Biology Prefixes and Suffixes -phyll or -phyl

Poverty Is A World Wide Problem - 2400 Words

Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population — more than 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty — less than $1.25 a day (11 Facts About Global Poverty). This number, sadly, is steadily increasing, and poverty has become a massive problem all around the world. Women, children, and men live in situations unmistakably horrid; with no clean water, no education, and little to no food. They live in these conditions for a great majority of their lives, with seemingly nothing to help them. Poverty is a world wide problem that effects people all over the world as they live in malnourished communities full of disease, and incapable of getting the proper privileges of education such as learning to†¦show more content†¦When people live in poverty, incapable of making enough money to support their family, let alone themselves, it affects EVERY aspect of their life. Their health is drained, they get no education, they re more likely to commit crimes, and they are more likely to die before they have lived the full life that every person deserves (Balkin para 3). 11.3 percent of all Americans live in poverty, meaning below the poverty line deserves (para 3). The poverty line, according to healthcare.gov , depends on exactly how much a family makes based upon how many people are in the family. For example, the poverty line would be $11,880 for individuals, $16,020 for a family of 2, $20,160 for a family of 3, $24,300 for a family of 4, and so on. The main issue with global poverty is how different it is in places, and these contrasting views of people in various region is what makes it so difficult for people to combine their thoughts and ideas on how to fix a problem on such a global scale. For example, in America, the poor live much worse and tougher lives than the middle and upper classes. However, they do usually get some sort of schooling, and some health care. This is because in this cou ntry, the government often help s the poor and aid s them as much as it possibly can (Balkin para 2). Yet, people still argue that the lower classes in poverty should be getting MORE help, and luxuries such as cell phones, and more health insurance; while other believe that

A Dirty Job Chapter 6 Free Essays

string(101) " English into wiggling the key in the lock that he felt an atrophied dancing muscle tear in his hip\." 6 VARIABLE SPEED HEROES In the alley behind Asher’s Secondhand, the Emperor of San Francisco hand-fed olive focaccia to the troops and tried to keep dog snot from fouling his breakfast. â€Å"Patience, Bummer,† the Emperor said to the Boston terrier, who was leaping at the day-old wheel of flat bread like a furry Super Ball, while Lazarus, the solemn golden retriever, stood by, waiting for his share. Bummer snorted an impatient reply (thus the dog snot). We will write a custom essay sample on A Dirty Job Chapter 6 or any similar topic only for you Order Now He’d worked up a furious appetite because breakfast was running late today. The Emperor had slept on a bench by the Maritime Museum, and during the night his arthritic knee had snaked out of his wool overcoat into the damp cold, making the walk to North Beach and the Italian bakery that gave them free day-old a slow and painful ordeal. The Emperor groaned and sat down on an empty milk crate. He was a great rolling bear of a man, his shoulders broad but a little broken from carrying the weight of the city. A white tangle of hair and beard wreathed his face like a storm cloud. As far as he could remember, he and the troops had patrolled the city streets forever, but upon further consideration, it might have just been since Wednesday. He wasn’t entirely sure. The Emperor decided to make a proclamation to the troops about the importance of compassion in the face of the rising tide of heinous fuckery and political weaselocity in the nearby kingdom of the United States. (He found his audience was most attentive to his proclamations when the meat-laced focaccia were still nuzzled in the larder of his overcoat pockets, and presently a pepperoni and Parmesan reposed fragrant in the woolly depths, so the royal hounds were rapt.) But just as he cleared his throat to begin, a cargo van came screeching around the corner, went up on two wheels as it plowed through a row of garbage cans, and slid to a stop not fifty feet away. The driver’s-side door flew open and a thin man in a suit leapt out, carrying a cane and a woman’s fur coat, and made a beeline for the back door of Asher’s. But before he got two steps the man fell to the concrete as if hit from behind, then rolled on his back and began flailing at the air with the cane an d the coat. The Emperor, who knew most everyone, recognized Charlie Asher. Bummer erupted into a fit of yapping, but the more levelheaded Lazarus growled once and took off toward Charlie. â€Å"Lazarus!† the Emperor shouted, but the retriever charged on, followed now by his bug-eyed brother in arms. Charlie was back on his feet and swinging the cane as if he was fencing with some phantom, using the coat like a shield. Living on the street, the Emperor had seen a lot of people battling with unseen demons, but Charlie Asher was apparently scoring some hits. The cane was making a thwacking noise against what appeared to be thin air – but no, there was something there, a shadow of some sort? The Emperor climbed to his feet and limped into the fray, but before he got two steps Lazarus had leapt and appeared to be attacking Charlie, but he soared over the shopkeeper and snapped at a spot above his head – then hung there, his jaws sunk into the substantial neck of thin air. Charlie took advantage of the distraction, stepped back, and swung the cane above the levitating golden retriever. There was a smack, and Lazarus let go, but now Bummer launched himself at the invisible foe. He missed whatever was there, and ended up performing a doggy swish shot into a garbage can. Charlie made for the steel door of Asher’s again, but found it locked, and as he reached for his keys, something caught him from behind. â€Å"Let go, fuckface,† the shade screeched. The fur coat Charlie was holding appeared to be swept out of his hand and was pulled straight up, over the four-story building and out of sight. Charlie turned and held the cane at ready, but whatever had been there seemed to be gone now. â€Å"Aren’t you just supposed to sit above the door and nevermore and be poetic and stuff?!† he shouted at the sky. Then, for good measure, added, â€Å"You evil fuck!† Lazarus barked, then whined. A sharp and metallic yapping rose from Bummer’s garbage can. â€Å"Well, you don’t see that every day,† said the Emperor as he limped up to Charlie. â€Å"You could see that?† â€Å"Well, no, not really. Merely a shadow, but I could see that something was there. There was something there, wasn’t there, Charlie?† Charlie nodded, trying to catch his breath. â€Å"It will be back. It followed me across the city.† He dug into his pocket for his keys. â€Å"You guys should duck into the store with me, Your Majesty.† Of course Charlie knew the Emperor. Every San Franciscan knew the Emperor. The Emperor smiled. â€Å"That’s very kind of you, but we will be perfectly safe. For now I need to free my charge from his galvanized prison.† The big man tipped the garbage can and Bummer emerged snorting and tossing his head as if ready to tear the ass out of any man or beast foolhardy enough to cross him (and he would have, as long as they were knee-high or shorter). Charlie was still having trouble with the key. He knew he should have had the lock replaced, but it worked, if you finessed it a little, so he’d never made it a priority. Who the hell thought you’d ever have to get in quick to escape a giant bird? Then he heard a screech and turned to see not one, but two huge ravens coming over the roof and diving into the alley. The dogs arfed a frantic barking salvo at the avian intruders and Charlie put so much body English into wiggling the key in the lock that he felt an atrophied dancing muscle tear in his hip. You read "A Dirty Job Chapter 6" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"They’re back. Cover me.† Charlie threw the cane to the Emperor and braced himself for the impact, but as soon as the cane touched the old man’s hand the birds were gone. You could almost hear the pop of the air replacing the space they had taken up. The dogs caught themselves in mid-ruff; Bummer whimpered. â€Å"What?† the Emperor said. â€Å"What?† â€Å"They’re gone.† The Emperor looked at the sky. â€Å"You’re sure?† â€Å"For now.† â€Å"I saw two shadows. Really saw them this time,† the Emperor said. â€Å"Yes, there were two this time.† â€Å"What are they?† â€Å"I have no idea, but when you took the cane they – well, they disappeared. You really saw them?† â€Å"I’m sure of it. Like smoke with a purpose.† Finally the key turned in the lock and the door to Asher’s back room swung open. â€Å"You should come in. Rest. I’ll order something to eat.† â€Å"No, no, the men and I must be on our rounds. I’ve decided to make a proclamation this morning and we need to see the printer. You’ll be needing this.† The Emperor presented the cane to Charlie like he was turning over a sword of the realm. Charlie started to take it, then thought better of it. â€Å"Your Majesty, I think you’d better keep that. It looks as if you might be able to use it.† Charlie nodded toward the Emperor’s creaky knee. The Emperor held the cane steady. â€Å"I am not a worshiper of the material, you know?† â€Å"I understand that.† â€Å"I am a firm believer that desire is the source of most of human suffering, you’re aware, and no culprit is more heinous than desire for material gain.† â€Å"I run my business based on those very principles. Still, I insist you keep the cane – as a favor to me, if you would?† Charlie found himself affecting the Emperor’s formal speech patterns, as if somehow he had been transported to a royal court where a nobleman was distinguished by bread crumbs in his beard and the royal guard were not above licking their balls. â€Å"Well, as a favor, I will accept. It is a fine piece of craftsmanship.† â€Å"But more importantly, it will permit you to make your rounds in good time.† The Emperor now betrayed the desire in his heart as he let fly a wide grin and hugged the cane to his chest. â€Å"It is fine, indeed. Charlie, I must confess something to you, but I ask you to grant me the credulity due a man who has just shared witness, with a friend, of two giant, raven-shaped shades.† â€Å"Of course.† Charlie smiled, when even a moment before he would have thought his smile lost somewhere in the months past. â€Å"I hope you won’t think me base, but the second I touched this, I felt as if I had been waiting for it my whole life.† Then, for no reason that he could think of, Charlie said, â€Å"I know.† A few minutes before, inside the store, Lily had been brooding. It wasn’t her general brood, the reaction to a world where everyone was stupid and life was meaningless and the mere act of living was futile, especially if your mother forgot to get coffee at the store. This one was a more specific brood, that had started out when she arrived at work and Ray had pointed out that it was her turn to wear the vacuuming tiara, and insisted that if she wore the tiara, she actually vacuum the store. (In fact, she liked wearing the rhinestone tiara that Charlie, in a move of blatant bourgeois sneakiness, had designated be worn by whoever did the vacuuming and sweeping each day, and no other time. It was the vacuuming and sweeping she objected to. She felt manipulated, used, and generally taken advantage of, and not in the fun way.) But today, after she’d put the tiara and the vacuum away and had finally gotten a couple of cups of coffee in her system, the brooding had gone on, bu ilding to full-scale angst, when it began to dawn on her that she was going to have to figure out this college-career thing, because despite what The Great Big Book of Death said, she had not been chosen as a dark minion of destruction. Fuck! She stood in the back room looking at all the items that Charlie had piled there the day before: shoes, lamps, umbrellas, porcelain figures, toys, a couple of books, and an old black-and-white television and a painting of a clown on black velvet. â€Å"He said this stuff was glowing?† she asked Ray, who stood in the doorway to the store. â€Å"Yes. He made me check it all with my Geiger counter.† â€Å"Ray, why the fuck do you have a Geiger counter?† â€Å"Lily, why do you have a nose stud shaped like a bat?† Lily ignored the question and picked up the ceramic frog from the night before, which now had a note taped to it that read DO NOT SELL OR DISPLAY in Charlie’s meticulous block-letter printing. â€Å"This was one of the things? This?† â€Å"That was the first one he freaked out about,† said Ray matter-of-factly. â€Å"The truant officer tried to buy it. That started it all.† Lily was shaken. She backed over to Charlie’s desk and sat in the squeaky oak swivel chair. â€Å"Do you see anything glowing or pulsating, Ray? Have you ever?† Ray shook his head. â€Å"He’s under a lot of stress, losing Rachel and taking care of the baby. I think maybe he needs to get some help. I know after I had to leave the force – † Ray paused. There was a commotion going on out in the alley, dogs barking and people shouting, then someone was working a key in the lock of the back door. A second later, Charlie came in, a little breathless, his clothes smudged here and there with grime, one sleeve of his jacket torn and bloodstained. â€Å"Asher,† Lily said. â€Å"You’re hurt.† She quickly vacated his chair while Ray took Charlie by the shoulders and sat him down. â€Å"I’m fine,† Charlie said. â€Å"No big deal.† â€Å"I’ll get the first-aid kit,† Ray said. â€Å"Get that jacket off of him, Lily.† â€Å"I’m fine,† Charlie said. â€Å"Quit talking about me like I’m not here.† â€Å"He’s delirious,† Lily said, trying to pry Charlie out of his jacket. â€Å"Do you have any painkillers, Ray?† â€Å"I don’t need painkillers,† Charlie said. â€Å"Shut up, Asher, they’re not for you,† Lily said, automatically, then she considered the book, Ray’s story, the notes on all the items in the back room, and she shuddered. It appeared that Charlie Asher might not be the hapless geek she always thought him to be. â€Å"Sorry, boss. Let us help you.† Ray came back from the front with a small plastic first-aid kit. He peeled back Charlie’s sleeve and began to clean the wounds with gauze and peroxide. â€Å"What happened?† â€Å"Nothing,† Charlie said. â€Å"I slipped and fell in some gravel.† â€Å"The wound’s pretty clean – no gravel in it. That must have been some fall.† â€Å"Long story.† Charlie sighed. â€Å"Ouch!† â€Å"What was all the noise in the alley?† Lily asked, needing badly to go smoke, but unable to pull herself away. She just couldn’t imagine that Charlie Asher was the one. How could it be him? He was so, so, unworthy. He didn’t understand the dark underbelly of life the way she did. Yet he was the one seeing the glowing objects. He was it. She was crestfallen. â€Å"Just the Emperor’s dogs after a seagull in the Dumpster. No big deal. I fell off a porch in Pacific Heights.† â€Å"The estate,† Ray said. â€Å"How’d that go?† â€Å"Not well. The husband was grief-stricken and had a heart attack while I was there.† â€Å"You’re kidding.† â€Å"No, he just sort of became overwhelmed thinking about his wife and collapsed. I gave him CPR until the EMTs came and took him off to the hospital.† â€Å"So,† Lily said, â€Å"did you get the – uh – did you get anything special?† â€Å"What?† Charlie’s eyes went wide. â€Å"What do you mean, special? There was nothing special.† â€Å"Chill, boss, I just meant will we get the grandma’s clothes?† He’s it, Lily thought. The fucker. Charlie shook his head. â€Å"I don’t know, it’s so strange. The whole thing is so strange.† He shuddered when he said it. â€Å"Strange how?† Lily said. â€Å"Strange in a cool and dark way, or strange because you’re Asher and you’re out of it most of the time?† â€Å"Lily!† Ray snapped. â€Å"Go out front. Dust something.† â€Å"You’re not the boss of me, Ray. I’m just showing my concern.† â€Å"It’s okay, Ray.† Charlie looked like he was considering how, exactly, to define strange, and not coming up with anything that was working. Finally he said, â€Å"Well, for one thing, this woman’s estate is way out of our league. The husband said he called me because we were the first secondhand store in the phone book, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of man to do something like that.† â€Å"That’s not that strange,† Lily said. Just confess, she thought. â€Å"You said that he was grief-stricken,† Ray said, dabbing antibiotic ointment on Charlie’s cuts. â€Å"Maybe he’s doing things differently.† â€Å"Yes, and he was angry at his wife, too, for the way she died.† â€Å"How?† Lily asked. â€Å"She ate silica gel,† Charlie said. Lily looked at Ray for an explanation, because silica gel sounded techno-geeky, which was Ray’s particular field of geekdom. Ray said, â€Å"It’s the antidesiccant that they pack with electronics and other things that are sensitive to humidity.† â€Å"The ‘Do Not Eat’ stuff?!† Lily said. â€Å"Oh my God, that’s so stupid. Everyone knows you don’t eat the ‘Do Not Eat’ stuff.† Charlie said, â€Å"Mr. Mainheart was pretty broken up.† â€Å"Well, I guess so,† Lily said. â€Å"He married a complete fucktard.† Charlie cringed. â€Å"Lily, that’s not appropriate.† Lily shrugged and rolled her eyes. She hated it when Charlie dropped into Dad mode. â€Å"Okay, okay. I’m going outside to smoke.† â€Å"No!† Charlie jumped out of the chair and put himself between Lily and the back door. â€Å"Out front. From now on if you have to smoke you go out front.† â€Å"But you said that I look like a child hooker when I smoke out front.† â€Å"I’ve reassessed. You’ve matured.† Lily closed one eye to see if she could better glimpse into his soul and thus figure out his true agenda. She smoothed over her black vinyl skirt, which made a tortured, squeaking noise at the touch. â€Å"You’re trying to say I have a big butt, aren’t you?† â€Å"I absolutely am saying no such thing,† Charlie insisted. â€Å"I am simply saying that your presence in front of the store is an asset and will probably attract business from the tourists on the cable car.† â€Å"Oh. Okay.† Lily snatched her box of cloves off the desk and headed out past the counter and outside to brood, grieve really, because as much as she had hoped, she was not Death. The book was Charlie’s. That evening Charlie was watching the store, wondering why he had lied to his employees, when he saw a flash of red passing by the front window. A second later, a strikingly pale redhead came through the door. She was wearing a short, black cocktail dress and black fuck-me pumps. She strode up the aisle like she was auditioning for a music video. Her hair cascaded in long curls around her shoulders and down her back like a great auburn veil. Her eyes were emerald green, and when she saw him looking, she smiled, and stopped, some ten feet away. Charlie felt an almost painful jolt that seemed to emanate from somewhere in the area of his groin, and after a second he recognized it as an autonomic lust response. He hadn’t felt anything like that since Rachel had passed, and he felt vaguely ashamed. She was examining him, looking him over like you would examine a used car. He was sure he must be blushing. â€Å"Hi,† Charlie said. â€Å"Can I help you?† The redhead smiled again, just a little, and reached into a small black bag that he hadn’t noticed she’d been carrying. â€Å"I found this,† she said, holding up a silver cigarette case. Something Charlie didn’t see very often anymore, even in the secondhand business. It was glowing, pulsating like the objects in the back room. â€Å"I was in the neighborhood and something made me think that this belonged here.† She moved to the counter opposite Charlie and set the cigarette case down in front of him. Charlie could barely move. He stared at her, not even conscious that to avoid her eyes he was staring at her cleavage, and she appeared to be looking around his head and shoulders as if following the path of insects that were buzzing around him. â€Å"Touch me,† she said. â€Å"Huh?† He looked up, saw she was serious. She held out her hand; her nails were manicured and painted the same deep red as her lipstick. He took her hand. As soon as she touched him she pulled away. â€Å"You’re warm.† â€Å"Thanks.† In that moment he realized that she wasn’t. Her fingers had been ice-cold. â€Å"Then you’re not one of us?† He tried to think of what â€Å"us† might be? Irish? Low blood pressure? Nymphomaniac? Why did he even think that? â€Å"Us? What do you mean, ‘us’?† She backed away a step. â€Å"No. You don’t just take the weak and the sick, do you? You take anyone.† â€Å"Take? What do you mean, ‘take’?† â€Å"You don’t even know, do you?† â€Å"Know what?† Charlie was getting very nervous. As a Beta Male, he found it difficult enough to function under the attention of a beautiful woman, but she was just plain spooky. â€Å"Wait. Can you see this thing glowing?† He held out the cigarette case. â€Å"No glow. It just felt like it belonged here,† she said. â€Å"What’s your name?† â€Å"Charlie Asher. This is Asher’s.† â€Å"Well, Charlie, you seem like a nice guy, and I don’t know exactly what you are, and it doesn’t seem like you know. You don’t, do you?† â€Å"I’ve been going through some changes,† Charlie said, wondering why he felt compelled to share this at all. The redhead nodded, as if confirming something to herself. â€Å"Okay. I know what it’s like to, uh, to find yourself thrown into a situation where forces beyond your control are changing you into someone, something you don’t have an owner’s manual for. I understand what it is to not know. But someone, somewhere, does know. Someone can tell you what’s going on.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† But he knew what she was talking about. What he didn’t know was how she could possibly know. â€Å"You make people die, don’t you, Charlie?† She said it like she had worked up the courage to tell him that he had some spinach in his teeth. More of a service to him than an accusation. â€Å"How do you – ?† How did she – â€Å"Because it’s what I do. Not like you, but it’s what I do. Find them, Charlie. Backtrack and find whoever was there when your world changed.† Charlie looked at her, then at the cigarette case, then at the redhead again, who was no longer smiling, but was stepping backward toward the door. Trying to stay in touch with normal, he focused on the cigarette case and said, â€Å"I suppose I can do an appraisal – â€Å" He heard the bell over the door jingle, and when he looked up she was gone. He didn’t see her moving by the windows on either side of the door; she was just gone. He ran to the front of the store and out the door onto the sidewalk. The Mason Street cable car was just topping the hill up by California Street and he could hear the bell, there was a thin fog coming up from the Bay that threw colorful halos around the neon signs of the other businesses, but there was no striking redhead on the street. He went to the corner and looked down Vallejo, but again no redhead, just the Emperor, sitting against the building with his dogs. â€Å"Good evening, Charlie.† â€Å"Your Majesty, did you see a redhead go by here just now?† â€Å"Oh yes. Spoke to her. I’m not sure you have a chance there, Charlie, I believe she’s spoken for. And she did warn me to stay away from you.† â€Å"Why? Did she say why?† â€Å"She said that you were Death.† â€Å"I am?† Charlie said. â€Å"Am I?† His breath caught in his throat as the day played back in his head. â€Å"What if I am?† â€Å"You know, son,† the Emperor said, â€Å"I am not an expert in dealing with the fairer sex, but you might want to save that bit of information until the third date or so, after they’ve gotten to know you a little.† How to cite A Dirty Job Chapter 6, Essay examples

Financial Analysis AGLs Performance

Question: Describe about the Financial Analysis for AGLs Performance. Answer: Executive Summary The report given aims to highlight AGLs performance in FY2015 and compare the same with the previous year i.e. FY2014. Besides, a competitor has also been chosen in the form of Genesis Energy and performance is compared for the corresponding time period. The differences in the ratios of the two companies have been explored and based on this analysis investment advice has been given to the reader. Introduction AGL Energy is an Australia based integrated energy company which is involved in the complete energy value chain right from generation to marketing and distribution, The retailing of electricity is extended not only to residential customers but also commercial customers. The company even though was founded in 1837 but has assumed the current name only in 2006. The company has a host of coal based and gas based power plants and also focuses on the renewable segment namely wind, hydro and solar. The company boasts of having the largest portfolio of renewable energy plants in the Australian private sector (AGL Energy, 2015) Genesis energy is a Auckland based company which was formed on the back of energy reform way back at the turn of the millennium. Besides, electricity generation, the company also deals with LPG and natural gas retailing. The company has dual listing on both ASX and New Zealand Stock Exchange. It is a dominant player in the NZ market accounting for 42% and 26% market share with regards to retailing of natural gas and electricity respectively. With regards to electricity generation capacity, also, the company is the third largest private sector company in NZ (Genesis Energy, 2015). Income Statement AGL Energy The revenue growth is lacklustre for the year FY2015 and has come primarily on account of the acquisition of the New Energy Ltd. However, the concerning aspect for the company should be the muted growth in profits as on one hand the energy markets division continues to deliver stellar performance but the other operations has posted a significant loss which have tapered the gains made by the energy markets business. The requisite profitability ratios for AGL Energy over the period 2014-2015 are summarised below (AGL Energy, 2015) The above ratios indicate the lacklustre performance of the company in the year FY2015 when both ROA and net profit margin have witnessed a drop. One of the contributory reasons is the lack of growth in the revenue in certain segments of the energy markets particularly in the renewable energy segment. Further, with regards to profitability margins, the renewable energy segment has been a drag on the energy markets segment which otherwise would have posted even stellar results on the back of growth in the wholesale markets. Additionally, integration costs totalling to $15 million have been incurred for integration of New Energy Ltd in FY2015. However, the single largest factor that has contributed to reduced profitability is the other operations business segment which has operating losses. With regards to ROA, besides decreasing profit, the rising total assets also have made a contribution (AGL Energy, 2015) Balance Sheet AGL Energy With regards to the FY2015 balance sheet, only fixed assets and current liabilities have experienced significant change, however, the current assets have continued to retain their level. The increase in fixed assets in FY2015 has been to the extent of $ 1.6 billion primarily due to investment by the company in PPE. Also, the short term borrowings have surged by $ 398 million in FY2015, thus leading to the higher current liabilities at the end of FY2015. The relevant liquidity and capital structure ratios for the company are given below (AGL Energy, 2015) The above values suggest that short term liquidity ratios have shown a declining trend in FY2015. However, this is due to the constant level of current asset but an increase in the current liabilities level due to higher short term borrowings as explained above. Further, since the company is into energy retailing, hence inventories are typically lower sue to which quick ratio and current ratio both are above one. With regards to the long term liquidity, a critical parameter is debt to equity ratio which has decrease in FY2015. This is despite the fact that there has been an increase in the total liabilities. However, the increase in equity has been substantial primarily because of two reasons. One, the company has issued new shares to the tune of $ 1.2 billion in FY2015. Also, there has been contribution of the retained earnings from the income statement. This surge in equity is also responsible for increasing equity ratio despite the increase in total assets (AGL Energy, 2015). Cash Flow - AGL Energy The cash flow statement primarily consists of three major elements i.e. cash from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. In the year FY2015, cash flow from operating activities increased by $ 443 million because the suppliers and employers were given lower payments in cash. The investing cashflow saw a huge jump in the cash outflow due to the company acquiring New Energy for $ 1.4 billion approximately. There was a net outflow in cash flow due to financing due to increase in repayment of loans in FY2015 as compared to the previous year (AGL Energy, 2015) Market Performance AGL Energy The market performance parameters for AGL Energy are summarised below. (AGL Energy, 2015) It is evident from the ratios above that there has been a decline in the EPS of the company which has been contributed to by both the declining profitability of the company along with rise in the total outstanding shares of the company as the share capital saw a significant in the year Fy2015. The company has significantly increased the dividends paid to the increased shareholders which caused a rise in the per share dividend and is incremental for shareholders (AGL Energy, 2015) Performance Comparison AGL Energy and Genesis Energy The comparison in the performance of the two companies is captured in the table outlined below ((AGL Energy, 2015;Genesis Energy, 2014). Profitability In FY2014, while AGL Energy leads in terms of profitability, the picture has turned upside down in FY2015 when Genesis Energy has the edge. Further, considering the lacklustre performance of the renewable segment in the absence of a stable climate policy in Australia, it is expected that underperformance would continue unless definite policy stance emerges and also the prices of CER recover globally (AGL, 2015) Liquidity- Both the companies do not face any short term liquidity crisis since the current ratio and acid ratio are maintained at level above one. The corresponding ratios for AGL is higher than Genesis primarily because of higher account receivables for the former owing to wholesale consumer portfolio. Gearing The gearing ratios for the companies seems similar and simultaneously hint that no liquidity issues are expected in the near future foe any company. Also, the operating profits generated by both company is healthy enough so as to meet the interest obligation (Petty et. al, 2015). Market performance While in absolute terms the EPS of AGL Energy may be higher but the growth potential seems to be higher for Genesis Energy which has registered a growth of 100% in the EPS in FY2015. This is also confirmed from the high P/E ratio in excess of 20 for Genesis as compared to P/E of 6-7 for AGL Energy. Similar case is witnessed in case of dividends where in absolute terms, AGL has the edge but in terms of dividend yield, Genesis is better off. Efficiency Ratios- The higher debtor turnover observed in case of Genesis may be explained on the basis of difference in revenue contribution of wholesale segments for the two companies. Conclusion The above trend analysis coupled with ratio analysis, hints to the fact that the performance of AGL Energy has diminished in the year FY2015 as compared to the previous year. This trend is also observed in the companys stock price which has been range bound. However, the Genesis company has showed a stellar performance with both topline and bottomline growth. However, it is imperative that these historical trends should be viewed cautiously as future trends may be significantly different (Damodaran, 2008). Also, it is possible that the accounting policies of the companies may not be same due to which the ratios may not be comparable. Further, the two players operate in two different markets and hence the woes of AGL may be attributed to uncertain policy regime in Australia (Parrino Kidwell, 2011). Recommendations Based on the limited analysis that has been conducted above, it is recommended that investment should be made in the competitor i.e. Genesis energy. The factors favouring this decision are highlighted below (Brealey, Myers Allen, 2008). High dividend yield of 5-7% on the stock. High growth potential offered by the company in the NZ market which is also captured by the high P/E ratio. Low leverage and dominant position which can be further leveraged to enhance coverage and thereby drive greater growth. References AGL Energy 2015, Annual Report 2015, Available online from https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/media-centre/article-list/2015/august/agl-annual-report-2015 (Accessed on August 31, 2015) Brealey, R, Myers, S Allen, F 2008, Principles of Corporate Finance (Global edition), 10th edn, McGraw Hill Publications, New York Damodaran, A 2008, Corporate Finance, 2nd edn, Wiley Publications, London Genesis Energy 2015, Annual Report 2015, Available online from https://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/documents/10180/2699552/Genesis+Energy+Annual+Report+FY2015.pdf/fa13f57b-fd37-4262-9bb2-5c591a55aab3 (Accessed on August 31, 2016) Parrino, R Kidwell, D 2011, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 3rd edn, Wiley Publications, London Petty, JW, Titman, S, Keown, AJ, Martin, P, Martin JD Burrow, M 2015, Financial Management: Principles and Applications,6th edn, Pearson Australia, Sydney

Bignay cure for UTI Essays

Bignay cure for UTI Essays Bignay cure for UTI Essay Bignay cure for UTI Essay Chapter 1 Problem and Its Background Introduction Among household pests, cockroaches are the most numerous and harmful. No household, whether in a city or in the farthest barrio, Is spared the creeping presence of these germ-ridden and foul-smelling brown monsters. Cockroaches carry on their slimy bodies bagful of germs and bacteria that could make any member of the family suffer various diseases. Ridding itself of cockroaches or at least reducing them to a minimum should be the goal of every household if it wants to spare itself from the high cost of medical care. At present, commercial insecticides used to kill cockroaches are very costly which households can hardly afford. Finding a less costly way of eliminating cockroaches would go a long way in helping households financially. If malunggay leaves which are abundant in most places in the Philippines could be developed into an effective insecticide against cockroaches, Filipino households would benefit a great deal both in terms of better health for its family members and more savings. Background of the Study In our communities today, many people are trying very hard finding different ways f killing disease-bearing insects such as cockroaches in their houses. In our neighborhood, there are lots of cockroaches, some creeping on the ground and others flying over peoples heads. To help our neighborhood solve this problem, this project intends to find out if malunggay leaves could be used as insecticide to kill cockroaches. Statement of the Problem/ObJectives This study aims at making malunggay leaves extract a cockroach killer. It has specific questions to be answered: a) Can malunggay leaves extract be used as a cockroach killer? ) Can people use malunggay leaves extract as a cockroach killer as effectively as commercial insecticides? General Objective: 1 . To investigate whether malunggay leaves extract can be used as a cockroach killer. Specific Objectives: 1. To be able to use malunggay as cockroach killer. 2. To be able to know how malunggay can be use as a cockroach killer. Significance of the study At present people find it hard earning money. People are also greatly frustrated of disease-bearing cockroaches infesting their homes. This project is therefore significant because it may spare people from the need to buy highly expensive ommercial cockroach killer. All they need to do to rid themselves of cockroaches is gather malunggay leaves and use their extract to spray them. Scope and Limitation This project limits itself to determining whether malunggay leaves extract maybe developed as an insecticide against cockroaches. It does not intend to investigate whether malunggay leaves extract maybe used against other insects or pests. Malunggay- Moringa is the English name. It is called Malunggay in the Philippines and Salina in Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia. It grows very wildly in hot tropical climate. Moringa is a wonderful herb known all over the world but only recently in the U. S. It may provide the boost in energy, nutrition and health youive been seeking. This book reveals Moringa is nutritional content, medicinal properties, where to get it, the best results. Moringa is a remarkable discovery, which can make a tremendous difference in your health and quality of life. Mounting scientific evidence shows what has been known for thousands of years by people in the tropical parts of the world: Moringa is natures medicine cabinet. It is also known as an excellent source of nutrition and a natural energy booster. Loaded with nutrients, vitamins and amino acids, it replenishes your body and provides what you need to get through a hectic weekday or active weekend. Moringa has a well-documented detoxifying effect. Laboratories around the world have studied Moringas ability to purify water, attaching itself to harmful material and bacteria, and allowing them to be expelled as waste. Cockroach- (or simply roaches) are insects of the order Blattodea. This name derives from the Latin word for cockroach, blatta. Among the most well-known species are the American cockroach, Periplaneta mericana, which is about 30 mm (1 inch) long, the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, about 15 mm (1/2 inch) long, the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai, also about 15 mm (1/2 inch) in length, and the Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientals, about 25 mm (3/4 inch). Tropical cockroaches are often much bigger, and extinct cockroach relatives such as the Carboniferous Archimylacris and the Permian Apthoroblattina were several times as large as these. Cockroaches are generally considered pests; however, only about 30 species (less than 1%) infest urban habitats.

School Ties - The Code Of Honor Essays - Codes Of Conduct

School Ties - The Code Of Honor Essays - Codes Of Conduct School Ties - The Code Of Honor The Code of Honor Honesty, respect, accountability, these are all words the honor code stands by, its a foundation on which academic integrity abides, and a line drawn between whats right and wrong. The honor code in the movie School Ties meant more than just a signature one signed, it was a living entity, a guideline the school swore by, and those that broke the code met with the consequences. It is the students responsibility, not the teachers, to uphold St. Matthews honor code, said the headmaster as he addressed the students gathered in the chapel for mass at St. Matthews. The headmaster understood the relevance of the code, and that the power was vested in the students to make it work for the entire student body. Another example of the honor code was when the history teacher addressed the class by asking the students to discuss among themselves who cheated on the recent test. He went on to strongly urged the class that overlooking the incident would be robbing them of the honor code. At the end of the movie the main character, David Green, takes the fall for Charles Dillon, the student who cheated. However, the headmaster finds out the truth from the prefect, Rip, and Dillon is expelled from school. As David leaves the headmasters office, the teacher reminds him, The honor code is a living thing, it cant live in a vacuum. St. Matthews knew how to fill the vacuum, but i t was the students that lived it. A life not set by rules or regulations, but an internal drumbeat, marching to the beat of its own, honesty. I have sincere doubts about the usefulness and the meaningfulness of the honor code, because addressing cheating requires more than just the honor code alone. Cheating is a problem in part because of the enormous pressure put on students by a schools high-strung atmosphere to achieve. I think students feel that in order to survive, they must take advantage of the gray areas of being honest, often stretching the limits as to cheating and using someone elses work. Therefore, any honor code implemented in such an environment will result in students changing cheating techniques to work around the code. I feel the best way to deal with this problem is to make students fully aware that cheating is unprofitable and nothing good come of it. Ultimately, the honor code works because it is fully enforced by the students themselves. As Mencken once said, For every complex problem there is a simple solution and it is wrong. Solving the issue of dishonesty requires far more than just an honor cod e alone.

Rise of Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rise of Asia - Essay Example Unlike his neighbors, Japan opened its doors fully to mercantilism to all western countries. Countries such as China limited their trade with the western world which would cost them in the future. The Boxer Rebellion in 1899 (small planets communications) and the Opium War in 1840 (Chesneaus) resulted from China's resistance to foreign trade. Frank B. Tipton, author of "The Rise of Asia," mentioned that Japan and China shared the same social constructs and tradition that placed them in cultural crosswords in which they must decide which route the must take. Apparently, they both chose two different routes. (Tipton, pg. 92) Japanese embraced their culture industrial culture with open arms. The industrial movement posed new challenges for the government. These challenges insinuated that the government needed redesign their former policies and cultural traditions. For example, women before were viewed as peasants, artisans, samurais, and merchant women. But for the philosophical needs and recognition, the Japanese females undertook the sociological model of the "Japanese women." (Tipton, pg.130) They worked silk factories and cotton mills.

Exam 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Exam 2 - Essay Example This particular approach is useful to understand due to fact that it has often been referred to as the primal case of the ends justifying the means. This is of course due to the fact that happiness or utility cannot be determined until the action or actions that are intended to evoke such a utility had been performed and can be measured. Many within the field of philosophy have noted that utilitarianism, perhaps more than any other approach, is quantitative and can oftentimes be referred to as reductionist with regards to its approach. This is due to the fact that the ends – means approach requires the individual to be completely and entirely cognizant of the fact that utilitarianism, if used as an overarching theory, must necessarily factor in all of the preceding actions and determinants that lead to whatever utilitarianism does in question. The ongoing debate then necessarily hinges upon the degree of inference and emphasis which should be placed upon the consequences of th e determinant actions that yield the end result. Similarly, with regards to John Stuart Mill’s quote, â€Å"It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a full satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, is of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the questions. The other party to the comparison knows both sides†, the reader can note the utilitarian concept being utilized with respect to the way in which Mill views the ultimate end. Whereas it is previously been discussed that happiness fulfills the ultimate end of utilitarianism, according to mills quote, the reader can understand that the true end that she seeks to remote is awareness and intellect. Accordingly, he compares and contrasts the utility of being satisfied versus unsatisfied, the utility of being a man or a pig, and lastly the utility and overall importance of opinion. 2 According to Kant’s theory of retributiv ism, this is an approach that society should take with regards to its response to crime. According to Kant, the theory places punishment proportionate to the crime. Although this may not seem as an earth shattering theory, this is only due to the fact that the current criminal justice system seeks to integrate a very large degree of Kant’s theory of retributivism into the way in which crime is currently punished. Ultimately, the theory is predicated upon the understanding of forfeiture. Accordingly, this forfeiture is most commonly understood with regards to the freedom of mobility for life that is sometimes required of the convicted. Furthermore, the reader can and should understand that Kant’s understanding of retributivism bears a direct correlation to the common expression †let the punishment that the crime†. In such a way, Kant sought to remove the level of emotional response/knee jerk reaction that is so oftentimes the response to crime and punishment within society. Although it may be tempting to assume that Kant was the first to put forward such a theory, the fact of the matter is is that he was merely the first to define it with an identifiable term. Ultimately, this fear he can be traced all the way back to the biblical interpretation of â€Å"life for life, eye for eye† etc. at its very core, this theory of retributivism engenders a degree of proportionality. As such, it is the responsibility of the punishing entity to ensure that the punishment for the crime is proportionate to the offending behavior that precipitated it. Naturally, such

Describe somene who taught you to read or write and explain this Essay

Describe somene who taught you to read or write and explain this person's significance in your life - Essay Example He exposed me to many narratives, which he liked, and often tasked me to compose narratives and recite to him. My narratives were brief and incoherent but he appreciated them, may be because of his professional background, and motivated me to compose a narrative each time he recited one to me. This became the basis of my writing class as he then tasked me to start writing my compositions and guided me through my mistakes in spelling and word structure. The literature routine perfected my writing potential at the early stage. The approach that my uncle used in teaching me to write identifies his significance in my life. He instilled a culture of creativity in me and demonstrated to me that I can utilize my environment for creativity. While this potential was earlier restricted to narrative composition, I have learnt of its application in real life and utilize it in creativity and innovation for solution of real life problems besides development of artistic work. My uncle therefore empowered me into a social and economic resource in the

Tourism in Italy History

Tourism in Italy History Tourism is one of the most important and vital sectors in Italy. Italy is probably one of the first countries that made tourism what it is today. International travel first became important under the Roman Empire. Latin was the common language day. The word feria first appeared in the ancient Rome, which means festival and it took the meaning of vacation. The Latin festival was the first mobile holiday, far from ones residence. Domestic tourism flourished within the Roman Empires heartland, it attracted thousands to the city and country all over the empire which included most if the Mediterranean, North Africa, mainland Great Britain and the parts of the Middle East. Traders and merchants came to Italy from several parts of the world. However tourism in Italy could have started from as way back as the gladiator fights in ancient Rome. As years passed the ceremonies were promoted and thousands of people flocked to Italy to see these bloody warfares. These events were always held in the Colosseum, which was also a major attraction. The people came from all over the Roman Empire and regions of Africa, Italy, and Rome. The games were a way of entertaining the wealthy as well as the common people. When the Empire fell, Rome governed the governed the growing Christianity and it remained one of European greatest religious centers and places of pilgrimage. These pilgrimages started the early forms of religious tourism. Renaissance became very popular in the 16th and early 17th century and many students came to Italy to study Italian architecture. The beginning of the Grant Tour was the peak of real tourism in Italy in the second half of the 17th century. Italy was considered the most popular destination. British travelled most parts of Europe, most famously, Italy to study architecture and culture of those places. These students were accompanied by a tutor and this trip often lasted 3 years or more. Travel for the reasons of education was encouraged but the fact that under Elizabeth I a special license had to be obtained in order to travel abroad. While the Grand tour was educational, as with the spas, the appeal soon became social, and pleasure-seeking young men of leisure travelled, to enjoy the rival cultures and social life of Europe. Every city in Italy was a sight to see and was the major attraction in the 17th century. However, by 1840, when rail transport was introduced and visiting Italy was no longer considered something for the elite, the first form of mass-tourism was introduced. Places such as Venice and Sicily still remained the top attraction. The first sea side resorts, such as those in the Ligurian coast. Those around Venice, coastal Tuscany and the Amalfi coast became popular. Grand Hotels and holiday resorts began to be built and islands such as Capri, Ischia, Procida and Elba became more popular and were mostly visited by wealthy foreigners and academics. By 1913, tourism had become an opportunity, and there was about 90,000 British visitors, this is because of natural and historical characteristics of the country. The Italian State Tourist Office was created in 1919, and was given a mandate to gather different data and information in order to make a legislative proposal that will help to promote the countrys domestic tourism, thus focusing on the international tourism, as well as to f acilitate different bank credit for the hotels. Tourism in Italy remained very popular until the late 1920- early 1930s, when, with the Great Depression and the economic crisis, several could no longer visit the country and the increasing political instability in the country meant that less and less tourist came. With the impact of the Great Depression during 1929, the economic and political uncertainty between the two worlds was the primary reason of the first intervention of the national government of Italy to get involved in the tourism industry. After a big slump in the number of tourist, tourism became popular again in Italy with the Italian economic miracle raised living standards and also the popularity of the Italian films brought back tourism to the country. The country had completed its postwar economic reconstruction during 1958 that helps to restructure the country from an agriculture-based to an industry-centered economy. It had helped to maintain the stability of the t ourism industry. During the said year, the international tourism industry of the country increased to $8.7 billion. Cheap Hotels were built in 1960s, and anyone could afford a holiday somewhere along the Italian coast. Mountain Holidays and skiing had a mass-popularity in the late 1960s. Despite the significant slump of tourist in the late 1970s and early 1980s because of the economic crises and political instability, by the late 1980 and early 1990s, the tourism regained in popularity. Now at the beginning of the 21st century tourism in Italy faced a number of challenges, the September 11 attacks in the US, made many tourists scared to travel and the economic meltdown in 2008 caused a significant drop in Tourism worldwide and Italy is now in state of recovery. Life Cycle Analysis Launch/Discovery Many tourist visited Italy for centuries, but the first actual tourist was said to have visited during the Grand Tour in the 17th and 18th century. Roman Empire was also a major pull factor that attracted thousands of people from around the world. People also came to Italy to witness the bloody warfare which was held in the Colosseum and this attracted many people also. When the Empire fell, many pilgrims would come to Italy and this could have been the early form of religious tourism. Italy, at this time was said to be a favorite destination by many. However, about 90,000 visited the country because of its natural and historical characteristics. In 1919, tourism had become an opportunity and the Italian State Office was created to promote international tourism and assist with different bank credits. Growth During 1958, Italy had finished its postwar economic reconstruction and the country moved from agriculture based to an industry- centered economy. Tourism became popular again, with the Italian economic miracle and raised living standard, and the popularity of Italian Films such as La Dolce Vita abroad and this brought back tourism in the country tremendously. In the late 1960s there was a mass influx of tourist, who came to the island because of the popularity of mountain holidays and skiing, which was offered for the elite in the 1930s. Many hotel chains became interested in the economy as a result of the management of government regarding the tourism industry. During the years of 1985 until 1995 the revenue for the industry increased extensively from 8.7 billion to 27.4billion. Moreover the country was ranked as top 4 country destinations from 1980 to 1996. By this time the annual growth rate for each year was 2.5% and the country enjoyed a considerable market share at this time. The development helped Italy to move from third to second rank for tourism receipts among the global top tourism earners, having an outstanding growth rate of 8.4%. Maturity From the period of 1996 2006 Italy saw a 10 year maturity growth rate in the tourism sector. Slight Progress has been made in 2006 and 2007 and there was a 3% increase in visitors after several years of maturity. Saturation In the years of 2007- 2008 was a steady rate of tourist coming to the country. Year Arrivals of tourist 2007 43.7 million 2008 42.7 million 2009 43.2 million Although the figure shows a fluctuation of the arrivals of tourists, on average it is a steady flow of tourist arriving in Italy at that time period, therefore showing the relative stagnation of the destination. Decline/Rejuvenation Decline Due to the economic global crisis, different visitors and foreigners are looking for countries to visit that are reasonable in cheap prices, However Italy is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe which have resulted in a 25% decline in British visitors coming to the country during 2008. The fall has been worst for local business owners in the tourism industry, who watched business falter by 50% over the past year. Also hotel owners said that visitors are now shortening their stays which would result in a decline in revenue. Venice was a major attraction, but due to the sinking ground level, rising sea level, pollution in the lagoon in which it is located, atmospheric pollution, congestion on the main canals from motorized traffic and increase flooding, there was a huge decline in tourist arrivals presently. Rejuvenation Italy has made a number of efforts to rejuvenate its tourism industry. Earlier this year Italy created a new marketing brand with a new logo and slogan. http://www.italymag.co.uk/images/italy-logo.jpg .Italy leaves its mark Italys local economy is now trying keeping their prices competitive for many and they hope that the bargains would attract more tourists to the country. Also since Italy won the 2006 FIFA world cup tourist regained a new interest in coming to the country once gain. Italy also brought back a reintroduction of films in the year 2008 to regain popularity. Present Situation Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world and the country receives approximately 43.7 million tourists a year. These tourists visit mainly for Italys prosperous culture, history, art, cuisine and fashion. After the recession affected tourism and Italys economy greatly in 2008, the tourism industry in Italy today is beginning to flourish again. Cities like Milan which have become popular tourist destinations saw a rise in tourists since it became known as the business and fashion capital of Italy. Rome which is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world and is third most visited city in the European Union also saw a rise. While the world economic crisis forces many consumers to change spending habits, at least the religious tourism in Rome is left unchanged, the Vatican City, the spiritual home to the worlds 1.1 billion Catholics, boasts more than 30,000 churches and sanctuaries according to the countrys Ministry of Culture. According to United Nations Worl d Tourism Organization statistics, seven of the worlds 10 most visited Christian sanctuaries are in Rome. Other regions which generate masses of tourists include: the romantic city of Venice, Tuscany, Naples and the popular tourist island of Sicily. The Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) has made efforts to promote all year round tourism with the countrys many equipped beaches, sport and ski facilities, 65 percent of the worlds artworks and historical monuments, and agri-tourism farms where tourists enjoy the land production, like wine, and olive oil and fruits. There are approximately 40,000 hotels in order to cater to Italy high influx of tourists coming to Italy daily. Italian tourism operators are increasingly engaged in improving the quality of their product and in promoting Italy as a destination. Italy may not take up much space geographically on the globe, but it consistently ranks among the top vacation destinations on the planet. Tourism is considered as one of the most important and vital industries in Italy. It is one of Italys most developing and most profitable industrial sectors, with estimated revenue of $42.7 billion. Tourism is one of the fastest growing and profitable sectors of the Italys economy. The industry plays a strategic role and has a major impact on Italys economy because of this constant influx of tourists. Tourism in Italy is one of the countrys biggest income sources. Italys Gross Domestic Product in 2009 reached $1.8 trillion, 69% is represented by the services sector, whose strong point is tourism, approximately 29% is owing to the automobile industry, engineering industry, apparel/textiles industry and the construction industry and the remaining 2% is derived from agriculture. The geographical distribution of the nations wealth is as follows: approximately 31.8% of Italys Gross Domestic Product is produced in the Northwest regions of the country, 22.3% in the Northeast regions, 21% in the regions of Central Italy, and finally, approximately 24.8% can be attributed to the regions of Southern Italy. In 2009 the expenditures by international inbound visitors (tourist receipts) made Italy the fourth highest tourism earner. The everyday tourists in Italy spends varying amounts daily and the average daily spend will vary widely based on seasonal variations and desired destinations. The fact is that some tourists may enjoy a great two-week adventure in Italy and spend less than $4,000, while others may let a commercial tour company make the decisions for them and end up spending $15,000. Italy isnt cheap, although however compared with the UK and northern Europe the situation is not so bad. What you spend on accommodation will depend on various factors, such as location, season (August which is the peak), the degree of comfort you want. The cheapest pensione (small hotel) is unlikely to cost less than à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬25 for a basic single or à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40 for a double room. You can stumble across comfortable rooms with their own bathroom from à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬50 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬80 . Midrange hotels in the more expensive places such as Rome, Florence and Venice can easily cost from à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬80 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬150 for singles or à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬120 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬200 for doubles. Eating out is just as varied in Venice and Milan , while tourist magnets such as Florence and Rome offer surprisingly affordable options. On average you should reckon on at least à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬20 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬50 for a meal (two courses, dessert and house wine). Backpackers usually stick religiously to youth hostels, they snacking at midday and travelling slowly, spending approximately à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬50 per day. Your average midrange daily budget, including a sandwich for lunch and a simple dinner, as well as budgeting for a couple of sights and travel, might come to anything from à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬100 to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬150 a day. Many tourists come to Italy for many different reasons whether it is for leisure or business the average length of stay according to the UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics is 3.81 days. Tourism represents an opportunity but also a fascinating challenge for the country in terms of economic growth, international image and improvement of relations with other nations. However, tourism is important because of its economic and employment potential, it is a sector that employs nearly three million persons which is equal to approximately 12 percent of the total work force and is expected to increase in many years to come. Italy is also the ideal tourist job destination. There are ski resort jobs in the Alps in the North part of the country in the winter, beach resort jobs in the summer, and restaurant and hotel jobs all year long. There is also a huge demand for city guides in Rome, Venice, Pompeii, and many others during the summer. Tourism also contributes to the prospect of wealth and opportun ities to the less developed minor regions in Italy in order for them to progress economically. With the expansion of international tourism, along with the countrys enormous potential, Italy has to maintain and upgrade its tourism industry over the next years to maintain and expand its market share and provide economic growth. Market Analysis of Tourism in Italy With more than 43.7 million tourists a year, Italy is the fourth highest tourist earner, and fifth most visited country in the world behind France, Spain, United States and China. . Domestic tourism, or the travel of Italians within their own country, is the markets largest sector. The majority of foreign tourists coming into Italy originate in Europe. Germany in particular is a major source market for tourism in Italy. Figure 3 gives a fairly good idea of how big the German market is in Italy. According to UNWTO World Tourism Barometer for January 2010, Italy was one of the very few countries that maintained their market share in terms of foreign tourist arrivals, remaining firmly among the top five most successful destinations worldwide. Figure 3 shows a Pie chart representing 10 major source markets of tourist and their respective percentages. Source: Invitalia elaboration of Istat data, Capacity of accommodation facilities , March 2010 Figure one further re-iterates the largest percentage of tourists coming into Italy are in fact Europeans. Italy has always been one of the most desired and visited travel destinations worldwide. In relation to the age group of the Italian tourist market, Italy attracts many young people between 20-30 years old. ADDD INFO ON THE YOUTH MARKET However, 55% of the Italian tourist market is over 55 years old. The summer of 2010 has shown that Italy is definitely recovering from the worldwide economic crisis and is enjoying an increase of visitors from many of its major source markets in comparison to the previous year. According to ENIT , there is an upturn in international markets in relation to Italy, opting for shorter holidays, favoring of all inclusive formulas that make it possible to better evaluate the prices in relation to the product purchased, and increased interest in holidays in contact with nature. Arrivals from the USA are showing a favoring index of about 25%, to art cities, lakes and mountains. South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina also show a rise of at least 20%. As far as the Asian and Oceania markets are concerned, Japan shows a growth trend towards Italy as a destination. The art cities and best known seaside resorts are confirmed as the favoring destinations. In India, on the tourist front, the height of the season ended in April and was without a do ubt marked by an excellent increase in tourist demand for the Europe product in general, and specifically for what Italy has to offer (+20%). In terms of the European market, there are also positive signs for the car travel segment to neighboring destinations, while there is a downturn in air travel. As previously stated, Italy enjoys a leadership position on the German market. Summer of 2010 has shown an increase of 5% of German arrivals when compared to 2009. Italy also saw a slight increase in sales among Austrian tourists (+5%). The positive trend for Italy on the markets in Belgium (+10%) and Holland(+3%) continues while Spanish tourism outlets have seen a drop in bookings. Italys Unites Kingdom market is showing a growth in demand for lesser known destinations in rural areas of Italy while the French market is favoring sea and beach offers like Sicily and other areas such as Tuscany and Lazio, for its cultural attractions. Charter flights to Italy have also increased for Russia, coming from Moscow. According to ENIT, the packages sold have shown an increase of more than 30%, while tourists coming from the Czech Repub lic favor coach tours to seaside centers and big art cities. People mainly come to Italy for its rich art, cuisine, history, fashion and culture, its beautiful coastline and beaches, its mountains and priceless ancient monuments, especially those from the Greek and Roman civilizations. UIC data on inbound tourism in Italy indicated that travellers expenditure was connected with the following reasons; cultural, environmental, social and visits to family and friends Figure 4 Figure 4 shows a pie chart indicating various reasons travellers expenditure in Italy and their respective percentages This information gives us an idea of Italys target markets and how they would choose to proportionately allocate funds aiming at these markets. Although the information in figure 2 gives us a good idea of the reasons people go to Italy, it isnt as detailed as it could be. *Add some info different markets such as wine and food tourist, cultural etc* The sports tourism market in Italy is a growing one. Football fans in particular venture into Italy to watch the seasonal Italian Serie A football matches. Occasionally , Italy is blessed with UEFA champions league football matches .The UEFA champions league has one of the biggest followings in football. In addition to this, Italy were the winners of the 2006 FIFA world cup finals. That in itself draws sports fans to the country of Italy. Italy also caters to huge fashion tourist market. Milan is seen as the fashion capital of the world. Fashion designers and fashion followers alike flock to Milan in numbers for the various fashion shows and exhibits. Religious Tourism is one of the major market segments of tourism in Italy. While the world economic crisis forces many consumers to change spending habits, this economic sector has so far been barely touched. Official figures are hard to come by because visitors to Italy are not required to indicate whether or not their vacation is religious in nature. However, tour operators and travel agents say that the number of religious tourists in Italy hasnt changed much. Michael Patano, the director of Aurea , a 6-year-old trade fair for agencies that market religious tours, said Religious pilgrims still want to have the same experiences. The high point for religious tourism in Rome is Easter, which takes place on Sunday. The Vatican says that if the weather is good, attendance at the Easter Mass in St. Peters Square usually surpasses 100,000 people. Although there are few official figures indicating the importance of religious tourists to the tourism market, it can be assumed that religious tourism has a significant market share of tourism in Italy. All in all, Italys market has been relatively constant over the years and there are areas where Italy can try to diversify their appeal and also penetrate further into existing markets. After all, Italy has a wide range of fascinating attractions that can appeal to a cross section of tourist markets. Product Analysis A product can be defined as a good or service offered with the purpose of satisfying a want or need. Italy itself, so rich in history, art, architecture, religion, fashion, cuisine, music and landscape, is a very diverse product since it has so much to offer, to many different markets with its many amenities and attractions. Here, we will identify and examine just what Italy has to offer. An attraction refers to one thing being drawn or enticed to another. In Italy, there are many, many lures that draw foreigners and even locals to the many parts of the country. One of these attractions is the Colesseum, which is located in Rome. The ruins of what once was a great amphitheatre used to host gladiator duels and public spectacles still remains very popular today. This mammoth of a structure sees an estimated 4 million visitors yearly, many of whom come to sight-see, learn about its history and study its marvelous architecture. 800px-The_Colosseum_during_Christmas.jpg Photo Of The Colloseum In Rome Also located in Rome, is the Vatican City which is actually considered a separate state within Rome. This city is ruled by The Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome and leader of The Roman Catholic Church worldwide. Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity and has the largest religious following in the world with approximately 1.1 billion persons. However many Christians and Non-Christians visit the Vatican City yearly touring its museums and hoping to see The Pope. Still in Rome we find Pompeii, a unique attraction in a partially buried town. Pompeii was destroyed and buried by a volcanic eruption and was rediscovered in 1599, but with the excavation of the ash, we see preserved parts of a city in the pinnacle of the Roman Empire. Rome is additionally known for the Spanish Steps or Scalinata Spagna; the longest and widest staircase in Europe, which links The Spanish Embassy located in the piazza below to the French church; Trinità   dei Monti, above. Also popular is the Tr evi Fountain, the largest Baroque fountain in the city which is well known and often featured in movies. Rome also boasts of popular restaurants such as the Antica Pesa La Pergola and hotels such as the Bernini Bristol and the Westin Excelsior. Another popular Region in Italy is Tuscany which is renowned for its heartwarming landscapes, brilliant wine and art, and its luxurious villas. In Tuscany we can find the City of Pisa which is the home of The Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower is actually the bell tower to the citys cathedral and began construction in 1173, taking nearly 200 years to complete. Shortly after construction began, the tower started to lean to the right due to the poor construction of the foundation. Today, millions of visitors come to Pisa to see the towers distinct architecture and signature lean. Tuscany is also where we find the province of Florence, home of many elegant squares, renaissance palaces, cathedrals, museums and galleries. Most popular of these galleries is the Uffizi Gallery, where the works of popular artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci can all be found. One of da Vincis most popular works, The Last Supper can be found in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. This is world renowned painting of Jesus and his disciples before he was betrayed and is frequented by visitors of the region. Milan is also popular for its magnificent football stadium, the San Siro. This stadium is home to A.C Milan and F.C Internazionale Milan which are two the biggest football clubs in Europe with millions of fans worldwide. Moreover, Milan is best known for fashion and design, and is regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world. Major Italian brands such as Valentino, Gucci, Armani, Prada and DG all now have headquarters in Milan making their selves more accessible to the citys high end fashion market. The City of Venice is known for its gothic architecture, tourism and romantic lure, and is also known as The Floating City, The City of Bridges or The City of Canals. The city has been given these names since it is comprised of 117 islands joined together by 409 bridges, and the main mode of transport is by boat. Its common in Venice to see couples being rowed along in a gondola; classical Venetian boat. Travel by waterways is the most popular method of travel in Venice since there are no real roads but only walkways and bridges. In regions near the Mediterranean, the country is very popular for its waters. However, not only does Italy have white sandy beaches as we can find on the Amalfi Coast, but also thermal waters with healing properties. This has led to the development of thermal spas and even resorts around the country which are encouraging for medicinal tourism. Italy also has a rich history in classical and symphonic music and stemming from this come their love for operatic singing and ballet dancing. Many shows and recitals are held annually all over Italy by the opera houses which have seasons for both symphonic singing and ballet. Furthermore, the Vatican is not the only place which has a religious pull but rather its a nationwide affair with visitors coming from far and near to explore Italys many cathedrals. Other notable attractions in Italy are its mountainous snow covered regions with perfect conditions for camping and alpine skiing, its many nature parks and reserves and the unique experiences offered on the islands on Sardinia and Sicily. italy-ski-resorts.jpg Photo Of a The Alps Millions of tourists visit Italy yearly and due to the course of recovery the country is currently on, millions more could be added to the total, but Italy can be said to be prepared now having over 40 000 hotels. These hotels vary in standard from 1 star to 5 star deluxe, and in Milan, Italy has set the benchmark being the first country in the world to have a 7 star hotel; Town House Galleria. Additionally, Italy has its own distinct cuisine and beverages, and has a holistic cooking style combining healthy with delicious. Their love for pasta, cheeses, sauces, meats, vegetables, fish, pizza, gelato, coffee and wine has set them apart. This love has spread worldwide with Italian cafes and restaurants being found in most countries, however, this hasnt stopped visitors from coming to Italy to have a firsthand taste of their cuisine. Present day Italy has hundreds of thousands of eating facilities ranging from cafes to pizzerias to fine dining restaurants. Moreover, with this cuisine a good wine can always be expected, and why not since Italy is one of the foremost wine producers in the world with its signature Rosso (red) and Bianco (white) wine. This extensive high level production can be attributed to Italys rich soil and climate. Vineyards can be found all around the nation in regions such as Aosta Valley, Lombardy, Tuscany, Sicily and Venito. The wine industry is a massive contributor to the Italian economy both on its own and through tourism. Italy has made itself very accessible having 30 major airports and 43 major seaports; 2004. Additionally, Italy has an extensive and highly maintained road network making transport between cities easy, which encourages local travel. Italians also have large bus fleets to service the public from town to town, and city to city; SITA, but in Venice there is a waterbus fleet. Visitors crossing the borders are also accommodated with the border crossings connecting to France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia being opened 24 hours daily. Furthermore, Italy has an established railway system comprising of both electric trains and locomotives which run through the country and connect with bordering countries, and a water fleet of ferries to service the inland rivers and canals. Promotional Strategies The objects of the promotion and communication activities are Italys image and its overall tourism product. ENIT is the institution in charge of promoting Italys tourism product. ENIT pursues its institutional goals through activities such as studying international markets and in particular the connotations and trends in demand for individual and organized tourism. ENIT is also constantly monitoring the development of tourism demand. Italys tourism board is constantly involved in planning designed operating strategies in agreement with Italian tourisms public and private players. This includes the Ministry of Production Activities, Regions, central public administrations boards, professional associations, and producers of services for tourism i.e. transport, hospitality, food service, public businesses, and so on. One of the most important aspects of promoting tourism in Italy is developing planning objectives employing, for each market or homogenous consumption area, just the right combination of a number of operating tools. These tools could be in the form of; Multimedia communication Mass media advertising Print, multimedia, and audiovisual production Creating and managing data and image banks Traditional and telematic information distribution Material distribution Press relations in Italy and overseas Sectoral analysis and business strategy consulting service for the Regions and private Italian operators Organizing marketing meetings between Italian supply and foreign demand Organizing seminars for professional users Providing assistance to visits by Italian economic operators abroad ,and by foreign economic operators in Italy Meetings with administrative authorities, opinion makers, personalities, and representatives of cultural and artistic areas in the various foreign nations where ENIT offices are located Organizing and taking part in fairs, expositions, exhibitions, and large-scale

The Complex Character of Shakespeares Hamlet :: Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

The Complex Character of Shakespeare's Hamlet Upon examining Shakespeare's characters in this play, Hamlet proves to be a very complex character, and functions as the key element to the development of the play. Throughout the play we see the many different aspects of Hamlet's personality by observing his actions and responses to certain situations. Hamlet takes on the role of a strong character, but through his internal weaknesses we witness his destruction. In the opening of the play, Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of his father and told to revenge his "foul and most unnatural murder". Later on, however, Hamlet begins to doubt the ghost. He then thinks up the Murder of Gonzago to verify the truthfulness of the ghost and also to allow himself more time. After learning the truth, Hamlet still continues to procrastinate the killing of Claudius. Although Hamlet is full of purpose, he lacks the ability to carry out his intentions, and thus allows his character flaw to eventually destroy him. Another characteristic that acts against Hamlet is his excessive melancholiness. Hamlet experiences rejection from his true love, anger from the murder of his father, betrayal from his friends and family, and fear from what lies ahead. These feelings of pain and sorrow are embedded deep inside Hamlet, and eat at him like a terrible disease. Unfortunately, by the end of the play Hamlet has stopped fighting this disease and leaves his future up to fate. As he begins his duel with Laertes he says: "the readiness is all", meaning that fate will decide the future and if it means death he will accept it. In connection to Hamlet's indecisiveness and melancholiness, one has to question his sanity. At the beginning of the play Hamlet seems logical and quick, but this soon fades after Hamlet has his first visitation with the ghost of his father. Hamlet then doubts himself and starts to believe that his eyes have deceived him.

Impacts of Keystone XL Pipeline on Environment

Impacts of Keystone XL Pipeline on EnvironmentIntroductionThe proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline Project ( KXL ) would slit through the heartland of the United States, from the U.S. Canadian outskirt shut to Morgan, Montana, to Steele City, Nebraska. KXL would consist of approximately 876 stat mis of new, 36 inch distance across grapevine, aboard twenty new pump Stationss. To power these pump Stationss, KXL would bespeak about 2,400 kVs and approximately 378 stat mis of new power lines. In enlargement, a 110 wide development right-of-way is required along the proposed grapevine way. A few fragments will compel â€Å" interim workspace scopes † for exceeding development schemes, for illustration, wetland intersections and even directional drilling wholly, an expected 1,206 subdivisions of land of land perturbation. Further, KXL would necessitate 1,226 subdivisions of land for channel stockpiling finishs, railway turnouts, and builder paces, and more than 500 subdivisions of land for development bivouacing countries. ( SPOT, 2015 ) One of the universe ‘s wealthiest woodlands extends crosswise over northern Alberta, doing the Canadian district place to a unbounded exhibit of relocating winged animate beings, assorted wild life, and the First Nations persons who one time flourished with the venue ‘s common copiousness. In any instance in late decennaries, mining organisations have torn up the country and dirtied its Waterss in a journey to concentrate pitch littorals, which yield an overpowering unprocessed crude oil caught in a mixture of sand and Earth. The fuel is grimy ; the extraction and refinement process is significantly dirtier. It ‘s so vitality escalated, truth be told, that tar littorals oil is barely conservative to convey to market. That is the ground the concern is so pressing to build Keystone XL. The proposed $ 7 billion pitch littorals oil grapevine would run 2,000 stat mis over the American heartland, traversing the state ‘s biggest fresh water aquifer to accomplish the Texas Gulf Coast. There, refineries would manage an awaited 830,000 barrels of grimy unsmooth every twenty-four hours, a big part of them headed for abroad markets, with immaterial consequence on U.S. verve liberty or gas costs. BARACK OBAMA used his veto power for merely three measures in his clip in the Oval Office: non precisely any president in late history. His veto of a measure O.K.ing the Keystone Pipeline yesterday proposes that figure will be lifting rapidly. With Republicans now in control of both houses, Mr Obama will be confronted with significantly more picks like this. The legislative issues is basic: the Republicans need to pin down the president into disregarding nevertheless many celebrated ideas ( or if nil else thoughts that Republicans like ) as could be allowed.Economic ViabilityAngels tout the project as a national employments Godhead. The truth is, Keystone XL would probably butcher a larger figure of businesss than it would include. Agring the State Department, it would do 1,950 development businesss for a long clip. Once finish? Thirty-five new immutable American businesss, as indicated by grapevine maker TransCanada. At the same clip wo n't polish tar littorals oil aid fuel the Unit ed States and decrease gas costs? Reconsider. Tar sands diggers need Keystone XL in visible radiation of the fact that it will assist them transport oil abroad to a planetary concern, where their point will convey more hard currency and include one million millions of dollars in annual benefits. That is a losing agreement for everybody – aside from Large Oil. ( Council, 2015 )Impacts on EnvironmentIn the Biological Assessment, the Department recognizes that KXL ‘s effects on recorded species incorporate expanded human coaction ; environment discontinuity, alteration, and bad luck ; decreased reproducing accomplishment because of disturbance and quiver ; and the devising of obstructors to motion. The most prompt effects would come about because of land exasperation connected with development exercisings. Constructing these 875 stat mis of new grapevine would compel a 110 wide development right-of manner through critical natural life home ground. Further, vehicular action along the grapevine class would increase. In sum, KXL will trouble oneself about 16,300 subdivisions of land. ( Council, 2015 ) Surveies demonstrate that pitch littorals grapevines are more powerless against interruptions than those conveying conventional rough in position of the oil ‘s destructive nature and the chemicals of import to do it gone through the funnels. Regardless of the concern ‘ great well-being instances, we to boot know from late spills and resulting authorities scrutinies that its interruption find models are non really impressive and its spill ordinance and clean-up modus operandis missing. ( D.K. , 2015 ) A grapevine spill would sabotage the country and H2O supply of precisely 110,000 farms and spreads in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska that created more than $ 40 billion value of nutriment in 2012. In those three provinces entirely, the grapevine would traverse 1,073 watercourses, lakes, and watercourses, integrating the Yellowstone River in Montana and the Platte River in Nebraska, alongside a immense figure of subdivisions of land of wetlands. It would likewise run inside a stat mi of more than 3,000 Wellss that give imbibing and lacrimation system H2O in those provinces. ( SPOT, 2014 ) Due to its salty creative activity, excavation and refinement pitch sands oil petitions a mammoth step of verve – significantly more than ordinary rough. Cornerstone XL would increase tar sands creative activity, compeling much more verve and doing more outstanding C taint: the similitude Americans driving an impossible 60 billion extra stat mis systematically. NASA research worker James Hansen gauges that the staying pitch littorals shops contain double the step of C taint discharged by the whole world-wide oil industry – in all of world ‘s history. â€Å" In the event that Canada returns and we do n't make anything, † Hansen wrote in a New York Times publication, â€Å" it will be amusement over for the ambiance. † ( SPOT, 2014 ) There are contentions that the grapevine will be a biological calamity to boot exaggerate things. Unquestionably, the extraction of Canadian oil from pitch littorals in Alberta includes echt natural adulteration, and constructing the grapevine will in fact aid to back up this by conveying down the disbursals of transporting such mussy oil. Be that as it may the oil is by and large efficaciously being removed, and rather a spot of it is being taken to market via train. More too bad, trains, non at all similar grapevines, have an disposition sometimes to bust up and split into fires. In 2013, more oil was spilled from rail cars in the United States than in the past four decennaries joined. Without whatever other activity to maintain the abuse of Canadian oil, a grapevine might at any rate better guarantee the extricated oil and the country through which it is transported. ( Publications, 2015 ) At this minute when ambiance activity is more sincere than any other clip in recent memory, piecing this grapevine would be a venture into a past instead than a motion into a clean verve hereafter. Cornerstone XL would talk to a long draw responsibility to the development of hazardous pitch littorals oil when we have to be seting resources into sheltered, renewable wellheads of verve. ( Digest, 2015 ) The whooping Crane is one of America ‘s most noteworthy and jeopardized species ; merely around 214 stayed in the natural state in 2005. The thin, ephemeral winged animal dwells merely in North America and voyages 2,400 stat mis from Texas to focal Canada every twelvemonth. The electrical overseas telegrams for KXL would slit specifically through the whooping Crane ‘s staying 170-mile broad motion passageway, and in Nebraska, about the whole grapevine class will be built inside this passageway. The issue with the project is that it has turned into a political unfavorable judgment. Although it’s non comparable to more built-in issues, for illustration, migration alteration, or making battling the Islamic State, this one is reasonably unsophisticated and the separating lines are clear. Republicans can accordingly use it to carry the president for his collected inability to do employments, without raging anyone or demoing up the clefts in their degage alliance.Plants CitedCouncil, National Resources Defence.Keystone Grapevine. 2015. Article. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/ & gt ; . D.K, The Economist.Keystone xl and president veto. 25 Februaury 2015. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/02/keystone-xl-and-presidents-veto & gt ; . Digest, Congressional. â€Å" Environmental Analysis of the Keystone XL Project Potential for Oil Spills From the. †Congressional Digest( 2015 ) . Publications, ACS.Environmental Science and Technology. 2015. pdf. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //pubs.acs.org/doi/ipdf/10.1021/es303238z & gt ; . SPOT, Burd L. & A ; RESTO. â€Å" The Keystone XL Pipeline: Improper Reliance on Weak. †Journal Of Environmental Law And( 2014 ) . Document.

Aardvark Fast Facts

Aardvark Fast Facts Aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) are known by several common names including antbears and anteaters; they are native to sub-Saharan Africa. The name aardvark is Afrikaans  (a daughter language of Dutch) for earth pig. Despite these common names, aardvarks are not closely related to bears, pigs, or anteaters. Instead, they occupy their own distinct order: Tubulidentata. Fast Facts: Aardvark Scientific Name: Orycteropus aferCommon Names: Aardvark, antbear, anteater, Cape anteaters, earth pigBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: Up to 6.5 feet long, 2 feet at shoulder heightWeight: 110–175 poundsLifespan: 10 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Sub-saharan AfricaPopulation: Not quantifiedConservation Status: Least Concern Description Aardvarks are medium-sized mammals (weighing 110–175 pounds and up to 6.5 feet long) with a bulky body, arched back, medium-length legs, long ears (resembling those of a donkey), a long snout, and a thick tail. They have a sparse coat of coarse grayish brown fur covering their body. Aardvarks have four toes on their front feet and five toes on their rear feet. Each toe has a flat, sturdy nail that they use for digging burrows and tearing into insect nests in search of food. Aardvarks have very thick skin which provides them protection from insect bites and even the bites of predators. Their teeth lack enamel and, as a result, wear down and must regrow continuously- the teeth are tubular and hexagonal in cross-section. Aardvarks have small eyes and their retina only contains rods (this means they are color-blind). Like many nocturnal animals, aardvarks have a keen sense of smell and very good hearing. Their front claws are especially robust, enabling them to dig burrows and break open termite nests with ease. Their long, serpentine tongue (10–12 inches) is sticky and can gather up ants and termites with great efficiency. The classification of the aardvark was controversial at one time. Aardvarks were formerly classified in the same group as  armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. Today, genetic studies have shown that the aardvark is classified in the order called the Tubulidentata (tube-toothed), and the family Orycteropodidae: They are the only animal in either order or family. Shongololo90/Getty Images   Habitat and Range Aardvarks inhabit a variety of habitats including savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and woodlands. Although they once lived in Europe and Asia, today their range extends throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, every ecosystem except marshes, deserts, and very rock terrains. Bridgena_Barnard/Getty Images   Diet and Behavior Aardvarks forage at night, covering extensive distances (as much as 6 miles per night) in search of food. To find food, they swing their noses from side to side over the ground, trying to detect their prey by scent. They feed almost exclusively on termites and ants and can consume up to 50,000 insects in a single night. They occasionally supplement their diet by feeding on other insects, plant material or the occasional small mammal. Solitary, nocturnal mammals, aardvarks spend the daylight hours safely tucked away inside their borrows and emerge to feed during the late afternoon or early evening. Aardvarks are extraordinarily fast diggers and can excavate a hole 2 feet deep in less than 30 seconds. The main predators of aardvarks include lions, leopards, and pythons. Aardvarks dig three types of burrows in their ranges: relatively shallow foraging burrows, larger temporary shelters to hide from predators and more complex burrows for permanent residence. They share their permanent residences with other creatures but not other aardvarks. Investigation of the residential burrows has shown that compared to the surrounding soil, soil inside the burrow is cooler (between 4 and 18 degrees F cooler depending on the time of day), and moister. The differences remained the same no matter how old the burrow was, leading researchers to name the aardvark an ecological engineer. Reproduction and Offspring Aardvarks reproduce sexually and form pairs only for a short time during the breeding season. Females give birth to one or rarely two cubs after a gestation period of 7–8 months. In northern Africa, Aardvarks give birth from October to November; in the south, from May and July. The young are born with their eyes open. The mother nurses the young until they are 3 months old when they start eating insects. They become independent of their mothers at six months and venture off to find their own territory. Aardvarks become sexually mature at two to three years of age and have lifespans in the wild of about 18 years. Evolutionary History Aardvarks are considered to be living fossils due to their ancient, highly conserved genetic make-up. Scientists believe that todays aardvarks represent one of the most ancient lineages among the placental mammals (Eutheria). Aardvarks are considered to be a primitive form of hoofed mammal, not because of any obvious similarities but instead due to subtle characteristics of their brain, teeth, and musculature. The closest living relatives to the aardvarks include  elephants, hyraxes,  dugongs, manatees, elephant shrews, golden moles, and tenrecs. Together, these mammals form a group known as the Afrotheria. Conservation Status Aardvarks once existed in Europe and Asia but are now only found in sub-Saharan Africa. Their populations are unknown but they are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and not listed as threatened at all by the ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System. Major identified threats to the aardvark are habitat loss through agriculture, and human and trapping for bush meat. The skin, claws, and teeth are used to make bracelets, charms and curious and some medicinal purposes.  Ã‚   Sources Buss, Peter E., and Leith C. R. Meyer. Chapter 52: Tubulidentata (Aardvark). Fowlers Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8. Eds. Miller, R. Eric and Murray E. Fowler. St. Louis: W.B. Saunders, 2015. 514–16. Print.Gozdziewska-Harlajczuk, Karolina, Joanna Kleckowska-Nawrot, and Karolina Barszcz. Macroscopic and Microscopic Study of the Tongue of the Aardvark (Orycteropus Afer, Orycteropodidae). Tissue and Cell 54 (2018): 127–38. Print.Haussmann, Natalie S., et al. Ecosystem Engineering through Aardvark (Orycteropus Afer) Burrowing: Mechanisms and Effects. Ecological Engineering 118 (2018): 66–72. Print.Ratzloff, Elizabeth. Orycteropus afer (aardvark). Animal Diversity Web, 2011.  Taylor, W. A., P. A. Lindsey, and J. D. Skinner. The Feeding Ecology of the Aardvark Orycteropus Afer. Journal of Arid Environments 50.1 (2002): 135–52. Print.Taylor, A. and T. Lehmann. Orycteropus afer. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T41504A21286437, 2015.