The history of Dubbing in France

The history of Dubbing in France Economic issues Dominance of dubbing in the French film industry has been there for the past six decades. This translation technique requires an expert to match the actor’s dialogue with lips synchrony, a factor that has economic effect on both the small and medium distributors in the industry. Hiring such experts would be hugely expensive for these small and medium distributors like what Joinville studios experienced (Christine 2004, p. 208).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The history of Dubbing in France specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Major distributors have dominated the industry because their bulk production does not incur a lot of cost when dubbing (Dana 1991, p. 607). The expense for producing a dubbed film is 10 times higher than any other translational technique; these producers can only afford this form. Preferences for dubbed films have driven many filmmakers to acclimatize to their marke t demands by embracing dubbing as opposed to subtitling (Bogucki 2004, p. 71). A tradition by French citizens to hold firmly onto dubbing has done little to embrace translational change. It is true that any abrupt change without both technological considerations as well as market survey would mean economic woes to dubbing industry just like what subtitling companies in Europe went through before the version could, became attractive to local companies (Riggio 2010, p. 31). Dubbing has in turn created a few job opportunities for the actors doing voice translation. A survey carried out by European commission (2007, p. 1) inextricably linked economic down trend with dubbing by arguing that citizens from nations like France who grew up in a culture without diversity lack English skills to land them considerable contracts because dubbing neither promote English language development nor cultural diversity (Cattrysse 2004, p. 39). Social class issues This method of translation has been in u se across France because it is a perfect way of shunning certain expressions and trademarks found in the films. This involves actors replacing vulgar words with a softer language expression that will not be offensive to the viewers. These would include advertisements on alcohol, drugs, and certain brand names like coca cola trademarks. The elites and professionals within the social group AB prefer subtitles and original versions to those in the lower social ranks who prefer dubbed films. However, it is true that one would go for the method he or she came across at an earlier stage of life, this is particularly true with French citizens. Subtitle movies have not had commanding support because most common citizens prefer dubbed version. Attitude has also played a crucial role in French movie industry in the sense that most citizens’ views dubbing as a way of preserving their culture and nationalism, as opposed to those shown in foreign languages (Danan 1991, p. 611).Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Literacy Studies show that international students from nations dominated with subtitles like Scandinavians and Dutch learning English have always outperformed students from countries dominated with dubbed movies, of these France and Germany students are the majority. Literacy improves in countries consuming subtitling movies, for it promotes foreign language comprehension, as opposed to dubbing (Koolstra and Beentjes 1999, p. 51). Subtitle and the original versions would not only help the viewers learn foreign languages but also help in learning proper pronunciation; this would improve learning skills of a person (Danan 2004, p. 67). Dubbing, on the other hand, has promoted the French people to embrace a culture of people who do not want to read and learn other people’s traditions and customs (Pettit 2004, p. 25; Heiss 2004, p. 208) . Reference List Bogucki, L. 2004.The constraint of relevance in subtiting. The Journal of Spedialised Translation 1 Web. Available from: jostrans.org/issue01/artuckes/boguckien.htm . Cattrysse, P. 2004. Stories Travelling Across Nations and Cultures. META, 49(1), pp. 39-51 Web. Available from: erudit.org/revue/meta/2004/v49/n1/009018ar.html . Christine, H. 2004. Dubbing Multilingual Films: A New Challenge? META, 49(1), pp.208-220 Web. Available from: erudit.org/revue/meta/2004/v49/n1/009035ar.html . Danan, M. 1991. Dubbing as an Expression of Nationalism. Meta: Translators Journal, 36(4), pp. 606–614 Web. Available from: erudit.org/revue/meta/1991/v36/n4/002446ar.pdf . Danan, M. 2004. Captioning and subtitling: undervalued Language learning Strategies. Meta: Translators Journal, 49(1), pp. 67-77 Web. Available from: erudit.org/revue/meta/2004/v49/n1/009021ar.html .Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The history of Dubbing in France specificall y for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More European Commission 2007. Effects on the European Economy of Shortage of foreign Language skills in Enterprise Web. Available from: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/79format=HTMLaged=0language=ENguiLanguage=fr . Heiss, C. 2004. Dubbing Multilingual Films: A New Challenge? META, 49(1), pp.208-220 Web. Available from: erudit.org/revue/meta/2004/v49/n1/009035ar.html . Koolstra, C.M. and Beentjes, W.J. 1999. Childrens vocabulary acquisition in a foreign language through watching subtitled television programs at home. Educational Technology Research and Development, 47(1), pp. 51-60 Web. Available from: springerlink.com/content/7951541774721423/ . Pettit, Z. 2004. The Audio-Visual Text: Subtitling and Dubbing Different Genres. META, 49(1), pp. 25-28 Web. Available from: erudit.org/revue/meta/2004/v49/n1/009017ar.html . Riggio, F. 2010. Dubbing vs. Subtitling Web. Available from: 1stoptr.com/adm in/UpImage/Dubbing_vs_Subtitling.pdf .

The Distance Between Degrees of Latitude and Longitude

The Distance Between Degrees of Latitude and Longitude What is the precise location of Los Angeles? It can be stated in relative terms (about 3,000 miles west of New York, for example), but for a cartographer, pilot, geologist, or geographer, a much more specific measurement is needed. In order to precisely locate any spot in the world, therefore, we use a geographic coordinate system that is measured in degrees of latitude and longitude. This system starts with an imaginary grid of lines that cover the entire planet. Locations are measured based on both X and Y coordinates within the grid. Because the Earth is round, however, the distances between lines on the grid vary. Defining Latitude and Longitude Longitude is defined as imaginary lines called meridians that run from the north to the south pole. There are a total of 360 meridians. The Prime Meridian, which runs through the Greenwich Observatory in England, is also called the International Date Line. Every location east of this line is one day earlier than every location west of the line. Latitude is defined as imaginary lines called parallels because they are parallel to the equator and to one another. The equator, which runs in a circle around the center of the Earth, divides the planet into north and south hemispheres. Lines of latitude and longitude intersect, creating a grid that allows anyone in any location to pinpoint a geographic location. There are 360 degrees of longitude (because meridians make Great Circles around the globe), and there are 180 degrees of latitude. To further specify exactly where to find anything on Earth, measurements are stated not only in degrees but also in minutes and seconds. Each degree can be broken into 60 minutes, and each minute can be divided into 60 seconds. Any given location can be described in terms of degrees, minutes, and seconds of longitude and latitude. What Is the Distance Between Degrees of Latitude? Degrees of latitude are parallel so, for the most part, the distance between each degree remains constant. However, the Earth is slightly elliptical in shape and that creates a small variation between the degrees as we work our way from the equator to the north and south poles. Each degree of latitude is approximately 69 miles (111 kilometers) apart.At the equator, the distance is 68.703 miles (110.567 kilometers).At the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees north and south), the distance is 68.94 miles (110.948 kilometers).At each of the poles, the distance is 69.407 miles (111.699 kilometers). This is rather convenient when you want to know how far it is between each degree, no matter where you are on Earth. All you need to know is that each minute (1/60th of a degree) is approximately one mile. For example, if we were at  40 degrees north,  100 degrees west, we would be on the Nebraska-Kansas border. If we were to go  directly north to  41 degrees north,  100 degrees west, we would have traveled about 69 miles and would now be near Interstate 80. What is the Distance Between Degrees of Longitude? Unlike latitude, the distance between degrees of longitude varies greatly depending upon your location on the planet. They are farthest apart at the equator and converge at the poles. A degree of longitude is widest at the equator with a distance of 69.172 miles (111.321 kilometers).The distance gradually shrinks to zero as they meet at the poles.At 40 degrees north or south, the distance between a degree of longitude is 53 miles (85 kilometers). The line at 40 degrees north runs through the middle of the United States and China, as well as Turkey and Spain. Meanwhile, 40 degrees south is south of Africa, goes through the southern part of Chile and Argentina, and runs almost directly through the center of New Zealand. Calculate the Distance from One Point to Another What if you are given two coordinates for latitude and longitude and you need to know how far it is between the two locations?  You could use what is known as a haversine formula to calculate the distance - but unless you are a whiz at trigonometry, it is not easy. Luckily, in todays digital world, computers can do the math for us. Most interactive map applications will allow you to input GPS coordinates of latitude and longitude and tell you the distance between the two points.  There are a number of latitude/longitude distance calculators available online. The National Hurricane Center has one that is very easy to use. Keep in mind that you can also  find the precise latitude and longitude of a location using a map application. In Google Maps, for example, you can simply click on a location and a pop-up window will give latitude and longitude data to a millionth of a degree. Similarly, if you right-click on a location in MapQuest you will get the latitude and longitude data. Source Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculator. National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Business Communication - Letter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Communication - Letter - Assignment Example It is possible to allow women to drive while placing other measures of ensuring that they preserve their dignity and that they remain safe. We are well aware of the sensitivity of the matter at hand. However, societies do not undergo a change in a single day. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs adequate time for it to undergo social and political changes that would give women more freedom. As a company, we understand the commitment of the Saudi Human Rights Commission in ensuring that women in this country get an opportunity to enjoy their human rights freely. However, we also recognize that there are relevant procedures and platforms that need to exist for the recognition of any visible social change. We hope that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can reconsider its position and allow women to drive while still protecting their dignity and safety. Therefore, all the stakeholders involved should critically discuss the issue at hand and develop a viable

Iris Center Learning Module Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Iris Center Learning Module Paper - Essay Example It helps accelerate student achievement in reading, giving them opportunities to improve their self-esteem. It also encourages on-task behavior and student participation since it allows students more opportunities to do so since they are paired in dyads and not have to content with competing within a whole group. Most of all, it is enjoyable for children and very motivating for them because of the collaboration they maintain towards particular tasks. In doing so, it forges positive social interaction between students. PALS enhances the reading skills of all children but it targets specific age-appropriate skills in each level. Kindergarten children learn phonological awareness and the decoding and recognition of words. First grade students build on the skills learned from Kindergarten and in addition, they learn to decode and comprehend text and to read more fluently. Tapping such skills helps the students perform better on standardized and informal reading tests. The teacher ranks the students based on their reading performance. Usually, the Rapid Letter Naming (RLN) test is used to measure letter recognition and future reading performance. However, grouping for Kindergarten and First grade differs. For Kindergarten, the teacher pairs the highest-performing student with the lowest-performing student. Pairing follows the order from there with the next highest-performing student with the next lowest-performing student and so on until all the students have been paired. With First Graders, the teachers divides the rank-order list in half then pairs the top high-performing student with the top low-performing student and the process continues till all the students have found their match. This kind of pairing may include children with disabilities in the pairing so it is highly possible that a low-performing student with disability is paired with a high-performing student

Morality & differentiate Essay Example for Free

Morality differentiate Essay Morality is defined as the ability to differentiate what is right and what is wrong. While the concept may seem simple enough, in reality however it is much more complex than that. The main question is how does one define right and wrong? If something is deemed as â€Å"right†for one person, does it automatically mean that it is the right one for another? This rather confusing view of morality is exemplified in the current saying that â€Å"one mans terrorist is another mans patriot. † Truly, morality is not that easy to define. Morality however it seems is more often than not defined by the society at large. A society is define as a group of individuals that have common interests as well as have their own culture. This concept of society and morality is highly apparent in the novel by Azar Nafisi title â€Å"Reading Lolita in Tehran, A Memoir in Books. † Nafisi is in Iranian scholar who emigrated in 1997 to the United States. The book mentioned in the title is the novel by Vladimir Nabokov which tells the story of a middle aged man who has sexual obsessions with a pre-teen girl, specifically a twelve-year old girl. Although Nafisis novel isnt just about this particular book, Lolita is however one of those books considered as controversial in Iran. Novels like One Thousand and One Nights, Invitation to a Beheading, The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice, are also included and their similarity to what is happening in Iran. It is Lolita however that gets a rather good exposure in the book. Nafisis novel however goes much deeper that what the title actually says. It gives a rather good view on what happens to the people when a society suddenly changes its view on things. Nafisis book gives a closer look to what happened in Iran when Ayatollah Khomeini gained power after the Islamic revolution. One of this was the decree requiring women of Iran to follow a dress code. Iranian women were now required to wear veils. An issue that Nafisis tackles a lot in her book. This simple decree caused a great deal of change in Iran. Prior to the decree, Iranian women did not wear veils. For most women, the decree was considered as a restriction to their freedom. Women who do not follow this rule are often detained. As a result, wearing the veil also restricted how people interacted with one another. One reason for this change in interaction is the differences in their reactions to the decree. While some stated that they â€Å"hated†it, others supported it saying it made them feel more â€Å"relaxed. † In general though, women who did not wear veils were considered immoral and even unchaste by the society at large. The decree requiring the veil also allowed for segregation and discrimination. The veil made women have a less status that the men. The veil did not only change the relationships that people had with each other but also on their individual roles and responsibilities. While women were still allowed to go to universities, these were still subjected to suppression by those in power. Segregation was not the only thing that was practiced in the universities but those who were found talking to the opposite sex were punished by the religious authorities. In fact, because the school where Nafisi taught was rather liberal, school officials were often asked if they believed the school was located in Switzerland, the word being connected with all things considered decadent and lax. The wearing of the veil also made women subservient to men who had to follow whatever was said to them. This change in culture actually continued despite Khomeinis death. According to Nafisi, Khomeinis real death would only come when women were not required to wear scarves in public anymore. By interjecting the novel Lolita in her book, Nafisi shows what the society truly is. A country doing its best to live in a fantasy world. In Lolita, the main protagonist Humbert Humbert, wishes to have the perfect Lolita. Implementing the decree on the wearing of the veil in reality reveals Khomeinis dream of having a truly perfect Koranic society. Nafisi argues that much like story, where Humberts pursuit eventually destroys Lolita, Iran may likely experience the same. Living in a fantasy world though may not be that bad. Nafisis book tells us that we all need to create a paradise to escape into. ( 281) She however immediately corrects this and say that â€Å"fiction was not a panacea, but it did not offer us a critical way of appraising and grasping the world not just our world but that other world that had become the object of our desires. † ( 282) Going back to Lolita and its relation with the Iranian society, Iran is much like Humbert who despite molesting the young Lolita, appears normal in other parts of his life. By implementing a standard on morality, the Iranian society was telling people that it was normal to do so in order to run the country better. And like Humbert, the Iranian society does not blame itself but others for what is wrong. Humbert wants Lolita to become what is perfect for him, no different from what the regime wants for its citizens. The Iranian regime blames the â€Å"dissidents† for what has happened to the country hence the imposition of the new rules or codes of morality. The new codes of morality while restricting activities of most of its citizens, have also made their lives more exciting. What was then ordinary activities where now being done as a secret mission. People who wanted to watch foreign films, eat ice cream, or even meet without wearing veils were doing so in secret. Thus while the citizens were openly showing their support for the rules, they were also secretly doing normal things that were now considered as taboo. The imposition of codes of morality this did not totally alter the responsibilities of the citizens and their roles but only on how they performed it. As mentioned earlier, the issue of morality is a very complex one. By imposing a standard on morality, the Iranian regime thus changed the way its citizens behaved. Women now found their freedom curtailed as they were required to wear veils and not allowed to talk to persons of the other sex. Activities that were regularly considered as norm where now being done in secret. While most people were still allowed to hold their jobs, they faced the constant scrutiny of the religious sector. While Iranian women and people around the world viewed these changes as something negative, the regime however defended its actions by stating that the change was needed. Thus even if the propagator, Khomeini, had died, the practice continued. Another effect that the rules had, specifically on Nafisi, was her having to quit the university and teaching a class and discussing books in secret. For Nafisi, the university was no longer a place where students can have honest discussion asking how could one teach when the main concern of university officials was not the quality of ones work but the color of ones lips, the subversive potential of a single strand of hair? (11) This activity leads to Nafisi bonding with her students since most of them feel that they have been made irrelevant by the new regime. The rule requiring women to wear veils becomes more oppressive when Nafisi reveals that when the students that decided to be with her came to the room, their removing the veils and scarves was an act that was not as simple as one imagines. According to Nafisi, â€Å"each one gained an outline and a shape, becoming her own inimitable self. † (5) Because of their continuous gathering, they begin to have hope. The students draw on the parallelism on what they are currently experiencing with what they are reading. Nafisi explicitly states in the book that â€Å"[h]ope for some means its loss for others; when the hopeless regain some hope, those in power the ones who had taken it away become afraid, more protective of their endangered interests, more repressive. † (276) What this tells us is that instead of just living their lives simply, getting jobs and having a family, Nafisi, her students, and maybe some other Iranians, now found a different purpose in life. They know that they have to be strong if they want their society to change. That even if hope is all that they have left, it is better than nothing. On reading the book, Heywoods point that morality is actually concerned with not only the ethical questions but also how right and wrong are different is made clearer. The question that arises is how can an individual survive if that person has a different perception on himself or herself which is different from what society says? The answer is not simply to become political and institute change. Although it can be considered that the personal is political, at the core of the fight for political rights is the desire to protect ourselves, to prevent the political from intruding on our individual lives. (273) Imagination or fantasy is the one that bridges the political and the personal. The regimes first task had been to blur the lines and boundaries between the personal and the political, thereby destroying them both. (273) In summary, we need to keep in mind what a society is. A group of individuals with something in common and that includes moral principles. When a society has different principles on morality, like what happened in Iran, nothing good can come out of it. This is most true when a society that has experienced freedom before is suddenly restricted. Some groups will feel oppressed and will fight it. Those in power meanwhile, will do what they to prevent that from happening. The one good thing about Nafisis novel is that it does not in provide any political analysis on the situation in Iran. Rather it is about what people can do despite the tyranny around them. That students can learn when they apply and feel what they have read. Morality will always be a very tricky issue. The debate on the concept of right and wrong will not end overnight. If there is one thing that Nafisis novel teaches us, it is that setting a standard for morality is not an answer.

Reread the exchange between Charlotte and Elizabeth about marriage. :: Free Essay Writer

Reread the exchange between Charlotte and Elizabeth about marriage. How does this section of the novel provide a foundation for the novel’s central messages regarding marriage? In Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ one of the main themes through out is marriage. In the exchange between Elizabeth Bennett and her friend Charlotte Lucas in Chapter six two main views on marriage are bought to the forefront. Charlotte gives the view that marriage is more of a necessity so that women can have financial stability, whereas it is evident that Elizabeth believes marriage should be a union of two loving people and a lasting emotional situation. Charlotte’s view is that she will marry Collins because she needs to hold her situation financially and socially, and not because of any mutual feeling of love between them. She thinks that it is neither necessary nor beneficial to know some one well or to particularly like some one before you marry them. ‘Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance’ says Charlotte. She then also says ‘I should think she has a good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth’. By saying this, she is implying that it doesn’t matter how well you know someone before you marry him or her, as it will make no difference to whether or not it is a happy marriage. Charlotte even goes a step further and states that people ‘always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation’ meaning that it might be worse to know someone well before marriage. This interpretation is affirmed when Charlotte says ‘It is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with’. The view that Charlotte puts forward in Chapter six was a common opinion held in the late 18th and early 19th century. Many women who were part of the middle classes were often not sent to school and so didn’t usually learn a skill that they could use to make a living. Consequently, as they were women and so were often not left much, if any, inheritance when their parents died, women found that they must marry in order to have money and to keep their place in society. Charlotte takes advantage of her situation to marry purely for money and not for love, this is what many women did and what society encouraged. Elizabeth’s views are a contrast to Charlotte’s. Elizabeth believes that to have happiness in marriage there must be love.

The Financial Detective

PAPER: We believe that Company I represents the Smaller Producer of printing papers and Company J represents the World’s Largest Market of Paper. Being the world’s largest paper maker indicates having a larger inventory, more current assets (esp. since it owns timberland and several facilities), and higher cost of goods sold than other paper makers. The inventory for Company J (10. 9) is larger than the inventory for Company I (8. 8); the current assets for Company J (32. 6) are higher than that for Company I (27. 2); and the cost of goods sold for Company J (82. 9) is higher than that for Company I (75. ). We also expect that, as the world’s largest paper maker, their products will move on the marketplace better than a smaller producer of paper. Thus, Inventory Turnover should also be higher. Here, Company J (7. 11) has a larger inventory turnover than Company I (6. 75). Receivables turnover, which tells how many times accounts receivables have been collected in a given period, should be higher for the world’s largest paper company than it would be for a small producer of specialty paper. Company J’s (11. 64) receivables turnover is higher than that for Company I (8. 68). The facts also state that the world’s largest maker of paper has been rationalizing capacity by closing inefficient mills, implementing cost-containment initiatives, and selling nonessential assets. This implies that the company would have a larger asset turnover ratio than other paper companies. Company J (1. 20) has a larger asset turnover ratio than Company I (. 73). It is probable that since the small producer of paper has most of its product marketed under branded labels, that it would have a higher value of Intangibles, such as trademarks, than the larger company. Here, Company I (14. 6) has an intangibles value that is significantly higher than Company J’s (1. 9) intangible value. Based on the above analysis, we believe that Company I is the small producer of printing, writing and technical specialty papers, and that Company J is the world’s largest maker of paper, paperboard, and packaging. RETAIL: From the financial ratios and the notes attached, it is apparent that Company N is the rapidly growing chain of upscale discount stores while Company M is the firm known for its low prices, breadth of merchandise and volume riented strategy. ASSETS Receivables: Company M has lower receivables of 1. 4 compared to company N with 17. 0 and this reason is to the fact that company N offers credit to qualified customer as a means of marketing strategy. Inventories: Company M has higher inventories of 24. 5 compared to company N with 16. 7 and this reason it attributed to the strategy company M adopts. Company M has a wide breadth of mercha ndise and volume oriented strategy amount to this high inventories on the balance sheet. Intangibles: There is a 93. 3% difference compared to company N with low intangibles. This reason is due to the operational strategy company M adopts. Company M possesses either or all of these following; Goodwill, Partnership rights or Patent rights. Analyzing the information provided accurately, one or more of the of the aforementioned rights exit because for company M to sell some products at very low prices, there must be an existing kind of memorandum of understanding between the producers and company M. LIABILITIES & EQUITY Deferred Taxes: Company M has deferred Taxes of 3. with company N having O. From the information of company M provided, it is possible that the deferred tax is an evidence of capital gains that might have risen from the proceeds of divestments of several non-discount department-store businesses. Debt in Current Liabilities: Company M is 75. 4% high than company Nâ€℠¢s Debt Current Liabilities. This can be as a result of the lease contract entered by company M. Depending on the lease agreement; Company M might have an overdue payment for the lease for a period within a year. INCOME STATEMENT Depreciation: It is understandable why company N has a high depreciation than company M and this is due to the reason that M is a lease copy therefore no depreciation is paid for leasing except a rental payment. There is an exception when the lease is a finance lease. Net Income: Company N strategies pay off because shareholders of any company want to maximize their investment or returns. Company N is making almost double of company M’s net profit, and also considering the fact that company N is making 85% of company M sales. MARKET DATA Beta: Companies in the same industries usually have different betas, one of the reasons this can happen is the kind of financing or debt equity ratio. The higher the debt equity ratio the higher the beta: this shows why company N has a higher beta compared to company M that has a lower debt equity ratio. Dividend Payout: Company M has a higher payout ratio of 31. 12%. Reason why company N might have a low payout ratio can be attributed to investment in future projects with positive NPV due to the rapidly growing chain of upscale discount stores. ASSET MANAGEMENT Receivables Turnover: This shows the degree of realization in accounts receivables. Company N has a lower turnover rate, a lower rate implies that receivables are being held longer and the less likely they are to be collected. Also there is an opportunity cost of tying up funds in receivables for a long period of time. Company M is 29 times higher than company N. From the above analysis, it is obvious that financial ratios of companies in same industries can never be the same but can only be similar. The kind of strategy and technology a company adopts tells a lot about differences in financial ratios. COMPUTERS: We believe that Company E is the company focused exclusively on mail-order sales and Company F is the company that sells a highly differentiable line of products. In this industry one company focuses exclusively on mail-order sales of built-to-order PCs, including desktops, laptops, and notebooks. Besides the company allows its customers to design, price and purchase through its web site. In contrast the other company has a retail strategy intended to drive traffic through its stores. With regards to the SGA expense, as well as depreciation, we can assume that the company resulting with the highest values is of course the one having more stores compared to the one conducting most of its transactions on an online basis. In this case the high value of 23. 1 in selling, general and administrative expense and the high value of 1. 8 in depreciation belonging to company F fit the description of the company with more retail stores. Another important financial data confirming this finding is the intangible data. From the Exhibit 1, the company E has a value of 0 in intangibles which is not surprising due to its business orientation. Company E is an assembler of PC components manufactured by its suppliers, therefore not having any claim of ownership of intangibles. On the other hand, the intangible value of 1. 2 of company F is due to the fact that company F has a variety of proprietary software products. In addition, the price to book ratio is lower for Company F (5. 3) than for Company E (17. 46). This is in line with our analysis because the facts state that the retail store has a declining market share, so the lower price to book ration would match the description for a company with a lower market share. Based on our analysis above, we believe that company E is the company focusing exclusively on mail-order sales of built-to-order PCs, and company F is the company having an aggressive retail strategy intended to drive traffic through its stores. NEWSPAPERS: We believe that company P is the diversified media company that generates most of its revenues through newspapers sold around the country and around the world and that Company O is the firm that owns a number of newspapers in relatively small communities throughout the Midwest and southwest. We believe this because Company P has a larger amount of current assets (other and total) and net fixed assets than CompanyO. Company P operates in not just the United States but it also operates in countries all around the world, which it means it will have a lot of assets than Company O. FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS ASSETS RECEIVABLES:Company P is higher than Company O and this can be attributed to the fact that company P has an international presence. This will result to a huge customer base compared to Company O. higher customer base would yield more credit sales. result to its revenues all over the world in the sense that it will have a lot of customers and there can be delays in monetary transactions. Since its business has international presence it can adopt a business strategy of offering a high volume of credit sales to customers. INVENTORIES: The two companies are at par have the same ratios. This means that there is an equal amount of goods and services available in the stock of both companies. INTANGIBLES: Company O has a higher intangibles value than company P because although company O is a smaller company it has acquired a Customer good will, employee morale, increased bureaucracy, and aesthetic appeal than company P which is a more diversified media company. DEBT MANAGEMENT TOTAL DEBT/TOTAL ASSET:Company P has a higher ratio compared to O. Most of company’s total debt are short term financed and this is to say that in the next period, the company can have a lower total debt to total asset ratio compared to company O. Based on this current standing it shows that 26. 81% of company’s P asset is financed by debt. INCOME/EXPENSES NETINCOME: Company O is almost likely to succeed more than company P in its operations because of its decentralized decision making and administration. Looking closely at the net income figure of both companies, company O net income is higher than company P net income. EBIT AND NET PROFIT MARGIN: Company O has a higher EBIT because the company is more profitable than company P. Company P has a lower net profit margin value than company O which indicates a low margin of safety, higher risk, and that a decline in sales will erase profits and result in a net loss. Company O is better in this aspect because of the adopted business of decentralized decision making and administration, which led to better success in its operations. MARKET DATA DIVIDEND PAYOUT: Company O has a higher ratio than company P which means it has a higher percentage of earnings paid to its shareholders in dividends. The shareholders of company O are benefiting better from the company than the shareholders of company P are. The reason for this could be that company P may be trying to invest in a project that is preventing it from paying shareholders adequate dividends BETA: Company P has a higher value which means a higher expected return of a stock or portfolio which is correlated to the return of the financial market as a whole than company O. PRICE/EARNING RATIO: Company O has a higher ratio than P. Over the years smaller firms have performed better in terms of returns. Shareholders of company O are willing to pay more for the shares today in anticipation of great prospects of returns in the future. ASSET MANAGEMENT RECEIVABLES TURNOVER: Company O has a higher turnover value because it has a higher number of number of times that account receivables are collected during in a period than company P. LIQUIDITY CURRENT RATIO AND QUICK RATIO: Company O has a better and higher value of the two ratios than company P so it means that company O has more current assets and cash equivalents to cover its liabilitie when due than company P. Based on our analysis above, we believe that company P is the diversified media company that generates most of its revenues through newspapers sold around the country and around the world and that Company O is the firm that owns a number of newspapers in relatively small communities throughout the Midwest and Southwest

Assessment of overhead costs Essay

If a decision was made to outsource the manifold manufacturing, then the overheads of the Bridgestone Industries will show significant difference and even reductions in the level of overhead costs. The overhead pertaining to the wages and benefits for the non skilled personnel would decrease as the outsourcing of the product line would reduce the need for the non skilled personnel in the capacities of trucks and janitors by a small percentage level. The overhead associated with the salaried personnel, including the benefits would also decrease as there would be no need to hire or pay personnel to work on the manifold line. The production supplies overhead which includes production gadgets, tools and equipment like gloves, safety goggles and packing material etc would also reduce as the manifold line would not require such production supplies if outsourced. The overheads associated with the small technical tools would also reduce as the need for such tools would no longer be presented by the manifold line, if the line is to be outsourced to a third party. The usage of the utilities like coal, gas and electricity used to drive the manufacturing process of manifold would also be eliminated as an expense. Therefore the overhead associated with this expense would also be significantly reduced. On the other hand the wages of the no production employees and the benefits provided to them might not decrease. Any decrease in this overhead would be minimal as the non production employees are not greatly impacted by the outsourcing of a production line as opposed to the production associated employees and personnel. Similarly the deprecation conducted on the property and the taxes would not reduce and can remain stable as the property is shared by all product lines and as long as the other two product lines are operating, the depreciation overhead would still occur at the same rate. The expenses related to constant personnel for the training, travel, and union representation would also considerably reduce as the number of personnel employed will decrease with the outsourcing of the manifold product line. The project expense of the setup and arrangement of new equipment and machinery would not be a reducing overhead as this expense is effect by purchase of new equipment and not by the operation of a product line. The overhead associated with the benefits provided to employees in terms of overtime payment, on an hourly basis, state unemployment and the pension provided to employees and labor at the company would not reduce by a significant amount. Instead this expense can increase as more people are laid off or provided early retirement if the manifold line is outsources. Similarly the benefits of this kind provided to the skilled hourly workers specifically those associated with production will also reduce in the long term due to the outsourcing of the manifold producing. The reduction of this overhead would be due to the reduction in the employee/ labor strength in the production department which would reduce the expenses of benefits for the labor. Estimated Proposed Budget. In order to effectively budget for the year 1991, considering the manifold line is outsourced to a third party for manufacture, substantial assumptions had to be made. These assumptions pertained included adjusting the estimates of the active production lines at Bridgestone Industries with the incremental growth trend for their respective costs. The costs increase form year to year due to inflation and the changes in the CPI index. As a result it is important to adjust any forecasted figures for the respective growth trend of the costs and revenues. It has also been assumed that by outsourcing the manifold production line, the company is able to eliminate the costs associated with manifold production line labor, the direct materials used by the manifold production line and the overheads that were contributed to by the manifold production online. Another assumption that is made in the proposed budget is that even though the company has outsourced its operations for the manifold production line. The company is still selling the products by purchasing them from the outsourcing company and providing them to the automobile manufacturers in the United States. As a result the sales revenue is forecasted even though the costs associated are eliminated and not considered. Moreover the costs associated with outsourcing are not incorporated in the budget as they are no longer part of the manufacturing/ productions department. The following is the proposed budget for the year 1991 which considers the manifold production line to be outsourced while no additional production line is dropped by the Bridgestone Industries. Proposed Budget for the year 1991 USD (‘000) 1991 Sales Fuel Tanks 87,378. Manifolds 97,031 Doors 52,681 Mufflers/Exhausts – Oil Pans – 237,089 Direct Material Fuel Tanks 17,693 Manifolds – Doors 17,414 Mufflers/Exhausts – Oil Pans – 35,107 Direct Labor Fuel Tanks 4,788 Manifolds – Doors 3,084 Mufflers/Exhausts – Oil Pans – 7,872 Overheads 1000 3,093 1500 3,229 2000 1,152 3000 768 4000 4,049. 5000 11,043 8000 2,039 9000 3,261 11000 1,650 12000 8,543 14000 4,418 43,246 The proposed budget that has been drawn up significantly depicts that if the company opts to outsource the manifolds production line in the year 1991, then the company is able to observe significance reductions in its operating costs and overheads. Therefore it can be mentioned that by outsourcing the manifold production line the company can experience cost savings and better revenue levels. The proposed budget for the year 1991 indicates that the Sales forecast increased to $237 million while the direct material based costs are forecasted to be at $35 million. The forecast of the direct labor employed for the active production lines would be at $7 million only while the total overheads for the operation would be equivalent to 2 million only. The overhead burden rate in the year 1991 as a result is reduced to 307 percent with the allocated overhead for the fuel tank’s production line at $26 million while the production line for manufacturing the rear and front doors would be at approximately $17 million.

Free Essays on Us And UK Constitution Compared

‘Because the US constitution is written and codified it is superior to the UK constitution’ Do you agree? The American people made the conscious decision that they didn’t want an evolved constitution held together by traditions and statute law, like they had witnessed in England. They sought something better and came up with a codified constitution. One question remains; is the US constitution the improvement that they sought? One clear difference between the two constitutions is the fact that one is codified and the other isn’t. There are implications regarding the flexibility of the constitutions according to whether or not they are codified. The English constitution is flexible in the sense that there are no special majorities or arrangements needed to change the constitution, it can be done via the normal legislative process. In direct contrast to this the American constitution is rigid, it is entrenched against the whims of subsequent government who may want to change it, as it requires a substantial majority to make any amendments. With theses varying degrees of flexibility come both strengths and weaknesses. The strengths of the US constitution being entrenched are that it is clearly outlined and it cannot be subject to abuse. The strength of the UK constitution is in its flexibility the fact that it is evolved and has been able to change with the circumstances, for example the recent devolution in both Scotland and Wales. However such an crucial strength comes an equally important weakness, the fact that the constitution is not entrench and can be changed so easily leaves it vulnerable to abuse. Having said that though realistically no government is going to make constitutional changes without the backing of the political nation in the knowledge that they have to face re-election within five years. The government also have to get majority support in the house of commons which may not be as fourth coming from MPï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Us And UK Constitution Compared Free Essays on Us And UK Constitution Compared ‘Because the US constitution is written and codified it is superior to the UK constitution’ Do you agree? The American people made the conscious decision that they didn’t want an evolved constitution held together by traditions and statute law, like they had witnessed in England. They sought something better and came up with a codified constitution. One question remains; is the US constitution the improvement that they sought? One clear difference between the two constitutions is the fact that one is codified and the other isn’t. There are implications regarding the flexibility of the constitutions according to whether or not they are codified. The English constitution is flexible in the sense that there are no special majorities or arrangements needed to change the constitution, it can be done via the normal legislative process. In direct contrast to this the American constitution is rigid, it is entrenched against the whims of subsequent government who may want to change it, as it requires a substantial majority to make any amendments. With theses varying degrees of flexibility come both strengths and weaknesses. The strengths of the US constitution being entrenched are that it is clearly outlined and it cannot be subject to abuse. The strength of the UK constitution is in its flexibility the fact that it is evolved and has been able to change with the circumstances, for example the recent devolution in both Scotland and Wales. However such an crucial strength comes an equally important weakness, the fact that the constitution is not entrench and can be changed so easily leaves it vulnerable to abuse. Having said that though realistically no government is going to make constitutional changes without the backing of the political nation in the knowledge that they have to face re-election within five years. The government also have to get majority support in the house of commons which may not be as fourth coming from MPï ¿ ½...

Five Steps to Verifying Online Genealogy Sources

Five Steps to Verifying Online Genealogy Sources Many newcomers to genealogy research are thrilled when find that many of the names in their family tree are easily available online. Proud of their accomplishment, they then download all the data they can from these Internet sources, import it into their genealogy software and proudly start sharing their genealogy with others. Their research then makes its way into new genealogy databases and collections, further perpetuating the new family tree and amplifying any errors each time the source is copied. While it sounds great, there is one major problem with this scenario; namely that the family information that is freely published in many Internet databases and Web sites is often unsubstantiated and of questionable validity. While useful as a clue or a starting point for further research, the family tree data is sometimes more fiction than fact. Yet, people often treat the information they find as the gospel truth. Thats not to say that all online genealogy information is bad. Just the opposite. The Internet is a great resource for tracing family trees. The trick is to learn how to separate the good online data from the bad. Follow these five steps and you too can use Internet sources to track down reliable information about your ancestors. Step One: Search for the Source Whether its a personal Web page or a subscription genealogy database, all online data should include a list of sources. The key word here is should. You will find many resources that dont. Once you find a record of your great, great grandfather online, however, the first step is to try and locate the source of that information. Look for source citations and references- often noted as footnotes at the bottom of the page, or at the end (last page) of the publicationCheck for notes or commentsClick on the link to about this database when searching a public database (Ancestry.com, Genealogy.com and FamilySearch.com, for example, include sources for most of their databases)Email the contributor of the data, whether it be the compiler of a database or the author of a personal family tree, and politely ask for their source information. Many researchers are wary of publishing source citations online (afraid that others will steal the credit to their hard-earned research), but may be willing to share them with you privately. Step Two: Track Down the Referenced Source Unless the Web site or database includes digital images of the actual source, the next step is to track down the cited source for yourself. If the source of the information is a genealogy or history book, then you may find a library in the associated location has a copy and is willing to provide photocopies for a small fee.If the source is a microfilm record, then its a good bet that the Family History Library has it. To search the FHLs online catalog, click on Library, then Family History Library Catalog. Use place search for the town or county to bring up the librarys records for that locality. Listed records can then be borrowed and viewed through your local Family History Center.If the source is an online database or Web site, then go back to Step #1 and see if you can track down a listed source for that sites information. Step Three: Search for a Possible Source When the database, Web site or contributor doesnt provide the source, its time to turn sleuth. Ask yourself what type of record might have supplied the information you have found. If its an exact date of birth, then the source is most likely a birth certificate or tombstone inscription. If it is an approximate year of birth, then it may have come from a census record or marriage record. Even without a reference, the online data may provide enough clues to time period and/or location to help you find the source yourself. Step Four: Evaluate the Source and Information It Provides While there are a growing number of Internet databases which provide access to scanned images of original documents, the vast majority of genealogy information on the Web comes from derivative sources - records which have been derived (copied, abstracted, transcribed, or summarized) from previously existing, original sources. Understanding the difference between these different types of sources will help you best assess how to verify the information that you find. How close to the original record is your information source? If it is a photocopy, digital copy or microfilm copy of the original source, then it is likely to be a valid representation. Compiled records- including abstracts, transcriptions, indexes, and published family histories- are more likely to have missing information or transcription errors. Information from these types of derivative sources should be further traced back to the original source.Does the data come from primary information? This information, created at or close to the time of the event by someone with personal knowledge of the event (i.e. a birth date provided by the family doctor for the birth certificate), is generally more likely to be accurate. Secondary information, by contrast, is created a significant amount of time after an event occurred, or by a person who was not present at the event (i.e. a birth date listed on a death certificate by the daughter of the deceased). Primary information usually carries m ore weight than secondary information. Step Five: Resolve Conflicts Youve found a birthdate online, checked out the original source and everything looks good. Yet, the date conflicts with other sources youve found for your ancestor. Does this mean that the new data is unreliable? Not necessarily. It just means that you now need to reevaluate each piece of evidence in terms of its likelihood to be accurate, the reason it was created in the first place, and its corroboration with other evidence. How many steps is the data from the original source? A database on Ancestry.com that is derived from a published book, which itself was compiled from original records means that the database on Ancestry is two steps away from the original source. Each additional step increases the likelihood of errors.When was the event recorded? Information recorded closer to the time of the event is more likely to be accurate.Did any time elapse between the event and the creation of the record that relates its details? Family bible entries may have been made at one sitting, rather than at the time of the actual events. A tombstone may have been placed on the grave of an ancestor years after her death. A delayed birth record may have been issued dozens of years after the actual birth.Does the document appear altered in any way? Different handwriting may mean that information was added after the fact. Digital photos may have been edited. Its not a normal occurrence, but it does happen.What do others say about the source? If it is a published book or database rather than an original record, use an Internet search engine to see if anyone else has used or commented on that particular source. This is an especially good way to pinpoint sources which have a large number of errors or inconsistencies. Happy hunting!

Financial n accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial n accounting - Essay Example In past, these systems include manual processes but now due to technology advancement the accounting information system changed into Computerized Accounting Information System. Improvement in technology have replaced manual accounting system with computerizes ones. As computers become faster, less expensive, and easier to use; all organizations are using computers in their day to day business. With the help of computers, companies can now capture, process, store, and transmit data. It controls the topics which are related to organization’s economic- financial area. It helps in decision-making process, performance evaluation, facilitating company’s transaction and in internal controls through computerized accounting information system. It combines concepts and accounting principles to record, process, analyse the financial information and then produce it to its end users for the purpose of making economic decisions. Firm’s performance can be improved, through oper ational efficiency and increased profitability (Fowzia and Nasrin, 2011, p.1). Software tools in the Computerized Accounting Information System (CAIS) Accounting software This software consists of basic accounting functions like input, processing and output. There are two types of accounting software i.e. low-end software and high-end software. Personal computer based accounting system enable companies to provide better and timely information. Income tax Currently tax preparation software is available for companies. So, even in a short period of time complex calculations can be done. Audit Trial balance software helps auditors to handle different types of adjusting entries, to input the working trial balance and mechanically compute the adjusted trial balance. Word processing Word processing software is used by the accountants to prepare reports, memos, billings and financial statement. Graphics software It is used by the managerial accountants and auditors to graph the data in repo rts and financial statements. Image processing It captures electronic image of data so that it can be stored and shared. Accountants can process all the electronically by just scanning the paper documents in computer. Electronic data interchange A company can exchange documents electronically with other company with the help of electronic data interchange. Electronic funds transfer It enables companies to make collections and payment electronically. So, if companies are in a view to pay for accounts payable to a supplier, it can do it with the help of electronic fund transfer. Purpose of Computerized Accounting Information System Computerized accounting information system (CAIS) can be single programs or even part of a larger system like enterprise resource planning. The purpose of the system is to reduce manual steps in accounting process and offer automated activities in order to improve reporting. Every function plays a minor part in accounting information system. Individual func tions include accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed assets, payroll, general accounting and cash management. CAIS often have modules that enable accountants to handle financial information related to their accounting tasks. Use of CAIS in the functioning of Organization CAIS saves time, reduce errors and eliminate waste by adopting