Comparison of the Presentation of the Characters Jay...

Comparison of the Presentation of the Characters Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver from The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald is known as a writer who chronicled his times. This work has been critically acclaimed for portraying the sentiments of the American people during the 1920s and 1930s. ‘The Great Gatsby’ was written in 1924, whilst the Fitzgeralds were staying on the French Riviera, and ‘Tender is the Night’ was written nearly ten years later, is set on, among other places, the Riviera. There are very interesting aspects of these works, such as the way Fitzgerald treats his so-called heroes, and to what extent we can call them heroic. Gatsby and Diver are both presented as wealthy men leading privileged lives. ‘The Great†¦show more content†¦Instead, Dick felt ‘a discrepancy between the growing luxury in which the Divers lived, and the need for display which apparently went along with it. Dick feels trapped by Nicole’s money, and constantly tires to assert his independence from it, such as when he and Nicole started out togethe r, he supported them on his few thousand a year. However, the Warren family undermined his independence, such as buying the Divers their clinic in Zurich, in order to protect Nicole. Nicole wants to own Dick, and once of the ways in which to do so is by her money (’Nicole, wanting to own him †¦ encouraged any slackness on his part’). People see the Divers for their money, such as Franz Gregorovious with his plans for the clinic. It is not that Dick is adverse to the concept of money and wealth, but he feels that he has become trapped by Nicole’s riches (he ‘had wedded a desire for money to an essentially unacquisitive nature †¦ he had never felt more sure of himself †¦ than at the time of his marriage to Nicole. Yet he has been swallowed up like a gigolo, and somehow permitted his arsenal to be locked up in the Warren safety deposit vaults.’) Despite both these men having vast amounts of money at their disposal, thus the theoretical a bility to do or achieve anything

The Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) - 3392 Words

Biology Coursework Introduction An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that effects social interaction and behaviour. (1) It is relatively common in young children, with around 1% of 5 year olds being diagnosed. Both Asperger’s Syndrome and Childhood Autism fall into the category of an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many reasons have been placed forward about how and why an ASD occurs in certain people. The majority accept that genetic factors are the most likely cause. Research is ongoing to find any genes that may increase the likelihood of developing an ASD. Aside from genetics, other factors such as environmental (i.e. upbringing) have been suggested as possible explanations. Recently, there was a scare in the UK when it was claimed the MMR (measles – mumps – rubella) vaccine was causing ASD in young children. (2)There was no link found between the two in studies however, but it demonstrates how an ASD can affect everyone’s life at some point, and how quick it can act. Providing Solutions Over the past few years, many breakthroughs have been made when studying Autism and looking at potential solutions. Because of this, a number of potential treatments for the disorder have been suggested. Although incurable as it is genetic, Autism Spectrum Disorders are measured in severity. It is hoped treatment can lower the severity of individual cases of ASD. One particularly interesting potential treatment is the use of Levocarnitine Therapy in young children diagnosed withShow MoreRelatedAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1722 Words   |  7 Pagesin every sixty-eight births are diagnosed with the Autism spectrum disorder in other words (ASD), which is about one percent of the world’s population. And that more than three point five million people in America live with a person who has the Autism spectrum disorder. We all know that Autism is a spectrum disorder in which an abnormality is developed in the brain. It is a long life condition that has no cure for itself. People who have Autism face many difficulties in their communication and theirRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1441 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder. Like many other psychological disorders, it is commonly misunderstood in popular culture. Many allude to it casually, often equating it with crippling social awkwardness and disability when it is in fact a spectrum disorder with many degrees of severity. It is somewhat of an enigma within the scientific community as well; there are many things we do not know about ASD and there is ongoing research to learn moreRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1535 Words   |  7 PagesHow Autism Influences the Interactions with Others There is a little boy that gets up every morning and goes to school. He goes home to his parents after school each day. He eats, sleeps, and plays just like any other child. There is one difference. He sees the world in a unique way than most other children not affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. The boy’s life and actions are a bit different and can be challenging for him. He needs understanding parents, family members, and teachers. Autism SpectrumRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1444 Words   |  6 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder Dustin S. Staats University of Central Oklahoma â€Å"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) formerly known as just Autism, is a disorder that affects about 1 in 68 children here in the United States.† (Facts about ASD) This is a pretty high prevalence and the number is continuing to rise. â€Å"Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant impairments in behavioral, communication, and social aspects of everyday life.†(Facts about ASD). The intellectual functioning ofRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1569 Words   |  7 Pagesdiagnoses for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occur has seen a dramatic growth in numbers. With diagnoses for ASD increasing, more siblings are also being found to have grown up with a sister or brother with autism spectrum disorder. Previous studies have shown no consensus on whether or not siblings of persons with ASD are at risk for negative effects. However, patterns of anxiety among these siblings are being examined to see if characteristics of a child with autism spectrum disorder and their parentsRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1369 Words   |  6 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Introduction I don t think people understand how unique children with Autism are or the demands of caring for a child with Autism is. In order to grasp the effect of this disability has on a child or their family it is important to understand the characteristics of a child living with Autism. So for you to understand I will be talking about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism in a childs life. I will be talking about what autism is, the history and descriptionRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1587 Words   |  7 Pages Topic: Autism Spectrum Disorder  (ASD) Purpose: My audience will learn the importance of recognizing early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children. Thesis: It is important to understand the early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and why early intervention is the best treatment. Introduction: Gain/maintain attention There is a television show I like to watch called â€Å"The Big Bang Theory, maybe some of you have seen it. This show focuses on the relationships between a group of friends, someRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) Essay1168 Words   |  5 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder, as defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction (ninds.nih.gov). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a very complex developmental disorder and the term ‘spectrum’ was added to the original term simply known as ‘Autism’ due to the wide range of symptoms associated with the disorderRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1852 Words   |  8 PagesThe following paper is going to cover the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using research and data collected from various authors and journalists the paper will describe the different variations of autism and discuss the impact autism has on a person- in society, at home, in the classroom, and in their careers. Beginning at infancy, autism has a major impact on not just the child but their family’s life as well. The child’s lack of ability to interpret social cues, gestures, and expressionsRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) Essay1240 Words   |  5 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a range of conditions grouped under the neurodevelopmental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) published in 2013 (Kress Paylo, 2015). Those who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder must present two types of symptoms: 1) Deficits in social communication and social interaction and 2) Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities (APA, 2013). The DSM-5 merged all autism

Creativity and Innovation in Indian Banks Free Essays

string(27) " free of any bank charges\." Topic: Innovative products by Indian organizations in the Banking Sector Akshita Shetty Student K J Somaiya Institute of management studies and research PGDM (RM) Roll no: 56 Email id:ashetty14189@gmail. com Abstract During the past one decade, one of the sectors which underwent visible sea-change through innovative strategies is undoubtedly the banking sector. The sector has been growing at a fast pace in India and is challenged with several aspects like new regulations from time to time, changing customer needs and perceptions, changing technology and changing operations. We will write a custom essay sample on Creativity and Innovation in Indian Banks or any similar topic only for you Order Now Technology has been playing a crucial role in the tremendous improvement of banking services and operations. Indian banking industry has moved way ahead both in terms of offering value added services and delivering quality service. It was thought that the world financial crisis would impact the Indian banking sector in a serious manner. But, because of the strong foundations of Indian banking system with the support from well structured financial systems, the anticipated impact of the world crisis was almost insignificant. Instead, it helped the banks to get strengthened further and become closer to the customer with innovative approaches. Banks appear to be on the path of achieving sustainability and a long-term survival because of innovation. Keywords: Innovation in banking, technology in banking, changes in banking, transformation in banking, IT in banking, Indian banking. Introduction Technology has brought about a complete paradigm shift in the functioning of banks and delivery of banking services. Gone are the days when every banking transaction required a visit to the bank branch. Today, most of the transactions can be done from the comforts of one’s home and customers need not visit the bank branch for anything. Technology is no longer an enabler, but a business driver. The growth of the internet, mobiles and communication technology has added a different dimension to banking. The information technology (IT) available today is being leveraged in customer acquisitions, driving automation and process efficiency, delivering ease and efficiency to customers. Many of the IT initiatives of banks started in the late 1990s or early 2000 with an emphasis on the adoption of core banking solutions (CBS), automation of branches and centralization of operations in the CBS. Over the last decade, most of the banks completed the transformation to technology-driven organizations. Moving from a manual, scale-constrained environment to a global presence with automated systems and processes, it is difficult to envisage the adverse scenario the sector was in the era before the reforms, when a simple deposit or withdrawal of cash would require a day. ATMs, mobile banking and online bill payments facilities to vendors and utility service providers have almost obviated the need for customers to visit a branch. Branches are also transforming from operating as transaction processing points into relationship management hubs. The change has been very productive for banks bringing in an increase in productivity and operational efficiency to be more competitive. Better risk management due to centralization of information and real time availability of critical data for decision making. With most of the banks being technology-enabled, the focus is shifting to computerizing regional rural banks (RRBs). In addition, banks are moving toward decision making and business intelligence software and trying to optimize the IT infrastructure created The banking system in India has created a niche for itself in the current competitive global arena where adoption of new and innovative technological developments carries the key to expansion of business and its future development. The Indian banking system has come a long way from being a player restricted to domestic boundaries to a leading giant in the world of financial services across the globe. Credit for this progress goes to a mix of factors like, the introduction of various economic reforms which gave a boost to the banking sector, adoption of new technology by banks in order to streamline their line of businesses and increasing profits by improving cost efficiency and offering doorstep banking convenience to their customers. Banking ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ Indian villages were deprived of various financial products like mutual funds, insurance and equity trading hitherto, which are now accessible through proxy banking in the form of Internet kiosks and ATMs. The alias given to banking which is not routed through branches is ‘Channel Migration’. Through this route, a bouquet of services is at the customers’ disposal in today’s banking system. This is possible because banking transactions are stored in a centrally located server with which all other branches of a bank are connected. The technological systems in India are considered far more advanced than those of Russian and Chinese banking systems but are lagging far behind the UK, USA and Singapore. Connectivity takes root Today almost all scheduled commercial banks are connected to all the branches on a real time basis extending the anywhere banking facility to the customers, which means that it is not necessary for a customer now to visit the branch personally in order to conduct transactions. Now a customer has various other options available with him like internet banking, mobile banking, ATMs (automated teller machines), phone banking which offers 24 X 7 banking, etc. Whenever and wherever a transaction is done in a bank account, the updated status is reflected in all the branches, thus making anywhere banking possible. ATMs have revolutionalized the banking sector by making cash and other banking services available to customers at all times. Future Outlook The future of Indian banking lies in increased investment in technology platforms and a greater focus on end-to-end solutions provided by IT majors like core banking products, vertical specific CRM and risk management software. Body scope Innovation by Indian banks in aspects such as: Service banking ATMS’s Net banking Mobile banking ECS/RTGS/NEFT Debit card/credit cards CRM (customer service) Case studies: (for example) South Indian Bank: The salary disbursement of corporates , firms and such others who maintain accounts with any of the 511 CBS branches would be managed by the Bank, hassle-free and free of any bank charges. You read "Creativity and Innovation in Indian Banks" in category "Essay examples" The employer would be benefited in that the salary could be disbursed to any employees/any single employee who are/is working even in far-off places where SIB has no presence. Dr. V. A. Joseph ,Chairman CEO of the Bank and Mr. M. P. Gopalakrishnan,President ,CMS Trust jointly launched the product . In his inaugural address Dr. Joseph said, †This convenience banking product, which is designed for the convenience of both employers and employees, leverages the bank’s strong technology platform, which connects all the 511 branches and 26 extension counters of the Bank under Core Banking Solutions network offering anytime banking to its customers. GSSA can be opened with zero balance†. The Chairman and CEO of the Bank also stated, â€Å"South Indian Bank, being a customer – oriented Bank is striving hard to render personalized customer service using the latest technological capabilities. The technological capability of the Bank was recognised when the Bank could bag the banking technology excellence award from IDRBT which is the technical arm of RBI. The service quality of the Bank has also been recognized when the Bank was selected in the ‘Outlook Money – C Fore’ survey as the best private sector Bank in India in the service quality segment. . Dr. Joseph also referred to the facility recently started for online booking of offerings, free of bank charges , through South Indian Bank payment gateway-the first bank to go online booking -by the customers of the bank who are devotees of Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple which is described as the Dwaraka of South India. This facility is being utilized by the NRIs also to effect offerings, hassle â €“free with greater transparency and security at the click of a button ,either for themselves or their aged parents resident in India.. South Indian Bank had completed on 26. 03. 07 the project ‘SIBertech’ by introducing a centralised Core Banking Solution in technology partnership with Infosys Technologies when many banks had not even started implementation of CBS . SIB, had started this project in 2001 to render personalized customer service. The new product now launched would confirm this belief†, the Chairman concluded his inaugural address. With the following carefully thought-out value additions of this innovative convenience banking product , banking for employers and their employees, is made extremely easy and comfortable: – * ;Free International ATM-cum-Debit Card for which annual maintenance charges are not collected * Online booking of offerings for Lord Sri Guruvayurappan, free of bank charges * O  Withdrawal of cash from the ATMs of other Banks free of bank charges (As charges would be borne by SIB) * O  Free utility payment and e-commerce services * ;No stipulation on minimum balance ;The depositor enjoying many freebies can earn the usual SB interest * ;The depositor can operate his SB account –during his travel/temporary transfer /transfer- hassle-free * ;The account can be closed /transferred to another branch with out any charge * ;Free of cost cheque leaves (subject to limits in each category ) * ;Free fund transfer facility through RTGS/NEFT/Fast Money /DD Customers of this feature-rich Savings Bank account are also provided with facilities to open Depository account and also enjoy mobile banking facility. Indian bank: Indian Bank has won the ‘Golden Peacock Innovative Products/Service Award’ for 2011. The award was received by the bank’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr T. M. Bhasin, at the World Congress on Total Quality, held in Bengaluru on Saturday. The award was given to the bank â€Å"in recognition of its contribution to promotion of self help groups (SHGs)†. SHGs have turned out to be major vehicles of women empowerment. In the current year, Indian Bank has so far disbursed Rs 1,360 crore to 55,391 SHGs, taking the total exposure under the SHG portfolio to Rs 2,336 crore, benefiting 175,390 SHGs, says a press release from the bank. State Bank of India: State bank of India, the largest public sector bank in India, offers the following innovative services. 1. SMS Unhappy This innovative idea was initiated by Mr. Siva Kumar, Dy. Managing Director of SBI. Any customer who wants to lodge a complaint sends the message â€Å"Unhappy† to a specified number (8008202020). The Happy Room then calls the customer and records the details of the complaint. The complaint is then forwarded. SBI has received thousands of such messages since its commencement and this service is a great success. Other banks have also started imitating this service. 2. Crorepati Only Branch SBI has launched first of its kind branch for High Networth Individuals (HNI) where it takes minimum Rs 1 crore to open an account, and that too on invitation only. This branch offers specialized banking facilities like relationship managers, 24/7 lockers, extended banking hours, doorstep pick-up and drop facilities, in addition to pampering customers five-star amenities at the branch. â€Å"We have opened as many as 50 accounts so far. We are confident of opening another 150 by the end of the current fiscal,† as per Mr. Shiva Kumar, Chief General Manager, SBI4. According to SBI, an attractive feature of the branch is 24 hour open lockers. The bank also is providing special dressing rooms for customers to cater to the needs of late night function goers segment. References -Y. Ramakrishna, Service Innovation in Banks for Sustainability, IJMBS Vol. 2, Issue 2, April – June 2012 -Indian banking System: Epitome of continuous innovation, 2008. -Process innovation in the Indian banking industry, 2009 Indian Banking Sector: Challenges and Opportunities -Keertiman Sharma, Innovations in rural financial products and services, VOL. 2(1) – 2011: 35-37 -Outsourcing in the Indian banking sector: gaining momentum, 2008 -Innovation in retail banking -India PRWIRE, South Indian bank launches another innovative convenience product, 2008 -Vortex engineering, Solar power to enable banking and ATM facilities for rur al india, 2011 -J U Ahmed, Services Rendered by Commercial Bank: A Customer Oriented empirical Evidence from State Bank of India, Vol. I No. – 2, Jan-2011 ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Service Innovation in Banks for Sustainability [ 2 ]. technology in banking: Insight and foresight [ 3 ]. Indian banking system: epitome of continuous improvement [ 4 ]. Solar power to enable banking and ATM facilities for Rural  India [ 5 ]. Y. Ramakrishna, Service Innovation in Banks for Sustainability, IJMBS Vol. 2, Issue 2, April – June 2012 How to cite Creativity and Innovation in Indian Banks, Essay examples

Financial Performance Analysis Scottish Power and EDF Energy

Question: Critically examine the performance of these two companies,Scottish Power and EDF Energy using ratios extracted over the two year period. This will include trend(s) and the relative performance comparison between these firms? Answer: Introduction Financial performance analysis is considered to be crucial for the organization as well as investors. This paper has focused on analyzing financial performance of two public listed companies in terms of profitability, liquidity; efficiency etc. ratio analysis is an effective tool that significantly contributes in the performance analysis of organizations (Atkinson, 2007). This paper will focus on the energy sector of United Kingdom and two business organizations from this sector will be chosen for analyzing as well as comparing the financial performance of these companies. In this paper, the chosen companies are Scottish Power and EDF Energy. An overview of the energy sector along with the companies has been presented in this report. Therefore, financial performance analysis has been undertaken with the aid of ratio analysis of the company. Energy Industry of United Kingdom Energy industry of United Kingdom has significant contribution in the economy of the nation. It provides job opportunities for 680,000 people and the sector pays tax of 5.7 billion GBP. It is considered as the second most important sector of United Kingdom. In 2014, 13.1 million GBP has been invested in the infrastructure. The energy sector of United Kingdom is consisted of three principal components: generation of electricity, distribution and supplying it to the consumers. In United Kingdom, fossil fuel such as coal and natural gas are considered to be the major source for electricity generation. In 2010, it has been estimated that coal and natural gas contribute to 28% and 47% of the electricity generation. O n the other hand, nuclear source of energy contributes to 16% of the total electricity production. It is expected that the operations of nuclear power stations of UK will be ceased within 2025. Renewable sources of energy have been utilized by UK for contributing 7% of the to tal electricity generation. It is expected that within 2020, the figure will reach 30% of the total electricity generation in UK. Some significant changes is expected to occur in the energy sector of United Kingdom which will make its more simple as well as fair to the consumers (Energy-uk.org.uk, 2015). Company Overview Scottish Power: Scottish Power is focusing on providing renewable energy solutions. The company is committed to its consumers for becoming more energy efficient (Scottishpower.com, 2015). EDF Energy: EDF Energy is the largest producer of low carbon electricity in United Kingdom. The company produces 20% of the total electricity of the nation. It has 15,000 employees. It has been focusing on meeting customer demand (EDF Energy, 2015). Financial Analysis Financial analysis helps in gaining an insight regarding the performance of the company. It is very important for the business organizations to evaluate its performance to assess whether it has been able to achieve its objectives in that financial year. Additionally, the investors must use the financial information for evaluating the performance in order to make rational investment decision. This section will focus on analyzing the financial performance of Scottish Power and EDF Energy (Coombs, Hobbs and Jenkins, 2005). Ratio Analysis Ratio analysis one of the most efficient tool that uses relevant information from the financial statements of the company for calculating specific financial performance indicators. In this section, the financial information of consecutive two years 2012 and 2013 has been gathered from the annual reports of the company for analyzing the financial performance (Epstein and Lee, 2010). Profitability Ratio Profitability ratio helps in estimating how well the company has been able to generate profit. Gross profit margin indicates how much money is left from the sales after considering the cost of goods sold. Net profit margin indicates how much amount remains with the company after considering total expenditure. From the following table, it can be found that the gross profit margin of EDF Energy in 2012 and 2013 is same. The gross profit margin of Scottish Power has improved slightly in 2013. However, the gross profit margin of Scottish power is much lower than EDF energy. Net profit margin of EDF is much lower than the gross profit which implies that operation cost of the company is higher. Net profit margin of EDF energy is higher than Scottish Power which has encountered slight decline in terms net profit margin. Hence, it can be concluded that EDF Energy is in better position than Scottish power in terms of profitability (Gazely and Lambert, 2006). Scottish Power (million) EDF Energy (million) 2013 2012 2013 2012 Profitability Ratio Gross Profit 2,171.50 2,032.20 3,699.00 3,557.00 Revenue 54,070.00 53,227.00 8,311.00 7,960.00 Gross Profit Margin 4.02% 3.82% 44.51% 44.69% Net Profit 539.70 612.90 814.00 563.00 Revenue 54,070.00 53,227.00 8,311.00 7,960.00 Net Profit Margin 1.00% 1.15% 9.79% 7.07% Liquidity Ratio Liquidity ratio helps in estimation of the cash position of the company and its ability to meet short terms obligations or day to day operation. Two important liquidity ratios current ratio and quick ratio has been calculated in this section for the two companies for 2012and 2013. Current ratio as well as quick ratio implies the potential of the company. If current ratio is 1 or more, it indicates the company has adequate current assets for meeting short term liabilities (Hansen and Mowen, 2000). In case of Scottish Power, the current ratio has declined in 2013 from the previous financial year. The value is very poor and indicates the short term obligations of the firm are much higher than current assets. Hence, the company will encounter difficulty in managing working capital. On the other hand, current ratio of EDF Energy is 1.6 and 1.76 in 2012 and 2013 respectively. It clearly implies that the company has been able to maintain adequate current assets for meeting short term liabilities. Quick ratio does not consider inventories in the current asset as it cannot be quickly converted into cash. The quick ratio of Scottish power clearly indicates the company needs higher amount of current asset. The quick ratio of EDF Energy is found to be better in 2013. It can be concluded that the liquidity position of EDF Energy is quite good while Scottish Power do not have adequate current assets (Madegowda, 2007). Scottish Power (million) EDF Energy (million) 2013 2012 2013 2012 Liquidity Ratio Current Asset 3,053.00 3,532.80 6,140.00 5,998.00 Current Liabilities 5,525.20 5,407.80 3,493.00 3,753.00 Current Ratio 0.55 0.65 1.76 1.60 Current Assets 3,053.00 3,532.80 6,140.00 5,998.00 Inventories 298.30 164.30 2,334.00 2,139.00 Current Liabilities 5,525.20 5,407.80 3,493.00 3,753.00 Quick Ratio 0.50 0.62 1.09 1.03 Efficiency Ratio Efficiency ratio helps in estimating the efficiency of the organizational activities in terms of asset utilization, inventory conversion etc. In this section, two important efficiency ratios, asset turnover ratio and inventory turnover ratio has been calculated. Asset turnover ratio of Scottish Power has improved in 2013. On the other hand, asset turnover ratio of EDF energy has been estimated to be very poor (Weetman, 2010). It can be clearly concluded that Scottish Power has been able to utilize its assets efficiently for generating revenue. In contrast, EDF Energy has not been able to utilize the assets effectively. Inventory turnover ratio assists in calculating the time taken for converting the inventory into sales. It has been found that the inventory turnover ratio of Scottish Power has increased in 2013. On the other hand, the inventory turnover ratio of EDF Energy is much higher than Scottish Power. Higher inventory turnover ratio has a negative implication for the company ( Hansen and Mowen, 2005). Scottish Power (million) EDF Energy (million) 2013 2012 2013 2012 Efficiency Ratio Revenue 54,070.00 53,227.00 8,311.00 7,960.00 Total Asset 13,903.90 19,802.20 30,661.00 28,801.00 Asset Turnover Ratio 3.89 2.69 0.27 0.28 Inventories 298.30 164.30 2,334.00 2,139.00 Cost of Sales 4,612.00 4,403.00 6,059.20 5,770.90 Inventory Turnover ratio 23.61 13.62 140.60 135.29 Capital Structure ratio Capital structure of an organization plays a major role in understanding the risks associated with the organization. Gearing ratio and interest coverage ratio are the two important capital structure ratios. Gearing ratio estimates the ratio between debt and equity capital. In case of Scottish Power, the gearing ratio is greater than 1 which indicates that debt is higher than equity. Hence, higher risk is associated with the company (Weetman, 2010). On the other hand the gearing ratio of EDF Energy indicates that the proportion of debt is much less than equity. Hence, risk is lower in case of EDF Energy. Interest coverage ratio refers to the ability of the company to payback its loan. It has been calculated that the interest coverage ratio has declined in 2013 in case of Scottish Power and it has improved in case of EDF energy. However, both the companies have been able to maintain a good position in terms of interest repayment capability (Horngren, Harrison and Bamber, 2005). Scottish Power (million) EDF Energy (million) 2013 2012 2013 2012 Capital Structure Ratio Debt Capital 6,253.40 6,084.40 1,505.00 1,196.00 Total Equity 3,871.20 3,778.50 16,321.00 15,992.00 Gearing Ratio 1.62 1.61 0.09 0.07 Profit before interest and tax 765.10 911.30 1,197.00 1,061.00 Interest Expenses 211.60 211.90 444.00 546.00 Interest Coverage Ratio 3.62 4.30 2.70 1.94 Investors Ratio Investors ratio is important for making investment decision. Earnings per share and dividend per share are the most important ratios. In case of EDF Energy, the EPS has slightly improved in 2013. Though the EPS of Scottish Power has declined in 2013, it is higher than EDF Energy. On the other hand, dividend per share is higher in case of Scottish Power in 2013 in comparison to EDF Energy. In 2012, the company has not paid dividend. In terms of EPS and dividend payment, Scottish Power seems to be better in comparison to EDF Energy. Scottish Power (million) EDF Energy (million) 2013 2012 2013 2012 Investor Ratio PAT 539.80 613.00 816.00 564.00 No of ordinary shares issued 3,000.00 3,000.00 13,051.00 12,644.00 Earnings Per Share (EPS) 0.18 0.20 0.06 0.04 Dividends 600.00 - 807.00 677.00 No of ordinary shares issued 3,000.00 3,000.00 13,051.00 12,644.00 Dividend per share 20.00 0.00 6.18 5.35 (Ref: (www.scottishpower.com, 2014, www.edfenergy.com, 2014)) Conclusion This paper has provided an insight regarding the financial performance of two major companies from the energy sector of UK. It has been found that the profitability and liquidity position of EDF Energy is better. Moreover, level of risk is less in case of EDF Energy. However, in terms of investors return, Scottish Power seems to be more lucrative. The efficiency of business operations is better in case of Scottish Power. References Atkinson, A. (2007).Management accounting. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Coombs, H., Hobbs, D. and Jenkins, D. (2005).Management accounting. London: SAGE Publications. EDF Energy, (2015).How we operate. [online] Available at: https://www.edfenergy.com/about/how-we-operate [Accessed 26 Feb. 2015]. Energy-uk.org.uk, (2015).Powering the UK | Energy UK. [online] Available at: https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/energy-industry/powering-the-uk.html [Accessed 26 Feb. 2015]. Epstein, M. and Lee, J. (2010).Advances in management accounting. Bingley: Emerald. Gazely, A. and Lambert, M. (2006).Management accounting. London: SAGE Publications. Hansen, D. and Mowen, M. (2000).Management accounting. Cincinnati: South-Western College Pub. Hansen, D. and Mowen, M. (2005).Management accounting. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western. Horngren, C., Harrison, W. and Bamber, L. (2005).Accounting. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Madegowda, J. (2007).Management accounting. Mumbai: Himalaya Pub. House. Scottishpower.com, (2015).A Great Company - ScottishPower. [online] Available at: https://www.scottishpower.com/pages/a_great_company.asp [Accessed 26 Feb. 2015]. Weetman, P. (2010).Management accounting. Harlow, Essex, England New York: Financial Times/Prentice Hall. www.edfenergy.com, (2013).Annual Report. [online] Available at: https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/edf_energy_holdings_ltd_2013_financial_statements.pdf [Accessed 26 Feb. 2015]. www.scottishpower.com, (2014).SCOTTISH POWER UK PLC ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013. [online] Available at: https://www.scottishpower.com/userfiles/document_library/Consolidated_Report__Accounts_Scottish_Power_UK_plc_2013.pdf [Accessed 26 Feb. 2015].

5 Festive Ways to Avoid the Holiday Office Party

5 Festive Ways to Avoid the Holiday Office Party Here at TheJobNetwork, we strive to give the best career and professional advice to everyone so they can be one step closer to reaching success. But every now and then, you have to step back and face reality. Let’s be honest, sometimes laying on your couch and watching Netflix is infinitely more interesting than watching Carl from accounting get smashed and butcher your favorite songs over karaoke.   That being said, here are 5 festive ways to avoid the holiday office party, coming from someone who will not be going to his (I have an exam, I swear). 1. â€Å"Grandma got run over by a reindeer.†Based on  the hilarious song, create an elaborate excuse no one is going to take seriously, but hey, you’ll get an A+ for effort. Inform everyone in the office that your grandma was just hit by a reindeer, and you can’t attend the holiday party because you’re going to be too busy visiting her in the hospital- and then looking to give Rudolph some well-dese rved justice.2.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"My son needs the new turbo man doll.†Jingle All the Way wasn’t Schwarzenegger’s best film, but it sure does give you a valid excuse for missing the holiday office party. Tell the entire office that your son, daughter, brother, or sister wants the hottest selling toy on the market and you have to run out of the office to go join the bloodbath at  the mall. Extra points if you have the guts to give your excuse while doing  the Schwarzenegger accent.3.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I killed Santa Claus so I have to take his place.†Based off of Tim Allen’s classic 1994 film The Santa Clause, you’ve got more important things to do than watching David from finance ruin his career by getting too drunk, like delivering presents to every boy and girl in the world†¦ because you accidentally killed Santa Claus. Hey, your boss might not believe, but guess what: his kid is getting a lump of coal for Christmas anyway, hah!4. â€Å"I left m y 8 year old at home†¦.alone.†Sure, this one makes you look super irresponsible and your boss might actually view you as incompetent, but this is probably the most realistic excuse you’ll be able to give from this list. Let’s hope this is just an excuse and your kid isn’t actually home alone messing around with criminals.5.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I just found out I have a son from the North Pole†Gotta run, apparently I had a son 30 years ago who grew up as an elf in the North Pole, and now he’s back and needs my love. I’ll be in the gum drop forest if you need me, aka the Lincoln Tunnel. What do you mean you don’t believe me? You know what? Go elf yourself!

TOK Illusions in TOK Essays

TOK Illusions in TOK Essays TOK Illusions in TOK Essay TOK Illusions in TOK Essay Why are we so sure that we know what we see? For instance lets take the story â€Å"The Mouse Who Ate the Cheese† which we studied in class. Bill was sure he knew that a mouse ate the cheese because he had witnessed this happening right before his eyes. He used sense perception and sight to know that he had seen the mouse clearly. Everyday people uses their senses, to make an inference and assumption. People claim to know things due to what they believe and because their have used sense perception. However, can we actually depend on our senses one hundred percent? Do they always tell us the truth? All five senses, seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting, are important in developing thoughts and ideas, but the sense of sight typically sets itself above the others in its effectiveness at creating strong and lasting beliefs. In everyday life, the sense of sight is used to give evidence to what we believe. Logically, believing what you see makes sense. The ancient quote â€Å"seeing is believing† supports the fact that experiencing or seeing something first hand makes one believe it. However, at times when a person assumes that they are basing their belief on sight, they are really allowing themselves to see what they already internally believe. The mind can be made to see something in a certain way simply because the belief is already present. And this initial belief is used in illusions; therefore, while seeing can help us believe, it can also hinder us from reality. The â€Å"Breathing Square† by Michael Bach represents an illusion, and demonstrated the knowledge issue that can occur with out senses. Although vision certainly gives us information, scientists now know that biological eyesight is much more complicated, and unfortunately, can also give us false information at times. Our eyes detect light, however it’s our brain that â€Å"sees† and therefore once we are caught believing what we see is true, it is difficult to change this falsehood. For instance the â€Å"Breathing Square† is a visual illusion, because although you may still believe what you see, what you believe and what the object actually represents may different greatly. When watching the illusion, the observer is aware of the fact that the blue square of constant size slowly rotates. However our senses deceive us and to every observes the square seems to be changing size, in fact it seems to be â€Å"breathing†. This phenomenon is described as â€Å"motion binding†. The brain uses â€Å"motion binding† as â€Å"shortcuts† which lets us process information faster, instead of observing every bit of information individually before the brain can form a picture. Therefore, it can happen sometimes, that the brain forms a picture to quickly and is therefore tricked. The â€Å"Breathing Square† is a great example of how our senses are able to trick us into thinking that the blue square is changing size however in reality it’s the orange squares which are confusing our senses to interpret the square differently. Finally although every person looking at the illusion knows that the square is not actually â€Å"breathing† it is impossible to stop the brain from reaching this conclusion. It is set in our minds and the belief of the square â€Å"breathing† is already present, making it unachievable to force one to see the reality. Michael Bach’s illusions are magnificent and are able to give us insight about how betraying our sense can be at time. It leaves me wondering is I am constantly being tricked by my senses and how I know what I am actually seeing is reality.

Relationship Marketing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Relationship Marketing - Term Paper Example The term paper "Relationship Marketing" talks about the strategies to develop strong associations with customers through providing information which matches their requirements and desires. In the business viewpoint, relationship marketing is concerned with appealing, developing and retaining customers’ relations. Relationship marketing is based on developing a mutually advantageous exchange between industry associates. The growth of relationship marketing was accelerated by the literature of management advisors. The present concept of relationship marketing drifted from ‘organizational behavior’ and ‘industrial marketing’ where reliance among organizations has been the basis for a successful business to business coalitions. According to Iacobucci and Hibbard, the relationship in commerce can be of three kinds, which are: â€Å"Business Marketing Relationships† (BMR), â€Å"Interpersonal Commercial Relationships† (ICR), and â€Å"Business to Customer Relationships† (B-to-C). In BMR the business associations are characterized by long-standing, close and deep connections between fairly symmetric associates. BMR requires assurance, faith, and reliance in understanding business relations. ICR is characterized by the relationships between service organizations and end users. ICR can occur between two relatively balanced associates and it is long-term in nature. The consequences of effective ICR include increased satisfaction and productivity. Finally, B-to-C is demarcated by technology oriented relations among business and individual consumers.

The Risks of Sports Doping on Weight Lifters Research Paper

The Risks of Sports Doping on Weight Lifters - Research Paper Example However, doping is rampant some athletes have taken upon themselves and their managers to deceive the doping tests and have a competitive advantage over other athletes. Despite testing being done without advance notification and having a long list of banned substances, cheating by athletes has been rampant and more effective than in the past. It is with the understanding of the rampant cases of doping in sports that this study aims at understanding the risks of sports doping on weightlifters (Saugy et al., January 01, 1996). According to Thieme and Hemmersbach (2010), doping as a word first mentioned in the English dictionary in 1889 despite the attempts at enhancing performance by athletes have been a much older activity. Doping has its origins 5,000 years in China when the use of Ma Huang (an extract from the Ephedra plant) was used to suppress coughing and stimulate circulation (Thieme & Hemmersbach, 2010). Further, eating of testicles was recommended by Indian Physician Sutruta and used by the Huns around 300 BC, hallucinogenic mushrooms in 3 BC show the development of doping in sports. Strong stimulants like cocaine, alcohol, caffeine, and strychnine would later be used by cycles and other athletes to promote endurance (Baron et al., January 01, 2007). Mariani wine that would lead to the conferring of a gold medal to Vin Mariani was also used widely but was banned by Germany in 1920. Start of human tests to reduce athlete doping revealed numerous cases of doping and the start of banning by The Inter national Athletic Federation (IAAF).  

Medical Prescription for a Diabetic Patient in Prison, Educating Essay - 1

Medical Prescription for a Diabetic Patient in Prison, Educating Doctors - Essay Example This study examines how eating habits, balanced diets, age, beta-blocker medication, stress, body mass index, kitchen shopping lists and women to see if there is a connection. There was an observation on their food intake and eating habits, measurement was done on weight, physical activity, stress levels and sleeping cycle. This paper presents a case study of a 59-year-old prison patient who is type 2 diabetes under the prescription of a drug called 500 mg, which he is to take two tablets two times every day. The old man suffers from no other medical problems, not to mention that he is not allergic to any type of medication. In order to undertake the correct clinical management plan, it is fundamental to lay-out the history of the patient. For the last three years, the 59 old has suffered from diabetes. With respect to the prescriptions and measured to mitigate the condition, the patient has had a healthy diet. However, being in prison environment has left the patient to struggle so as to maintain a healthy diet, not to mention of inadequate access to other healthier options. Therefore, this paper undertakes an extensive and intensive clinical management plan for the patient, in an effort to study and come up with results as to whether the prescriptions of Gliclazide 80mg twice daily in glycaemic contr ol is attained with the metformin. Treatment should harmonize with the causative agent. Diagnosis requires elevated clinical examination together with a continuous examination, microbial analyses, and radiographic examination. Diagnosis calls for the use of several procedures such as Clinical, sugar, and microbiological diagnosis. Prevention should be the focus of clinicians. The act of elimination or minimizing the incidence of diabetes to a level below threshold gets highly significant (Niederman, 2006). Each of the diagnostic procedures has its advantages and disadvantages.  The viability of the procedures requires â€Å"gold standards† for the analysis of diabetes.   The microbiological method has yielded a good result when compared with other methods.

A Model For Recovery The Tidal Model Social Work Essay

A Model For Recovery The Tidal Model Social Work Essay My family have used mental health services for three generations. I experienced my first hypo-manic episode in 1981 when I was writing up my doctoral thesis. During the past twenty-four years I have had sixteen episodes that have led to hospitalisation. I first met Professor Phil Barker in 1983 when he had just taken up the Chair of Psychiatric Nursing Practice at Newcastle University and I had just launched myself as a User Consultant under the name of Section 36. During his ten years in Newcastle we worked on several projects and spent many hours sharing our views on user empowerment, self-management and recovery. I felt privileged when he asked me to comment on the Tidal Model in its early stages. I feel equally privileged and delighted to speak about the Model today. Phil and Poppy Buchanan-Barker co-wrote this Guide on the Tidal Model for Mental Health Professionals. They have asked me to consider whether or not the Tidal Model helps service users on their recovery journey. I will do this largely by reading quotations taken directly from the book. Before we can do this I feel it necessary to look at the meanings of recovery. Elements of Recovery The Chambers 20th Century Dictionary definition of recover is to cure. In the context of mental health recovery is generally not accepted as being synonymous with cure. From her work with service users Repper observed that: Recovery does not mean that all suffering has disappeared, or that all symptoms have been removed, or that functioning has been restored. Pat Deegan, a clinical psychologist with a late childhood-diagnosis of schizophrenia recognized recovery is not a cure but sees no reason for despair. Being in recovery means I know I have certain limitations and things I cant do. But rather than letting these limitations be an occasion for despair and giving up, I have learned that in knowing what I cant do, I also open up all the possibilities of all I can do. Acceptance is a key factor in the recovery process. Again, Pat Deegan notes: †¦ an ever-deepening acceptance of our limitations. But now, rather than being an occasion for despair, we find our personal limitations are the ground from which spring our own unique possibilities. This is the paradox of recovery†¦that in accepting what we cannot do or be we discover what we can be and what we can do †¦ recovery is a process. It is a way of life. It is an attitude and a way of approaching the days challenges. Simon Champ, a prominent Australian mental health activist, also views recovery as a lifelong process which requires important changes in self : I have come to see that you do not simply patch up the self you were before developing schizophrenia, but that you have to actually recreate a concept of who you are that integrates the experience of schizophrenia. Real recovery is far from a simple matter of accepting diagnosis and learning facts about the illness and medication. Instead, it is a deep searching and questioning. A journey through unfamiliar feelings, to embrace new concepts and a wider view of self. It is not an event but a process. For many, I believe it is a lifelong journey. Despite painful times Anthony believes that we should always be hopeful as the recovery period brings with it periods of personal growth. Recovery is described as a deeply personal, unique process of changing ones attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills, and/or roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life, even with limitations caused by the illness. Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in ones life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness. The Tidal Model In my view, hospitalisation is a form of containment rather than a therapeutic process. Service users are expected to entertain themselves by talking amongst themselves, watching television, sitting in the smoking room, playing pool or attending occupational therapy. Mental health nurses need to break out of the mechanistic routine, which restricts their dialogue with service users. When the Tidal Model is in use, each service user undergoes a holistic assessment with a specially trained mental health nurse. All experiences are accepted as true and not dismissed as hallucinations (for example). The mental health nurse discusses with the service user what the person feels may have caused their admission and what they feel they need to do to address these problems. Every service user receives a copy of their assessment, which is recorded in their own words. This process helps to build up trust between the service user and the mental health nurse. They form a partnership whereby the nurse supports the service user through the recovery process. The emphasis is on caring with rather than caring for. The attitudes, beliefs and expressed needs of the service user are accepted at each stage of the recovery process. The user knows that the advice of the nurse may not necessarily be accepted. The persons story lies at the heart of the Tidal Model†¦..The Tidal Model is a philosophical approach to the recovery or discovery of mental health. It is not a treatment model, which implies that something needs to be done to change the person. Instead the Tidal Model assumes that the person is already changing, albeit in small and subtle ways†¦.In the Tidal Model water is used as the core metaphor. Following the Holistic Assessment the service user enters into a period of Individual Care and Group Care. One to one Individual Care sessions are arranged on a daily basis. , The process of Individual Care involves developing a collaborative relationship within which the person can begin to develop awareness of the resources that (s)he currently possesses, which might be used to address the problem of living; what additional resources (support) might be needed; and what needs to happen next, to begin to move off on the recovery journey. Three forms of group work provide a supportive social structure for the Individual Care: The Discovery Group The Information Group The Solutions Group The Discovery Group brings together service users to discuss a set of pre-prepared questions that aim to generate simple reflection and light-hearted as well as meaningful conversation. Two members of the professional team normally lead the Discovery Group, but over time group participants may take turns in leading the session. The Discovery Group therefore aims to provide a setting within which people might experience a boost to their self-esteem, reclaiming in the process some of the personhood that has been lost, either as a function of the experience of mental ill-health, or of the experience of psychiatric care and treatment, or both. The Discovery Group provides an opportunity within which members may reclaim and develop further their ability to share with others, on a simple yet mutually rewarding basis, through simple question and answer sessions. The Information Group aims to provide practical advice to people about services they are presently using, or services that they might consider using. This advice is delivered in plain language, preferably in an entertaining, interesting or otherwise accessible way. Francis Bacons dictum that knowledge itself is power is the primary motivation behind the Information Group. Without knowledge we are not only ignorant, but also powerless. The people who lead the Information Group should have in-depth knowledge of specific topic areas who can comfortably answer intelligent and searching questions from people in care and perhaps also staff members. There are an infinite number of possible topics for the Information Group, but experience of the Tidal Model projects around the world suggests that the following are most popular: Medication Current care and treatment Psychotherapy and counselling Nutrition and well-being Social security benefits Community supports Specialist mutual support groups Housing and supported accommodation. The potential contribution to Information Groups that might be made by user/consumer-advocates, psychiatric survivors, or others who have navigated the recovery journey, is inestimable. Apart from special knowledge of the recovery journey, such people come carrying a huge beacon of hope. Their very presence signals the possibility of recovery, but also frames this within a realistic storyline. The Tidal Model emphasises the necessary search for solutions. Given that the problems of living which people experience determines the need for help, both lay and professional, it follows that we should be focused on solutions to these problems. However, unlike some other therapy models or treatment systems, we do not believe that the professionals have the answers to the persons problems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦the Tidal Model needs to be tailored to suit every person in the programme. Everyone needs a theory of their own to explain how they got there, and how they might move off again, back onto the ocean of experience. So the pragmatic focus on finding solutions is carried over into the work of the Solutions Group. The Solutions Group is part of the heavy work of care-helping people to learn more about themselves and their problems and instilling hope in the recovery process. The Solutions Group is highly practical and focuses on conversations about change that is already taking place within individual members. What subtle examples of change is the person already becoming aware of? Alternatively the group will focus on conversations about what change might be like; how participants will know change when they encounter it. The Tidal Model focuses upon the unison between the service user and the professional helper. However †¦..the Tidal Model is an anti-professional approach to mental health care . It does not believe that there is special knowledge concerning mental health, known only to the professional, that can bring about the resolution of serious problems of human living, or speed the persons recovery. The Tidal Model proposes that only the person can ever own such knowledge†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..However, the person needs the sophisticated support to plan and execute the process of recovery. Finally the book offers us Ten Commitments which distil the essence of the practice of the Tidal Model. Value the voice: the persons story is the beginning and endpoint of the whole helping encounter. The persons story embraces not only the account of the persons distress, but also the hope for its resolution. This is the voice of experience. We need to guard it well, as the voice begins to help the person to make her or himself anew. There is no doubt in my mind that the Tidal Model promotes the process of recovery. The key features that set it aside from other models are: It is based on the personal stories of service users. It is based on caring with rather than caring for. It is a holistic model of care. It recognises that knowledge is power. It focuses upon solutions rather than problems. It promotes self-management and empowerment. It promotes the concept of therapeutic experience rather than containment. In this sense, the Tidal Model is truly groundbreaking.

The Impact of the Scientific Revolution Essay -- Essays Papers

The Impact of the Scientific Revolution Science began soon after the Birth of Civilization. Man had already learned to tame animals and grow plants. To shape materials like clay and metals to his purposes and even to heal his bodily ailments. We do not know why he did these things because his magic and reasoning are concealed. Only with the second millennium B.C have we learned that there were three elements in man’s attitude to nature, which impacted the growth of the scientific revolution: empirical practice, magic and rational thinking. These same three elements continued to exist in science for many thousand years, until the scientific revolution took place in the 16th through the 18th centuries. Reason, in conjunction with observation and experiment, slowly robbed magic of its power, and was better able to anticipate and absorb the chance discoveries of inventors. The Scientific Revolution was the new era of scientific beliefs. There is a misconception of the term revolution because revolution means that it was a rapid process. The scientific revolution however was not a rapid process and involved several scientists throughout a wide array of time. Since 1800, one of accomplishment. The history of the scientific revolution was concluded by the early years of the nineteenth century. The Italian Renaissance began in the early 1500’s. Scholars, mathematicians, physicians everywhere measured their own attainments by Italian standards; The Italian universities, and the Italian printing house. During the 1500’s, people believed that science and thought were important but once they studied this concept. They never discussed it again. By the 1600’s and 1700’s, secure thoughts of science and religion became contradictory. Scie... ...s was a rapid process. The scientific revolution however was not a rapid process and involved several scientists throughout a wide array of time. Three of the most important scientists of this era were Tycho Brahe, Galileo, and Isaac Newton. Discoveries in space, computer technology and medicine have reached incredible heights. People are living much longer with a better quality of life because of transplants and operations with laser technology. DNA research has greatly advanced and is used in many facets of biology and crime prevention. Bibliography: Hall A.R. The Scientific Revolution 1500-1800, The Formation of the Modern Scientific Attitude. Boston: Beacon Press, 1956 Haskins, Caryl. The Scientific Revolution and World Politics. New York 1964 Elbers, Gerald, and Paul Duncan. The Scientific Revolution: Challenge and Promise.Washington, D.C. 1959