Linux Securities - 1119 Words

Security of a system when you are open to the internet is paramount in the world of servers. Linux has many layers of ever evolving security in order to keep up with the would be attackers in cyberspace. This is one of the reasons that Linux is one of the most used servers for internet sites and has few viruses engineered towards it. IP Tables Developed by the Netfilter organization the IP tables package for Linux is an evolution of the IP chains which came from the IPv4 Linux firewall package. Paul Russel was the initial head author of the organization and also behind the IP chains project The Netfilter organization began to come together in 1999 and through collaboration and research recognized the shortcomings of the IP chains†¦show more content†¦Traditionally Linux security has been run using DAC ( Discretionary Access Control ), which is based on users and groups to control which users and processes can access files and how they do it. This runs into a problem since the owner of a file has control over its permissions which can be less than ideal. SELinux ( Security-Enhanced Linux ) implements MAC ( Mandatory Access Control ), which is under the direct control of the systems administrator and is located in the kernel where it can control and enforce security, giving only the permissions needed to processes and users. In the way of vulnerabilities I could not find much for SELinux, which is a testament to the power of MAC. As secure as it may be, for most home users this system is a bit complicated and can block services and make it look like a common error, making troubleshooting problematic. I would still recommend using a firewall in conjunction with SELinux as security is best utilized when it is layered in order to make attacks more difficult. Linux has a rich history of collaborations between different organizations and input from users worldwide. This has led to a world class piece of open source software that has proven itself to have both the reliability and security to provide the peace of mind for users and corporations worldwide to use for day to day operations andShow MoreRelatedLinux Security1588 Words   |  7 Pagessingle sub-tree of the file system.† â€Å"In order for it to work properly, some common programs and libraries need to be copied or linked to the appropriate locations in the new directory tree.† (Haas) The term sandbox is a metaphor for the type of security that chroot jail uses. Once you put a program or utility into the jail, it only knows of what is contained in the cell, the rest of your system becomes invisible to it. It does this by changing the apparent root directory for the current runningRead MoreLinux Security985 Words   |  4 PagesRobert Hoffman Linux Research 2.1 Security for computers is one of the most important aspects of a system that has to be in place. For this paper I will be writing about four security features that Linux systems use; these are SELinux, chroot jail, openSSH, and iptables. I will briefly describe what they do to provide security. SELinux (security enhanced Linux) was developed by the NSA, who chose Linux as its operating system to create a more secure operating system. SinceRead MoreLinux Security Technology1868 Words   |  8 Pages|Linux Security Technology | | 1. SELinux SELinux, an implementation of  Mandatory Access Control  (MAC) in the Linux kernel, adds the ability to administratively define policies on all subjects (processes) and objects (devices, files, and signaled processes). This mechanism is in the Linux kernel, checking for allowed operations after standard Linux Discretionary Access Controls DAC are checkedRead More4-20-2014 Protection and Security mechanisms in Linux and Windows Intro to Operating2800 Words   |  12 Pages4-20-2014 Protection and Security mechanisms in Linux and Windows Intro to Operating Systems Stuart Gourlay (12382696) Rory O’Reilly (12370056) â€Æ' Table of Contents Windows 2 Overview of Windows 8 2 New Features 2 System Requirements 2 Security Mechanisms in Windows 8 3 Address Space Layout Randomization 3 Heap Randomization 3 Kernel Mode Security 3 UEFI Secure Boot 4 Windows Defender 4 Linux 5 How Linux is Broken Down 5 OverviewRead MoreEssay about Security Enhanced Linux (Selinux), Chroot Jail, and Iptables682 Words   |  3 PagesSecurity Enhanced Linux (Selinux), Chroot Jail, and Iptables Security Enhanced Linux (Selinux), Chroot Jail, and Iptables Three of the most important types of Linux security technologies are Security Enhanced Linux (SELinux), chroot jail, and iptables. This security measures aide in the subversion of theft and malicious activity. We will discuss these items in depth to address who created them and for what reason. Along with how these technologies changed the operating system to enforce securityRead MoreLinux Security3394 Words   |  14 PagesSecuring Linux Platforms and Applications Project Project Part 1 Task 1: Outline Security Policy This security policy is essential to the First World Bank Savings and Loan. It is used to break up the security plan not measurable, specific, and testable goals and objectives. This security policy would be used to provide all current and prospective customers online banking services while keeping the First World Saing bank competitive in the financial marketplace. This solution is also an imperativeRead MoreRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Security Guide50668 Words   |  203 PagesRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Security Guide 1 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Security Guide A Guide to Securing Red Hat Enterprise Linux Edition 3 Red Hat Engineering Content Services 2 Legal Notice Legal Notice Copyright  © 2011 Red Hat, Inc. Based on the Fedora Security Guide (current version at http://docs.fedoraproject.org/enUS/Fedora/16/html/Security_Guide/index.html), written by Johnray Fuller, Eric Christensen, Adam Ligas, and other Fedora Project contributors. T he textRead MoreThe Linux Security Checklist From Sans2024 Words   |  9 Pagesinto the system. The Linux Security Checklist from SANS has basic step by step guidance one can follow in securing an OS (Homsher Evans, n.d.). 5.1. Never run Jenkins with root/administrator privileges One should never run with administrator or root privileges regardless of the operating system platform. If a hacker manages to get in, he or she will still need to find ways to perform privilege escalation to cause more harm. Hopefully, this buys enough time for security professionals within theRead MoreMajor Elements Of Memory Management1648 Words   |  7 PagesD. Major elements of memory management Linux operating system is using virtual memory to support programs running in the system. The virtual memory provides lots of optimal ways to maximize the memory mapping and utilization. The virtual memory can allocate much more memory to processes than its actual physical memory size. Linux provides virtual memory great support to allow the processes running in the system, such as mapping the process’s memory to physical memory (Arora, 2012). There are twoRead MoreFirst World Bank Savings And Loan1149 Words   |  5 PagesFirst World Bank Savings and Loan Mission: First World Bank Savings and Loan strives to become the leader in the competitive financial institution market by applying new and updated security policies to their advanced Linux based server applications. Company Background: First World Bank Savings and Loan is a financial institution in the United States, a leading financial service firm that estimates over $100,000,000 a year in online credit card transactions for loan applications and other banking

Fast-Food Advertising Deceives Americans to Obesity Free Essays

Fast-Food Advertising Deceives Americans to Obesity With every precious tick of the clock, an American rushes to perform yet another task in a day with a meager 24 hours. With all the activity encompassed within these hours, many aspects of life are neglected. One of these aspects–the most important and vital one, in fact– is self-nourishment. We will write a custom essay sample on Fast-Food Advertising Deceives Americans to Obesity or any similar topic only for you Order Now One must eat foods that are healthy as well as conducive to optimal bodily function and survival. In an attempt to adequately nourish themselves, Americans have fallen victim to seductive fast-food advertising that falsely leads them to believe that fast-food is healthy; this is an unconscionable misrepresentation on the part of the advertisers and thus should be punished. It is unconscionable that any company, well-aware of the potential harmful effects of their food, could so egregiously deceive and subsequently profit from the ignorance of the American public. It is the responsibility of every individual to educate themselves about the food they’re eating as they are making a conscious decision when purchasing and consuming the fast-food meals. However, one’s responsibility to oneself does not relieve the fast-food industry of their obligation to educate or at least, present fairly to the public the products they offer. The responsibility of a company to the society at large is such that they do not harm their customers. Healthy foods are advertised less than 3% of the time; children rarely see a food advertisement for broccoli. Increasingly, fast food conglomerates are using toy tie-ins with major children’s motion pictures to try to attract young people. They request more junk food after viewing commercials. How to cite Fast-Food Advertising Deceives Americans to Obesity, Essay examples

Shakespeare relationships between men and women in Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing Essay Example

Shakespeare: relationships between men and women in Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing Paper Shakespeare’s plays present the relationships between men and women in various ways, as for example, Benedick is a supposed tyrant to women, while Romeo, a member of the Capulet household, is deeply in love with Juliet. Shakespeare makes the audience focus on how men and women portrayed themselves to society in the Renaissance period. Men and women in modern society are analogous to the men and women in Shakespeare’s plays as they use trickery, deception and secrecy throughout the plays to attempt to achieve a goal that inevitably interferes with the lives of others. However we can see that things have changed in society as Shakespeare’s time was predominantly patriarchal, not meritocratic. For example Hero, ironically named, is a very shy and weak woman who is the daughter of Leonato, whilst Beatrice is an exception to the typical patriarchal paradigm; she is noisy, sharp-tongued and greatly opinionated – she isn’t afraid to contradict Benedick. This essay will discuss the portrayal of men and women and their relationships in Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet. * At the beginning of Romeo and Juliet â€Å"Two households, both alike in dignity† shows that there will be a comparison of the men and women in two families which may possibly lead to a feud. In the renaissance period status was very important, and Shakespeare’s plays typically emphasized that as the audience at that time approved of it. The houses hold an â€Å"ancient grudge† which implicitly reiterates the idea of conflict occurring throughout the play. â€Å"Star-crossed lovers† suggest that there will be a great sense of romance throughout the play as a man and woman are destined to be together – â€Å"star crossed† which means, literally, against the stars (stars were thought to control people’s destinies). We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare: relationships between men and women in Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare: relationships between men and women in Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare: relationships between men and women in Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Also, â€Å"Do with their death bury their parents strife,† suggests that these lovers will mend the quarrel between their families by dying. This is dramatic irony as the audience at that point would be aware of the inevitable fate of the main characters. It is evident that throughout the play there will be death and perhaps even a tragedy that will split the lovers apart – the rhyme of the prologue splits from â€Å"†¦death-markd love† which may literally refer to the splitting of Romeo and Juliet in the play through death. Keeping in mind that they were Catholics, they would believe that marriage did not exist in Heaven. Additionally the prologue is written in the form of a Sonnet, which generally relate to death and consists of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. * * Unlike Romeo and Juliet, the opening of Much ado about nothing is written in prose as all the characters have equal parts. For example in act one, scene one, the two most witty characters, Benedick and Beatrice, insult each other throughout the first scene, but they’re both â€Å"balanced† in their act of doing so; neither ever lets the other say anything without countering it with a pun or criticism. Beatrice is a strong woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind to Benedick. For example, â€Å"Scratching could not make it worse an ’twere such a face as * yours were† shows that Beatrice finds Benedick to be ugly superficially, but there is a sense of uncertainty as to if she truthfully meant that as â€Å"I know you of old† suggests that they were in a past relationship, and that she cared for him. Also, the men speak to each other with respect, and we can see this from how they address each other. For example Don Pedro calls Leonato â€Å"Good signor Leonato† and â€Å"My grace†. Once again, this is because society at that time was patriarchal and Shakespeare’s audience would’ve included men of high status that would’ve addressed each other in that manner. * * At the start of Romeo and Juliet the servants are quarrelling over women in the Montague household and this is humorous for the audience. We see what the servants think about the men and women in the play. For example Sampson refers to the women as â€Å"maidenheads† as he thinks of them as only objects – virgins in this case. Additionally Sampson says he will â€Å"Thrust the maids to the wall†. This portrays men as being in complete control of the women, both mentally and physically. â€Å"Thrust† creates imagery of force and aggression while also referring to a sexual innuendo. This is unsettling to the audience, but also evokes humour. Sampson also refers to women as the â€Å"weaker vessels† which implies that women are not seen as equals to men from the perspective of the Capulet servants – this is because Shakespeare wrote the play in a patriarchal era – men were seen as the â€Å"bosses†. The servants establish a very rough and unsettling atmosphere as they show no concern for how the women would hypothetically feel if they were to be raped. For example â€Å"Me they shall feel while I am able to stand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  shows that the men are only concerned about the sex, regardless of how the women would feel about it. This reiterates the concept of men being in control – their love is only physical and uncaring. * * In Romeo and Juliet, the way women are spoken about in act one, scene five, is different to the way the Capulet servants spoke in the first scene as for example Romeo uses words such as â€Å"Tender† and â€Å"Lips† to Juliet to show his affection for her; these words also create imagery of kissing in the audiences’ mind which refers to love and caring between the two characters. Compared to the language used by the servants, the language used between Romeo and Juliet is an extended Christian metaphor. â€Å"This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is said by Romeo as the language has a religious overtone to it – their love can only be described through the vocabulary of religion, that pure association with God. â€Å"Good pilgrim† is another reference to how their conversation is holy and pure. This is because the love they share for each other is destined in the eyes of God as they were to believe it. Also, when Romeo and Juliet meet they say 14 lines that make up a shared sonnet Shakespeare ingeniously captured the relationship between Romeo and Juliet through the use of a sonnet as they can relate to love, therefore fitting perfectly into this context. * * Once Romeo has left Juliet at the Capulet mansion, he goes to find the Friar so that they can marry. The language changes at this point in the play as the Friar speaks in blank verse as Shakespeare uses this technique to signify that he’s speaking about love, as well as the fact that the Friar is of high status, therefore he would speak in blank verse. Shakespeare uses rhyme such as ‘eye and lie’ to emphasize key words. In addition to this the Friar speaks in couplets which relates to Romeo and Juliet being a couple in love. The language used by the Friar is very religious as for example â€Å"saint† and â€Å"heaven† are used as it fits appropriately to his job as he’s a man of God, as well as the fact that Romeo is wanting to get married.* * In act three, scene five, the Capulet family discuss the marriage of Juliet. Her parents describe Paris as â€Å"gallant† and a â€Å"noble gentleman† as they are trying to persuade Juliet to marry him. Paris is intentionally addressed in this manner as he is of high status, and that made him significant and important to society. Dramatic irony is created for the audience as they’re aware that Juliet is married to Romeo, but her parents are not. It is assumed that Juliet will be happy at the thought of marriage, however she is in love with Romeo and is instead displeased. We can see this from â€Å"He shall not make me there a joyful bride†. Additionally, even more irony is added to the scene as Juliet states â€Å"It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate† which shows she is lying to her parents as she is obviously in love with Romeo, and is already his wife! Nevertheless she goes onto say that she would not be full of joy if she marries Paris. This results in her father calling her a â€Å"minion† (low status) and â€Å"Out, you green sickness, carrion† as he does not approve of Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris. â€Å"To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither† shows that Juliet is still a woman in a male-dominated world, and that she cannot go against her father because it just simply wasn’t accepted as society was patriarchal. Her father becomes very violent and the relationship between Juliet and him is weakened as even the thought of disobeying her father’s wishes causes him to feel great anger and hatred as he cannot comprehend why she would not listen to him; it simply would not make sense to a man of his status and mentality as he would assume that Juliet must listen to him as she is a women, not a male, and not of status equal to him. * * In act four, scene one, the marriage scene in Much Ado About Nothing has similarities with the marriage theme in Romeo and Juliet as both females (Juliet and Hero) are virtually being forced to get married. The relationship between men and women, in this case Claudio and Hero, is weakened as Claudio addresses Hero as a â€Å"Rotten orange† which creates imagery of an orange that is sweet superficially, but is rotten on the inside. Claudio also refers to her as â€Å"cunning sin† which implies Hero as being a trickster and an evil thing which emphasizes his rage and emotions at that time. Claudio addresses Don Pedro as â€Å"Sweet Prince† as he is of high status, but also to emphasize the fact that the prince sides with him. Moreover the relationship between Leonato and Hero is damaged as he states â€Å"Does anyone have a dagger for me?† as if he was wanting to commit suicide at this supposed act of betrayal from Hero. Ultimately this whole scene is dr amatic irony as the audience are aware that Hero is still a virgin and Don John is the culprit. * * Following the tense marriage scene where Claudio has dumped the ironically named Hero, the audience first see Beatrice and Benedick declare their love for one another, however the scene also serves to show the powerless nature of women in the Renaissance period that was predominantly patriarchal. For example â€Å"I will die a woman grieving† said by Beatrice shows that she is unable to take revenge against Claudio as she is not a man. â€Å"O that I were a man† shows that women in that time were weak and that Beatrice would kill Claudio if she was a man. â€Å"I would eat his heart in the market place† produces strong imagery in the audiences’ mind which makes them feel the hatred Beatrice has towards Claudio. â€Å"In the market† tells us that she isn’t concerned about what others would think, she just wants revenge; a great sense of irony as the foundation of society at that time was built on aristocracy and Beatrice purely wants reven ge, regardless of the consequences it may have on her status. * * In act two, scene one, in Much Ado About Nothing we are provided with Beatrice’s view of men. She says â€Å"he that hath a beard is more than a youth†¦ and he that is less than a man, I am not for him† which suggests that the age of the man is irrelevant, she doesn’t want any man. Also Leonato says that he hopes to see her get married one day, and she replies with â€Å"Not till God make men of some other mettle than Earth†. The key word is â€Å"Earth† as God formed men from the dust of the ground and all men were created by God as it was believed at that time ergo she is saying that no man will ever gain her hand in marriage. In addition to this, Benedick refers to Beatrice as â€Å"sweet Beatrice† as he is now in love with her, but there is no evidence of her referring to Benedick as anything of the same, therefore this may imply that she is still uncertain about feelings towards Benedick. * * * Later on, at the Masquerade ball, Beatrice and Benedick encounter each other (Benedick wearing a mask) and Beatrice describes Benedick as â€Å"The prince’s jester† to intentionally insult him as she is quite aware that Benedick is wearing a mask. This is humorous for the audience as a sense of dramatic irony is brought forth as Benedick doesn’t realise that Beatrice knows it’s him. Beatrice is teasing Benedick in some manner because she is aware of what would irritate him and get his attention on her – in this case it’s humiliating him. Moreover, it appears as if the men and women in both plays have a tendency to create conflict where it is not necessary as they want to achieve something. In Much ado about nothing it’s Benedick and Beatrice and their battle of confused love and hate (predominantly at the beginning), while in Romeo and Juliet it’s a much larger conflict between the Montagues and Capulets. * * At the end of Romeo and Juliet the Friar reveals his role in the cause of their deaths. He speaks in blank verse as it discusses the love between Romeo and Juliet. The language he uses is strong and emotive as he uses words like â€Å"desperate† and â€Å"violence† as they emphasise how difficult the love between Romeo and Juliet was because of the feud between their families. Additionally, he speaks formally and with respect as it shows that he’s of high status and that he’s discussing the terrible tragedy with a great sense of guilt as he is a man of God. * * Finally, at the end of the play, the Montagues and Capulets are very empathetic towards each other as they have lost their offspring, and as a result of this their relationship is much friendlier. Evidence of this can be seen from â€Å"For I will raise her statue in pure Gold† said by Montague; gold is a very precious and expensive metal so it implies that they are showing great respect towards the Capulets as they are offering them a tribute to their daughter. Likewise, lord Capulet insists that he will raise Romeo’s likeness in gold beside hers. Ultimately, there is now a grand irony in the relationship between Romeo and Juliet as through their deaths, they have created the world that would have allowed their love to live. Romeo and Juliet’s deaths are tragic, but this tragedy was fated: by the stars, by the violent world in which they live, by the play, and by their very natures. From the prologue the audience want this death, this tragedy. At the playâ⠂¬â„¢s end, we do not feel sad for the loss of life as much as we feel greatly wrenched by the incredible act of love that Romeo and Juliet have committed as monuments to each other. * * Somewhat similar to the end of Romeo and Juliet, the ending of Much Ado About Nothing results in the renewal of the relationship between Benedick and Claudio as the two of them are now pleased to be relatives. Evidence for this can be seen from â€Å"come, come, we are friends†. However, not all the relationships end up so happily: â€Å"Prince, thou art sad, get thee a wife, get thee a wife† is said by Benedick to Don Pedro. This order serves partly as a joke, but it contains a drop of melancholy. Perhaps Don Pedro really is sad—an idea that seems even more probable when we recall his light-hearted, but perhaps not entirely joking, proposal to Beatrice, in Act two, scene one, and her gentle rejection of it. As so often happens in Shakespeare’s comedies, it seems as if somebody must be left out of the circle of happiness and marriage. Additionally the relationship of Don John is much more alienated from the nobles – at the end of the play we are left only assuming what is going to happen – this serves to satisfy the audience as they can create their own endings without truly ever knowing what was going to happen. * Overall, from the emotive struggle between Romeo and Juliet, the endless feud between Montagues and Capulets, the lies that created conflict for Claudio, and the tricks that caused Beatrice and Benedick to fall in love, Shakespeare, through his plays, has demonstrated the complexity of what happens when love and deception coincide in patriarchal societies.

Critical Thinking Class Essay

Critical Thinking Class Essay Free Online Research Papers Every once in a while a class has the opportunity of going on a field trip. A field trip’s purpose is to expand learning that the students are already learning about. A teacher can expand on what the students saw by incorporating new learning into current lesson plans. Upon returning from a field trip, students are usually excited about what has transpired during the trip. Having the students complete a paper, right after returning if time permits, explaining what they thought to be interesting will give them something constructive to do. Also letting the students pick the topic of what they are interested in, will give them an opportunity to explain about something that they paid attention to. According to Smith Kosslyn, the amount of attention given to information when presented is very important (2007). When children are interested in a subject, they are more likely to pay more attention to that information relating to that subject. Getting children outside of the normal classroom environment will also give them an opportunity to become more interested in the information. Letting the students pick a topic they were interested in will give them an opportunity to write about something that they paid attention to. The more attention is given to information, the more memory is stored. Encoding is â€Å"the various processes by which information is transformed into a memory representation† (p.202). Giving students memories on a field trip will help them to â€Å"encode† more information, and therefore create meaningful learning. According to the Center for Advancement in Teaching in order to create long-term memory, a student needs to have a working memory first (Everson Hammer, 2005). Information is brought in by sensory memory that gets transferred to working memory. Then the working memory gradually becomes long-term memory. Periodically, the long-term memory needs to be pulled out into working memory in order for the information to stay as long-term memory (2005). A student’s chance at creating a working memory is increased when they are able to elaborate on what they have learned. Elaboration is when information is interpreted, connected to other information, and then is thought about over and over (Smith Kosslyn, 2007). An article from Barbara Knowlton and Larry Squire raises the question of what kind of memory supports category level knowledge (1993). It seems that category knowledge is entered through sensory memory. The different pieces of information are represented by some form of memory that later becomes long-term memory (Smith Kosslyn, 2007). These representations are gradually turned into categorical knowledge. Every piece of information is put into a category that has similar traits, but not all the same traits (2007). Long-term memory can turn into meaningful learning that can be used to apply in life. By having students elaborate on what they have learned on a field trip, they are using their working memory. The information can be applied to long-term memory by representing a memory. Smith and Kosslyn also talk about strategies that increase meaningful learning. The generation effect is the concept that â€Å"you are more likely to remember the information you retrieve or generate than information that you simply receive† (2007, p.209). Using flashcards is a good example of using the generation effect of remembering information. Having a student generate information through writing an assignment is also a good example. The more a student generates information in the mind, the more they are likely to remember that information. Reference: Barbara J. Knowlton, Larry R. Squire (Dec 10, 1993). The learning of categories: parallel brain systems for item memory and category knowledge. Science, 262, n5140. p.1747(3). Information retrieved December 14, 2008, from Expanded Academic ASAP via Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM. Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Bart Everson, Elliott Hammer, 2005. Information retrieved December 13, 2008 from http://cat.xula.edu/thinker/memory/longterm/. Edward E. Smith, Stephen M. Kosslyn (2007). Cognitive Psychology Mind and Brain. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Research Papers on Critical Thinking EssayDistance Learning Survival GuideStandardized TestingDeveloping a Computer Network for Bead BarThree Concepts of PsychodynamicYear Round SchoolingCo-Educational vs. Single Sex SchoolsThe Mechanics of Grading Grading SystemsExempt vs Non-Exempt EmployeesProbation OfficersEmployment Law Essay

3 Reasons Authors Shouldnt Worry About Piracy - Joanna Penn

3 Reasons Authors Shouldnt Worry About Piracy - Joanna Penn 3 Reasons Authors Shouldnt Worry About Piracy but How to Protect Yourself Anyway New authors worry about piracy, especially in this age of digital publishing and online marketing. Yes, piracy happens, but here’s why you shouldn’t let fear keep you from putting your words out into the world. 1. Serious readers prefer to buy books rather than download  stolen copies Most of the reading public are book lovers, law-abiding (usually) citizens, and want to compensate you for your creative work. Trust your readers. A  Personal Example I noticed a customer had bought two copies of the same ebook from my website. I emailed her, assuming that she must have clicked twice by mistake, and I wanted to refund her. She explained that she had bought a copy for herself and one for a friend. I was thrilled, of course, because she could have just shared the file. Hugh Howey, the bestselling sci-fi author of WOOL,  shares on his site  that one reader downloaded his book through a pirate site, then sent him money later in recognition of a good book. Most readers want to  help  authors, not harm them. Those who download from pirate sites are not likely to be your target market anyway. 2. Some authors use piracy as a marketing strategy Paulo Coelho, author of the worldwide hit  The Alchemist,  deliberately  leaked his ebooks in Russia  on piracy networks  . His sales went from 1,000 per year to over 1 million, because those free books gave him more visibility in a hard-to-reach market.  He says of piracy, â€Å"It’s a medal to any writer who understands that there is no better reward than being read.† Self-help writer,  Tim Ferriss, used Bit Torrent file sharing site  for the launch of his  New York Times  bestseller,  The Four Hour Chef,  and generated hundreds of thousands of sales from free downloads. Fantasy writer, Neil Gaiman, talks about  piracy as a modern-day version of lending a physical book. Broader distribution means a broader audience and a broader audience means more sales. After all, the most pirated books in the world are by the most successful authors, like JK Rowling or George RR Martin. Tim O’Reilly says,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"For a typical author, obscurity is a far greater threat than piracy.† So, is it better to be pirated and have your book read or have your unseen manuscript sit in a drawer? 3. What are you  really  afraid of? If youre not writing or publishing because youre afraid someone will pirate your books or your ideas, you might need to consider other issues. Steven Pressfield talks about creative resistance in his book,  The War of Art. Stopping writing because you fear piracy is a form of resistance. Its something your lizard brain- that primal part that tries to keep you safe- can distract you with, when really you need to get your butt in the chair and finish your book. It’s scary to put your words out into the world. You might be judged. You might fail. You might get a one-star review. Maybe no one will even notice your book. Such fears are part of the creative process we all go through. Don’t let the pirates stop you from fulfilling your goals. How Can You Protect Yourself? Register your copyright  so you have proof if you need to challenge anyone. This is not technically necessary, as you automatically copyright a work when you create it. But I’ve found it useful when challenged by Amazon to prove my ownership because someone tried to publish a duplicate book. Make sure your book is available in all formats and in all countries at the same time. If your ebook is not available in the UK when your US publisher launches it, don’t be surprised if an avid fan gets a bootleg copy because they just can’t wait. If your book is available only in print, why be surprised if it is scanned and uploaded as an ebook? Plenty of people (myself included) read only ebooks now, and you will lose a sale anyway if it’s not available in digital format. If you’re an indie author (self-published), you can release your books globally on the same day. If you’re traditionally published in one territory, consider self-publishing in other countries. Basically, if your book is available when and how a reader wants it, they are less likely to look for a pirated version. Set up an alert  with a free service like  Google Alerts. Use a couple of unique lines from your book so you will be notified if the text appears anywhere on pirate sites. If you use  digital ARCs  (Advance Reader Copies), consider a service like  BookFunnel.com  to deliver them. They can include a digital watermark and track who downloads the book. If your work has been pirated, email the site and ask for the material to be taken down. If they don’t comply,  issue a DCMA takedown notice. You can also notify the various search engines of infringement. For more detail on this, check out  A step-by-step guide to dealing with content theft  from attorney Helen Sedwick. Joanna Penn is a  New York Times  and  USA Today  bestselling author of supernatural thrillers as  J.F.Penn. She also writes inspirational nonfiction and is an award-winning entrepreneur and speaker. Her site,  TheCreativePenn.com  is regularly voted one of the top 10 sites for writers and self-publishers. Connect on twitter @thecreativepenn In comments, pose any questions or share your experience with literary piracy.

Understanding project contractors and contracting businesses Essay

Understanding project contractors and contracting businesses - Essay Example Understanding project contractors and contracting businesses Analysis of such parameters will help us with an understanding about how the companies have performed over the seven years and whether they were able to add value to the company. One of the companies chosen above has a high total asset usage and the other one has a low total asset usage. The underlying rationale behind choosing this ratio as the primary differentiating parameter between these two companies is because this ratio is very useful in determining the financial performance of the company. It gives us an indication of the pricing strategy that the companies have adopted. Moreover, the firms have been chosen as a case of high and low values of a ratio that appears in the Du Pont system, which will make it easy for us to explore relationships and trade-offs between that and other ratios. The following sections will involve the analysis of key financial ratios that the firms have been able to achieve over the seven years. 2. Midas Retail Limited Midas construction is the larges t company that belongs to the Midas group of companies. The primary line of work that the company is engaged in is to serve the design and construction needs of all its customers from a network of local offices. The company works in close partnership with its local partners who specialise in supply chain, thereby utilizing their local expertise and knowledge. Each of the regional business under the Midas group offers highly personalised services which are designed to suit the needs and requirements of every individual customer and project (Midas, 2013) 3. Rock Fall Company Limited This company specilises in drilling, explosives engineering and blasting, particularly in the marine environment. The company has been able to complete more than 200 contracts in about 35 countries. The line of work that the company is engaged in ranges from the removal of small boulder outcrops to massive port development schemes. The activities are generally related to harbor deepening, clearance of navi gation channels and quay well construction. Another activity that can be include in the company's list of underwater expertise is foreshore trenching (Rock Fall, 2013). 4. Ratio Analysis Ratio analysis is an attempt to reduce accounting information in to more usable understandable figures and look at relationships between the figures. It can be used to ‘help interpret trends in performance year on year and by benchmarking to industry averages or to the performance of individual competitors or against a pre-determined target’ (Collier, 2009, p.104). Firstly, we can compare ratios for two or more accounting periods and look at the change. However, external factors may have influenced activity levels. For example, public awareness of environmental issues may have necessitated a change in manufacturing process leading to increased costs. Secondly, we can compare this to another company in the same industry. However, in some case, businesses may not be truly comparable with regard to size and type. For example, bases on which accounting information is prepared, may be different (inventory valuations and depreciation). Thirdly, we can compare this to an industry average, these can be compiled using data bases such as â€Å"Data Stream†. However, these have to be comparable as reflect as closely as possible the various characteristics of the company (McLane & Atrill, 2009, p.224-225). 4.1 Efficiency Ratios 4.1.1 Asset turnover This ratio measures the amount of sales that a company generates for every dollar’

The Changing Role of National oil companies in the international Dissertation

The Changing Role of National oil companies in the international energy Market - Dissertation Example Oil prices increased in recent years from about $20 to about $100 per barrel, thereby expanding profits for many national and international oil companies. With decreasing supply and increasing demands for oil, oil companies have been competing with each other to seek more substantive oil sources. The fact that majority of oil reserved are under government control is giving a major advantage for national oil companies on access to oil sources. Having control over these oil reserves has also brought about greater pressure for oil companies, mostly pressure in relation to their national roles and responsibilities, especially those which relate to supply and demand, globalization challenges, physical security, and international oil competition. 1.2 Background of the problem National oil companies are oil companies which are partially or wholly owned by national governments. Recent surveys from the United States Energy Information Administration indicate that about 52% of oil companies ar e nationally owned; and about 88% of oil reserved is controlled by national oil companies (Energy Information Administration, 2009). National oil companies (NOCs) have become dominant in recent years and in relation to international oil corporations, including ExxonMobil, BP, and Royal Dutch Shell, their dominance has gained much momentum. These NOCs have also increased their investments outside their borders. Some corporations have even abandoned their investments in various countries, as was the case for ExxonMobil abandoning its million dollar investments in the Orinoco basin in Venezuela (Mommer, 2001). This decision was caused by the breakdown of negotiations between the international oil companies on one side and President Hugo Chavez and Petroleos de Venezula (PDV) on the other (Kalicki and Goldwyn, 2005). Other international oil companies, including Total SA of France, Statoil of Norway, BP from Britain, and Chevron from the US agreed to raise the PDV share in the Orinoco pr ojects from 40% to 78% (Oil Daily, 2007). Under these conditions, ConocoPhillips found this decision very much unfavourable to their interests. The company was able to detect about 1.1 billion barrels of reserves from their interests in Venezuela and this represented about 10% of their total reserve holdings, and their Venezuela interests was equivalent to 4% of their total crude oil reserves (Oil Daily, 2007). ConocoPhillips suffered $4.5 billion dollar write-off under these conditions and was unable to meet its targets; as a result, its shares suffered a beating in the stock market (Oil Daily, 2007). On the part of Venezuela, PDV was able to increase its reserves and its production activities; as a result, it gained more power in the international oil market (Pirog, 2007). Venezuela has a major share in the crude oil imports of the US and their oil flow is not directly controlled by their government (Pirog, 2007). These conditions however, may not allow the crude oil market to fol low and be influenced by economic market dictates. The ranking of oil companies can be determined through various considerations. Various standards have to be used in order to evaluate the changing qualities of oil companies. In addition, investments in explorations and development are major considerations linking the present to the future, ensuring significant expansions for the company and preventing the depletion of reserves