Legalizing Recreational Drugs

A recreational drug is categorized as any substance with pharmacologic effects that is either taken voluntarily for personal pleasure, or for satisfaction rather than for medicinal purposes such as cocaine, marijuana, or ecstasy. These types of drugs are easily found and are used by more than 22 million Americans ages 12 and older; nearly nine percent of the U. S. population. If these types of drugs were to be made legal, a positive change in the economy would be the ultimate outcome.In 1961, the United Nations implemented an international treaty that limited drug roduction and trafficking. The â€Å"war on drugs†, a term that was created by Richard Nixon a decade later, in reference to said treaty, has been going on for over fifty years now. The original objective of the â€Å"war on drugs† was to expel all recreational drugs from the country; making all of them illegal. However Just like prohibition in 1920, the establishment of these laws were to save the nation from the problems the substance(s) created.However, also like the prohibition of 1920, the laws only served o create and support organized crime and has done little to effect the public's usage of the substance(s). The U. S. currently has the highest incarceration rate in the world. The bulk of those imprisoned are due to drug-related crimes. The illegal drug trade has been introducing children and teens toa life of crime. They notice that the minimum wages they would legally receive from their unskilled labor at the local Burger King, is far from what they could earn buying and selling illegal drugs.By the time children nd teenagers leave high school, most of these students have committed a criminal act by using recreational drugs. These drugs are used every day and widely available, people see â€Å"breaking the law' as nothing more than playful mischief; therefore, undermining our laws authority. In contrast to the spiraling ineffectiveness of the U. S. government's original approac h to controlling the issue of recreational drugs, other countries like New Zealand and Ireland have taken on a new outlook on the matter.Instead of outlawing he use of recreational drugs, they have decided to do extensive research on these drugs, in effect making sure that they are safe for the public's consumption. They are conducting clinical tests to prove that their products are safe; Just like new medicine would be tested in the market. If our government would go along with this new radical movement and legalized recreational drugs, like these other countries, they would no longer have a â€Å"war on drugs†. The money spent on inmates in Jails would be greatly reduced since we are not arresting people for drug use.Police can use the time currently monopolized on getting drugs off the street for other, more pressing crimes. Schools could teach their students about wise drug usage instead of implementing scare tactics. Tactics such as videos and statistics about drug abuse and its consequences that will only tell you to never purchase or use them are simply in effective; that Just leads to ignorant abuse in the future. All legalized drugs can be sold by trust worthy companies instead of fellow schoolmates or sketchy street dealers.These drugs can be bought legally, by someone of government consented age, in proper packages witn appropriate warning labels; similar to the way that cigarettes and alcohol are. In conclusion, legalizing recreational drugs goes far beyond â€Å"right and wrong† if you look at the issue in a practical manner. The problem of illegal recreational drugs has only been increasing with time. The current policies in place are Just not working. A new, radical approach could be the ultimate solution to the U. S. government's uphill battle. After all, the legalizing has already begun, hasn't it?

Ratio Analysis and Statement of Cash Flows Paper

Ratio Analysis and Statement of Cash Flows Paper The business world uses risk analysis to aid in determining the health and viability of a given company. While risk ratio analysis alone does not provide concrete answers about the health and viability of a company, it can raise important questions that will help determine where the company stands in its industry. There are four types of financial ratios used in financial ratio analysis."Leverage ratios show how heavily the company is in debt; liquidity ratios measure how easily the firm can lay its hands on cash; efficiency or turnover ratios measure how productively the firm is using its assets; and profitability ratios are used to measure the firm's return on its investment" (Brealey, Myers, Marcus, 2004).The two companies reviewed by this learning team are Google and Yahoo. Thesecompanies are found in the technology sector of the business world under the industry category of Internet Information Providers. Comparing the two most recent fiscal years 2004 and 2005, both companies h ad a high return on its investment.Screenshot of Yahoo! search results for "Miserable...In the years 2004/2005, Yahoo's operating profit margin was 33% and 48% respectively, while Google's was 20% and 35% respectively. The return on equity for Yahoo was 12% and 22% respectively, and Google was 14% and 16% percent respectively. It is not entirely clear what these numbers tell us but companies sell "information," meaning their product does not require a great deal of capital for product inventory in order to generate revenue. Although both companies realized profit margin gains in 2004 and 2005, Yahoo's profit margin was larger and their return on equity was higher than that of Google.The total asset turnover shows that for every dollar of asset produced in 2004 and 2005, only .39 and .49 of sales were generated for Yahoo, and .96 and .60 for Google. This could...

Narrative, Plot, and Story

Narrative, Plot, and Story Narrative, Plot, and Story Narrative, Plot, and Story By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between narrative, plot, and story? Not much, but enough that it matters. Here are the distinctions, explained with aids of analogy, plus some details: Narrative is the structure of events the architecture of the story, comparable to the design of a building. Story is the sequence of events, the order in which the narrative occurs the tour through the building. Plot is the sum of the events, told not necessarily in sequential order, but generally consistent with the story and often considered synonymous with the narrative the building itself. But these similar and even overlapping components of composition are further affected by the narrative mode the techniques the author employs to tell the story. Among these strategies are narrative point of view and narrative voice. Narrative Point of View A first-person narrator relates the story by using the pronoun I (or, rarely, if two or more narrators are telling the story simultaneously, we). This device enables the reader to know the narrator’s internal thoughts and feelings as well. This narrative style may indicate that the narrator may or may not consciously be aware of a reading audience. Also, the first-person narrator is not necessarily the main character, or even central to the story. Second-person narrative, rare in literature, is that in which the narrator refers to a character as â€Å"you.† The most frequent mode, third-person narrative, involves reference to characters as â€Å"he,† â€Å"she,† â€Å"they,† or â€Å"it.† Variety is achieved by the author’s decision to narrate subjectively, revealing characters’ thoughts and feelings, or objectively, without internal insight into any of the characters, as well as choice of omniscient or limited point of view: The author either knows all that is occurring in the story or is restricted to sharing only what is known to the focal character. Narrative point of view can vary within the same story, either by section or chapter or even within the same passage. Narrative Voice Narrative voice is the style in which the narrative is presented for example, a character’s recounting of events, or a privileged window into the character’s thoughts and feelings. A narrator may be a participant, a character in the story who describes events, or a nonparticipant, an objective (but not necessarily accurate) observer who is not integrated into the story. Another technique is to feature an unreliable narrator, one whose narrative is initially or ultimately suspect because it contradicts what the reader learns from nonnarrated exposition or other points of view. For instance, in the Japanese film Rashomon, based on two short stories, four characters give conflicting accounts of an event. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the title character’s naivetà ©, a plot device enabling author Mark Twain to demonstrate his gift for social satire, makes him an unreliable narrator. Note that narrative applies to nonfiction as well as fiction, and even plot and story have a place in nonfiction, as reporters and authors often manipulate an account by constructing a narrative more sophisticated than the who, what, when, where, and why formula of traditional journalism. There’s even a term for this approach: creative nonfiction. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguagePeace of Mind and A Piece of One's MindDozen: Singular or Plural?

Models for EBP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Models for EBP - Essay Example According to Hulme (2008), the validation process helps in the determination of the credibility of the information obtained from any research carried out. The most essential requirement prior to the development of Stetler model is the compliance to the pre-set rules and regulations governing the organization. This is because these standards boost quality in service delivery and discipline in the sector. In addition, this compliance creates confidence of the stakeholders, in the organization fraternity because of the quality of service in the organization and the involvement of the organization in the assessment of the compliance of the sector to the set standards. Organizations undergo programs tailored at offering proper training in order to have delivery of quality service. Therefore, these programs include the master plan of evaluation in the training. This is because this plan acquaints organizations with the necessary information regarding a firm’s goals. For, instance, it highlights the areas of the faculty that need evaluation. This includes methods to be employed in the evaluation. The kinds of people to participate in the process are anchored in the plan. The action plans required to give feedback on the various inferences made with regard to boosting the quality in organizational service delivery. In addition, the Stetler model helps in the assessment of the proposal for funds for various projects, and it also helps in the submissions of research reports and the normal assessment reports. The evaluation is important in the total quality management, the benchmarking, the restructuring and the continuous improvement of the quality of the master plan of organizational performance (Hulme, 2008). It acts as a source of primary data for internal reviewing of the efficiency of an organization. This is aimed at boosting quality in delivery of service and prompt response to non-value adding roles. This evaluation is necessary in the benchmarking

Memo Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Memo - Case Study Example Some methodological issues of CBA have not been entirely resolved even now, but the essential presented in the subsequent are well proven. One of the shortcomings of CBA is that the evaluation of many components of benefits and costs are intuitively obvious but that there exist other methods for which intuition fails to suggest methods of measurement. Therefore, some important principles are needed as a guide (Pohl & Mihaljek, 1992). Since the enactment of the devolution agenda, Arapahoe County has been experiencing problems in the personnel based expenditures. The assessment of this Countys expenditure would lead the ease in the distribution of these given expenditures. However, inevitably would to otherwise but difficulties in the distribution of the expenditure. According to reports the escalation rate of health is 8% but without the heath personnel in place it is 3.5%. In the cost benefit computation area, the one-time costs differ in the relation to the description and the quantity. As for the HR charges set up pilot, each person gets a unit cost of 7500 and the participants retirement is 10000 each. The recurring costs: The base stipend differs from year to year, and it is always growing from year one to year 5. As the base stipend, the ACA penalty also increases consistently from tear one to year five with its transaction year unit cost being $ 2,000 and the operational year unit cost being $3000. The recurring saving: the retirement benefit’s transition year unit saving is $ 2,664 and operational year unit saving is $ 5,327 and the development increases yearly. The health care savings transition year saving is $ 3,411 and the operational year unit savings is $ 6,821 and the development increases year after year. The cost /benefits adjusted for the time value of money has a discount factor growth that is

International Marketing (Qasim) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Marketing (Qasim) - Essay Example The key products offered in Subway include: custom sub sandwiches, salads, soft drinks and some other food items (Ibis Report 2013). Company’s rational behind internationalization The company’s strategy is based on the aggressive international expansion worldwide. Internationalization decision is mainly based on the business growth opportunities offered by rapidly growing markets. Subway will continue to expand internationally, especially in emerging economies as it is likely to be the largest source of profit and revenue growth (Ibis Report 2013). Today, these markets include markets not yet saturated with fast food brands (Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, China, India (Fertman n.d.). Mode of entry-selection of market entry strategy to enter into various countries Subway restaurants chain has chosen franchising option as a mode of entry strategy for starting business in various countries. Initially, the Subway chain did not even select new countries to expand into, as entrepreneurs from these countries contacted Subway (Welch et al, 2008). The original foreign entry in 1986 had a following typical format: individual entrepreneurs contacted the restaurants chain from a country where there were no Subway locations, and then the development team worked together with the entrepreneur, providing assistance in opening a franchise restaurant under Subway brand (Welch et al, 2008, 61). Thus, the company transferred the method of operation to the franchisee and had a much greater degree of control over its marketing efforts in a foreign market (Lecture notes). However, nowadays, Subway is also searching actively for new markets. Business Development department of Subway determines which markets would be appropriate to entry by evaluating a number of factors, including: the cost of doing business, the GDP, fast-food development and some others, etc. By operating as a franchising chain, Subway as a franchisor experiences less risks and is capable t o penetrate various markets very rapidly. Besides the obvious benefits and advantages of the franchise concept, Subway is imposed to certain risks as well. The value of the brand, either increasing or decreasing will have effect on the franchisee competitiveness. Franchisee of Subway has a number of responsibilities, including: initial franchising fee, finding locations, hiring employees and operating restaurants, leasehold improvements and equipment and paying a fee into the advertising fund and 8% royalty to the company (Subway Global Brochure 2013, 4). Subway also has certain responsibilities, such as: providing access to operational systems, guidance on store design and equipment ordering, operations manual, training program, R&D, ongoing support and periodic audits, and informative publications (Subway Global Brochure 2013, 4). The marketing mix strategies adopted by the company There are recognized several key elements of international marketing mix, including: product support , price support, promotion/selling support, inventory support, distribution support, service support, and financial support (Lecture notes). Below are briefly evaluated all these elements with a reference to Subway restaurants chain. Product support. Even though the product line and customer service are standardized among all Subway restaurants as it is common for any franchising chain, there are cultural and local eating habits in particular country that require adaptation

The Alternative Beverage Industry Commerce Essay

The Alternative Beverage Industry Commerce Essay After analyzing the case study, we can conclude that strategically relevant components of the global and U.S beverage industry macro environment are the rapid growth of the product inclusive of high profit margin and premium pricing of alternative beverage. Each group demands for different types of alternative beverages which divide the global market into various types of products such as energy drink, sports drink, relaxation drinks. In the year of 2009, the US drink data was accounted of sport drink at sixty percent, vitamins enriched drinks and energy drinks about twenty three percent and alternative beverage sales at eighteen percent. In the context, when consumers are focusing on reducing the consumption of carbonated soft drink, alternative beverages are the medium of the soft drinks companies to maintain the sales volume growth as well as furnishing to different demographics. The number of sales of the drinks depends on the demand of the group for example children prefer juice drink, adults to energy shots, athletes to the vitamins enhanced drinks. This all demand differs alternative beverages from the usual carbonated soft drinks that people were used to drink. Now, alternative beverages offer variety of products which consumers could consume for different activities. 2. What is the competition like in the alternative beverage industry? Which of the five competitive forces is strongest? Which is the weakest? What competitive forces seem to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness and the potential profitability of new entrants? Innovation is the vital source of creating the competition in the globalised market and alternative beverages are facing competition on the basis of differentiation from the traditional drink or the fruit juices. Alternative beverages are inclusive of vitamin enriched drinks, energy boosting drinks, sport drinks etc. and to develop the brand loyalty it totally relies on the test, properties and ingredients of the drink. To meet with the competing company works on the advertisement, brand name, nutritional properties, packaging and unique flavors. The PepsiCo and the Coco Cola having a big market share and their products have a strong presence on the consumers and the production of alternative beverages is very easy job for them. This action can dominate such channels of the alternative beverages. Therefore, from all the five competitive forces, strongest is the action of the firm which is already providing a variety of drink products. However, the weakest competitive force is the bargaining power which is exercised by the buyers only. At the time when alternative beverages were introduced company use to sell it at the high price and customers pay for it and now if customers are willing to pay a higher price for the product company will have to sell it on the same price. The established companies seem to have a greater effect on the new entrants like PepsiCo and coco cola because they already have a huge number of loyal customers that follows their brand. If they introduce a new product in contradiction to the new entrants, customers more willingly adopt their products more than the new company. 3. How is the market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those forces individually or collectively make the industry more or less attractive? Customers are becoming more health conscious and they are aware about the positive and negative effects of the drinks. Therefore they reduced their consumption of the alternative beverages which slow down the demand and sales of the product. Due to recession customers are becoming more money conscious and spending very less in the alternative beverage and it indicates that the market becomes mature and there is no scope for longer growing. Change in the product innovation, long term growth rate and industry consolidation are the driving force of the alternative beverages. The second forces segmented with the alternative beverage industries have consolidated as the market has matured and leaders have been established for example in the year of 2010, Coco Cola controlled the Red Bull GmbH and Henson natural corporation. However, the individually or collective effect of the industry driver of change is likely to make the alternative beverage companies less attractive until and unless such companies gain a first mover advantage. 4. What does your strategic group map of the energy drink, sports drink, and vitamin-enhanced beverage industry look like? Which strategic groups do you think are in the best positions? The worst positions? Strategic group map of the energy drink, sport drink and vitamin-enhanced beverages shows that companies are competing in the scope of brand portfolio favor and geographical distribution. It indicates that the company which is competing globally and having broad brand portfolios is positioned well in the market. However, companies which are working regionally and on national distribution only or having a single brand seems to be the worst position in the industry. As per the case analysis PepsiCo and Coco cola are in the best position due to having a wide range of products and Red Bull considered as being in the worst position as they are having a low variety of products. 5. What key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers? The following key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers. The test should be appealing and unique to the customers. Advertising and Promotions in such an effective way that spread awareness about the products and can establish the brand image. Access to the distribution of the product in order to achieve good sales volume and market share. An innovating Product skill which can differentiate the alternative beverage from the traditional drinks. 6. What recommendations would you make to Coca-Cola to improve its competitiveness in the global alternative beverage industry? To PepsiCo? To Red Bull GmbH? According to the case, Coco- Cola should research the country and conclude about the test, customer preference and demand than introduce the product in the market. They should try and introduce new flavors also and should discontinue the non preferable and profitable products. PepsiCo has largest market share in the US as well as in the global market. In the case study it mentioned that PepsiCo had introduced alternative drinks blood shot, charge, defend and rebuild but customers are not aware about this product. Therefore, PepsiCo should enhance their marketing and promotional activities. PepsiCo could also try for more energy drinks. Red Bull GmbH should improve their strategy to increase their market share. As red bull is a very popular flavor therefore they should introduce more flavors instead of focusing on one flavor. They should enhance their water line drinks or sport line drinks. The company can research the market requirement and can develop a new line of products to become competitive in the market.