Saturday, November 16, 2019

Financial History of the American Airlines

Financial History of the American Airlines American Airways was incorporated in 1930, becoming American Airlines in 1934. Operating as a passenger and cargo carrier, they also offer freight and mail services. With 9 hubs functioning throughout the country, they average around $522 million a month. In 1939, they began trading stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol AAL. (Yahoo Finance, November 2013) American Airlines began trading stock publicly on December 9, 2013. In 1970, American Airlines gained its first Caribbean routes, merging with Trans Caribbean Airways. The agreements of the merger were that American Airlines would aid Trans Caribbean in obtaining a total of $10 million in financing. Also, for 100 shares of Trans Caribbean, American Airlines exchanged 17Â  shares. This merger would make for airlines first merger under its current name. (NY Times Archives, 1970.) January 10, 2001, it became public that American Airlines had acquired bankrupt Trans World Airlines (TWA) for $4.2 billion. This transaction made American Airlines the worlds largest airline carrier. American acquired all of TWAs assets, as well as saved the jobs of thousands of TWAs employees by integrating them into their family. (Biz Journals, 2001) In 2003, talks of possible bankruptcy arose for American. Labor unions eventually approved economizing contracts to avoid the bankruptcy, in which employees agreed to accept intense pay cuts in attempts to save the airline. Joy came in 2007, when American reported an annual profit of $231 million for fiscal 2006, its first reporting since around 2000. But, the glory didnt last long, as shareholders announced at their annual meeting that due to soaring jet fuel costs, they would have to lay off thousands of workers, park at least 85 aircraft, cut domestic capacity by 25%, and increase baggage fees and other service offered to customers. An official bankruptcy protection was filed November 29, 2011, after the airline reported a net loss of $471 billion, bringing their total losses to exceed $10 billion since 2001. American had acquired $29.6 billion in debt. Required to run all their future financial decisions across a judges desk, they were permitted to purchase fuel, pay for labor, and other expenditures, to maintain business. In July 2011, they received approval to place the largest plane order in history, buying 460 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, replacing older planes. The newer models would cut down on fuel and maintenance costs. (Yahoo Finance, 2011) The year of 2012 introduced talks of a merger with US Airways. Agreements were made to exchange financial information so that the companies can research the potential merger. The merger eventually passed February 2013, officially announced on the 14th day of the month, thus the creation of the worlds biggest airline. (Yahoo Finance, 2013) As of December 31, 2015, American Airlines gross profit was approximately $29 billion, with a net operating income of $6.2 billion and a net income of $7.6 billion, all driven by lower fuel costs, American could benefit from the decline on fuel prices. (2015 Form 10-K, AA.com) References American Airlines Investor Information, 2015 Form 10-K. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=117098p=irol-reportsannual History of American Airlines. https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/about-us/history-of-american-airlines.jsp A timeline of events in American Airlines history, November 12, 2013. The Associated Press. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/timeline-events-american-airlines-history-011902886.html American Airlines acquires TWA. December 23, 2001. Biz Journals. http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2001/12/24/focus3.html Koenig, David. November 29, 2011. American Airlines files for bankruptcy protection. https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-files-bankruptcy-protection-121438848.html

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Robert A. Millikan :: biographies biography bio

Robert Andrews Millikan was born on the 22nd of March, 1868, in Morrison, Ill. (U.S.A.), as the second son of the Reverend Silas Franklin Millikan and Mary Jane Andrews. He led a rural existence in childhood, attending the Maquoketa High School (Iowa). After working for a short time as a court reporter, he entered Oberlin College (Ohio) in 1886. During his undergraduate course his favourite subjects were Greek and mathematics; but after his graduation in 1891 he took, for two years, a teaching post in elementary physics. It was during this period that he developed his interest in the subject in which he was later to excel. In 1893, after obtaining his mastership in physics, he was appointed Fellow in Physics at Columbia University. He afterwards received his Ph.D. (1895) for research on the polarization of light emitted by incandescent surfaces - using for this purpose molten gold and silver at the U.S. Mint. On the instigation of his professors, Millikan spent a year (1895-1896) in Germany, at the Universities of Berlin and GÃ ¶ttingen. He returned at the invitation of A. A. Michelson, to become assistant at the newly established Ryerson Laboratory at the University of Chicago (1896). Millikan was an eminent teacher, and passing through the customary grades he became professor at that university in 1910, a post which he retained till 1921. During his early years at Chicago he spent much time preparing textbooks and simplifying the teaching of physics. He was author or co-author of the following books: A College Course in Physics, with S.W. Stratton (1898); Mechanics, Molecular Physics, and Heat (1902); The Theory of Optics,with C.R. Mann translated from the German (1903); A First Course in Physics, with H.G. Gale (1906); A Laboratory Course in Physics for Secondary Schools,with H.G. Gale (1907); Electricity, Sound, and Light,with J. Mills (1908); Practical Physics - revision of A First Course(1920); The Electron(1917; rev. eds. 1924, 1935). As a scientist, Millikan made numerous momentous discoveries, chiefly in the fields of electricity, optics, and molecular physics. His earliest major success was the accurate determination of the charge carried by an electron, using the elegant "falling-drop method"; he also proved that this quantity was a constant for all electrons (1910), thus demonstrating the atomic structure of electricity. Next, he verified experimentally Einstein's all-important photoelectric equation, and made the first direct photoelectric determination of Planck's constant h (1912-1915). In addition his studies of the Brownian movements in gases put an end to all opposition to the atomic and kinetic theories of matter.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Branding Essay

â€Å"As a consuming population we have formed deep emotional bonds with our brands, to the extent that they now determine who we are and how we are perceived†. (Isaksen and Roper, 2008). Brands are everywhere we look. They are simply unavoidable. We wake up in the morning: brush our teeth with a brand of toothpaste, use our branded shampoo, put on several brands of clothes and then eat our branded toast. We simply cannot escape from them. So the questions I pose are: Why do we choose the brands we do? What do our brands say about us? Brand ersonality â€Å"refers to the set of human characteristics associated with a brand† (Aaker, 1997). When I talk about brand image or brand personality I am basically asking if this brand were a person who would it be? Or else when we buy these brands what do they represent? Our modern culture has become obsessed with brands so what do they mean? If you buy a BMW people will assume you are rich, if you are seen walking around with a pair of Beats you are seen to be cool. Every product we buy or service we use says something about us whether we want it to or not. Everything comes with an age or has a stigma attached to it. Even the music we listen to and the celebrities we admire have become brands in themselves. Take Kim Kardashian as an example she wasn’t heard of up until 2007 and now she is one of the most famous women on the planet with business ventures such as perfume, clothing stores, a T. V show and over 16 million followers on Twitter she has completely made a brand out of herself. Aaker (1997) suggests that â€Å"the personality traits associated with a brand, such as those associated with an individual, tend to be elatively enduring and distinct†. Such as when you hear Mercedes you think luxury, Guinness is tradition and Chanel is elegance. In colleges all across the country every student not only has the burden of exams and QCA’s but also how they look and it’s the brands they buy that decide this. You will be questioned if you’re not wearing the latest ‘Hollister’ gear or carrying a shiny new ‘iPhone 5’. ‘Hollister’ originated in California in 1922 and is a brand associated with the beach and surfing yet in most schools and colleges it has been turned into popularity contest of who can have the ost or the best or the newest. Brands are completely consuming us and it’s not Just spoilt teenagers anymore it is ranging from everyone from young kids of 5 years old right through adolescents up to adults. Primary school kids are coming home crying because they don’t have the latest brand of lunch box like their friends and middle aged men are going out buying ridiculously expensive phones and cars Just to stay feeling young because they believe that’s what those brands can offer them. They are willing to pay for Just a couple more years of feeling young and on trend. This leads into Bhat and Reddy (1998) and their theory of how brands can be functional, symbolic or both. â€Å"Functional brands satisfy immediate and practical needs. Symbolic brands satisfy symbolic needs such as those for self-expression and prestige, and their practical usage Is only incidental† (Bhat and Reddy,1998). People have taken a brand that was originally meant as functional such as clothing, phones and cars and turned them into something so symbolic that they actually covet them. You keep certain clothes for â€Å"good wear†; spend hours cleaning your car and people Jump ore now to save a talling phone than a talling baby. Bhat and Reddy ( 8) were able to prove this theory through different research groups and methods â€Å"For example, to owners of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, their motorcycle is not Just a mode of transportation†. (Bhat and Reddy, 1998). They have said â€Å"It is an experience, an attitude, a lifestyle, and a vehicle to express who one is† (Aaker,1996). Adolescents are influenced the easiest when it comes to symbolic positioning of brands. â€Å"As cognitive development progresses, adolescents are able to understand the complex ymbolism of brands and their role in defining the self†. Chaplin and Roedder-John, 2005) They want everything theyre friends have and are surrounded by images of celebrities showing off the latest fashions and technology. Several brands are even endorsed by the celebrities they look up to. Young girls are influenced so easily by the â€Å"beautiful people on television† so why wouldn’t they want to buy shampoo that will make their hair look like Cheryl Cole’s hair or make up that will make them look like Beyonc © or even clothes that will make them look like Rihanna. Even teenage boys are seeing images such as David Beckham sprawled across a billboard half naked so why shouldn’t they buy ‘Armani’ boxers to look like him and why shouldn’t they want to drive the luxury car brands like soccer players? Companies continuously aim products at teenagers through different mediums such as television, music, and celebrities. Isaksen and Roper (2008) suggests â€Å"brands which are placed in popular teenage television programs are likely to benefit from a positive image and be popular among adolescent consumers†. Teenagers have become walking brands but t isn’t their fault it is what they are surrounded by. In summary brands have completely taken over our lives. Everyone buys into them whether they mean to or not and we can all pretend to hate them yet they are such a big part of our everyday lives there is no escaping them. Companies have realised this and know exactly how to market their brands to the different markets so we have to accept them. We are influenced by them in ways we don’t even realise. They are part of our society and culture and the fashion of brands is only growing stronger so my final question is which brand are you?

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Themes in Animal Farm Essay Example

Themes in Animal Farm Essay Example Themes in Animal Farm Essay Themes in Animal Farm Essay Essay Topic: Animal Farm Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is a novel that deals with betrayal, death, and murder. All are hard subjects to deal with, and take a mature mind to grasp. The novel also has a main scapegoat, Snowball, he is blamed for anything and everything that goes wrong on the farm. All of the animals blindly follow Napoleon after Snowball is expelled from the farm. The animals, though, do not necessarily believe that Snowball is guilty, they just follow what Napoleon says because, as Boxer says â€Å"Napoleon is always right† (pg 51) even when there is no real evidence to support him. Napoleon is Animal Farm’s leader, not because of his leadership qualities or because he wants what’s best for the farm, but because all of the animals blindly follow him. Even after he starts changing things drastically and not for the better. Boxer, the workhorse on the farm, believes that Napoleon is always right, but even he starts to doubt him in the end. On page 72, even Boxer is puzzled when Snowball is blamed for knocking down the windmill, â€Å"I do not believe that, Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed.† Even after Squealer covered that up, it was still not a good enough explanation for Boxer. â€Å"But he was wounded, we all saw him running with blood,† Boxer said on page 72.The other time all of the animals were in doubt was near the end of the book, when Boxer finally collapsed. After Benjamin read the side of the cart to the other animals, they all chased after their beloved comrade.â€Å"A cry of horror burst from all the an imals â€Å"Boxer! Boxer get out quickly! They’re taking you to your death!†- Clover (pg 108) .All of the animals all had their doubts about Napoleon and about Snowball actually being guilty at one point or another, but in the end they were shut down by Napoleon and his squadron of pigs. Napoleon is Animal Farm’s leader, but he is also possibly the most twisted member of the farm. He goes against the Seven

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Ayn Rand Anthem

Imagine it’s five hundred years ahead of the present time yet the technology is as advanced as it was in the middle ages and it’s a collectivist social structure so out of reach that Joseph Stalin would roll over in his grave. Imagine the only source of light is a candle and that the only things known about the solar system are that the earth’s flat and that the sun revolves around the earth. This dream is Ayn Rand’s Anthem, a politically charged novel about a society that uses oppression and communism/collectivism as a way to keep their citizens in control. Anthem is a story with strong themes tying in directly with communism and collectivism and how the oppression of many can lead to the enlightenment of few. To begin, the rulers of this society either apply wild contortions of normal ideas or restrict certain things vital to humans in order to justify their collectivist ideals. The most blatantly abused ideal in the story that is used to corrupt minds is that all brothers are equal. These thoughts on men’s equality are inscribed in marble, â€Å"We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible forever† (19). Along with the misuse of the word â€Å"equality† there is also a lack of emotion in the people of this society. When people reproduce, the parents are chosen at random and once the baby is born it is put into the Home of Infants. Prometheus conveys the lack of nurture in the home of infants, â€Å"The sleeping halls were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds† (21). The children of this society are a barren wasteland, void of all emotion, and as they grow they are deprived of more of the personal choices people in a normal society would make. Furthermore, once a child reaches the age of 15, he or she is assigned a job, they have no right to choose. Not only can they not choose jobs but friends are out of the question as well, â€Å"International 4-8818... Free Essays on Ayn Rand Anthem Free Essays on Ayn Rand Anthem Imagine it’s five hundred years ahead of the present time yet the technology is as advanced as it was in the middle ages and it’s a collectivist social structure so out of reach that Joseph Stalin would roll over in his grave. Imagine the only source of light is a candle and that the only things known about the solar system are that the earth’s flat and that the sun revolves around the earth. This dream is Ayn Rand’s Anthem, a politically charged novel about a society that uses oppression and communism/collectivism as a way to keep their citizens in control. Anthem is a story with strong themes tying in directly with communism and collectivism and how the oppression of many can lead to the enlightenment of few. To begin, the rulers of this society either apply wild contortions of normal ideas or restrict certain things vital to humans in order to justify their collectivist ideals. The most blatantly abused ideal in the story that is used to corrupt minds is that all brothers are equal. These thoughts on men’s equality are inscribed in marble, â€Å"We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible forever† (19). Along with the misuse of the word â€Å"equality† there is also a lack of emotion in the people of this society. When people reproduce, the parents are chosen at random and once the baby is born it is put into the Home of Infants. Prometheus conveys the lack of nurture in the home of infants, â€Å"The sleeping halls were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds† (21). The children of this society are a barren wasteland, void of all emotion, and as they grow they are deprived of more of the personal choices people in a normal society would make. Furthermore, once a child reaches the age of 15, he or she is assigned a job, they have no right to choose. Not only can they not choose jobs but friends are out of the question as well, â€Å"International 4-8818...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Reflect on the manner in which an musical artist(Mos Def) deals with Essay

Reflect on the manner in which an musical artist(Mos Def) deals with issues of identity or racism - Essay Example Born Dante Terrel Smith in 1973, Mos Def has also been called Mighty Mos Def, The Freaky Night Watchman, Boogie Man, Black Dante, Dante Beze, Pretty Flaco and Flaco Bey (wikipedia 2006) all in an effort to develop his identity. Urban Thermo Dynamics was his first group with his siblings. He began working solo in 1996 with De La Soul and da Bush Babees before his first single came out, Universal Magnetic. Working with Talib Kweli, he formed Black Star in 1998. His first solo album came out in 1999, Black on Both Sides, and his second, The New Danger, in 2004. Despite saying that he wasn’t â€Å"down with that commercial nonsense† and that he wouldn’t do an album with JayZ and RocAFella for that reason, he still made a commercial for General Motors that made his fans wonder. Still, Mos Def â€Å"keeps it real† with his fan-base by his ‘real’ lyrics and his excellent movie portrayals.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Advanced Criminalistics - Document Examination Assignment

Advanced Criminalistics - Document Examination - Assignment Example Spacing, inks, dates, pen pressure, and numerals used are some of the subtleties that make handwritten transactions unique. Handwriting also helps investigators determine the date the transaction or any changes made after writing the paper. For instances, if the identity thief erased or made some content obscure, a forensic investigator may be able to notice through handwriting. Handwriting can denote numerous aspects of the paper transaction that range from simple records to whole contracts. Handwriting is the aspect of the identity criminal that makes distinguishes and offers the likelihood of detection as irrespective of how proficient they are at stealing identities. Often, a subtlety of handwriting gives the identity thief away. A second advantage of using paper for transactions is protection by state laws. State laws secure individuals and organizations against crimes committed by an identity thief who uses paper documents such as stolen or falsified checks. Although federal laws apply to identify theft carried out electronically, state laws apply to electronic transactions that the state considered paper. States allow this double application when investigators are unsure of the kind of paper transaction the identity criminal used to carry out the offense. Forgery is a means of committing identity theft, which occurs when the perpetrator forms or uses any counterfeit information identifying an unreal person or a real individual without his or her consent. Owing to such information is enough evidence for a conviction by the court if the individual means to apply the information illegally. In such a case, the person commits identity theft. In terms of document falsification, the identity thief changes modify or adjusts a document with the aim of misleading another individual.