Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Language and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Language and Culture - Essay Example Language can affect the  culture  of a society, especially when the  society  borrows, and then modifies  alien  words from other cultures to  fit  in their own. As such this changes the  culture  making it evolve with time. Language use within a text refers to the combination of various forms of the  linguistic  and  grammatical  technique used within the context with the aim of communicating a message to another party. Its uses can  be  in many different ways and purposes; it  is spoken, written, and referred, from visual representations. Language  is used  to  work, play, praise, insult, court and reduce among other reasons. Throughout the use of language,  various  techniques  are applied  to  simplify  its meanings also to  create  interest  and  humor  such as through the use of rhyme and repetition to create a  musical  effect. The use of  language  can be categorized into much broader uses categories which are the  evocative, the expressive, the performative, the evaluative and the informative. This is for  clear  communication of information and there the use of  various  linguistic techniques. ... For instance, throughout the website the  writer  uses terms such as â€Å"you are not alone† in the start of a  sentence  when describing the  occurrence, effects and handling of peer pressure. This is an already constructed  phrase, and it passes information relating with most people within the society; thus, effectively and  immediately  passing the information to the readers. It also reduces the necessity of  grammatical  correction and the  application  of  further  grammatical  techniques within this part of the text. Within the various passage texts in the website, there are  various  words used that are of other and similar linguistic  background.  These are words obtained from other languages, or are a combination of two or more different ancient  language  words that sum up to the meaning of the intended, in the English context.  Words used such as microscope derived from the Greek words "mikros" referring to  puny  and "skopein" referring to look or  see, the two combined in English forms the word microscope meaning an  instrument  used in the viewing and investigations of objects that minute, and cannot be seen by the naked eye. Semantics The  linguistic  statement  semantics developed from the Greek word semantic, and it refers to the study of meaning focusing on the relation between the use of signifiers such as phrases, words, signs and what they  denote  in the text, in linguistics. It tries to  denote  meaning through the understanding of  different  human expressions through language.  This includes the use puns and conations, among others, in an English language  context  to  magnify  the expressed  message  and to ensure the readers' undivided attention.  It also acts as a  way  of reducing monotony, thus,

Monday, October 28, 2019

Youtube Case Study Essay Example for Free

Youtube Case Study Essay Question 1: There are several competitive forces challenging the movie industry. Film corporations are currently facing the challenges of websites offering free downloadable movie torrents along with DVD readers on computers, portable video devices, and the start up of the website YouTube in February 2005. Free online film downloads are four times more popular than legal film downloads that are paid for. This new industry is giving customers power to challenge movie store prices, customers are substituting pricey blockbuster rentals with free online downloads. This is transforming Movie rental establishments into price takers, rather than price makers. The online market is a new market for the movie industry; this is a problem because large film corporations are overcharging for their online products. They do not realize that Twenty dollars for a 24 hour movie rental is not going to appeal to customers. Another problem the movie industry is facing is that 30 to 70 percent of Hollywood derived content has been submitted to YouTube without legal consent. YouTube is profiting on movies that cost major production studios over $129 million to make. These problems are forcing film companies to enter the digital firm where business relationships are digitally enabled. They are entering agreements with online companies such as CinemaNow and Movielink, selling their products online via download. This has transformed the entire way the film industry marketed their movies. The strategic value of entering the online world is basically for mere survival of the industry. The problem of YouTube has also added complication to the creation of films. It has caused companies to resort to hiring more staff in an attempt to monitor the website. It has also forced the development of new technology such as Video ID which has been added to films in order to prevent unauthorized videos from appearing on YouTube. Question 2: Disruptive technologies such as YouTube and other free media websites have severely impacted the companies discussed in this case. Viacom (The world’s fourth largest media conglomerate) has resorted to filing a lawsuit against YouTube for $1.25 billion dollars in damages because more than 150,000 unauthorized clips if Viacoms copyrighted material has appeared on YouTube. Disruptive technologies have caused companies like NBC universal to resort to new job positions involving searching YouTube everyday for property posted without consent. So on top of losing money from lack of sales revenue, companies are forced to spend money filing lawsuits and hiring employees to tackle this new interfering technology. Question 3: Because YouTube is such a powerful company, studios have decided against Viacom’s decision (filing a lawsuit) and are developing a more constructive solution. Companies such as NBC Universal, Time Warner’s Warner Brothers and Twentieth Century Fox have entered into negotiations with YouTube to establish licensing agreements. They are shifting into information system trends like using websites (YouTube) for advertising. The goal of this response is basically to maximise revenue streams made possible by this new technology. It allows companies to earn revenues where their products might otherwise have been distributed illegally. This is something learned from the music industry. The movie industry needs to follow in the footsteps of the music industry; iTunes music store sells music for .99 cents per song. I think lowering the fee for online movie downloading could definitely benefit the industry. The music industry has been dealing with copyright infringement for several years; the movie business needs to team up with the online music conglomerate to learn from their experience and to work together to find an overall better way to overcome the challenge of copyright infringement. Question 4: I think motion picture companies should most definitely continue to use YouTube to promote their new films. YouTube is a heavily trafficked website reporting over 100 million video views per day; this provides valuable exposure for companies in the film industry. Information Technology is only going to grow larger, the film industry needs to find a way to take part in this revolution and take advantage of what Information Technology has to offer or else it will become a thing of the past with VHS’s and Cassette tapes.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Social Sciences In Theatre :: essays research papers

Social Sciences in Theatre How are the social sciences associated with theatre?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his article â€Å"Performance Studies†, Helbo identifies many social sciences associated with theatre including psychology, sociology, and semiotics. Psychology, he states, has greatly increased the work of the actor by giving him a tool to examine his character or role in greater depth. Psychology has also affected the spectator by creating a release and even a form of therapy. Sociology is used in theatre to determine the cultural politics involved, the link between demand patterns and economic patterns, and the role of theatre in everyday life. Semiotics plays a vital role in theatre by determining how signs, whether they are speech pattern or facial expression, affect the audience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Schechner focuses solely on anthropology and its use in theatre. Schechner even goes so far as to define theatre anthropology. It is defined as â€Å"the study of the biological and cultural behavior of man in a theatrical situation.† He writes that anthropology and theatre have no definite boundary and uses anthropology to show theatrical aspects in everyday life, which brings one to ask the second question. How do the social sciences show theatre used in everyday life?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Helbo uses sociology and biology to site instances through which theatre is used in everyday life. Sociologists see theatre in the social structures we face on a daily basis. A handshake, tipping a doorman and even the forbidden middle finger is what Erving Goffman terms â€Å"rituals of interaction.† Every culture is immersed in some aspect of performance, even biologists can see theatre in everyday occurrences. The biologist Laborit sees behavioral functions associated with theatre as liberating. Social Sciences In Theatre :: essays research papers Social Sciences in Theatre How are the social sciences associated with theatre?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his article â€Å"Performance Studies†, Helbo identifies many social sciences associated with theatre including psychology, sociology, and semiotics. Psychology, he states, has greatly increased the work of the actor by giving him a tool to examine his character or role in greater depth. Psychology has also affected the spectator by creating a release and even a form of therapy. Sociology is used in theatre to determine the cultural politics involved, the link between demand patterns and economic patterns, and the role of theatre in everyday life. Semiotics plays a vital role in theatre by determining how signs, whether they are speech pattern or facial expression, affect the audience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Schechner focuses solely on anthropology and its use in theatre. Schechner even goes so far as to define theatre anthropology. It is defined as â€Å"the study of the biological and cultural behavior of man in a theatrical situation.† He writes that anthropology and theatre have no definite boundary and uses anthropology to show theatrical aspects in everyday life, which brings one to ask the second question. How do the social sciences show theatre used in everyday life?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Helbo uses sociology and biology to site instances through which theatre is used in everyday life. Sociologists see theatre in the social structures we face on a daily basis. A handshake, tipping a doorman and even the forbidden middle finger is what Erving Goffman terms â€Å"rituals of interaction.† Every culture is immersed in some aspect of performance, even biologists can see theatre in everyday occurrences. The biologist Laborit sees behavioral functions associated with theatre as liberating.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Sonance at a Turning Point

CASE SONANCE AT A TURNING POINT I. Introduction: Problem / General Issue Sonance is a company at a crossroads, long established as the leader in high-end home theatre speakers, it is at an inflection point where it needs to decide whether it wants to be a high-end speaker producer served through customized dealer channels, or a mass market audio systems maker. The past decade has seen the rise of a new competitive threat, the demise of its dealer channel and the emergence of a highly informed and selective customer base which have all served to hurt the company’s prospects.In the early 2000s, when price competition prompted Sonance to increase customer variability through retail channels Sonance sacrificed its brand identity. Having no experience in selling its products directly to end customers, Sonance suffered from its own inexperience of appealing to the new market while at the same alienating its established market. While the company made significant investments in R&D, t hese efforts were never backed by a well-thought analysis of distribution strategy or an understanding of the value of each customer channel.What follows is an analysis of Sonance’s current situation and the articulation of a strategy, that if implemented, is designed to re-establish Sonance position as the leader in the in-wall, home theatre speaker market. II. Situation Analysis In trying to capture the opportunities of the growing consumer electronics market, Sonance’s attempt at expanding into retail ultimately backfired with a decline in revenue from $53mm in 2003 to $47mm in 2004 (almost back to the level of 1999).This situation has brought the company to the edge: with limited funds available, Sonance needs to clearly define its product development and distribution strategy. By entering the mass retail market channel in 2000, Sonance eviscerated its historical base of dealer customers, losing roughly 50% of its dealers in a 5 year period. While overall revenues declined by only 19% during this period, the composition of Sonance’s revenue stream has changed from a +90% concentration in Dealers to less than a 50% concentration in Dealers, with the balance spread between Retail and Production Housing.Due to this shift, Sonance is not only perilously exposed to the cyclical flows of retailing, but also is much more sensitive to the overall performance of each customer, as the loss of the Lowe’s account in 2004 resulted in a 37% decline in mass market revenue. Ultimately, the move to retail puts Sonance in a precarious long-term position as its customers have significant buying power as high volume purchasers.In the future it is likely that mass-market retailers will be able to use their purchasing power to drive down the margins Sonance is able to extract on its sales, and ultimately serve to diminish the dealer channel. The decline of the dealer channel increases Sonance’s long-term risk by locking it out of the market fo r luxury home theatre systems. While the move to retail offset $10 million of the $17 million of revenue lost through normal dealer installations between 1999 and 2004, it is unlikely that any of the $6 million of highend home theater system revenue could be recouped through mass market retail.As luxury customers are less price sensitive and look to dealers to customize their entire installation, Sonance’s move towards the retail model at the expense of the dealers will eventually find it locked out of the lucrative and sticky luxury market altogether. Furthermore, Sonance’s dealer base faces further erosion as its main competitor, SpeakerSoft, has taken advantage of Sonance’s wounded dealer channel by undercutting roughly 25% on price and further incenting custom dealers to choose SpeakerCraft speakers over Sonance Original Series speakers in customer projects.This, combined with the alienation from competing with Sonance’s retail offerings serves to fur ther erode Sonance’s dealer channel as dealers choose lower priced competitor offerings. Paradoxically, as Sonance has developed a mass retail channel at the expense of its dealer network, it is deciding whether to push forward with the development of the Architectural Series of speakers. It would be the first and only truly flush-mount trimless speaker, a true niche product appealing to the less cost sensitive high end, luxury market.This product line, with a manufacturing cost 400% higher than the original series and a complex installation process, requires a viable luxury dealer network in order to succeed in the market. Sonance is also exploring the potential of converting the current Sonance-only iPort device into a universal, detachable dock tailored for all home theatre systems. Moving forward on this plan would be a reaffirmation of the retail play the company began in the early 2000s.With an optimistic price tag of $335, Sonance’s strategy of introducing the p roduct via Target, a discount retailer, appears misguided as the device is more expensive than its competition and even an iPod itself. Furthermore, by entering the market of retail iPod accessories, Sonance is looking to go head to head with many other discount brands. The competition and dynamics of this market are unlike that of the custom home theatre market, and it is expected that Sonance will have challenges adapting and efficiently executing within it. III.Evaluate Available Options / Alternatives The primary choice that Sonance has to make is which product to launch at the coming CEDIA EXPO, either the Architectural Series or the detachable iPort, and as a result, which customer base should they focus their attention on. We evaluated the customer lifetime value (CLV) of Sonance’s different customers as of 2004 based on the information provided in the case and our own assumptions (see Exhibit 1 in the Appendix). Our primary assumptions for this analysis are below:  · Original Series Dealers Price per pair of $140 o Retention Rate of 75%, conservative estimate based on change in number of dealers from 2003 to 2004 (600 to 500) o Growth rate of 5%, below growth in consumer spending due to Dealers’ unhappiness with Sonance o Sales per Customer of 300, assuming 15 projects per dealer per year, with an average of 20 speaker pairs per project  · Original Series Production Builders o Price per pair of $90 o Retention Rate of 50%, below Dealers because of competitive bidding structure for larger scale projects vs. ndividual homes through Dealers o Growth rate of 10%, in-line with new home sales growth o Sales per Customer of 960, assuming 80 projects per Production Builder per year, with an average of 12 speaker pairs per project  · Original Series Mass Retail Market o Price per pair of $120 o Retention Rate of 20%, shares shelf space with all competitors’ products, smaller size projects o Growth rate of 10%, in-line with consumer sp ending o Sales per Customer of 83,333, divided BestBuy 2004 sales ($10 million) by average price per pair  · iPort Dealers Price per iPort of $300 o Retention Rate of 75%, equal to Dealers’ Retention Rate of Original Series speakers o Growth rate of 15%, below iPod growth due to high price, but higher growth than other Sonance products o Sales per Customer of 7, assumes 1 / 3 of Dealers’ annual projects will generate a sale Based on this analysis, we chose launching the Architectural Series and refocusing Sonance on the Dealer channel as our first alternative to evaluate. The CLV’s for this alternative are shown in Exhibit 2.We assume the Architectural Series will be a leading product in the market and will earn a high retention rate among ultra high-end dealers of 90%. Sonance would also be able to initially attract 50% of these niche dealers they had in 1999 (75 vs. 150 previously). Sonance would have the choice in this scenario to price the Architectural Se ries at either $875 per pair, based on the advice of their focus group, or $305, based on the internal marketing group’s recommendation.Our assumptions regarding customer mix for this scenario is that Sonance would drop the mass retail market customer to signal they are focused only on the custom and semi-custom installation markets. In addition, Sonance would consider reducing the price of their Original Series Speakers to the Dealers to $90 from $140. This would improve the Dealers’ gross margin to 75%, equal to SpeakerCraft’s, although the margin net of installation costs would still be lower (see Exhibit 2). These assumptions would lead to an increased Retention Rate through the Dealers sales of Original Series Speakers of 85% and a higher growth rate of 10% vs. %. Sonance would also increase their Retention Rate with Dealers for the existing iPort product to 85% in this scenario. The second alternative we evaluated was to launch the Detachable iPort instead of the Architectural Series and to continue to focus on the Mass Market Retail. The CLV’s for this alternative are shown in Exhibit 3. For the Detachable iPort, we assumed a very low Retention Rate of 5% since Sonance would be entering an already crowded market with a product that is priced at a premium to most of the competition.Sales of the iPort would grow at 40%, lower the growth rate of iPod sales since the Detachable iPort would be priced at the high-end of iPod accessories. We the assumed iPort would penetrate 0. 5% of the iPod sales in 2004 of 22. 5 million. The Dealers would likely be unhappy with Sonance in this scenario so we assumed the Retention Rate at the current price of $140 per pair would decline to 65%. If Sonance were to help mend the relationship by reducing the price to $90 per pair, we assumed a Retention Rate of 75%, with no additional growth.The Retention Rate for the existing iPort product sold through the Dealers would be reduced to 65% since the l aunch of the Detachable iPort would be viewed as undermining their efforts and a lack of commitment to custom installation products. In both scenarios, we assumed no change in our assumptions for Production Builders as this is a market based largely on price and the actions of Sonance in other markets will have little effect on their decisions. Recommendation and Implementation PlanBased on our calculations of customer lifetime value (see figure Exhibit 1), it is clear that dealers and production builders are crucial to our sales of the Original Series product and therefore we should continue to sell through these channels. However, the mass retail market is a less appealing channel through which to sell this product; firstly, the CLV of these customers is much lower than the other two, and more importantly, by selling to these customers we are losing the business of dealers, who are far more important clients.Our recommendation is to eliminate the mass retail channel, and to reduce the price of the Original Series speakers to $90 in order to rebuild the dealer channel. Lastly, we recommend launching the Architectural Series speakers at a price point of (or near) $875 to dealers, rather than focusing efforts on bringing the iPort to the mass market. The Architectural Series speakers are unique and innovative, thus we expect that both dealers and their customers will have a higher willingness to pay for this product as compared to competitor’s existing in-wall speakers.Using this price and estimated sales, we expect to break even in 1 year by selling only 23% of projected annual sales (as compared to 66% under marketing’s suggested price of $305 to dealers – see figure Exhibit 5). Although the 65% margin to dealers is smaller than they could make off competing offers, dealers would be earning far more in absolute terms ($1,425 as compared to $245 under the $305 price – see figure Exhibit 4).The choice to launch the Architectural Seri es is strategically wise from both a quantitative and a qualitative standpoint. First, adapting the iPort to the mass market requires more than double the R&D and Marketing expenses than launching the Architectural Series (see figure Exhibit 5). Although the new iPort model would have a lower cost, the sales required to break even in one year are only slightly higher for the Architectural Series (23% vs. 17%).In addition, the iPort model, even as a detached unit, is only comparable to our competitor’s existing products which are sold for less. The Architectural Series, on the other hand, is truly innovative, and can be successfully sold at a much higher price. It would also position the company as an innovator and boost brand perception. By shifting the focus back to dealers through the Architectural Series and away from the mass market, we can appease these important clients and increase sales of other products (for example, the Original Series speakers).

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Controversy Behind Qatar 2022 Bid

Qatar 2022 On 2 December 2010 it was announced that Qatar would host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the FIFA Executive Committee voted in a secret ballot in Zurich. The government of Qatar’s successful proposal bid defeated four other candidates to stage the 2022 edition of the world’s greatest sporting event: Australia, Korea Republic, Japan and the United States of America. Qatar, with a population of 1. 69 million people will be the first Arab state to host the World Cup. Consequently, Qatar is the smallest nation, both by relative population and by area, ever to have been awarded the tournament hosting privilege. The Qatar bid was emphasized as the only one representing the Arab World (which has never hosted a World Cup prior) and positioned their bid as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the Arab World and the West. Their hosting of the 2006 Asian Games as well as the 2011 Asian Cup proved to legitimize their capabilities of hosting the tournament. Further, its superior financial capabilities were evident in their proposals for new stadia and infrastructure. While the decision on 2 December 2010 brought delight to Qatar, it inversely brought concern and controversy in the West. A number of rival candidates, western groups and media outlets have expressed concern over the suitability of Qatar to host the event, with regard to climatic conditions, interpretations of human rights, press freedom and allegations of corruption. Climate: Winter World Cup? The World Cup is traditionally held in the northern hemisphere’s summer. During this season in Qatar, the temperature can get to 50  °C  (122  Ã‚ °F). The Qatar bid’s chief executive, Hassan al-Thawadi has attempted to quell fears of an unbearable environment by stating â€Å"heat is not and will not be an issue† and that the 2022 World Cup would benefit from â€Å"state-of-the-art air cooling technologies. † The Qatar 2022 Bid’s official site explains this: â€Å"Each of the five stadiums will harness the power of the sun’s rays to provide a cool environment for players and fans by converting solar energy into electricity that will then be used to cool both fans and players at the stadiums. When games are not taking place, the solar installations at the stadia will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadia will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the stadiums’ carbon-neutrality. Along with the stadiums, we plan to make the cooling technologies we’ve developed available to other countries in hot climates, so that they too can host major sporting events. † This method of cooling techniques is theoretically able to reduce temperatures from 50 to 27 degrees Celsius. The bidding committee also proposes to use such cooling technologies in fan-zones, training pitches and walkways between metro stations and stadiums. However, the architect in charge of one of the venues has abandoned their project claiming that a more old-fashioned solution would be cheaper and better. Leading firm Populous, which is designing the Sports City stadium in Doha, is trying to persuade Qatari organizers to scrap plans to have air conditioning at the venue. Populous director John Barrow said the system is too expensive and â€Å"notoriously unsustainable† for the environment when used on a large scale. Given the debate on the subject, a proposal of hosting a â€Å"Winter World Cup† has arisen. Backed by the likes of Blatter and Platini, the proposal suggests for the tournament to be held in January of 2022, rather than the summer. Blatter has told reporters â€Å"Personally, now that the decision has been taken [to have the tournament in Qatar], we must play at the most adequate period to have a successful World Cup and to have a successful World Cup we have to do it when it is best for the actors which means winter. † However, Mr. Blatter has failed to provide a solution on the effect it would have on European domestic leagues which operate in this period. There is nothing in FIFA’s rules to prevent a host changing the time of year when a World Cup is played. It is only tradition that dictates this. And the FIFA executive committee has the authority to change any aspect of the World Cup after the decision is made. Worker’s Conditions Given its lack of sporting infrastructure, the Gulf state must build nine football stadiums in the next ten years- and they’ll be using primarily migrant labor (over 90% of Qatar’s workforce is made up of foreign migrant workers). Trade union activists are now lobbying FIFA to highlight what they say are poor working conditions in Qatar. International trade unionists say FIFA has the power to impose decent working standards on Qatar and will campaign for the tournament to be moved unless FIFA presses for better conditions. If Qatar is unable to support the tournament on its own, Secretary-General Jerome Valcke has suggested the tournament be shared with neighboring states, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Alcohol and Homosexuality Qatar is not a dry country. Alcohol can currently be consumed legally in a few clubs, bars, certain hotel restaurants, and the Pearl Island by showing your passport for reporting. Hassan Abdulla al Thawadi, chief executive of the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid, said the Muslim state would also permit alcohol consumption during the event. Specific fan-zones will be established where alcohol can be bought. Though legal with a permit, drinking in public is not permitted as Qatar's legal system is based on  Sharia  law. The selection of Qatar as hosts attracted controversy, as  homosexuality  is illegal in Qatar. FIFA President  Sepp Blatter  stated that â€Å"we (FIFA) don't want any discrimination. What we want to do is open this game to everybody, and to open it to all cultures, and this is what we are doing in 2022. Corruption: Bribery Scandal Six members of Fifa’s executive committee — a quarter of the membership – were accused by Lord Treisman (Chairman of England’s bid) of â€Å"improper and unethical behaviour† with two members, Issa Hayatou, of Cameroon, and Jacques Anouma, of Ivory Coast, alleged to received $1. 5 million each in bribes from the Qatar 2022 bid in exchange for their votes. The bribery allegations against Qatar were made in evidence from  The Sunday Times  and published by the committee. As a result, in November 2010, two ExCo members,  Reynald Temarii  and  Amos Adamu, were banned for one and three years respectively. Temarii was also fined 5,000 Swiss Francs, while Adamu was fined 10,000 Swiss Francs. More corruption allegations emerged in the summer of 2011. In May, ExCo member Chuck Blazer claimed fellow members Mohammed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner offered bribes for votes in the upcoming presidential election. As a result of this scandal, Bin Hammam stood down from the June 2011 presidential election and FIFA later suspended both he and Jack Warner. Sepp Blatter stood unopposed and won the election with 186 out of 203 votes. Bin Hammam’s suspension had been met with widespread anger in the Middle East- He was subsequently banned for life in July. Warner responded to his suspension by exposing an email by Valcke in which the Secretary-General suggested Qatar had â€Å"bought† the right to host 2022 tournament. Valcke defended his statement, insisting he was referring to Qatar using financial muscle to lobby legitimately for votes. â€Å"They were a candidate with a very important budget and used it to heavily promote their bid all around the world in a very efficient manner,† he said. â€Å"I have made no reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behaviour. Qatar 2022's bid team said they â€Å"categorically deny† any wrongdoing, and asked for clarification from FIFA on the meaning of the Valcke e-mail. Nevertheless, the scandal has raised concerns over $10 billion of investment and development contracts related to stadiums and hotels for the World Cup in Qatar. Possibility of a Re-Vote Given the developments in corruption and bribery scandals, as well as questions concerning the Qatar’s capabilities of hosting the tournament effectively, there is a ground swell of popular support to re-hold the 2022 vote won by Qatar. Blatter has said that a FIFA inquiry into persistent and increasingly detailed claims of corruption could lead to the Executive Committee (ExCo) making the unprecedented move of rerunning the vote. Blatter also conceded that support for re-running the vote was â€Å"circulating around the world†. Such a move would be a monumental embarrassment to FIFA but that has to now be balanced with the equivalent embarrassment of more allegations leaking out.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Pros and Cons of Gun Ownership in the U.S.

Pros and Cons of Gun Ownership in the U.S. About 80 million Americans, representing half of U.S. homes, own more than 223 million guns. And yet, 60% of Democrats and 30% of Republicans favor stronger gun ownership laws. Historically, states have regulated laws governing individual ownership and use of guns. State gun laws vary widely from loose regulations in many southern, western and rural states to restrictive laws in the largest cities. In the 1980s, though, the National Rifle Association increased pressure on Congress to loosen gun control laws and restrictions. In June 2010, however, the Supreme Court struck down Chicagos restrictive gun-control laws, declaring that that Americans in all 50 states have a constitutional right to possess firearms for self-defense. Gun Rights and the Second Amendment Gun rights are granted by the Second Amendment, which reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. All political viewpoints agree that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of the government to maintain an armed militia to protect the nation. But disagreement historically existed as to whether or not it guarantees the right of all persons to own/use guns any place and at any time.. Collective Rights vs. Individual Rights Until the mid-20th century, liberal constitutional scholars held a Collective Rights position, that the Second Amendment only protects the collective right of the states to maintain armed militias. Conservative scholars held an Individual Rights position that the Second Amendment also grants an individuals right to own guns as private property, and that most restrictions on buying and carrying guns impede individual rights. Gun Control and the World The U.S. has the highest rate of gun ownership and of gun homicide in the developed world, per a 1999 Harvard School of Public Health study. In 1997, Great Britain banned private ownership of almost all handguns. And in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard commented after a 1996 mass killings in that country that we took action to limit the availability of funs, and we showed a national resolved that the gun culture that is such a negative in the U.S. would never become a negative in our country. Wrote Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne in 2007, Our country is a laughingstock on the rest of the planet because of our devotion to unlimited gun rights. District of Columbia vs. Heller Two U.S. Supreme Court rulings, District of Columbia vs. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), effectively struck down or nullified restrictive gun ownership and use laws for individuals. In 2003, six Washington D.C. residents filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the constitutionality of Washington D.C.s Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975, considered among the most restrictive in the U.S. Enacted in response to a horrifically high crime and gun violence rate, the D.C. law outlawed ownership of handguns, except for police officers and certain others. The D.C. law also specified that shotguns and rifles must be kept unloaded or dissembled, and with the trigger locked. (Read more about D.C. gun laws.) The federal District Court dismissed the lawsuit. The six litigants, led by Dick Heller, a Federal Judicial Center guard who wanted to keep a gun at home, appealed the dismissal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. On March 9, 2007, the federal Appeals court voted 2 to 1 to strike down the dismissal of the Heller suit. Wrote the majority: To summarize, we conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms... That is not to suggest that the government is absolutely barred from regulating the use and ownership of pistols. The NRA called the ruling a significant victory for individual... rights. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence called it judicial activism at its worst. Supreme Court Review of District of Columbia vs. Heller Both litigants and defendants appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear this landmark gun rights case. On March 18, 2008, the Court heard oral arguments from both sides. On June 26, 2008, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to overturn the restrictive gun laws of Washington D.C., as depriving individuals of their right to own and use a gun in their own home and in federal enclaves, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. McDonald v. City of Chicago On June 28, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court resolved anmiguities created by its District of Columbia vs. Heller decision as to whether or not individual gun rights apply to all states, as well. Briefly, in striking down Chicagos strict handgun laws, the Court established, by vote of 5 to 4, that the right to keep and bear arms is a privilege of American citizenship that applies to the States. Background Political focus on U.S. gun control laws has increased since 1968 passage of the Gun Control Act, enacted after the assassinations of John F. and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Between 1985 and 1996, 28 states eased restrictions on concealed weapon carrying. As of 2000, 22 states allowed concealed guns to be carried almost anywhere, including places of worship. The following are the federal laws enacted to control/tax guns held by individuals: 1934 - National Firearms Act imposed a tax on the sale of machine guns and short-barrel firearms, in reaction public rage over gangster activity.1938 - Federal Firearms Act required licensing of gun dealers.1968 - Gun Control Act expanded licensing and record-keeping; banned felons and the mentally ill from buying guns; banned the mail order sale of guns.1972 - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was created to oversee federal regulation of guns.1986 - Firearms Owners Protection Act eased some gun sale restrictions, reflecting the growing influence of the NRA under President Reagan.1993 - Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act requires gun dealers to run background checks on purchasers. Establishes national database of prohibited gun owners.1994 - Violent Crime Control Act banned the sale of new assault weapons for ten years. The Act was sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). the Republican-led Congress allowed the law expire in 2004.2003 - Tiahrt Amendment protects gun dealers and manufacturers from certain lawsuits. 2007 - via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, Congress closes loopholes in the national database after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech University. (For more info from 1791 to 1999, see A Brief History of Firearms Regulation in America by Robert Longley, About.com Govt Info Guide.) For More Restrictive Gun Laws Arguments in favor of more restrictive gun laws are: Societal needs for reasonable gun control lawsHigh rate of gun-related violence and deathSecond Amendment does not provide for individual gun rights Societal Needs for Reasonable Gun Control The federal, state and  local governments  enact laws to protect and defend the people and property of the U.S. Proponents of more restrictive gun ownership laws contend that under-regulation puts U.S. residents at unreasonable risk. A  1999 Harvard School of Public Health study  revealed that Americans feel less safe as more people in their community being to carry guns, and that 90% believe that regular citizens should be prohibited from bringing guns into most public places, including stadiums, restaurants, hospitals, college campuses and places of worship. U.S. residents have a right to reasonable protection from dangers, including danger from guns. Examples cited include the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting deaths of 32 students and teachers and the 1999 killings at Colorados Columbine High School of 13 students and teachers. High Rate of Gun-Related Crime Americans favoring more restrictive gun ownership/use laws believe that such measures will reduce gun-related crime, homicide and suicide in the U.S. About 80 million Americans, representing 50% of U.S homes, own 223 million guns , easily the highest private gun ownership rate of any country in the world. Gun use  in the United States is associated with the majority of homicides and over half the suicide,  per Wikipedia. More than  30,000  U.S. men, women and children die each year from gunshot wounds, the highest homicide rate from guns in the world. Of those 30,000 deaths, only about  1,500  are due to accidental shootings. Per the Harvard 1999 study, most Americans believe that U.S.  gun violence  and homicide would decrease by reducing the private ownership and use of guns. Constitution Does Not Provide for Individual Gun Rights ... nine federal appeals courts around the nation have adopted the collective rights view, opposing the notion that the amendment protects individual gun rights. The only exceptions are the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, and the District of Columbia Circuit,  per the New York Times. For hundreds of years, the prevailing opinion of Constitutional scholars has been that the Second Amendment does not address private gun ownership rights, but only guarantees the collective right of states to maintain militias. For Less Restrictive Gun Laws Arguments in favor of less restrictive gun laws include: Individual resistance to tyranny is a civil right guaranteed by the Second AmendmentSelf defenseRecreational use of guns Individual Resistance to Tyranny Is a Constitutional Right No one disputes that the intended purpose of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is to empower U.S. residents to resist governmental tyranny. The controversy is whether that empowerment is intended to be on a individual or collective basis. Holders of the  Individual Rights  position, which is considered the conservative stance, believe that the Second Amendment gives private gun ownership and use to individuals as a basic civil right to protection from government tyranny, such as the tyranny faced by the founders of the United States. Per the  New York Times on May 6, 2007: There used to be an almost complete scholarly and judicial consensus that the Second Amendment protects only a collective right of the states to maintain militias. That consensus no longer exists - thanks largely to the work over the last 20 years of several leading liberal law professors, who have come to embrace the view that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own guns. Self-Defense in Response to Crime and Violence Holders of the  Individual Rights  position believe that allowing increased private ownership and use of guns as self-protection is the effective response to controlling gun violence and homicide. The argument is if gun ownership is legally restricted, then all and only law-abiding Americans will be unarmed, and therefore would be the easy prey of criminals and law-breakers. Proponents of less restrictive gun laws cite a  number of instances in which stringent new laws  resulted in a dramatic increase, not decrease, in gun-related crimes and violence. Recreational Use of Guns In many states, majority of citizens contend that restrictive gun ownership/use laws impede safe hunting and shooting, which to them are important cultural traditions and popular recreational pursuits. For us, guns and hunting is a way of life, said Mr. Helms, the manager of Marstillers Gun Shop (in Morgantown, West Virginia) per the  New York Times on March 8, 2008. In fact, a  bill was recently passed  in the West Virginia legislature to allow hunting education classes in all schools where twenty or more students express interest. Where It Stands Gun control laws are difficult to pass in Congress because gun rights groups and lobbyists wield enormous influence on  Capitol Hill  via campaign contributions, and have had great success in defeating pro-gun control candidates. Explained the Center for Responsive Politics in 2007: Gun rights groups have given more than $17 million in... contributions to federal candidates and party committees since 1989. Nearly $15 million, or 85 percent of the total, has gone to Republicans. The  National Rifle Association  is by far the gun rights lobbys biggest donor, having contributed more than $14 million over the past 15 years. Gun control advocates... contribute far less money than their rivals a total of nearly $1.7 million since 1989, of which 94 percent went to Democrats. Per the Washington Post, in the 2006 elections: Republicans received 166 times as much money from pro-gun groups as from anti-gun groups. Democrats received three times as much from pro-gun as anti-gun groups. Congressional Democrats and Gun Laws A sizeable minority of Congressional Democrats are gun rights advocates, especially among those newly elected to office in 2006. Freshman senators who strongly favor gun rights include  Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA),  Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA), and  Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT). Per the NRA, House members newly elected in 2006 include 24 pro-gun rights advocates: 11 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Presidential Politics and Gun Laws Statistically, Americans most likely to own guns are men, whites and southerners... not by coincidence, the demographics of the so-called swing vote that often decides the victors of presidential and other national elections. Former President Barack Obama believes that the country must do whatever it takes to eradicate gun violence... but he believes in an individuals right to bear arms. A full transcript of his 2013 remarks on gun violence are provided by ABC News.. In contrast, U.S. Senator John McCain, reaffirmed his unequivocal support of unfettered gun laws,  saying on the day of the Virginia Tech massacre: I do believe in the constitutional right that everyone has, in the  Second Amendment to the Constitution, to carry a weapon. Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and subsequent student-led protests in 2018, President Donald Trump tweeted on March 28: THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED!

Monday, October 21, 2019

Die or Dye - Commonly Confused Words

Die or Dye - Commonly Confused Words The words die and dye  are  homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings. Dye or Die? The noun die refers to a small cube used for games (plural, dice) or to a tool used for stamping or cutting objects (plural, dies). The verb die means to stop living, to stop functioning, to end. The past tense of die is died. Dying concerns the end of life. The noun dye refers to any substance used to give color to hair, a fabric, and so on  (plural, dyes). The verb dye means to apply dye or to color something. The past tense of dye is dyed. Dyeing concerns the application of a coloring agent. Examples The gambler picked up the die and threw a six.The coins were stamped with a die that produced a square or circular hollow.At the graveside Snowball  made a little speech, emphasizing the need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be.(George Orwell, Animal Farm, 1945)He had  prayed that Rudy Mohn, whom he had purposely tripped so he cracked his head on their radiator, not die, and he had not died. But for all the blood, it was just a cut; Rudy came back the same day, wearing a bandage and repeating the same teasing words.(John Updike, Pigeon Feathers.  Pigeon Feathers and Other Stories.  Knopf, 1962)A yellow dye called gamboge is used to color the robes of Buddhist monks.Liz wanted to visit Chicago on St. Patricks Day to see them dye the river green.Besides human tormentors, Bessie  suffered from demons, imps, Evil Powers. She hid her eyeglasses in the night table and found them in a slipper. She placed  her bottle of hair dye in the medicine chest; da ys later she discovered it under the pillow.(Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Key. A Friend of Kafka. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1970) Idiom Alerts Die Is CastThe expression the die is cast means that a decision has been made or an action has been taken that cant be changed.Editing may be a form of revision, but it is revision made before  the die is cast- before the letter mailed, the poem published, or the final draft surrendered to the printer. Revision, in the sense in which I must now use the term, is a second look, literally a re-vision, an opportunity to recollect, observe and comment upon an enterprise once considered completed.(Frank Smith,  Writing and the Writer, 2nd ed.  Lawrence Erlbaum, 1994)Never Say DieThe proverb Never say die means never quit or give up.Luis attributes his never-say-die  attitude to his grandmother, who raised him by herself.Dyed-in-the-WoolThe idiom dyed-in-the-wool refers to something (such as a belief, attitude, or habit) thats strongly held, deeply ingrained, or firmly established.If youre a true environmentalist, a dyed-in-the-wool greenie, then why not pack up your leafy rural hom e and move to New York City- preferably to a tall building right in the middle of Manhattan? The Big Apple is home to the greenest citizens in the U.S.(The Global Warming Survival Guide. Time, March 30, 2007) Exercises With Die and Dye (a) Bessie had long since made peace  with death, but to _____  on the steps or in the streets was too harsh.(Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Key.  A Friend of Kafka. Farrar, Straus and  Giroux, 1970)(b) Marie liked to _____ her short hair with exotic colors.(c) At the request of the dying fortune-teller, Lydia placed the worn _____ in a small silver box. Answers to Practice Exercises (a) Bessie had long since made peace  with death, but to die on the steps or in the streets was too harsh.(b) Marie liked to dye her short hair with exotic colors.(c) At the request of the dying fortune-teller, Lydia placed the worn die in a small silver box.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Tips to Improve Your French Verb Conjugations

Tips to Improve Your French Verb Conjugations Conjugating French verbs in a workbook or letter is one thing, but remembering individual verb conjugations when youre speaking is another matter entirely. Here are some tips to help you get better at conjugating French verbs. Learn the Conjugations Before you can even start to worry about speaking French with correctly conjugated verbs, you have to learn the conjugations. There are hundreds of pages on this site that can help you learn how to conjugate French verbs: Present tense conjugations - lessons to help you learn the conjugation patterns for regular verbs, reflexive verbs, stem-changing verbs, impersonal verbs, and compound tensesTop 10 French verbs - lessons on à ªtre, avoir, and the next eight most common French verbsVerb timeline - table of all the French verb tenses and moods, with links to conjugation lessons Practice Conjugating Once youve learned the conjugations, you need to practice them. The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to grab the right conjugation during a  spontaneous discussion. Some of these activities might seem boring or silly, but the point is simply to get you used to seeing, hearing and speaking the conjugations - here are some ideas. Say Them Out Loud When you come across verbs while reading a book, newspaper, or French lesson, say the subject and verb out loud. Reading conjugations is good, but saying them out loud is even better, because it gives you practice both speaking and listening to the conjugation. Write Them Out Spend 10 to 15 minutes every day conjugating verbs along with the appropriate subject pronouns. You can practice writing either the conjugations for several different tenses/moods of a single verb, or all of the, for example, imperfect conjugations for several verbs. After you write them out, say them out loud. Then write them again, say them again, and repeat 5 or 10 times. When you do this, youll see the conjugations, feel what its like to say them, and hear them, all of which will help you the next time you are actually speaking French. Conjugations for Everyone Pick up a newspaper or book and look for a verb conjugation. Say it out loud, then reconjugate the verb for all the other grammatical persons. So if you see il est (he is), youll write and/or speak all of the present tense conjugations for à ªtre. When youre done, look for another verb and do the same thing. Change the Tense This is similar to the above, but this time you reconjugate the verb into other tenses you want to practice. For example, if you see the third person singular present tense il est, change it to il a à ©tà © (passà © composà ©), il à ©tait (imperfect), and il sera (future). Write and/or speak these new conjugations, then look for another verb. Sing Along Set some conjugations to a simple tune, like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and sing it in the shower, in your car on the way to work/school, or while washing the dishes. Use Flashcards Make a set of  flashcards for the verbs you have the most trouble with by writing a subject pronoun and the infinitive on one side and the correct conjugation on the other. Then test yourself by looking at the first side and saying the subject and its conjugation out loud, or by looking at the conjugation and deciding which subject pronoun(s) its conjugated for. Verb Workbooks Another way to practice conjugations is with specialized French verb workbooks, like these: French Verb Drills by R. de Roussy de SalesFrench Verb Workbook by Jeffrey T. Chamberlain Ph.D and Lara Finklea  compare pricesThe Ultimate French Verb Review and Practice by David M. Stillman and Ronni L. Gordon  Compare Prices Improve Your French Improve your French listening comprehensionImprove your French pronunciationImprove your French reading comprehensionImprove your French verb conjugationsImprove your French vocabulary

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Generally accepted accounting principles relating to health care Essay

Generally accepted accounting principles relating to health care - Essay Example The standards relating to GAAP have been recognized to be executed by different organizations while compiling their respective financial reports. In general, GAAP is a broadly used accounting procedure of reporting and recording financial information. The accounting standards that have been outlined within the GAAP are â€Å"generally accepted† by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The mission of GASB is to build and develop the financial reporting standards at the level of local governments and state units (Taylor, 2008). Purpose of GAAP The main purpose of GAAP is to represent the financial report that can significantly reflect the financial position of a particular organization. GAAP provides effective support to the organizations in terms of enhancing their capability within the framework of long-term financial decision making process that eventually enables the organizations to accomplish their predetermined financial objectives. Moreover, the other imper ative purpose of GAAP is to enhance the performance of the business organizations through properly maintaining their financial records (Office of Financial Management, 2012). From the perspective of healthcare industry, GAAP performs a major role through delivering transparent financial statements that encompasse all the financial activities of the healthcare organizations. An effective practice of GAAP tends to facilitate the modern healthcare firms and forecast their future financial performance. Proper implementation of GAAP in the financial reporting process can enable an organization to attain competitive position within the growing healthcare industry (Office of Financial Management, 2012). Oversight of Use of GAAP The different standards or the accounting principles belonging to GAAP can be considered as the set of guiding principles that provide effectual accounting solutions for any organization while preparing financial statements. In order to gain a superior oversight reg arding the use of GAAP, it has been identified that the accounting principles concerning GAAP tends to comply with traditional and rule-based methods in representing the financial statements of various organizations. With regard to asset valuation process, GAAP tends to follow historical cost of the assets rather than focusing on fair value of the assets that depicts fair treatment of the items in the financial statements (Rascona, 2011). Description of Each Principle and the Intention behind the Principles of GAAP GAAP mainly contains five types of principles that ensures towards establishing a well-structured financial report which determines the financial stability of a specific organization. The various principles of GAAP relating to healthcare organizations have been discussed hereunder. Going Concern Principle The principle of going concern represents the fact that the healthcare organizations will tend to operate their respective business functions in such way so that they ca n prepare a balanced and well-structured financial statement. Identifying any types of uncertainties in the business processes it has to be noted that going concern needs to be updated in financial reports through rationalizing different standards or the accounting principles belonging to GAAP (Financial Reporting Council, 2009). Matching Principle The matching principle of GAAP defines as a process of recording each item of expense in relation to revenue that must be recorded in

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS-Triad unions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS-Triad unions - Essay Example In addition, some unionized workers tend to view the employer in bad light, while others adopt more critical tendencies of management strategies and processes. These issues normally impede their chances of being responsible; gaining experience within the organization; and being productive in the workplace for mutual benefit. Research shows that companies with unionized employees incur up to 40% more in terms of running costs than for non-unionized organizations (Sengupta, 2008). This cost may not encompass additional expenditures arising from subsequently negotiated terms in unionized worker reimbursements or benefits. According to OLeary (2013), the running costs of unionized organizations are far greater due to the necessity of more workers to needed to handle different job designations to conform to regulatory systems requiring specialization, for instance. As Thornthwaite and Sheldon (2012) have noted, unfair labour practice cases brought about by trade unions injure the employer’s image and erode the organization’s good will. For instance, immediately a case is filed, responsible trade unions dispatch their representatives to the employer to carry out investigations. At this level, the whole workforce will be aware of the supposedly wrong practices that have taken place within their workplace or organization (Ross, 2013). Then, in the event that the case is not resolved, the union will engage the employer in long-drawn legal battles. Making arrangements for and carrying out a court process will cost the organization tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees, plus the lost resources of gathering the evidence. Unionization of employees disenfranchises organizations of their right to managerial control (Sengupta, 2008). This is especially true considering that unionized organizations grapple with the problem of political and legal interference from the government. Government agents will carry out excessive monitoring of

Friday, October 18, 2019

Should China be Promoting Big Business Groups Essay

Should China be Promoting Big Business Groups - Essay Example As the discussion stresses Chinas enterprise groups have performed better than any other enterprise. They are competitive and ready for the challenge of improving the nation’s economy. They have driven the economy of china to a higher level. The process of transforming these enterprises is better known as Jituanhua. By 2004, china transformed about 2692 enterprises into enterprise groups. This enterprise groups provided employment for almost 30 million people in china. Their output has grown up to 21% annually. These enterprise groups expanded more as many more companies joined in to work together.From this paper it is clear that  China has adopted the East Asian style to development. This started all the way from 1980s when it was realized to be one of the fast growing economies in East Asia. They key models imitated by the Chinese economy from other already developed states in East Asia are state controls over the finance, government intervention in state firms, substituti ng imports in some industries and high export activities. A lot of saving and investment is also encouraged locally. Much similarity is noticed between Taiwan and china since they both have private and state enterprise sectors that play the crucial role in their development strategies.  It is surprising that this was the case even though china shared most of the affected sector with other East Asian countries.... This started all the way from 1980s when it was realized to be one of the fast growing economies in East Asia. They key models imitated by the Chinese economy from other already developed states in East Asia are state controls over the finance, government intervention in state firms, substituting imports in some industries and high export activities. A lot of saving and investment is also encouraged locally. Much similarity is noticed between Taiwan and china since they both have private and state enterprise sectors that play the crucial role in their development strategies. In 1997 and 1998, there was a financial crisis that affected the East Asian countries though china was affected at a minimal degree. It is surprising that this was the case even though china shared most of the affected sector with other East Asian countries. The East Asian financial crisis According to (Yang & Tyes, 1999), the East Asian countries were doing remarkably well in the financial development around the year 1997. Financial and currency crisis affected this greatly. Many economies in this region that had expanded started to slow down. This era experienced currency depreciations. According to (Yang & Tyes, 1999) â€Å"The external crisis combined with domestic reforms and with the changes that were taking place in the macroeconomic policy to retard overall economic growth and an increase in employment.† The Chinese people had long valued the culture of saving and using the savings future which saved china’s economy from collapsing like the rest of the East Asian states. Japan experienced a drop in investment to about a tenth in the years 1997-1998. In some countries, the economy declined by a half. Production of

Analysis of you as a communicator Research Paper

Analysis of you as a communicator - Research Paper Example The old working environment gave the most importance to employee presentation and communication skills but these are not that important in this new work environment. The question therefore arises on the type of communication in the new environment. A new communication channel has therefore gained importance which is currently the biggest communication tool in the entire world. Billions of people use it to communicate with each other using communication tools such as MSN, Facebook, Orkut etc. Thus before analyzing my communication skill, I would insist that internet communication is the most important form of communication in the modern age. Other than that fluency in the usage of language is also very important. The use of gestures in portraying once meaning is equally important in verbal communication. When we talk about written communication, in my perspective the most importance should be given to language quality and presentation. My communication skills are the most strong when it comes to online communication. This is because I have been addicted to computer gaming throughout my childhood. This was a blessing in disguise because it gave me a chance to understand and learn more about computers. I am very good at using different online communication tools. The most favorite tool of mine however is MSN messenger. Users these days are fonder of chatting applications installed on social networks. I am totally expert at using them but still prefer to use MSN messenger because of its extra features. As a member of debating team my childhood was spent in learning new methods of improving my spoken communication tools. This career was however did not endure. As is turns out I am not a natural speaker, and therefore left the debating team. This experience did create a shyness and hesitancy in my nature. I have from that day onwards considered myself a weak verbal communicator. This deficiency has been covered by my v ery good

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Reflective journal on management skills Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Reflective journal on management skills - Article Example They were possibly held by unavoidable situations elsewhere. Secondly, I also thought that at least having made an effort to make it to class, they should have been allowed to go over the whole session before seeing the lecturer in camera to explain themselves. Nowadays as a manager I have come to understand that everything happens for a reason and that man is prone to error. What is important in whatever situation as a manager is to have a listening ear. It is important to allow subordinates to express themselves every time there is a crisis. This helps one to first have a grasp of the reasons behind whatever action has been taken by employees. Listening is a human virtue. It is central to managerial principles and has thus been central to my managerial style too. As per Hamilton (2010: Pg. 12 ) allowing two-way communication in organisation also helps forestall potential fallouts in future as one is able to come up with preventive mechanisms One thing I know for sure is that listening works miracles even in situations that seem so bad. Dialogue is the key for survival in the current competitive world. It is what all the business moguls have used across all ages. Dale Carnegie has advocated for it so have Henry ford and Andrew Carnegie among many others. So as manager I know I have discovered my tool and I can attest to the enormous impact this has had on my operations. I now shun highhandedness and value dialogue and respect for my subordinates. The commonwealth bank Australia is one of the largest and most versatile financial institutions in Australia. It has been in operation since 1912. It currently boosts of over 1000 branches plus an equally large distribution of ATMs. The bank offers a number of customer-tailored services and solutions key among tem being a number of affordable mortgage options and foreign funds transfer services. In of the programs aimed at encouraging diversity, the Commonwealth Bank Australia has set up a special intranet site

The Effectiveness Of Different Training Methods Commonly Used To Lab Report - 1

The Effectiveness Of Different Training Methods Commonly Used To Increase An Athletes Speed - Lab Report Example In The following pÐ °per I will be discussing different trÐ °ining methods thÐ °t Ð °ssist Ð °thletes in increÐ °sing their speed of running Ð °nd discover their nÐ °turÐ °l potentiÐ °l. Besides discussing the trÐ °ining methods, I will emphÐ °size the importÐ °nce Ð °nd subtle elements of Ð °thletes speed. The term ‘Ð °thletes speed’ describes the speed required for Ð ° pÐ °rticulÐ °r Ð °ctivity. For exÐ °mple, the type of speed required for tennis differs from thÐ °t needed for Ð ° 200 metres trÐ °ck sprint (BÐ °echle, 1994). Most teÐ °m Ð °nd individuÐ °l Ð °thletes require good Ð °ccelerÐ °tion. However, if we ignore trÐ °ck sprinters for the time being, the greÐ °t mÐ °jority of teenÐ °gers will only ever sprint over distÐ °nces less thÐ °n 30 metres during competition. This meÐ °ns thÐ °t mÐ °ximÐ °l speed will rÐ °rely be reÐ °ched, Ð °nd thÐ °t Ð °ccelerÐ °tion plÐ °ys the most importÐ °nt pÐ °rt in speed Ð °nd must therefore receive speciÐ °l Ð °ttention in speed trÐ °ining. Two Ð °spects significÐ °ntly contribute to Ð °ccelerÐ °tion: first-step quickness Ð °nd correct body position. First-step quickness is the Ð °bility to move in Ð ° certÐ °in direction Ð °s quickly Ð °s possible. Often, significÐ °nt speed improvements over ten metres cÐ °n be mÐ °de by eliminÐ °ting Ð ° fÐ °lse step. This is commonly seen when Ð °n Ð °thlete, wishing to run to his or her right, either rocks bÐ °ck on to his or her left leg, or, even worse, tÐ °kes Ð ° step bÐ °ck with his or her left leg, before then beginning to run to the right. By teÐ °ching the Ð °thlete to run immediÐ °tely in the intended direction, with Ð ° low, fÐ °st first step, time-wÐ °sting movements Ð °re Ð °voided. Ð s different open field sports require vÐ °rying stÐ °rt positions, it is essentiÐ °l thÐ °t most Ð °thletes cÐ °n stÐ °rt sprinting from either foot. (BlÐ °zevich, 2005) Body position for Ð °ccelerÐ °tion is different from the body position necessÐ °ry for mÐ °intÐ °ining mÐ °ximÐ °l speed running. While mÐ °ximÐ °l speed running

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Reflective journal on management skills Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Reflective journal on management skills - Article Example They were possibly held by unavoidable situations elsewhere. Secondly, I also thought that at least having made an effort to make it to class, they should have been allowed to go over the whole session before seeing the lecturer in camera to explain themselves. Nowadays as a manager I have come to understand that everything happens for a reason and that man is prone to error. What is important in whatever situation as a manager is to have a listening ear. It is important to allow subordinates to express themselves every time there is a crisis. This helps one to first have a grasp of the reasons behind whatever action has been taken by employees. Listening is a human virtue. It is central to managerial principles and has thus been central to my managerial style too. As per Hamilton (2010: Pg. 12 ) allowing two-way communication in organisation also helps forestall potential fallouts in future as one is able to come up with preventive mechanisms One thing I know for sure is that listening works miracles even in situations that seem so bad. Dialogue is the key for survival in the current competitive world. It is what all the business moguls have used across all ages. Dale Carnegie has advocated for it so have Henry ford and Andrew Carnegie among many others. So as manager I know I have discovered my tool and I can attest to the enormous impact this has had on my operations. I now shun highhandedness and value dialogue and respect for my subordinates. The commonwealth bank Australia is one of the largest and most versatile financial institutions in Australia. It has been in operation since 1912. It currently boosts of over 1000 branches plus an equally large distribution of ATMs. The bank offers a number of customer-tailored services and solutions key among tem being a number of affordable mortgage options and foreign funds transfer services. In of the programs aimed at encouraging diversity, the Commonwealth Bank Australia has set up a special intranet site

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

EMBA 560 Executive Position week 2 exercise 2 Research Paper - 1

EMBA 560 Executive Position week 2 exercise 2 - Research Paper Example He/she also must possess honesty, integrity, character, trustworthiness, and all the personal virtues I would need my VP to have to be able to command the respect of others and for me to repose trust in him/her. Having made this wish list, I shall then analyze the needs of the organization. Where is the organization at this time? What are the more serious challenges that it faces now, and will face in the medium to long-term? How about the engineering department itself, what are its current and medium to long-term requirements? Some organizations have problems dealing with revenues; that is a marketing problem. Others have challenges in controlling costs; that is an operations problem. Still other may have union issues or skills obsolescence, or demotivation; these are HR problems. Several of these may occur simultaneously, so it will be necessary to prioritize and rank them in order of importance to the firm. It is only at this point that one may begin to consider the candidates. Do they all possess the basic attributes? If so, how does hiring each one match the organization’s needs? For instance, if motivation is an issue, prefer to hire from within, and maybe prefer seniority, because the younger candidate can wait a few more years to be hired. To add inputs to my decision, I will probably invite each one of them to a cordial lunch to discover their own personal disposition and inclination about the position, without necessarily informing them that they are being considered. This may be unethical in the case of Ms Hernandez since she is still connected with the competitor, so in her case the fact finding may be done through a third person. In any case, it is important to know how each would feel about the position, particularly John Adams who is the successor apparent. In making my consideration, I should be aware that since John Adams is the one everyone

Monday, October 14, 2019

The United States and China Essay Example for Free

The United States and China Essay China’s idea of economic advancement has transformed the country in a unequal titan. Reframing methods started by Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980’s, Chinese institutions started using inexpensive capital and labor to contest on the global economy. Beijing maintains to subsidize exports massively, though loans to institutions and exchange cost to non-domestic buyers of Chinese goods. The Chinese government enforces management on the expense of Chinese civilians that grant it to filter financial assets into Chinese institutions. China’s method of using financial repression has given this country financial power in the Global and American economy. This poses a threat to American Financial Foreign policy. In this research paper, I will explain the economic growth of China, from there I will tie that into their financial foreign policy in China, I will then discuss the cross-correlation method of America and China’s financial inputs/outputs into American Foreign Policy, from there I will present the threat that this poses to America. In 1970 China was under the direction of Mao Zedong, he retained a prepared economy. The country’s economic gain was conducted by the state of China, which set fixed controlled prices, manufacturing objectives, and resources available in the economy. The main goal of the Chinese government is to allow China’s economy to be a more relatively self-sufficient system. Trade was usually narrow to gain only goods that could not achieve in China. China theories made the economy comparably ineffective, inactive, by reason of many prospects of the economy of their centralized government. After the death of Mao in 1978 China decided to disconnect its ties that it had with the soviet-style policies. The economy was then reformed, corresponding to the free market ethic and trade and investment of the United States. China intent is to, boost both economic growth and living standards. Prior to 1970, 81 % of China’s people lived in rural communities. The economy had previously been interrupted by war. The victorious communist party installed applied economics. 40 to 30 million people died from famine. In the city living, standards increased for over 40 years. Students from Tsinghua,  University located in Beijing China, recorded a study that said the average pay level in the catering business exceeded wages in higher education in 2009. After market reforms In 1978 the GP growth was averaging 10% every year. And it had lifted over 600 million people out of the poor. All of the country goals have been reached or within reach with the population at about 1.3 billion this has made china the second largest economy, and increasingly playing an importance and influence in the global market. It is now the world’s, merchandise exporter, holder of foreign exchanges, and largest manufacturer. China’s brisk economic prosperity has excelled to a valuable merger in reciprocal monetary ties with the United States. Corresponding to American Foreign Policy trade data, overall trade between these two countries matured from 4.7 billion in 1980 to 560 billion in 2013. China is actively the United States second largest trading ally, it is the third largest export market, also adding the largest country of exported goods. Powerful U.S. companies tend to move their business aboard in China to see their products bloom in there market and to take advantage of the lower-cost of labor for exported manufacturing goods. Interest rates comparably stay low because it allows the U.S. to remain internationally competitive.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Smoking Cigarettes :: Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Throughout the book, the conflict between the mothers, their Chinese tradition, and language and the daughters, their American tradition, and language are evident. Suyuan and Jing-Mei Woo are mother and daughter, respectively, who are characters that illustrate the conflict between the two cultures. In the beginning of the story, the mothers who play Mahjong tell Jing-Mei to see her long lost sisters and tell them of their mother. Jing-Mei replies, "What will I say? What can I tell them about my mother? I don't know anything. She was my mother. (p31)" Then it occurs to Jing-Mei that "they are frightened" because in her they see "their own daughters, just as ignorant, just as unmindful of all the truths and hopes they have brought to America. (p31)" In these quotes, Jing-Mei perceives the gap that occurs between the mothers and daughters. This gap between each mother and daughter is described in later chapters. Jing-Mei Woo, who is called June in America, represents her mother's hopes and dreams. Her mother's name, Suyuan, meaning, "long cherished wish" speaks of this hope for Jing-Mei, whose name means "the pure younger sister (p322-3)". In the beginning, June is excited and dreams of what she will become. "In all my imaginings, I was filled with a sense that I would soon become perfect. My mother and father would adore me. I would be beyond reproach. I would never feel the need to sulk for anything (p. 143)." Her mother pushes June into many areas- academics, dance, and the piano. After failing to excel at any of the areas presented to her, she feels like a failure. She sees all the hopes her mother has for June as expectations. The final conflict comes when June performs a piano piece filled with mistakes at a talent show, which makes June believe that her mother is completely ashamed and disappointed with her. June looked through the crowd to her motherâ₠¬â„¢s face. She thought to herself, "...my mother’s expression was what devastated me: a quiet, blank look that said she had lost everything." (p. 143) What June did not realize, was that the real reason why her mother was upset was not because she had not lived up to her expectations. She was unhappy because June did not care about having the best for herself. She did not have high hopes or a passion to be successful at anything.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

beyond beef :: essays research papers

Jeremy Rifkin’s book, Beyond Beef, is an indictment against the cattle culture that has come to shape our world. America’s obsession with beef has led to increased hunger, disease and environmental destruction. Rifkin, without a doubt, is anti beef and with painstaking verisimilitude attempts to shed light on the horrific conditions which are brought about by the entire industry. Furthermore, his book is somewhat of a continuity of Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle, the first attempt made at exposing the exploitations of the meat slaughtering industry. Ironically and rather unfortunately, the present situation is that while the poor nations of the world are starving their own populations to produce and export beef, the rich, who are able to afford beef, are dying from diseases. Rifkin has several chapters dedicated to the host of illnesses those beef eating individuals are susceptible to. The titles include, â€Å"Sacrifice to Slaughter,† "Cows Devour People, â€Å"and "Marbled Specks of Death." One point he makes is that because of the widespread use of antibiotics among the cattle industry, the â€Å"human population is increasingly vulnerable to mor virulent strains of disease-causing bacteria† (12). Rifkin further attests that beef, but ranks second as the food posing the greatest cancer risk. The reason is simple: beef is the most dangerous food for herbicide contamination and ranks third in insecticide contamination. Eighty percent of all herbicides in the United States are sprayed on corn a nd soybeans which are used primarily as feed for cattle and other livestock. When consumed by the animals, the pesticides accumulate in their bodies. The pesticides are then passed along to the consumer in the finished cuts of beef. Large feedlots have other sources of potential chemical contamination in beef including use of â€Å"industrial sewage and oils in feedlot mixtures and aerial spraying of insecticides on feedlot cattle† (13). Furthermore, Rifkin indicts the human civilization and sheds light into the barbarous actions of men in the early development of the cattle culture. One of the most effective is in the chapter, "The Great Bovine Switch," an expose of the atrocities committed by the United States Army and cattlemen. Rifkin states that the cattle culture was responsible for the demise of many Indians, When we get rid of all the Indians and buffalo, the cattle... Will fill this country...These men [the buffalo hunters] have done...more to settle the vexed Indian question than the entire regular army has done in the last thirty years.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Group Project Essay

Introduction This assignment will allow for the practical application of concepts, language and terminology covered in Modules 1-4. Students will work together to evaluate and analyze the compositional elements of a work of art that they are not familiar with. The class will be divided into teams consisting of 4-5 members. You have been automatically assigned to a group (A, B C or D). Please email the instructor if you have questions. Teams are assigned an artwork to evaluate and analyze according to the following: (1) visual literacy, (2) structural components, and (3) psychological qualities that have been covered in the modules so far. Members of the group are responsible for applying as many of the terms as possible while analyzing and evaluating their work of art. Each group will base its study on one of the following works of art: †¢Group A (Carla, Ana, Katlyn, Maribel): Francisco Goya, Third of May, 1808 †¢Group B (Brenda, Cynthia, Della, Guiliana): Georges Seurat, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte †¢Group C (Kelsey, Iva, Courtney, Triana): Jacques Louis David, The Oath of the Horatii †¢Group D (Jonathan, Kisherra, Rosalinda, Gabrielle) : Edgar Degas, The Dance Class Note: All the above works can be viewed at Mark Harden’s Artchive. The Assignment Use the following three series of questions to guide your analysis: Identify the following qualities that apply to the artwork: †¢The art is 2-D (flat or two dimensional). †¢The art is 3-D (has mass and occupies space). †¢The art is naturalistic (has recognizable objects that imitate nature and 3-D space). †¢The art is narrative (illustrates a story such as history, mythology, religion) or it features animals, people, or landscape elements about which one can invent a story. †¢The art has social or political content, such as protest art or propaganda. †¢If the art is narrative or political, describe it as briefly as possible. †¢The art is ritualistic or shamanistic. It seems to have a magic or spirit function. †¢The art is abstract (seems to have some human, animal, or landscape elements). †¢The art is non-objective (uses shapes and colors that do not seem to come from any recognizable source, such as circles, squares and squiggles). †¢If the art is abstract or non-objective, what feelings do you get from the piece? (ex. energy, motion, calm, agitation, warmth, etc.). Most art design or composition relies upon repeating elements such as lines, shapes, or colors to tie the composition together, to make it coherent or give it unity. You can think of this as establishing a visual theme. Repetition is the strategy. †¢Lines – Are there straight or curving line segments that are echoed throughout the composition? Remember to look at implied or suggested lines formed by the edges of objects such as people. Do groups of people, animals and trees clump together to suggest direction or linear elements? What is the dominant line theme? Is there a minor or contrasting line theme? †¢Shapes – Shapes are closely related to lines. The edges of shapes suggest line elements (the sides of a rectangle also provide vertical line segments). Shadows or sky may form important shapes in landscapes; or a tree’s boughs may form a circle. Look at the negative space (background) as well as the positive objects. Are there any hidden or implied shapes? Do any repeat themselves? What is the dominant shape theme? Is there a subordinate or contrasting shape theme? †¢Color – What is the most important family of colors, colors that are dominant throughout the entire composition instead of isolated? Some colors work well together (red, orange, yellow) and establish a theme of warm or cool dominance. What is the dominant color theme? What is the accent range? †¢Emphasis – Where do your eyes tend to go? What object seems to be most important to your eyes? This is the point of emphasis. The artist may have organized the shapes, lines, and colors to lead you to a point of emphasis. Is there a point of emphasis? How does the art make you feel? The following characteristics can be grouped together: †¢Active, energetic, moving, angry, aggressive, dynamic, hot, advancing, static †¢Calm, flowing, restful, inviting, cool, receding †¢Curved lines, round shapes, nesting shapes †¢Analogous, related, blue, violet, aqua, deep green †¢Orange, yellow, pink and red †¢Contrast, angular shapes, colliding opposites, contrast 1.Visual Literacy. 2.Structural Components. Discuss the use of lines, shapes, color, and emphasis in the work of art you have been assigned. 3.Psychological Qualities. Describe your emotional response to the work of art: Group Work Specifications Groups are set up according to the artwork being evaluated. To participate in your group’s discussion forum and share information use the discussion forum assigned to your group. Product Specifications As a group, please write and turn in your 2-3 page essay single spaced 12pt Times or Times New Roman font. Please upload this to the Dropbox. Grading Specifications You will be graded as a group for this assignment.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Total Stockholders Equity

Week One Discussion Questions †¢ How would you describe the entries to record the disposition of accounts receivables? What is their function? †¢ How are bad debts accounted for under the direct write-off method? What are the disadvantages of this method? †¢ Pendergrass Company hires an accounting intern who says that intangible assets should always be amortized over their legal lives. Is the intern correct? Explain. †¢ What are the basic issues related to accounting for intangible assets? †¢ Why would you select the percentage of sales method for calculating doubtful accounts instead of the percentage of receivables method? Is it appropriate to use a hybrid of the percentage of sales and the percentage of receivables methods of calculating the allowance for doubtful accounts? Do the generally accepted accounting principles allow for using both methods at the same time? Why? †¢ What is the difference between revenue expenditures and capital expenditures during a useful life? Are there similarities? DQ: †¢ What are the differences between revenue expenditures and capital expenditures? Explain the entries of each. Week Two Discussion Questions What are the differences among valuation, depreciation, amortization, and depletion? Is it appropriate to calculate depreciation using two different methods? Why? †¢ Which depreciation method provides you with the highest depreciation expense in the first year? Why? †¢ What types of industries have unearned revenue? Why is unearned revenue considered a liability? When is the unearned revenue recognized in the financial statements? †¢ Why do companies issue bonds? Would you rather buy a bond at a discount or a premium rate? Why?What is the determining factor of whether a bond is sold at a discount, face value, or premium? †¢ What is the straight-line method of amortizing discount and premium on bonds payable? Provide an explanation of the process. †¢ How would you d escribe the accounting procedures for notes payable and accounts payable? Week Three Discussion Questions †¢ Why does a company choose to form as a corporation? What are the steps required to become a corporation? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the corporate form of doing business? †¢ Why is preferred stock referred to as preferred?What are some of the features added to preferred stock that make it more attractive to investors? Would you select preferred stock or common stock as an investment? Why? †¢ What are the different types of dividends corporations may issue? When should a corporation pay dividends? Do you prefer a stock dividend or a cash dividend? Why? †¢ Why do corporations buy back their own stock? What does it tell you about the corporation? What effect does the purchase have on the price of a company’s stock? †¢ Chen, Inc. purchases 1,000 shares of its own previously issued $5 per common stock for $12,000.Assuming the shares are held in the treasury, what effect does this transaction have on (a) net income, (b) total assets, (c) total paid-in capital, and (d) total stockholders’ equity? Chen, Inc’s treasure stock is resold for $15,000. What effect does this transaction have on (a) net income, (b) total assets, (c) total paid-in capital, and (d) total stockholders’ equity? Week Four Discussion Questions †¢ Why are companies required to prepare a statement of cash flows? Why is the statement of cash flows divided into three sections? What does each section tell you about a company’s operations? What are some common ratios used to analyze financial information? Which are the most important? What are some examples of how ratios are used in the decision-making process? †¢ Two popular methods of financial statement analysis are horizontal analysis and vertical analysis. What are the differences between these two methods? †¢ What are the differences between the direc t and indirect presentation of cash flows? Why does the Financial Accounting Standards Board allow both methods? Which do you prefer? Why? †¢ Why must preferred stock dividends be subtracted from net income in computing earnings per share?Why is common stock usually not issued at a price that is less than par value? †¢ What three conditions must exist before a cash dividend is paid? Contrast the effects of a cash dividend and a stock dividend on a corporation’s balance sheet. Week Five Discussion Questions †¢ What is an example of a potentially unethical accounting situation? Why is the situation unethical? How do ethics affect a company’s financial results? †¢ Do you think the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has made a difference in the ethical behavior of companies regarding their financial accounting? Why or why not?

Joshua

In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Nicks use of diction and imagery in his language shows that the attendees of the party are not ordinary commoners but extravagant and luxurious people from the upper classes. Nick's uses of diction shows the high class of the people at the party. For example, when Nick first sees Myrtle's sister, Catherine, he describes that she is a â€Å"slender, worldly girl†. He thinks that, unlike other average women, Catherine is special and unique.By saying she is â€Å"worldly,† he implies that she is above other women. In addition, when Nick begins to describe Mr.. McKee, Nick says that he is, â€Å"most respectful in his greeting to everyone In the room. † Nick believes that Mr.. Emcee's manners are similar to that of a person from high society. People from the upper classes tend to be more respectful and mannerly compared to those from the lower classes. Another example is when Mr.. McKee was explaining to Nick that he was In the,  "artistic game,† and that he, â€Å"photographed [Mrs..McKee] a hundred and twenty- even times since they had been married. † This leads Nick to believe that Mr.. And Mrs.. McKee were most likely from the upper classes rather than the lower or common classes. Not many people In those times had the time and luxury to take many photographs of their wives since they all had to work many hours. By using diction, Nick shows the luxury and extravagance of the people attending the party. Nick does not only use diction In his language, but also Imagery to support his belief that the people at the party were not from a common class, but from an upper class.For example, when Catherine moves around the room, Nick begins to realize, â€Å"an Incessant clicking as Innumerable pottery bracelets Jingled up and down upon her arm. † Catherine was wealthy enough to afford lots of Jewelry, meaning that she must be from a high class since people from the lower classes were not able to afford such Jewelry. Nick used Imagery to describe the extra things Catherine had In order to show her wealth and luxury. In Dalton, when Mrs.. McKee compliments Mrs.. Wilson of her dress, she rejects the compliment and says that she, â€Å"SLP[s] It on moieties when [she doesn't] care what [she] look[s] like. Even when she Is not trying to look fancy and luxurious, Mrs.. Willow's clothing Is respectable and beautiful. She has at least some wealth since people were able to acknowledge her luxury even when she was not trying to show It. Imagery Is used In Nick's language to describe the wealth of the attendees and to prove that they are not from the lower classes. Nick supports his observations and beliefs by using Dalton and Imagery In his language. By showing their luxury and polite manner, he describes them as economically stable and wealthy and extravagant.Joshua By schoolhouses Nicks uses of diction shows the high class of the people at the party. For example, respectful in his greeting to everyone in the room. † Nick believes that Mr.. Emcee's classes. Another example is when Mr.. McKee was explaining to Nick that he was in common classes. Not many people in those times had the time and luxury to take Nick does not only use diction in his language, but also imagery to support his â€Å"an incessant clicking as innumerable pottery bracelets Jingled up and down upon such Jewelry.Nick used imagery to describe the extra things Catherine had in order to show her wealth and luxury. In addition, when Mrs.. McKee compliments Mrs.. Wilson of her dress, she rejects the compliment and says that she, â€Å"slip[s] it on sometimes when [she doesn't] care what [she] look[s] like. † Even when she is not trying to look fancy and luxurious, Mrs.. Willow's clothing is respectable and beautiful. When she was not trying to show it. Imagery is used in Nicks language to describe Nick supports his observations and beliefs by using diction and imagery in his

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Something Trendy in Film Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Something Trendy in Film - Research Paper Example Since that film, other films have worked towards breaking stereotypes and have sought to portray people who happen to be attracted to the same sex, rather than caricatures of a type of human that must fit into a category. The first decade of the century has seen a rise in realistic portrayals of people who happen to be attracted to the same sex rather than conceptualized as gays and lesbians. Stereotyping in film is not a new concept and has in no way been limited to members of the gay and lesbian communities. The way in which film frames many different social groups has created stereotypes that time has had to wash away in order to fully explore the experiences of these groups in American society. One of the most horrific ways in which stereotypes have been created in American cinema was through the ‘blackface’ where African Americans were portrayed with black makeup and white lips, their social position reduced to a comic portrayal and the nature of their character hav ing to fight through the physical manifestations of stereotypical concepts that worked to hide the humanity within them (Benshoff and Griffin 76). Once the ‘blackface’ was wiped away, the social stereotypes varied and struggles were made in order to create realistic portrayals of the members of social groups whose lives had been reduced to specifications made through categorizations. The problem with stereotypes is that while they have a tendency to diminish humanity, they serve a purpose in creating ways in which members of a society can identify themselves and brace themselves against those who are different then themselves. The stereotypes create a standard through which an individual can identify with a group. As an example, a woman who drives a mini-van and wears jeans that are uncommonly high on her hips with a sweater denoting the most current holiday might be termed as a ’soccer-mom’, specifically identifying herself in contrast with a woman who we ars six inch platform heels, a mini-skirt, and a halter top. While no one may actually know anyone who fits into either of these stereotypes, most Americans can identify them with social groups. According to McArthur and Mulvihill, â€Å"If one has proper concern for the other as a real person and shares knowledge for the benefit of relationship, stereotypes and biases will begin to dissolve† (80). While American film has a deep history of stereotyping people who represent African Americans, Native Americans, women, gay and lesbian social groups, the films of the past six years have increasingly begun to show signs of the dissolving of stereotypes associated with people who are attracted to the same sex. A wonderful phenomenon has emerged in which the character of people who are attracted to others of the same sex no longer must affect mannerisms, gestures, and associated tendencies that signal their sexual orientation. The characters that are being developed in modern films are now beginning to be indistinguishable from heterosexual characters, stereotypical effects no longer relevant to the emergence of their portrayals of lives rather than only lifestyles. One of the first portrayals of the social position of gay men in the United States that was made from the point of view of a man who happened to be gay, rather than a portrayal of a ‘gay’ was in Philadelphia (1993) starring Tom Hanks as a man who was a lawyer with a large law firm who contracts AIDS, which