Pro Gay Marriage Essay - 807 Words

Imagine if you couldnt marry the person who you were in love and wanted to spend the rest of your life with because it was seen morally, socially and religiously wrong. For millions of people all around the world that’s the harsh reality. Times are changing in the world that we live in today however discrimination against gay and lesbian couples is still a frequent issue with only 13 countries that fully legalise and recognise gay marriage with full equality. The most common argument for people being against gay marriage is that it’s â€Å"not natural† for two people of the same sex to have a marriage. Opponents of gay marriage make out that the natural world that we live in created marriage however this is wrong as us the humans did. How†¦show more content†¦Everybody has the right to live the life they want to and by restricting the freedom of people who want to be married to someone who’s the same sex is out of order. A topic that opponents of gay marriage find very controversial and seen as morally wrong is gay or lesbians wanting to have children. Opponents are said to think that gay married couples who want to have children will â€Å"harm the children†. They argue that that children need both a mum and dad to succeed in life. Despite this, several studies have shown that there’s no difference between a child’s well-being from being raised by an opposite sex couple compared to a child whose been raised by a same sex couple. I find opponents that argue that same sex couples shouldnt be allowed to have children extremely frustrating. When people get married the next step for most couples is to start a family however this is seen as a controversial concept for same sex couples to do. Why shouldnt everybody be giving the right to have children and raise them into the world being the best parent they can be protecting and nurturing them? I also find it very baffling when opponents against same sex coup les having children think that same sex couples arent as good of people to be a parent to a child compared to a same sex couple. Just because you’re not straight doesnt not mean that you’re a bad person in anyway and thatShow MoreRelatedThe Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage LP 3: Argumentative Essay Patty Waters NAU Composition II Sue Cochran, Instructor Sunday, March 24, 2013 Abstract This essay covers the pros and cons concerning gay marriage. You will discover some new laws and amendments that are about to happen in our country, and some things that people are against. There are many issues that will be covered from rights and benefits to getting married legally. You will read reports, stories and articles from lawyersRead MorePro Gay Marriage Argument1386 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Pro Gay Marriage The United States is currently embroiled in a battle over issues regarding civil rights of its citizens and what rights are constituted by that term. In the past, civil rights issues have been fought over womens rights and those of African Americans among others all in the name of seeking equality. Perhaps the most vocal group discussing civil rights in the United States at present are gay marriage activists who are fighting for same-sex couples to be able to marry. These individualsRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Gay Marriage1367 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinitions of marriage. Some say the definition of marriage is between a man and a women, while others say its about two people no matter the sex that commit their lives together because they love each other. There are many different definitions of marriage and it all depends on simply whom you are talking to about it. In past generations many people thought the definition of marriage was just so that they can reproduce children. Debate Content: Cons: The institution of marriage has traditionallyRead MoreEssay on A Pro-Gay Marriage Argument836 Words   |  4 Pagesdropping economy, marriage is no longer a priority to some. Still to others, overlooking the fact that many no longer see marriage as crucial, they are determined to save what they consider constitutes the model for marriage. For years, marriage opportunities for homosexuals has been an ongoing debate, and it still continues today. Many critics of the ordeal pose the argument that the allowance of same-sex unions would single-handedly demolish the already fragile structure of marriage (Head). They goRead MoreEssay on The Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage1019 Words   |  5 Pagessame-sex marriage. Is this a good thing? Homosexuality is illegal in many countries. Leaders punish their own citizens by jail, or even death, for being gay. In the United States, however, many states allow gay marriage. Some people approve of it, but also, some do not. Society also plays a big part in the gay marriage legalization process. Same-sex marriage is a major controversial issue in the United States; specific examples would be the views of Americans, pros and cons of same-sex marriage, andRead MoreGay Marriage: Pros and Cons1152 Words   |  5 PagesMarriage Is Not Equal For All Gay Marriages Mikaela Acosta â€Æ' Gay marriage has been subject to taboo because our society has this conformed and learned version of marriage; marriage is only held between a man and a woman. Although this is more common today to hear of gay couples, in the first couple centuries in America this was almost unacceptable to general society. Beginning in 2001 was when gay marriage began to become much more widespread starting in Canada, Norway, Belgium, ArgentinaRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1434 Words   |  6 PagesGay marriage has slowly become a significant factor amongst individuals of today’s society. On June 26, 2015, it was ruled out by the U.S. Supreme Court that gay marriage was now legal. The first thing that I thought was that â€Å"Wasn’t it already legal in the United States?† Well, apparently no it has not been legalized in the United States! (Dumb me.) The U.S. is known to be a nation of equality and gives everyone the freedom of the speech, but it is actually a nation fu ll of racism, sexism, and homophobiasRead MoreDid We Go Too Far?1383 Words   |  6 PagesWalker Did We Go Too Far? Same-sex marriage continues to be a very high debated issue in our society without a firm foundation to base our beliefs on, leaving most of us trying to find answers still. Now that the Supreme Court of the united states has rules that the constitution guarantees a right to same sex marriage’ What was known as â€Å"marriage†, the union of a man and a woman only, is starting to diverge. The Oxford Dictionary of English definition of marriage reads â€Å"the formal union of a man andRead MoreShould Same Sex Marriage Be Legalized in the United States Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesDebate Paper Should same sex marriage be legalized in the United States? In some of our states laws have already been passed to allow same sex couples the freedom to get married, while other states are still resisting for one reason or another. As with everything else there is more than one side, more than one argument supporting and more than one argument resisting the changes being proposed. There are religious reasons, moral reasons, constitutional reasons and financial reasons being used by bothRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Banned From Marriage986 Words   |  4 Pagespurpose of this article was for the author, Emily Heyer, to express her thoughts and opinions for gay marriage, and to share her views on why Iowa should have been pro gay marriage in 2011. This article is a straight woman’s view on gay marriage and why Iowa should have voted in favor for gay marriage in 2011. The author gives examples of times when Iowa voted towards equality. She argues that if gays are not allowed t o be married because they can’t procreate that women who are unable to have children

Computer Or Network File Server - 1189 Words

original files are saved onto the computer or network file server. The administrator sets up the schedule for periodic backups to reduce the amount of information lost if an incident strikes. One concern that comes with backups is the price and space of the server. With continuing information being created daily, the storage will be used faster than ever until there is no more. Usage of Information Getting the maximum value from stored information can be hard to do. In the creation phase we have placed the documents in the proper location for use. If we are not getting the use out of the information then why do we have it? With compliance toward data management increasing the use of documents created is becoming a problem. When a company has so much digital information that not used, it becomes a flood of digital waste. â€Å"Electronic discovery can be a debilitating expensive and may turn up difficult-to-explain documents or emails that the company had no obligation to save prior to the litigation. Once litigation is foreseeable, disposing of potentially relevant data can result in court ordered sanctions or even a default judgement† (Reuters, 2016). Use of documents is a problem itself, the document needs to be a legalized use of data. If the documents being used are not permitted then there could be regulatory or contractually constraints. While using the information you must monitor who is gaining access to the information as well. The institution must implement controlsShow MoreRelatedComputer Network Platforms And Network Operating Systems935 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction A computer system that allows exchange of information, data and resource between two or more computers is called a computer network. The most common computer network architectures are peer-to-peer, client-server, and virtualisation. As programming and software, advancement has enhanced in the course of recent decades, so have computers turned out to be better at communicating on a network system. Network operating systems are designed primarily to support user administration, securityRead MoreApplication Of A New Computer Network Linking All Of It D s Premises1682 Words   |  7 Pagescommunication between computers possible by a network connection. Networking allows for many possibilities, such as accessing the internet, file sharing, file transferring and system communication. Throughout this assignment I will be attempting to provide information to facilitate the introduction of a new computer network linking all of ITD’s premises. In order to do this I intend to analyse the options available to assess which one, in my opinion is their best option in terms of both network system andRead MoreA Brief Note On P2p Vs. P2p1651 Words   |  7 Pagespeer-to-peer (P2P) network is created when two or more PCs are connected and share resources without going through a separate server computer. A P2P network can be an ad hoc connection—a couple of computers connected via a Universal Serial Bus to transfer files. Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking is the networking between the same type of devices. Peers are equally privileged. P2P is an alternative network model to that provided by traditional client-server architecture. 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The most common types of web servers are used to host websites and also used to host gaming servers and also handling e-mails. The use of a web server is to store, process and deliver websites to clients. Generally the communication is between the server and the client byRead MorePhysical Network Design : A Network Topology1740 Words   |  7 PagesI. Physical Network Design A. Network Topology Business Needs UMUC management is in need of a reliable network that will be able to provide enough security of their data and any intellectual property within the servers. Data loss or manipulation may be as a result of data being intercepted during its transfer between computers. When a good network is deployed, they believe that faster and secure data traffic will be maintained. 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The company Gadgets INC. has many file and print servers that they would like to remain online in the newly done network. This network has 100 workstations. With the workstations they have 20 Windows 8 computers, 60 Windows 7 computers, 20 Windows XP computers and four Windows Server 2003 machines. We have been told from the ISP our internetRead MoreRelated Literature of Pos1016 Words   |  5 Pagesenhancements were made to the cash registers until the early 1970s, when the first computer-driven cash registers were introduced. The first computer-driven cash registers were basically a mainframe computer packaged as a store controller that could control certain registers. These point of sale systems were the first to commercially utilize client-server technology, peer-to-peer communications, Local Area Network (LAN) backups, and remote initialization. In the late 1980s, retail software basedRead MoreFigure 1 show a simple diagram of wide area network (WAN) connected with few local area networks900 Words   |  4 Pages Figure 1 show a simple diagram of wide area network (WAN) connected with few local area networks (LAN). WAN is a network that covers a large geographical area. Internet is one of the best example of WAN has the largest area network over national region and worldwide connected to let devices located at everywhere connect to each other through this enormous network area. LAN allows connecting to computers and devices in a limited geographical area, LAN normally build in small area such as home, office

Professional Auditing Kresta Holding Limited

Question: Discuss about theProfessional Auditing for Kresta Holding Limited. Answer: Key Information Gain an Understanding of the Client The auditors should understand the needs and different factors associated with the operations of Kresta Holding Limited. The main function of the process is to examine the risk of material misstatements in the financial statements due to: The business nature of the client The client conduct its own business in the industry Competition in the industry Consumer and suppliers of the client The regulations and policies that need to be followed by the client The auditors should achieve the understanding of the client and then evaluate its stages; those are entity level, economic level and industry level (Berk and DeMarzo, 2007). At an entity level, the business operation of the client needs to be determined and evaluated. Kresta Holdings Limited is a retailer and manufacturer of window furnishing. The entity is engaged in the manufacturing, retailing and distribution of window coverings components and treatments. The firm manufactures and sales window covering segment and the aim is to provide quality products to their customers (Brigham and Houston, 2004). The customers are loyal and paying the client on time as the company provides quality products. The suppliers are supplying high quality products and services (Elliott and Elliott, 2008). The company is having the ability to adjust with the changes in technology and other trends. If clients business operation does not adapt with the technological changes then there will be a risk of l osing the share in the market (Fifield and Power, 2011). The market share of the company is average and its competitors are Hillarys Blinds and horizon Window Treatments. The analysis of external business environment of the company will help to determine and analyze the position of the client in the market. The business environment changes all the time and the business organizations have to adapt with the changing environment (Helbk, Lindest and McLellan, 2010). The main objective of the company is to provide quality products and services to their customers and it is also consider as an important factor for the development of the company. At industry level, the client can be understood by examining the competition level, demand of product and services, rules of the government and reputation of the client (Hillier, 2010). The Kresta Holdings Limited provides quality product and the market demand is high. The competition in the market for the company is high which imposes significant impact on the business operations. The company has adopted different strategies to achieve competitive advantage such as decreasing the price of the products (Holton, 2012). The competition in the market is increasing day by day and all the organization has to compete in the market with the adoption of innovative strategies and techniques (Moles, 2011). The rules and regulations are followed by the company that is implemented by government. The increase in profit margin will help the company to grow in the market and generating maximum returns for the shareholders (Paramasivan and Subramanian, 2009). At economic level, the situation of the client can be understood by examining the economic conditions that affects the business operation which includes financial crisis, change in interest rates and shareholders expectation to increase profitability (Smart, Megginson and Gitman, 2004). The fluctuation in the currency rates, economic downturns affects the business operation of Kresta Holdings Limited. However, the company has the ability to manage economic pressures. The organization has performed well in comparison to its competitors and improves its profitability in order to maximize returns for the shareholders (Spiceland, Sepe and Nelson, 2011). During the upturns, the company remains under pressure to perform and increase its profit margin in order to maximize returns for the shareholders. During downturn, the profit of the company decreases in order to increase its write offs. In financial crisis, the net profit margin of the company decreases and faces several threats (Stittle and Wearing, 2008). In this situation, the company adopts strategies in order to fulfill the demand of the customers. The changes in the interest rates, fluctuation in currency and economic conditions imposes significant impact on the business operation of the company (Wink and Corradino, 2011). The financial report of Kresta Holdings Limited provides significant information regarding performance of the company during a specific period of time. The income statement shows the profit or loss, balance sheet show assets and liabilities and cash flow statement shows the inflow and out flow of cash (Wolf, 2008). The determination and evaluation of the financial statement help to analyze the market value of the company during a specific period of time. The financial statements show the financial performance of a company as well influences the decisions of the investors (Zopounidis, 2008). Therefore, the analysis of the financial report of the client will help to evaluate the actual value as well as financial performance of the company. Identifying Significant Account that are Most at Risk of Being Misstated The accounts of the financial report of Kresta Holdings Limited that can be misstated are account payable, debenture account, expense account, account receivable and sales account. The misstatements in the account impose significant impact on the value of the company (Berk and DeMarzo, 2007). The value of the accounts can be misstated if the account enters wrong entry and other factors associated with that. The material will lead to increase or decrease in debt level, increase or decrease in expenses, increase or decrease in sales and account receivable of the company. The accounts of Kresta Holdings Limited are at risk of misstatement and can result in solvency or liquidity risk. The value of current assets can be affected with the increase or decrease in the account receivable. It is misstated with the change in the value of receivable from clients. The changes in the debenture issue affect the capital structure. The debt level can be examined with the help of financial leverage ra tio, debt equity ratio and current ratio (Fifield and Power, 2011). The debenture issue is misstated due to change in the value of issue and amount received from debenture holders. The auditor plays a significant role in analyzing the accounts in the financial statement. The net profit margin of Kresta Holdings Limited is affected by change in the sales and cost of goods sold. The return on assets shows how much efficient is the company in utilizing its assets and return on equity shows the ability of the company to generate returns from the shareholders funds (Helbk, Lindest and McLellan, 2010). The account payable is misstated and affects the value current liabilities. The account payable is misstated due to change in the payable value. The risk in the accounts can be examined with the help of financial ratios such as liquidity ratios and profitability ratios. The sales and expenses account are misstated due to change in the value of received amount and cost of goods sold. The inv estment and capital ratio affects the value of share capital of Kresta Holdings Limited. The ratio shows the profitability and liquidity level of the company and differences in the value means that there is material misstatement (Elliott and Elliott, 2008). The investment decision of the stakeholders and shareholders depends on the total value of the company. The current assets can be misstated with the change in the value of items in the current assets. The financial report shows the profit, expenses, liabilities, assets and flow of cash within a period of time. The operating expense can be affected by the changes in the use of resources for production (Hillier, 2010). It is the responsibility of the auditor to determine the differences in the accounts as well as profitability and liquidity level. If the profit margin of Kresta Holdings Limited varies then it shows misstatement in the accounts. If there is large difference then it shows ineffective and inappropriate estimation of the accounts (Holton, 2012). The changes in the budget at the end of the accounting year show inefficient management and it should be determined and analyzed by the auditor. The trends in the ratio will show the performance as well as profitability and liquidity of the company. Set Planning Materiality The planning of materiality helps to examine the financial situation of Kresta Holdings Limited. It helps to provide significant information to the investors and shareholders (Moles, 2011). The investors invest funds into the organization and support in the future development. The audit firms implement strategies to set materiality and analyzing the risk of Kresta Holdings Limited. The estimation of materiality is done as per the guidelines described by AASB 1031. The auditor has to select appropriate base for the calculation of materiality misstatement (Paramasivan and Subramanian, 2009). The auditor has to make judgment on basis of the knowledge and skills of the client. The profit margin should be appropriately estimated on the basis of sales and cost of goods sold. The revenue and asset is used as the base for estimating the value of Kresta Holdings Limited. The material percentage is to be calculated on the profit margin of the company. The analysis of the market environment hel ps to evaluate the value of the company during a period of time. The capital structure should be prepared appropriately to issue debt. The material used in the production process should be examined appropriately (Smart, Megginson and Gitman, 2004). The items of the current assets and current liabilities should be appropriately valued in the balance sheet. The materiality planning helps the administration to attract the investors to invest into Kresta Holdings Limited and auditors to know the financial statements. The materiality of Kresta Holdings Limited is estimated 0.25%. The materiality level of the company is as follows: Materiality level= 0.25% * $95.93 = $239,828 The planning materiality amounts help the accounts department to determine and analyze the risk associated with the company (Spiceland, Sepe and Nelson, 2011). The misstatement in the financial statement will increase or decrease the value of the company. Audit Risk Assessment The manipulation of the account payable, debenture issues, account receivable, sales and expenses can alter the value of the company. The value of Kresta Holdings Limited can either increase or decrease during a specific period of time (Wink and Corradino, 2011). It is the responsibility of the auditor to determine misstatement in the financial statements of Kresta Holdings Limited and taking appropriate steps to solve it. The presentation of inappropriate value of the financial report can influence the decision of the investors and shareholders. The act of presenting wrong value is an illegal act and the court can take serious action against the company. The misstated values can be correct with the help of appropriate auditing strategies. The values of account payable, debenture issues, account receivable, sales and expenses should be corrected with changing and putting the correct values in the accounts. The misstatement in the current liabilities will affect the debt level of the organization as well as total liabilities of Kresta Holdings Limited. The misstatement in the current assets and current liabilities will affect the asset value (Wolf, 2008). The asset value of a company is very much important as it shows the ability of the company to pay off its due amount from the assets. The changes in the operating expenses will increase the expense and share capital will affect the investment value of Kresta Holdings Limited. The changes in the sales will affect the profitability and correcting value will help to show appropriate value. The shareholders and investors analyses the financial statement of the company in order to evaluate the actual value of the company. In case, the accounts are manipulated then the financial performance will either increase or decrease imposing significant impact in the market (Braiotta, 2004). However, auditors play a significant role in determining the misstatements in the financial statements and showing exact value of Kresta Holdings Limited. References Berk, J. and DeMarzo, P. (2007).Corporate finance. Boston: Pearson Addison Wesley. Brigham, E. and Houston, J. (2004).Fundamentals of financial management. Mason, Ohio: Thomson/South-Western. Elliott, B. and Elliott, J. (2008).Financial accounting and reporting. Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Fifield, S. and Power, D. (2011).Managerial finance. [Bradford, UK]: Emerald. Helbk, M., Lindest, S. and McLellan, B. (2010).Corporate finance. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hillier, D. (2010).Corporate finance. London: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Holton, R. (2012).Global finance. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Moles, P. (2011).Corporate finance. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Paramasivan, C. and Subramanian, T. (2009).Financial management. New Delhi: New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers. Smart, S., Megginson, W. and Gitman, L. (2004).Corporate finance. Mason, Ohio: Thomson/South-Western. Spiceland, J., Sepe, J. and Nelson, M. (2011).Intermediate accounting. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Stittle, J. and Wearing, B. (2008).Financial accounting. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. Wink, G. and Corradino, L. (2011).Intermediate accounting demystified. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Wolf, M. (2008).Fixing global finance. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press. Zopounidis, C. (2008).Managerial finance. [Bradford, England]: Emerald. Braiotta, L. (2004).The audit committee handbook. New York: Wiley.

Brand Analysis and Sourcing Plan free essay sample

.Ralph Lauren is one of my personal favourite brands and the reason to why I have chosen to write about this fashion company. To me it feels natural to think about the brand as an affordable yet fashionable brand, since it is quite common to see many shirts or other R. L. apparel on the streets of my hometown Gothenburg in Sweden. During the process of learning more about fashion and fashion sourcing, I have however come to realise how much more that lays behind the reasons why I chose to wear this brand and how much more diverse the company’s product portfolio really is. The first part of this paper is going to present a brief outline about the history of the company, the company’s market share and positioning. The main focus will however be on how they try to convey the message of meaning to its customers. The second part presents a suggested sourcing plan for three different product lines, discussing routes, different natures of relationships and how to perform production activity control in the different types of manufacturing processes. Part 1: Ralph Lauren More than just a Brand Company background The Polo Empire began in the late 1960’s when the creator Ralph Lauren decided to create his own line of ties. At the start everything did however not go all smoothly. In the beginning Lauren went to a variety of stores to present his product, but was many times rejected. At Bloomingdale’s he was told that he should make them narrower and remove his name from the label. Lauren luckily refused and soon after Bloomingdale’s saw how successful the brand was doing and agreed to start retailing his products under his conditions. ehow. com/about_5114046) Even though the design of Ralph Lauren may have been seen as something slightly unconventional at the very beginning, it certainly found its niche early. To quote renowned fashion critic Bernadine Morris: Hes acquired a certain reputation for clothes that are, you know, with it. But not too with it. Not enough to shock the boys at the bank. (http://www. fundinguniverse. com/company-histories/PoloRalph-Lauren-Corporati on-company-History. tml) This approach led to his designs being perceived as sophisticated, distinctly American and just enough fashionable to attract a large group of customers. After the first successful collections Ralph Lauren moved on and started to open up his own clothing stores and to create apparel for women. Today the company includes many different categories of brands and have grown to become one of the worlds largest fashion businesses. Company information Polo Ralph Lauren operates within three different segments: Wholesale, Retail and Licensing. As can be seen below in the table presenting the company’s revenues Wholesale and Retail accounts for almost fifty percentages each with the Licensing making out roughly three percentages. The reason for the licensing making out a much smaller proportion could have to do with the fact that Ralph Lauren prefers to have more control over its value chain and therefore refrains from licensing a too great proportion. Source: Polo Ralph Lauren annual report 2011-05-26, p. 2 (http://investor. ralphlauren. com/). During this era fashion was usually created by these selected few and then spread to other parts of the population through the so-called trickle-down effect (Brandchannel. com). Many things have however changed since then and today we can see a huge variety of different luxury brands that are pertaining to different categories, targeting different customers. This has been enabled by different factors out of which I consider the emerge of a mass class of relatively wealthy people to be the most important one (Brandchannel. com). This has also had the consequence of fashion being able to spread in a new manner both from above and below. I consider Ralph Lauren to be a part of the middle segment of the Luxury brands. The brand aspires to be a prestige and luxury brand but they are targeting a much wider group of customers. It is hard to define exactly who the target consumer of Ralph Lauren is since they have such a huge variety of different brands. Some would perhaps say that it is a middle-aged man, pertaining to the upper middle class who likes to associate himself with the classic yet innovative fashion of Ralph Lauren. I think this might have been the case when the company first started its endeavours to attract a group of customers but many things have changed since then when it comes to the content of Ralph Laurens product portfolio. Today Ralph Lauren has a wide arrange sub-brands (only the clothes brands totalling seventeen different ones), constituting different product lines directed towards both men and women, such as: Polo Ralph Lauren, RRL, RLX and the premium Purple Brand. In this way the company has managed to expand their customer target group to include more people, even children. The pricing is different for each brand, ranging from 50â‚ ¬-450â‚ ¬ for a shirt to give but one example. (ralphlauren. com) In this way they manage to capture a wider range of customers. Looking at the target consumer from a demographic point of view we can see that even though it is an American brand its consumers can be found all around the world. The Target customers are often wealthy, professionals, people from affluent communities, or people that sail, ride horses or participate in other sports associated with the upper class. However, not every customer is part of this group. What makes them still purchase the brands products is something pertaining more to the psychological level. They all value, quality, style and the exclusivity of the brand and they all aspire to be wealthy, sophisticated and admired (Isidro, I. , 2012). Positioning the story told by the brand What attracted me and what I still like about the brand, is the casual yet well-dressed apparel that they offer. To me it is a brand that communicates that message through their collections that manages to be both modern and at the same time remain in contact with their classical American style. According to Ralph Lauren himself he stated that he had a dream of fashion being able to be timeless, with natural quality and seamlessly matching life with lifestyle (Biographyshelf. com). I think that the brand has successfully managed to communicate this original intention through always offering products of good quality and by being a trendsetter without being too innovative. By this I refer to that the main attributes of their products could be considered being slightly more timeless but yet successfully managing to stay in tune with the latest trends. One example of this is their dress shirts previously having been considered as being rather oversized, but know appearing just as often in a slim-fit version. A basic apparel in both men’s and women’s wardrobe that needed a renewal to stay in time (Askmen. com). More than just clothes Ralph Lauren is of course more than only polo shirts and other clothing apparel. In the company’s repertoire can be found perfumes, home furniture and even towels and bed linens. What it all boils down to is peoples desire to be able to express themselves through the use of tangible items. Ralph Laurens success was not merely based upon his skills as a designer, but also by knowing this fact that it is the intangibles that matter just as much. Packaging and presentation of the articles are just as important when it comes to make the purchasing decision for the consumer as to the feel and look of the garment (infomat. com). The hardest part when it comes to design clothes and other fashion products I believe is to be able to convey the message that you as a designer are trying to infuse into the product. Ralph Lauren has been celebrated as a being successful in this manner by taking the inspiration from the world that surrounds him and transferring that into tangible fashion wear. It could be a pillow design inspired by a Navajo (Native indian tribe) blanket, or the patina of a Jeep that gets turned into a sweater (oprah. com). I believe this is a good example of how creativity is developed within the brand. I do not consider Ralph Lauren to be a brand that stands for novelty and originality, but I believe that they manage to imbed their products with a feeling of usefulness. Through offering products with high quality that appeals to the customer and managing to take familiar themes from the surrounding world, transforming them into fashion products, the brand expresses its fashion consciousness in a more subtle way. Another aspect when it comes to communicate the feeling of your brand is the use of symbols. This could take form in either portraying your products in a certain environment, using celebrities to promote your products, or by the use of logotypes. What most people associate the name Ralph Lauren with is perhaps a certain logotype. The creation of the Ralph Lauren Polo logo is a great example of how the essence of the gentleman sport of Polo can be imbedded in a piece of fabric. By selecting this symbol Ralph Lauren has been able to give a special meaning to the garment. As a consumer you do not buy certain products only because of the quality of the garment or the fit of the cut, you buy the concept of the story that is being conveyed. The reason why I believe that Ralph Lauren has managed to become and stay successful is their ability to keep telling the same story, transmitting feelings to the consumers. Just think of all the advertisements that the company use, portraying handsome models in idealized environments, by the side of the pool or outdoor having a picnic with majestic mountains rising in the backgrounds (Girvin. com). These images I believe are not only portraying the American dream of living a rich and successful life but also a Global one, able to attract customers from all over the world. By aligning itself to different relevant sporting events, the Ralph Lauren brand has been successful in reaching out to a broad international audience. In sponsoring the Wimbledon tournament they managed to create a connection to their Polo Ralph Lauren brand that felt natural and appealing. This is just one example of how the brand makes subtle yet recognizable appearances in other ways than through advertising and sends out a message of being a supporter of the same things that many of their target customers like. (Girvin. com) Last but not least it is important to not forget the creator himself. The Brand being his own name tells you a lot of what kind of person he really is; a true icon embodying the story created by him. While many brands seems more focused on copying the creations of others, Ralph Lauren has stayed true to his own ideals of continuously innovating his brand. (Girvin. com) Timelessness with all due respect, but no one can argue that the brand is not being innovative after having checked out the Ralph Lauren 4D commercial that was being projected on some of the company’s flagship stores in 2010. (vimeo. com) Position from a value chain point of view In order to be economically successful, being in control of the total value chain is one of the key drivers. Ralph Lauren makes a good example of a company that manages to achieve that control, even without owning all the parts of the different functions. (Bokus. com) Even though Ralph Lauren’s main focus of the value chain is at the top, where they create, design and market their products (Fundinguniverse. com), I believe that a large part of their success lies in the company’s ability to manage the retailing of their product at the very end of the chain. The fact that Ralph Lauren does not own all the channels through which their sales are made does not mean that they have left anything to chance. In order to control the retailers that are selling the Ralph Lauren brand in department stores, the company has dictated very strict guidelines. By maintain good relationships with big department stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s Ralph Lauren can rest assured that its demands are being understood. How the products are being presented and offered to the customers is very important to the customer experience and by carefully regulating this, Ralph Lauren manages to control even this last part of the value chain (http://whatsnextretail. om/owning-the-retail-value-chain-like-lululemon-and-ralph-lauren). The consequences on range development A common phrase when it comes to targeting and positioning for a company is that you can’t be everything to everyone and that such a strategy is usually very expensive and not as efficient at attracting a solid group of customers (Isidro, I. , 2012). It could however seem that this is something that Ralph Lauren tries to achieve co nsidering the wide arrange of customers that they are including into its marketing mix. In order to not confuse the consumer by using only the brand name Ralph Lauren for all their products they have created many different sub-brands over the years, as previously mentioned. In this way they can develop new product ranges that are targeting more directly a narrower range of consumers. One example of this was when Ralph Lauren launched their new brand Rugby in 2010 in order to attract the younger generation. In this way they can retain most of the values already associated with the Ralph Lauren brand, while at the same time being able to customize the products to better suit the specific needs of the consumer. My only concern when it comes to this approach is whether it is a durable approach in the long run. If to many different sub brands and product lines are created under the Ralph Lauren name it could lead to a dilution of the story told by the original brand and the values that it stands for. So far Ralph Lauren has however managed to be successful in this balance so I believe that they will be able to continue this delicate balance act in the future. Part 2: The Sourcing plan Sourcing Location To determine how to develop a sourcing plan for a specific product it is important to keep in mind the demand characteristics for each specific item. Depending if the type of product is a continuity, seasonal or short seasonal product different aspects are more or less important to prioritize to assure that the final consumer gets the maximum amount of value out of their purchase. For a continuity item the customer is not willing to pay as much as for a short seasonal one and the latter product needs to incorporate the latest trends on a whole other level than the first type of product. This leads to some fundamental very important traits to account for when it comes to choosing the origin of where to produce an item. The first point we have to address is whether we want to source it domestically or globally. Depending on the type of product there is a trade-off between managing the complexity of the fashion content and the complexity of managing the supply chain. By producing closer to the final point of sale the complexity of managing the supply chain is reduced which enables the company to focus more on managing the fashion content (Guercini G. , Et al, 2004). Continuity product When it comes to a continuity product one of the most important traits is cost saving. The product has a longer life cycle and the fashion content is not as high as for the other product types. Time is therefore not the most important factor (logisticsbureau. com). Since a large proportion of the cost of producing apparel comes from the assembly process, the labour cost becomes a significant concern. It is however important to not only consider the cost saving on labour, but also keep in mind other factors that are imperative for when it comes to create value for the consumer. I would suggest that a factory located in the costal regions of China, like Shandong, should be used. The location is situated close to a large harbour, which is important for the logistics to Europe, and the area contains many different factories that are specialized in the production of apparel. Even though the labour cost might be lower in other countries like the Philippines or Cambodia, these other aspects are just as important. Since Chines manufacturers are more used to this type of production they have the know-how and the machines to be able to do it efficiently. Another aspect when it comes to sourcing from China is the proximity to raw materials, like cotton, and the abundance of textile manufacturers. This reduces the time and cost associated with connecting these parts of the supply chain to the manufacturing of our product (Chinasourcingblog. org). Even though this might be true for the current situation I believe that this might soon come to change when it comes to China. The cost of labour is steadily rising and the governments attempt to even out the income disparity has already lead to problems of labour shortage in some of these coastal areas. As China is also trying to move away from these lower added value types of production we might need to consider other countries as better alternatives for when it comes to source even this type of continuity products in the future (Chinasourcingblog. org). Seasonal product When it comes to Seasonal products much stated above for when it comes to choose allocation and what is important when selecting a manufacturer is still true. The importance of time is however more significant than before. Since the Seasonal product is only going to be offered for sale during a thirteen-week period the fashion content is higher than that of a continuity product and the relationship with the supplier needs to be more flexible to be able to adapt the products characteristics and the quantity with shorter notice. Shipping from China takes about four weeks, which leaves less time for the company to able to change anything. The choice to produce this product type at this location is therefore a riskier decision than for the continuity one. I believe however that the fact that China has a broad network of experienced manufacturers can weigh up the negative implications of distance. Working with an experienced manufacturer decreases the friction of problems with explaining the product qualities that could be the issue if working with a supplier that has a lesser understanding of fashion. Short-Seasonal product For sourcing the Short-Seasonal product the supply chain becomes even more important, due to the product life cycle being only six weeks. Cost and fficiency is still important but since the product will be produced for the European market it is wise to consider nearby regions for the manufacturing. The main reason to keep the producer close to the sales point is due to the uncertainty of demand of the product (Bergvall-Forsberg, J. et al, 2002). In order to be flexible in the design, until the very last stages of committing the order and to adapt the quantities according to demand, placing such production in a far off country like China is not a good option. A good solution could therefore be to situate the production in a nearby region. Morocco is a cheap country in comparison with many other European alternatives when it comes to labour cost, but with the right knowledge and technology to be able to offer good quality and service. There are many reasons for why I consider Morocco to be a good alternative to choose as the sourcing destination for the short seasonal product. The extra costs with manufacturing in Morocco in comparison with China, is widely outweighed by the benefits of meeting the demand more precisely and being able to match the fashion content better due to the time frame for decision making being wider when sourcing from a nearby region. Besides all the advantages with the sourcing location being located closer, Morocco presents many other incentives to why it is a good choice. The local government has since years been investing in the infrastructure and created special zones for the sole reason of facilitating production for export. The country also posses good human resources to function as a qualified work force in the manufacturing of our short seasonal product (Executive-magazine. com). To summarize and make the whole supply chain more visible the different supply routes are visualised in the table below. Supply Chain Process| Yarn| Fabric| Garment Manufacturer| RDC| Retail Store| Continuity| China| China| China| Europe| Europe| Seasonal| China| China| China| Europe| Europe| Short-Seasonal| China| China| Morocco| Europe| Europe| Supplier Relationships Depending on which type of product that we are going to sample, different kind of relationships can be developed with the suppliers. Depending on how complicated the product is to produce, the complexity of the fashion content and the supply chain management needed, different levels of commitment can be applied. One aspect that should be taken into accounting, no matter the type of product or the relation with the supplier, is the use of multiple manufacturers to avoid getting over dependent upon the performance of one supplier (Cabusinessadvisor. com). By not sourcing more than fifty percentages from any single source, the company will be able to avoid getting the whole delivery delayed or other negative impacts from affecting the whole production. This can also put some positive pressure upon the suppliers, since they are aware of their performance being compared with a competitor. Continuity product For the Continuity product the fashion content is lower than for the other types of products, the planning and production is therefore also easier to achieve in comparison, since the demand is easier to predict. I would suggest that a short-term relationship should be used since the greatest need to satisfy considers lean aspects to cut costs. The product design is easier to explain and should not require any changes, which enables us to disclose less sensitive information. It is important that the factory we chose to work with are able to easily understand the design and produce a good quality product, but the vital point is that they can commit the capacity needed as efficient as possible. Since less contact with the supplier is needed when engaged in this type of relationship, the costs in time and money to explain and monitor the production are reduced. The product lifecycle is calculated to one year and the main consideration for the stock intake should be how to achieve a steady flow of products in accordance with the calculated steady demand. Looking at the WSSI-sheet I think the initial commitment could be kept at its current level of almost 50% due to the lower risk of the forecast. If possible I would however like to include the possibility to change the total quantity in the contract, to be able to increase or decrease the order amount when making future calls. It would be unnecessary to gamble the chance, although small, of having made a wrong initial forecast, if it would be possible to ad this extra security of flexibility into the contract. Seasonal product If lean production reducing cost was the key driver for the relationship with the manufacturer of the continuity product, service level and agile production is the recipe to use for our seasonal counterpart. Since we only have thirteen weeks to sell the product, demand is harder to calculate due to the higher fashion content, and the fact that our manufacturer is located in China; a high level of responsiveness is needed. These points all indicate that we should choose to engage in a closer working relationship. My suggestion is therefore that a totally committed relationship should be applied. Time is the driving factor and makes every part of the supply chain more important. Through engaging in a closer relationship we can get a better overview of the suppliers of fabric and even all the way down to the source of the raw material. By ascertain that the chances of disruptions in these parts are minimal we can focus on the communication with the manufacturer. The content of the details that we need to share with the manufacturer is containing more sensitive information we need to ascertain that no intellectual property is transferred to any competitor. It is thus important to make good design not only for the product but also for the contract. By having a buyer office located relatively nearby the region of the factory we can facilitate the frequent communication that is needed. Due to changes of different factors, as a drought affecting the cotton harvest or a change in the consumer demand, having a fast responsive manufacturer is a must. In the WSSI-sheet I would suggest that the initial commitment should be lowered slightly to 24’000 units instead of 26’000, since I consider 60% to be enough to start with, before we have had time to see how the demand will be. By postponing the delivery of the second shipment to w. 8, we gain another week to measure the performance of the sales in store and can make the call w. 4 instead and thus hopefully being able to make a better decision based upon more statistics. I am aware of the risk being slightly higher for the possibility of running out of stock if the product were to sell exceptionally well, but consider the risk of ending up with to much jackets to be greater. Short-Seasonal product All the critical issues discussed above for the seasonal product is applicable in an even higher degree for the short-seasonal item. Even though the location of the factory being located much closer to the point of sales, the need for an agile and responsive producer is greater still. Since the raw materials and the fabrics are still coming from China the importance of these suppliers are greater than before. The delivery time of the finished product, from Morocco to the RDC in Europe, should be feasible to perform in less than one week. The fabrics still need around four weeks to arrive, stressing the importance of the quality and reliability of the Chinese supplier. This risk of this could however be reduced by negotiating the terms of the Moroccan suppliers level of commitment, so that they acquire the sufficient amount of material well in advance before starting the production. The demand for the short–season product is very hard to determine. I believe it is possible to plan for the suggest dates in the WSSI-sheet without further changes, since the delivery time is shorter, enabling future changes if the need should occur. In order to accurately gather the information from the stores where the product is being sold, the need for an advanced information system is greater than for the calculation of the other product types. By implementing this we can make a better, more accurate decision for the important second call. Production Activity Control In order to ensure that the products arrive in store on time and that they fulfil all the qualities needed to bring value to the end consumer, it is important to manage the process of the production activities. As previously discussed; it is central to be aware of how the whole value chain functions but it can be hard and inefficient to try to be everywhere at once. There are thus some parts of the value chain that we need to focus more on, the main one being the manufacture of the finished good and the shop floor control. By using Production Activity Control we can manage to ensure that we receive the greatest possible worth out of the production process for each different product type (mcts. com). By designing a production plan together with the manufacturer we can ensure that we have a possible way to measure the standard of the production and what is expected in terms of, capacity, speed, quality, timing and so forth. Once a plan has been agreed upon and the production has started, we need to be able to carefully manage the process. By using an efficient system it is possible to monitor each stage of the manufacturing process and possible to make a rapid change, should anything be inadequately performed. Such systems that I would recommend includes, work in progress monitoring, where supervisors calculate the amount that each production line has produced, in combination with randomly performed quality controls to see that not only quantity is being achieved. Depending on which type of product that is produced, different focuses needs to be applied to the process to create the maximum possible value. For the continuity product the focus should lay on making the process as fast and efficient as possible in order to reduce as much waste as possible. Quality should be given and more easily achieved due to the lower fashion content of the item (and due to our choice of factory), enabling an enhanced focus on capacity and volume. Cost and dependability are the key drivers that we want to achieve through the monitoring of this process, since we need a steady stream of products coming into store at a low price. For the products with a higher fashion content, the seasonal and short seasonal products, another important aspect becomes important: Flexibility. Due to changes in demand and product modifications it is important to include a fast and efficient system to be able to communicate and implement these alterations as smooth and rapid as possible. Having a manufacturer that is agile in these terms and able to provide the best possible service is what creates the highest value in the manufacturing process. Quality is important for all the product types but essential for the short-seasonal item. In the production of all the product types a Golden sample should be used to measure the quality. This is however not a guarantee for a satisfying result. In order to make sure that the manufacturer fully understands what is intended we need to include many specific details describing the product and carefully monitor the production at each stage (Asiaqualityfocus. com). Of particular concern is the final check that needs to be made before the products are packed for shipment and put on a lorry bound for the harbour. After the products have left, little can be done to change the status of the products. This is not only of importance due to quality issues but also, to ensure that all the paperwork is in order to guarantee a safe passage through customs, in particular when it comes to China (Importsoriental. com). For the seasonal and short-seasonal products where we have established closer working relationships with the manufacturers it is important to not forget the value of feedback. Since we are going to work with these suppliers for a longer time, much can be gained from having an after action review of the process.

Anna Karenina free essay sample

What is this constant need for more in life? Cant we Just be happy with what we have? Curiosity and a desire to push the limits stunt the worthwhile goal of a lasting contentment. In Leo Tolstoys Anna Karenina, Annas life is spiritually empty, and so she fills it with earthly pleasures (such as adultery) to fill the void. Levin, the other protagonist, also feels throughout the story as though something is missing in his life, but ends up actually discovering what will maintain his happiness in the long run. A main theme in the book is whether or not it is possible to preserve a happy life in a healthy way. Both characters, Anna and Levin, demonstrate how and how not to accomplish this. Filled with despair and hopelessness, as well as completeness and awareness, Anna Karenina shows what an effect, whether positive or negative, people can impose upon themselves. We will write a custom essay sample on Anna Karenina or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We begin with Anna, who sets herself up to be unhappy when she marries Alexei Alexandrovich. She never loved him, and never felt complete with him. In19th century Russia, an uninspired marriage such as this was not uncommon. Women are loving creatures though, and need to be loved in return. Annas affair with Vronsky was mere infatuation, but because love was absent from er married life, she at least wanted to feel some flame of passion. She Justifies her actions by saying, They dont know how [Alexei] has been stifling my life for eight years, stifling everything that was alive in me, that he never once even thought that I was a living woman who needed love (292). By they she is referring to society, because of how they will end up shunning her for her unconventional choices. Her point is valid, but in no way does she solve her problem in an effective way. She gets herself into this predicament with Vronsky, instead of trying to find another solution o her discontent. A clandestine affair with another man does not provide happiness, and will actually hamper any desire for fulfillment. Instead it creates guilt and regret for Anna. She does not know where to turn, and satisfying her needs on a daily basis is all that she understands. Another way to look at this is give a man a fish and he can eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime. If Anna learned how to fish she would never go hungry again, but instead she is only concerned with eating for one day at a time. The infatuation means nothing in the scheme of er entire life, and leads to her giving up in the end because she doesnt know how to truly fend for herself. Levin on the other hand, learns to secure a lifetime of fulfillment. Him and Anna are complete opposites in that mainly A nna is irrational and Levin is rational. He does not act on impulse, and instead of engaging in activity that could make him happy for a short amount of time, he learns what it means to find meaningful ways to make living worthwhile. Before Levin and Kitty fell in love, he: Was envious of [the peasants] healthy merriment; he would have liked to take part in expressing [their] Joy of life. But he could do nothing and had to lie there and look and listen. When the peasants and their song had vanished form his sight and hearing, a heavy feeling of anguish at his loneliness, his bodily idleness, his hostility to this world, came over him (275) This makes the reader empathize with his current dilemma, and his inability to tind anything to give his lite a sense ot wholeness. H loneliness is the chief impediment to his happiness. He was wrong in believing that he could get over Kitty (when she denied him at first) and instead find solitude and happiness in the simplicity of life as a farmer. When Levin saw Kittys carriage go by and their eyes met, he realized there was no other being in the world capable of concentrating for him all the light and meaning of life. It was she. It was Kitty (277). This is a turning point for Levin, because he now has something to live for, a love to hope for to get him through the day. This novel shows how love can bring purpose and meaning to someones life, and save it from monotony and loneliness from which we as humans try so hard to stray. Later, when he and Kitty finally pronounce their love to each other, their worlds turn upside down, and every word exchanged etween them from then on is uttered with compassion. Levin says, here was a plea for forgiveness, and trust in him, and a caress, a tender, timid caress, and a promise, and hope, and love for him, in which he could not but believe and which choked him with happiness (384). To the reader, this is so exciting because after spending so much of his life trying to find what will make him happy, he finally has a sense of greater care towards and understanding of another person. When one observes the love Kitty and Levin have found, it is impossible not to compare it to that supposed love of Vronsky and Anna. One wonders if Vronsky is actually holding her back from discovering what is important in her life by keeping her in this tangled web of infatuation, where she is fooled into believin she can someday be happy with him. Instead, Anna is satisfied for days at a time, but is never completely fulfilled, and finds herself always wanting more. In the later parts of their affair, even the rare moments of tenderness that occurred between them did not bring her peace: in his tenderness she now saw a tinge of tranquility, of assurance, which had not been here before and which irritated her (740). This shows how the momentary pleasure that the affair gave her, will, in the end, not sustain her for a lasting peace. Anna does not think carefully about her mental well being very often, which in turn, allows her to drift toward suicide. Every time she remembers the horrible circumstance she has put herself in, she becomes more and more depressed, and blames it on Vronsky. She blamed him for everything that was difficult in her situation (740). She cannot understand what she needs, and putting the blame on someone other than herself ives her comfort that she is not the cause of her unhappiness. Annas desperation makes Levin appear as though he has everything fgured out. While she gives into her desires, Levin carefully restrains himself in order to discover true happiness. He has obtained love for another, and the next chapter in his life is the pursuit of spirituality. He struggles internally with the concept of faith, and for whom, if there is anyone higher than us, should we live? He has a fascination with the meaning of life, to which Kitty cannot help him with or explain, and he lived, not nowing and not seeing any possibility of knowing what he was and why he was living in the world, tormented by this ignorance to such a degree that he feared suicide (791). One sees how much this bothers him, and it seems he will not be able to find peace without knowing what he is doing on this earth. One could see this hunger for the meaning of life, the need for something more in life as what actually stops him from considering suicide. While rationality and curiosity stopped Levin trom killing himselt, Anna gave up on whether or not there is more meaning to lite. She was sick of trying to maintain happiness. In her last moments, the candle by the light of which she had been reading that book filled with anxieties, deceptions, grief and evil, flared up brighter than ever, lit up for her all that had once been darkness, sputtered, grew dim, and went out forever(768). This is to say, everything that had been tormenting her finally vanished with her death. She would never have to suffer through life again, and her suicide demonstrates a way to eliminate pain, while Levin does instead through contemplation. Anna and Levin were connected in that they did ot know the next step to take in their lives, and Anna chose the easy quickest way out. The novel instead ends with Levins new state of awareness and acceptance of the self, instead of Annas rejection of it. He says to conclude the story: my life now, my whole life, regardless of all that may happen to me is not only not meaningless, as it was before, but has the unquestionable meaning of the good which is in my power to put into it(817). Levin grasps his ability to live life with purpose, and he now knows that he cannot expect good things to come his way, but must seek them out himself. By ending the novel with the story of the character who ends up happy implies that Tolstoy wanted to show the reader that Levin was right all along and Anna was wrong. The moral that can be deduced is that if someone tries to fulfill themselves solely with earthly pleasures, they will end up broken, while finding satisfaction in spirituality and emotional healthiness will keep them strong. It is necessary not to rely on others to create happiness, because people will let each other down, but if an individuals spirit is strong and resilient, they can recover from lifes disappointments.

Geography and History of Finland

Geography and History of Finland Finland is a country located in Northern Europe to the east of Sweden, south of Norway and the west of Russia. Although Finland has a large population at 5,259,250 people, its large area makes it is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The population density of Finland is 40.28 people per square mile or 15.5 people per square kilometer. Finland is also known for its strong educational system, economy and it is considered one of the worlds most peaceful and livable countries. Population: 5,259,250 (July 2011 estimate)Capital: HelsinkiBordering Countries: Norway, Sweden, and RussiaArea: 130,558 square miles (338,145 sq km)Coastline: 776 miles (1,250 km)Highest Point: Haltiatunturi at 4,357 feet (1,328 m) History It is unclear about where the first inhabitants of Finland came from but most historians claim that their origin is Siberia thousands of years ago. For most of its early history, Finland was associated with the Kingdom of Sweden. This began in 1154 when Swedens King Eric introduced Christianity in Finland. As a result of Finland becoming a part of Sweden in the 12th century, Swedish became the regions official language. By the 19th century, however, Finnish again became the national language. In 1809, Finland was conquered by Czar Alexander I of Russia and became an independent grand duchy of the Russian Empire until 1917. On December 6th of that year, Finland declared its independence. In 1918 a civil war took place in the country. During World War II, Finland fought the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1940 (The Winter War) and again from 1941 to 1944 (The Continuation War). From 1944 to 1945, Finland fought against Germany. In 1947 and 1948 Finland and the Soviet Union signed a treaty that resulted in Finland making territorial concessions to the USSR. Following the end of World War II, Finland grew in population but in the 1980s and early 1990s it began to have economic problems. In 1994 Martti Ahtisaari was elected as president and he began a campaign to revitalize the countrys economy. In 1995 Finland joined the European Union and in 2000 Tarja Halonen was elected as Finland and Europes first female president and prime minister. Government Today Finland, officially called the Republic of Finland, is considered a republic and its executive branch of government is made up of a chief of state (the president) and a head of government (the prime minister). Finlands legislative branch is composed of a unicameral Parliament whose members are elected by popular vote. The countrys judicial branch is made up of general courts that deal with criminal and civil cases as well as administrative courts. Finland is divided into 19 regions for local administration. Economics and Land Use Finland currently has a strong, modern industrialized economy. Manufacturing is one of the major industries in Finland and the country depends trade with foreign nations. The main industries in Finland are metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, and clothing. In addition, agriculture plays a small role in Finlands economy. This is because the countrys high latitude means that it has a short growing season in all but its southern areas. The main agriculture products of Finland are barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, dairy cattle, and fish. Geography and Climate Finland is located in Northern Europe along the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. It shares borders with Norway, Sweden and Russia and has a coastline of 776 miles (1,250 km). The topography of Finland is relatively gentle with low, flat or rolling plains and low hills. The land is also dotted with many lakes, over 60,000 of them, and the highest point in the country is Haltiatunturi at 4,357 feet (1,328 m). The climate of Finland is considered cold temperate and subarctic in its far northern areas. Most of Finlands climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Current, however. Finlands capital and largest city, Helsinki, which is located on its southern tip has an average February low temperature of 18 F (-7.7 C) and an average July high temperature of 69.6 F (21 C). Sources Central Intelligence Agency. (14 June 2011). CIA - The World Factbook - Finland.Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Finland: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com.United States Department of State. (22 June 2011). Finland.Wikipedia.com. (29 June 2011). Finland - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Sociocultural Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sociocultural Theory - Essay Example 101). The debate about the definition of term 'collaborative' as well as ongoing attempts to identify relevant criteria to determine whether learning is collaborative or not does not seem to have any major implications for the basics of collaborative learning. Almost every research study exploring collaborative learning environment comes to positive conclusions (Johnson, Johnson, and Stanne, 1986; Natasi and Clements, 1991). Natasi and Clements (1991) summarize these conclusions in the following way: "Cognitive-academic and social-emotional benefits have been reported for students from early elementary through college level, from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and having a wide range of ability levels Furthermore, cooperative learning has been used effectively across a wide range of content areas, including mathematics, reading, language arts, social studies and science" (p. 111). Initially, research in the realm of collaborative learning focused on functioning of an individual learner in a group: the theories which dominated cognitive psychology over the 1970s tended to emphasise the role of individual information processors in the process of cognition. The social context of this process was viewed as secondary to individual activity (Dillenbourg et al, 1996: 189). The last decades of the 20th century were marked by increased attention to the social context, and, consequently, improved understanding of the process of cognition. Much of the shift was due to growing influence of sociocultural theory in pedagogical practice. This theory is very helpful in predicting, explaining and justifying the above listed cognitive, psychological and social benefits of engaging students in collaborative learning activities MAIN DISCUSSION The theoretical background underlying contemporary models of collaborative learning relies heavily upon three major theories of learning: socio-constructivist theory, socio-cultural theory, and shared cognition theory (Dillenbourg et al, 1996). These three perspectives share the basic features of cognitive stance, including the focus on the interactive aspect of human development and learning, but the socio-cultural theory has been recently gaining momentum as the most influential among the three in the realm of language education (Lantolf, 2000; Wells, 1999). L. S. Vygotsky formulated the basics of socio-cultural theory in the 1920s and 1930s, though current conceptualisations of this approach also draw on works and ideas of other theorists (Luria, 1979; Wertsch, 1991, 1998; Newman and Holzman, 1993; Cole, 1996). The essence of socio-cultural theory is exploring the causal relationship between the social interactions and cognitive

Domestic Terrorism Past and Present Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Domestic Terrorism Past and Present - Essay Example Without the threat of violence, the act becomes a protest, not terrorism (ACLU, 2002). The definition of domestic terrorism is broad enough to "encompass the activities of several prominent activist campaigns and organizations" (ACLU, 2002, par. 3) such as environmentalists in Greenpeace and anti-abortionists in a group called Operation Rescue. These organizations tend to make their actions known, especially seeking media coverage, while other groups stay underground, performing violent acts but not openly taking credit for them. Political violence has existed throughout the world from the beginning of organized government. Those who are well known for their rebellious political actions in the 20th century are, for instance, Mao Tse-tung (1999), Ernesto "Che" Guevera (Dorfman, 1999), Carlos Marghella (Manual, 2007) and Frantz Fanon (2007). These revolutionaries were from China, Cuba, Brazil, and Martinique, respectively, and all were affiliated with Communism. These activists were labelled domestic terrorists within their own countries, but in the 21st century, domestic terrorists can be defined as those who infiltrate American space and use American transport conveyances to attack the United States with no concern for human life. Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, the Taliban, and Jihad are blamed for the tragedy of 9/11/01, and their actions have initiated strict security controls throughout the U.S. The Internet has become a growing showcase for those who are convinced they have the answer to problems they a ttribute to Democracy, and all have a favourite dissident to follow. The overall aspect of terrorism is its politically motivated violence, and by addressing it as a police or security task in America, it has simply driven some targeted U.S. groups underground. It has been evident that military strategy does not work with political and religious extremist groups because, as noted by psychologist Jerome M. Post, "Terrorists whose only sense of significance comes from being terrorists cannot be forced to give up terrorism for to do so would be to lose their very reason for being." (How Terrorist Groups End, 1999). According to Vohryzek-Bolden, "right wing domestic terrorism will prevail well into the 21st century." Ecological resistance groups, anti-environmental movements, animal rights groups, and anti-abortion activists are offshoots of prior ideology in which violence is justified in the name of social right. Much of domestic counter-terrorism in the U.S. is militia-watching. There are two kinds of militia-those acting above ground and those below ground. They share the same right-wing ideology although structures and recruitment methods might be different. They both fear losing constitutional rights (Sunde & Shukovsky, 2001) while believing themselves superior. Examples of domestic terrorism in the past can be attributed to the Ku Klux Klan, Confederate Civil War veterans who had no compunction against practising violence, burning down black churches and lynching black citizens. In this century, gays and lesbians are targeted with the same belief that they do not have rights in American society. Anti-abortionists have the same ideology, believing they have a right to burn down clinics without regard for human life, even as they are saying that this is being done to save human life, an excuse that makes little sense.  Ã‚  

Education Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Education Systems - Essay Example But over the years, it seems the geo-political circumstances have taken its toll on the education sector in Ethiopia. A study carried out UNICEF points out that the net primary schools enrollment for male students in Ethiopia during the period 2000-2007 was around 74 percent, while for females this percentage was 69 percent. The study indicates that the enthusiasm shown by parents could not be sustained for long, as the net secondary school enrollment percentage drops down to 29 percent while for female students this figures comes down to just 19 percent (UNICEF, 2008). This indicates towards a fundamental issue of sustaining the interest of the masses in sending their kids for higher education. This indicates towards a need for allocation of still better resources towards the education sector in the country. Amongst other things, the political climate and the war like situation with bordering Eritrea is also responsible for eating into the resources of the country and thus resulting into the adverse humanitarian situation prevailing in the country. International agencies like UNICEF have indeed done commendable work for addressing the needs of general population. For example, the international agency has earmarked US$3,800,000 for the education sector in Ethiopia for the current year (UNICEF, 2009). Ghana, an integral component o... International agencies like UNICEF have indeed done commendable work for addressing the needs of general population. For example, the international agency has earmarked US$3,800,000 for the education sector in Ethiopia for the current year (UNICEF, 2009). Ghana, an integral component of the Gold Coast, is historically known for its rich resources. But, over the years situation has changed to a great extent. In the 1950's it was known as a country with highest level of education in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa2. But the latest statistics point out that the dropout rate of youth while migrating from primary to secondary schools is substantially higher. The UNICEF statistics3 point out that during the period 2000-2007 the enrollment of male in primary schools was 73 percent and for females this figure was 71. But this figure sharply drops down to 47 percent and 43 percent respectively as the students march towards secondary schools education. Despite having a tuition free and mandatory primary and junior secondary school education in Ghana the enrollment in schools can certainly not be termed as satisfactory. Ghana has made a constitutional provision under article 39, which mandates the tenets of free, compulsory, universal basic educat ion (FCUBE) initiative4. Ghana has been getting international attention as well in support of the forward looking policies of the government. Aid from international organizations and foreign governments is helping Ghana in strengthening its educational system. Availability of resources certainly impacts the shaping of the overall picture of educational system. Ethiopia and Ghana are not the one's having best of resources but the respective governments need to accord more priority to

The Education System In Mauritius

The Education System In Mauritius Education has been free for the secondary level since 1977 and for full time undergraduate level at the University of Mauritius since 1988. The State provides adequate funding for education, occasionally straining tight budgets and even subsidizing a great part of the expenditure in grant aided secondary schools, that is, schools under the control of privately owned institutions. With universal primary education being achieved in the 1970s, free education in 1977, and legislation making education up to 16 years of age compulsory, the challenges policyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ makers have had to face have related to broadening access at the higher education level, improving quality, and strengthening the management of the sector (while ensuring equity). The financing of higher education is basically via the government and students/parents. Students enrolled in public higher educational institutions are funded to a very large extent by the government. Students enrolled in local private higher education institutions and those in overseas institutions pay the full cost of their education. The key factors influencing the quality of higher education are the quality of faculty, curriculum standards, technological infrastructure available, research environment, accreditation regime and the administrative policies and procedures implemented in institutions of higher learning. The overall vision of government was spelt out in the New Economic Agenda formulated in 2000. The main challenge was to move gradually away from traditional sectors to the services sector. The objective was to diversify manufacturing into higher value-added markets and to consolidate services (financial, ICT, etc.) as a fourth pillar of economic development. To attract new investment and to maintain the countrys competitiveness, a highly productive skilled workforce was seen as imperative. With a view to setting Mauritius on a higher growth path, the country has recognised the importance of developing higher education as a regional hub for high quality education and training, to ensure that the knowledge industry acts as a catalyst in broadening the Mauritian economy, and in providing the necessary support to the existing and upcoming sectors. There has been a dramatic paradigm shift in the development strategy mooted by the government. In summary, it has been accepted by government that the education system, especially higher education, needs to be re-orientated to respond more effectively. Higher education in Mauritius can be traced back to the establishment of the School of Agriculture within the Department of Agriculture in 1914, which became integrated into the UoM when it was established in 1965. However, it was only in post-independent Mauritius that several public higher education institutions were created, which were complementary to UoM. Over the years the higher education sector has become increasingly diversified. Pre Primary sector The Pre-primary sector traditionally catered for children aged 4 onwards and , since this year, for those aged 3. The NER currently stands at 94 percent, with the State providing a per-child grant of MR 200 (USD 6). Private individuals/ institutions make up some 80 percent of the educational provision in the sector. The following measures are part of policy developments to consolidate the sector: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Strengthening the institutional and regulatory framework for the provision of Early Childhood Care and Education. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduction of disparity among pre-schools. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Addressing the problem of out-of-schools pre-primary children due to absolute poverty. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Developing a National Curriculum Framework for the pre-primary subsector. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ensuring readiness of all pre-primary school children for primary school. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Construction of pre-primary units in disadvantaged areas à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Strengthening partnerships with parents through a Parent Empowerment Program. Primary sector Children are enrolled in primary school from the age of five and enter Standard (Grade) I and move automatically up to Standard VI. The system is competitive and a two-year preparation starts since Standard V up to Standard VI for the end of primary school examinations, the CPE (Certificate of Primary Education). The CPE is a national examination carried out in all the schools of the island following a grading system. Five subjects are compulsory English, French, Mathematics, Science, and History and Geography and the grading process is based on the 5 best grades obtained from these along with any one of the Asian/ Arabic languages. . Government has implemented several initiatives in primary schools of the country in order to improve CPE examinations results. One such initiative is known as the Zones dEducation Prioritaires (Z.E.P.). This initiative targets the schools with low performance over a consecutive period of five years and involves the whole school community: school staff, parents, NGOs, business and community-based associations in improving the school climate and results. Other recent initiatives have included the development of an Enhancement Programme to cater for students of Std III and IV providing several co curricular activities to support the holistic development of the child, and the introduction of ICT in the classroom through the Sankorà © programme where classes of Std IV are progressively being equipped with computers and interactive projectors. Secondary sector The CPE determines admission to a secondary college. Secondary schools are either State owned, grant-aided private schools, or fully private fee-paying schools. The child enters college in Form I and progresses through to Form VI, requiring seven years of schooling since there is a two year preparation for the Higher School Certificate/A-Level examinations. A major nationally devised curriculum has been developed for Forms I-III with the Secondary Curriculum Framework now in place since 2010. Students study for a broad compulsory curriculum up to Form III comprising English, French, Mathematics and the Social and Hard Sciences. When students reach Form IV, they have to choose at least six major subjects for their O-Level examinations in Form V. Subsequently, students have to specialise in 3 main subjects and 2 subsidiary ones for the A Level examination. The O-Level and A-Level examinations are carried out by the University of Cambridge through the University of Cambridge International Examinations, which devises the syllabus; prepares and prints the examinations papers and does the correction for most subjects. TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) The main provider of the TVET program is the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD). The purpose of the MITD is to offer numerous technical programs to provide human resource training to meet the needs of the world of work at the middle professional level. The MITD also currently also provides courses at the level of National Diploma. The TVET sector is regulated by the Mauritius Qualifications Authority which also develops and maintains the national Qualifications Framework (NQF). Tertiary sector Tertiary education which started in 1924 with the College of Agriculture has since developed into a diversified system, composed of public, private, regional and overseas institutions catering for a wide range of courses and programmes. Tertiary education in Mauritius is characterized by a wide range of institutions with diverse characteristics. Some provide all levels of tertiary education in a range of disciplines while others focus their activities on only one or two areas at certain levels. A number of the institutions are overseas with their provisions made available through the distance education and mix mode. Within the public sector, tertiary education revolves around the University of Mauritius (UoM), the University of Technology (UTM), the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI), the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD) and the Open University of Mauritius (OUM). Overseeing the four tertiary education institutions (TEIs) is the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) which, inter alia, has responsibility for allocating public funds, and fostering, planning and coordinating the development of post-secondary education and training. In addition to the above publicly-funded institutions (PFIs), a number of private institutions are presently delivering tertiary-level programmes, mostly in niche areas like Information Technology, Law, Management, Accountancy and Finance. Many of the programmes in the private sector are offered in collaboration with overseas institutions. Many Mauritian students also either go overseas or resort exclusively to the open learning mode in pursuing their higher education studies. The University of Mauritius The University of Mauritius (UOM) is a national University in Mauritius. It is the oldest and largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered. The public universitys main campus is located at Rà ©duit, Moka. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, inaugurated the University on 24th March 1972. Over the past decades, in response to the contemporaneous and emergent needs of the various sectors of the Mauritian economy, the university now has progressed from being a mostly in-service training institution to a fully-fledged university, concentrating increasingly on bachelors degrees, postgraduate programmes, research and consultancy. The universitys current strategic plan, Strategic Directions 2006-2015, has the following six strategic directions: Knowledge creation Knowledge diffusion Investing in resources Quality culture and good governance National, regional and international collaborations Community outreach The University of Mauritius has committed itself to continuous improvement and quality management. These are the actions that the university is trying to cater for: Ensuring relevance interact proactively with the world of work and the community to cater for emergent requirements while inculcating a wider sense of belonging to the university. Ensuring quality of teaching and learning enhance existing provisions for continuous improvement in the quality of teaching and learning, and work progressively towards the implementation of best practice. Strengthen research develop further the universitys research capacity and research management plan. Internationalize the university improve the international standing of the university and expand its role and programme of activities. Amongst Mauritian universities the UoM stands out both in terms of its dominance with regard to enrolment and it numerous pockets of excellence with regard to research. The UoM is the largest supplier of tertiary education locally, accounting for 22.2% of total higher education enrolment. Faculties Originally, the university had three schools, namely Agriculture, Administration and Industrial Technology. It has since expanded to comprise five faculties, namely Faculty Of Agriculture, Faculty Of Engineering, Faculty Of Law and Management, Faculty Of Science, and Faculty Of Social Studies Humanities. The faculties are involved in teaching, research and consultancy. It has also a Centre for Medical Research and Studies, a Centre for Distance Education, a Centre for Information Technology and Systems, and a Consultancy Centre. Following these on-campus developments and expansions, it resulted in a simultaneous increase in the number and in the diversity of programmes being offered, and the number of students enrolled. The programmes of the University are internationally recognized and include quality assurance mechanisms such as the external examiner system and affiliated with renowned Universities worldwide. There is a Quality Assurance Office which helps the University in maintaining and improving the quality of all its activities. There are various exchange agreements that have been established between the UOM and overseas universities. Students Union The Students Union, established in 1971, is run by and for the students. It work in the interest of students and regularly organize various activities. All students are members, the membership fee being included in the registration. Students are very dynamic in organizing extracurricular activities supported by the Public Relations Office.

The Odyssey :: essays research papers

Ten years after the fall of Troy, the victorious Greek hero Odysseus has still not returned to his native Ithaka. A band of rowdy suitors, believing Odysseus to be dead, has overrun his palace, courting his faithful†¹though weakening†¹wife, Penelope, and going through his stock of food. With permission from Zeus, the goddess Athena, Odysseus' greatest immortal ally, appears in disguise and urges Odysseus' son Telemakhos to seek news of his father at Pylos and Sparta. However, the suitors, led by Antinoos, plan to ambush him upon his return. Odysseus' most prominent characteristic is his cunning; Homer's Greek audience generally admired the trait but occasionally disdained it for its dishonest connotations. Odysseus' skill at improvising false stories or devising plans is nearly incomparable in Western literature. His Trojan horse scheme (recounted here and written about in The Iliad) and his multiple tricks against Polyphemos are shining examples of his ingenuity, especially when getting out of jams. Both examples indirectly relate to another dominant pattern in The Odyssey: disguise. (The soldiers "disguise" themselves in the body of the Trojan horse, while Odysseus and his men "disguise" themselves as rams to escape from Polyphemos.) Odysseus spends the last third of the poem disguised as a beggar, both to escape from harm until he can overthrow the suitors and to test others for loyalty. In addition, Athena appears frequently throughout the poem, often as the character Mentor, to provide aid to Odysseus or Telemakhos. Though he is usually a smart, decisive leader, Odysseus is prone to errors, and his deepest flaw is falling prey to temptation. His biggest mistakes come in the episode with Polyphemos as he first foolishly investigates the Kyklops' lair (and ends up getting trapped there), and then cannot resist shouting his name to Polyphemos after escaping (thus incurring Poseidon's wrath). If Odysseus' character changes over the course of The Odyssey, though, it pivots around temptation. After his errors with Polyphemos, Odysseus has his crew tie him up so he can hear†¹but not follow†¹the dangerously seductive song of the Seirenes. Disguised as a beggar in Ithaka, he is even more active in resisting temptation, allowing the suitors to abuse him as he bides his time. Temptation hurts his crew, as well, in their encounters with Kirke, the bag of winds from Aiolos, and the oxen of Helios. As Telemakhos tracks Odysseus' trail through stories from his old comrades-in-arms, Athena arranges for the release of Odysseus from the island of the beautiful goddess Kalypso, whose prisoner and lover he has been for the last eight years.

Design And Make A Coffee Table

What's already on the market TO get a wide range Of options had to do quite a lot Of researching online and in the local hardware did stores such as woodiest and other shops such as Argos and Nava furniture. ; Below are some of the designs that was very impress with it but could not pick it because it did not fit in to my aims of what the project should look like. The reason on very idea is outlined to why I liked it and why I did not approve it. This is another great simple coffee table that will look good with the existing furniture.It is also doing more with less so it is a very good idea. My choice: the reason why I selected this idea was cause it fills all the aims I set out at the start of my investigation/research. This idea serves the comment doing more with less perfectly because it does not require too much wood or expense as it would if I was to make a coffee table and drawers alone so its doing more with less because they are together. It is also something that will free up a lot of space up in the room. Seibel wood types Oak the advantages of Oak are: Oak wood has great strength and hardness It is very resistant to insect and fungal attack It is easy to cut It also looks good It is a very strong wood and resistant to many sets and to rot Beech Advantages of beech wood furniture are: hard materials, textures, the structure is fine wear-resistant and shiny processing, finishing, gluing is better The disadvantage of beech wood furniture is: color and density differences due to age different, makes furniture color is not uniform; kiln drying and processing that is easy to crack and easy to shape.PINE ; Advantages of pine are : Fairly cheap and readily available. Easy to work and finishes well. Durable. ; Disadvantage is that it can be Knotty Dovetail ; Dovetails are the strongest of all joints. The mint is made up Of interlocking wedge-shaped elements called pins and tails that resist the forces applied to the joint. This joint looks attractive and, if well made, the decorative quality can be used to enhance projects. Advantages of Dovetail Joints ; What are the advantages of this type of joint? Strongest of all joints. Large gluing area. Interlocking Resists being pulled apart.Looks attractive. Would hold together even with no glue. ; Mortise & Tendon Joint This joint is a strong and frequently-used joint for assembling a variety of products where strength and reliability are required. The mortise can either be a through mortise, as shown, or a blind mortise that only partly penetrates the stock. The joint is made permanent using adhesive. Dowels are also used to prevent separation. ; Lap Joint Another simple joint is the half-lap joint. This requires the removal of stock to exactly half of the overall thickness of the piece, in order that a similar piece can mate with it.This technique is also used in the cross-halving joint. ; Cross halving – Lap Joint The main uses for this joint are to allow two pieces of stock to cro ss such that the joint is contained within the overall thickness of the eternal. Used for structural frames. Glue alone can be used as a fixing method, or combined with screws or nails. ; Finger Joint This joint is a positive permanent strong joint when fixed using adhesive. The long length of glued area is very beneficial to the resulting strength. The in-line version is often used to produce a long length of timber / glued laminate from shorter lengths.The corner version is used for producing strong drawers boxes etc. The joint if made even stronger if the fingers are made using dovetail form ; Chipboard is an artificial wood made like MAD but from actual wood chips, hence the name. It is widely used for the structural casing of kitchen furniture and cabinets which are then covered with a laminate or wood veneer. It is also widely used for low cost sub flooring. It is only useful in sheet form and cannot be easily used or worked in any other format. Elm is valued for its interlock ing grain which gives it a high resistance to splitting, with significant uses in chair seats and coffins. Elm wood is also it quite pliant and is available in long planks due to the long, straight, trunks of the tree, For these reasons elm is favored as a source of timber for keels in ship construction. Elm was historically used by bonders during the Middle Ages to make longbows. ; Mahogany is finely grained hard wood which is reddish brown color. It is extremely durable and resists swelling, shrinking warping and twisting.Mahogany is used extensively for high quality, expensive furniture such as wooden cabinets and veneered tables and dressers. It is also used in the construction of boats due to its high resistance to swelling and warping caused by water ; Plywood is an artificial wood that was invented during the Second World War and was primarily used to build boats and landing craft for the military. It is made from numerous thin laminates of wood glued together. Each layer is at right angle to the grain of the other to give it great strength while also allowing it to remain quite pliable.