Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Yellow Freight Merger Essays

Yellow Freight Merger Essays Yellow Freight Merger Essay Yellow Freight Merger Essay In the wake of recent industry consolidation, Yellow and Roadway Corporation were looking for ways to strengthen their businesses. In 2003, Yellow Corporation, the nation’s second largest trucking company, acquired the industry leader, Roadway Corporation, creating Yellow-Roadway Corporation. The combination strategy was to bring both the companies strengths together to capture significant synergies and growth opportunities. Management decided to keep both company brands operating separately, continuing them to compete against each other. In an effort to expand their geographic scope and operate regionally, Yellow-Roadway bought USF Corp in 2005; and continued to operate each brand separately. Unfortunately over the next couple years Yellow Corporation and Roadway Corporation were forced to merge operations together. In 2009, they changed their name to YRC Worldwide, Inc. to reflect their finalization of the merger. Due to the many different divisions of the company and the purchase of USF, in 2006 Yellow Roadway Corp changed its name to YRC Worldwide, Inc. n March 2009, Yellow Transportation and Roadway finally merged to create YRC. In 2003, Yellow paid $966 million for Roadway to create Yellow-Roadway Corporation. This acquisition gave them control of more than 15% of the less-than-truckload (LTL) market. The deal valued Roadway at $48 a share, a 60% premium, and required Yellow to assume $140 million in debt. After the announcement of the acquisition, Roadway shares rose 54%, while Yellow shares fell about 5%. The combined company represents only 1% of the $600 billion global freight transportation market. The fact that 70% of Yellows business was from manufacturing and 70% of Roadways business was from retail supported the decision to remain as separate operations. The chairmen from both companies emphasized that their combination was strictly a merger, not a buy-out, since both companies were effectively operating on their own. The near term strategy for the combination was to reduce back-office costs, not to compress the delivery network by closing terminals and laying off truckers. Since both brands were so powerful in the marketplace, the decision to operate separately and compete with each other seemed like a good decision to continually reach new markets and gain more customers. Yellows chairman, William Zollars estimated that by combining back office operations, the newly formed company could save about $45 million in the first year. The result was a 13% increase in revenue and a 43% increase in income from continuing operations from the previous quarter. Upon the realization of these additional cost reductions, this strategy appeared to have paid off. During 2005, Yellow Roadway Corp. paid $1. 5 billion for USF Corporation. This acquisition gave them entry into the regional, overnight freight market all over the country. This new market was growing faster than the long haul market that Yellow Roadway currently served so it was an important strategic step for them. Ultimately, the deal would fortify the largest LTL carrier’s stronghold in regional and next-day services. The addition of USF will also expand Yellow’s national and international transportation services. According to Zollars, â€Å"USF represents an excellent opportunity to leverage the successful strategy that was employed with Roadway. † Basically this means maintaining the strong separate brand identities, customer interfaces and distinct operations of each business unit. This acquisition also enhanced Yellow Roadways current logistics and truckload capabilities. USF shareholders received $29. 25 in cash and $0. 32 of Yellow Roadway shares for each USF share owned. At the time, they were criticized for overpaying (by 16%) for USF stock, but since the past acquisitions proved to be successful, management’s decision had some credibility. (or held promising) with roadway acquisition, analysts said the industry has too many terminals, trucks and too much capacity. They have to look at overlapping operations and cut capacity. Greg burns, transportation analyst at jp morgan. With the acquisitions of Roadway and USF, Yellow created a combined enterprise that expected to have annual revenue of $9 billion, with more than 70,000 employees and 1,00 service locations. In 2007, company had operations in 70 countries and provided logistics as well as global, national and regional transportation services. Operates as the largets ltl provider in the US and is one of the largest transportation service providers in the world. Companys two largest subsidiaries, Yellow and Roadway Express cater to over 300,000 clients in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing and government sectors in North America. Offers supply chain solutions for heavyweight shipments and serves customers who ship industrial, commercial and retail goods.

Congress and the Articles of Confederation essays

Congress and the Articles of Confederation essays The desire for no central government during the time of declaring our independence from Britain and dissolving the rule of George III over the American colonies lead a constitution known as the Articles of Confederation. Many events leading up to the Articles left the colonist weary about the transfer of power from one tyrant to another. To avoid control of a central government, the articles of confederation allowed the majority of the power to remain with the states and left the central government with very little to no control. The central government was unable to build an army. For instance, Article VII states that when land forces are raised by any state for the common defense, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the state which first made the appointment. So, while the Second Continental Congress was able to appoint a person to head a military force, no state was made required to contribute forces. Congress could not raise an army to deal with military situations. Another major problem was money. The Congress was unable to tax the state and could only ask for those states to freely contribute and donate to the central government. Because of this, the government was unable to pay loans owed to people, businesses, and countries that had supported them in separating from Britain. Not only did the confederation not have any money, the colonist had several forms of currency and paper money that was not worth very much, and while the confederation could print its currency, it did not have the silver and gold to back it up. The government was broke. One more problem that the articles of confederation failed to consider was a national court system Issues between states were sometimes impossible to resolve or enforce, and although the...

Achievement gap in k

Achievement gap in k In academic institutions the level of learners’ performance varies, with some learners being average, others above average, and others falling below the average level. The variation in the performance of the pupils could occur in some class or category like gender, race, disabilities, religion, and culture. Moreover, the difference in the academic performance of students in schools among these categories is what is referred to as achievement gap. Several factors can lead to underachievement in schools. Some are community related factors while others are factors within the learning institutions (Snell, 2003). One of the problems that cause the achievement gap is lack of enough funds. For instance, pupils from very humble background often do not perform well compared to their financially able counterparts. They often lack supplementary learning materials that may not be provided in schools, and their general education is surrounded by debts. Another problem is poor education pol icies. Educational policies adopted within a particular nation may cause the achievement gap. If there is no standard national curriculum, then the students progressing into k-12 level from different middle level schools may have difference in performance.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Achievement gap in k-12 education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The religion and culture of an ethnic community can also be a factor contributing to achievement gap. Culture would have influenced the educational level of parents, further influencing their perception on education. In other words, some students come from communities that are in the process of civilization. Racial, gender, or tribal discrimination, which eventually leads to inequitable access to educational facilities, is also a cause for achievement gap. Racial discrimination has been witnessed in several parts of the world, for instance, discrimination between the White and African American. Pupils subjected to different environments will definitely perform differently even if their abilities were the same. Disability among students can also lead to a gap in the performance. If the appropriate aid were not given to physically or psychologically impaired students, then they would not be able to cope up and meet the required standards. The quest to narrow the achievement gap among the students is a collective responsibility that calls for the co-operation of all education stakeholders. To solve the problem, stakeholders should note that all students in a school could achieve the academic standards that are set if only the factors leading to the underachievement were identified and proper measures taken. Teachers are the immediate stakeholders who can blow the whistle on the occurrence and causes of the gap. The first step in dealing with the gap is for teachers to â€Å"commit themselves to engaging in deep inquiry into the nature of the prob lem and its root causes† (Snell 2003). They need to accept that narrowing the achievement gap is their responsibility; thus, they take initiative both within the school and outside the school to correct the situation. Teachers at all levels should ensure that they adhere to the provision of the national curriculum. They should ensure that students with special needs are given the necessary incentives to enable them to have equal learning opportunities. In addition, they should advocate for a similar and conducive learning environment, as well as cultivate the spirit of unity and group-work among the students.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, even though there is very little that teacher can do in relation to cultural and economic factors emanating from families, enlightening parents on educational matters could help. Some parents are just attitudinally poor; ho wever, a slight motivation could enlighten them. Nevertheless, community culture like preferring to educating boys over girls should be highly challenged by teachers in the parent-teacher forum. Reference Snell, J. (2003). Who is Responsible for Closing the Achievement Gap? The Role of School Leaders in Acknowledging and Accepting the Challenge. New Horizons for Learning. Web.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Boat Cavitation Causes and Remedies

Boat Cavitation Causes and Remedies Next time you find yourself floating chest deep in water, try this little demonstration of cavitation in action while you are waiting for everyone to stop laughing and pull you out of the water. Hold the palm of your hand vertically and pass it quickly back and forth through the water. You will see a stream of bubbles form opposite the direction of travel. These bubbles are what is called cavitation. In the case of boats and ships, cavitation refers to a pocket, or cavity, of air forming on the backside of a prop or impeller blade. What Is Cavitation? What Are Its Causes? The most simple definition of cavitation is; an action that causes a void to form because of lower pressure. As the definition above says, the condition of cavitation is caused by a low-pressure situation. When you moved your hand back and forth through the water you caused the pressure behind your hand to drop. Thats where the bubbles formed. A prop with too much pitch or too much shaft speed will cause pockets to form on the back side of the blades or even at the tips. The reason these voids form is boiling of the liquid. This is not boiling from heat, but boiling from the vacuum. Physics experts tell us that a liquid will boil if heated to a certain temperature or if the pressure of the liquid is reduced. In the case of cavitation, the reason is lower pressure. This cold boiling technique is good for many industrial uses, but it is not wanted near props or pump impellers. The collapsing bubbles are filled with very low-pressure water vapor and when they collapse damage is done to many surfaces. Cavitation is a drag on efficiency because of the increased friction. The bubbles stick to surfaces and essentially increase the thickness of prop blades and more power is needed to increase or maintain speed. Even worse, cavitation can cause vibration because of uneven prop loads and damage or break equipment. Even worse than vibration damage is pitting. Pitting happens when bubbles collapse and all forces are focused on a tiny spot on the blade surface. Damage from vibration is very noticeable and usually preventable with modifications to operating style. Damage from pitting can be happening at a very subtle level and most of the affected components are out of sight in day-to-day operations. An increase in power caused by a poorly adjusted governor can be enough to start minor cavitation near the prop tips and probably would not be noticed by most crews. Only at haul out would the damage to drive components to be noticed. Pitting increases surface area which causes corrosion and few anti-fouling coatings can withstand forces from collapsing bubbles that can eat into hardened steel. This same set of conditions and the resulting damage can also happen inside things like pump housings and thruster tunnels. Cavitation is actually much easier to produce in an enclosed environment than in an open situation like a prop and shaft. In an enclosed area, there is much less liquid volume to rush in and compress the vacuum bubbles that are forming. Cavitation inside pumps is a leading cause of failure. Turning a centrifugal pump too quickly causes the liquid in a pump chamber to boil from lack of pressure. This is even more of a problem if you are pumping a hot liquid like coolant or heavy fuel oil. In a hot liquid situation, you are applying two sources of energy that will make the liquid boil. The first, heat, is external and is the better-understood form of boiling. The second is the mechanical vacuum caused by the impeller. The technical term for this second force is Net Positive Suction Head or NPSH.

Euthanasia and Meaning of Life

Euthanasia and Meaning of Life The moral questions, ethics and meaning of life are all concepts that are closely connected and deal with how people view the value of life, what it means to the whole of human society and individuals. Many ethical and difficult decisions are always questioned, especially ones in relation to euthanasia and if it should be permitted, regulated or forbidden altogether. The argument centers on the positive sides of euthanasia and what makes such actions acceptable, in relation to personal wishes of the individual and lack of suffering.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Euthanasia and Meaning of Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The meaning of life is the most general aspect of judging about the requirements that must be set out by laws and people’s morals in regarding to the voluntary or involuntary taking of that life. In â€Å"Moral Dilemmas†¦Can Ethics Help?† it is talked about letting infan ts die, if they have problems when being born, to prevent further suffering or giving every effort to make sure they survive but have a limited existence. The discussion focuses on Kant and what would be the morally correct thing to do, in the interests of an infant and the future quality of life they will have. From one perspective, an infant should be treated as an adult and their wishes should be respected, in the want for a happy life. From another, it is possible to see the most good or bad that will come out for the greater society, parents and individuals themselves (Moral Dilemmas†¦Can Ethics Help, 2). The meaning of life is centered on the pleasures that people will get from being in the world, as all would agree that the negatives and stress is always unwanted, no matter who a person is, from what social class or country. In his essay on â€Å"Death†, Thomas Nagel analyzes the issue of death and how people think of it. He says that â€Å"If death is a disadvan tage, it is not easy to say when a man suffers it† (Nagel, 3). This leads to believe that it would be much better to let things take their natural turn of events and let the infant die, as they will be unable to suffer, in comparison to a life full of pain and limitations. Considering euthanasia, the case of Dr. Freud comes to mind. He was having cancer and was in a lot of pain, thus, he requested his dear friend Max Schur, to inject him with a drug and end his suffering. In his writings, doctor accepted the possibility of euthanasia but only if it is requested by the patient themselves and the person administering the drug has no personal interest, want or need to do so (Freud 98). It is clear that Dr. Freud did not want to suffer any more and made a conscious decision that it would be better to feel nothing, than pain and agony. This sort of thinking is attributed to the infant and it is said that if they could reason as well as an adult can, they would choose death, instead of life in pain. For example, utilitarianism states that people must focus on the greater good for all people and maximize happiness in the process.Advertising Looking for term paper on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most basic aspect is the utilization of the situation in such a way that everyone does not suffer and get the most out of actions of actors. The end results or consequences of actions is what matters, so people should make their selections very carefully. One of the most important criteria of life is the balance between happiness and unhappiness. If a certain action will bring less happiness, especially to the greater amount of people, then such action should be avoided at all costs. The decision bases itself on ethics and moral principles of highest order and even takes into consideration the happiness principle and the way people act towards the concept. There are many individuals who sup port utilitarian division of philosophy because it does not base itself on religion or any other power except a person, humanity and the greater good for people. The highest ethical criteria define people’s actions and even though the situation matters and different conditions can be present, the end result stays the same and bases itself on most happiness. There is no denying that the individual will not suffer, parents will not constantly worry about their child and the society will not have to contribute to support social programs and health system. In a discussion titled â€Å"What Is the Meaning of Life?† a question of whether there are universal laws for it or people make it themselves are asked. It is discussed that people’s meaning in life has become very confusing and there are two sides, one has a point, the other one does not. It is said that awareness creates meaning, which leads to believe that simply because people understand and interpret the info rmation received, there is a point and they must continue living to gain more knowledge and understating (What is the Meaning of Life 4). An opposing view looks at euthanasia from a point of a person being given the right to life; no matter by what circumstances it is defined. Comparing necessity to morality, it is that a rational and universal law makes it a must for one person to help another or commit an act that will be moral by the highest standards. Thus, people must do all in their power to save a person’s life and no matter how bad it might be, it is still morally right because it is better to live and feel, than not. The ethical and moral codes set out by the government in a form of laws reflect the general concepts of goodness and ethical attitude and behavior. This makes euthanasia illegal and it is because people in the strain of agony and pain cannot think clearly and would not be able to imagine future instances of life without pain. Their thinking is limited by the moment, whereas in the future, it is quite possible that they will get well and can continue living a full and happy life. The duties and responsibilities are based on the moral codes which require respectful and equal treatment to all. These ethics reflect the qualities that every person possesses. This is why it is important to create a system that bases its laws and regulations on highest moral standards of ethics and equality.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Euthanasia and Meaning of Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As an opposing view to euthanasia, this could be said to be the fact that the highest moral ethic is to let a person live their life because they have already received it and they exist in the world. Some might argue that people do not have a moral right to decide whether they want or must live, as their life is not theirs directly, they were not the ones who have given it to themselve s and so, their decision is unimportant. But from the other side, people are given a conscious thought to be able to make such decisions. Reason and logic are part of humanity and is specifically the separation people have from other animal species. It is true that some animals do have the ability to reason but the moral and ethical considerations are in the hands of humans. In the end, it is argued that as intellectual creatures, people should have the right to choose but there should be strict circumstances that regulate such behavior (Cavan 39). The modern society has many ethical and moral issues that are constantly debated and there are both positive and negative sides. Because morality is one of the major qualities of humanity, it can be seen why euthanasia is argued to be allowed and people should be able to choose themselves. The collective of all the moments of suffering that individuals will experience, together with the pain of their relatives, friends and society, create a lot of negativity and the purpose of life is to avoid any unwanted situations and sensations. But it is also argued that the highest and most ethical morality is to endure, suffer and learn from the process, no matter how painful and disturbing it is. There is much more arguments that must be discussed but future research should focus on the individual and their wants and needs because life belongs to a person and not society. Cavan, Seamus. Euthanasia: The Debate Over the Right to Die. New York, United States: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2000. Print. Freud, Sigmund. The Letters of Sigmund Freud and Otto Rank. Maryland, United States: JHU Press, 2012. Print. â€Å"Moral Dilemmas†¦Can Ethics Help†. Intelecom., Teleac, Pasadena, n.d. Television.Advertising Looking for term paper on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nagel, Thomas. Mortal Questions. New York, United States: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print. â€Å"What is the Meaning of Life†. Intelecom., Teleac, Pasadena, n.d. Television.

Meursault as The Stranger essays

Meursault as The Stranger essays Meursault as The Stranger The way a person reacts to ordinary situations determines the opinions of others based on their behavior. Yet, when this behavior is abnormal or different from the rest of society, it causes society to form an opinion based totally on a persons behavior not their true personality. In Meursaults case, his strange opinions and unexpected remarks put him in this position, without ever really giving him an opportunity to be truly understood. However, Meursault cannot change his actions and behaviors from the past, therefore making him responsible in the society he freely chooses to live in. Meursaults complete indifference to society and human relationships causes him to appear as the actual stranger with those he encounters, which eventually leads to his incarceration and inevitable date with the guillotine. Meursault is definitely a man who is set in his ways. He has his own opinions and outlooks on life and because of that fact he is constantly reminded of his inadequacies within society. His refusal to look at his mother one last time after she had passed away seemed pointless to Meursault at the time, where as the funeral director viewed this as extremely odd: We put the cover on, but Im supposed to unscrew the casket so you can see her. He was moving toward the casket when I stopped him. He said, You dont want to? I answered, No. He was quiet, and then I was embarrassed because I felt I shouldnt have said that. He looked at me and then asked, Why not? but without criticizing, as if he just wanted to know. I said, I dont know. (Camus 6) The difference of opinion between Meursault and all of society, but in this example the funeral director, brought about a feeling of inadequacy to Meursault and an appearance of him as a stranger to society....

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Personal Health Change

Personal Health Change Introduction Improving the quality of one’s life is imperative in the present century. Education, establishment of more employment opportunities and private health in life are among the objectives which self-gratify an individual. The lifestyles individuals are accustomed to and their environment impact healthy behavior. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Health Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, there are several ways of improving personal health, which may at times present challenges in their implementation. The benefits of most of these healthy behaviors nevertheless obscure the impediments which are faced. Chosen healthy behavior I would like to exercise more routinely (5-7 times a week), while trying to develop a nutritional plan. This calls for having a meaningful vision and acquiring skills necessary to achieve the desired wellness. Physical activity, aerobics and muscle training ar e some of the divisions of exercise which include a painless 20 minute walk to an intensified work out in the gym. Dancing and engaging in a physical sport like basketball or tennis is also forms of indirect exercise. The beauty of some exercises is that they do not necessarily involve a routine. Walking, for example, may be administered whenever an opportunity carves itself out. These forms of physical activity stimulate hormones which are necessary for proper growth. Its other benefits like feeling and looking better lift composure and improves character, traits which are critical in the normal human socialization process. Using the stairs instead of the elevator and cycling to work are other valuable processes which are not that hard to achieve. My main focus will be engaging in exercise, but I will also try maintaining a good diet. My nutritional project involves taking more fruits and vegetables and avoiding junk food which usually has a lot of fat. I have thought out turning into vegetarianism, but it has proven to yield more challenges than benefits, so I will prefer adding more vitamins in my diet. Reasons for making this health change Health is not just about whether a person is challenged by a disease. I chose to make this condition change in order to further my physical, social and emotional well being. Physical activities help reduce weight and promote better sleep regardless of age or masculinity. I would like to reduce 30 pounds that I am overweight, and while keeping a diet may be forceful and not so feasible, employing straightforward exercise strategies will be my first choice of a health change.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Being proud of my physique would significantly assist in developing the social interactions I want. The observations I have made on the behavior of overweight students in school is not so attractive. Th ey tend to cluster together and receive taunting comments, which lower their faith in life. I want to make a health change in order to maintain satisfactory relationships with my present friends and be able to communicate confidently with others. Challenges likely to be faced Emotional support and the behavior other people rally will unquestionably present a challenge. Close friends and associations will play a central role in influencing my training schedule and the diet I intend to maintain. Group activities would thus cease, because my schedule will need individual effort without distractions. However, the greatest challenge will be choosing the most appropriate exercise to practice regularly. It would be essential to have a regular plan if I am to achieve my objectives. Scheduling, discipline and determination will be the factors considered in choosing an applicable practice. It would be useless reasonably to engage in a strenuous muscle application and put in lots of hours in t he gym only to give up after a week. Making the decision would be exceedingly difficult, considering I have not engaged in any practical exercise for a while. Time will also be an obstacle as I am significantly engaged with either homework or domestic duties. Whenever one gets busy, the time delegated for work-outs is usually sacrificed. I have reviewed specific medical articles, and the negative impacts of exercise others have experienced significantly scare me off. There are those who experience colds or running noses in the middle of training sessions. Other trainers complain about breathing problems and splitting headaches after sessions. Experiencing no changes as soon as they expect them will prove frustrating. In case the practice I employ does not yield visible results within the first month, then I may change the form of exercise or plainly relinquish. Ways of overcoming the challenges My present physical condition demands for regular exercise notwithstanding the challenge s I would face. I have high cholesterol for a young 25 year old, so in order to live longer and healthier, I have to take part in some form of physical activity. The bigger one gets, the harder it would be to practice some routines. I would be thus required to complete a substantial health change before I start suffering unnecessary mortifications. Exercise is usually strenuous and may involve a lot of wearisome activity. This will prove boring and I predict avoiding some responsibilities. However, devising methods to make it enjoyable would be meaningful. Exercising while having fun would unquestionably inspire me in the initiative to improve health.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Health Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I consider doing my exercises at home through the use of exercise videos. This will reduce the uncomfortable situations experienced in gyms which may make one uncomfortable. The use of some complex machines may also reduce the esteem of an individual. Setting realistic fitness goals would be required depending on the pattern of physical activity. Studies indicate that most forms of practice would require consistency for around four months before producing physical benefits. It would be required to understand how different techniques work, how long they take to present visible or mental results, and how best to preserve the process. Benefits of healthy behavior The cholesterol issue will go away; I will look healthier and sexier and will have a strong body just like in high school, and will live longer.  Having a fit body, proper posture, agility and muscles will transparently create the impact I desire with the opposite sex. Engaging in physical activity will help me burn the extra calories hence assist in the supervision of my weight, which is a considerable problem at present. Physical activity improves concentration; any activity, which involves attentive ness, boosts the psychiatric process hence increasing sharpness and academic focus both in class and later years. Strength is also increased substantially when one specializes in meticulous work-outs of the muscles and stiff joints. Proper combination of healthful food and appropriate muscles training has traditionally proven to increase the endurance of people. A chance of catching a cold is substantially reduced as the immune system is generally jump-started by regular exercises. Conclusion Exercising and eating healthy have been proven to progress physical health. Nevertheless, there are several other minor details which affect people’s healthiness. Personal hygiene and social participation have traditionally fostered health in diverse ways. Keeping one’s body clean to thwart illnesses and avoid infections is imperative. Cleaning hands, brushing teeth, cleaning cutlery helps in preventing infections. One should strive to avoid the appearance of microbes in the body . Establishing social relationships prolongs life and increases productivity and positivism in life. Socialization may also increase knowledge, develop character and make an individual significantly healthy.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More