Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Importance of Themes in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place...

â€Å"A Clean Well-Lighted Place†, a short story written by Ernest Hemingway first appeared in a collection of short stories titled, Winner Take Nothing. Soon after the collection of stories had been published in 1933, â€Å"A Clean Well-Lighted Place quickly became one of Hemingways most eulogized short stories. Through his excellent use of character development, Hemingway provides the reader with a lively portrayal of theme, plot, and symbolism throughout the entire piece. We are taken through a journey as we learn of an Old man who sits at a cafe alone at night. The Old man is deaf, and had recently tried to commit suicide although he is a pleasant customer; the two waiters must watch him to ensure that he doesnt get too drunk, because he†¦show more content†¦He continues to think to himself after the Younger waiter leaves, that he doesn’t like bars and that he doesnt like loud music either. He seems to be questioning himself and wonders what he is afraid of. He says two prayer’s substituting â€Å"Nada† meaning â€Å"nothing† in Spanish for a few very powerful words. â€Å"Our nada who are in nada, nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada in nada as it is in nada. Give us this nada our daily nada and nada us our nada as we nada our nadas and nada us not into nada but deliver us from nada; pues nada.† After reciting this prayer he finds himself at a bar, ironically he doesn’t like bars and he mentions to the bartender who lacks persona that the bar is not clean. He realizes that he will soon be home, to fall asleep as the sun comes rises. He finds himself telling the reader that he has insomnia which is a common problem, most likely because he is afraid of admitting that he has a much larger problem. We come to realize that the Older waiter sees himself in the Old man who comes into the cafe, which explains why he has such compassion and understanding as to why the Old man stays at the cafe late at night. The Older waiter’s character also allows us to see the meaning of despair. It is the despair that brings him and others to find peace in the cafe, by telling the reader that it is â€Å"nothing†. If it weren’t for the development of such characters we would not be able to find this strength in the the theme of theShow MoreRelatedAnalytical Essay : Dead Man s Path By Chinua Achebe And A Clean, Well Lighted Place1337 Words   |  6 Pagestake the word analytical it is asking you to analyze the literature. I will be taking a deeper look into three different short stories. Two of my favorite short stories this semester were Dead Man s Path† by Chinua Achebe and â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place† By Ernest Hemingway. My third choice was a short sto ry by Viginia Woolf called â€Å"A Haunted House.† â€Å"Dead Man’s Path† was written by a man named Chinua Achebe who was a devout christian. He was very talented and began learning English by the age ofRead MoreEssay about A Clean Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway641 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place† â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,† was written in 1933, by Ernest Hemingway. The main characters in the story are two waiters, one old, one young and an older man who is their customer in the cafà © on the evening the story takes place. There are three main elements of style portrayed in the short story, â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.† The elements of imagery, symbolism and irony, are illustrated throughout the short story, in turn leading to the theme of despair. ImageryRead MoreAnalysis Of Ernest Hemingway s Hills Like White Elephants And A Clean Well Lighted Place 2195 Words   |  9 PagesMathew Muller ENG 215 Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway has this uncanny, yet, clear and distinctive writing style, that has made him a successful author and a means of many criticisms. One critic in particular, David M. Wyatt, says that Hemingway has a way of making the beginning of his stories â€Å"raise the very specter of the end against which they are so concerned to defend.† (Wyatt). In his two short stories, â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† and â€Å"A Clean-Well Lighted Place, Hemingway draws out this uncannyRead More Comparing F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway Essay1214 Words   |  5 PagesComparing F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, though both evolved from the same literary time and place, created their works in two very dissimilar writing styles which are representative of their subject matter. The two writers were both products of the post-WWI lost generation and first gained notoriety as members of the American expatriate literary community living in Paris during the 1920s. Despite this underlying fact which influencedRead MoreWhat Lies Beneath: The Meaning Beneath the Surface of Ernest Hemingways Work3267 Words   |  13 Pagesthe freezing waters, but instead the unseen structure twice its size that lurked beneath the surface. Ernest Hemingway does the same thing to his readers that the iceberg did to the titanic. In Hemingway’s writing it is undeniably what lies beneath the surface, what remains unsaid, that truly shakes the reader to their core. Like other American writers, such as Mark Twain and Stephen Crane, Ernest Hemmingway worked as a journalist before beginning his career in literature. As a rule, journalistsRead More The Rise and Fall of Existentialism1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rise and Fall of Existentialism   Ã‚  Ã‚   Existential literature often focuses on the personal journey towards existential awareness. Common themes in existential works, such as alienation and confrontation with death, often lead the anti-hero towards a climactic choice that defines whether they have reached true understanding. The themes within existential literature are reflected from the world at large, and the works themselves are a metaphor for a grander shift in Western philosophy. Read MoreBelonging Essay4112 Words   |  17 Pages– English - related material English HSC 2009 - 2012 is Belonging. What does belonging mean? From the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus: belong, verb, 1) to be rightly put into a particular position or class; 2) fit or be acceptable in a particular place or environment; 3) belong to be a member of; 4) belong to be the property or possession of. Belonging, noun, affiliation, acceptance, association, attachment, integration, closeness, rapport, fellow feeling, fellowship. Antonym: alienate, verb 1) cause

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES Example

Essays on LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES Assignment Question DuPont Analysis – Lucent Technologies ROE = Net Profit X Asset x Financial Margin Turnover Leverage = Net Income X Revenue x Total Assets Revenue Total Assets Shareholders’ Equity 1st Quarter 1998 = 1124 X 8724 x 24752 8724 24752 4671 = 0.1288 X 0.3525 x 5.2991 ROE = 24.06% 1st Quarter 1999 = 1523 X 9842 x 31641 9842 31641 8437 = 0.1547 X 0.3111 x 3.7503 ROE = 18.05% 1st Quarter 2000 = 1175 x 9905 x 38634 9905 38634 16079 = 0.1186 x 0.2564 x 2.4028 ROE = 7.31% The increase in ROE in 1st quarter of 1998 was continuity in Lucent Technology’s start-up soaring of profits as the company was enjoying gains. However, in the same period, a considerable decline was observed in ROE mainly because of Lucent Technology’s losing grip on its operations, as a result, earnings went down from 24% to around 18%. The major setback which hit Lucent Technology in 1st quarter of the year 2000 that erased the earnings so sharply had significant reasons. The filing of material information as per Form 8-K to SEC hurt Lucent Technology a lot. The material information that was reported included the impacts of decrease in the earnings from Service Provider Network (around 2%), customer shifts to optical based technologies, capacity problem, production problems, delivery issues and huge cancellations of customer orders. These problems shrunk the ROE of Lucent Technologies from 18% to somewhat 7% as compared to the same period in the previous year. Question 2 Seasonally Adjusted Change Dec-99 Sep-99 Jun-99 Mar-99 Dec-98 Sales 9,905 10,575 9,315 8,220 9,842 -6.34% 13.53% 13.32% -16.48% Accounts Receivable 10,143 10,438 9,486 8,752 9,185 -2.83% 10.04% 8.39% -4.71% Inventory 5,380 5,048 5,179 4,332 3,778 6.58% -2.53% 19.55% 14.66% Gross Profit 4,646 4,869 4,481 3,893 5,212 -4.58% 8.66% 15.10% -25.31% The explanation of "bump in the road," provided by Lucents Chief Financial Officer, Don Peterson seems a bit unrealistic. The claim of fall in the earning being a temporary cause does not seem valid because of severe problems in the operations of the business. Lucent Technology was losing sales growth on consistent basis. Accounts Receivables were on the varied side as well with no persistent growth. However, due to cancellation of orders, the inventory also piled up a lot with huge growths in amount inventory increasing holding cost of the company. Gross Profit growth was also disappointing with high negative growth percentages on consistent basis. Question 3 (a) The 2nd quarter of 1999 was the exact year when troubles hampered the performance of Lucent Technology. Major declines in sales and earnings were reported along which put the company into extreme difficulties. Lucent Technologies could not make those impacts till 1st quarter of 2000. Question 3 (b) The class-action lawsuits might not have merits because it is the absolute disclaimer of the listed companies that investment in shares is subject to risk and volatility. Therefore under such protections available to Lucent Technologies, there are fewer chances of Lucent Technologies to be penalized. Question 3 (c) Apparently there are very less chances for Lucent Technology to recover as current operations are adding nothing to the company. More strategic changes need to be implemented if recovery and future growth is required in future. References R. A. Brealy, S.C. Myers, and F. Allen. Principles of Corporate Finance, 8th ed. Northwestern University: McGraw-Hill/Irwin P, 2008. Print

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Authentic Happiness free essay sample

Psychology has made great strides with mental illness, and what makes a person unhappy. Past scientific evidence shows that we have a fixed range of happiness. New research however demonstrates that it can be lastingly increased. Many believe that happiness is inauthentic. Seligman refers to this view of human nature as the rotten-to-the-core dogma. Positive Psychology has three pillars: the study of positive emotion, positive traits and positive institutions. Chapter 1: Positive Feeling and Positive Character Two interesting studies were conducted. One was involving nuns that wrote biographical sketches upon taking their vows. Those that expressed more cheerfulness on average lived longer. The other study involved college yearbook photos of women. Those with a genuine smile were more likely to marry, stay married and be happier than their fake smile counterparts. Author Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph. D. focuses on three questions in the first half of the book. 1. Why has evolution endowed us with positive feeling? What are the functions and consequences of these emotions, beyond making us feel good? . Who has positive emotion in abundance and who does not? What enables these emotions, and what disables them? 3. How can you build more and lasting positive emotion into your life? Positive feelings are not what people want. They want to be entitled to those feelings. Those that use shortcuts to good feelings end up with feelings of emptiness. The positive feeling that is a result of the use of strengths and virtues and not short cuts is authentic. The feeling one gets after a kind act towards another far outshines that of a shortcut. Positive Psychology chose twenty-four strengths using three criteria; valued in almost every culture, valued in their own right, and they must be malleable. There are six core virtues: * Wisdom and knowledge * Courage * Love and humanity * Justice * Temperance * Spirituality and transcendence Some strengths are tonic and some are phasic. Tonic strengths are displayed almost daily while phasic ones are demonstrated when faced with a challenge. Strengths that are deeply characteristic to a person are referred to as signature strengths. The second part of the book focuses on how to identify signature strengths. Chapter Two: How Psychology Lost Its Way and I Found Mine Seligman while traveling on vacation with his family anxiously awaits the news of whether or not he was elected as the president of the American Psychological Association (APA). He looks back on the transformations in the science of psychology as well as his career in the field. At the end of the World War II psychology is a small profession of academics trying to find the basic process of learning and motivation. Soon after the war, they began to treat troubled veterans and after years of dispensing therapy, they become synonymous with treating mental illness. He spends more than thirty years studying learned helplessness in animals then humans. Ten years into the study, he discovers that some never give up when given insolvable problems while others are helpless to begin with. He receives the announcement that he has won the election for presidency of the APA by a landslide. He needed to come up with a mission for his tenure. His theme would be prevention. Psychology has focused on treatment. He proposed that intervening when someone is still well could greatly diminish the need for treatment in the future. While spending time with his young daughter, he had an epiphany. He realized that raising her was not about correcting her shortcomings but nurturing her strengths. Could there be a psychological science about this? He had found his mission. Chapter Three: Why Bother to Be Happy? During evolution, complicated animals acquired an emotional life. Why would this occur? Comparing negative and positive emotions is the first clue to figuring this out. Negative emotions are the first line of defense against external threats. These are win-lose situations. The thought is that ancestors that had strong negative emotions when threatened survived and past on those genes. Positive emotions have not been as easily explained. There is a personality trait called positive affectivity that is heritable. There is a theory that says we are born with a certain amount of positive affectivity and not much we can do to increase it. Barbara Fredrickson, an associate professor at the University of Michigan was awarded for her theory of the function of positive emotions. Positive emotions go beyond making us feel good. Those induced with positive emotions perform better than those that do not have positive emotions. Happy people view their skills as more than they actually are and remember more good events than actually occurred. Depressed people are accurate about both. Thoughts are that a positive mood puts us into a different way of thinking than does a negative mood. Happy people tend to live longer healthier lives compared to negative people. Happy people are more satisfied with their jobs, more productive, and earn higher incomes. They also deal better with adversity. Happy people have rich fulfilling social lives. Positive feelings invoke win-win situations. Chapter Four: Can You Make Yourself Lastingly Happier? The happiness formula is an equation used to represent the makings of enduring happiness. H=S+C+V: H is your enduring happiness, S is your set range, C is the circumstances of your life, and V represents factors under your voluntary control. Enduring happiness is quite different from momentary happiness. Momentary happiness can happen while watching a movie or eating candy. Enduring happiness is the summation of the formula. It was once believed that with enough effort every emotional state and personality trait could be improved. Discoveries in the 1980’s showed that roughly fifty percent of a personality trait is heritable. This however does not mean that a trait is unchangeable. Some traits do not change much like body weight. Fearfulness on the other hand for example is very changeable. Happiness tends to be like a thermostat. Many wonder if we have a set inherited range for happiness. When exceptional good fortune comes our way the happiness increases dramatically. After a period, however our levels return to previous levels. It also works the other way as well. If faced with misfortune our set level will bring us back up to our set range. We also tend to adapt to good things by taking them for granted. This results in the need to achieve even more to keep the same level of happiness. This is known as the â€Å"hedonic treadmill†. These three things known in the equation as the S variables tend to keep the happiness level low. The other two variables C and V however raise the happiness level. Circumstances do change happiness however; they are often expensive and impractical. Money is something that can change happiness. It is not the amount of money one has, but how important money is to you. The more important money is to you the less likely you are to achieve those goals and the less happy you will be. Married people tend to be happier than unmarried people are. The reasoning for this is not yet determined. Very happy people lead rich and fulfilling social lives. Much like the factor of marriage this is hard to determine if happy people are more social or that being more social causes happiness. Negative emotion does not have a profound effect on happiness. Conversely, a very happy person is not immune to negative emotions. Life satisfaction increases slightly, pleasant affect decreases slightly and unpleasant affect is unchanged with age. What does change is the intensity of emotions. The spikes in happiness and dramatic drops into despair become less common with age. Health is related to happiness. Objective health is not the issue though. It is ones subjective view of how healthy they are that is the key. People with severe long lasting illness do have a decline in life satisfaction and happiness but not as much as one might think. Religion can be linked to happiness. Religious people tend to be happier than nonreligious people. Faith and hope for the future effectively fights despair and increases happiness. External circumstances only account for between eight and fifteen percent of the happiness variance. Along with the set range, these do not count for much of the happiness equation. The variables that are under a person’s voluntary control can increase happiness. Chapter Five: Satisfaction About the Past The past present and future can invoke positive emotion. These three senses of emotion are different and not tightly linked. You can feel positive about one while feeling negative about another and neutral about the third. How we feel about our past greatly influences our level of happiness. Learning about each of the three different kinds of happiness can move the emotions in a positive direction by changing how we feel about our past experience our present and think about our future. A low level of appreciation for positive events in our past and an overemphasis of the bad events can be detrimental to our level of happiness. There are two ways to increase our levels of contentment about the past. Gratitude amplifies the good events and forgiveness helps diminish the effects of the bad events. Gratitude increases the effects of good events from the past. This in turn increases a person’s level of happiness. Showing gratitude towards another person can also increase that person’s level of happiness. At times, this can also help overshadow less joyful events of the past. Forgiveness is a way to help alleviate the negative emotions of the past, which can block positive emotions. It can also even change a bad memory into a good one that will increase the level of positive emotion even greater. Chapter Six: Optimism About the Future Positive emotions about the future include optimism and hope. These can better resist depression when a bad event happens, better work performance and better health. Permanence for optimism is temporary for a bad event and permanent for a good event. Pervasiveness works in much the same way. People who have specific explanations for their failures show a sign of optimism. During good events, they have universal explanations as to why the good even took place. People who are optimistic are hopeful. There is a well-documented method for increasing optimism, recognize and then dispute pessimistic thoughts. There are four ways to make your dispute convincing. Show that the negative belief is factually incorrect. Show a less negative alternative to the pessimistic view. Show that the implications of a bad event do not mean that the worst outcome will occur. Show how the situation can be changed for the better in the future. Chapter Seven: Happiness In The Present Happiness in the present is different from that of the past and future. It involves pleasures and gratifications. Pleasures involve little thinking and have sensory and emotional components. Gratification does not necessarily involve feeling but lasts longer than pleasures involve a lot of interpretation and thinking. They are also based on our strengths and virtues. Bodily pleasures need little interpretation. They are not easy to build your life around due to their momentary duration and become habitual requiring larger doses to create the same sensation. Higher pleasures are much like bodily pleasures in that they invoke â€Å"raw feelings†, are momentary and habitual. They are however more complex Three ways can be used to enhance these pleasures. Finding optimal spacing between pleasures will keep the habitual nature of the pleasures at a minimum. Savoring the pleasures will allow even greater pleasure and will allow for better memories of the event in the future. Mindfulness occurs more readily in a slow state of mind rather than in one that is racing through life. This can allow greater recall of pleasures. Gratification is a result of activities that invoke are signature strengths. It is the absorption, pause of consciousness, and flow the gratifications bring about that cause us to like the activities, not the pleasure. Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle could easily distinguish between pleasures and gratification. It can be a great buffer against depression as well.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Arab Spring The contemporary Era

Introduction The Arab spring is a wave of revolutionary protests and demonstrations that have been taking place in the Arab world since December 18th 2010.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Arab Spring: The contemporary Era specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The revolution has claimed entire regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, as well as major protests in Bahrain, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Morocco and Syria. There have been minor protests that were quelled by the governments of Lebanon, Sudan, Mauritania, Kuwait, Western Sahara and Saudi Arabia, by yielding to some of the demands of protestors. The Arab spring also inspired clashes in May 2011 at the borders of Israel. The sustenance of the revolution has been credited to the sharing of civil resistance techniques by the protestors in the different Arab countries, where there were rallies, marches, demonstrations as well as strikes that were mainl y organized and communicated through social media (Sakbani, 2011). The awareness of the people due to the flow of information was always repulsed by the respective governments’ internet censorship and even total disconnection as was the case in Syria from 2008 to 2011 February. Where this has failed there has often been violent repression of the protests by government security forces, often with a considerable amount of casualties as well as counter demonstrations by the respective government supporters. This paper seeks to explore the political situations, in regard to the internal policies established by the leaders of the Arab countries and specifically in Syria and Egypt that led to the Arab spring. The Arab Spring To understand the root cause and the process of the Arab spring, we have to first explore the conditions that triggered its inception. The Arab uprising was sparked by the self-immolation of a Tunisian by the name of Mohamed Bouaziz on December 18th 2010. He wa s protesting the unlawful arrest, corruption and ill treatment by the police amid the hard economic situation in the country. The protests that followed thereafter were greatly successful, with the ousting of the then president of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and this inspired similar protest in other Arab countries. The Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, resigned after there were 18 days of massive protests amid crackdowns by government security forces on the 11th of February 2011.Advertising Looking for term paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Other leaders, however, moved to quell the anger of the protestors by announcing that they would not context in the next elections, such as the Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir and the Iraqi President Nouri Al-Maliki. King Abdullah of Jordan went ahead to sack two successive governments as the protests still continued. Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president of Yemen, a nnounced that he would resign in 30 days back on 23rd of April in a bid to quell massive protests that had rocked the country, but he later changed his mind and retracted the statement which has led to continued protests. The Arab Spring in Egypt The revolution in Egypt was mainly inspired by its success in Tunisia and it started on the 25th of January. The then to be presidential candidate, Mohamed ElBaradei had already warned government officials that there was going to be a revolutionary wave of protests similar to those in Tunisia, if the pleas of the people were not addressed. It was, however, too late before the government of Egypt could take any action to salvage the situation as on 28th January at midnight, their attempts to stop the organization of the protests by blocking all internet access in the country did not work. Though the social media was successfully crippled, the organizers still found new ways to encourage people to join them and the internet blockade was one o f the reasons they cited as a motivation to increase their protests. In a bid to salvage the situation, President Mubarak appointed a new cabinet as well as a vice-president, who was the first in almost three decades. Mubarak later gave the vice-president, Omar Suleiman the power to rule Egypt on 10th February, though this was followed by an official statement that he would still hold on to the presidency until the end of his presidential term. This move was not taken well by the protestors as the demonstrations still intensified. The vice president later announced that Mubarak had resigned on the next day and he went ahead to transfer power to the Egyptian armed forces. This inspired a wave of celebrations across the country with the biggest being at Tahrir square.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Arab Spring: The contemporary Era specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The military then noticed that they were also facing resistance and went ahead to lift emergency laws that had been in place for thirty years. The army then dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution, then promised to organize free and fair elections in the next six months. The armed forces went ahead to appoint a civilian by the name of Essam Sharaf, as the Egyptian prime minister on 4th March. This was greatly approved by the protestor and the protests reduced, though there were other small protests that continued in July with the complaints that the Essam Sharaf administration together with the armed forces supreme council was slow in establishing reforms in the institutions of governance, than expected. The Arab Spring in Syria The Syrian uprising started with a case of self-immolation that sparked protests all over the capital city on the 26th of January. The protestors’ main grievances were political reforms and the observance of their civil rights by the government (Sakbani, 2011). They also complai ned that the county had been in a state of emergency for the last 48 years since 1963. The attempts by the protestors to organize a major demonstration dubbed ‘the day of fury’ was, however, not successful, but on the 6th of March, the arrest and torture of 15 children who were accused of having written some slogans that were against the regime, sparked even more protests. Thousands of protestors who were against the Baathist regime that had ruled Syria since 1963, gathered in the cities of Deir Ez-Zor, Hama, Daraa, Al-Hasakah, Aleppo, and Damascus, with Daraa being the first to protest on the 15th of March after the release of Suhair Atassi, a politician who became the unofficial spokesperson for the protestors in the revolution. This was followed by reports that the government had arrested over 3,000 Syrians and there had been a lot of casualties as the government security forces shot at protestors. The climax of the protest was on 18th April when almost 100,000 prote stors sat at the Square of Horns to demand for the resignation of President Bashar Al Assad. The protests continued throughout the next three months with the government conducting harsh security crackdowns and military operations in the country, with the most violent incident occurring on the 31st of July when army tanks stormed cities and killed over 136 people. Political Conditions That Triggered the Arab Spring in Egypt and Syria The revolution was observed to have been motivated by two main issues: the economic hardships of the citizens of these countries; and the harsh laws that were in place that discouraged democracy. The triggering incident that occurred in Tunisia involved a man whose market stall had been confiscated and his complaints were that besides acquiring an education, selling vegetables was his only option to make a living.Advertising Looking for term paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysts have specifically pointed out that in Syria and Egypt, the prolonged economic stagnation, violation of human rights, as well as rampant corruption by government officials have led to the common citizens’ suffering, and hence the need for political change. There has been decades of under-development and even in some cases there is evidence of de-development as the established economic policies have failed, and institutions of governance broken or abused (Partridge, 2011). The overall economic growth in the Arab world has been negative since 1971 and specifically the per-capita income of citizens of gulf countries like Syria has been reducing by almost 2.8 percent every year (Gershoni, Jankowski, 2010). The rampant corruption in Syria and Egypt has meant that those who are already rich or are in positions of power enjoy better quality of life while the poor suffer even more. This has led to a wide economic gap between the rich and powerful in these countries, and the poor. However, what took the rest of the world by surprise is the flow of information on the economic conditions of these countries, as previously their dictatorial governments had ensured that they filtered any information on these countries and had declined to participate in any surveys (Tejel, 2009). The inequality and the corruption in these countries is influenced by the fact that most of the economic centers are owned and managed by government institutions, hence, discouraging private entrepreneurship. In Egypt for instance, the government has ceded most of the economic control of the country to the military. This has ensured that the military owns most corporations where they employ retired military leaders and/or their immediate family and friends. It is also observed that state companies consume almost all the financial credit available in Egypt, hence, forcing other family owned small and medium businesses to have to rely on un-informal means of funding which are often exp ensive and exploitative. This has diminished the business community and those who are in business have to sell their products at high prices which have contributed to high cost of living amid reducing incomes (Odugbemi Lee, 2011). The failure of economic policies in Syria and Egypt has contributed to high rates of unemployment as well as under-employment, which are more common for the young who have been the back bone of the uprisings. The rampant corruption, regional conflict and dictatorial leadership has contributed greatly to companies’ thinking of only the short-term, as there is too much uncertainty in the region (Partridge, 2011). The same uncertainty has discouraged domestic investments and the revenues generated due to the rising commodity prices end up being transferred abroad. It has been identified that in Syria, local banks have had low capacities to the point of collapse. The Arab spring was created in such a way that it suggests a new awakening among the citiz ens of Syria and Egypt, which would bring with it a new political and socio-economic order. This has suggested that the Arab world will never be the same again, and the autocratic and dictatorial governments that are still existent in the region, may only have a few years if not months before they come to an end if they don’t establish political, educational and socio-economic reforms. Perhaps the most outstanding difference between the Arab spring and other uprisings, is the fact that the people are fueled by their need for dignified lives rather than the need for political superiority, as has been the case in sub-Saharan Africa and the Balkan states in the past (Ben-Meir, 2011). The passion of these people will probably not let any politically radical group to take power without receiving resistance from them. Previously, there was a belief that the people in Syria and Egypt could not organize themselves and speak with one voice, as the regimes had discouraged any form of o rganization. However, this was not to be as the Syrians and Egyptians organized amid speculation with their governments believing that the voice of the people was too fractured, too radical, too politically immature and insignificant to make any impact or even to be taken seriously. There was also the belief among the political class that the Arab authoritarian rule was going to continue for many decades to come as there was succession of governments among powerful families in most Arab countries, where the sons of the rulers inherited power from their fathers upon them leaving office, as was the case in Syria (Partridge, 2011). The greatest weakness of these assumptions, as is evidenced in Syria, is that they did not put into consideration the greatly educated, informed and politically assertive youth of the country. They still thought that the loyalty of the old generation to these regimes was to be transferred to the younger generation, and they always tried to promote this throu gh their authoritarian rule that has been able to squash resistance fro the citizens for along time. This younger generation is greatly aware of their rights, and has a high appeal for democracy which was earlier profiled as an evil western propaganda that is against their Muslim religion (Press-Barnathan, 2009). As far as the politics of Syria is concerned, the administration of President Assad has squashed the opposition since he came to power as it was the policy before during his father’s rule. This has seen anyone who exhibited political ideas that contradicted his party’s banned from travelling outside the country, arrested and even tortured to death by the police. There have been reports of secret police units that have been used to quell any opposition through inhumane ways. The human rights watch groups in the Middle East have ranked Syria as number one in violations of human rights and this is said to be the greatest down fall of Assad’s legislation wh ich has fueled the revolution in Syria. Political Effects of the Arab Spring The revolution has transformed the geo-politics of the region as it has been observed that the traditional understanding of the political environment of the region has been thrown out of balance. It was previously believed that the politics of the region was defined by the difference in ideologies between those who were pro-western and those who were anti-western, or those who are Sunnis and those who were Shi’a, as well as the belief that it was based on the differences between the Arabs and the Jews, in the case of Israel and its neighbors. It was, however, observed that the great inequalities or disparities in the qualities of life, between the authoritarian regimes and the citizens they ruled were the greatest motivations of the revolution (Gershoni, Jankowski, 2010). The ultimate political result of the revolution has been the great spotlight cast on authoritarian or dictatorial regimes, as the y feel the pressure to restructure their legislative policies or face resistance from their citizens. Some like the Kuwaiti administration have, however, been able to quell the anger of their citizens by introducing subsidies and cash handouts. Others, as is the case in Syria, have had to give fake promises of economic and political reforms (Lunnon, 2011). The young people, who were mostly idealists, utilized the loopholes that had been left by the governments’ belief that they could not organize and therefore were at ease. Their skillful utilization of social media was particularly impressive as it surprised many with its success. There was also the use of nonviolent means to organize protests that took the governments by surprise as they did not know what to do with them since they had always figured out that due to their foolproof control of their territories and strong security agencies, any threat would probably have to be excessively violent. Lastly, the quick and effec tive success of the revolution in Tunisia and Egypt worked to fuel the revolution even further as other countries realized that it is easy and possible to remove even the harshest dictators from power. This has been the short-term change that has brought hope to the people of the Arab countries that there can be an end to authoritarian rule and they can enjoy both economic growth and their freedom. It has also served to warn other dictators like Bashar al-Assad of Syria, or would be dictators in other countries, that their end was near (Ben-Meir, 2011). It has now dawned on many that, autocracies and monarchies in the Arab countries have an uncertain future as the young Arabs have disapproved any cultural obligations to these autocracies. These young people are proponents of regional sovereignty that takes a pan-Arab approach that may not be viable for any western nation that sees this as an opportunity to assert their influence on the regime that comes after. The west has to basica lly take a back seat and watch as the Egyptian and the Syrians try to establish their own forms of government that they think suits their political ideologies as well as their religious and cultural background. In as much as the army may be the final political arbiter in Egypt as has been the case since 1952, there is now a chance for liberals, Islamists, repackaged elements of the previous regime and leftists of various backgrounds, to gain control of, and even influence, the country’s parliament and the government, which was not the case under the ousted Mubarak government. The success of the emerging institutions such as the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions may be evidence of this phenomenon, as they may set limitations to the young neo-liberal economic reform project (Odugbemi Lee, 2011). The other group, besides the army that is probably going to lose much of the influence it enjoys in these nations, is the US government as their regional political clout diminishes with the ouster of the authoritarian governments that they were previously able to influence. The US campaign on the Palestinian-Israel conflict will now enjoy less support or even resistance from the new governments that want nothing to do with the fetishes of the previous regimes, and will probably stay neutral (Shemesh, 2008). This is evidenced by the fact that the US is currently feeling the treat of a growing Iranian regional influence, as the foreign policies of Egypt are now reflecting previously unseen popular sentiments. Economic Effects of the Arab Spring In the long-term, the Arab world hangs in uncertainty as everyone is skeptical of the stability of the new systems of governance that will be put up to replace the fallen ones. This is behind the further uncertainty of whether the desired democratic system of governance will even be established in the near future as it has been previously evidenced in other countries like Somalia, that the ouster of a governmen t by the people may not necessarily be advantageous, as there might be an eruption of violence as different groups seek to assume leadership of the country. This spring may sadly take too long to yield any fruits in some of these countries as traditional liberals, Islamic extremists, high ranking military personnel that still want to cling to power, ethnic groups, business elites and other religiously affiliated groups, compete against each other on the basis of their different ideologies that they all want to be adopted (Lunnon, 2011). The revival of the respective economies may take a while, and it’s dependent on the success of the transitional period and the success of the next administration amid all the international scrutiny especially by the west. The economic consequences of the Arab revolution have affected the entire world and have been especially brutal, to struggling economies of South East Asia and Africa as the prices of oil have shot up. This has brought with i t an unprecedented increase in the prices of basic commodities especially food stuffs. There is, however, hope that with the successes of most of the protests, the oil market in the world will stabilize soon. This is not to say that there is no future threat to the oil market in the horizon since there is still an uncertainty as to how the new regimes will react in relation to the policies and the policy making process of OPEC, which is a body that most of them belong to. Reference Ben-Meir, A. (2011). Above The Fray: Arab Spring, Revival Of The Islamic state. The Jerusalem Post. Web. Gershoni, I., and Jankowski,J., P. (2010). Confronting fascism in Egypt: dictatorship versus democracy in the 1930s. London: Stanford University Press. Lunnon, H. Et Al. (2011). Arab Spring — Chief Consequence? The Definition. Web. Odugbemi, S., and Lee, T. (2011). Accountability through Public Opinion: From Inertia to Public Action. New York: World Bank Publications. Partridge, M. (2011). How t he economic policies of corrupt elite caused the Arab Spring. New statesman. Web. Press-Barnathan, G. (2009). The political economy of transitions to peace: a comparative perspective. New York: University of Pittsburgh Press. Sakbani, M. (2011). The revolutions of the Arab Spring: are democracy, development and modernity at the gates? Contemporary Arab Affairs. 4(2). Web. Shemesh, M. (2008). Arab politics, Palestinian nationalism and the Six Day War: the crystallization of Arab strategy and Nasir’s descent to war, 1957-1967. London: Sussex Academic Press. Tejel, J. (2009). Syria’s Kurds: history, politics and society. Volume 16 of Routledge advances in Middle East and Islamic studies. New York: Taylor Francis. This term paper on The Arab Spring: The contemporary Era was written and submitted by user Makhi J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Macbeth the first peformance essays

Macbeth the first peformance essays The First Staging of Shakespeares Macbeth William Shakespeares first production of Macbeth was performed at the Old Globe Theatre in 1606. At the time James I was the king of Great Britain and Scotland. In 1606 his brother-in-law Christian IV visited King James. Many scholars suggest that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in honor if Christians visit. The connection between King James I and Macbeth can be seen in many elements of the script. First, Banquos character is portrayed as an honest and strongman. He was to have been a descendent of the king. Second it believed that Shakespeare added witchcraft to the plot only to please the king (Asimov 1). Some scholars argue that Shakespeare first presented Macbeth in front of the king of Denmark at Hampton Court (Kay 318). But, there is little evidence to support that theory. The King probably went to the Old Globe Theatre to see Macbeth. Few specifics are known about the original Globe Theatre. It is believed to have been eight sided. It was an outside theatre that took on a round appearance and stood three stories high. The Globe theatre had a platform stage where the audience sat on three sides. It was similar to a modern day thrust theater. The original Globe theatre burned down in 1613. The thatch roofing and plaster building caught on fire during a performance if Henry XII. Most of the evidence left of the globe theatre is found in Shakespeare stage directions of his plays produced at this theatre. It is believed that the stage had four trap doors. Three smaller ones that the actor was able to walk up to and a larger one that required machine help. It was in these trap doors that the witches came out of, each having their own door. The cauldron was raised and lowered with smoky effects. This information is supported by the line that Macbeth speaks Why sinks that cauldron (Nagler 23). It questionab le if the center stage platfor...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Biography of Alexander II, Russias Reformist Tsar

Biography of Alexander II, Russia's Reformist Tsar Alexander II (born Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov; April 29, 1818 – March 13, 1881) was a nineteenth-century Russian emperor. Under his rule, Russia moved towards reform, most notably in the abolition of serfdom. However, his assassination cut these efforts short. Fast Facts: Alexander II Full Name:  Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov Occupation: Emperor of RussiaBorn: April 29, 1818 in Moscow, RussiaDied: March 13, 1881 in Saint Petersburg, RussiaKey Accomplishments: Alexander II earned a reputation for reform and a willingness to bring Russia into the modern world. His greatest legacy was the freeing of Russian serfs in 1861.Quote: The vote, in the hands of an ignorant man, without either property or self respect, will be used to the damage of the people at large; for the rich man, without honor or any kind of patriotism, will purchase it, and with it swamp the rights of a free people.† Early Life Alexander was born in Moscow in 1818 as the first son and heir of Tsar Nicholas I and his wife Charlotte, a Prussian princess. His parents’ marriage was, luckily (and somewhat unusually) for a purely political union, a happy one, and Alexander had six siblings who survived childhood. From birth, Alexander was given the title of Tsesarevich, which was traditionally given to the heir to the Russian throne. (The similar-sounding title tsarevich applied to any sons of a tsar, including non-Russians, and ceased being used by Romanov rulers in 1797). The upbringing and early education of Alexander was not one that seemed conducive to create a great reformer. Indeed, the opposite, if anything, was true. At the time, the court and political atmosphere was intensely conservative under his father’s authoritarian rule. Dissent from any corner, regardless of rank, was severely punishable. Even Alexander, who was the darling of his family and of all Russia, would have had to be careful. Nicholas, however, was nothing if not practical in the upbringing of his successor. He had suffered from a dull, frustrating education as a â€Å"spare† to the throne (his immediate predecessor was not his father, but rather his brother Alexander I) that had left him without any desire to take up the title. He was determined to not let his son suffer the same fate and provided him with tutors that included reformer Mikhail Speransky and romantic poet Vasily Zhukovsky, plus a military instructor, General Karl Merder. This combination led to Alexander being well-prepared and more liberal than his father. At the age of sixteen, Nicholas created a ceremony in which Alexander formally swore allegiance to the autocracy as the successor. Marriage and Early Reign While on tour in Western Europe in 1839, Alexander was in search of a royal wife. His parents preferred Princess Alexandrine of Baden and arranged for the twenty-one-year-old tsesarevich to meet her. The meeting was unimpressive, and Alexander declined to pursue the match. He and his entourage made an unplanned stop at the court of the Grand Duke of Hesse, Ludwig II, where he met and became smitten with the duke’s daughter, Marie. Despite some early objections from his mother and a long engagement because of Marie’s youth (she was only fourteen when they met), Alexander and Marie married on April 28, 1841. Although the protocols of court life did not appeal to Marie, the marriage was a happy one, and Alexander leaned on Marie for support and advice. Their first child, the Grand Duchess Alexandra, was born in August 1842, but died of meningitis at the age of six. In September 1843, the couple had their son and Alexander’s heir, Nicholas, followed in 1845 by Alexander (the future Tsar Alexander III), Vladimir in 1847, and Alexei in 1850. Even after Alexander took mistresses, their relationship remained close. Nicholas I died of pneumonia in 1855, and Alexander II succeeded to the throne at the age of 37. His early reign was dominated by the fallout from the Crimean War and cleaning up overwhelming corruption at home. Thanks to his education and personal leanings, he began pushing forward a more reformist, liberal set of policies than the iron-fisted authoritarianism of his predecessors. Reformer and Liberator Alexander’s signature reform was the liberation of the serfs, which he began working towards almost immediately after coming to the throne. In 1858, he toured the country to encourage the nobility – who were reluctant to give up their reliance on serfs – to back the reform. The Emancipation Reform of 1861 formally abolished serfdom throughout the Russian Empire, giving 22 million serfs the rights of full citizens. His reforms were not limited to this by any means. Alexander ordered the reform of the Russian military, from enforcing conscription for all social classes (not just the peasantry) to improving officer education to creating districts for more efficient administration. An elaborate and detailed bureaucracy worked to reform the judicial system and make the system simpler and more transparent. At the same time, his government created local districts that took on many duties of self-governance. Despite his zeal for reform, Alexander was no democratic ruler. The Moscow Assembly proposed a constitution, and in response, the tsar dissolved the assembly. He fervently believed that diluting the power of the autocracy with representatives of the people would destroy the populace’s quasi-religious view of the tsar as a divinely-ordained, unquestioned ruler. When separatist movements, particularly in Poland and Lithuania, threatened to erupt, he suppressed them harshly, and later in his reign, he began to crack down on liberal teachings at universities. However, he supported efforts in Finland to increase its autonomy. An assassination attempt in April 1866 may have contributed to Alexander’s shift away from his earlier liberal reforms. Assassination and Legacy Alexander was the target of several assassination attempts, including the one in 1866. In April 1879, a would-be assassin named Alexander Soloviev shot at the tsar as he walked; the shooter missed and was sentenced to death. Later that year, other revolutionaries attempted a more elaborate plot, orchestrating a railway explosion – but their information was incorrect and they missed the tsar’s train. In February 1880, the tsar’s enemies came closer than they ever had before to achieving their goal when Stephan Khalturin, from the same radical group that bombed the train, managed to detonate a device in the Winter Palace itself, killing and wounding dozens and causing damage to the palace, but the imperial family was awaiting a late arrival and was not in the dining room. On March 13, 1881, Alexander went, as was his custom, to a military roll call. He rode in a bulletproof carriage gifted to him by Napoleon III, which saved his life during the first attempt: a bomb thrown under the carriage as it passed by. Guards attempted to evacuate Alexander quickly. Another conspirator, a radical revolutionary named Ignacy Hryniewiecki, got close enough to throw a bomb directly at the fleeing emperor’s feet. The bomb horrifically wounded Alexander, as well as others in the vicinity. The dying tsar was brought to the Winter Palace, where he was given his last rites and died minutes later. Alexander left behind a legacy of slow but steady reform and began the modernization of Russia – but his death stopped what would have been one of the biggest reforms: a set of planned changes that Alexander had approved and spoke of as a step towards a true constitution – something Romanov rulers had always resisted. The announcement was set to be made around March 15, 1881. But Alexander’s successor chose instead to retaliate for the assassination with severe setbacks to civil liberties, including arrests of dissenters and anti-Semitic pogroms that would last for the rest of the Romanov era. Sources Montefiore, Simon Sebag. The Romanovs: 1613 – 1918. London, Weidenfeld Nicolson, 2017.Mosse, W.E. â€Å"Alexander II: Emperor of Russia.† Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-II-emperor-of-RussiaRadzinsky, Edvard. Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar. Simon Schuster, 2005.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Solyndra Solar Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Solyndra Solar - Term Paper Example Meanwhile, the program intends to create over 60,000 jobs for the citizens and remains the significant source of jobs for thousands of people. Despite the current bankruptcy, the program is facing, the administration claims that its investment portfolio is still effective and productive. Meanwhile, the Solyndra issues post criticism about the suitability of government in the process of funding technologies and programs. Thus, the paper will evaluate the bankruptcy issues, bailout and analysis of the Solyndra Solar in order to establish its performance in the market. Solyndra Solar Bailout The research indicates that the Solyndra has used a lot of billion dollars ineffectively due to the poor management and $535 million are direct bailout from the United State taxpayers (Cappiello, 2011). The program was handed $535 million dollars as a federal loan guarantee despite its unstable financial footing. Solyndra has applied for the federal trade regulation support in order to assist foot t he bill for the 1,100 employees that it laid off as a result of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the administration program is supposed to use $1.5 billion to bailout the retraining for employees who had lost their jobs due to the foreign trade like competition from the cheap panels from china. ... The bailout had a lot of risk disclosure, but the company was operating at a high cash burn rate because it could not mange its expenses effectively. Meanwhile, the company had sales of $100 million in 2010 and as a result of high costs and overhead it recorded a loss of $172 million that year (Cappiello, 2011). The company had lost about half a billion dollars for three sears before it comes for the bailout money from the federal programs. The federal government gave the money to the Solyndra without evaluating the financial crisis that was affecting the company. The company was producing tubes at cost of $4 per watt output, but it made losses on them because it was charging $3.24 in the market. Meanwhile, the company spent tens of millions of the bailout money in establishing a 500 million megawatt production capacity given that its production volumes had reduced to 65 megawatts (Cappiello, 2011). The company was expected to use the bailout money to sort the sales problems, but it spent its cash to build costly production firm. Meanwhile, the Kaiser Foundation bailout the Solyndra with a total of $ 75 million that would assist the company’s situation, but the company would be paid before taxpayers get their $535 million back (Cappiello, 2011). The paying the taxpayers should follow the order of creditors due to the bankruptcy proceeding of the company. Meanwhile, the bailout assisted the company because it was almost certain to fail in case it was not bailout because the refinancing plan was rejected by the federal program. Solyndra Solar Bankruptcy The company faced various difficulties that led the company to close operations that will affect the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) - Essay Example Due to its enhanced, temporal and spatial resolution, it has been utilised as a less invasive technique in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Aneurysms rise in occurrence with age; they are more common in women and are connected to certain genetic conditions. CTA has been proposed as an alternative choice for intra – arterial digital subtraction angiography to check for aneurysms. CTA is used to characterise cerebral aneurysms for assessing the possibility of their rupture. It helps produce 3D geometries of cerebral aneurysms. Coronary lesions are risked to ruptures. CTA scanners avail for detection, quantification and characterization of coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Non invasive CTA is utilised to recognize patients with high or low risk chances of developing cardiac conditions due to the constitution of plaques. Computational fluid dynamics permits for computation of lesion particular endothelial shear tension. They also permit partial flow reserve. This adds functional details to evaluation of plaques. Cebral, J. R., Castro, M. A., Burgess, J. E., et al., 2005. Characterization of Cerebral Aneurysms for Assessing Risk of Rupture By Using Patient – Specific Computational Hemodynamics Models. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 26, pp. 2550 – 2559. Goncalves, P. A., Campos, C. A. M., Serruys, P. W. & Garcia – Garcia, H. M., 2014. Computed tomography angiography for the interventional cardiologist. European Heart Journal: Cardiovascular Imaging. doi: 10.1093/ehjci/jeu053 Maurovich – Horvat, P., Ferencik, M., Voros, S, Merkely, B. & Hoffmann, U. (2014). Comprehensive plaque assessment by coronary CT angiography. Nature Reviews Cardiology.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Social Identity Theory and its Impact on People’s Reactions to Petrol Queue Jumping Essay Example for Free

Social Identity Theory and its Impact on People’s Reactions to Petrol Queue Jumping Essay Abstract This study aimed to investigate whether the social identity theory applies when it comes to peoples’ reactions to petrol queue jumping. It intended to ascertain whether participants demonstrated more reaction to those who jump queues, outside their own in-group (those who drive luxurious cars as opposed to non-luxurious car drivers). This study was influenced by a similar experiment conducted by Helweg-Larsen LoMonaco (2008) about queuing among U2 fans and their reactions to queue jumping. The experiment involved 49 participants who indicated they didn’t drive a luxury car, in a Melbourne metropolitan petrol queue, 26 of whom were males, aged 18-58 years (M =33:82; SD = 11. 26), in addition to this there were 23 females, aged 18-61 years (M =33.11; SD = 11.26). A questionnaire was utilized which included basic information as well as strength of identification with other drivers. Assessment of how upset queue jumping made them feel on a scale of 1-7 was also utilised. The results demonstrated that there was a reasonably high reaction rate, with statistically significantly results that proved drivers have a high level of social identification amongst other drivers within the same social class. The hypothesis that those who operate a non-luxurious vehicle will appear more distressed about queue jumping, when it is by someone driving a car of luxury as opposed to someone who is driving a car that is considered non-luxurious was supported. This helps support the existence of the social identity theory although the implications of this are that perhaps a broader definition of what ‘reaction’ to queue jumping needs to be developed, as well as using a larger sample size of people from several states or perhaps even countries. Social Identity Theory and its Impact on People’s Reactions to Petrol Queue Jumping It’s normal for most people to have a fundamental curiosity for finding out the causes of and therefore finding explanations for the behaviours demonstrated by humans. It is via this inquisition that queue jumping is explored, it is recognised as a human behaviour that most people will have to deal with in their everyday lives. It is generally known as the social phenomena where another person skips the line and rather then waiting at the  end of a queue. Queue jumping, as it is commonly known, has been researched in various cases including research within the animal community. Particularly in a study about wasps, which demonstrated that queue jumping may be seen as a rule for inheriting dominance (Bridge Field, 2007). This is not the sole study in regards to queue jumping, Milgram et al (1986) investigated the responses to queue jumping by assigning intruders to wait in queues (either single or multiple confederates) and they found that if there were more than one intruder it would provoke more of a reaction amongst the participants. They were also able to deduce from this study that those who preceded the intruders in the line felt more distaste for the queue jumpers as opposed to those in front of the queue jumpers (Milgram et al, 1986). This study demonstrates the social implications that queue jumping can have on an individual and the reason that so much weight has been assigned to the importance of researching queue jumping is because through this human interest, social theories, such as the â€Å"Social Identity Theory† have taken place. Social Identity Theory is a theory based on group membership as well as intergroup interactions that are based on self-categorisation, social comparison and the structure of a shared self-definition in terms of ingroup-defining properties (Vaughan Hogg, 2011). There are two dynamics to social identity that are attributing causality for behaviours, these include: social identity, which is the definition of self in terms of group membership as well as personal identit y, which is when one defines self in terms of personal relationships and traits (Vaughan Hogg, 2011). The main component to the social identity theory is the in-group/out-group differentiation which â€Å"is an inevitable characteristic of social life, and many social psychologists are still very busy with the issue of intergroup differentiation† (TaÅŸdemir, 2011). This study is relatable to other research particularly one executed by Thoitis Virshup (1997) in which groups of people were classified into â€Å"me’s and â€Å"we’s† and this is a clear representation for in-groups and out-groups. They discussed the notion that there is a sense of obligation and protection of one’s own ingroup as they are willing to empathise with those perceived to be similar to the individual as oppose to the â€Å"we’s† who were seen as dissimilar to the individual (Thoitis Virshup, 1997). In terms of human behaviour, social identity theory and queue jumping can be  closely interrelated as queue jumping has been was investigated by Helweg-Larsen LoMonaco (2008). In this study U2 fans where given a questionnaire whilst waiting in an overnight line to obtain floor spots at his concert the following day. The purpose was to reflect on their reactions to line-intrusion and the results showed that the queue is a social system and line intrusion was most upsetting to fans with a greater the commitment; the more dedicated the fan the more upset they were by queue jumping (Helweg-Larsen LoMonaco, 2008). In regards to queue jumping, there is much curiosity as to whether the social identity theory can be proven but little research. It is important to study reactions to queue jumping simply because of the social implications that are derived from this, as understanding how people function within a social in-group and how they react to an out-group can be vital. Through this knowledge one may able to apply this to discover solutions to problems such as peak hour traffic and how to best overcome this problem and avoid road rage and car-crashes. With that in mind the study below aims to investigate whether social identity affects how upset people feel about jumping a queue in order to purchase petrol. It is predicted in this study that those who operate a non-luxurious vehicle will appear more distressed about line intrusion, when it is by someone driving a luxury car rather that a non-luxury vehicle. This prediction is based on the social identity, assuming that the social identity theory can be demonstrated. Method Participants This study involved 49 participants who indicated they didn’t drive a luxury car, in a Melbourne metropolitan petrol queue, 26 of whom were males, aged 18-58 years (M =33:82; SD = 11.26), in addition to this there were 23 females, aged 18-61 years (M =33.11; SD = 11.26). Design The scheme utilised in this study was a one-way between-factor design. In relation to queue jumping it compared participants reactions from (LUXURY) whether the queue jumper drove a luxury car in which 24 where allocated and (NON-LUXURY) whether the queue jumper drove a non-luxury car in which 25  participants were allocated. As well as the main dependant variable being the measure of how distressed people felt about the queue jumping. Materials/Apparatus A questionnaire including background information (such as age; gender; number of years driving; type of car driven; how long they had been waiting in the petrol queue; whether they had waited in petrol queues before; whether they had ever witnessed queue jumping and when; and how much they usually paid for petrol) was employed. The questionnaire also evaluated their strength of recognition with drivers of non-luxury cars using Brown, Condor, Mathews, Wade and Williams’ (1986) 10-item measure of social identification (1 =strongly disagree; 7 =strongly agree). A total maximum score of 70 was possible on this measure. The questionnaire also implemented four items that each measured how distressed queue jumping (overall) made them feel (1=not at all upset, to 7=extremely upset). These items were revised versions of questions included in Helweg-Larsen and Lomonaco (2008) and a single measure/index (called REACTION) was calculated by summing the answers to these four items; with hig her figures indicating that people were more distressed by the queue jumping. A total maximum score of 28 was possible on this form of measurement. Procedure Ethics approval was first obtained from Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee. Participants were then selected in the Melbourne metropolitan region petrol station where queuing for reduction of petrol prices happened frequently. In the first occurrence, four drivers were employed and were requested by the experimenter to act as experimental stooges. Two of these drivers were required to drive a luxury car: 1. a Maserati GranCabrio Sport; and 2. a 2012 model Porsche 911. One of these (luxury car) drivers was asked to take up a place in a petrol queue and allow queue jumping to happen, while the remaining driver was expected to jump the queue to the place immediately preceding to that drivers location in the queue. The other two drivers were asked to drive a non-luxury car: a Ford Fiesta or a Holden Astra. One of these (non-luxury car) drivers was also required to take up a place in the petrol queue and to allow queue  jumping to happen, while the other driver was asked to hop the queue in the place immediately preceding that drivers place in the queue. This meant that other people in the queue were open to the elements of queue jumping, that was being put up with, either among luxury car drivers or among non-luxury car drivers. The two queue jumping incidents were staged to take place at a distance of 10 cars from the petrol pumps, within the same day but separated by two hours in time (with queues stretching for numerous blocks). No other queue jumping, besides those associated with the current study, was observed to have taken place. Each of the participants in the queue behind the place where the queue jumping occurred was approached, after the incident, by one of four experimental research assistants and they were then asked to answer a questionnaire about queuing for petrol. At the conclusion of the study, all participants were debriefed and notified that they were permitted to contact the experimenter to gain access to results. Results Table 1 Mean and Standard Reaction to Queue Jumping of Luxury and Non-Luxury cars N Mean Standard Deviation LUXURY 2425.712.10 NON-LUXURY 25 23.60 2.14 TOTAL 49 24.63 2.35 The results from Table 1 illustrate that the total Mean was 24.63, where the maximum response possible was 28 for REACTION (as well as a maximum of 70 on the social identity scale) and the total Standard Deviation being 2.35. This indicates that the scores were relatively high in regards to the total amount possible. Using SPPS version20, a one-way between variable factor, ANOVA was carried out on the dependant variable of REACTION. Reaction was perceived bigger when the queue jumping was done by a luxury car driver (M=25.70; SD=2.09) as opposed to when it was by a non-luxury car driver (M=23.60; SD=2.14);(F(1, 48)=12.12;p

Friday, November 15, 2019

Race and the Zone System Controversy :: Free Essays Online

Race and the Zone System Controversy You get in the cab; you are white and well dressed showing your social status. The cab driver is friendly and takes you directly to your destination. The little map in the backseat of the cab tells you the cost of your trip; however since you, like most people, never even read it, the cabbie tells you the price, and you go ahead and pay without question. You are a resident of the District and have gone the same route many times and for some reason the price varies occasionally. You only traveled through one zone from your upper-middle class neighborhood of Foggy Bottom to Capital Hill where you go about your busy life. For you the zone system of taxicab fares is no big deal. You have the money to pay for each ride and a cab driver will always pick you up. A change to the metered system would only be a slight adjustment to your daily routine. However, other residents of the District would be greatly affected by a change to the metered system. Would a change in the zone syste m benefit the upper class, the tourists, the drivers or the lower income residents of DC? Is the city watching out for its lower income black residents? Will changing from a zone system to a metered payment system segregate Washington, DC even more than it is today? The zone system that is used today has been in effect since the Great Depression and has changed very little since then. With the zone system, passengers pay according to the number of zones they pass though with all of Downtown, the Mall and Capital Hill encompassing one zone. DC is the only major city that still utilizes this zone system; there are only a handful of areas that continue to use the system and all are smaller towns without the tourism that DC has. Hanbury president and CEO of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation stated that the, â€Å" hospitality industry, which employs more than 260,000 individuals in the Washington area pumps fourteen billion annually into our economy† (Hanbury). Having the second largest taxi industry in the country supports the substantial tourism in DC; the taxi fleet is second only to New York City, with a fleet of over 6000 cabs and 8000 drivers.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Snow White: Told by Christopher Boone

Snow White is a fairy tale. I do not like fairy tales because fairies do not exist. Mother used to read fairy tales to me when I was younger but not any more. I used to hate Snow White, because there is no just thing as a magic mirror and dwarves do not exist and these are all lies as they are not real. I hate lying and Mother used to say that this makes me a good person. Snow White was a princess and was a very kind person who was caring and loving to all animals. Snow White lived in a castle which is a very big house which is usually situated on a hill with very high walls. I would love to live in a castle by myself as I could be alone for a long time and pretend I was the only person in the world. But I would also hate living in a castle as it would take a long time walking from room to room, and eventually I would get confused and lost and forget where my room is. Snow White's mother died just after she was born, my mother also died but because of a heart attack and not birth. Snow White's father married another princess who became queen, and became Snow White's stepmother. My father would never marry another woman again as he will forget mother, and then forget me. Snow White's stepmother had a magic mirror which told the holder of the mirror the answer to any question. I don't like this part as magic mirrors do not exist, and there will never be one. And so one day the new queen asked the mirror, â€Å"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who in the land is fairest of all?† And the mirror said, â€Å"You my queen are the fairest of all†. But when Snow White turned seven years of age, the magic mirror said, â€Å"Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true, but Snow White is fairer than you.† And so the queen gets jealous and orders a huntsman to take Snow White into the woods to be killed. I don't like this part as it involves violence, and I don't think fairy tales should involve violence. The queen also wanted the huntsman to return with Snow White's heart as proof of her death. I think that this part of the story is silly because no one would murder someone just to be the fairest of all and if my mother tried to murder me I would hate her and try to get revenge. So the huntsman takes Snow White into the forest to be killed, but just before the huntsman was about to stab her, he finds himself unable to kill her, and tells her to flee and hide. The huntsman returns with the heart of a young boar, which is prepared and eaten by the queen. This part makes me sick as eating a heart is revolting and gross. So as Snow White was fleeing she found a small cottage where seven dwarfs were living, the dwarves let her stay if she keeps the house for them, cooks, make beds, wash, sew, knit, and keep everything clean and orderly. The dwarfs said, â€Å"If you do all these things than you can stay.† Snow White agreed and rested at the dwarfs' house for the 1st day. I don't like this part as dwarfs do not exist and I find this cruel as Snow White has to do all these choirs just to stay at the dwarfs' house. Meanwhile the queen asks her mirror once again, â€Å"Who's the fairest of them all?† And the Mirror informs the queen that Snow White is alive and living with the dwarfs, and she is still the fairest of them all. I don't like the following part because the queen disguises herself as three different people trying to sell something to Snow White which will kill her. The queen fails to kill Snow White on the first and second attempt due to the dwarfs reviving her. But on the last attempt, the queen creates a poisoned apple, and is disguised as a farmer's wife, and offers the apple to Snow White. At first Snow White is hesitant to eat it, until the queen cuts the apple in half, and eats the white side, and gives the poisoned part of the apple to Snow White. Snow White eating the apple and immediately collapses. When the dwarfs return, they cannot revive her, and place her in a glass coffin assuming she is dead. This makes me feel sad as it makes me think that Snow White is dead for sure. The story continues when a prince travelling through the land sees Snow White in her coffin. The prince is enchanted by her beauty and instantly falls in love with her. The dwarfs then give the coffin containing Snow White to the prince, and the prince's servants carry the coffin away. But whilst travelling they stumble on some bushes and the movement causes the piece of poisoned apple to be released from her throat, therefore awakening her. I don't like this part of the story as it is very unlikely that this could happen as someone who has been dead for some time can't awaken. So as soon as Snow White awakens, the prince declares love for her and a wedding is planned. Meanwhile the queen once again asks the mirror, â€Å"Who is the fairest in the land.† And the mirror replies, â€Å"You, my queen, are fair; it is true. But the young queen is a thousand times fairer than you.† The queen does not realise that this new queen is Snow White, and she arrives at the wedding, but is alarmed and startled when she realises the truth. The queen is caught and she is forced to wear a pair of heated iron shoes. She is forced to dance in them until she falls down dead. This is the end of the story, and ends happily ever after, just like all fairy tales should do.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Political Party and Internet Essay

HARATAL In modern strife torn state hartal has become a common affair. It is observed at the call of a political party or parties to press their demand to protest against the corruption, misuse of power and the evil deeds of the ruling party. Sometimes students and people of a locality call hartal to express their demands. On a hartal day normal course of life is stopped. All means of transport and vehicles do not move on the roads. People are to take a lot of troubles to attend their offices. They go on foot as vehicles are not available. As a result the attendance is very negligible in the offices, factories, industries and shops. The economy of the country suffers a heavy loss. Mills, factories, industries and shops stop their work. All the business centers, markets and shop remain closed. The supporters in favor of hartal bring their procession. Often clashes occur between the police and the picketers. Sometimes clashes take place between the supporters of the opposition and the ruling p olitical parties which result in some deaths. On a hartal day the sufferings of the people know no bound LOAD SHEDDING Load-shedding is the suspension of electricity supply on certain lines when demand is greater than the generation. It occurs when the generation of power is less than the demand. Besides, unplanned distribution and illegal connection of electricity are also responsible for it. It creates various serious problems. The students are affected by it if it occurs at night. They sit idly in the dark closing their books. They suffer terribly owing to load-shedding on the night before their examination. Mills, factories, industries, all academic and socio-economic institution seriously suffer due to it. It seems that everything comes to a standstill and so life becomes rally painful. In a country like ours it is very difficult to solve the problem of load-shedding. Yet we can go a long way by establishing new power plants, ensuring planned distribution, reducing system loss and checking illegal connections. If these are ensured, we may expect to get rid of the curse of load-shedding. Governme nt should also take effective steps in this regard. Computer The computer is one of the most brilliant gifts of science. This device was originally developed by Charles Babbage. Most countries have developed fast due to computerization. Writing a program is essential for a computer. Speed, accuracy, reliability, and integrity are the main characteristics of a computer. Many of the routine activities today at home and in business are done by computers. The computer has proved a friend and servant of science, technology and industry. Most offices, shops, factories and industries use computers. The Internet is a storehouse of information. The computer is boon to all. Telecommunication and satellite imageries are computer based. Computer has made the world a global village today. The Internet The information system of the world has become globalized with the magical touch of internet. Like a spider-web the Internet has spread its interconnected link with tens, hundreds or even thousands of computers. And it has enabled them to share information and communication with one another widely, effectively and inexpensively.The Internet has made it possible for people all over the world to bring the information and communication system within their palm. The Internet has brought new opportunities to government, education and business. Governments use the Internet for internal communication, distribution of information and automated tax processing. Bangladesh as a developing country does not have access to the Internet in all spheres. Still internet here has some access to the business world and the banking system. Educational institutions also use the Internet to some extent. Internet here also allows a great variety in digital entertainment. People can enjoy music, movie, gaming, chatting with friends, sharing views and ideas about world affairs just by pressing few keys. We hope that we will get full-fledged access to the Internet, an international computer network, to make our Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country. TRAFFIC JAM Traffic jam is one of the most irritating problems in bangladesh. It has taken a very serious shape in city areas.This problem is the result of rapid growth of population and the increasing number of vehicle. In proportion to our population, roads have not increased. Moreover, cities are full of rickshaw and rickshaw pulles do not follow the traffic rules never maintain a queue while waiting to proceed. Untimely loading, unloading of goods of trucks, unauthorised markets by the road side, unwise parking to vehicles, public meeting, processions etc. Generally cause traffic jam. Narrow roads in another cause of traffic jam. Most often traffic jam occurs at office time and also at the time when the officer break. Sometimes traffic jam is so heavy that it blocks half a kilometre. It kills our valuable time and cause great suffering to the dying patients being carried in the ambulance. However, this problem can be solved by adopting some measures. Well planned spacious road should be constructed. one way movement of vehicles should be introduced.Traffic rules should be imposed strictly so that the drivers are bound to obey them. The number of traffic police should be increased.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Youll Need This Trait to Find Professional Success

Youll Need This Trait to Find Professional Success Ever wonder what the secret to career success is? The unifying factor common to all of the most successful people? That special extra thing? You probably have it or you don’t. Sound ominous? At least it’s not some fancy education or hard-to-acquire skill. It turns out you can make up for a lot that you don’t have along the way, but there’s one thing that, if you have it, you’ll be in the best position to succeed.What is that thing? It isn’t supernatural intelligence. It isn’t pedigree.It’s grit. Can you focus in on a passion and not stop until you achieve success? Then you’ve got it, the number one indicator of high performance and long-term success- with an even greater predictability for success than high IQ.Freaking out wondering whether or not you possess this trait? Don’t worry. Here are a few building blocks of ‘grit’ as a thing you might be able to better cultivate in yourself while you’r e still early on in your career.A clear goalDetermination- no matter how much others doubt youConfidence in yourself  while you’re figuring out your trajectoryHumbleness- enough to be prepared for things to not come easilyPersistence in the face of fearPatience and flexibility- enough to navigate obstacles and hindrances without getting frustrated or giving upA code- a moral compass, and the integrity to follow it at all costsOpenness- being able to connect and collaborate with other people, and recognizing that accepting help does not equal weakness, but strengthGratitude- enough to appreciate the journey, not just keep your crazy eyes on the destinationAppreciation of othersLoyaltyInner strengthThese things might not be easily taught, but they can be honed. There’s even a measurable Grit Scale with a test developed by University of Pennsylvania researchers. Take their questionnaire and remember: you don’t have to be a trust-fund baby or a brainiac or a super charismatic magnetic personality to succeed wildly. You might just need grit.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Atomic Number 4 Element Facts

Atomic Number 4 Element Facts Beryllium is the element that is atomic number 4 on the periodic table. It is the first alkaline earth metal, located at the top of the second column or group of the periodic table. Fast Facts: Atomic Number 4 Element Name: BerylliumElement Symbol: BeAtomic Number: 4Atomic Weight: 9.012Classification: Alkaline Earth MetalPhase: Solid MetalAppearance: White-Gray MetallicDiscovered By:  Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1798) Element Facts for Atomic Number 4 The element with atomic number 4 is beryllium, which means each atom of beryllium has 4 protons. A stable atom would have 4 neutrons and 4 electrons. Varying the number of neutrons changes the isotope of beryllium, while varying the number of electrons can make beryllium ions.The symbol for atomic number 4 is Be.Element atomic number 4 was discovered by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin, who also discovered the element chromium. Vauquelin recognized the element in emeralds in 1797.Beryllium is an element found in beryl gemstones, which include emerald, aquamarine, and morganite. The element name comes from the gemstone, as Vauquelin used beryl as the source material when purifying the element.At one time the element was called glucine and had the element symbol Gl, to reflect the sweet taste of the elements salts. Although the element tastes sweet, it is toxic, so you shouldnt eat it! Inhalation beryllium can cause lung cancer. There is no cure for beryllium disease. Interestingly, not everyon e who is exposed to beryllium has a reaction to it. There is a genetic risk factor that causes susceptible individuals to have an allergic inflammatory response to beryllium ions. Beryllium is a lead-gray metal. It is stiff, hard, and nonmagnetic. Its modulus of elasticity is about a third higher than that of steel.Element atomic number 4 is one of the lightest metals. It has the one of the highest melting points of the light metals. It has exceptional thermal conductivity. Beryllium resists oxidation in air and also resists concentrated nitric acid.Beryllium is not found in pure form in nature, but in combination with other elements. It is relatively rare in the Earths crust, found at an abundance of 2 to 6 parts per million. Trace amounts of beryllium are found in seawater and air, with slightly higher levels in freshwater streams.One use of element atomic number 4 is in the production f beryllium copper. This is copper with the addition of a small amount of beryllium, which makes the alloy  six times stronger than it would be as a pure element.Beryllium is used in x-ray tubes because its low atomic weight means it has a low absorption of x-rays.The elemen t is the main ingredient used to make the mirror for NASAs James Webb Space Telescope. Beryllium is an element of military interest, since beryllium foil may be used in the production of nuclear weapons. Beryllium is used in cell phones, cameras, analytical lab equipment, and in the fine-tuning knobs of radios, radar equipment, thermostats, and lasers. It is a p-type dopant in semiconductors, which makes the element critically important for electronics. Beryllium oxide is an excellent thermal conductor and electrical insulator. The elements rigidity and low weight make it ideal for speaker drivers. However, expense and toxicity limits its use to high-end speaker systems.Element number 4 is produced by three countries at present: the United States, China, and Kazakhstan. Russia is returning to beryllium production after a 20-year break. Extracting the element from its ore is difficult because of how readily it reacts with oxygen. Usually, beryllium is obtained from beryl. Beryl is sintered by heating it with sodium fluorosilicate and soda. The sodium fluoroberyllate from sintering is reacted with sodium hydroxide to form beryllium hydroxide  Beryllium hydroxide is converted to beryl lium fluoride or beryllium chloride, from which beryllium metal is obtained by electrolysis. In addition to the sintering method, a melt method may be used to produce beryllium hydroxide. Sources Haynes, William M., ed. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 14.48.  Meija, J.; et al. (2016). Atomic weights of the elements 2013 (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry. 88 (3): 265–91.Weast, Robert (1984).  CRC, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Boca Raton, Florida: Chemical Rubber Company Publishing. pp.  E110.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Statement Example Then my destiny played its part. The news that Hawaii School of Pharmacy was not approved for accreditation by ACPE shocked me and soon the school was ordered to down the shutters. I returned home, finding it extremely difficult to absorb this shock. I felt as if someone has cut and threw the growing sapling of my career. But soon I overcame my depression and decided to make a fight out of it. I was determined to be a pharmacist come what may! My sister’s ideal was always a source of encouragement to me. She was a pharmacist at the famous teaching hospital in Los Angeles and I was fascinated about career as a pharmacist. I list out some points in support of my decision to shape as a pharmacist. I have the natural instinct to learn about life sciences and the greatest joy in this career is the practical application of the theories that I have learnt and helping the sick patients gives me great satisfaction. A career in pharmacy involves lots of interaction with other health care professionals and I can learn something new. Interaction with the patients goes to improve my practical knowledge about sickness and the remedial measures. Involvement in the healthcare needs of the sick and the poor people is the ultimate goal of my life. Devotion to the people, I consider, is devotion to the Supreme Self. To help the sick is the greatest act of merit according to me. A series of positive developments began to take shape in my life. In 2005, I attended classes at community centers and toiled hard to get good grades. I resumed work on honorary basis as a pharmacy assistant at Kindred Hospital. I gained valuable experience as for paperwork, assisting and organizing patients’ files, observed how pharmacists interact with doctors, nurses and technicians and mastered what professionalism is all about. In the summer of 2006, I passed the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Board (PTCB) exam and then worked as a pharmacy

Friday, November 1, 2019

Equity Valuation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Equity Valuation - Essay Example Through equity valuation, shareholders of the firm decide whether to hold, buy or sell the firm’s stock. The long term risk of holding the share is also reflected in the valuation analysis i.e. upside and downside margin. Such critical analysis of firm’s equity leads to better financial performance evaluation and finding the growth prospects of a firm. The project has taken British Telecommunication’s financial statements into consideration in explaining the various processes of equity valuation. The telecom industry in UK is one of the largest in Europe that is characterised by the rising competition in broadcast, mobile communication and broadband segment. It has witnessed significant growth in the mobile communication and broadband market and it is above the European average growth rate. The digital TV penetration has risen to 90% of UK population. The operational capacity has also witnessed significant growth owing to the investments made by Virgin media, Next generation networks and British telecom. The major players in the industry are COLT telecom, BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Kcom and O2. The UK market is divided between two kinds of players’ mobile carriers and fixed line. Key players in the mobile carriers market are O2, Vodafone and Hutchison and BT dominates the fixed line carriers. British Telecom is a UK based telecom company that caters to more than 17 million customers in UK and more than 160 countries worldwide. Its main service divisions are digital TV, broadband and mobile communication. It was earlier a subsidiary of the General post office but in 1984, it was privatised and became British Telecommunication Plc. More than 50% of its shares have been sold to investors and further divestment was made in 1993. BT Plc in the current fiscal have plans to takeover EE Ltd for an amount of  £12.1 billion (BT Group Plc, 2014a). The stock valuation

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Democratization efforts in the Gulf Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Democratization efforts in the Gulf - Essay Example However, more still needs to be done to ensure that the democratization process is effective. There is a need to establish reforms in the judiciary and allowing the civil society to perform their oversight duties. The limits of educational policy as an engine of social change and economic uplifting can be discussed from a number of perspectives. The Middle East education is inherently based on the religious teachings of Islam2. Anything contrary to this form of education is disregarded. The Middle East does not have educational policies that bring about social change in the region. Education is centred on religion, and this, hinders other tenets of education to be wished away as they are regarded as tools that undermine the Islamic faith3. It is important to note that certain elements of the education system in the Middle East are relevant to the needs of the people only to some

Monday, October 28, 2019

RJR Nabisco Case Study Essay Example for Free

RJR Nabisco Case Study Essay Executive Summary The RJR Nabisco case study was used to implement concepts that I have learned in class during the semester and apply it to the real world. The Nabisco case allowed me to develop my skills by using an Excel Worksheet, understanding how to calculate the fair value price per share, and determining the fair value price per share by changing the tax rate and growth rate. First, I was expected to construct an Excel Worksheet. Using the given data and analyzing the case, I was able to find all of the fixed variables needed in the Excel Worksheet. Using these fixed variables, I was able to use my prior skills in Excel to construct equations to find the dependent variables, such as the fair value price per share. This case also helped me develop my skills in calculating the fair value price per share. Using the different variables given in this case, I was able to use equations to find the best estimate for the fair value price per share of RJR Nabisco. The third benefit I gained from this assignment was how the tax rate and growth rate affected the fair value price per share. Using the previous data and the reusable Excel Sheet, I was able to find the changes in the fair value price per share due to changes in the tax and growth rate. Overall, the RJR Nabisco case helped me develop my skills in using Excel Worksheets. It also let me apply what I have learned in class about calculating the fair value price per share, and allowed me to experience it in a more realistic setting. I was also able to see how changes in the tax rate and growth rate affect the fair value price per share. 1. Construct a reusable Excel sheet that computes the fair value per share using the information given in the case. Please make sure that your Excel sheet can closely approximate the value per share given in the case (~$108). I was able to construct an Excel Worksheet (see page 5) that was able to use the information given in the RJR Nabisco Case Study. I was able to make it using different variables that would allow me to change the tax rate and  growth rate to get the next two answers. 2. In your Excel sheet, change the input cell for tax rate to 15%. What is the new fair value per share? By changing the tax rate to 15%, it causes the price per share to increase to $123.19 3. Change the tax rate back to 34% and this time change the perpetual growth rate to 5%. What is the new fair value per share? By changing the tax rate back to 34% and moving the growth rate up to 5%, it causes the price per share to increase to $125.14.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

African American Sentiments :: essays research papers

For those people who did not study the Civil War or doesn?ft know anything about the Civil War, there were many African Americans fighting too. Before the Civil War, the African Americans that were not freed by their landowners were treated poorly. Some left their family in the south and escaped to the north in hope to get more freedom and also to help bring an end to slavery. After the battle at Antietam, many African Americans were allowed to enroll in the war. Many of them wanted to fight for one single purpose and that was to bring an end to slavery. In the movie ?gGlory,?h the director focused on the African American in the north that fought in the 54th regiment led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. During the time of the Civil War, the African Americans that fought in the 54th regiment were often treated unfairly but there were always nice people that backed them up. In this essay, I?fm going to discuss the different sentiments towards the African American solders that dedicated th eir life to preserve the union and abandon slavery. During the Civil War, there were people who were extremely prejudiced against the 54th regiment because the soldiers were all different colored skin and the people where used to the idea that different color skinned people worked as slaves. In ?gGlory,?h Colonel Montgomery, Sargent Mocati (the Sargent that trained and prepared them for war) and the colonel that was in charge of distributing necessities, served as the people who discriminated the African American soldiers. When in training, Sargent remained strict towards the training of the African American soldiers even after his short talk with Robert about being too harsh on the soldiers and stuff. I think he was racist against the soldiers because if the solders were white, he probably wouldn?ft treat them the same way. When he was teaching the soldiers how to march, some of them couldn?ft tell the difference between left and right. He acted as if all African Americans were uneducated and they were hopeless to teach. Shoes were a n essential part of training. Many of the African American soldiers didn?ft even have decent shoes when they enrolled for the war. Naturally, after all the training, their shoes worn down. If the 54th regiment were composed of white soldiers, the department that pass out shoes would already prepare extra shoes for them.