Making a Living as a Life Story Writer

Making a Living as a Life Story Writer A business card left at a coffee shop that garners a $50,000+ writing gig. Same card, different coffee shop, that results in a feature story in a local publication. No, its not the card thats magic, but the profession it advertises: life story writer. Those were only two of the many strokes of good luck Ive had since I started my career as a life story and family history writer nearly ten years ago. The genre, also known as personal history, serves a population of mostly older adults eager to preserve their stories without having to do the writing themselves. The books are intended for family and friends, not the wider public, so theres no need for queries, book proposals, agents, or publishers- just a client willing to invest the time and money to record their cherished memories. Heres how it works: I sit down with a client for a series of interviews in which we talk about their growing-up years, their parents and siblings and relatives, their first loves, their war experiences, their careers, their challenges and joys, their reflections on what it all means- in other words, anything they feel moved to talk about. In between interviews, Im at my desk, shaping our transcripts into a compelling narrative that will, if Im doing my job right, give future generations a glimpse of family members they may or may not have ever met. This kind of writing does more than reveal the character of the narrator; it also brings to life long-ago eras. Think about it: The fifty years or so that separates the generation of grandparents from their grandchildren means that they will each spend the bulk of their life in two vastly different worlds- even if they live in the same town. Its the difference between a horse-drawn plow and an air-conditioned combine, between a one-room schoolhouse and a middle school with a thousand kids, between an outhouse and a heated toilet seat. The world is changing fast; people who hire me want their descendants to know what the world used to look like. Why has it been so easy to find clients and publicity? Two reasons. The first is a swell in interest in life stories. With genealogy the second most searched topic on the internet (Ill leave you to imagine the first), with DNA kits topping the list of holiday gifts and shows like Who Do You Think You Are? topping the charts, its clear that people are curious about their roots. And because were storytelling creatures, its only natural that the focus should swing from data- birthdates, death dates, cemetery plot numbers- to what we really love: the stories that bring it all to life. And the second reason Ive been able to make a living as a life story writer? Supply and demand. There may be loads of clients wanting to hire someone to write their story, but there arent loads of writers to do so. Im guessing thats because most writers have never heard of this niche. What a shame. Not only is it a way to earn your keep

Medieval gargoyles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medieval gargoyles - Essay Example representing animal faces, or anthropomorphic, i.e. representing human form. The term â€Å"gargoyle† is extensively used with any grotesque carving of buildings of medieval times. They are a fascinating element of medieval architecture and are not only related to medieval churches and cathedrals, but also associated with English gothic castles. Gargoyles are ideal resemblance of great lords, who in order to crush and make natives do what they want, built such intricate fortresses and castles (Stratis Demon). Although the word â€Å"gargoyles† in plumbing sense appear to be followed since Ancient Greek times or even before that but they became popular in medieval times during the Victorian era. During Elizabethan period, channels or troughs used had no carved shapes on them (Stratis Demon). Initially most of the gargoyles used were usually made of wood and were generally undecorated. Along the progress in time, gargoyles were made with stone and lead and were made in the form of carvings of or absurd representations of animals and people. Those carvings were the creation of imaginative and proficient hands, often so ingenious as to carry a little or no resemblance to normal creature. During the first appearance of gargoyles in 1200 century, the people of other faiths were so much influenced by Roman Catholic Church that they converted to Catholic. An argument for attractive looking gargoyles at that time appeared, since most people were not literate at that time and therefore the images of gargoyles were of great importance then. In addition, many non-believers of Christianity were used to with the religious images like of animals or of those that included both humans and animals (e.g. unicorn, horned God). They were greatly encouraged to join the Christianity by putting similar images on churches and cathedrals as they felt more complacent about it. It is important to mention that some other accommodations like gargoyles were made by churches at

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Essay

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility - Essay Example Then, a discussion of the controversies that affected Nike will follow in the context of corporate governance and CSR. The preceding section will list the corporate governance and CSR practices within the organization including the impact of such measures for Nike today. 2.0 Company Overview Nike is the leading sports footwear and apparel manufacturer throughout the world. It has more than 30 years of experience in developing high performance and innovative shoes. In recent market reports, Nike holds at least 30 percent market share, a comfortable lead from its closest rival, the German brand Adidas. (Van Riper 2008) Nike as a brand is the strongest among its competitors. This has been achieved through years of careful brand promotions that have exposed Nike to the widest possible population and earned it as one of the American icons next to Coca-cola, IBM, Microsoft, Walt Disney, among others. Nike in its overall organizational strategy – from product development to sales and promotions – is unique in comparison with all the rest of the major players in the footwear and related industries. If one examines its strategy, the company focuses much on brand-building recruiting the best athletes in every sport to endorse its brands and reinforce the image it has carefully cultivated throughout the years. Nike’s history, however, is not written with success stories exclusively. The fact is that it is punctuated with several controversies involving unethical practices. The following cases are some examples: Nike was widely criticized back in the 1990s after a series of news reports aired in CBS recounted the unfair conditions and practices of the company’s manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Indonesia. The report cited the payment of below minimum wage to its employees; charges of employee physical abuse; and, the forced running of laps by employees who wore nonregulation shoes. (Jackson, Sawyer and Jenkins, p. 17) The child labor contr oversy in Pakistan and other third world countries. Nike was sued for false advertising in a California court after Marc Kasky accused the company of issuing false and misleading statements, prompting a protracted and yet unresolved debate about whether Nike’s campaign of press releases, advertisements, and other promotional measures to defend its business practices constitute free speech or commercial information. (L’Etang & Peiczka, p. 56) The manner by which Nike sought to quell these controversies underscored how they value their reputation and how unethical practices could severely impact their market performance. Crucial to the measures taken by the organization to deal with the above crises was the adoption of corporate social responsibility practices. Writing about this development in 2001 for The Independent, Steve Boggan (2001) reported, â€Å"Nike attempted to present itself to its shareholders in its first "corporate responsibility report" as a touchy-feel y entity established by "skinny runners" and employing young executives who worried about the environment and the level of wages it paid.† 3.0 Corporate social responsibility The old adage stating that the only business of business organizations is business is thought to be outdated and no longer applicable today. In the current global scenario, explained Fernando (2009), competition is more cutthroat, requiring corporations â€Å"to pause and ponder upon the impact of their business on the global community in general and their key stakeholders in particular†

We Are All Madoffs, We Are All Human Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 27

We Are All Madoffs, We Are All Human - Essay Example The crucial argument against the article written by professor Barash, entitled â€Å"We are all Madoffs†, is that it puts greater importance on the environment as the end, whereas true economists place human life as the end to all his endeavors. There is a critical error in the assumption of the writer that we are all Madoffs simply because of â€Å"modern civilization’s exploitation of the natural environment† (Barash): The difference lies in the fact that Madoff has been exploiting other men for his own benefit. By the very mode of operation of Ponzi schemes, Madoff has no responsibility for the people under him including if they fail in their investments in the company. He also cannot be held accountable by the government because the extent of his operations depends on people getting more people, nor is he taxed for all his earnings. We, as an economic force, utilize, and perhaps to some extent, exploit the environment and its resources. Madoff, on the other h and, exploited people for his own profit and he has completely ignored the dignity of human life. The use of resources as means to an end is justifiable because resources are there precisely to improve human conditions. Madoff and his Ponzi scheme used people as means to his own end, to improve his own condition. According to Adam Smith, we as individuals are â€Å"led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of (our) intention† (Barash). That end is the improvement of human life- and fulfilling this end makes us nothing like Madoff. This argument about â€Å"our fundamental relationship to the natural world† can swing both ways, just as the argument of population growth can have its advantages and disadvantages. One can view population growth in a purely detrimental outlook: more needs and wants to satisfy means more produce required means more carbon emissions and pollution.

Market overview for elevator products and services

Market overview for elevator products and services Aggregate global demand for elevator / escalator products and services is projected to increase 5.6% per year through 2009 to more than $20 billion. Fueling gains will be economic recovery and expansion in the mature markets of the developed world, coupled with ongoing industrialization among the less advanced countries of Asia. The world elevator market rose at a relatively healthy pace throughout most of the 1990s in a generally sanguine global macroeconomic climate. Basically strong economic growth in developing countries was briefly interrupted in 1997-1998 by a financial crisis engulfing many East Asian and Latin Americans nations, as well as Russia. Fallout form the crisis continued to adversely impact the elevator market into 1999 and 2000, as trends in the elevator market tend to lag developments in the macro economy by a few years. Subsequently, as the emerging market began to recover, growth in Western Eur0pe and North America was depressed in the wake of the global economic slowdown precipitated in the US, although by 2004 a recovery was apparent in most markets. In the developed world, gains will reflect an expected recovery in office construction, as vacancy rates come down in major global financial centers such as Tokyo and London. Over the long term, development of the residential sector, especially in the largely untapped US market where single-family homes predominate, will also create opportunities, supported by again populations and regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. In Europe, adoption of new EU-wide safety regulations for existing lifts will bolster the modernization/upgrade service segment. The fastest growth is anticipated in the worlds developing regions Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In developing countries, market expansion will reflect increased urbanization, as virtually all structures in large third-world cities require elevators. Aftermarket services are also not well established, even in more developed countries such as South Korea and hence offer a sizable potential market which major global suppliers such as OTIS are actively working to develop. China, which has already emerged as the largest global elevator market in unit terms, will continue to log explosive gains, with the genesis of a lucrative service aftermarket bolstering the robust OEM business. Almost half of the increase in passenger and freight elevator unit sales will be attributable to China, where per capita elevator use remains less than 10% of that typical of Western Europe. TABLE III 1 WORLD ELEVATOR MARKET BY REGION (billion dollars) Item 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 World Urban Population (mil persons) 2516 2811 3119 3443 3790 Bldg. Construct Expend (bil 2000$) 2900 3324 4254 5270 6661 $ elevator/urban capita 10 11 12 15 17 $ elevators/000$ construct 8.6 9.0 9.1 9.6 9.9 World Elevator Market 24.9 30.0 38.5 50.5 66.2 North America : 4.0 5.0 5.8 7.4 8.9 United States 3.6 4.5 5.1 6.5 7.8 Canada Mexico 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.8 1.1 Western Europe : 11.7 13.8 16.1 19.3 23.0 Asia/Pacific : 6.5 8.0 12.4 18.4 27.0 China 0.9 1.2 3.5 6.9 12.3 Japan 4.5 5.3 6.4 7.9 9.5 India 0.4 0.6 1.2 1.7 2.5 Other Asia/Pacific 0.7 0.9 1.3 1.9 2.7 Other Regions : 2.7 3.2 4.2 5.5 7.4 Latin America 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.9 2.5 Eastern Europe 1.2 1.4 1.8 2.3 3.0 Africa/Midest 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.3 1.9 Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. CHART III 1 WORLD ELEVATOR MARKET BY REGION, 2009 ($50.5 billion) Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. 3.1.1 Regional Profile Given the modernized economies, well-developed industrial and commercial sectors, prosperous consumer populations and highly evolved building/nonbuilding construction infrastructures in place throughout the developed world, most OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) countries maintain large markets for elevator/escalator products and services relative to population and size of the economy. These include the US, Western Europe, Japan (the largest global market in value terms, reflecting the countrys aged, urban population and stringent safety standards) and Australia and New Zealand. The nations of Eastern Europe, especially Russia and certain of the other more industrialized states of the former Soviet Union, also comprise markets of some significance, but they tend to be much smaller in both absolute and relative terms than those of the major Western countries. However, the fastest growing markets for elevator products and services are typically found within the developing regions, especially Asia and to a lesser extent Latin America and Africa/Mideast as well. As numerous countries within these regions work to industrialize their economies, they are facing rising infrastructure expansion and modernization requirements, which has led to extensive building construction activity. Another key aspect of the industrialization process in most countries is increasing urbanization, as individuals and households migrate from rural areas to cities to participate in the growing economic opportunities available there. Such dynamics are positively correlated to the development of markets for construction-related products like elevator systems; moreover, as the number of systems installed increases, markets for related maintenance/repair and eventually modernization, services tend to emerge as a matter of course. 3.1.2 Multinational Parameters Trade Flows Like most industries, the elevator business has become increasingly international in scope in recent decades. The physical nature of elevator / escalator system largely, bulky, involving numerous component parts, etc., renders them not easily transportable. In addition, elevator manufacturers often prefer to have local manufacturing capacity, which allows them to better satisfy local requirements (e.g., regulations and standards) and cultivate lucrative aftermarket service relationships. As such, foreign trade per se is not as extensive in the industry as in most durable goods manufacturing businesses. Foreign trade is some what more prevalent in the replacement parts and components segments of the business. However, multinational investment on part of the leading producers (and even a few of the mid-sized and smaller ones) is extremely prevalent. This takes the form of direct ownership of overseas based subsidiaries, manufacturing facilities and other assets and after sales servicing and technical support networks. Moreover, in recent years there has been an effort on the part of major producers such as OTIS and KONE to consolidate their global operations and shift production capacity to lower cost venues in the developing world, which has increased the importance of cross-border trade. As the global elevator industry continues to restructure and consolidate, the home base of operations of the major players is becoming increasingly less relevant to the competitive dynamics of the business, with a handful of multinational companies dominating the business in most geographic areas especially with respect to product manufacturing. The service segment remains considerably most fragmented, but it too is consolidating rapidly. As global companies manufacturer and install their systems in given countries, they have a direct incentive to invest in after sales servicing networks in these countries as well, which is also prompting consolidation in the service segment of the business. Such dynamics are expected to become more rather than less pronounced going forward, as the economics of the business favor large companies with a multinational reach. 3.2 Demand by Product Service Elevators, escalators and related products are used to physically move individuals, freight and sometimes other items from one place to another within a building, facility or some other designated place. The movement occurs either vertically (in the case of elevating and lifting equipment), at an incline (escalators) or horizontally (moving walkways). Elevators and escalators are thus integral components of many types of structures, especially those with multiple floors or levels and/or involving an extensive amount of physical space. Aggregate world demand for elevator products and services is projected to increase 5.6% per year through 2009 to more than $50 billion, an improvement from the 1994-2004 pace. Fueling gains will be an upswing in new system installations, accompanying expected recovery in nonresidential building activity in Japan, Western Europe and the Americas. This will help to offset some slowing in residential building construction, which is an important indicator of elevator demand outside of North America . Preventing faster gains especially on the products die is the high degree of maturity of the elevator / escalator market in the developed world, which has prompted leading vendors to target high growth markets in the Pacific Rim and other developing areas which hold the greatest potential for incremental increases in new installations going forward. Also fueling growth will be technological innovations in letter generation system including microprocessor based controls and sensors, remote monitoring, automated performance and generate further demand, at both the new installation and modernization/upgrade ends of the business. In addition, retrofits to comply with changing building codes and federal mandates will rejuvenate the upgrade/modernization services market, especially in North America and Western Europe. TABLE III 2 WORLD ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT SERVICE MARKET (billion dollars) Item 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Bldg Construct Expend (bil 2000$) 2900 3324 4254 5270 6661 $ elevators/000$ construction 8.6 9.0 9.1 9.6 10.0 World Elevator Market 24.9 30.0 38.5 50.6 66.3 Equipment : 8.8 10.9 15.0 21.2 29.5 Passenger Freight 6.2 7.5 10.2 14.1 19.0 Escalators Moving Walkways 0.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 4.0 Parts Other 1.8 2.4 3.2 4.6 6.6 Services : 16.1 19.1 23.5 29.3 36.8 Installation 2.6 3.2 4.1 5.5 7.3 Modernization Repair 13.4 16.0 19.4 23.8 29.5 Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc CHART III-2 WORLD ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT SERVICE MARKET, 1994-2014 (billion dollars) Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. 3.2.1 Equipment World demand for elevator and escalator products totaled $15 billion in 2004 billion in 2004, accounting for approximately 40% of the total elevator/escalator market. For present purposes, elevator products are defined to include passenger and freight elevators and associated products. Demand is projected to post a 7.1% per annum increase through 2009 to $21.2 billion. Growth will stem from improving cyclical dynamics, in particular a revival in nonresidential construction spending especially in the key office/commercial/lodging and industrial building sectors. Gains will be best for machine room less (MRL) elevators, which will benefit from expansion of the global retail and (especially) transportation sectors. 3.2.2 Passenger Freight Elevators Global demand for passenger and freight elevators is projected to rise 5.7% per annum through 2009 to almost 4,40,000 units, of which over 60% will be the newer machine room less (MRL) type. Along with improving cyclical dynamics and continued secular growth in the developing world, gains will be fueled by increased penetration of less traditional market segments, such as single-family residences. The latter is a key consideration in North America, where single family housing is more prevalent than in Europe and Asia. Even in the latter regions, however, again of the population will create opportunities in the residential segment, as elevators are increasingly designed into low-rise buildings which would previously have relied exclusively on staircases. As a result, the installed base will expand from 7.4 million units in 2004 to 9.2 million in 2009. In value terms, demand for passenger and freight elevators will grow 6.6% per year to $14 billion in 2009. While intense global competition and greater reliance on low footprint units will hold down cost increases, higher fuel and energy costs and the expanding technical complexity of latter generation elevator system, which can be priced at a premium relative to earlier designs, will contribute to price inflation. Passenger and freight elevators, as the name implies, are general purpose lifting systems designed to vertically transport individuals and commodities between different floors or levels within a single building or facility. From a technological standpoint, essentially all modern passenger and freight elevators are either the hydraulic (powered by pressurized liquid) or traction (electric powered) type; the latter can be either geared or gearless. Hydraulic came into prominence during the 1950sm surpassing the geared market which was prominent prior to that time and remain the dominant type in the US. Traditional traction elevators remain in broader use in Europe and Asia, although in Europe they have been widely supplanted by MRLs since the mid 1990s. The newer MRL elevator types incorporate the gears and control into the elevator shaft, rather than a separate machine room, and hence provide greater design flexibility, as well as energy and (in some cases) cost savings. MRLs have made significant inroads in Western Europe and will continue to penetrate North America, Asia and other regions. Moreover, while initially suited only for buildings upto 7 stories, MRLs have not been adapted for use upto about 25 stories, substantially broadening the potential market. TABLE III 3 WORLD PASSENGER FREIGHT ELEVATOR MARKET (million dollars) Item 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 World Elevator Market 24893 30015 38536 50550 66300 % Passenger Freight 24.8 25.1 26.5 27.8 28.6 Passenger/Freight Elevator Market 6175 7532 10220 14050 18950 North America : 665 977 1160 1700 2100 United States 585 873 1000 1480 1800 Canada Mexico 80 104 160 220 300 Western Europe 2155 2645 3125 3940 4850 Asia/Pacific : 2575 2975 4660 6650 9525 China 425 550 1600 2800 4700 Japan 1650 1800 2000 2325 2700 India 220 305 470 745 950 Other Asia/Pacific : 280 320 590 780 1175 Other Regions : 780 935 1275 1760 2475 Latin America 305 360 450 615 840 Eastern Europe 265 275 425 595 825 Africa/Midest 210 300 400 550 810 000$/Unit 31.8 33.0 30.8 32.0 33.0 P/F Elevator Market (000 Units) 194 228 332 439 575 Machine Room 194 203 232 164 100 Machine Room Less 25 100 275 475 % New 3.8 3.8 4.5 4.8 4.9 P/F Elev. Installed Base (000 Units) 5120 6035 7355 9220 11700 Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. Elevator related service revenues are generated when new systems are installed and then subsequently as installed systems are repaired and maintained over their useful lives. Major renovations or upgrades on existing systems are oftern undertaken as well; for present purposes this type of activity is classified under repair/modernization. Not surprisingly given their much larger installed base, elevating/lifting systems account for a substantially higher share of the total service market than escalators and moving walkways, in both the new installation and repair/modernization segments. TABLE III 4 WORLD ELEVATOR SERVICE MARKET BY TYPE (billion dollars) Item 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 World Elevator Market 24893 30015 38536 50550 66300 % Services 64.6 63.7 61.0 58.0 55.5 Elevator Service Market 16.1 19.1 23.5 29.3 36.8 Installation 2.6 3.2 4.1 5.5 7.3 Repair Modernization 13.4 16.0 19.4 23.8 29.5 Repair Maintenance 11.6 13.5 15.8 18.3 21.0 Modernization/Upgrade 1.8 2.5 3.6 5.5 8.5 Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. 3.2.3 Installation World revenues generated from the installation of new elevator/escalators systems are projected to increase 6.1% per year through 2009 to $5.5 billion. Installation revenues will grow somewhat more slowly than will new elevator and escalator equipment demand. This reflects the fact that elevator/escalator vendors have been working aggressively in recent years to lower the installation costs of their system, in orde3r to increase new business volume. TABLE III 5 WORLD ELEVATOR INSTALLATION REVENUES BY REGION (million dollars) Item 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 World Elevator Service Market 16079 19118 23491 29300 36800 % Installations 16.5 16.5 17.4 18.8 19.7 Installation Revenues 2650 3153 4087 5500 7245 North America : 372 484 530 735 880 United States 338 440 464 650 765 Canada Mexico 34 44 66 85 115 Western Europe 963 1162 1350 1670 2020 Asia/Pacific : 1093 1236 1831 2570 3600 China 144 188 563 1025 1725 Japan 752 804 872 990 1120 India 87 126 168 255 345 Other Asia/Pacific : 110 128 228 300 410 Other Regions : 222 271 376 525 745 Latin America 81 97 123 170 235 Eastern Europe 80 86 134 190 265 Africa/Midest 61 88 119 165 245 Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. 3.2.4 Repair Modernization Revenues derived from the provision of repair, maintenance and upgrade/modernization services on existing elevator/escalator system are projected to increase 4.2% per annum through 2009 to $23.8 billion, which compares favorably to longer term historical norms. Repair and maintenance revenues will expand just 3.0% per annum to $18.3 billion in 2009, trailing all other product and service segments. In much of the developing world, maintenance spending is perceived as an unaffordable luxury; building owners and managers tend to wait for an elevator to fail before they will invest in maintenance/repair. However, there is evidence that this is beginning to change as major Western and Japanese elevator companies work to educate their equipment customers about the importance of routine servicing. Service requirements tend to be highest in Japan, where for cultural reasons elevator failures are considered to be unacceptable. As in case of elevator and escalator systems themselves, the provision of related repair/maintenance services has benefited significantly in recent years from the application of a advanced technology. What has become especially prominent of late are computer based monitoring tools that can detect system faults (or even potential faults) and alert service technicians immediately. Repair/maintenance services can be performed on a contract basis, or on an as needed service call basis for building owners and other operators that do not maintain contracts. In addition, there is considerable potential for business activity on the modernization upgrade side of this market, in terms of retrofitting existing systems to be compatible with new building codes, the Americans with Disability Act (in the US), the safety Norm for Existing Lifts 9SNEL-in Western Europe) and other mandates. A number of the leading elevator vendors have in recent years launched modernization packages designed specifically to comply with the requirements of these mandates. Examples include Schindlers SCHINDLER 6200 and KONEs MAXISPACE. The latter allows users to replace a 4 passenger car with a 6 or even 8 passenger lift. More generally, numerous building owners will want to upgrade existing elevator/escalator systems to incorporate the latest technological advances along such parameters as improved safety and enhanced performance and energy efficiency characteristics, and this will provide further momentum to the repair/modernization service market overall. Modernization revenues are forecast to rise 8.8% annually through 2009 to $5.5 billion, making this the fastest growing segment of the elevator business. Modernization projects can range from replacing controls and interior fittings, to installing new doors or other structural components, to incorporating advanced electronics based sensors and monitoring tools, to complete renovations of entire elevator cabs or replacement of escalator stairs. TABLE III 6 WORLD ELEVATOR REPAIR MODERNIZATION REVENUES BY REGION (million dollars) Item 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 World Elevator Service Market 16079 19118 23491 29300 36800 % Repair Modernization 83.5 83.5 82.6 81.2 80.0 Repair Modernization 13429 15965 19404 23800 29450 North America : 2518 2981 3529 4190 5025 United States 2217 2646 3145 3735 4485 Canada Mexico 301 335 384 455 540 Western Europe 7731 8918 10355 12115 14240 Asia/Pacific : 1848 2492 3609 5110 7165 China 55 110 270 645 1350 Japan 1516 1957 2664 3430 4275 India 42 95 210 410 745 Other Asia/Pacific : 235 330 465 625 795 Other Regions : 1332 1574 1911 2385 3020 Latin America 472 554 688 865 1095 Eastern Europe 742 852 983 1180 1445 Africa/Midest 118 168 240 340 480 Source : The Freedonia Group, Inc. 3.3 Demand by Market Elevator related products and services are utilized in a broad array of buildings and facilities featuring multiple floors or levels, as well as in certain single-floor and even non-building type settings. Large, well-trafficked facilities with multiple levels office buildings, institutions such as hospitals and schools, department stores and other retail establishments, hotels and motels, factories and warehouses, etc., tend to be the most intensive users of elevator products and services.

John Stuart Mills Philosophy of Happiness Essay -- John Stuart Mill P

John Stuart Mill's Philosophy of Happiness Along with other noted philosophers, John Stuart Mill developed the nineteenth century philosophy known as Utilitarianism - the contention that man should judge everything in life based upon its ability to promote the greatest individual happiness. While Bentham, in particular, is acknowledged as the philosophy’s founder, it was Mill who justified the axiom through reason. He maintained that because human beings are endowed with the ability for conscious thought, they are not merely satisfied with physical pleasures; humans strive to achieve pleasures of the mind as well. Once man has ascended to this high intellectual level, he desires to stay there, never descending to the lower level of existence from which he began. In Chapter 2 of Utilitarianism, Mill contends that â€Å"pleasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends† (Mill, 7). Before addressing his argument, Mill defines the topic, â€Å"The creed which accepts as the foundation of moral s, ‘Utility’, or the ‘Greatest Happiness Principle’, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure† (Mill, 7). Like a true philosopher, Mill proposes objections to the utilitarian principle, which he then attempts to refute. Pleasure, according to Mill, has rather arrogantly been regarded as being little more than attempting to keep a pig satisfied. Because man has the intellectual capacity for reason, he should aspire for something more. Mill argues that is exactly what man does. He does not merely attempt to seek momentary pleasure, but in utilitarianism, has the option to choose that which provides him with the most pleasure. According to Mill, â€Å"Of two pleasures, if there be one to which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure† (Mill 8). Many have refuted Utilitarianism’s ideals and declared that man can live just as well without happiness. Mill acknowledges that this may be true in theory, that men do not conduct their lives in total pursuit of happiness, they still need a gauge with which to measure morality. Happiness ... ... This, however, being a fact, we have not only all the proof which the case admits of, but all which it is possible to require that happiness is a good† (Mill 27). Simply, the normal rules concerning one’s desire for happiness do not apply. Happiness may mean different things to different people but as long as the quest of these desires do not inflict pain on others, this is an acceptable means to an end. Mill is ultimately successful in that he points out that contrary to popular belief, utilitarianism is not a completely selfish motivation that does not take into consideration the desires of others. Virtue, while not completely synonymous with happiness, is a constituent of it. Thus, it is an attribute desirable to society as a whole. One who causes pain in others cannot be described as virtuous. In the final analysis, John Stuart Mill successfully proved his view by noting that happiness is not a completely comprehensive term. It is comprised of many components and represents different things to different people. Whether one is intent on wealthy, famous, or vituous, he is merely exercising different means to the same end which includes pleasures and freedom from pains. John Stuart Mill's Philosophy of Happiness Essay -- John Stuart Mill P John Stuart Mill's Philosophy of Happiness Along with other noted philosophers, John Stuart Mill developed the nineteenth century philosophy known as Utilitarianism - the contention that man should judge everything in life based upon its ability to promote the greatest individual happiness. While Bentham, in particular, is acknowledged as the philosophy’s founder, it was Mill who justified the axiom through reason. He maintained that because human beings are endowed with the ability for conscious thought, they are not merely satisfied with physical pleasures; humans strive to achieve pleasures of the mind as well. Once man has ascended to this high intellectual level, he desires to stay there, never descending to the lower level of existence from which he began. In Chapter 2 of Utilitarianism, Mill contends that â€Å"pleasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends† (Mill, 7). Before addressing his argument, Mill defines the topic, â€Å"The creed which accepts as the foundation of moral s, ‘Utility’, or the ‘Greatest Happiness Principle’, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure† (Mill, 7). Like a true philosopher, Mill proposes objections to the utilitarian principle, which he then attempts to refute. Pleasure, according to Mill, has rather arrogantly been regarded as being little more than attempting to keep a pig satisfied. Because man has the intellectual capacity for reason, he should aspire for something more. Mill argues that is exactly what man does. He does not merely attempt to seek momentary pleasure, but in utilitarianism, has the option to choose that which provides him with the most pleasure. According to Mill, â€Å"Of two pleasures, if there be one to which all or almost all who have experience of both give a decided preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure† (Mill 8). Many have refuted Utilitarianism’s ideals and declared that man can live just as well without happiness. Mill acknowledges that this may be true in theory, that men do not conduct their lives in total pursuit of happiness, they still need a gauge with which to measure morality. Happiness ... ... This, however, being a fact, we have not only all the proof which the case admits of, but all which it is possible to require that happiness is a good† (Mill 27). Simply, the normal rules concerning one’s desire for happiness do not apply. Happiness may mean different things to different people but as long as the quest of these desires do not inflict pain on others, this is an acceptable means to an end. Mill is ultimately successful in that he points out that contrary to popular belief, utilitarianism is not a completely selfish motivation that does not take into consideration the desires of others. Virtue, while not completely synonymous with happiness, is a constituent of it. Thus, it is an attribute desirable to society as a whole. One who causes pain in others cannot be described as virtuous. In the final analysis, John Stuart Mill successfully proved his view by noting that happiness is not a completely comprehensive term. It is comprised of many components and represents different things to different people. Whether one is intent on wealthy, famous, or vituous, he is merely exercising different means to the same end which includes pleasures and freedom from pains.

Presidental Debate

October 22, 2012, was the 2012 final presidential debate. President Obama and Governor Mitt Rooney spoke about the issues in the middle East and how Iran is in the process of creating a nuclear bomb in the next four Years and how would they protect our national security . The gentleman asking the Questions is Bob Schaefer (an old time news anchor for CNN) In the meanwhile, President Obama is stating his facts about he middle east and is trying to pursue The American people that if he stays in office that he will try to make changes And make sure America stays safe.And Rooney is trying to debate against what The president is saying. The republican and democratic party are both strongly Supporting their candidates in this Presidential race by constantly reminding The American people to vote and to listen to the debate and for non-deciding Voters to listen also so they can know who they are going to vote for. The debate Was held at Lynn University in Abstractor, Florida.I believe that i t was held here To show the students that their voice and vote is very important in this race Because it is our future. And to make more people aware of the debate. The debate Took place because the middle Is such a huge Issue in America' media and since The voting for the new president Is coming up very shortly, they must bring Attention to the problems America Is facing with other countries, and this may Help people to make a smart choice on who to vote on the run our country.