Health of Transgender Population Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Health of Transgender Population - Essay Example Transgender is referred as an umbrella term used to describe people of different groups which includes cross dressers, gender queer people, transsexual and others (De Sutter, 2001). In simple words, transgender is used to describe the individuals or groups who defying their gender based roles allocated by the society choose to alter, modify or change it in variety of ways. The term transgender is most commonly used, at present by the people who are uncomfortable with their assigned gender by birth, and deliberately change it. Trans is the short form of the term implying the same meaning and interpretation. However, the level of trans exists in a person may very while some being extreme and undertake medical surgeries to satisfy their needs, while other being at normal or average level who avoid undertaking medical surgeries. However, the identity of trans is not affected by the level, either trans undertake surgeries or not they shall always be recognized as trans but with no other t erms. Female to male (FTM) and male to female are the descriptors that are generally used to describe trans people. However, some people prefer the terms transgender woman or man (same as FTM or MTF), because the terms projects and confirm their chosen character. However, affirmed female and affirmed male are also the terms used synonymously with FTM or MTF. While comparing trans people with non-trans people (mostly for medical terms) natal/bio female and natal/bio male are used to describe normal or non-trans people. It is important for medical practitioners to explicitly define their identity without any hesitation so that assumptions... This paper stresses that the buttocks are much smaller in size as compared to the females. The buttocks are also considered as one sexually arousing part of the female body. In order to give the transgender man undergoing sexual reassignment surgical process, it is essential that they should under buttock augmentation as well. This is the enlargement process of the buttocks. If the patient has not past puberty, the first priority is the hormone therapy. However, in many cases, it might not work and the surgery is essential. The author talks that this surgery is the process in which a transgender individual undergoes a set of medical procedures, through which his or her gender is changed to the desired gender. There are some other common names present for the surgery as well, including the genital replacement surgery, sex affirmation surgery or the realignment if sexual orientation surgery. This report makes a conclusion that the transgender men and women are now not easily distinguishable once they undergo the surgery. With the prosthetic or surgically created vagina, penis and breasts, along with the secondary male and female characteristics, these individuals enjoy the sexual life as much as the individuals born with that particular sex do. While there have been a number of advances in the transsexual gender reassignment surgery, there is still the lacking of the surgical inclusion of the male or female reproductive system. The transgender population can now have their desired sexual orientation, but the reproduction is still a lacking they might feel. As the technology remains to improve, it is possible that this could also be accomplished in the near future.

Unwrapping Technology Essay Example for Free

Unwrapping Technology Essay Today’s educators have an endless pool of technological teaching aids at their fingertips. The Worldwide web has put teaching programs, learning apps, downloadable content, and all manner of communication at the availability of everyone. This information is readily and easily accessed. There are electronic whiteboards, video creating and editing programs, Ipads, learning games regarding all subjects, and an endless pool of help and ideas that can facilitate teaching, learning, and communication. Teachers can utilize them all to help students reach each of the standards implemented in NETS-S. The standards for this bracket include creating videos that record and document school or community functions, gather data, use digital tools and resources, use information gathering technologies, learning to identify and solve computer problems, explore curriculum from perspectives of other cultures, evaluate and determine credibility of resources, and among other things engaging in online collaborative learning projects. All standards work together to create an informed student who has the basic tools needed to become successful in a swiftly advancing technological world. Among the many standards and requirements expected to be learned by 6th-8th graders almost all of them are right on the mark and can easily be implemented in the classroom, especially number 2. Standard number 2 refers to creating animations or videos that document school or community events. This age group is constantly taking photos or videos for their own social outlets. Tapping into this type of media will be inspiring for the students and can encourage learning through a skill they enjoy and identify with. Learning through the use of technology can be a wonderful experience for students. There are many ways technology can be used to enhance lessons or engage the students, where more primitive manners of teaching such as straight lecture and note taking can be dry and quite frankly lose the interest of the students. One such tool is the electronic whiteboard. The electronic whiteboard allows the teacher to project images for their computer onto the board in the front of the class. A teacher can prepare a slide show, power point, or show movies or videos regarding the subject being taught. This can draw the attention both visual and auditory of the class. Watching a movie where a science experiment is done can be more intriguing than just listening to a speech about it. Ipads are another great tool that can be used to create an enjoyable learning experience. They can be used to play learning games or even as a manner for communication for certain handicapped students. All of the NETS-S standards and requirements are reasonable there are some that may not be implemented or may be difficult to support. For example: Creating â€Å"original animations or videos documenting school, community, or local events. (NETS-S, 2008) may be difficult if the school does not have video equipment or programs to support this type of activity. Each school will have its own set of standards and available tools that need to be taken into consideration when trying to follow standards. Teachers may have limited resources to work with but they can attempt to apply for grants from sites such as Grant Wrangler (http://grantwrangler. com/) and Teachers Count (h ttp://www. teacherscount. org/teacher/grants. shtml). The resources are out there but need to be sought out and found. The one expectation that I feel is missing from the standards are relatively fast typing skills. Typing skills can be quite a useful skill to teach and can aid students from this age group up as they begin to have more and more typed assignments given. The usage of programs such as â€Å"Word† and becoming familiar with it will also be helpful from this age all the way up to college. By giving them these two tools we are preparing them for their future. The NETS-S standards are put in place to help nurture students to evolve into capable and involved community members. The technological world we live in is changing more rapidly than ever and it is in the benefit of both student and teacher to learn and advance with the times so they can be knowledgeable and stay at the forefront of these changes. As educators it is part of our job to prepare students for their future, and much of our future lies in technology, NETS-S is helping us do that. Reference: NETS-S . Retrieved from http://www. iste. org/docs/pdfs/nets-s-2007-student-profiles-en. pdf? sfvrsn=4

What Is Meteorology And Its Uses Environmental Sciences Essay

What Is Meteorology And Its Uses Environmental Sciences Essay Every day, thousands and thousands of people tune into weather forecast on television, radio, even news papers for news about the weather and if any changes are going to take place in the upcoming days, like floods or droughts or temperature change. Meteorology is the study of all the changes in the atmosphere, whether they were changes in temperature, air pressure, moisture, or wind direction in the troposphere. The air around the earth is called the atmosphere, it is divided into layers. Weather happens in the troposphere, the bottom layer, directly above the ground. Mount Everest, the highest point on the Earth, reaches about half way up the troposphere. Meteorology is useful for weather processes and forecasting. What is meteorology? Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere. It comes from the Greek word meteoron, which means something that happens high in the sky. Weather was important to the ancient Greeks because it affected the farmers who raised their crops and their seamen who sailed the oceans. The ancient Greeks observed and tried to understand how the clouds, wind, and rain were connected to one another. Weather Weather is an endless cycle of events. The four things that cause weather are the Sun, the atmosphere, water vapor and the wind. They all work together, spreading the Suns heat all over the world and making clouds. And the changes that occur over a longer period of time are known as climate. Weather has always been a significant concern to humans, and our inability to control it has led us to try to measure it, compare it, and predict it for the past hundreds of years. Weather contributes greatly with the study of meteorology, the five major weather elements are: -Temperature -Wind -Humidity -Pressure -Rainfall The Sun The sun is the main source of energy for the earth. The light and heat given out by the sun make it possible for plants and animals to live on earth. Without the sun, oceans would freeze and life could not be supported on earth. The sun is the key to the earths weather. It moves the air all over the world causing winds which carry weather changes. Air temperature is measured by a thermometer. http://images.google.com/url?source=imgresct=tbnq=http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112188/sun_and_earth.gifusg=AFQjCNH7-leVbgPcZpt29YvgoD3Yoo8NqQ http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112188/sun_and_earth.gif Air Pressure Although air is light, there is so much of it that air can exert huge pressure on earth. Air pressure or atmospheric pressure is caused by the weight of all the air pressing down in all directions at the ground. Air pressure changes when the temperature changes, it varies from place to place and from time to time as the Suns heat varies. Areas of high pressure are formed where air is sinking down, so its pushing harder towards the earth. But when air rises it leaves behind an area of lower pressure, because upward moving air is not pushing down so hard on the surface this creates low pressure. Air pressure is measured in millibars ,mb, on a barometer. Barometers help us forecast weather because changes in air pressure are linked to changes in the weather. Air Moisture There are various forms of moisture. Moisture is present in the air either in the form of gas, liquid, or solid. Atmospheric moisture plays a significant role in weather when it changes from one state to the other. Warm air can hold more water than cold air can. A hygrometer can be used to measure humidity, which is the amount of water in the air. A hygrometer consists of a wet bulb and a dry bulb thermometer. One end of the wet bulb thermometer is covered with muslin, which is wet. When the air is dry, more water will evaporate and the wet bulb thermometer will show a low reading. Air Masses Air masses are huge masses of air which are warm, cold, moist, or dry depending on the land or sea they pass by. Air masses move all over the Earths surface, they help spread the Suns heat around the world. Air masses are classified according to the area or the source they came from. There are two types of air masses. Air masses that form over oceans and seas called maritime. We have Tropical maritime, which develops over warm seas, and Polar maritime, forms over the seas near the poles. Air masses that form overland are called continental; there is Tropical continental, air mass that develops over hot or dry land, and Polar continental, air mass that develops over land near the poles. Boundaries between air masses are called fronts. The weather can be very unsettled near the fronts; some cold fronts cause lines of violent storms. There are three types of fronts, warm, cold, and occluded. Wind Wind is moving air. It blows because some air masses become warmer than others, basically wind moves because of the difference in air pressure around the world. In warm air, the tiny particles of air spread out. A mass of warm air is lighter than a mass of cold air, because warm air is so light it rises. As warm air rises, cold air flows in to take place. Climate and weather are determined by the wind. Wind is also affected by the Coriolis Effect. The earth spins on its axis, in the northern hemisphere winds are swung to the right. And in the southern hemisphere winds are swung to the left, this is called the Coriolis Effect. A windsock is used to measure the wind speed and direction. A weather vane can also be used to determine the winds direction. Severe/Extreme weather conditions Violent storms can be very dangerous, but as we discover more about the weather it becomes easier to forecast violent storms to avoid disasters. Some severe weather conditions are thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and avalanches. Some extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts may also affect the weather in some areas. Thunderstorms occasionally happen when the air is humid and warm. Clouds form in the sky and blustery winds start to blow, thunderstorms usually include lightning followed by thunder. Lightning and thunder happen at the same time, but you see thunder first because light travels faster than sound. Tornadoes are long funnels of violently spiraling winds. They form on land when there is warm, moist air near the ground and cold, dry air above it. The Coriolis Effect helps the tornado spin faster, as well as jet streams when they pass over the top of the storm. Weather forecast Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location. The most straightforward way to predict the weather is to simply look out the window. However, for a more accurate weather forecast you need observational tools like radars, satellites and specially designed computers that will give you a clearer picture to the weather conditions. Some weather symbols that are used in television forecast and maps: http://images.google.com/url?source=imgresct=tbnq=http://s3.amazonaws.com/momentville/20889/photos/917979/917979_medium.jpgusg=AFQjCNHD4U47mTTE3a_bIXFBUrhjDKaQ http://s3.amazonaws.com/momentville/20889/photos/917979/917979_medium.jpg Weather gods Good harvests depends on good weather, early farmers who lived about 7,000 years ago thought gods ruled the weather. People today still pray for fine weather and good harvest. The Rainbow God, the Kabi people of Australia worship a god called Dhakhan who is half snake and half fish. He appears as a rainbow in the sky when he moves from one hole to the next. The Dragon Breath, the Chinese believed that dragons formed clouds with their breath and brought rain. The rain fell when the dragons walked over the clouds and storms raged when they fought. Dancing in the Rain, the Hopi Indians of North America perform special rain dances, and pray to the gods through these dances to send them rain. History The father or founder of meteorology is considered to be Aristotle. His book Meteorologica written around 340 B.C was the first study of the atmosphere. Some of Aristotles ideas were accurate, like ideas about rain and hailstorms, others were not. Like many thinkers of his time, he believed that reason and logic could lead to the truth and he didnt think it was necessary to observe the details of the natural world to understand it; thats why he got some of his ideas proven wrong in later years. As years went by, many centuries later natural philosophers realized that logic and speculation arguments alone couldnt produce real understandings of the natural world. For them to understand things in the world around them, it was necessary for them to measure, record, and analyze. But at that time, the only things that could be measured were wind direction and rainfall. And it continued like that for years to come. Later around A.D 1600 the thermometer was invented, following that the barometer, which measures atmospheric pressure, came a few years later. Devices and gadgets for measuring wind speed, humidity, and other important qualities of the atmosphere continued to develop over the next two- hundred years. Scientists used all of these newly-created instruments to record the long term trends of the weather which are known as climate. However, they still didnt understand the day to day or daily behavior of weather phenomenon like tornadoes, hurricanes, and thunderstorms. Years continued to pass, by the mid- 1800s, meteorologists began to realize clouds, wind, and rain at a particular place are produced by large weather systems that grow and change as they move. However this information was not very useful as long as weather information couldnt travel fast enough. The telegraph was later invented, allowing weather reports to be sent out instantly. Then they started to realize some of the weather patterns across the face of the earth. In the early 1900s, a group of Norwegian meteorologists began to study weather systems by applying basic laws of physics to the behavior of the atmosphere. There discovery or approach based on movements of huge warm and cold air masses and where they meet is the foundation of modern weather forecasting. In the 1940s, World War II brought great advances in the study of meteorology. Military land, sea, and air campaigns were highly dependent on weather over vast regions making its way from the North Pole to the South Pacifi c. Meteorology departments in universities grew rapidly as the military services sent cadets to be trained as weather officers. The military also supported scientific research on the weather and climate. During this period, technological developments such as the radar proved to be useful and valuable meteorological observing systems for both the military and studies dealing with meteorology. Meteorologists continued to develop many more new tools and techniques, since World War II, for observing and studying the atmosphere. They developed numerical model sets of equations that represent atmospheric processes and run them on supercomputers to analyze and predict the behavior of the atmosphere on every scale from the formation of raindrops to the circulation of the atmosphere over earth. Meteorologists today use satellites to observe hurricanes; they probe the violent cores of thunderstorms with radar and high performance aircrafts and many moreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Instruments and equipment used in meteorology (alphabetically ordered) -Anemometer, a device used for measuring wind speed -Barograph, an aneroid barometer that records the barometric pressure over time and produces either a foil or paper chart called a barogram. http://www.weatherinstruments.us/barograph-636.jpghttp://images.google.com/url?source=imgresct=tbnq=http://www.weatherinstruments.us/barograph-636.jpgusg=AFQjCNG0OGeiHhvp9o1n1AGw0Yh1cSeAvg -Barometer, an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure using either water, mercury, or air -Ceiling balloon, used to measure the height of the base of clouds during daylight. -Ceiling projector, a device that is used to measure the height of the base of clouds. -Ceilometer, a device that uses a laser or other light source to measure the height of the base of clouds. -Dark adaptor goggles, clear red tinted plastic goggles used either for adapting the eyes to dark for night observation or to help identify clouds during bright sunshine or glare from snow. -Disdrometer, an instrument used to measure the drop size, distribution, and velocity of falling hydrometeors. -Field mill, an instrument used to measure the strength of electric fields I the atmosphere near thunderstorm clouds. -Hygrometer, an instrument used to measure humidity. -Ice Accretion Indicator, an L shaped piece of aluminum used to indicate the formation of ice, frost, or the presence of freezing rain. -LIDAR, (Light Detection And Ranging) used in atmospheric physics that measures the properties of scattered light to find information about a distant target. -Lightning detector, a device that detects lightning produced by thunderstorms. -Nephelometer, an instrument used to measure suspended particulates in a liquid or gas, they are used to provide information on atmospheric visibility. -Pyranometer, used to measure broadband solar irradiance. -Radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation -Radiosonde, an instrument used to measure various atmospheric parameters and transmits them into fixed receivers. -Rain gauge, an instrument that gathers and measures the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period of time. -Snow gauge, an instrument that gathers and measures the amount of solid precipitation over a set period of time. -SODAR, (Sonic Detection And Ranging)an instrument that measures the scattering of sound waves by atmospheric turbulence. -Solarimeter, a pyranometer used to measure combined direct and diffuse solar radiation. -Sounding rocket, an instrument designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments -Stevenson screen, it shields instruments from precipitation and direct heat radiation while still allowing air to circulate freely. Sunshine recorders, devices used to indicate the amount of sunshine at a given location.http://images.google.com/url?source=imgresct=tbnq=http://www.dreamstime.com/thermograph-hand-print-thumb7926563.jpgusg=AFQjCNGEaKUm4OVQx7d9cDtva90zoyGqOw -Thermograph, measures and records both temperature and humidityhttp://images.google.com/url?source=imgresct=tbnq=http://www.johnsherman.com/rh/thermograph.jpgusg=AFQjCNFZFUlyus7Uo5HE81MdF53cRidY1g http://www.johnsherman.com/rh/thermograph.jpg http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_359/1233070515hwQfRX.jpg -Thermometer, a device that measures temperature -Weather balloon, a high altitude balloon that carries instruments and uses a radiosonde to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity Weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type and forecast its future position and intensity. Weather vane, a movable device attached to an elevated object that shows the direction of the wind Windsock, a textile tube used to determine wind direction and wind speed -Wind profiler, an equipment that uses SODAR or radar to detect wind direction and speed at different elevations. Conclusion More than 2,000 years ago, Greek philosophers looked at the sky and tried to understand what was happening there. Today, the ancient science of meteorology has grown and matured. It is at the cutting edge of research, seeking answers to basic questions about the world around us. Meteorologists today use satellites to observe hurricanes; they probe the violent cores of thunderstorms with radar and high performance aircrafts. They are working to further more develop applications that are crucially important to our lives and the lives of our children and the many more generations of grandchildren yet to come.

Facts About Burger King Holdings Marketing Essay

Facts About Burger King Holdings Marketing Essay Burger King (BK) is the second largest fast food hamburger restaurant (FFHR) in the world with operations in 74 different countries. Its major competitors are McDonalds, Subway and Yum! Brands. BK was ranked among Americas 1,000 largest corporations by Fortune Magazine in 2008. Further, Burger King is listed among one of the Top 100 Best Global Brands. History The history of the brand Burger King refers to 1959, when J, M and D.Edg purchased the firm from the original founders. Company was run as an independent entity for eight years, eventually expanding to over 250 locations in the United States, but in 1967 due to some reasons, baking giant Pillsbury repurchased Burger King. In 1978, when McDonalds executive Donald N. Smith came to renovate the company BKC was prominantly modificated in terms of its franchise agreements, strategy, menu, and restraunt look out. But Poor operating performance and ineffective leadership weight down the company during many years, even after Diageo, the global alcoholic beverages company baught Burger King in 1989. Eventually, Diageo damaged the company by neglecting the brand, and major franchises were driven out of business and its total value was significantly decreased. In 2002 Diageo divested itself of the money-losing business and sold Burger King to a group of investment firms lead by TPG Capital. Aft er this acquisition, many positive changes started to happen to Burger King. One of the major issues was first public offering in 2006, which was highly succefful. But there were some spots on Burger King reputation. The case of unsauccessful Buck Double campaign, which promoted $1 burgers, provoking the lawsuits from franchisees, unhappy with selling at a price lower than production costs. Those events somehow were reflected on the BKC stock behavior. By the time the ordinary stock of Burger King was selling at $16 per share, another interesting and totally unexpected thing shocked the global business community. On September 2, 2010, a Brazailian company 3G Capital Management LLC. Announced decision to acquire all the stocks of Burger King for $24.00 per share, or $3.26 billion in aggregate including Burger Kings outstanding debt. As the purpose of this report is to analyse the current state of the company and give recommendation upon this recent transaction, further in this paper we will answer whether it was good or bad acquisition. Key People of Burger King John Chidsey, Ex-CEO, currently is a Co-Chairman of the Board BK Inc. He joined Burger King Corporation as an Executive Vice President and the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer in March 2004. In fact, his effective leadership and strategic thought brought company to a quite successful level of performance. His wide range of responsibilities included monitoring franchise and company operations, finance, corporate strategic planning, and oversight of the annual budget, the information technology function, risk management, and corporate procurement, as well as the Franchise Financial Restructuring Program (FFRP). Mr. Chidsey obtained Doctor of Jurisprudence and MBA from Emory University. Therefore his academic background in law and business, overall professional skills and previous experience bring unprecedented value to the company. As from the recent news, John Chidsey is going to resign from the board and will be employed with BKC until the April 18, 2011. Ben Wells CFO and Treasurer of Burger King, who has more than 25 years of experience in financa. He repots directly to CEO and proves himself as a key member of the executive leadership team. Before joining BKC he held a position of vice president and corporate treasurer at Compaq Computer Corporation, when he successfully led the finance team in stabilizing finance and accounting operations.He also was employed by such famous corporation as British Petroleum and Hewlett Packard. Possessing degree in economics and business administration (University of Missouri, Texas AM University, Canisius College), he is capabable for building a world-class treasury organization and developing capital structure and risk management programs for the global organization. Alexander Behring Co-Chairman of the Board BK Inc. and Managing Partner of 3G Capital Management LLC. Experienced engineer and successful private equity manager, he is the one, who was behind the $4bn takeover of BKC. Becoming one of the inflluential investors of Brazil, he started and lead America Latina Logistica, the biggest railroad and logistics corporation in Latin America. Mr. Behring holds MBA from Harvard Business School and Bachelors Degree from Pontifà ­cia Universidade Catà ³lica do Rio de Janeiro. Bernardo Hees new CEO of Burger King Inc., since September 2010. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer of America Latina Logistica (ALL), as a successor of Alexander Behring, since January 2005 and served on its Board of Directors. B. Hees is an experienced executive with an impressive track record of enhancing performance, managing a team that drove strong gains in both revenues and profitability. He obtained MBA from the University of Warwick and passed Owners-Presidents Management program at Harvard Business School. According to his sound resume and reputation, he can be fairly considered as an excellent steward of the Burger King brand, inspired by the intention to take company to the next level of competition in the U.S. and worldwide. Business Model of Burger King: A business model is a plan implemented by a company to generate revenues and make profits from the operations it performs. (Investopedia, n.d.). Burger King uses the franchise business model to generate profits. Under the franchise arrangement, the franchisees invest in the equipment, signage, seating, and decor of the restaurant, while the company owns or leases the land and building. The company generates revenues mainly from three sources: sales at the company restaurants, royalties and franchise fees, and property income from certain franchise restaurants that lease or sub-lease property from the company (Datamonitor, 2010). Resources of the Company Reagrding the resources available for sustainable comptitive advantage, those resources are classified into tanbgible and intangible. As Burger King is a well-establiched global corporation, it has formulated very strong basis for its worldwide operations. In fact, despite of performing in the fast paced indutsry and facing the risk of once to become unclaimed due to unhealthy food provision, as consumers may change their preferences, BKC definitely creates a unique line of products. For instance, famous Whopper sandwich, CroissanWich, flame-broiled hamburgers and etc. Burger King proves itself as genuinly global company by localization of products versions by adding ingredients such as teriyaki or beetroot and fried egg to the Whopper; beer in Germany, Italy and Spain; and halal or kosher products in the Middle East and Israel. They property counts for almost 12 000 restaurants worldwide, of which 60% is concentrated in US and Canada, and 40% is internationally spread. Regards the intangible assets, highly quilified and experienced executive management team is a great value to Burger King, promising effective operations and high and stable earnings growth. While globally recognised brand Burger King is another powerful asset to corporation, as well as reputation and products assocated with it. And last, but not the list is the Knowledge, which mainly brought the Burger King fame for its products. They definitely possess unique production technology, which is constantly updated and successfully implemented. Strategy Analysis Business Strategy Analysis From pdf Business Strategy Analysis helps us evaluate the sustainability of the firm. BK strives to implement the following elements into its business strategy in order to grow. Further drive sales growth: BK is attempting to increase sales growth by enhancing guest experience, expanding hours of operations and emphasizing on restaurant reimaging program. All this is expected to result in higher sales and traffic in these restaurants and yield strong cash on cash returns. Enhance restaurant profitability: BK endeavours to enhance restaurant profitability by leveraging their fixed cost structure by introducing higher margin products and creating efficiencies through improved speed of service and equipment. Further, BK utilizes market based pricing model to achieve optimal pricing in the highly competitive market environment, thus making it a market follower. Employ innovative marketing strategies and offer superior value and quality: BK employs innovative and creative marketing strategies to increase their restaurant traffic and comparable sales. BKs whooper has been one of the best known products in the fast food industry. In addition, BK has also launched AngryWooperTM sandwhich, BK Burger Shots and BK Breakfast ShotsTM in the U.S., the King DealsTM in Germany, the U.K. and Spain and the Come Como ReyTM (Eat Like a King) every day value menu in Mexico. Further, their advertisement campaigns have always created a buzz and improved their visibility in the market. Expand our large international platform: Presently, BK is concentrated in the US and Canadian markets only, therefore they have a significant growth potential in international arena. BK has realized this and has developed a detailed global development plan to accelerate growth over the next few years. However, entering into international markets is tough because McDonalds already has its presence in almost all countries of the world. Further, BK fails to mention the strategy with which they plan to enter international markets. This maybe because they do not want to divulge their strategy to their competitors, or because they do not have a strategy which can provide them a competitive advantage over McDonalds. Use proactive portfolio management to drive growth: BK intends to use proactive portfolio management to drive growth and optimize their Company restaurant portfolio and franchisee participation in new and existing markets, while maintaining our 90/10 franchise to Company restaurant ownership mix. Between April 2008 and May 2009, BK acquired 128 new restaurants in parts US and sold 39 Company restaurants to new and existing franchisee. In addition, they closed under-performing restaurants in UK and sold certain Company restaurants in Germany and Canada to their local franchisees. Thus, the business strategy focuses on driving sales in existing markets and striving for presence in international market. However, almost all quick service restaurants that strive for greater profitability follow a similar strategy. If BK wishes to have a greater market presence, then it has to keep coming up with new, innovative, and creative products and marketing campaigns as these are the only ways by which they can differentiate their brand. Further, we carried out the industry analysis (See Appendix X), and found that per se the industry has a good market potential. Moreover, as the global economic environment improves the industry would again be profitable as the consumers would again become price insensitive and companies coming up with new, innovative and affordable menus would have more power than the buyers and suppliers. In addition, the industry is forecast to increase by 19.2 % till 2014 and there is a growing demand of fast-food in the emerging markets like India, China, and Indonesia etc. Therefore, the industry has good future prospects if tapped in an appropriate manner. Based on the SWOT analysis (see Appendix X1), it can be discerned that the company understands that the only way to increase its profitability is through constant innovation and expansion into new international market; and given the brand reputation, the franchise mix and robust financial performance, we think the company has the capability to grow profitably in the future. 5. VALUATION The value of any security is determined by its quality and profit potential. The economic environment and industry in which firm operates also have inevitable impact. Hence, we valued of BKC by incorporating these factors into the analysis of BKCs stock value. It is well known that it is very subjective to valuate any company and its stock as the market is changing constantly and the market price heavily depends on peoples expectations and feelings. The good example might be Burger Kings market price that soared from $16.77 to $13.64 after the acquisition announcement http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Burger_King_Holdings_(BKC)/WikiChart (Appendix H). Most analysts use various valuation models to calculate whether a stock is overvalued or undervalued. Those models are just generally accepted ways of assessing a companys stock and make a recommendation. Thus, analysts should not rely on the results of these models only but also take into consideration performance of existing competitors. Using comparables, i.e. ratios of identical companies and their financial performance indicators, as an addition to the valuation analysis should give a better understanding of company health and what it stands for in the market. For that reason, we have imple mented several valuation models, including Dividend Discount Model (DDM), Market premium (MP) and Residual Earnings Model (RE), and compared BKCs performance to its major competitor McDonalds using financial ratios. It should be noted that for the sake of comparison, we have taken the financial data available at the end of fiscal years for BKC and McDonalds i.e. June 30th, 2010 and December 31st, 2010, respectively. Further, the spot stock prices are taken as of June 30th, 2010. 5.1 Performance [I THINK PERFORMANCE SHOULD GO IN HERE] 5.2 Dividend Discount Model Starting from year 2006, when Burger King was first listed on the New-York Stock Exchange, the company has paid the fixed dividend of $0.25  [1]  per share per year (Appendix A). Therefore, we do not expect any future dividend growth and assume zero growth for DDM valuation model. For simplicity, we use DDM-perpetuity and take required rate of return (k) as a discounting factor (r). Therefore, V = D/r à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (1) According to The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), required rate of return (k) is calculated as follows: k = rf + B(rm rf) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. (2) where, rf = risk-free rate, B = beta, (rm rf) = market risk premium We have used risk-free rate of 2.92% from company report (Burger King Holdings, 2010, p.87), company beta of 0.80 was taken from on-line source (ADVFN, 2011) and market risk premium 6.75% from Journal of Financial Economics, which is a bit outdated but we believe that this type of market is even riskier then it was 10 years ago (Fama, 1997, p.172). Substituting the values in equation 2, we get k = 2.92% + 0.80*6.75% = 8.32% As mentioned before, since r = k, substituting the value of r in equation 1, we get V= 0.25/0.0832 = $3.00 (The value of BKCs share) However, as of June 30th, 2010 market share price of BKC was $16.84/share (Wikinvest, 2011). Further, in order to assess our valuation, we valued the share price of McDonalds share and got a valuation of $36.28 (for calculations, see Appendix G). However, as of June 30th, 2010 the share price is $65.87. As, McDonalds is more popular brand than BK, and its stock price is twice as high as the valuation figure, whereas BK King is way behind McDonalds but its price is five times higher than the calculated value. To investigate the reliability of this result we calculate the market premium of the BKs share. 5.3 Market Premium Model The measure of stockholders equity on the balance sheet typically does not reflect the intrinsic value of what the equity is worth (Penman, 2003). There is a definition of intrinsic value which states that it is the actual value of a company or an asset based on an underlying perception of its true value including all aspects of the business, in terms of both tangible and intangible factors. This value may or may not be the same as the current market value (Investopedia, 2011). For that reason it is meaningful to see what extra price, or premium, the market pays for a particular security. In order to calculate market premium we use the formula (Penman, 2003): Market Premium = Market Value of Equity Book Value of Equityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. (3) Calculating the market value of BKC as of June 30, 2010, Market Value = Price per share*Shares Outstanding à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. (4) = $16.84*135.4m=$2,280.136m The Book Value of BKC = Total Shareholders Equity = $1,128.4m (Appendix C). Therefore, Market Premium = $1,151.736m. With Shares Outstanding = 135.4m, the Book Value per Share (BVPS) = $8.33 and Premium = $8.51. Indeed, the premium constitutes 102% over the book value. As compared to McDonalds, with 1,072m shares outstanding (Appendix D), McDonalds has a BVPS of $12.25 and the premium of $53.62, which is 438% higher than its book value. Thus, we may conclude that market is ready to pay quadruple premium for MCD, which indicates a great brand awareness and customer loyalty; however, they are still ready to pay twice for BKCs shares, which is a good sign for the stock evaluation. 5.4 Residual Earnings Model The residual earnings model relies on book value, which represents shareholders investments into the firm and measures value added to the investments. In other words, the book value of equity is taken and discounted back potential abnormal earnings are added to it. These earnings are returns to shareholders above their required rate of return. These earnings are important because otherwise the shareholders would have no objective to invest into the company if it break-evens at the minimum rate of return (Penman, 2003). Value = Book value + Premium à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. (5) or Value of common equity (VE0) = B0 + RE1/re à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (6) where, re = required rate of return, RE = Residual Earnings for Equity Now, Residual Earnings = Comprehensive Earnings (Required Return for Equity * Beginning-of-Period Book Value) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. (7) BK reported $165.8 million of comprehensive income on June 30, 2010 (Appendix B) on book value of $974.8 million. If BKs shareholders required a return of 8.32% in June, 2010; then its 2010 residual earnings were: Residual Earnings = $165.8 (8.32%*$974.8) = $84.70 million The very existence of the residual earnings gives us a sign that Burger King is a good investment to get extra return on invested funds. Further, substitutiting the values in equation 7, we get: Value of common equity (VE0) = $974.8 + $84.70/.0832 = $1,992.83 million VE0/share = $1,992.83/135.4 = $14.72 Assuming that RE remain unchanged (g=0%), then the calculated the intrinsic value of BKs share of $14.72 is close to market price of $16.84. Obviously, market was aware of the existing premium and recognized it by setting market price at that level. 5.5 Summary The three valuation models have revealed Burger Kings financial performance from different angles. For the reason that todays market is different from yesterdays, the DDM model is not really appropriate for security valuation, because contemporary market is mature and, as we have observed, dividends do not grow along with growing earnings as used to be in the past. However, this model was implemented just to see the consistency and get a better understanding of the value of the stock. The market premium model gave us a good sense of what market is ready to pay for the BKs share and McDonalds share. Further, the residual earnings model is said to be more reliable as compared to the other two models because it uses book value of the equity as well as market premium model. Overall, it can be seen that BK per se has performed well in the market; however it has been far behind its main competitor McDonalds. 6. RISKS Burger King is exposed to a variety of risks (3G Capital, 2011). The most prominent and important risks come from internal characteristics of the firm and market-determined factors. Internal characteristics of the firm include: Business risk: This risk might arise as a result of decreasing demand due to changes in consumer preferences, possible suppliers delays or adverse economic conditions. Also, the business model is based on franchising contracts, so franchisees financial strengths and ability to manage increasing costs is also subject of risk. Financial risk: BK has long-term and short-term debt outstanding, so it should have enough operating cash to meet these obligations. According to the notes to companys financial statements, BK uses derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts, which imply a higher risk exposure. Legal risk: As every food company, BK is in charge of risk related to food safety and toys as promotional instruments in their restaurants, as well as any legal judgments and pressures from competitors. Country risk / Exchange rate risk: BK is an international company, therefore fluctuations in foreign currencies and adverse government regulations create substantial risk exposure. Reputation risk: Customers in FFHR industry are very sensitive to the reputation and brand awareness of the company. Market-determined factors include: Systematic risk: This is an unmanageable risk, which can arise as a result of recessions and wars. Analyzing the risk associated with the functioning of the company, it can be discerned that BK acknowledges that there are some risks associated with the business. And therefore, has some measures such as following a market based pricing model, using trusted suppliers, etc. for overcoming these risks (Annual report, 2010). Further, BK is still vulnerable to the unknown risks such as exchange rate risks and systemic risks. However, these risks are faced by all companies. It is just a matter of the way in which they respond to these risks that determines how they fair in the market. As for BK, the impact of the systemic risk is has been high as compared to its competitor McDonalds (Datamonitor, 2010). However, they have realized this and have tried to overcome these setbacks by implementing promotional, other price discounting actions, and closing non-profitable company restaurants. (Annual report, 2010) 7. CONCLUSION Based on our analysis of companys background, strategy and people, as well as industry analysis and financial performance valuation we discern that the financial performance of BK was stable and improving during last five year, and the valuation revealed that the market believes that Burger Kings stock is worth investing. Therefore, we can conclude that the company is financially healthy and hence the acquirer, 3G Capital, made a good decision. However, because the new management does not have any experience in the food industry and adding to this the current economic situation, Burger King might be in a vulnerable position right now. Further, in the industry analysis, on one hand, there was a threat of customers switching to the healthier options, which might imply a risky acquisition decision by 3G Capital. And on the other hand, there was a positive outlook towards the quick service restaurant industry, which is expected to grow at a rate of 3% per year. Analyzing the annual repor t of BK, we realized that BK is aware of these issues and has been trying to improve them by introducing healthier meals and innovative marketing campaigns. Moreover, the strategy of the company is very ambiguous. The strategies and goals of BK are very generalist and unclear how the management is going to achieve these. However, the new management might set a new and a sound strategy and provide necessary resources for achieving it. In conclusion, in light of the business strategy and the comparison of the performance of the company with its competitiors , we think that the BKs acquisition was hugely overvalued. However, because of the stable financial performance and positive industry outlook it was a good acquisition and if the new management is able to tap the potential in the existing and new markets in a appropriate manner then the companys growth potential is huge. [PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD/AMEND SOMETHING IN CONCLUSION] APPENDIX A Consolidated Statement of Income Burger King Source: Burger King Holding, Inc. Form 10-K, 2010 APPENDIX B Consolidated Statement of Stockholders Equity Burger King Source: Burger King Holding, Inc. Form 10-K, 2010 APPENDIX C Consolidated Balance Sheet Burger King Source: Burger King Holding, Inc. Form 10-K, 2010 APPENDIX D Consolidated Statement of Income -McDonalds Source: McDonalds Corporation, Form 10-K, 2010 APPENDIX E Consolidated Statement of Stockholders Equity -McDonalds Source: McDonalds Corporation, Form 10-K, 2010 APPENDIX F Consolidated Balance Sheet -McDonalds Source: McDonalds Corporation, Form 10-K, 2010 APPENDIX G Dividend Discount Model McDonalds For valuation of McDonalds share, we have used the same risk-free rate of 2.92% and market risk premium of 6.75%, company beta of 0.49 was taken from the same on-line source (ADVFN, 2011). Substituting the values in equation 2, we get k = 2.92%+ 0.49*6.75% = 6.23%. The dividend per share was virtually stable; therefore we took the figure of $2.26 per share, as of 2010. As, r = k, substituting the value of r in equation 1, we get V = 2.26/0.0623 = $36.28 Therefore, as of June 30th, 2010 market share price of MCD was valued using the DDM model as $36.28, whereas the spot share price was $65.87 per share. It should be noted that for the valuations using the DDM model, we take the same risk-free rate and market risk premium, because companies are competing in the same industry, however beta is different because MCD is more stable than BKC which is why the risk of volatility is lower. McDonalds price history Source: Morningstar investment research, 2011 APPENDIX H Price History -Burger King Source: Wikinvest, 2011 Industry Analysis: Using the Porters Five Forces Model (Datamonitor, Industry analysis) Porters five forces model helps in analysing the profit potential of an industry which would eventually help in determining a firms chances of generating long-term profits. (book) Bargaining power of buyers: The economic recession has strengthened the buyer power as the industry players try to secure price sensitive consumers using competitive pricing strategies. However, due to the sheer convenience of having fast-food makes fast-food more important to the consumer than a simple source of food. Therefore, the buyer power is assessed to be moderate. Bargaining power of suppliers: For a fast food company to make profits, it is vital that the company has reliable suppliers that offer food of marketable quality and at a low margin. However, a large number of these suppliers serve other kinds of foodservice and cost service customers, thereby decreasing their dependence on fast food players. Therefore, the supplier power is considered to be moderate. Threat of new entrants: As large capital reserves are not required for setting up a single, independent fast food outlet, the entry into the global fast food market is easy. However, to build a global brand requires precise market knowledge, an excellent management team, and an admirable brand reputation, therefore the threat from new entrants is assessed to be moderate. Threat of substitute products: The substitutes for fast-food include other forms of profit foodservice and also food retail (ready meals or ingredients for home cooking). However, these are considered to be unhealthy and take time in preparing, whereas convenience and availability are considered to be the main drivers for choosing fast-food. Therefore, the threat of substitutes is assessed to be moderate. Rivalry among existing firms: Rivalry in the fast-food industry is considered to be intense as the fast food markets can be very concentrated. The burger segment is close to being a Burger-King/ McDonalds duopoly. Further, prices especially of value meals and brand power form the greatest sources of competition in the fast-food market. SWOT Analysis: The SWOT analysis helps us determine a companys strengths and weaknesses, and then helps us evaluate whether the company has the ability to effectively exploit its opportunities and overcome its threats. Adapted from (Datamonitor, 2010) Strong market position and brand equity BK enjoys a strong market position and possesses an established brand reputation. This has enabled it to gain economies of scale, increase its bargaining power, and enter international markets. (Datamonitor, 2010) High franchise mix The company has franchise stores and company restaurants in the ratio of 90-10. This restaurant ownership mix provides BK with a strategic advantage as the capital required to grow and maintain the BK system is funded primarily by franchisees, while the Company restaurants give it a sizeable base to demonstrate credibility. (pdf) Innovative marketing campaigns and advertising to provide greater visibility BK uses innovative marketing, advertising and sponsorships to drive sales and generate restaurant traffic. The main target market of BK is the 18-35 year old male with a love of fast food. (Datamotiner, BKcase study). Therefore, its advertisements are made to appeal to this segment. Further, BKs advertisements campaigns such as Whopper Sacrifice campaign and Cheat on beef campaign help the company gain better visibility which helps it to have an impact on the revenue generating capacity. Weaknesses Declining comparable sales growth BK saw a decline in its comparable sales growth in 2009. This was mainly because of continued adverse macroeconomic conditions, higher unemployment, more customers eating at home, and heavy discounting by other restaurant chains. This only means that the management has to focus on various product offerings that cater to the value conscious customers during times of poor economic conditions. Concentrated operations-in terms of geographic presence and dependence on selected distributors increases business risks Although BKC operates in 74 countries, its operations are heavily concentrated in the US. Approximately 61% of its restaurants are located in the US. US and Canada account for about 68.7% of the total revenues, whereas BKCs competitor McDonalds generates only 35% of its total revenues from US. Concentrated operations increase the business risk of the company and impact its results of operations and thus its financial condition. Opportunities Expansion in existing and new markets BKC should focus on expanding into existing and new markets and the company has taken steps to expand into international markets. 2009 saw a 28% rise in new restaurants in international markets. The company also entered two new in

Collapse of Civilizations Essay -- essays research papers

The factors that lead to the â€Å"collapse† of civilizations are almost directly related to those that created it. Archaeologists characterize collapse by a number of elements, some of which we have evidence for, others we do not. Most archaeologists are unsure of exactly what caused the decline of most civilizations in the ancient world, yet there are many clues to some of the events that could have contributed. The collapse of the ancient Roman Empire, the Mesoamerican Mayan, and the Egyptian cultures will be discussed in the following paragraphs, with a focus on the uniqueness of each.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Collapse† is in quotations because its definition when applied to civilizations is often debated. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary states: 1: to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely: fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure 2: to break down 3: to cave or fall in or give way 4: to suddenly lose force, significance, effectiveness, or worth 5: to break down in vital energy, stamina, or self-control through exhaustion or disease; especially: to fall helpless or unconscious 6: to fold down into a more compact shape Although this definition can vaguely describe the overall fall of most civilizations, the actual details are more finite. One such event would be an environmental change. Archaeologists use this as a reason for the decline of civilizations often because it fits so well into any situation. A terrifying earthquake, a change in flow of a vital river, and a volcanic eruption are examples of what could have happened to abruptly end a civilization. Another reason might be over use of natural resources. As civilizations grew, the need for more resources increased. They could not grow enough food to support the growing population, and as a result trade networks fell apart, people began to starve, and large epidemics spread. Also many of these civilizations based everything on ideology. They believe that their rulers were gods on earth, so when these devastating things started happening, they lost faith in their ruler. Building temples, making statues of their kings, redistributing their good s, and the following of rulers all ceased. The accumulation of all these factors resulted in decline.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For a long period of time, the Mayan civilization was assumed to ha... ...n 1163 B.C., Egypt entered a period of slow decline (Scarre 1997:116). Pharaohs became less powerful, and their prestige dwindled. Hungry soldiers were terrorizing the community, while tomb robbers were raiding the pyramids for resources that were very much needed. They had buried their pharaohs with food, goods and jewelry, all of which were needed to keep the civilization in tact. They had built too many pyramids, and there were setbacks in Asia which corrupted trade. People did not understand why the pharaohs could not fix the problems that were going on. They viewed them as gods and lost trust and faith. Egypt fell apart as these things culminated with loss of belief in the pharaohs. These three civilizations all had a decline that can not be totally explained. Each unique yet similar in different ways. Both the Egyptian and Mayan civilization seemed to have declined because of agricultural and ideological reasons, and all three had to do with a loss of power and trust in rulers. There are many factors that create a civilization or empire and make it powerful. The corruption and loss of these same factors is what leads to the decline of an otherwise successful civilization.

abortion :: essays research papers

I'm late for my period. I've never had sex willingly. Oh God I hope it wasn't from that night. How can I live with myself or tell some one my secret. No one will believe me, it was my own boyfriend. It's my fault anyway, I should've wanted to have sex, he told me we were going to get married. Where is he now? He said he'll love me forever, I need him by my side. I think I'm going to take the test. I can't be pregnant! How can I explain to the child that I don't want it. I have major plans like college and meeting my Prince Charming. I don't want to have a kid, especially since it's face is going to remind me of the worst night of my life. I can't be pregnant I'm only 18 years old. I have college to go to next year, I'm not even with Bill anymore. "NO! STOP!!! PLEASE STOP!!!!" I cried as this "man" took me into his world, one in which I know I didn't belong. "ATLEAST PUT A CONDOM ON!! WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? PLEASE STOP!!!!" I kept crying and he was in such rage and had such determination that I would succomb to his ways and enjoy the most horrible experience of my life. So, I'm going to take a pregnancy test. I pray I'm not pregnent. I can't imagine telling anyone. They know I don't believe in premarital sex. I still consider myself a virgin. I've never told anyone about that night, so if I just end up pregnant, who is going to believe me? I hope my mom stays by myside, I know she is going to be outraged. I hope Bill will put it his two cents in, should I even tell him? Abortions are legal in my state. It seems like a reasonable thing to do. I don't want to kill my baby or throw him away in the dumpster. I would put it up for adoption, but every morning and night for the next nine months I am going to relive that horrible night. Roe v. Wade was based on this case. In 1973, The state of Texas had outlawed abortions. The Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional, but refused to order an injuction againts the state. On January 22, 1973, The Supreme Court voted the right to privacy including abortions.

Geico Advertising Appeals Essay

Out of the many appeals that companies use to advertise their product or service, the need to achieve is one of the most commonly seen. In our highly competitive society, everybody is trying to get ahead. Everybody is looking for that little advantage that will push them forward. The appeal of achievement correlates with success and winning, ideas that represent the outcomes of hard work on which people like to pride themselves. In many of their ads, Geico likes to tap into our competitive nature by offering us incentives, such as saving time and money, which speak specifically to our consumer culture. Such a tactic proves to be effective because for the most part, consumers in our ambitious society like to be frugal and fiscally responsible. Nobody wants to spend an extra dime if they do not have to. Simultaneously, customers do not want to spend all day looking for the perfect insurance. Read more: The woman I admire the most essay They know that time is a finite resource and it must be spent wisely. In order to persuade customer’s into buying their insurance, Geico effectively utilizes the achievement appeal because it resonates with their goals of saving time and money. In most of Geico’s commercials, they are able to address their audiences need to achieve with a simple slogan: â€Å"15 minutes could save you 15 percent or more on your car insurance.† This message that sells their customer’s on their service, however, is not seen until the end of the commercial. For most of the commercial the time is spent entertaining the audience in a humorous way. Take for example the viral â€Å"Hump Day† commercial. Throughout the ad, a camel who can talk walks through an office building asking and bugging the workers about â€Å"What day is it?† Since he is a camel with a ‘humped’ or arched back, the advertisers suggest that that the camel is referring to ‘Hump Day’ or in other words, Wednesday. This is followed up by two men who are playing the guitar with each other. In an attempt to illustrate the point of the commercial, one of them asks the other â€Å"how happy are people who switch their car insurance to Geico?† which is then followed up by â€Å"happier than a camel on ‘Hump Day.† Although the appeal of humor is meant to grab the attention of the target audience, their main reason for choosing to use Geico’s service is the feeling of achievement that they derive. In Jib Fowles’ essay â€Å"Advertising’s Fifteen Basic Appeals† he cites ‘the need to achieve’ as one of the 15 strategies which enable advertisers to reach their audience. For most consumers, the market place is seen as a competitive territory where whomever comes out having spent the least amount of money is the victor. Thus, Geico effectively advertises its service by highlighting the opportunity to â€Å"save 15 percent or more on your car insurance† by switching to Geico. Not only do they illustrate the money that can be saved, but also the time. Along with the ’15 percent’ that can be saved, Geico also mentions that this can be done in ’15 minutes;’ a relatively short amount of time . As a consequence, Geico puts their consumers in a win-win situation because â€Å"the person who manages to buy something at fifty percent off is seizing an opportunity and coming out ahead of others† while they enable them to do it in an efficient manner (Fowles). Geico’s use of the ‘need to achieve’ appeal is characterized as the most reasonable way to solicit their service as it takes nothing away from their customer, while it gives them everything in return; they don’t have anything to lose. However, humor, which Fowles labels as a stylistic feature, is most prominent in order to incite the interest of car owners. This commercial, in particular, is known for its comedic success. The ridiculous camel has become a viral sensation as it is now considered amusing to yell out â€Å"Hump Day† on a Wednesday. In fact, the commercial has over 16 million views on Youtube. Ultimately, Geico does a great job of exposing its overall message about achievement sense the build up to their trademark slogan is so appealing in itself. If 16 million people know about a camel yelling â€Å"hump day,† then 16 million people know about the time and money that can be saved by using Geico’s insurance. Jibs’ appeal of achievement is one that correlates completely with our society. We constantly strive to compete and win while we admire those who reach the pentacle of their field or profession; even if it is about something as minimal as saving money . Geico, in particular, gives people the incentive to achieve by offering people them the opportunity to save their time and money, and they respond accordingly. However, it is not the promise of ‘getting ahead’ alone that attracts their target audience; humor, is a fundamental component that is used to grab and keep the customer’s attention. Apparently, Geico does this better than anyone. What better way is there of holding a car owner’s attention then by having an obnoxious, talking camel yell â€Å"Hump Day!†? That was a rhetorical question; there is not a better way. Geico is just the best.