BYD Chinese Car Manufacturer and Saturn Car Inc. Would it be a good Essay

BYD Chinese Car Manufacturer and Saturn Car Inc. Would it be a good merger for future - Essay Example Saturn Car Inc. A subsidiary of ‘General Motors’, has been providing quality automotive vehicles for the roads of United States since the year it was formed in 1985. The company had all the signs of a successful company with large international export chains and quality assured cars till the decision was made to sell the brand to ‘Penske Automotive Group’ in 2009. The branch was later set on a path of complete shut down when Penske decided to back out of the deal. Keeping in lieu the brief introductions of the two companies it can be deduced that BYD Auto’s intentions to expand its market to the United States and Europe lack only recognition and trust of the public. Their initiative of making environment friendly cars on such a large scale gives them an upper-hand in the international market however their reputation of copying models will have a negative effect on their sales in the new market. On the other hand Saturn Car Inc. Has a perfect public imagine regarding their quality and value of the brand but the company is on a verge of complete shutdown despite their sales and recognition in the U.S. market. If there was a ‘merger’ to occur between the two companies; Saturn Car Inc could be saved from a complete shutdown but they would surely have a little change in technology in the environment. BYD Auto’s problems regarding the U.S. markets could be solved up to a certain extent by a merger with Saturn Car Inc and the company could surmount some of its issues regarding the duplication of famous brands of cars. If a merger were to occur between BYD Auto’s and Saturn Car Inc or the latter were to be bought by the prior, the result would partially be positive in nature. Both the company’s major problems could be settled (ignoring the rise of other minor complications). It could consequent in a corporation that combine’s the environment friendly cars and their large

Noise Reduction In Hearing Aids :: essays research papers

Recently in a local hearing clinic, a client’s concerns were discussed. â€Å"I’m afraid I won’t like them. My brother in law bought two hearing aids, and he keeps them in a drawer in the kitchen.† While the number of people dissatisfied with their hearing aids hovers around 50%, the hearing aid industry is hard pressed to decrease the number of returns, and increase the average daily use of each aid. In order to accomplish this, hearing aid manufacturers must answer the most often heard complaint: â€Å"It doesn’t work well in noise.† Unfortunately, a hearing aid will never be able to accomplish the sifting and sorting that is carried out in the human brain. While a person with normal hearing sits in a restaurant, he can distinguish a conversational speech signal that is as little as three decibels greater than the ambient noise. On the other hand, a person with a 30-decibel sensorineural loss might need the speech signal to be 15 or more decibels greater than the ambient noise. The hearing aid’s task is to acoustically or electronically compensate for both the neurological shortcomings of the hearing impaired person and the wide band increase inherent in any basic amplifier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Acoustic compensation can be carried out in a hearing aid microphone. Most hearing aids today utilize omnidirectional microphones, which pick up sound equally from all directions. This may be beneficial and practical in some cases, as in the completely in the canal (CIC) aid. The CIC aid uses the natural funneling of the auricle in order to focus sound directly into the instrument. Behind-the-ear (BTE) and full concha in-the-ear (ITE) aids lose this anatomical feature, and may benefit from a directional microphone. â€Å"The purpose of using a directional microphone is to focus its sensitivity toward the front of the listener, thereby attenuating or reducing unwanted â€Å"noise† or competition emanating from behind the listener.† (Stach 1998) Microphone directionality can be accomplished by using a single microphone with two sound inlets. In this mechanical method, the time lag created by a sound entering each inlet is precisely calibrated to cancel out sounds from the sides and back of the microphone as they strike the diaphragm. The Phonak MicroZoom uses an electronic approach. Each MicroZoom contains two omnidirectional microphones. According to the flyer, â€Å"One picks up sound in front of you while a second picks up sound from the sides and rear.

Civil War, Religion or Economy

To what extent do you accept Lawrence Stone’s view that religion rather than economic interests influenced the taking of sides among the gentry in 1642? Religion was a huge part of 17th century England, and can be seen as one of the highest contributing factors to the civil war. Most of the country consisted of Protestants with a minority of Catholics, however this did not mean there was no friction between the two. The religious quarrels began right at the start of Charles' reign, when Charles married Henrietta Maria, a French Catholic.Although Charles didn't choose to marry her – his father, James, set up the marriage – the public, especially the Puritans, didn't like having a Catholic as Queen. A few extremists even saw this as a sign that Charles was secretly Catholic! After the King dissolved Parliament, he made William Laud the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1633. While Laud was Archbishop, he made many changes to the Church. Most of these changes involved be atifying the Church and bringing back robes for priests, statues and stained-glass windows.All these things reminded the English of Catholicism, and it did not please the Presbyterians (puritans) who believed that church should just be about â€Å"you† and God, no extravagance was required and it was considered to be unnecessary. In 1636, Archbishop Laud decided to introduce the English Prayer Book (which stated how services should be run) into Scotland. There was nationwide rioting, because no one wanted to follow the new Prayer Book. Scotland was a Presbyterian (Puritan) country, and they thought that the English Prayer Book was far too Catholic to use in Scotland.This eventually led to many Scots, called the Covenanters, marching down the country in an attempt to invade England. At this point, Charles had to call Parliament to ask for taxes to pay for the war, but was horrified to see that most of the MPs were on the Covenanters' side. Parliament agreed that the Prayer Boo k was too Catholic, so Charles dissolved them again, but after he ran out of money to pay the Scots, he was forced to call Parliament again. These actions support the view of Source 6 that the populace believed in an authoritarian popish plot to undermine English laws and liberties, and significantly â€Å"true religion†.This plot was made apparent by the â€Å"alarming† support from the â€Å"evil councillors† at court. The Grand Remonstrance’s famous phrases signify these views and suggest that it was common belief that the King and his advisors were involved in a popish plot. Parliament first put Laud on trial, and found him guilty. Later they decided to execute Strafford on charges of organising an army in Ireland, where he governed. It turned out that this was a big mistake. As soon as Strafford was executed, the Irish Catholics rebelled against the Protestants, saying they were rebelling for the King.Although it was clear this was not true, Parliame nt did not trust the King when he asked them for an army, and so refused, believing he would use it to crush them instead. Notably, in contradiction to both Sources 5 and 6, Source 7 states that the gentry held no clear alignments as war broke out. There is said to be no â€Å"clear association† of wealth or political sympathies before the war, but correlations do appear in 1645. However, religion is considered to be far more decisive than any socio-economic correlation, suggesting that if any factor could be attributed to the taking of sides, it would in fact be religion.This is supported by the fact that in Yorkshire, over a third of the Royalist gentry were Catholics, and over half the Parliamentarians were Puritans. In contrast to the view that religion was the main influencing factor in the taking of sides among the gentry in 1642, it is also believed that economic interests were responsible for influencing the gentry. James was the first King to reign over both England and Scotland, and when he came down from Scotland it is said that he was astonished at how rich England was, while James had needed to borrow money for his travelling expenses.When James died in 1625, Charles came to the throne, and he, like his father, had very little money. Once Charles became King, the County Faction  wanted him to go to war with the Catholics in Spain, so Charles asked them for taxes to use on the war. They refused to pay enough, so the war was hopeless, and Parliament blamed the King for this. The reason Parliament granted so few taxes was that they wanted to make sure they were called again. Charles, a firm believer in the Divine Right of Kings, thought that he should not have to rule with Parliament, and the only thing that kept him calling it was money.One good example of the way Parliament made sure they were called back in Charles' reign was tonnage and poundage. These were duties imposed on certain imports and exports. It was normal for these duties to be decided in the first Parliament of a monarch's reign, but in the case of Charles, they only decided on it for one year, so the King would be forced to call them again. Although Charles tried to ask for more money, Parliament refused, because they believed he spent it on his favourites. Because of this, Charles had to get himself more money.He began using the Church Courts, exploiting taxes such as ‘ship money’, and selling monopolies and titles. He also opened a Court of Star Chamber, which he used to fine people heavily to raise money. Since the judges in the Star Chamber were officials of the Crown, and there was no jury, Charles could be sure of getting a favourable result. Parliament was furious with this, and immediately drew up the  Petition of Right, which asked the King to stop illegal taxation. The King signed it, but only because Parliament threatened to impeach Buckingham, one of the King's favourites.The quarrels about money went on, and eventually Char les decided to dissolve Parliament. He reigned without them for 11 years. When the new prayer book was brought into Scotland, a group called the Covenanters attempted to invade England. Charles called a Parliament to try and get taxes to fight the Covenanters, but they refused, so Charles dissolved them again. He was forced to pay the Scots ? 850 a day to stop them advancing, and eventually, in 1641, his money ran out, and he had to call Parliament – he was bankrupt and at their mercy, so money was definitely a key factor in the outbreak of the civil war.With the economic depression and impoverishment of the populace, the gentry were bound to rebel against the king. Source 5 suggests that this was the main reason why the gentry rebelled against the king. In contrast to Source 6 which suggests religion was the reason, Source 6 implies that the gentry were merely part of a â€Å"blind protest† against the depressing economic situation the found themselves in. In conclusi on it can be suggested that neither economic interest nor religion were individual influences in the taking of sides in 1642.It would be a much more accurate judgement to suggest that a mixture of the two were responsible. The combined fears of a popish plot and a continued depression, or even loyalty to the king may have motivated the gentry in taking sides. This is implied by the variety of evidence from all three sources, mention economic influences and significant religious motivations that would have been completely relevant to the population, but more specifically to the gentry.

Animal Cruelty Linked to the Food Industry in the United...

There is a large problem of animal cruelty linked to the food industry in the United States. Countless slaughterhouses, chicken farms, and other meat producers have been found guilty of harming animals and killing them inhumanely. This is something that clearly needs to change. One case of animal abuse in the U.S. food industry is the Central Valley Meat Co, located in Hanford, California. Employees at the Hanford Slaughterhouse were caught on video killing cows violently and inhumanely, neglecting to render cows unconscious before slaughter, and other forms of abuse. Many of the cows appeared to be sick and unable to walk as well. Under federal rules, sick animals can’t be slaughtered for human consumption. (Nidever) The video showed â€Å"†¦downed cows shot in the head several times and still struggling and kicking as workers walked away. Workers appeared to be suffocating some downed cows by standing on their mouths and nostrils.† (Nidever) Cows are required to be stunned with a pneumatic gun before slaughter so they are rendered unconscious. However, there were many cows thrashing around while going to slaughter. Once this footage surfaced, Central Valley Meat Co was shut down temporarily by the United States Agriculture Department for investigation. The USDA discontinued buying meat from the company for their school lunch programs until the company corrected its violations. (Associated press) It is worth mention that the USDA only discontinued buying meat from CentralShow MoreRelatedFilm Review: Food, Inc871 Words   |  4 Pagesby the film Food, Inc. Specifically, the farming and food-production processes in the United States have become a national disgrace. By far, the most morally egregious problem is the utter disregard for animal suffering and the casual cruelty inherent in the inhumane conditions used throughout the industry. Other significant issues raised by the film include the causal connection between food industry practices and human health problems, and the complete domination of the entire food production chainRead MoreWho Cares About Animals?1467 Words   |  6 PagesWho Cares About Animals? Animal cruelty has been a topic of concern for organizations such as the ASPCA and PETA, and people who care for animals’ well-being. Animal cruelty is defined as â€Å"knowingly causing unnecessary pain and/or suffering and not providing proper needs like food, water and shelter.† Animal cruelty is now a federal offense in all 50 states. For example, in the state of Utah, animal cruelty is a misdemeanor with different severities, dependent on if it is knowingly done or doneRead MoreThe Effects Of Animal Cruelty771 Words   |  4 Pagesthem as one. Sadly, many of those animals’ experience abuse and trauma that lasts a lifetime. Animal Cruelty may not seem like much however, it can be linked to multiple other social problems. As stated in Understanding Social Problems, â€Å"Domestic violence and animal abuse are linked.† The abuser often assaults the family pet to demonstrate their power and control over their family or spouse as well as create an envir onment of fear. Animal cruelty can also be linked to crimes such as murder, illegalRead MoreA Brief History of Animal Abuse and Cruelty Essay1152 Words   |  5 Pagesattracted by black smoke. She managed to put out the the flames with her sweater and proceeded to rush him to a small animal hospital with severe burns over his whole body and a serious ankle infection. Although he lost 60% off of both of his ears he maintained almost complete mobility of his leg. He still has a slight limp. Judi Bunge, a senior vet technician at Buffalo Small Animal Hospital who had been looking after Phoenix, adopted him soon after he had fully recovered. He now lives with Judi andRead MoreThe Cruelty Of Animal Cruelty1224 Words   |  5 Pagesmind as I grudgingly watch a woman eat a cheeseburger while wearing a t-shirt with the phrase My Favorite Breed is RESCUED blasted on the front. With every bite I delve deeper into the question of what exactly is animal cruelty and why does society differ entiate between which animals are worthy and not worthy of liberation. Humans have not only been hidden skillfully from the atrocious truth that is factory farming, but many choose to remain ignorant as it is easier to ignore the cries of cattleRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Veganism957 Words   |  4 Pagesto consume meat or other animal products, including eggs and dairy. Veganism is becoming more and more popular for a number of reasons. Some people go vegan because they do not want to be responsible for cruelty against animals. Others choose the vegan diet for their health or to help protect the environment. No matter what the reason, the truth is clear: the vegan diet is simply the best choice. It is better for animals, better for us, and better for the Earth. Farm animals’ lives are degrading, painfulRead MoreThe Impact Of Corporate Social Responsibility On The Food Industry1434 Words   |  6 Pagesas being proactive on social as well as ethical issues. When one compares this natural tendency to the industries of today, one see’s this voluntary behaviour in a deliberate and compelled act by most involved, which is truly known as Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is known to be the voluntary model that is not only used by many businesses, but industries themselves to self-regulate their active compliance with the law, ethical standards within their respectiveRead MoreKentucky Fried Chicken : A Success Story Essay1473 Words   |  6 Pagesthe potential of franchising and opened up his first in Utah. Like many other fast food restaurants, the KFC chain had humble beginnings. Colonel Sanders was always interested in making his fried chicken the most quality product and sought out a differe nt alternative from deep frying, which ended up being a pressure cooker. KFC proved its success early on as their establishments in 1960 reached abroad to Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, and Jamaica. Kentucky Fried Chicken has a success story, but itRead MoreAnimal Products And Its Effects On Society1624 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans eating a vegetarian diet, 0.5 of them being vegan, consuming animal products is part of an everyday culture in the United States (â€Å"Vegetarianism in America†). Choosing to not consume animals may be seen as strange and unhealthy. Vegan and Vegetarian diets may be seen as restrictive because people are often misinformed about the lifestyle. During a course of one year, the average person will consume thirty-one land animals (Livestock Slaughter 2000...); on average, a vegan or vegetarian willRead MoreThe Truth About Our Food Industry1503 Words   |  7 PagesThe Truth About Our Food Industry Are you really aware of how your food is produced and what it consists of? Food production and consumption has significantly changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000 years combined. James Brewer’s article, â€Å"Food, Inc.†, focuses on the main idea that food production in the United States does not depict what’s on the packaging, but rather consists of large manufacturing companies that operate factories with harsh conditions. The article also talks