40+ Amazing Gifts for Writers (That Your Friend Will Love)

40+ Amazing Gifts for Writers (That Your Friend Will Love) 40+ Amazing Gifts for Writers That Will Help You "Win" Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Reedsy, the writers were stirring, to make gift-giving easy.That’s right, Christmas is around the corner! We know from personal experience just how hard it is to shop for authors, so we put in the hard work for you and created this guide of usual and unusual gifts for writers in your lives. It’s split into four sections (differentiated by price points) for easy access.We hope that it helps you during the annual holiday crunch. Simply browse below to find the perfect gift for your writer friends - or even for yourself. Merry Christmas shopping, everyone!Below $101. â€Å"Jane Austen† Socks ($9)(Image: Stata)Is there anything cooler in the world than Mrs. Weasley’s clock? (For the Muggles out there, it’s a clock that lets you know where the people in your life are at any given moment in time, which isn’t stalkerish at all.) Well, we have good news for you: it now exists! Built by Stata, it use s technology and GPS and relay your loved ones’ coordinates on a clock face that has such options as â€Å"Home,† â€Å"Friends,† â€Å"Out,† â€Å"Transit,† â€Å"Airport,† â€Å"Lost,† and â€Å"Hospital.† There’s no â€Å"Mortal Peril† option yet - at least not until Voldemort actually pays us a visit in our Muggle world.41. Writing workshops ($120-$500)A writing workshop is literally the gift that will keep on giving, as the knowledge that participants gain from it will benefit them in the long-run.   It’s a great way to encourage writers, both amateur and experienced. Check out these online writing courses below to see if one of them could make the perfect Christmas gift:Catapult24PearlStreetWriter’s Digest UniversityGotham Writers Community42. Subscription to Kindle Unlimited ($120)Two words: unlimited reading. Kindle Unlimited gives its members the freedom to explore over 1 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and any magazine. This might be the only thing better than a Kindle - although this subscription paired with a Kindle wouldn’t be too shabby, either.These items have been chosen independently by the team at Reedsy, but if you buy something through our post, we may get a small share of the sale. If you have any suggestions for other great gifts for writers, please share them in the comments below!

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY ABOUT A PERSON

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY ABOUT A PERSON Being mentioned a lot about descriptive type of essay, we would like to specifically focus on descriptive writing about a person. In this writing your will mention important characteristics that are interesting to the readers and will describe a person in particular. If you know the person, describe the characteristics that you admire about him/her. If you don’t, imagine that you know this person and focus on what you liked about that person in general. There are several ways to portray somebody in persuasive essay about a person. Talk about him in the context of his personal and career achievements. Be detailed about the persons story. You can write your essay as a persons description. Then focus on everything that will describe his character. Also, you essay can have an informative context. Write mostly interesting biography details about a person. Last but now least way is to present a narrative writing. For this matter imagine as if you are the described person and it will give you unique ideas of how to present the chosen person in you persuasive essay writing. DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY ABOUT A PERSON A strong accent of observation is needed for descriptive type of paper. We can write a perfect descriptive essay about a person for you upon your request. To give you more descriptive essay definition, observe the person and provide detailed descriptions about him or her. In this descriptive essay the supporting facts are vivid experiences that you decide to present as an author. Keep in mind that you have to focus on the subject that is strictly a description. You have the ability to show a certain experience, or interesting place, or thing, or a person, or specific memory episode. Â   When writing a descriptive essay, it is important to base it on certain experiences that you have perceived personally. But most of all, it is important to find that interesting points that made you to share this experience with others as an author. You message is your desire to share the initial experience with the readers for them to have a certain impression. Include standard senses descriptions such as touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound.

The American Identity Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The American Identity Crisis - Essay Example On the other hand, there were those who felt that American colonists had come to the New World to leave the world of monarchy and authoritarian decree behind, to found a home for democracy and for personal equality and freedom. The current debate in public opinion has to do with the American war in Iraq. There are many who believe that the United States, once an example for freedom and liberty, is acting like a colonial, or even an imperial power in its handling of Iraq. Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the country has sunk into a brutal civil war, which neither the American military nor the Iraqi military can contain. These thinkers assert that, since there is no clear exit strategy for the American military, that President Bush has given his military forces an impossible task of restoring full order before returning home. Instead of leaving the troops there indefinitely, these people argue, preparations should begin immediately for troop withdrawals, since there is no clear rationale for their continued presence in the country. On the other side of the argument are those who believe that the American military has a duty to establish that order before it leaves, and that to leave any earlier would g ive terrorists a foothold in the Middle East and would leave a power vacuum that could end up being very dangerous to American interests. Paine, of course, was on the side of military action against the British government. He used highly incendiary language in his pamphlets: in The Crisis, he wrote that "[t]yranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." He explicitly compares the fight for American independence from Great Britain to a religious battle between forces of good and evil. He scorned the sensibilities of the Tory loyalists, who, in his opinion, were selling out their children's futures for their own short-term comfort: he quotes the Tory tavern owner who said, "Well! Give me peace in my day!" while playing with his young son. Paine argues that his concern should be more the future, and that he should think, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." Paine's argument was that a swift military action against the British would serve to lance the boil of American servitude that wo uld only continue to fester under the pressure of further British acts of taxation and other forms of official oppression. Paine's rhetoric is no tamer in his larger pamphlet known as Common Sense. He wrote, "Now is the seed-time of Continental union, faith and honour. The least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound would enlarge with the tree, and posterity read in it full grown characters." In other words, Paine felt his time period to be a crucial one in the direction of the fledgling colonies: they would either continue under British imperial rule, as would such areas as India and South Africa, or they could break free from their colonial ties and become a flagship for liberty in the New World. He uses the metaphor of writing on the tree to show how long-lasting the lessons of that historical moment would be. And just how permanent

External analysis for Ameresco Inc. (AMRC) Research Paper

External analysis for Ameresco Inc. (AMRC) - Research Paper Example heless, increased participation in the energy services industry has yielded increased competition between companies in the industry amid challenges presented by the external environment. The external environment has significant influence on the performance of companies through economic, technological, political-legal, and sociocultural factors. To sufficiently understand the influences of the external environment it is important to concentrate on a specific player in the industry such as Ameresco Inc. which is one of the largest energy services companies in North America. Although the economy cannot be controlled by an organization, it has great influence on the growth and development of a particular organization. This can be attributed to the impacts of economic growth, inflation, economic stability, and unemployment policies on the success of an organization (Dragnic, 2014). Ameresco’s location in North America gives it an advantage of relatively little negative influence of the economy. For example, its location in the USA is favorable to its success due the constant economic stability and growth presenting an opportunity for success. Additionally, inflation rates are relatively low thereby increasing its chances of success. However, areas with high unemployment rates offer relatively cheap labor hence increasing profit margins and vice versa. As such, the cost of labor incurred b Ameresco is relatively high although the changing times may present costs reductions based on labor importation trends. Technology plays a critical role in the de velopment of the energy savings industry. Technological advancements mainly focus on improving efficiency of energy consumption while maintaining low costs and conserving the environment. As such, the recent technological advancements pose a great opportunity for Ameresco’s success. Moreover, the political aspect heavily affects the performance of a particular industry depending on either favorable or unfavorable

War in Iraq and the US Economic Growth- History of the war in Iraq Essay Example for Free

War in Iraq and the US Economic Growth- History of the war in Iraq Essay Iraq was also known as occupation of Iraq began in 2003 march 20th led by United States. The president of US then George W. Bush, the Prime minister of United Kingdom by then Tony Blair, Prime minister of Spain by then Jose Maria Aznar, and domestic foreign supporters accused Iraq of possession of weapons of mass destruction, which was against the 1991 agreement to unconditionally give them up. This triggered one of the most historically long wars since the Vietnam War. It’s estimated that the war has caused as many deaths and resources as the Vietnam War. (BBC news 26 Nov 2007). The war is still on but key figures in the war have already been eliminated. Among them are sadaam Hussein and his sons. Impact of the War on US Economy As Wall Street reports the most recent advances of the battle, in Iraq, Economist are on the other hand worried that the war might be affecting employment, consumer confidence, and a service industry show down. According the government realized labor figures on April 4 statistics showed that economy had lost 108,000 jobs in March, more than the expected number which was 36,000. More so, the unemployment rate was steady at 5. 8% following discouragement of more people (hopes for quick war April 2003). The increase in unemployment not only affects the individuals but also the economy at large since the government invests a lot on charity in order to take care of citizens who cannot afford basic needs In addition, the crime rates are increasing at a faster rate. As manufacturers on the other hand lay off workers, there is a fall in the institute for supply management’s index for non manufacturing businesses in the service industry. This industry indicates 85% of US economic activities. Thus a fall basically means that a big percentage of economic activities are reducing. Consumer confidence has also been greatly reduced. According to study from university of Michigan consumer confidence was lowest in 9 years. With consumers hope gone people tend to do minimal buying especially of high worth assets. This brings about less money in supply and hence a slow movement of economic progress due to minimal economic activities. Economic growth has slowed in the US. This is due to the softness of the economy. Long term goals of the government to attack Iraq remain unclear. This is slowing the US economy because a large portion of money has already been injected in the war, placing other government plans to broaden the economy at a stand still. Little or no help is likely to be coming from other nations to rebuild Iraq. The Bush Administration alienated so many of its European allies with its unilateral action; it also put European bidders so far from USA government contracts for reconstruction projects. This means the only people who might benefit from such contracts are the Americans. Britons can not hence fund the Americans to do what will only benefit Americans. Financial markets are taking a dark view due to the engagement of the government in war that has brought a budget deficit. This is leaving the state money in circulation less than normal. As a result the prospective investors in stock Market cannot access enough liquidity to invest. With a country’s stock index going town, economic growth is mostly low due to the fact that many economies growth is determined partly by economic activities and financial performance. The war in Iraq might be of negative impact too. Now that uncertainties from war in Iraq have not ended and souring oil prices are trying though not yet the uncertainties might not be eliminated in a short time and the war might not be economic benefit to US. With the US government suffering a budget deficit, it might be difficult for the economy to move forward. Analyst approximated $100 billion, to rebuild and secure Iraq. Such and expenditure added to the already existing deficit will not only slow the entire economic growth of American but also drag it behind. Since the start of the Iraq war, the price of oil shot up from $37 a barrel to over 90$ a barrel. Consistent disruptions from the war have affected oil prices; however one cannot argue that the Iraq war is wholly responsible for the rise in the oil prices. Oil prices have brought negative financial status in the US by transferring approximately $124 billion from US to other oil producing companies in different counties between 2003 and 2008. (Jeannine Averssa Economics writer Tue. Nov. 13) High oil price can slow economic growth of a particular country especially by slowing the spending and rate of investment by consumers and business. This is through limiting the circulation of money. When people reduce the spending power, financial institutions like banks don’t get to lend more hence the bank loans, sale of government securities and activities economic development automatically slows down. Interest changed on money borrowed to by the US Government according report had over $850 billions. Recently the debts interests hit $9 trillion. With an economy’s money being moved out at such rates economic growth of any particular economy has to be slowed (Associated press 2007) U. S decided that it will keep its short term interests rates unchanged. The US federal reserve (Fed) said in a statement that the hesitancy of the US economic expansion appears to owe importantly to oil price premiums and other aspects of geographical uncertainties. † The fed has stressed that policy makers couldn’t assess the risks of future US economy given all the uncertainties over the Iraq situation. (Xinhua News Agency march 22, 2003). This is a dangerous report for any particular economy since the central government is responsible for giving confidential report concerning the governments’ position economically. This means the fed is genuinely foreseeing a dark if not unpredictable future. The Iraq war has also created division among US residents and between bush administrations and opposition leaders. This is being reflected on the economic growth of the country. Currently the US is divided between those who feel that the Bush administration is right, and those that totally oppose it, especially those parents whose sons died in Iraq war and those whose sons are still in Iraq. As a result of the division team spirit has been lost for the country. This is affecting the nation economically since productivity rate is low. However, Bush administration, is trying out economic recovery strategies; like conducting a highly responsible fiscal policy, like taxing the richest individuals heavily. However, economists urge that tax cuts are for more political than they are simulative. Effects in Our Economy today â€Å"People pointed out how war against Iraq may not be compensated for soon enough by other oil producing countries. This is because most members of organization of petroleum exporting countries do not have much additional production capacity. The decline in world prices for oil may not go down as people expect. † (JEANNINE 2000) The Iraq war has hence led to our economy being affected by the oil prices moving up. The hiking of oil prices, in the global economy has resulted to high commodity prices all over the world Economists will urge that many commodities that incur transportation cost in order to be sold, will raise price with a rise in oil prices. This shifts the entire living standards high without increasing the income of individuals. The war in Iraq has hence worsened humanity’s standards of living globally. War in Iraq has also reduced the funding of 3rd world countries by developed countries. Countries that received aid from US for instance have had their economies run bankrupt since the US is facing a deficit budget also. This calls for other stable economies like Japan to cost share by lending to poor countries. the intervention of these other countries brings about extra cost on their side and thus what could have been done say by Japan cannot be done simply because it used the cash to help. This is lowering the chances for innovation by technologically improved countries like Japan and generally lowering the standards of living instead of improving them. Total global energy supplies are declining yet the worlds economy cannot grow beyond its energy budget. The Iraq war has affected this negatively since the world’s civilization will decline with its energy budget. This will happen has the American President instructs his citizens to hold on. If this happens oil will be available still as it will remain in the ground. But then it will be useless as the cost of extracting it will move than the cost selling the oil itself. Conclusion Many theories and suggestions have been advanced regarding the impact of Iraq war and magnitude. Considering the many articles written different opinions aired via media and internet, yes their might be an advantage of the Iraq war to our general economy or the US economy to be more specific, but so far the war seems to have been more of a disaster than problem solving decision. Works cited JEANNINE AVERSA Cost of Iraq war could surpass $1 trillion .Report Puts Hidden war Costs at $1. 6T, AP Economics Writer Tue Nov 13, 6:21 PM ET Global Interdependence: The war in Iraq and the u. s Economy Markets buoyed by hopes for quick war,, but long term outlook is dim. Date Posted on Global Envision: April 16, 2003 Martin Wok. Chief economics correspondent. MSNBC. Updated 4:25 p. m. PT, Fri. , March. 17, 2006 I. f stone . An institute for the rest of us. Institute for policy studies. 1963 Dean Baker. The economic impact of Iraq war and higher military spending. Center for economic and policy research Washington . 2000

Opportunities for International Investors Essay -- Essays Papers

Opportunities for International Investors ATTITUDES TOWARDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT Because the Foreign Investments Law and supplementary rules establish the principle of equal treatment for domestic and foreign investors, foreign investors enjoy the same rights and duties as Argentine investors. However, the government no longer grants special incentives. Argentina welcomes foreign investments, and its laws governing foreign investment are among the most liberal in the world. In general, Argentina encourages investments through a free-market policy and low income tax rates rather than through subsidies. The basic attitude towards foreign capital is very positive; all previously existing requirements concerning prior government approval of foreign investments have been eliminated. Argentina has traditionally been very hospitable to foreigners. The Argentine government is making active efforts to attract foreign investments. Foreign investments obviously have also played a very important role in the privatization process, referred to below. Domestic capital resources are not sufficient for economic development; the government therefore encourages the inflow of foreign investment. Because Argentina formerly followed a protectionist economic policy to promote inward development, economic activity was excessively regulated. Under a new strategy to encourage foreign trade, rules that obstructed foreign trade have been modified or eliminated. Further, permission is no longer required to import goods, the import tariff structure has been simplified and tariffs have been reduced. Taxes on exports have been almost eliminated. All restrictions and procedures that in the past slowed down the entry of capital and technology from abroad have been abolished. Changes in foreign investment regulations have eliminated obstacles to the inflow of capital into Argentina. RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS. All restrictions on foreign investments have been lifted and foreign investment does not require any prior approval from the Argentine authorities. Although some remain in sensitive areas such as defense, telecommunications, and oil and gas. Profits may be freely transferred. STATE ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS Special incentives for certain activities and tax reimbursements on exports, among others, are granted under identical conditions to nationa... ... and its eight hypermarkets. Royal Ahold also has a large operation; the Dutch retailer is joint owner of 235 Disco supermarkets. Any improvement for Wal-Mart in Argentina rests on its ability to increase its size substantially and on the economy improving; the outlook for the latter is still suspect. The economy performed worse than expected last year and the outlook for this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, is for 2.5% gross domestic product growth. Interest rates have fluctuated wildly, but the prime lending rate was still in the upper teens at press time.The government has attempted to institute reforms that will stimulate the economy and restore growth. Bibliography Howell, Llewellyn D. and Chad*censored*, Brad, "Models of Political Risk for Foreign Investment and Trade," Columbia Journal of World Business, Fall 1994a. Levy, John B. and Yoon, Eunsang, "Methods of Country Risk Assessment for International Market - Entry Decision," Institute for the Study of Business Markets (ISBM), Report 11-1996. CNN- News Net Work/ business & Finance McGraw-Hill; International Business. e7th; p.191 www. Businessmonitor.co.uk World Bank / Argentina Opportunities for International Investors Essay -- Essays Papers Opportunities for International Investors ATTITUDES TOWARDS FOREIGN INVESTMENT Because the Foreign Investments Law and supplementary rules establish the principle of equal treatment for domestic and foreign investors, foreign investors enjoy the same rights and duties as Argentine investors. However, the government no longer grants special incentives. Argentina welcomes foreign investments, and its laws governing foreign investment are among the most liberal in the world. In general, Argentina encourages investments through a free-market policy and low income tax rates rather than through subsidies. The basic attitude towards foreign capital is very positive; all previously existing requirements concerning prior government approval of foreign investments have been eliminated. Argentina has traditionally been very hospitable to foreigners. The Argentine government is making active efforts to attract foreign investments. Foreign investments obviously have also played a very important role in the privatization process, referred to below. Domestic capital resources are not sufficient for economic development; the government therefore encourages the inflow of foreign investment. Because Argentina formerly followed a protectionist economic policy to promote inward development, economic activity was excessively regulated. Under a new strategy to encourage foreign trade, rules that obstructed foreign trade have been modified or eliminated. Further, permission is no longer required to import goods, the import tariff structure has been simplified and tariffs have been reduced. Taxes on exports have been almost eliminated. All restrictions and procedures that in the past slowed down the entry of capital and technology from abroad have been abolished. Changes in foreign investment regulations have eliminated obstacles to the inflow of capital into Argentina. RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS. All restrictions on foreign investments have been lifted and foreign investment does not require any prior approval from the Argentine authorities. Although some remain in sensitive areas such as defense, telecommunications, and oil and gas. Profits may be freely transferred. STATE ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS Special incentives for certain activities and tax reimbursements on exports, among others, are granted under identical conditions to nationa... ... and its eight hypermarkets. Royal Ahold also has a large operation; the Dutch retailer is joint owner of 235 Disco supermarkets. Any improvement for Wal-Mart in Argentina rests on its ability to increase its size substantially and on the economy improving; the outlook for the latter is still suspect. The economy performed worse than expected last year and the outlook for this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, is for 2.5% gross domestic product growth. Interest rates have fluctuated wildly, but the prime lending rate was still in the upper teens at press time.The government has attempted to institute reforms that will stimulate the economy and restore growth. Bibliography Howell, Llewellyn D. and Chad*censored*, Brad, "Models of Political Risk for Foreign Investment and Trade," Columbia Journal of World Business, Fall 1994a. Levy, John B. and Yoon, Eunsang, "Methods of Country Risk Assessment for International Market - Entry Decision," Institute for the Study of Business Markets (ISBM), Report 11-1996. CNN- News Net Work/ business & Finance McGraw-Hill; International Business. e7th; p.191 www. Businessmonitor.co.uk World Bank / Argentina

Pizza Hut Study Essay

1. What are the implications of Pizza Hut’s big price cuts for its brand image? As stated Pizza Hut’s brand image is neither fast food nor full-service. It delivers average quality products for average prices. Previously, it was marketed as a â€Å"more for the same† value proposition (Kotler & Armstrong, 2012). Yet, it has done something that shocked the whole market. It has cut the prices up to 50%. Doing that, Pizza Hut is fully reforming its brand image. They are implementing a â€Å"Same for less positioning† (Kotler & Armstrong, 2012). In a commercial, an actress playing a restaurant employee says, â€Å"We’ve changed just about everything, except how your favorite pizza tastes† (ELLIOTT, 2010). This move is due to a weakened economy and a drop of customers. But initiating a price change is not riskless. Customer may think that the quality has been reduced and Pizza Hut could lose its loyal customers. All this being said, I would say that Pizza Hut’s price cuts may tremendous increase its revenues and remodeling its brand image making good products for a really cheap price. 2. Can customer loyalty be generated through low prices? Customer loyalty can be generated in many ways such as good product quality, extra features, or cheap prices. Some ways can be very effective for some products while other are effective for different products. For example, what would you think if Rolex cut its prices in order to generate loyalty? It would not work because loyal Rolex customers are wealthy and would rather have extra feature than a cut in prices. On the other hand, would you pay much more to have a better pizza? The perfect example of a company who cuts its price is Wal-Mart. For this case, I do think customer loyalty can be generated through low prices. And so does Mr. Nicole – chief marketing officer at Pizza Hut- â€Å"We want to build loyalty beyond the price. † Indeed, with the crisis people tend to be more cost-conscious. Thus, Pizza Hut’s approach to deliver a good product for a cheap price is a good way of attracting customers. 3. Can Pizza Hut sustain such dramatically lower prices and still remain profitable? From my point of view, cutting prices by up to 50% is a real challenge. To remain profitable the company will have to manage its production costs, its marketing channel, and its extra costs. Moreover, as it is said in the text the new pricing mechanism will require some time before it proves itself. That is to say that at the beginning Pizza Hut may become barely profitable, but hope to gain more market share that will further cut costs through larger volume and increase its revenues. Finally, I strongly believed that a company like Pizza Hut would not have done such a thing if it were not fully thought out before. ELLIOTT, S. (2010, August 18). Pizza hut cuts prices again to counteract the slow recovery. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/08/19/business/media/19adco. html? _r=0 Supermarket news. (Marc). Retrieved from http://supermarketnews. com/latest-news/wal-mart-scores-highest-shopper-loyalty-study Kotler, P. , & Armstrong, G. (2012). Principles of marketing, global edition. (14 Int. E. ed. ). Boston: Pearson.

KFC Marketing plan Essay

Executive summary: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) continues to be recognized as an earliest franchising company around the world(Teampaperwarehouse.com,2014,2014). Approximately half of KFC’s worldwide restaurant businesses are owned and operated by independent businessmen and women, KFC franchisees(George L,Paugh III). Today KFC is the leading fast food chain and has been successful in creating a renowned international reputation. Since 1960 KFC has targeted many foreign markets and is able to expand in multiple continents in which they have initiated a new challenge in conquering Asia. It has served in more than 80 countries and 25 percent of its restaurants are operated and run by the Company. The report is based on information from range of data sources, including newspapers, magazines, company reports, books and academic journals. Introduction Swot Analysis helps to know a firm where they are lacking behind and what Internal and External factors they are or can face in future.By taking the time to conduct this analysis you will gain a fresh prespective on what KFC offers, what obstacles KFC face, what competitive challenges it have to overcome, and what barriers to growth exist now or might exist going forward. KFC has been an established business but it can also face some problems which SWOT Analysis helps firms to recover. KFC operates in 74 countries and territories throughout the world. It was by Colonel Harland in Corbin, Kentucky. The business was then sold to two Louisville businessmen. In 1966 KFC was listed in New York Stock Exchange.Heublein Inc. acquired KFC in 1971 but soon after conflicts arose between Colonel and Heublein over quality control and cleanliness issues. In 1986, Pepsi Co acquired KFC, by that time KFC had expanded to 55 countries with over 6600 units. Due to strategic reasons, in 1997 PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC) into a new company called Tricon Global Restaurants,  Inc. Today KFC is an iconic brand that is recognized in nearly every country around the world. The competitors of KFC have taken over a large market share. According to findings McDonalds about 35 percent of the share in Sandwich Segment while the Burger King owns about 16 percent of the market share in fast-food industry. The local restaurants in different countries where KFC has presence pose a threat to the company. KFC outsanding brand recognition, experienced management, high quality food, advanced operational systems and unique global infrastructure position help them to capitalize on global opportunities (Panda123,2013,Business and Economics). References: http://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/Kentucky-Fried-Chicken-Kfc/38247 viewed on 25th April 2014 Functions of Management by Gpaugh [online] Available at http://www.studymode.com/essays/Functions-Of-Management-620143.html viewd on 25th April 2014 Antiessays.com.(2014).Strategic Management of Kfc – Essays by Panda123.[online] Available at http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/strategic managment-ofokfc-193565.html viewed on 26th April 2014 Marketing mix Available at www.entreprenuer.com/artcle/70824[online] viewed on 26th April 2014 Postioning.(2014) Available at www.strategicmanagmentinsight.com viewed on 28th April 2014 The Economic Times.(2005).KFC target women customer.[online]Available at http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2003-07-16/27531245_1_kfc-soul-food-chicken viewed on 27th April 2014 Tracy, B.(2014).Marketing.business-The 7 Ps of Marketing.[onlione] Entreprenuer.Available at http://www.entreprenuer.com/articles/70824

The Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act Prior to the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in 1966, any person seeking non-public information from a U.S. federal  government agency had to first prove they had a legal need to know in order to view related government records. James Madison would not have liked that. A popular Government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. James Madison Under the FOIA, the American people are assumed to have a right to know about their government and the government is required to prove a compelling reason in order to keep information secret. In other words, the FOIA establishes the presumption that records of the U.S. Government must be made accessible to the people. Also note that most state and local governments have adopted laws similar in intent and function to the FOIA.As soon as he took office in January 2009, President Obama issued an executive order directing the government agencies to approach FOIA requests with a presumption in favor of disclosure.The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure  because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears, wrote Obama, stating that his administration would be dedicated to an unprecedented level of openness in Government.This guide is a simple explanation of how to use the FOIA to request information from the U.S. government agencies. But, please be aware that the FOIA and litigation involved with it can become extremely complex. Thousands of court decisions have been made regarding the FOIA and anyone requiring more detailed information about the FOIA should contact an attorney with experience in governmental affairs. Before Requesting Information Under the FOIA Look for it on the Internet. An incredible amount of information is now available on thousands of government websites, with volumes more being added every day. So before going to all the trouble of writing and sending an FOIA request, just log on visit the agencys website or run some searches. What Agencies are Covered by the FOIA? The FOIA applies to documents in the possession of executive branch agencies including: Cabinet agenciesMilitary branchesGovernment corporationsIndependent regulatory agenciesOther executive branch offices commissions The FOIA does NOT apply to: Any elected official of the US GovernmentOfficers of the federal Judicial Branch Private citizensPrivate companies or associationsGovernment contractors Government grant holdersState or local governments (most state and local governments have laws similar to the FOIA) While elected officials are exempt all daily actions of the United States Congress are published in the Congressional Record. In addition most state and many local governments have adopted laws similar to the FOIA What May and May Not be Requested Under the FOIA? You may, by mail, request and receive copies of any records in the possession of an agency except those covered by the following nine exemptions: Classified defense and foreign policy informationInformation prohibited from disclosure under other lawsInternal agency rules and practicesTrade secrets and confidential business practicesInter or intra-agency communications protected under lawInformation involving matters of personal privacyCertain information regarding law enforcementInformation on supervision of financial institutionsGeological information on wells In addition, especially sensitive information concerning law enforcement and national security issues may occasionally be withheld.Agencies are free to (and sometimes do) disclose information even though the records are exempted under the provisions above.Agencies may also disclose only parts of information while withholding exempted sections. Withheld sections will be blacked out and are referred to as redacted sections. How to Request FOIA Information FOIA requests must be sent by mail directly to the agency that has the records you want. There is no single government office or agency assigned to handle or route FOIA requests.While a few individual agencies currently provide for online FOIA request submittal, requests to most agencies must still be submitted via standard mail or email. Online FOIA requests to the agencies that currently accept them can be submitted on the FOIAonline.gov website. Addresses for submitting FOIA requests to all federal agencies can be found on the FOIA.gov website.Each agency has one or more official FOIA contact offices to which requests should be addressed. Larger agencies have separate FOIA offices for each bureau and some have FOIA offices in each region of the country.Contact information for the FOIA offices of just about all agencies can now be found on their website.The U.S. Government Manual is also useful for determining which agency has the records you want. It is available at most public an d university libraries and can also be searched online. What Your FOIA Request Letter Should Say FOIA information requests should be made in a letter mailed to the FOIA Officer of the agency. If you cant determine exactly which agency has what you want, send a request to each potential agency.You should also mark both the letter and the outside of the envelope, Freedom of Information Act Request to speed its handling by the agency.It is vital that you identify in the letter the information or records you want as clearly and specifically as possible. Include any facts, names, authors, dates, times, events, locations etc. you think might help the agency find your records. If you know the exact title or name of the records you want, be sure to include it.While it is not required, you can state why you want the records.Even if you think the records you want may be exempted from the FOIA or otherwise classified, you can and should still make the request. Agencies have the authority to disclose any exempted material at their discretion and are encouraged to do so. Sample FOIA Request Letter DateFreedom of Information Act RequestAgency FOIA OfficerAgency or Component NameStreet AddressDear ________:Under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552, I am requesting access to [identify the records you want in complete detail].If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me before filling my request. [Or, Please send me the records without informing me of the cost unless the fees exceed $______, which I agree to pay.]If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of appeal procedures available to me under the law.[Optionally: If you have any questions about this request, you may contact me by telephone at ______ (home phone) or _______ (office phone).]Sincerely,NameAddress What Does the FOIA Process Cost? There is no initial fee required to submit an FOIA request, but the law does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances. For a typical requester the agency can charge for the time it takes to search for records and for duplication of those records. There is usually no charge for the first two hours of search time or for the first 100 pages of duplication. You may always include in your request letter a specific statement limiting the amount that you are willing to pay in fees. If an agency estimates that the total fees for processing your request will exceed $25, it will notify you in writing of the estimate and offer you an opportunity to narrow your request in order to reduce the fees. If you agree to pay fees for a records search, you may be required to pay such fees even if the search does not locate any releasable records. You May Request that Fees Be Waived You may request a waiver of fees. Under the FOIA, fee waivers are limited to situations in which a requester can show that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. Requests for fee waivers from individuals who are seeking records on themselves usually do not meet this standard. In addition, a requesters inability to pay fees is not a legal basis for granting a fee waiver. How Long Does the FOIA Process Take? By law, agencies must respond to FOIA requests within 10 working days of receipt. Agencies may extend this time if necessary, but they must send written notice of the extension to the requester. What if Your FOIA Request is Denied? Sometimes, the agency simply does not have or cannot locate the requested records. But if the records are found, only the information or parts of information exempted from disclosure can be withheld. If the agency finds and withholds any or all of the information, the agency must notify the requester of the reason and inform them of the appeals process. Appeals should be sent to the agency in writing within 45 days.The websites of most federal agencies include pages fully explaining the agencys specific FOIA process instructions including contact information, records available, fees, and appeals process.

How to Teach the Present Perfect Continuous

How to Teach the Present Perfect Continuous The present perfect continuous form is often confused with the present perfect. Indeed, there are many instances in which the present perfect continuous can be used as well as the present perfect. For example: Ive worked here for twenty years. OR Ive been working here for twenty years.Ive played tennis for twelve years. OR Ive been playing tennis for twelve years. The main emphasis in the present perfect continuous is on expressing how long the current activity has been happening. Its best to stress that the present perfect continuous form is used for shorter periods of time to express how long that particular action has been taking place. Ive been writing for thirty minutes.Shes been studying since two oclock. In this manner, youll help students understand that the present perfect continuous is used to express the length of a current action. Compare this to cumulative length for which we tend to use the present perfect, although the present perfect continuous can be used. Introducing the Present Perfect Continuous Start by Speaking about the Length of Current Actions Introduce the present perfect continuous by asking students how long theyve been studying in the current class on that day. Extend this to other activities. Its a good idea to use a magazine with photos and ask questions about how long the person in the photo has been doing a particular activity. Length of Current Activity Heres an interesting photo. Whats the person doing? How long has the person been doing XYZ?What about this one? He looks like hes getting ready for a party. I wonder if you can tell me how long hes been getting ready for the party. Result of Activity Another important use of the present perfect continuous is to explain what has been happening that has caused a present result. Stating results and asking questions are effective in teaching this use of the form. His hands are dirty! What has he been doing?Youre all wet! What have you been doing?Hes tired. Has he been studying for a long time? Practicing the Present Perfect Continuous Explaining the Present Perfect Continuous on the Board Use a timeline to illustrate the two principal uses of the present perfect continuous. With such a long string of helping verbs, the present perfect continuous can be a bit confusing. Make sure that students understand the construction by providing a structural chart like the one below: Subject have been verb(ing) objectsHe has been working for three hours.We havent been studying for long. Repeat for the negative and interrogative forms as well. Make sure students understand that the verb have is conjugated. Point out that questions are formed with How long ... for the length of an activity, and What have you ... for explanations of current results. How long have you been sitting there?.What have you been eating? Comprehension Activities Its a good idea to compare and contrast both the present perfect and present perfect continuous when first teaching this tense. At this point in their studies, students should be able to handle working with two related tenses. Use lessons that focus on the differences to help them distinguish usage. Quizzes testing present perfect or perfect continuous use also help students become familiar with the two tenses. Present perfect and continuous dialogues can also help with practicing the differences. Also, make sure to review non-continuous or stative verbs with students. Challenges With the Present Perfect Continuous The main challenge students will face with the present perfect continuous is understanding that this form is used to focus on shorter lengths of time. I find its a good idea to use a common verb such as teach to illustrate the difference. For example: Ive taught English for many years. Today, Ive been teaching for two hours. Finally, students may still have difficulties with the use of for and since as time expressions with this tense.

Develop an ethics program for a company X Essay - 1

Develop an ethics program for a company X - Essay Example Excel Finance offers financial services to clients from all backgrounds in the region of Los Angeles where employees are expected to demonstrate high ethical standards. Firstly, at Excel Finance, it is unacceptable to report for duty late. Obviously, as a financial institution, Excel Finance would like to show that every detail is met. According to the instructions on the entrance, Excel Finance opens its doors exactly at eight o’clock in the morning. Therefore, it means that if employees report late, there are chances of opening the business late. This will create the wrong integrity about the company in the eyes of the highly esteemed clients (Brink, 2011). In addition to observing punctuality, the employees of Excel Finance are expected to communicate with the customers in English language unless where impossible. Politeness while addressing the client is imperative, and any report by client of a staff’s rudeness will be extensively investigated after which disciplinary actions may be taken. Concerning use of company equipment- telephones and other utilities-, every employee is expected to exercise responsibility. Usage of company telephones and another equipment for purposes not related to the business is not allowed, and the staff could be penalized if this is contravened. In regard to handling money from clients, all employees at Excel Finance are expected to issue a document indicating receipt or issuance of the same. No staff is allowed to receive money from customers without a purpose. For cashiers, all money must reflect in the client’s account as soon as they are done with depositing. As for the loan officers, assessment of customer’s business has to be done before approving a loan. Also, ensure that all the spaces that ought to be filled by the client have been filled without exception. All staffs are expected to show respect