Saturday, November 30, 2019

Rap vs Country free essay sample

Contrast Assignment: Comparison/ Music is truly an American artistic creation that all of us should be proud of. Unfortunately, we have two music types which In their beginnings were thought as a Fly by Night art. Thanks to the strong support, given by the loyal individuals who started these art forms; we are still blessed with a creative ingenuity of music called Rap, Country Western. There are many similarities between rap and country western (CW).Primarily, the two genres of music have a strong history, efferent types of their music, and a unique use of the performer and Instruments, and at times they both romance the opposite sex. On one hand, the history of rap music began in the early ass and its origins and influences came from popular African American and Latino Street culture of New York City. This highly original and Innovative approach displayed a new expanded function for the MAC (microphone controller or emcee) and highlighted amazing percussion riffs and other rhythmic drum breaks from popular funk and disco music. We will write a custom essay sample on Rap vs Country or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the same manner, Country ; Western music which was originally called Hillbillys Music which Is a blend of rotational and popular musical forms traditionally found In the Southeastern United States. It evolved rapidly in the sass and will celebrate the century mark soon. The term country music gained popularity in the sass when the earlier term hillbillys music came to be seen as belittling. However, in the Southwestern United States a new cowboy twist was added to this Incredible music which later became the western music of the term country and western.It was widely embraced In the 2 sass but lost its momentum but gained it back in the mid asss. Although, histories re strong and different; the two have other similarities such as multiple forms of music. Old solo Rap Is described as the beginning of recorded hip hop music between the years of 1979-1984. It ended around 1981 when Cool Moe Dee used a more complex style to disused; a then, arrogant Busy Bee at a Harlem night club. With the emergence of Public Enemy (P. E. ), Boogie Down Productions, and Eric B. Amp; Rake; the music had a strong Jazz Influence as well as many samples of James Browns melodies. Of these lyrics, from this era, Chuck Doff P. E. Displayed his rebellious temperament with, l got a letter from the government, the other day, I penned and read it, it said they were SUCKS! Following, the afro-centric era, Gangs Rap surfaces which reflected a violent lifestyles of Inner-city black youths. It was pioneered by rappers like Schools D, Ice T, and by groups like N. W. A. Likewise, Country and Western also has different types such Bluegrass, Hillbillys Boogie, and Honks Ton.Bluegrass which is known as mountaineer its string band music that emerged from artist like Bill Monroe, Lester Flat, and Earl Shrugs. Second, It has Hillbillys Boogie that became notable with the Dolmen Brothers Freight Train Boogie, and other artist like Tennessee Ernie Ford when they combined evolution of 1 OFF Honks Ton which was strongly influenced by Hank Williams. Its a stripped down and raw music with a variety of moods and my favorite lyrics from a song of his is, Hank why do you drank; why do you roll smokes. Now, as I shift from the multiple forms of music; Ill focus on their unique use of the performer, instruments, and lyrics. 3 From a Rap heads perspective, this unique musical talent uses a MAC to get the dance floor Hyped and to introduce the Ads as he performed his creative turntable skills hen he uses those amazing percussion riffs and rhythmic drum breaks! For instance, when the Spooning Gee said, Wave your hand in the air; Wave them like you just dont care; if you come to party and get down then somebody say Oh yeah Oh yeah and the last Oh yeah was said by the crowd!It may not be traditional instruments but it is a technique to play music. Although, Country music uses instrument it has its own distinctive pieces of equipment such as a basic ensemble of guitars such as the bass, dobra or steel guitar and later the drums and a twang sound when the songs were sang. Hank Williams sound which would later be called traditional country influence would prove to be enormous, inspiring man y of the pioneers of rock and roll, such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, while providing a framework for emerging Honks Ton talents like George Jones. As I continue, Ill focus on the similarity in their lyrics starting with Country. For example, Hank Williams Going Hunting Tonight lyrics says, Now those big 01 beautiful wildcats, Are the kind that are hard to track, Cause the Joint is crawling with the other hunters, And the she- cat is doubling back. Then, you have AL Cool J saying, When I am alone in my room onetime I stare at the wall and in the back of my mind; I hear my conscious call. Telling me I need a girl whos sweet as a dove; for the first time, in my life, I see I need love.Basically, these two gentlemen of different genre of music are looking forward to the same thing To romance the opposite sex. In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, Rap and Country Western are primarily similar. Both share a strong history, multiple forms of music, a unique use of the performers and 4 instruments, and they have lyrics to romance the opposite sex. Some would say that Country Western is a true form of music. But, how about Rap? Most of the time, Rap and CW are both on the same plain.

Monday, November 25, 2019

New Report Reveals Insights About Job Hopping Across Generations

New Report Reveals Insights About Job Hopping Across Generations We’re all familiar with the narrative: Baby Boomers are devoted workaholics, Gen Xers are ambitious revenue generators, Millennials are entitled and disloyal, and Gen Zers, who are only just entering the workforce now, are likely to be even more opportunistic than their older counterparts. The idea that the generation you belong to impacts your tendency to job hop is a popular opinion. But for the most part, it’s also just that: opinion. In fact, recent studies have shown that the notion that younger generations are less likely to stick around than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers is something of a myth. And now, thanks to LiveCareer’s 2018 Job-Hopping Report, we have a whole new heap of insights on this topic.The analysis investigated job churn across the four generations mentioned above – Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964); Gen Xers (1965 to 1980); Millennials (1981 to 1997); and Gen Zers (1998 to present) – while also looking at trends by occupation and educat ion level. What it found was that yes, younger generations do appear to spend less time in positions than their older colleagues – Gen Zers’ average job tenure is 1.2 years, millennials’ is 2.4, Gen Xers’ is 5.4, and Baby Boomers’ is 8. A comparison of the number of positions held over the past five years across generations paints a similar picture.But, according to the report, the dynamics that inform this pattern have very little to do with cohort membership.It’s about career maturation, not generation Findings suggest that this trend is more linked to life and career stage than generational factors. In other words, millennials and Gen Zers aren’t more likely to jump ship just because they are millennials and Gen Zers, but rather because they’re younger and at an earlier juncture in their careers. In fact, longitudinal surveys reveal that older generations were just as flighty when they were young professionals in a similar p hase of their work life.The report concludes that as employees move further along their career path, they tend to stay longer in roles. This is supported by data that shows that the job-hopping inclination of software developers (the vast majority of whom are Millennials) trends downwards when comparing the past two years of their careers to the past five.So, the good news for all you younger workers is that you now have a strong counterargument when someone labels millennials as the job-hopping generation. But that doesn’t mean you can relax entirely. There is another demographic factor that is, apparently, a good gauge of job-hopping tendencies, and that’s education.  The curse of being too educated  Simply put, the analysis found that the more educated you are, the more likely you are to change jobs regularly – a high school graduate, for instance, tends to stay put for longer than someone with a bachelor’s degree. This trend is linked to another f inding that today, across a range of occupations, job seekers often possess a higher level of education than is required.For example, blue-collar workers, like servers, cashiers, bartenders, and caregivers, list higher education qualifications when they build a resume 8.3x more often than blue-collar employers include them as requirements in job ads.As being overqualified is linked to an affinity for job hopping, possessing a degree you don’t need for a position might damage your chances of getting the job. And because millennials are more educated than previous generations (65% have a higher education, as compared to 57.2% of Gen Xers and 48.5% of Baby Boomers), they’re most likely to be hit the hardest by this truth.  To list or not to list qualifications on your resume? So, what do you do if you’ve gone to the trouble of earning a degree, but the job you want doesn’t call for one? To avoid being seen as a potential flight risk, consider leaving your higher education off your resume – particularly if you’re applying for a non-professional role. We’re not promoting dishonesty, but it may be in your interest to play down your qualifications in the earlier stages of the job application process to at least get an interview.You can take this one step further when it comes to professional certifications and licenses – don’t even enroll for them if they’re not requirements. While there are some fields where employers do value these credentials, the report indicates that there are also jobseekers in many roles who have poured time and money into training that most hiring managers don’t find valuable. These include administrative assistants, bartenders, cashiers, store managers, customer service representatives, sales associates and software developers.In particular, if you’re one of the last three, it’s probably not worth investing in costly certificates and testing at all.à ‚   Not one job ad examined for these professions made mention of any certifications or licenses, so attaining one is not only unnecessary but could make you appear overqualified.  The answer lies in the job ad The best way to know whether you should or shouldn’t list your degree on your resume or sign up for that certificate program is to carefully examine job ads. And not just the ad for the role you’re currently eyeing; scrutinize a wide range of postings relevant to your field and take note of the highest level of education listed and of any credentials regularly cited as must-haves.  By doing so, you’ll get a good idea of the kind of qualifications employers consider critical. And if you pitch yourself at this level and make sure your resume closely matches requirements, you can avoid being labeled a job hopper, regardless of your generation.Discover additional findings on job hopping, plus a free PDF download of the full report, via this link: 2018 Job -Hopping Report.LiveCareer offers assistance to job seekers at every step of the journey. Access free  resume templates  and  resume examples, plus a  cover letter builder  and advice on how to answer  interview questions  of all stripes.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Case Study of the Exploitation of Financial Regulation by Deutsche Bank

Case Study of the Exploitation of Financial Regulation by Deutsche Bank Creative accounting is used to make a company seem to be performing well than it actually is. This scheme is applied especially where accounting figures do not look attractive or appealing to the investors, current and potential. This creativity is perpetuated by the senior management through support of directors making it difficult to detect where there are no proper fraud investigations are done. In the case of Deutsche Bank, its former executives are accused of obstructing regulators from looking into loss cover up in an investment dubbed Alexandria. The deals were a major cover up as alleged during a financial crisis that sae Monte Paschi in great troubles. The investigation carried out brought into attention massive losses that Monte Paschi had been misrepresented between 2008 and 2012. My agreement to this is based on the following: â€Å"The fraud first came to light in January 2013, when Bloomberg News reported that Monte Paschi used the transaction with Deutsche Bank, dubbed Santorini, to mask losses from an earlier derivative contract. The world’s oldest bank restated its accounts and has since been forced to tap investors to replenish capital amid a slump in its shares. It’s now attempting to convince investors to buy billions of bad loans before a fresh stock sale.† It is possible that the findings by the regulator are accurate since they are able to bring out a proper investigation on the matter presented to it. The bank was even required to account for differences in its carrying value on the stake at San Paulo bank and the amount they paid for the shares to have a stake there. The use of revaluation reserve to increase par value was not the right thing to do to absorb losses. This is because revaluation reserve per se is not counting towards Tier one capital. This was just a scheme to maintain its core capital as required by the regulator in the industry. Santorini Investment was also a bad move meant to serve a special purpose, to do an equity swap. The bank controlled a huge stake in this business where it had majority shares for controlling its Interest-Santorini was majority owned (51%) by Deutsche Bank – Monte Paschi controlled 49%. They used some amount that were proceeds in the sale of San Paolo to Deutsche in financing Monte Paschi’s shares in Santorini investment. Monte Paschi was taking shelter in reducing exposure of its share from constant price fluctuations. â€Å"Typically, in such a deal, there is either a floating rate or a fixed rate of interest paid over the life of the swap to the entity to which the shares were sold (in this case Deutsche) based on the notional amount of the shares traded (so 785 million euros here). When the swap matures, the original seller of the shares (Monte Paschi here) will receive the difference between the price of the shares when the swap was originated and the price of the shares at maturity. Obviously, if the shares rise over time the original seller makes a profit on the swap (minus any interest payments made along the way). Of course the stock could go up or down over the life of the transaction so there is a very real possibility that the original seller of the shares will have to make a payment at maturity in addition to the interest payments made along the way. Note also that if the stock drops over the course of the deal, the original seller may be forced to post collateral to the buyer of the shares.† It is therefore was a scheme that should have been controlled before it got too late to save the shareholder

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

How is a neuron like atoilet for therhold and all-or none properties Essay

How is a neuron like atoilet for therhold and all-or none properties - Essay Example The neurons are stimulated when they reach a specific level which is known as the threshold. Every neuron has its own threshold on which it can be stimulated. Below the threshold the neuron is not stimulated enough to fire impulses to cause its desired effect. This is known as the all or none property followed by all the neurons of the body. The threshold and the all or none law can be compared to the toilet. When the toilet is in the normal position without any interaction it is known to be in the resting position. This can be compared to the resting membrane potential of the neurons in which the neuron is not firing impulses. Similarly when the toilet has to be flushed the lever is to be pushed hard enough so that the flushing can begin. Same is the case with neurons which have a stimulatory threshold level which can only be achieved if the resting membrane potential has reached the threshold level. As the flush won’t work with the right power the neurons will also not work with the right stimulatory power. When the process of flushing starts it reaches a peak when the water stops being drained after which the water is poured back in the toilet.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Music Therapy Description Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music Therapy Description - Term Paper Example Music therapy is defined as "a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using music experiences and the relationships that develop through them..." (Bruscia KE, 1998) In these Modern times of great advancement in science and technology, music to therapy shows great promise in the expanding field of health care. Music therapy helps greatly in the field of medical sciences especially for cancer patients, in management, for children suffering from ADD to help soothe and calm the bodies and minds of such patients. Research has shown that music with a strong with them and beat stimulates the brain waves bringing about deeper concentration alertness. On the other hand, music with softer notes and slower tempos tend to calm and soothe the body bringing about a Meditative state of mind. Depression seems to be one of the major causes of certain types of illnesses. Though depression mostly occurs among older adults, there is no getting away from the fact that even the youth could experience some type of depression at any time in their lives. It is here that music therapy serves as one of the most cost-effective, but very much accessible interventions which could be applied in times of anxiety, distress and for other such symptoms of depression. Researchers Hanser SB; Thompson LW., (1994) after their research concluded that music therapy had great potential as a very beneficial intervention especially for the elderly who had limited access to professionals in health care. Home-based program – during the home-based program, the individuals learned the techniques of stress reduction by listening to music. This technique is carried out by a music therapist on a weekly basis when he visits the patient at home.  

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Vandetta and Tell -Tale Heart Essay Example for Free

Vandetta and Tell -Tale Heart Essay This study involves two stories- ‘A Vandetta’ and ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, in which the characters believe that they should get rid of the causes of trouble to them in order to have peace. This study compares similarities and differences between the two essays. 2. 0 Summary of ‘a Vandetta’ Paolo Saverini’s widow lived with her son in a little house on the outskirts of Bonifaco town. The widow’s house rested on the edge of a cliff and it had three windows that gave way to the harassing wind from the sea. Saverini’s wife and her son Antoine had a pet dog which was known Semillante. Semillante was large and thin, with shaggy hair that resembled that of the sheep. While alive, Saverini used Semillante for hunting. Antoine Saverini was stabbed to death by Nicolas Ravolati following an argument between them. Nicolas then decided to run away from the vicinity to Sardinia after committing the murder. The body of Antoine was carried home by road passers-by. Antoine’s death grieved her mother so much; she was left with no one to stay with except the howling dog. Semillante also sobbed for her master, she remained standing at the foot of the bed staring at Antonio’s body that was full of clots of blood. He was buried the following day and that marked the end of talk about him in Bonifaco; the mother however, promised revenge against his son. Antonio had neither brother nor sister; no man was left to carry on the ‘vendetta’, apart from his old mother who sat all day long pondering over the revenge. Since she had sworn over the dead body that he was going to avenge his son, he had to do it anyway. She thought of an idea of making Semillante be a ferocious savage. The next day she went to church to pray so that God could give her the necessary strength to avenge her son. Mother Saverini made a human figure out of straw and used it as a model to train her dog on how to pounce and kill humans. When the right time came, Mother Saverini took her dog with her to Sardini where she asked to be showed Nicolas Ravolati’s house. On being directed to bite Nicolas, the dog seized him on his throat and tore it out into ribbons. The old woman went home that evening and she slept well. 3. 0 Summary of ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ The persona, who is the narrator in the story, has an idea that haunts him day and night. There is an old man in the neighborhood who he thinks he dislikes because of his vulture-like pale blue eye, with a film over it, which scares him. He therefore made up his mind to do away with the man so that he can stop seeing the ‘bad’ eye forever. Not because he disliked the man, in fact, he had no desire for his wealth and the man had never wronged him either. In his chase to get the eye from the old man, the persona crept into the old man’s house at midnight with a dark lantern so that no light shone out. He did this for seven long nights, but he found the old man’s eye closed. This made his work harder for he was just after the old man’s evil eye. However during the day he kept good relation with the old man, inquiring he had passed on the night. Therefore, it was hard for the old man to suspect that the persona was after his life. On the eighth day, the persona in the story crept into the old man’s house and the old man made some movement in bed, however this did not stop the persona from advancing towards his subject. As he attempted to open the door, the old yelled out: â€Å"who’s there? † he kept still without moving. After waiting for a long while, he got into the old man’s house but refrained and kept still, breathing scarcely. The old man’s heart was beating loud, so his enemy used this as a strategy to kill him. He reasoned that since the heart beat was so loud, the sound would be heard by neighbors; so that it could be said he died of old age. He thus threw his lantern and rushed to the old man and dragged him to the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him. He removed the bed and examined the corpse-the old man was dead, his eye would not trouble him anymore. He cut off the arms, head and the legs of the corpse, and he deposited all between the scantlings. Then he replaced the planks that no one could detect. But as he was rejoicing over his victory police officers came, for the neighbors had alerted them. The persona could not conceal the murder he had committed; it haunted him. 4. 0 Qualities of ‘a Vendetta’ The title ‘a Vendetta’ runs throughout the whole story. After the death of Saverini and his son Antonio, there remains only one Vendetta- mother Saverini. She fights to the end and ensures she revenges for his late son, Antonio. There is proper placement of characters, plot, conflict and climax: In the story characters are placed such that at the end of the story, there is one character remaining who is a victor Saverini’s widow; though at the beginning of the story all her family members die and leave her alone as a vendetta. The language is clear. It gives the reader ample time to analyze the story due to the flow of ideas, hence, creating an impact in the story. 5. 0 Qualities of ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ Concept development: The author first introduces the idea and outlines it before giving the whole narration. In paragraph two of the story the author gives an overview of what the speaker in the story is about to do and the reasons behind the actions. Then he explains how he goes into doing each and every single activity due to the reasons given. Hence one is able to connect the sequence of activities from the beginning to the end of the story. The plot/story line: is sustained right from the beginning of the story. One is carried through the whole story and wonders why the persona in the story had to commit murder as a solution to what seems minor and thereafter get haunted; or might even have gone to jail. Dialogue: The dialogue in the story is like a real conversation. Narrating the story through the persona adds more value by drawing more attention to who is speaking in the story. Similarities between the two stories: The two tittles, ‘a vendetta’ and ‘the tell-tale heart’ are relevant to the stories and they run through the two stories. The two stories have the same basic formatting /layout style. The key characters in the two stories are after revenge: In the Vendetta the widow seeks to revenge for his son who was murdered and she successfully accomplishes it. In the Tell-Tale Heart, the speaker in the story wants to kill an old man since one of his eyes resembles that of a vulture, and he didn’t like the way he looked at him; he murders the old man. In both stories there is murder. Conclusion The characters in the Tell-Tale heart are not given names; hence it’s hard to classify the story. Naming of characters in the Vendetta story makes it more defined and easy to understand. In the Tell-Tale heart story, there is introduction to the concept in story whereas in the Vendetta, introduction to the story is based on the setting of the story. Reference: Classic short stories, (2007): Retrieved on 3rd February 2009 from: http://www. classicshorts. com/index. shtml.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Hammurabi :: Essays Papers

Hammurabi Of the many law codes surviving from the ancient Middle East, perhaps the most famous is the Code of Hammurabi, sixth King of the Amorite Dynasty of Old Babylon. Today, the code, engraved in stone takes on a unique form as a piece of art. However, decoded it is clear that this stone was obeyed and served as a sort of political propaganda. The noted stone found in 1901 by French archeologists, now rests in the Paris Louvre where it is preserved from moisture and natural decomposition. The raw material consists of an 8 ft. tall block of black basalt engraved with cuneiform. It clearly intended to be observed in public. The immense size of this rock was a sign of strength and authority and its dark coloration an ominous warning. At the top is a depiction of Hammurabi receiving the code from Shamash the sun god or god of justice. In this picture the two men are the same size, which symbolizes Hammurabi’s power being equal to that of the gods. Below this is a prologue praising Hammurbai’s wisdom and power. To further its legitimacy the law code was in those days regarded as subject for prayer, though the prayers here are chiefly cursings of whoever shall neglect or destroy the law. The content of the code regulates in clear and definite strokes the organization of society and the harsh punishment for crimes. For example, the witness who testifies falsely is to be slain. Indeed, more serious crimes were punishable with death. If a man builds a house poorly, and it falls and kills the owner, the builder is to be slain. If the owner’s son is killed, the builder’s son is slain. The idea of â€Å"eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth† could not be debated.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Brand’s Market Analysis Essay

However, other brands are engaging in more aggressive advertising and increasing brand awareness, bridging the gap of perceived difference between BRAND’S and their products, and offering buyers more choices, hence buyers have medium power. Supplier bargaining power BRAND’S ingredients are mainly chicken essence and a small proportion of caramel. Although these ingredients are relatively easy to procure, there is high regulation from authorities restricting the number of suppliers, because of the recent 2004 avian flu which prompted authorities to step in to tighten regulations on the quality of avian products2. Due to loyalty to ingredient supplier since 2004, and the fact that few suppliers are qualified and approved by authorities, BRAND’S is assured of the quality of its ingredients, but suppliers enjoy high bargaining power because of its quality assurance. Threat of new entrants There are high fixed costs due to production method and machinery, and seasonal demands during critical periods such as examinations, as well as market saturation and high existing brand equity with other industry competitors. This creates a high barrier of entry due to high start-up capital and high economies of scale. BRAND’S recent entry to the health supplement market, has heightened the threat of new entrants (e. g. InnerShine series3), as these products do not enjoy similar consumer loyalty and new entrants can imitate them. Despite extensive brand building, threat of entrants is overall medium. Threat of substitutes Substitutes of BRAND’S include mainstream health supplements, which may appeal to consumers who do not like the bitter taste of BRAND’S traditional products. In response, BRAND’S has diversified their product line to include tablets. Moreover, BRAND’S has always been active in research and recently discovered the link between consumer benefits to an active compound4 in its products. This is in contrast to its substitutes, especially western health supplements, who have prided themselves on a long history of research and the ability to back its products with scientific foundations. Despite this, threat of substitutes is medium as BRAND’S health supplements are relatively new. Industry competition In actuality, BRAND’S products have little difference with its competitors and there are fairly similar marketing target segments because BRAND’S competitors are able imitate its marketing strategy5. Growth in demand of such products as a result of increasing competitive environments has allowed competitors to capitalize on the high demand from a spectrum of consumers. As a result, BRAND’S direct competitors price their products lower than BRAND’S and appeal to price-sensitive consumers, thus leading to a relatively strong rivalry. BRAND’s recent foray into the mainstream health supplements market also exposed itself to great competition because of existing industry players, giving it an uphill task to gain market share. As a result, industry competition is relatively intense. In conclusion, strong brand equity empowers BRAND’S and reduces threats from buyers and new entrants. Overall competitive environment was medium high due to pressures from substitutes, suppliers and competitors which led CPL to adopt the strategies below. 2. Competitive Strategies adopted in 2009 and 2010 CPL primarily uses focus differentiation strategy, coupled with some elements of cost leadership strategy, during the period 2009 to 2010, which enabled it to survive the challenging environment and gear itself towards sustainable growth in the long run. Fierce industry competition during the period has led to CPL being active in its brand building strategy through various channels. Some of these include engaging brand amba ssadors, outreach on television media and organizing study camps. This brand management strategy has resulted in perceived uniqueness of their product, even though there are competitors with similar physical products. In a bid to convince consumers of its uniqueness, it has invested in research facilities to provide scientific backing to its products. The successful patent of its discovery will lend further credence to its advertising and products which will make it harder for its rivals to imitate its marketing strategy. Focus strategy is evident through marketing strategies targeted at students. Collaboration with schools and the organization of student events (e. . Sudoku competitions, summer camps) have enabled CPL to improve its outreach to students. This is in response to the increasingly competitive education systems in Singapore and China, where students will be inclined to take supplements that are deemed beneficial to the well-being of the mind. The global recession of 2009 and declining sales forced CPL to rethink a low cost strategy, in response to more price-sensitivity among consumers, and rising price of ingredients. This is illustrated in its continual capacity expansion, allowing it to enjoy future economies of scale. The increase in volume of production will allow it to spread its fixed costs over a larger quantity, reducing its average unit cost of production. Furthermore, investments in specialized technology6 for the manufacturing process will likely result in higher efficiency and lower average cost in the long run. Price negotiations to mitigate upward pressure7 in ingredient prices also help to keep unit costs low. In the event of future recessions, CPL will be able to respond and translate lower prices to consumers through promotions and offers. To conclude, even though BRANDS is not a price leader in the industry, its long term low cost strategy in bringing down its production cost, along with increased investments in brand building to promote product uniqueness, will allow it to reap increased profits in good times. Where times are bad, CPL can afford to lower selling prices and still make healthy profits. 2. 3 Top Three Business Risks and Counter-measures Risk 1: Declining market shares and strong competition Strong competition from existing competitors present a threat to BRAND’S standing in the market. BRAND’S has lost market shares in beauty oral aid products8 and Innershine products in countries such as Malaysia while competition in other countries remains intense. In response to the competition, CPL engaged in active advertising to improve brand image and increase outreach. Campaigns directed to improve sales of specific products are also held resulting in significant effect in capturing customer’s attention to BRAND’S products. Innovative ways to increase sales such as ‘cubic shop’ retailing, blogs and increasing of sales channels to cosmetic shops9 has helped to gain a competitive advantage and modernize their image. CPL has also carried out extensive research for BRAND’S to scientifically assure the benefits and safety consumption of their product which no other company had done so for this category of products hence winning over customer’s approval and loyalty. Risk 2: Decreasing sales due to the global economic recession The global economic recession has made a declining effect on the sales number for BRAND’S product. However CPL had manage to minimize the effects of the recession by investing heavily on research ;amp; development and capacity building allowing them to stay resilient in the face of the recession. Up to date technology to transform operations to be fully automated has allowed CPL to decrease cost of production and increase product output hence maximizing profits during the recession. The investment in increasing capacity includes construction of factories costing a total of 2. 45 billion baht10 and opening of Indonesia offices. This move coupled with aggressive marketing sales strategy aims to increase their presence in the market and improve sales in the short run while the construction of the factory aims to allow CPL to increase their competitiveness and secure a larger market share in the long run. Risk 3: Decrease consumer confidence in BRANDS products News reports of a recall of essence of chicken products in the United States spark1ed some controversy amongst consumers11. In addition, just as the business in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was beginning their operations, food safety concerns caused by the melamine food scare12 significantly affected consumer sentiment. Above this, news of the import ban on BRANDS’ products spread worldwide, affecting the business segment. Fortunately, BRANDS subsequently stepped out to explain that the cause of the import ban was a result of compliance issues13. CPL also affirmed its commitment to quality assurance through various press releases to ease consumer sentiments14. 2. 4 Overview of Value Chain Activities We have identified the value chain activities that enable CPL to stay ahead of competitors, in particular, support activities such as research and development and human resource management provide BRANDS the extra edge in the industry and primary activities such as operations, advertising, brand building and service distinguish BRANDS from their rivals. CPL has affirmed its commitment to Research and Development by launching the BRANDS Health Science Centre and they have discovered the active compound in their health product which is believed to enhance mental performance. Work is still done to further understand how to maximize the uses of the compound for consumer benefits15. As a result, BRANDS product credibility in the industry will be improved with the backing of this scientific discovery. This discovery of this compound ‘Probeptigen’ will help to distinguish BRANDS from its rivals and increase customer loyalty. Finding ways of harnessing the active compound in different ways should be the next step that CPL works towards to, and will aid its differentiation strategy if new and innovative products can be released with its findings. Human resource management is identified as key to the organization16. This is important to the development of the next generation of leadership and talent retention and particularly relevant as a strong management team will be vital to steer the waves of future recessions. A highly efficient management team will create value for shareholders and maintain the pristine image of BRANDS products to consumers. Efforts are made to engage employees, develop leadership skills and align the right behaviors and values across the organization17. Further improvements can be made by providing quality training to service staffs with higher emphasis on after sales services. For operations, CPL has been actively expanding its manufacturing facilities, allowing them to better match its production capabilities with the growing demands. Increased output volume helps in its long-term low cost strategy by reducing average unit production costs. Enhanced manufacturing capabilities enable BRANDS to diversify and offer new products with special features. This allows CPL to serve various consumer needs and provide more product choices, which aid its differentiation strategy. Improvements to the manufacturing process are made through installation of latest technology to increase efficiency and reduce waste. CPL can improve its existing operations by developing new distribution channels to cope with higher output capabilities. This helps prevent bottlenecks in its supply chain. Advertising and brand building activities help to transform consumer mindsets, as well as contemporize product image. Conventionally viewed as traditional health products for medicinal purposes18, new branding strategies repositions BRAND’S with brain-enhancing functions. With these activities, BRANDS can increase the efficacy of its focus differentiation strategy. Increased industry competition led CPL to enhance the uniqueness of its products from its close competitors. Appealing to students and young adults via brand imaging strengthens its focus strategy. Improvements are made with research and patents to provide scientific foundations to its products. Further improvements can be by capitalizing on these scientific insights to explicitly educate consumers on the specific benefits of each product to achieve full effects of its brand building strategy. Service in the organization adds value to consumers through its customer relationship management (CRM) policies. In a saturated industry, close similarities with rivals can be mitigated with unique after sales services and quality consumer experiences. This helps BRANDS to connect with its consumers on a more personal level, and allow it to leverage on customer insights to better anticipate demands19. This is particularly important for BRANDS’s focus differentiation strategy as it reduces the time BRANDS takes to rectify product errors or push out new products by reconciling its supply side capabilities with the demand side factors such as change in consumer preferences. CRM initiatives are constantly being reviewed and improved in the organization by benchmarking its quality against service industry averages19. In addition, human resource management is important as such after sales services require quality labor inputs, which require constant retraining of employee. . 1 List of Financial Ratios Liquidity ;amp; Efficiency| 2008| 2009| 2010| Current Ratio| 1. 56| 1. 70| 1. 69| Quick Ratio| 1. 21| 1. 23| 1. 27| Cash Ratio| 0. 65| 0. 59| 0. 73| Assets Turnover| 1. 19| 1. 20| 1. 35| Fixed Assets Turnover| 5. 87| 4. 40| 4. 37| Inventory Turnover| 4. 59| 4. 07| 4. 60| Days to Sell| 79. 52| 89. 68| 79. 35| Receivables Turnover| 7. 81| 7. 37| 8. 35| Days to Collect| 46. 73| 49. 53| 43. 70| Profitability| 2008| 2009| 2010| Gross Profit Margin| 50. 24%| 49. 72%| 47. 93%| Net Profit Margin| 11. 35%| 11. 73%| 12. 09%| Return on Assets| 13. 8%| 14. 09%| 16. 29%| Return on Fixed Assets| 66. 63%| 51. 63%| 52. 81%| Return on Equity| 23. 66%| 24. 49%| 28. 06%| Earnings Per Share| 25. 72 cents| 26. 29 cents| 32. 68 cents| Solvency| 2008| 2009| 2010| Debt Ratio| 42. 64%| 42. 35%| 41. 56% | Times Interest Earned (TIE) Ratio| 19. 71| 30. 77| 49. 32| Selected business segments turnovers (in millions)| 2008| 2009| 2010| BRAND’S Liquids| 403. 7| 431. 0| 503. 7| Eu Yan Sang (EYS) Chicken Essence21| 6. 1| 6. 1| 8. 6| Woh Hup Sauces| 159. 3| 138. 3| 171. 0| 3. 2 Comments and Explanations of Financial Ratios Debt ratios fell between 2009 and 2010, despite similar amount of borrowings reported on the balance sheet. Total assets grew as a result of capacity expansion, investment gains and increased cash holdings. In particular TIE ratios fell because borrowing rates were lowered22 in a bid to stimulate the economy. The recovery of the economy posted a hike in turnover and profits, which led to a surge in TIE ratio. As part of the Group’s commitment to maximize shareholder wealth, ROE and EPS values rose. The decreasing debt ratios showed the Group’s emphasis on funding through internal growth and reduced reliance on external financing. This also indicates the Group’s attitude towards shareholder value creation, in which a long term approach is employed, without leveraging on higher debts to fund short-term growth which could run the risk of financial bankruptcy. Gross Profit Margin fell from 2009 to 2010. The Group experienced upward pressures in prices of commodities, such as raw bird’s nest, coffee and sugar during the period23. Despite the higher dollar amount of turnover in 2010, the price pressures impacted costs of sales which outstripped the growth in turnover. This led to lower Gross Profit Margin in 2010. However, Net Profit Margin rose slightly by 0. 36%. Though there were higher expenses incurred from increased investments in branding, research and development, growth in turnover managed to keep pace with this rise. The main reason for the slight increase in Net Profit Margin in 2010 was due to foreign exchange losses24 experienced in 2009, which arose as a result of the Group’s foreign currency purchases and acquisition of foreign businesses such as Toby’s Estate. Against the backdrop of the global recession, this translated to substantial foreign exchange losses, impacting Net Profit Margin in 2009. The Group’s liquidity position was very weak in 2009. Despite the similarity in current ratios between 2009 and 2010, the Group held substantially lesser cash during 2009, evident from its cash ratio. Both the inventory and receivables turnover ratio indicated that a large proportion of current assets were tied up in receivables and illiquid inventories. This was probably a result of lower consumer sentiment due to the effects of the financial crisis. Certain business segments, such as sauces and beverages25, suffered lower turnover. This caused inventory to pile up, and is illustrated in the huge spike in inventories in 2009. To encourage customer purchases, the Group probably extended credit to customers which resulted in higher proportion of credit sales experienced. Dividend pay-outs averaged 25 cents a share26 despite slowing growth. Moreover, investments in manufacturing, research and brand building continued amidst the downturn. As a result, the Group’s cash outflows outpaced inflows, which jeopardized its liquidity position of 2009. In 2010, liquidity position improved, as capacity expansion and brand building in the preceding years allowed it to capitalize on the recovering economy. Its CRM policy also allowed it to leverage on consumer feedback and enabled it to handle the surge in demand timely. Turnover for 2010 spiked as a result, which led to better operating cash inflows. The Group made heavy investments in fixed assets in 2009 and 2010, such as the launch manufacturing plants in Malaysia and Thailand, and building of offices in Indonesia. The fairly similar fixed asset ratios indicated that sales and profits were able to keep pace with these extensive investments, an indication of effective utilization of manufacturing resources. Despite this, there is definitely room for improvement, as higher investments should warrant a multiplier effect on sales in the long run, and lead to better fixed asset ratios in future. Comparisons of the turnover in business segments show that despite stagnation in EYS chicken essence in 2009, strong brand equity in BRAND’S products allowed appreciable growth in BRAND’S liquids. However, this figure is not wholly representative as within the category of BRAND’S liquids, relatively newer liquids such as BRAND’S InnerShine do face stiff competition into its market share. Growth in BRAND’S liquid is mainly attributed to the flagship product of chicken essence, highlighting the strong branding that BRAND’S traditional products enjoy. Moreover, chicken essence is neither the flagship product of EYS, which explains the relatively lower turnover figures. In the sauces industry, the general decrease in turnover in 2009 was probably due to decrease in number of people dining out and the perception that sauces were non-essentials during the 2009 recession27. Despite the turnaround growth in 2010, Woh Hup Sauces still faces stiff competition from close rivals28. In conclusion, we believe that CPL is well positioned to make further inroads into its different business segments with the recovery of the economy. With its competitive strategies, and coupled with a prudent management team, we believe CPL will be able to thrive in the competitive environment and improve its financial position in the future.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Counselor Interviews

Ethics in the field of marital and family psychology is a very sensitive subject to both the clientele treated and the counselors. The issue of ethics as it pertains to marital and family counseling can create barriers and obstacles preventing clients from being able to fully trust the counselor.Other ethical concerns vary from whether or not to inform a parent of their child’s admitted illegal drug use to that of having a client who divulges having a life-threatening sexually transmitted disease but does not wish to have their spouse informed. Different accredited psychiatric associations have developed and implemented a defined code of ethics upon which each participating member is responsible in upholding (ACA, 2005; Leong, 2008)). Education and training for licensed counselors serve as a platform to provide answers to ethical dilemmas, however; it is up to the individual counselor as to how he or she chooses to respond.Chase and Gina provide marital and family counseling t o a variety of individuals. Chase works for a private mental health group and has been practicing for the last eight years. Gina is a licensed counselor working for a public mental health services organization. She has been employed at the same office for the last fourteen years. As professional counselors, both Chase and Gina indicate that the defined code of ethics outlined by the American Counseling Association (ACA) serves as a major tool of ethical reference (personal communication, May 18, 2010; ACA, 2005).Ethical Dilemmas I. Chase He was providing marital counseling for a very troubled couple (personal communication, May 18, 2010). The couple had entered into marital counseling because of issues of trust, mistrust, and possible infidelity. The wife was asserting that her husband had PSYCHOLOGY 3 been unfaithful. One evening after work, Chase stopped by the local grocery store. After pulling in he noticed a couple engaged in a very passionate kiss.Much to his surprise, he disc overed that the female involved in the kiss was in fact the accusing wife whom he was currently counseling. She immediately disengaged from kissing her male companion after she recognized her counselor. At the next counseling session, the married couple indicated that the wife had admitted to her infidelities. The husband asserted that he had already filed for divorce, but he wanted to inform the counselor in person and request that his counseling continue on an individual basis. The wife asserted that she, too, wished to continue with individual therapy.As a result, Chase declined to provide the requested individual therapy, but did provide them each with referrals. His decision to do so was based on the probability of being called as a potential witness in the pending divorce proceedings (Hecker & Wetchler, 2003). II. Gina A memorable case of ethics for Gina involved a mother and her three teenage children. The family had been referred for services via the local family court follo wing a very difficult divorce and custody battle in which the husband, and father to the children, had just left.The mother had been diagnosed with Bipolar I over three years ago, but she had great difficulty in getting her manic episodes under control. As a result, her children had to be placed into foster care in order to protect their safety and well-being. After much therapy and many medication changes, the mother was deemed well enough to be a fit parent and was awarded custody. At a family session, the counselor noticed that the mother was acting out of sorts. She was extremely talkative but was not making much sense.She rambled from one subject to the next and was unable to sit down, all the while walking and pacing around the room. The counselor excused PSYCHOLOGY 4 herself from the room citing that she had to check on something, and she went and retrieved one of her supervising colleagues. He re-entered the session and was properly introduced. Gina felt it best if the child ren were not present at this particular juncture, so she invited the children to wait in an adjoining office where they could watch television.The oldest child indicated that his mom was doing it again; referencing the manic episode. Gina and her supervisor asked the mother if she was still taking her medications. The mother responded that she had discontinued her medications because they made her feel too tired and too groggy which interfered with her being able to take care of her children. The mother then questioned the counselors as to why there were so many bugs crawling on the walls. Gina then asked the mother if she would be willing to go to the hospital for a day or two in order to get her medications regulated. The mother refused.Gina chose to have the mother involuntarily committed as her mania and delusions provided that she could be of harm not only to herself but to her minor children as well (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2007). While issues involving ethics often seems to center around the function and professional abilities of the counselor, they also come from the client (Pope & Vasquez, 2007). Some clients are very concerned over the issues of confidentiality. This can lead both the counselor and the client to a dead end if the client does not trust the counselor enough to support his or her privacy.Some clients will test the ethical boundaries of the counselor as a means for determining the level of trust to be bestowed on the counselor. This is especially true in the ethical dilemma faced by Chase. In Gina’s case, she was faced with the issue of protecting the physical and mental well-being of her clients, the entire family. Involuntary commitment is usually a last PSYCHOLOGY 5 resort for counselors who are trying to help their clients.In rare instances, some clients will hinder the counselor with unwelcomed sexual advances. Counselors like Gina and Chase received much training from their respected secondary educational institutions of l earning. This training and education was furthered during their graduate studies. Both counselors, however, explain that face-to-face experience is sometimes the best educator. It has been suggested that when an ethical dilemma is difficult to resolve, the best and most absolute measure to take is to consult with a supervising colleague.Other professional colleagues in the field may have already encountered a similar situation or know of someone that was involved in a similar dilemma (Kottler & Shepard, 2007). Ethical dilemmas will continue to plague and confuse psychiatric professionals. Clients will invariably continue raising ethical questions whether deliberately or unknowingly. Organizations like the American Counseling Association have attempted to define and outline a specific list of possible problems with possible solutions.Experience combined with education and training offer recourse to counselors whose dilemma may be more difficult to resolve than referring to the curren tly endorsed code of ethics. In the meantime, counselors will dutifully stand by their clientele and support their mental well-being, which is ultimately the most important ethic of all. References American Counseling Association (ACA). (2005). Ethics. Retrieved from http://www. counseling. org/Resources/CodeOfEthics/TP/Home/CT2. aspx Corey, G. , Corey, M. , & Callanan, P. (2007).Issues and ethics in the helping profession (7th ed. ). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Hecker, L. , & Wetchler, J. (2003). An introduction to marriage and family therapy. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Clinical Practice Press. Kottler, J. , & Shepard, D. (2007). Introduction to counseling: voices from the field (6th ed. ). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Leong, F. (2008). Encyclopedia of counseling. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Pope, K. , & Vasquez, M. (2007). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: a practical guide (3rd ed. ). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Gifts of a Car Accident

The Gifts of a Car Accident Ignoring Messages A couple of weeks ago, three friends asked me for life coaching one after the other. It was an unusual string of requests, coming years after I completed my life coach training; and it made me think that maybe I should consider taking on a couple of life coaching clients to insert variety and heart-centered work into my business. I coached the friends who asked; the coaching gave them clarity and inspiration. I was left energized and clear that I was making a contribution not only to them, but to the many people that they touch. I was in my element. Yet I didn’t take any further action. Wake-Up Call If you read my newsletter last week, you know that I was in a car accident on April 28. I was traveling home from a weekend about Purposeful Living and Spiritual Development – part of a year-long training where I get to immerse myself in the world of coaching and transformation. Driving on I90 from Chicago to Madison, I must have missed a signal that my lane was going to end. To avoid hitting a car to my right, I braked (hard I imagine), spun around and crashed into the dividing wall of the highway at a speed unknown to me. I did not hit any other cars. It was all very movie-like, with the EMTs coming and taking me out of the car onto a stretcher. Fortunately, the only casualties were a couple of my ribs (broken through) and a totaled car. I was able to go home that night from the hospital. It is clear to me that things could have been much much worse. Ever since, I have been reflecting deeply on the gifts of the â€Å"accident.† First, noticing how blessed I am to have emerged with relatively minor injuries. Second, acknowledging the difference I make for others. And third, tapping into the gift of ribs: creation/creativity (Adam’s rib) and expansion (breath). My broken ribs, the casualties of a moment of inattention, indicate to me that I have not been truly listening to some messages calling me to expand in new and creative ways. New Action, New Creation Remember all those messages coming to me about doing life coaching? It’s time to pay attention. I am a highly trained coach. I have gone through 5 weekends of training with the Coaches Training Institute and assisted at all of those weekends as well. I’ve participated in courses with Landmark Education for 7 years, including The Landmark Forum, The Advanced Course, The Self-Expression and Leadership Program, the Introduction Leaders Program, and multiple seminar series. I have started a business and participated in business coaching for the past two years, and I write resumes for top level executives. I have spent my last 7 years preparing for this moment when I step up to the plate to do life coaching for real. The accident made that very clear, and I am grateful. I was also inspired to write some short couplets to a song/rap structure provided during my Purposeful Living weekend. I’ve copied them here and hope they inspire you to live into your creativity too! Note: â€Å"CHOOSE it† means choose between living powerfully and being a victim. â€Å"SHARE it† means share with as many people as possible! When a universal call Sends you crashing through a wall, †¦then you gotta CHOOSE it†¦ †¦then you gotta CHOOSE it†¦ When youre feeling pain and fright That keep you up at night, †¦then you gotta CHOOSE it†¦ †¦then you gotta CHOOSE it†¦ When youre at a loss for words, Take a listen to the birds. †¦then you gotta SHARE it†¦ †¦then you gotta SHARE it†¦ When the morning comes about, Just breathe in and then breathe out. †¦then you gotta SHARE it†¦ †¦then you gotta SHARE it†¦ You dont know what you dont know. So create, expand and grow! †¦then you gotta SHARE it†¦ †¦then you gotta SHARE it†¦ What couplets might you write to this song? What signals in your life have you been noticing and then ignoring? Are there actions for you to take? Please share in the comments. And of course if you’re seeking a life coach, please contact me. Short-term or long-term clients are welcome. I’m ready.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Emotion regulation techniques and preventing the occurence of Research Paper

Emotion regulation techniques and preventing the occurence of self-harming behaviors - Research Paper Example Response modulation is another technique used to control emotions. This paper analyses different emotion regulation techniques and preventing the occurrence of self-harming behaviors. Emotion regulation techniques and preventing the occurrence of self-harming behaviors â€Å"Emotions can hurt us as well as help us. They do so when they are of wrong type, when they come at the wrong time or when they occur at the wrong intensity level† (Lewis et al, 2010, p.498). For example, crying will help us to relieve our emotions. Many people use the weeping mechanism to relive their emotions when they lose some of their beloved ones. In other words, in, crying helped us to relive our emotions. At the same time, there are many cases, in which people appears to be calm when they lose their beloved ones. Such people are suppressing their sorrow or emotions. Suppression of emotions often cause psychological problems and it may come out in different forms. In some cases, such people may try t o cause self injuries. In short, emotions can help us and hurt us. The outcome depends on how well we manage our emotions. According to Gratz (2007), â€Å"deliberate self-injury is a serious clinical concern. Although this behavior is distinguished from suicidal behaviors, individuals who engage in self-injury are at heightened risk for suicide attempts, sometimes due to demoralization over an inability to control acts of self-injury† (Gratz, 2007, p.1091Ã'„). Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a highly debated topic among psychologists and sociologists. The reasons why people cause self injury even without an intention of suicide is still an unanswered question even though many hypothesizes are there. Emotional regulation is necessary for a person to act wisely. Over emotions may bring more harm than good; not only to the person, but also to the surroundings. By nature, all the living things have emotions. The influence of emotions on human being is more than that on other living things. At the same time, it is not necessary that two people are similar emotionally. In other words, different people have different mental abilities and they respond differently to a particular stimulus. For example, over emotions may force a person to cause self injury when they meet some distracting realities like the death of some of their beloved ones. On the other hand, emotionally sound personalities manage such situations more quietly without causing any self damages or damages to others. In short, emotion deregulation often leads towards unwanted activities which should be prevented using suitable techniques. Emotion regulation techniques for preventing self-harming behaviors In order to prevent self harming behavior, or Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), the reasons which motivate the individual for NSSI should be controlled or avoided. There are many reasons cited for the self harming behavior. Hilt et al, (2008) have pointed out that ‘increases in rates of i nternal distresses (e.g., feeling bad about oneself, experiencing negative emotions), specifically depressive symptoms, occur during early adolescence in girls should be prevented in order to avoid self harming behavior in future (Hilt et al, 2008, p.64). Girls are more beauty

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The future of AIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The future of AIS - Essay Example AIS is an automatic system of tracking the ships on high seas. Shipping, has been known for many centuries as a formidable industry in itself and as a crucial means of propagating many other trades and industries. This mode of transport is one of the most dangerous as well. Therefore shipping industry calls for improved safety standards. Vessel traffic systems (VTS) uses AIS for identifying the vessels, exchanging data/ information and taking due precaution in case the vessel appears to be indulging in some suspicious activities. AIS is one of the most reliable standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency under the aegis of United Nations. IMO is responsible for improving maritime safety and prevent pollution from ships. During the times of fog or at night on the high seas, AIS helps in easily identifying the ships from a safe distance and thus avoids any possible accident. Though ships are also equipped with radar for identifying and exchanging signals during navigation, but there happen to be some zones known as blind arcs or shadows, where AIS proves to be very helpful. Generally a vessel equipped with AIS will display the information relating to; Within the usual radio range of 15-20 nautical miles, the Automatic Identification System can process up-to 4000 reports per minute (Desvignes et al, 2002). With the help of such information AIS can help in collision avoidance, safe navigation, ships routing, automatic reporting, search and rescue operations, security screening, and traffic analysis. To make all these things possible AIS facilitates (Capt McCabe, 2007): Ship to ship identification and information exchange: This helps in taking evasive actions, collision avoidance etc/ Ship to shore identification and information exchange: This helps in taking adequate steps for anchoring the ship. The ship sizes, type of material on board the ship requiring delicate handling etc are all taken care of during such information exchange. Short safety related messages (SSRM)L During the times of emergency brief messages about the difficult state of the ship can be broadcast to nearby shores and ships. Binary messages (texts): Binary text message for particular recipients can also be transmitted. Aids to navigation functions: Existing AIS could provide navigational aid in the form of information about the nearby vessels, places etc. Meteorological and hydrological information: To certain extent the expert system can also forewarn the ship about the weather conditions ahead, so that adequate precaution can be taken. Differential GNSS services: It makes use of differential navigation techniques combined with GLONASS and GPS, collectively referred to as Global Navigation Satellite Service (GNSS). Search and rescue