associated with some IFRS criteria, while otherwise purs uing a semblance of convergence in the end.