Racism in the Bluest Eye - 752 Words

Racism in â€Å"The Bluest Eye† Several examples of racism are encompassed in The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Characters who are members of the black community are forced to accept their status as the â€Å"others†, or â€Å"outsiders†, which has been imposed on them by the white community. In turn, blacks assign this status to other individuals within the lighter-skinned black community. In this novel, characters begin to internalize the racism presented by these people, and feel inferior. The stereotype torments them mentally, and in some cases, to the point of insanity. The character most affected by racism is Pecola Breedlove. Pecola Breedlove’s character is defined by several different types of racism. It is present in her family, especially†¦show more content†¦Racism becomes one of the most critical themes in the novel and causes the most destruction. In The Bluest Eye, the reader can see how Toni Morrison demonstrates the effects of racism on the black community. In Pecola’s case, she is driven to the edge of insanity, where she longs to be a white person with beautiful blue eyes, and who lives in a world where racism does not exist. She longs for that world where nobody will hurt her anymore because she is not one of the â€Å"others†. White people did not have to deal with the same dilemmas as black people did, and could never understand the consequences of beingShow MoreRelatedRacism In The Bluest Eye Essay1730 Words   |  7 Pages Racism In The Bluest Eyes The Bluest Eye tells a tragic story of a young girl named Pecola who desperately wishes for beautiful blue eyes. Pecola believes that the only way she will ever be beautiful is if she has blue eyes. This story takes place in the 1970’s, a time where African Americans were second class citizens in society. They were often exploited and dehumanized because of the way they looked, and this will leave a long lasting effect. Americans would often think that the only wayRead MoreTheme Of Racism In The Bluest Eye924 Words   |  4 Pages Racism, a word once used sparingly, has today become a part of colloquial speech. Although racism is an epidemic, so is same-race discrimination. In the novel â€Å"The Bluest Eye,† written by Toni Morrison, this idea of same-race discrimination is given the limelight throughout. The novel focuses on the African American community within Lorain, Ohio and the complexities of physical beauty and social status that lean over its residents. A character emphasized for her entitlement and being one who practicesRead MoreRacism in The Bluest Eye Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesRacism in The Bluest Eye There is really nothing more to say--except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how. When bad things happen to us, the first thing we ask ourselves is why? Most of the time however, the answer to why is not readily available to us, and sometimes there is not an answer at all. Racism has been a concept which has existed from the beginning of human civilization. For some reason, the whites believed they were superiorRead MoreThe Bluest Eye Racism Analysis1336 Words   |  6 PagesIn The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison depicts racism all throughout the novel. Discrimination is very heavy in the 1940s, and the protagonist Pecola Breedlove experiences that. Pecola is a lower-class black girl who is constantly picked on for not only her looks, but her uncontrollable family situation. Maureen Peal is a new girl that arrives at Pecola’s school, and she is an upper-class, wealthy black girl. When Maureen goes out for ice cream with Pecola, Frieda, and Claudia, the girls talk about menstruationRead MoreRacism in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye Essay1955 Words   |  8 Pages Since childhood, we all have been taught that â€Å"racism is bad† and should be avoided at all costs. We have been told that â€Å"everyone is a child of God and we are all created equal.† In fact, Americans are praised for the so-called equality they possess. However, renowned author Toni Morrison sheds light on the sheltered and unspoken truth that everyone—to some extent—is racist. â€Å"Home† is a reflective essay in which Morrison explains that her triumphs against racist ideologies are evident throughoutRead MoreEssay about Racism and Sexism in the Bluest Eye1798 Words   |  8 PagesToni Morrison, the author of The Bluest Eye, centers her novel around two things: beauty and wealth in their relation to race and a brutal rape of a young girl by her father. Morrison explores and exposes these themes in relation to the underlying factors of black society: racism and sexism. Every character has a problem to deal with and it involves racism and/ or sexism. Whether the characters are the victim or the aggressor, they can do nothing about their problem or condition, especially when concerningRead MoreRacism And Sexism In Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye2105 Words   |  9 PagesHow does racism and sexism play a part in the novel, The Bluest Eye? Have you ever experienced or seen racism and/or sexism and you were not able to help make the situation better? Throughout the novel The Bluest Eye, the author, Toni Morrison takes us on a journey of an eleven-year-old girl named Pecola Breedlove whose love for blond hair and blue eyes affects how she perceives everyone around her. The novel takes place in Lorain, Ohio where Morrison grew up. Pecola wishes for blue eyes because sheRead MoreBluest Eye1268 Words   |  6 Pagesa black African could write a good book† (Satwase). In the Bluest Eye Toni Morrison uses wrong and discomfort to show the crushing consequences that come from racism. In 1950 America, racial discrimination was implied by different skin colors. The Bluest Eye shows ways in which white beauty standards hurt lives of black females, blacks that discriminate on each other and the community’s bias on who you were. Toni Morrison uses the racism of the 1950 s and shows that It is the blackness that accounts Read MoreAnalysis Of Tony Morrison s The Bluest Eye 1263 Words   |  6 Pages Pecola’s Eyes and Vision Tony Morrison is a famous, exciting, American writer, describes as a major figure of the entire African American nation within the American community. â€Å"The Bluest Eye† published in 1970, is one of the most impressive novels of the author describing the Great American Depression. The contexts and the structure of the story looks as if it was written for children. This realistic story describes the manner of life and reality of the African American, suffering form the pressureRead MoreAnalysis Of Tony Morrison s The Bluest Eye 1314 Words   |  6 PagesvvPecola’s Eyes and Vision Tony Morrison is a famous, exciting, American writer, describes as a major figure of the entire African American nation within the American community. â€Å"The Bluest Eye† published in 1970, is one of the most impressive novels of the author describing the Great American Depression. The contexts and the structure of the story looks as if it was written for children. This realistic story describes the manner of life and reality of the African American, suffering form the pressure

The Psychological Effect of Abortion on Women Free Essays

{draw:g} Natasha Joseph Ms. Powell College Writing 2 Thesis: The psychological effect of abortion on women? What is Abortion? The termination of an early pregnancy. Is it a health risk? Why do many have abortions? Pro-Life vs. We will write a custom essay sample on The Psychological Effect of Abortion on Women? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Pro-Choice When life does begin? Should abortion be illegal? How does abortion affect your health? Signs of complications after abortion Physically and Mentally The Psychological effect of Abortion on women. Conclusion What is Abortion? One of the most controversial issues in the United States is abortion. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy after twelve weeks of gestation (Wikipedia. com). Some miscarriage and stillbirths can be defined as accidental abortion. There are many different methods in having an abortion. Some induced abortions are performed using one of several methods. The safest and most useful and appropriate method is determined by the age of the fetus, or the length of pregnancy, which is calculated from the beginning of the pregnant woman’s last menstrual period. Most pregnancies last an average of 39 to 40 weeks, about 9 months. So abortions are performed in the first trimester of the pregnancy because it is easier and safer because the fetus is much smaller. When terminating a pregnancy they are often health risk such as breast cancer, Cervical or ovarian cancers and could cause labor complication later in life if you decide to have a child. The more abortion you have the more it increases the change of health problems. So before you have an abortion you should look at other choices like adoption. The majority of abortions are mostly due to the fact of teenage pregnancy. There are many reason people have abortions. Some of the reasons are they are unable to take care of a child financially, not ready to raise a child, have a abusive relationship with their partner and they don’t want to bring a child into the kind of atmosphere, have been a victim of rape and finally having a child would have serious health complication. Pro-life vs. Pro-choice Abortion has been a conflict between the pro-life and pro-choice movement. The question is when does life begins? Life begins at the conception when the egg is fertilized by the sperm. The pro-life moments considers undeveloped human life is sacred and must be protected by the government. They want abortion to illegal everywhere regardless of the circumstances. When groups of the pro-life and pro-choice debate on abortion they overlook the fact the many women who have abortion have no choice in the matter. There are many who have abortions just to do so but most have no other options available to them but to terminate a life that they may not want to. A lot of people are debating whether or not abortion should be illegal but who have the right to tell you what to do with your body. Many believe that abortion is murder no matter when a person believes life becomes official. There are many reasons abortion should be illegal including the descriptive and disturbing stories about how aborted babies sometime scream as they come out and the looks of pain on their faces. The health threat to the mother after going through with the procedure as well as the lifelong health risks that remain should be good enough reasons abortion should be illegal. With the rising healthcare costs and instance of disease greater than the medical ability to solve the problems, continued health remains important to all people. Self induced problems such as voluntary termination of pregnancy leads to complications for future pregnancies, reproductive disease, and depression. There many couples available for adopting these children by way of impotence by one or both people this is another option beside having an abortion How abortion does affect your life? Abortion is a life changing event for most women not just a medical procedure which can cause physical, spiritual and emotional consequences. When you get an abortion some risk are involved as with any operation. Some of the risk include heavy bleeding with is cause when the cervix is being torn or punctured after the operation. Any risk is an infection that is caused when some of the fetus is left inside of the womb and cause you to have a pelvic infection. Sometimes you can have an incomplete abortion where unwanted fetal parts left inside the uterus and this can lead to a hysterectomy which is the removal of the uterus. After abortion at least 50% of women are affected by breast cancer. Many women suffer with emotional and psychological problems after experiencing abortion. Some of these problems are depression; acute feeling of grief and fear of disclosure, eating disorders, suicide tendencies, anxiety and also increased consumption of alcohol and drugs. These are some of the risks involved in abortion. So think before you go for an abortion surgery. Avoid abortion, unless and until it is obligatory in terms of your health and you were a victim of abused. The psychological effect of abortion on women Most women feel some relief immediately after the abortion procedure, though there is often sadness as well. Natural hormonal changes related to pregnancy can cause a woman to feel more emotional than usual. Post-abortive women may experience a variety of feelings, including sadness, anger, regret, guilt, or even numbness. Women who have experienced abortion often report symptoms typical of depressive and anxiety disorders, such as sleeplessness, tearfulness, anxiety, hopelessness, irritability, and an inability to concentrate. These problems can be confounded by relationship difficulties that are often both a cause and effect of the abortion decision. The disorder of having negative effects after an abortion is called Post Abortion Syndrome or PAS. (Allied Action Inc. 996, 1). Although many women experience these problems for only a short period, many others have emotional difficulties for a long period after the abortion. These may manifest as clinical depression, an anxiety disorder, substance abuse, an eating disorder, or sexual difficulties. Women who already have problems such as these before an abortion may have a worsening of symptoms as a result of the abortion. Such difficultie s can last for months or even years. (Allied Action Inc. 1996, 1). Conclusion Many women have an abortion for different reasons. The majority of abortions that occurs within the United States are that of Teenagers and single young adults. Abortion is one of the most controversy topics today in Society and Politics. Abortion is a women right to choose what is best for her. Although at time I think there should be some restrictions on Abortions; whereas abortions should only be given to women in serious cases such as if your health is at risk or you have been a victim of rape or any form of abuse. You should think seriously before you have an abortion because it is a life altering decision. Works Cited Hutchison. â€Å"A Feminist Approach to Post-Abortion Counseling†. Herizons, June 1997: 23-24 Reardon, David c. Abortion Risks and Complications, (1997), 2000 Elliot Institute. Retrieved July 28, 2009. http://www. afterabortion. org/physica. html Stacey, Dawn, Abortion Procedures, (July 09, 2009) Retrieved July 28, 2009. http://contraception. about. com/od/contraceptionfailure/a/aboutabortion_2. htm Allied Action Inc. Post Abortion Syndrone, 1996 The National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing Impact of Abortion on the Family; IRLF Newsletter, 1993 How to cite The Psychological Effect of Abortion on Women?, Papers

Debut Albums and Great Friend free essay sample

The person Im close to the most is my friend. Her name is Thong. We have known each other since I was in grade 7. To me, she is really special girl. Not only does she has a good appearance, she also has a good personality. She is cute and pretty. She has long black hair, a round face and a straight nose. Especially, she has a charming smile with two dimples, which made a strong impression on me at the first time I met her. However, the thing that makes everybody like her the most is her personality. She is very modest.Shes one of the best pupil in my class. Shes good at every subject, but she never showed pride in her abilities and always tried to learn harder. Besides, shes always ready to help her friends in their study. Thats why many people in my class cherished her. We will write a custom essay sample on Debut Albums and Great Friend or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Furthermore, she is very warm-hearted, friendly and sociable. She likes to make friend with everybody and takes part in the society organizes. As a matter of fact, she became a student of the medical university now. Moreover, to me, she is a great friend who always knows how to take care and share.Whenever Im sad or cheerful, happy or In sorrow, shes always next to me to share with me. Sometimes, I get into trouble, which makes me tired ,worried and discouraged, she is always willing to come beside me, help me calm down, give me helpful advice so that I can come over. Not only that, she Is very reliable, I can share her my secrets without a bit worries. She Is really a person who always listens to me, understands me every time and every where. Thats why she became my close friend. I always feel proud because of having a great friend likes her on my side.

The Changing Economic Models of Chaebol Capitalism free essay sample

Examines the Korean economic situation during the 1997 crisis. Reviews the development of chaebol system, its decision making process, links between chaebols banks. Assesses the outlook for the future. The Changing Economic Models of Chaebol Capitalism Introduction and Problem Statement In late November, 1997, yet another horde of invaders landed on the Korean soil, this time wearing three-piece suits and carrying briefcases. These invaders were a large group of numbers crunchers from the International Monetary Fund and their target was the infusion of up to $55 billion in IMF funds to the ravaged Korean economy. Richard Lacayo, in the December 3, 1997 issue of Time Magazine points out: Just a few weeks before they arrived, Seoul had been calling the idea of an IMF rescue unthinkable. Now the unthinkable is fully under way, and the funds inspectors have become supervisors of the worlds 11th largest economy (Lacayo, 1997, 37). The real target of the IMF..

Free Essays on ANALYSIS OF THE KEY MARKETING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE UK NEWSPAPER MARKET

CONTENTS TERMS OF REFERENCE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.1 PROCEDURE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 FINDING†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...3 CONCLUSIONS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...4 RECOMMEDATIONS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 1. TERMS OF REFERNCE The news corporation the world’s leading publisher of English language newspapers. The news Corporation is singly run by Rupert Murdoch were it as several markets across the globe. The New Corporation would like an independent and objective analysis of their newspaper publishing interests in the UK. 2. PROCEDURE In order to ascertain the precise marketing environmental issues affecting the UK newspaper market I adopted the following procedures: 1) Analysis of the keys marketing environment issues using porter’s five forces 2) Analysis of the Newspapers competitive position: Analyse competitor’s market share to determine the relative power of each organisation in the newspaper market. 3) Environmental priorities – matrix 4) Recommendation 3. FINDINGS The competitive environment include those factors with which the organisation comes into closet contact, factors that have a rather clear and immediate impact on its success. The analytical framework which I’ll be using to analyse the competeitive environment is porter’s five forces which basically outline the COMPETITIVE RIVALRY, THREAT OF ENTRY, THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES, THE POWER OF BUYER, and THE POWER OF SUPPLIERS. The reason why I am using this analytical framework is to illustrate issues that are affecting the newspaper market, to enable the News Corporation to develop a ... Free Essays on ANALYSIS OF THE KEY MARKETING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE UK NEWSPAPER MARKET Free Essays on ANALYSIS OF THE KEY MARKETING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE UK NEWSPAPER MARKET CONTENTS TERMS OF REFERENCE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.1 PROCEDURE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 FINDING†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...3 CONCLUSIONS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...4 RECOMMEDATIONS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 1. TERMS OF REFERNCE The news corporation the world’s leading publisher of English language newspapers. The news Corporation is singly run by Rupert Murdoch were it as several markets across the globe. The New Corporation would like an independent and objective analysis of their newspaper publishing interests in the UK. 2. PROCEDURE In order to ascertain the precise marketing environmental issues affecting the UK newspaper market I adopted the following procedures: 1) Analysis of the keys marketing environment issues using porter’s five forces 2) Analysis of the Newspapers competitive position: Analyse competitor’s market share to determine the relative power of each organisation in the newspaper market. 3) Environmental priorities – matrix 4) Recommendation 3. FINDINGS The competitive environment include those factors with which the organisation comes into closet contact, factors that have a rather clear and immediate impact on its success. The analytical framework which I’ll be using to analyse the competeitive environment is porter’s five forces which basically outline the COMPETITIVE RIVALRY, THREAT OF ENTRY, THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES, THE POWER OF BUYER, and THE POWER OF SUPPLIERS. The reason why I am using this analytical framework is to illustrate issues that are affecting the newspaper market, to enable the News Corporation to develop a ...

Palenque Aqueduct Systems - Ancient Maya Water Control

Palenque Aqueduct Systems - Ancient Maya Water Control Palenque is a famous Classic Maya archaeological site located in the lush tropical forest at the foothills of the Chiapas highlands of Mexico. It is perhaps best known for the lovely architecture of its royal palace and temples, as well as for being the site of the tomb of Palenques most important ruler, king Pakal the Great (ruled A.D. 615-683), discovered in 1952 by the Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Luhillier. A casual visitor at Palenque today always notices the rushing mountain stream nearby, but that is just a hint that Palenque has one of the best preserved and sophisticated systems of underground water control in the Maya region. Palenque Aqueducts Palenque is located on a narrow limestone shelf about 150 meters (500 feet) above the plains of Tabasco. The high escarpment was an excellent defensive position, important in Classic times when warfare was increasingly frequent; but it also a place with many natural springs. Nine separate watercourses arising from 56 recorded mountain springs bring water into the city. Palenque is called the land where the waters flow out of the mountains in the Popol Vuh, and the presence of constant water even in times of drought was very attractive to its residents. However, with so many streams within a limited shelf area, there isnt a lot of space to put houses and temples. And, according to the archaeologist A.P. Maudsley who worked at Palenque between 1889-1902 when the aqueducts had long since stopped functioning, the water level rose and flooded the plaza and residential areas even in the dry season. So, during the Classic period, the Maya responded to the conditions by constructing a unique water control system, channeling the water beneath plazas, thereby reducing floods and erosion, and increasing living space all at the same time. Palenques Water Control The water control system at Palenque includes aqueducts, bridges, dams, drains, walled channels, and pools; much of it recently discovered as a result of three years of intensive archaeological survey called the Palenque Mapping Project, led by American archaeologist Edwin Barnhart. Although water control was a characteristic of most Maya sites, Palenques system is unique: other Maya sites worked to keep water stored during the dry season; Palenque worked to harness the water by constructing elaborate subterranean aqueducts that guided the stream beneath the plaza floors. The Palace Aqueduct Todays visitor entering the archaeological area of Palenque from its north side is guided on a path that leads her from the main entrance to the central plaza, the heart of this Classic Maya site. The main aqueduct built by the Maya to channel the water of the Otulum River runs through this plaza and a length of it has been exposed, a result of the collapse of its vault. A visitor walking down from the Cross Group, on the hilly southeastern side of the plaza, and toward the Palace, will have the opportunity to admire the stonework of the aqueducts walled channel and, especially during the rainy season, to experience the roaring sound of the river flowing under her feet. Variances in building materials made researchers count at least four construction phases, with the earliest one probably contemporaneous to the construction of the Pakals Royal Palace. A Fountain at Palenque? Archaeologist Kirk French and colleagues (2010) have recorded evidence that the Maya not only knew about water control, they knew all about creating and controlling water pressure, the first evidence of prehispanic knowledge of this science. The spring-fed Piedras Bolas aqueduct has a subterranean channel of about 66 m (216 ft) in length. For most of that length, the channel measures 1.2x.8 m (4x2.6 ft) in cross-section, and it follows a topographic slope of about 5:100. Where the Piedras Bolas meets the plateau, there is an abrupt decrease in channel size to a much smaller section (20x20 cm or 7.8x7.8 in) and that pinched-in section runs for about 2 m (6.5 ft) before it reemerges in an adjacent channel. Assuming the channel was plastered when it was in use, even relatively small discharges could maintain a quite significant hydraulic head of nearly 6 m (3.25 ft). French and colleagues suggest that manufactured increase in water pressure may have had a number of different purposes, including maintaining a water supply during drought, but it is possible that there may well have been a fountain springing upward and outward in a display in Pakals city. Water Symbolism at Palenque The Otulum  River that runs from the hills south of the plaza was not only carefully managed by the ancient inhabitants of Palenque, but it was also part of the sacred symbolism used by the city rulers. The spring of the Otulum is in fact next to a temple whose inscriptions talk about rituals associated with this water source. The ancient Maya name of Palenque, known from many inscriptions, is Lakam-h which means great water. It is not a coincidence, then, that so much effort was put by its rulers in connecting their power to the sacred value of this natural resource. Before leaving the plaza and continuing toward the eastern portion of the site, the attention of the visitors is attracted to another element that symbolizes the ritual importance of the river. A huge carved stone with the image of an alligator is posed on the eastern side at the end of the aqueducts walled channel. Researchers link this symbol to the Maya belief that caimans, along with other amphibian creatures, were guardians of the continuous flow of water. At high water, this caiman sculpture would have appeared to have floated on the top of the water, an effect that still is seen today when the water is high. Fending Off Droughts Although American archaeologist Lisa Lucero has argued that a widespread drought may have caused great disruption at many Maya sites at the end of the 800s, French and colleagues think that when the drought came to Palenque, the below-ground aqueducts could have stored adequate amounts of water to keep the city sufficiently watered even during the severest droughts. After being channeled and running under the surface of the plaza, the water of the Otulum flows down the slope of the hill, forming cascades and beautiful water pools. One of the most famous of these spots is called The Queen Bath (Baà ±o de la Reina, in Spanish). Importance The Otulum aqueduct is not the only aqueduct in Palenque. At least other two sectors of the site have aqueducts and constructions related to water management. These are areas not open to the public and located almost 1 km away from the sites core. The history of the construction of the Otulums aqueduct in the main plaza of Palenque offers us a window into the functional and symbolic meaning of space for the ancient Maya. It also represents one of the most evocative places of this famous archaeological site. Sources Edited and updated by K. Kris Hirst French KD. 2007. Creating space through water management at the Classic Maya site of Palenque, Chiapas. In: Marken DB, editor. Palenque: Recent Investigations at the Classic Maya Center. Lanham, Massachusetts: Altamira Press. p 123-132.French KD, and Duffy CJ. 2010. Prehispanic water pressure: A New World first. Journal of Archaeological Science 37(5):1027-1032.French KD, Duffy CJ, and Bhatt G. 2012. The hydroarchaeological method: a case study at the Maya site of Palenque. Latin American Antiquity 23(1):29-50.French KD, Duffy CJ, and Bhatt G. 2013. The urban hydrology and hydraulic engineering at the Classic Maya site of Palenque. Water History 5(1):43-69.Lucero LJ. 2002. The collapse of the Classic Maya: A case for the role of water control. American Anthropologist 104(3):814-826.Lucero LJ, and Fash BW. 2006. Precolumbian Water Management. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson.

Choose a good topic for this paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Choose a good topic for this paper - Essay Example Quite rightly so, in order to find out how something is morally right or wrong, the need is to know where the line has to be drawn because then only can the distinctions be made between the right and wrong steps. If actions and undertakings bring in a positive aspect to the fore where there is no problem for the people concerned with it, then there is understanding available. This optimism shall suggest for further usage of ethics in a quantifiable manner. However, it is important to know that the flip side is equally fatal. The unethical means are also significant to draw and gain something from (Shafer-Landau, 2012). What this will do is to inform everyone how things shall shape up and how sanity needs to be restored. As a parent, this seems like a difficult process all along, yet the basis for comprehension is there for one and all to see. This oxymoron is apparent because ethics seem to differ from person to person. There are some individuals who believe that ethics is all about doing ‘good’ for one’s own self but not for others. This is a flawed mindset which has drastic results in the end, and more so for the societal regimes. Ethics when taught to the young ones should always be in such a manner that there are more positive undertakings for everyone irrespective of his position within the society. It needs to comprise of the collective goodwill of the society to bring forward seriously positive results. Essentially speaking and focused more towards the junior-high age youngsters, teaching ethics to them is a difficult process as they might have readymade alternatives for them. With so much negativity being highlighted by the media and the different domains of the society, the children can only be confused rather than getting corrected. In the end, it would be justifiable to say that there is a dire need on the part of the parents and teachers to enact ways and means to bring correction which is long-lasting and has a positive

Ethics in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethics in Business - Essay Example Darren had a meeting with his boss Sam Freeman’s client, Fredrick Stigler, the owner of different art galleries. He wanted Darren to convince the people of the Puna tribe to weave baskets for them in new and different patterns. They patterns which the Puna tribe was weaving were by being followed by them for the last couple of years. That is not only their art but also a reflection of their culture and historical events. Keeping in mind the relevant facts related to the situation and business ethics we can understand the psychological chaos faced by Darren. As Darren had developed affection with Puna tribe it was difficult for him to take any brutal decision which was not in their favor. Darren had graduated in anthropology which was another reason for his growing attachment to this cultural and historical tribe. He knew that most downfalls of society and communities would be because the societies would weaken themselves. He knew that if he only thought about the business and profits then it would be brutal and an unethical decision for Puna tribes as they might incur losses. Darren also knew that in this big contract of Fredrick Stigler the tribe would earn a lot of money but it wouldn’t do any good to their cultural values. If they would weave the baskets according to Fredrick Stigler’s demand, it would be difficult for them to follow the new patterns as the baskets they make now are the patterns that they have been following for the past many years. Keeping in mind the ethical issues in the world of business dealing, and being a dealer in this contract itself, Darren has to communicate between two parties, which are Fredrick Stigler and the Puna tribe. He has to negotiate with both parties and has to take a decision which is good and ethical for both. In corporate world business ethics is about being fair and even handed in the deals. The business is about the profit and making great deals. But when ethics and aesthetics both

Intuition and Decision-Making Essay Example for Free

Intuition and Decision-Making Essay This paper basically talks about intuition and leadership and takes into account the intuitive decision making that the leaders take into account while making decisions where adequate knowledge is not available or where there are time constraints. There are a lot of arguments regarding this intuitive decision making by leaders where some people argue that it should not be like that as they may turn out to be wrong and others hold to the fact that at times intuitions lead to the right decision as leaders have this ability to analyze all the available information and make the decision on it along with using their past experience and expertise. The paper will first start by defining what actually intuition is and what makes leaders to promote or prevent decision making using intuitions. Then the paper will take a leaders point of view regarding decision making and how they bring in account all the available information to come up with a decision. In the end, the report will compare decisions made on intuitions with the decisions made upon logical reasoning in order to give a better knowledge to the readers regarding the two concepts and terminologies. Defining Intuition Starting with the report, we all know what decision making is, however, it will be helpful for us to know what exactly intuitions are on which leaders tend to make their decisions on. Intuitions are basically the ability of a person to actually judge or perceive an appropriate outcome without using reasoning and adequate information for that. The word is actually derived from a Latin word that means to â€Å"look inside† and that is exactly what we are talking about in this report. While using intuitions, leaders are able to look into the matters, problems or situations without even making an effort to gather or probe into the matter or its complexities (Aqor, 1986). With intuition, leaders actually tend to break into the thickness of the surface reality through their gutt-feeling, a feeling from inside that may be based on their past experience, a fear based interpretation or the actual leadership quality in their personality. What promotes or prevent leaders from using intuitions Moving on, as we have realized that intuitions are feelings, emotions or responses that are based on your own abilities, thus, it is not always true that they are right, they can also be wrong. A leader may be good in doing so in a lot number of instances but still, he is not sure whether his next intuitive decision will actually lead to the same positive results. Every important matter has its own requirements to mitigate risks and probing into complexities, thus for that purpose leaders do need appropriate information in order to come up with their decisions. However, many leaders fear this because of the fact that there personal bias in shape of their previous good or bad experience to a similar problem can actually influence their decision to a great extent. This personal bias or personal judgment that we are talking about is basically based on personal abilities or past experiences and has very less to do with analyzing the current information that is available (Williams, 2001). Thus, leaders do fear with their intuitive decision making that it can actually make them make a wrong decision. On the other hand, there are instances, where leaders have to take charge of the matter and make decisions on just a small amount of information or at times no information. These are situations where there time and resource constraints and decisions have to be taken. There, the best thing a leader can do to save time and resources in gathering all the relevant information and risk factors is to use intuitive decision making approach. A leader is a qualified team member who is chosen because of his ability to look at things with a broader and a next level thought process, thus team members also tend to conform with their this ability and promote them to take such decision. An example of such decisions can be taken as sales predictions after a natural calamity or a sudden fall in the stock market. Although, the demand would fall due to these circumstances, but it might be the other way round for a leader who is looking at the matter with a different approach using his intuitive decision making ability. Role of decision-making to a leader’s position Moreover, a leader is the person who is actually held responsible for all the actions of his team. His team basically conforms to his decisions and relies on his orders and directions because they also accept him as more capable in decision making and his abilities to solve problems and handle situations. Thus, with all this responsibility, a leader has to make sure that his decisions are correct and the best interest of the project and the team he is looking after. Any false decision can cost him and his team a failure of project. When we talk in management terms, we see that one thing that is always argued is the fact that decisions made upon inadequate information are mostly wrong. However, when we look into the practical world of leaders, can we say that leaders always have the right amount of information at the right time and at the right place? Obviously not is the answer to this question because of the fact that if all information would have been made available to the team, then there was no need of a leader to make decisions. In that case just a checker or manager would have done the job of a leader (Aqor, 1986). But, when we look at the decision making role of a leader, he has to make a large number of decisions everyday for which he might not have all the information and which won’t allow him much time to think upon them otherwise he will have to compromise all other important things that he and his team has to complete. A leader, as we have already discussed is chosen because of his special abilities, and this intuitive decision making skills is a part of them. Although on the surface we might say that while intuitively making decisions, a leader does not takes into account all the information, but he is actually thinking with a different angle and approach using his abilities that other team members cannot(Bealer,1998). Difference between decisions made with logical reasoning and decisions made with intuition In the last part of this report we will now discuss the difference between logical decision making and intuitive decision making. Logical decision making involves a high level of reasoning and data that is analyzed in order to come up with a decision. this approach is mostly advocated by most of the critics because of the fact that through this type of decision making, a leader tends to take into account and mitigate a large number of threats and risks which he might not through intuitive decision making. However, this type of a decision making approach may require more time and resources to come up with the decision (Williams, 2001). Also these decisions are mostly based on the theoretical knowledge and proven facts. For example, as we have seen in a number of stock markets that when people with logical reasoning were un-holding their stocks with losses, there were some others as well who were actually earning by using their intuitive knowledge. On the other hand, as we have discussed above that while making intuitive decisions, a leader might not take much time to make those decisions as they are usually made in circumstances where there are time constraints. Moreover, a leader uses his abilities to reconcile his past experiences and trends to come up with the decision rather than core number, figures and theoretical knowledge only.  Another major difference between the two is that both the types of decisions can actually go in the opposite directions as well as we have already discussed above in the stock market example(Giannini Rhodes,1978). Conclusion Thus, the report will conclude the discussion with an argument that no one can actually say whether intuitive decision making is good or bad. It all depends on the situation. Yes, it is true that when there is adequate time and resources, the leader should also take into account the other approaches as well but in constraints of time, a leader may take these decisions depending on his abilities. Also we cannot also say which one of the two types of decision making is good or bad for the project because it again depends on the situation that the organization is in. however, as we know that intuitive decision making involves personal bias of leaders as well and may also reflect their personality traits such as risk taker or risk averse, it is recommended that whenever possible, a leader should take into account the logical reasoning approach and compare it with his intuitive perspective before taking any decision as it might make him realize a number of risks that he may have ignored in the first thought.

The Coral Ecosystem And How It Is Changing :: essays research papers

Coral reefs are one of nature’s most magnificent creations, filled with thousands of unique and valuable plants and animals. More than one quarter of all marine animals is dependent on coral reefs. Coral reefs are also a source of food and income for millions of people too. The coral reef ecosystems benefit humans commercially, recreationally and environmentally. Because of the complex interconnections between coral reefs, mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and many other different plants and animals, coral is very susceptible to destruction. One small change in any of these things can affect mass quantities of coral. That is why it is important to educate people about coral and how complex of a species they really are. That is the purpose of this report, to educate you and make you aware of that complexity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Coral is often mistakenly identified as a rock, but in all actuality, it is an animal. The actual coral is composed of small animals called coral polyps. Most polyps are very small, although rare species can grow quite large. One coral branch or mound is composed of thousands of polyps. These thousands of polyps are called a coral colony. Polyps are nocturnal and stay inside their skeletons during the day. However, at night they can be seen when they stick their tentacles out to feed. Corals reproduce in many different ways. Some species are hermaphrodites, and produce both sperm and eggs, and some are single sexed organisms. They can reproduce both sexually or asexually. In most species, the egg and sperm are released into the water and random fertilization occurs. This is called coral spawning. The larva is attracted to the light and swims to the surface of the water where it remains for weeks. If the larva can survive without being eaten by predators, it will sink back to the bottom of the ocean floor. Hear it will attach itself to a hard substrate and will grow into a coral polyp. At this point, the coral polyp begins to reproduce asexually. As new polyps are built and added a colony develops. Eventually the coral colony matures and begins to reproduce sexually again, adding to the ever-continual cycle of life. One of the most amazing aspects of coral reproduction is that of mass coral spawning. In many parts of the world, on the same night of the year, every coral will spawn at the same time.

Educators and Philosophies of Education Essay

Thinkers of the ancient time are examples of treasures of the world that do not perish. Those philosophers who contribute to the every day living of each human being whether they are believers of Christianity or not, are really a pride of their eras since there are always events that apply the principles and theories they have established in their existence. There are many who prefer to live by the sayings and examples they have set, since people believe that they can have an easy life with these famous beliefs. In philosophy, it is not that easy to let someone believe what you say. It is an art to deliver them with integrity and compassion. Being someone of principles is something that is a bit difficult to achieve since we are humans who can break the rules that are set by the society or even by ourselves. There are many factors that should really be considered before we give something to others. Educators in turn shoulder this duty by disseminating the information to their pupils. I think, it is possible to teach these concepts if they have spent time thinking of the real meaning of each passage they will let their students learn. Of course, their purpose in standing in front of their students is to inculcate in them the knowledge and wisdom they opt to have depending on their ages, since learning also depends on the age and life experiences a person has. The art of teaching them with a purpose can be done if they will device an activity that they could insert the concept, say the concept of Socrates about materialism or so. It is an effective way of learning that someone enjoys what he/she is doing. In that way, the student can give at least sometime reflecting on the concepts they have heard or learned from the activity. Learning should be fun and should not be regarded as a burden since people live with the principles (that will serve as their foundations) they get from their childhood.

Similarities That the Friday the 13th and Halloween Movie

This essay will focus on the similarities that the Friday the 13th and Halloween franchises share. First, I will compare the movies and the years they came out. Second, I will touch on the characters and the actors who played them. Third, I will compare the revenue of both franchises. And Finally, I will critique both of the franchises, and hopefully something will be learned about these popular culture and cult horror icons. The Friday the 13th series consists of eleven brutal slasher films; the first one simply titled Friday the 13th( 1980), Friday the 13th part 2(1981), Friday the 13th part 3(1982), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter(1984) in 3D,Friday the 13th: A new Beginning(1985), Friday the 13th part 6: Jason Lives(1986), Friday the 13th part 7: A New Blood(1988), Friday the 13th part 8:Jason Takes Manhattan(1989), Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday(1993), Jason X(2002), Freddy vs. Jason(2003), Friday the 13th(2009). The Halloween series started out two years prior to the Friday the 13th series, and has ten films; Halloween(1978), Halloween 2(1981), Halloween: Season of the Witch(1982), Halloween 4:The Return of Michael Myers(1988), Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers(1989), Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers(1993), Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later(1998), Halloween Resurrection(2003), Halloween(2007), and Halloween 2(2009). On seven occasions both franchises put out a movie the same years (1981, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2003, and 2009). Both franchises did relatively well at the box office and over all revenue. Both of the franchises have a slasher character that has stood the tests of time. The Villain in the Halloween movies is a druid cursed psychotic killer named Michael Myers who has 94 confirmed kills. Jason Vorhees is the undead hockey masked being in the Friday the 13th movie series. He holds the record for confirmed kills in the movies with an outstanding amount of 141. Both characters wear a work suit and a mask. Jason Vorhees started out with a pillow case in part 2, and then he found a hockey mask in part 3 which solidified his character. Michael Myers started the killings wearing a William Shatner prototype mask he got from the Halloween store. Both franchises included reoccurring characters played by the same actors. Donald Pleasence was in five of the original six Halloween films, and really did well with his character Doctor Samuel Loomis. Donald Pleasence in fact died in the middle of filming Halloween part 6, and they had to alter the outcome of the movie. I was a fan of Donald Pleasence due to the Halloween movies, and even his black and white films from the fifties and sixties. Kane Hodder played Jason Vorhees in four of the Friday the 13th films (IMDbPRO, 2010). Jaime Lee Curtis played the character name Laurie Strode who was Michael Myers niece, which was not good for her, because he wanted to kill her. The Friday the 13th and Halloween franchises are both in the top five highest grossing horror films of all time; Friday the 13th being number one, and Halloween being number four. The total box office revenue for the Friday the 13th series is $465,239,523, and Halloweens total box office revenue is $366,893,444 (IGN, 2006). Both of the franchises also do well with merchandise sales as well. There is an extended amount of products each franchise has to offer including; masks, costumes, DVDs, t-shirts, video games, toys, dolls, comic books, novels, and bobble heads. The Jason Goes to Hell toy in the Mcfarlane toys Movie Maniacs Collection is a top seller (IGN 2010). It seems that each franchise wants to keep striving; they both have new movies, masks, toys, and comic books coming out this year. Both of the franchises do a lot with their DVD marketing and sales; they have DVD box sets, VHS box sets, extra scenes, digitally re-mastered versions, blue ray, and more. I know this because I have some of that stuff, because I am a collector. I am an all around fan of slasher movies, so I already knew most of what I was going to include. I personally like the Halloween series a little bit better, due to the in depth character origins, and extra creative story lines. There is also a certain amount of creepiness I love about the Halloween films; they are still made very scary and original. I will not take anything away from the Friday the 13th franchise; I think it is almost as good. Friday the 13th is not as storyline oriented as Halloween, but makes up with that in sheer brutality. Friday the 13th placed number seven on IGNs top twenty five franchises of all time. â€Å"One of the most influential franchises of the 1980s† (IGN 2010). I discussed the similarities of the two franchises, in the amount of movies, the characters, and the revenues of both franchises. The Friday the 13th franchise has made a little bit more money than Halloween, but they are both worth watching on a Friday night in October.

Renal Cell Caricnoma essays

Renal Cell Caricnoma essays Renal Cell Carcinoma: Genetic Causes :: How does the Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome cause Renal Cell Carcinoma? In the course of researching information about Renal Cell Carcinoma, a cancer of the renal cells located in the kidney, the impact of Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome and other genetic defects resulting in the formation of Renal Carcinoma was quite interesting. A great risk factor in the diagnosis of Renal Cell Cancer and the initial tumour formation would be the family history of the disease, and/or a family history of the Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome, both of which are genetic defects that are passed down from generation to generation; analysis of this information would lead to the conclusion that genetic factors play an important role in the formation of the Renal tumours. Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome is a genetic birth defect that is passed down through heredity. In a person that suffers from the Syndrome, the Von Hippel-Lindau Tumour Suppressor gene is deformed in certain cells, resulting in cells that turn into tumours more readily then normal cells. If a tumour does indeed form, the peripheral blood (or blood flowing alongside the tumour) will have a greater chance of picking up the deformed VHL gene. But how does the deformation of the VHL gene result in the formation of the tumour in the first place? The VHL gene mutation is a genetic disease found in 3 out of 100,000 people. Usually, carriers of this disease begin to form VHL-related tumours during ages 20-40. Some tumours that can be caused by the VHL defect are retinal blastoma, cerebellar blastoma, and, of course, renal cell carcinoma in the kidney. The VHL defect lies in the short arm of the 3rd chromosome; over 300 positions of the deformations have been reported worldwide, and some include entire deletions of the VHL gene from the chromosome. It has been discovered recently that the VHL protein that is transcripted f ...

Spanish Verbs for Trying

Spanish Verbs for Trying To try is one of those English verbs that will steer you down the wrong path if you try to translate it with just one Spanish verb. This lesson looks at the most common ways of expressing the idea of trying and related phrases such as to try to or to try out. Fast Facts Tratar de and intentar are are the most common ways of translating try when it means to attempt something.Esforzarse and phrases using esfuerzo can also be used to emphasize the effort given.When try refers to a testing or testing out, the preferred translation is usually probar. Trying as Attempting When try means attempt, it can usually be translated as tratar de or intentar followed by an infinitive. The two are roughly synonymous, although tratar de is more common. Note that intentar is a false friend to the English verb to intend - intentar involves an actual attempt, not a mere intent as the English verb does. Tratamos de hacer lo mejor para conseguir el objetivo. (We are trying to do what is best in order to reach the objective.)Trataron de resucitar al cantante durante ms de una hora en el hospital. (They tried to resuscitate the singer for more than an hour in the hospital.)Trataremos de resolver sus problemas. (We will try to resolve your problems.)Vamos a tratar de ganar el campeonato. (We are going to try to win the championship.)Intentamos resolver las dudas que puedan surgir. (We are trying to resolve the doubts that may arise.)Intentar es major que esperar. (Trying is better than waiting.)Me intentaron hacer un fraude. (They tried to commit a fraud against me.)Intento comprender la verdad. (I am trying to understand the truth.) Trying as Testing When to try means to test, as the phrase to try out often does, you can often use the verb probar: Probamos algo nuevo. (Were trying something new.)Los estudiantes probaron comidas de los diferentes paà ­ses. (The students tried meals of different countries.)Los terroristas probaban gases venenosos experimentando con perros. (The terrorists tried out poisonous gases by experimenting with dogs.)Me probà © la camisa y vi que estaba hecha exactamente a mi medida. (I tried on the shirt and saw that it was made exactly to my size.)Desde que probà © su consejo, mi vida cambià ³ para siempre. (Ever since I tried her advice, my life has been forever changed.)Pues, pruà ©balo y vers. (Here, try it out and youll see.)Voy a probar un nuevo truco de magia. (Im going to try a new magic trick.)Probà © suerte de nuevo y abrà ­ mi propio negocio. (I tried my luck again and opened my own business.) Trying as an Effort To try in the sense of put forth an effort can often be translated as esforzarse or a phrase such as hacer un esfuerzo por. Although intentar and tratar de can also indicate an effort, they put less emphasis on it than do esforzarse and phrases using esfuerzo. Sà © que puedes esforzarte ms. (I know you can try harder.)Me esfuerzo con toda intensidad por ser sincero. (Im trying as hard as I can to be honest.)Pero yo me esfuerzo todo lo que puedo. (Im trying to do everything I can.)Hago un esfuerzo por  apartar de mi mente lo ocurrido y concentrarme en mi trabajo. (Im trying to get my mind off of what happened and concentrate on my work.)Volvià ³ al sillà ³n e  hizo un esfuerzo por  relajarse.  (She returned to the rocking chair and tried to relax.)Es necesario hacer un esfuerzo. (It is necessary to try.) Legal Use of 'Try' To try in the sense of to put on trial can be expressed by procesar or juzgar: El juez procesà ³ ayer a ocho personas por el robo de armas de guerra. The judge yesterday tried eight people for the theft of military weapons.Juzgaron a los activistas de Greenpeace en Espaà ±a. The Greenpeace activists were tried in Spain. 'Try' as a Noun Try as a noun can often be translated well using intento: Haz de nuevo el intento. Give it another try. ¡Al menos hicieron  su mejor intento! At least they gave it their best try!Al menos resulta un intento divertido. (At least it was a fun try.)

Global Macroeconomic Imbalances as the cause of the crisis Essay

Global Macroeconomic Imbalances as the cause of the crisis - Essay Example This assignment seeks to present the various views of researchers with regards to the fact whether the micro-economic imbalance account for the main cause behind the crisis. The economic researchers have been increasingly involved in providing the basis and context for the occurring of the global financial crisis. Richard Portes have been particularly active in the media for his research on the origin as well as the implications of the recent credit crunch in the world economy. Richard has identified the main root and origin of the financial crisis as the world’s macro-economic imbalances which were responsible for bringing about huge inflow of capital across borders. This phenomenon was particularly overwhelming for the sophisticated financial systems present in the United States and the United Kingdom which was consequently responsible for the creation of asset price bubbles. This was also responsible for provoking ‘search for yield’ which with the support of th e credit rating agencies resulted in the creation of ‘toxic assets’ in the economy. Moreover during the break of the crisis coordination from the Central Bank was inadequate or not sufficient. This was considered to the main reason behind according to inference of Richard Roberts. He has also proposed a suitable solution to the problem as identified as above. His suggestion to the world economy was to deal with the macro-economic imbalances and also the remove the weaknesses of financial regulatory system. According to him the combined impact of the two solutions simultaneously would be the solution to the financial crisis (London Business School, 2008, p.1). Critical Assessment Following are some of the findings of the London Business School. The Russian Default occurring in August 1998 and the near death experience of LTCM was one of the main causes of imbalance in the financial markets. There were pervasive fears across the global economy during the month of Septembe r in the same year and by the beginning of October the US Treasury became liquid to a certain extent. This resulted in the fall in the dollar by about 15% in relation to the Yen in three

MEMO REPORT(WAGE NEGOTIATIONS Incident Decision) Assignment

MEMO REPORT(WAGE NEGOTIATIONS Incident Decision) - Assignment Example The union has made it clear that if their demands are not met the employees will go on strike. The firm should avoid the strike scenario under all consequences. The proposed solution avoids the risk of a work stoppage caused by a worker’s strike. The optimal solution for the company is to settle with the union in order to resolve the incident. The negotiator send to talk will admit that the employees deserve a raise. The negotiator will explain to the union representatives that the increase in production of the company came due to a variety of factors including better equipment, optimal use of technology, and mastering the learning curve. The human factor also contributed directly to the increment in production. The firm will open its books to show the union that the company cannot afford such a high increment in salary. The proposed solution is to offer the employees an increase of $400 per

Non profit organizations Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Non profit organizations - Article Example The main priority which is laid while performing the broad duties mostly reflects upon determining the interests of the law. Also, the duties that perform by high rank officers are framed in such a way that demonstrates legal forms of working behavior. However, the main concern in such type of organization is to generate a balanced working atmosphere. This particular aspect is developed through executing various principles related to corporate governance in non-profit organizations. The best feature about this sort of organization is that all the officers along with other employees perform their respective assigned tasks quite effectively. Also, the duties of officers in a non-profit organization are determined through following a broader framework which considers the basic objectives of such type of organizations. This way, the broad duties along with the responsibilities of all the members including the officers get prioritized in a formative manner (Twaits, 1998). This paper will broadly consider the major aspects pertaining to the broad duties of officers along with employees in non-profit organizations. In addition, the aspects will be critically analyzed, backed up with a proper review and a personal reflection of the concerned article. Review of the Item As per the studies undertaken by Andrew Twaits (1998), numerous researches and surveys have been conducted upon managing the non-profit organizations (NPOs) belonging to this modern day context. With increased level of globalization along with internationalization, NPOs have been viewed to support the community members in terms of serving their best interests effectively. It has been learned that NGOs can very well move in aligning with the needs of the society by a certain degree. With due analysis, it can be stated that the different activities of NPOs have been able to widen the expectation levels of shareholders in terms of fulfilling their respective desires. The management along with the operationa l activities that takes place in a NPO and the duties perform by the officers as well as the employees is often recognized to be quite broad. It can be apparently observed that the different tasks and the duties that are performed by the officers along with the employees deliver a high range of performance within the organizations. According to the article, it can be viewed that there exist two sorts of organization that mainly comprise ‘unincorporated association’ and ‘incorporated association’. These associations eventually lead towards governing along leading NPOs to attain their predetermined targets. In this regard, the term ‘unincorporated association’ signifies the meaning of a chamber, club, federation, society, council, league, institute, union or guild, which is fundamentally voluntary in nature. This form of association is viewed to serve the basic purpose or serving the interests of a group of people. The other form of association i .e. ‘incorporated association’ is regarded as a form of association which can be understood as a legal entity that possesses a perpetual succession and also a common seal. This form of association is considered to be highly recognizable in nature. This particular association is formed with the intent of considering all the legal attributes that are needed to be fulfilled while forming an ‘incorporated association’. Strong approval from the government is required for the formation of such

Review of the literature on risk management

Review of the literature on risk management This chapter reviews the literature on the risk management and corporate governance in the banking sector. Part of the literature also attempts to provide a relationship between the independence and financial knowledge of the board of directors and audit committee, and risk management practices by referring to both empirical and analytical research. 2.1 Risk Management in the banking sector When discussing the challenges faced by financial institutions in managing risk, it is important to have a consistent definition of the term risk. Risk can be defined as the volatility of a corporations market value. Risk management involves the protection of a firms assets and profits. Moreover, not only does it provide profitability but also other advantages like being in line with obedience function toward the rule, increasing the firms reputation and opportunity to attract more customers in building their portfolio of fund resources. Cebenoyan and Strahan (2004) suggest that [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the benefits of advances in risk management in banking may be greater credit availability, rather than reduced risk in the banking system (p.19). This means that banks will have a greater opportunity to increase their productive assets and profit. Only those banks that have efficient risk management system will survive in the market in the long run. They can follow a four-step routine to red uce their risk exposures and achieve their risk management objectives, as shown below. Figure 1-Steps for implementing risk management To properly manage risks, banks must firstly identify and classify the sources from which risk may arise at both transaction and portfolio levels. Risks inherent in lending activities include market risk, liquidity risk, credit risk and operational risk. Market risk is the risk resulting from adverse movements in the level of market prices of equities, currencies, interest rate instruments and commodities. Banks are always facing the risk of losses in on and off-balance-sheet positions arising from undesirable market movements. Banks are inherently vulnerable to liquidity risk due to their fundamental role of transforming of short-term deposits into long-term loans. The FSA has defined liquidity risk as: The risk that a firm, though solvent, either does not have sufficient financial resources available to enable it to meet its obligations as they fall due, or can secure them only at an excessive cost. Another risk that banks face is credit risk. It is the risk that can be incurred if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations in a timely manner. Loans are the most palpable source of credit risk in many of the banking systems; however, other sources of this risk originate through other activities of banks such as acceptances, trade financing, interbank transactions, financial futures, foreign exchange transactions, swaps, equities, options, bonds, and in the extension of commitments and guarantees, and the settlement of transactions. Operational risk, as its name suggests, is a risk arising from execution of a companys business functions. The Basel Committee has defined operational risk as: the risk of losses resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems, or external events, such as the failure of computer systems or error and fraud on the part of staff. Apart from those risks mentioned above, the Federal Reserve System has also recognised two other risks: legal risk and reputational risk. Legal risk is the risk of loss caused by sanctions or penalties originating from court disputes due to breach of contract and legal obligation. Another legal risk relates to regulatory risk, i.e., the risk of loss resulting from sanctions and penalties pronounced by a regulatory body. Reputational risk may be defined as the risk of loss caused by a negative impact on the market positioning of the bank. It can be seen as the blowing up of an initial loss, arising from credit, market, liquidity or operational risks. However, banks hardly pay attention to these categories of risks. Once identified, the risks should be evaluated to determine their impact on the companys profitability and capital. This entails measuring them by using various techniques ranging from simple to sophisticated ones. For example, market risk can be measured by using Value at Risk. This stage also calls for estimating three dimensions of each exposure: the potential frequency of losses that exposures have produced or may produce, the potential impact on the organisation if a loss should occur and the potential variation in losses that will occur during the exposure period. Accurate and timely measurement of risk is necessary because with these types of data the risk manager can determine which exposes are most serious and which deserve the most immediate attention. After measuring risk, bank managers should establish and communicate risk limits through policies, standards, and procedures that define responsibility and authority. These limits should serve as a means to control the risks associated with the banking institutions activities. There is a variety of mitigating tools that banks may employ to minimise the loss exposures. These tools may be diversification, securitization and even derivative such as withdrawal option, Bermudan-style return put option, return swap, return swaption and liquidity option. The final step involves appraising the operation of the program regularly to be sure that it is achieving planned results. It helps the managers to evaluate the wisdom of their decision-making. To efficiently monitor risk, all material risk exposures should be identified and measured again. To facilitate this procedure, banks should put in place an effective management information system (MIS) that will provide directors and senior managers with timely reports on the operating performance, financial condition and risk exposure of the firm. If corrective action is indicated at this stage, the first three steps should be repeated. 2.1 Corporate Governance in the banking sector Corporate governance is a term that is now universally invoked wherever business and finance are discussed. Its purpose is to coordinate a conflict of interest among all parties relationship within the company and to develop a system that can reduce or eliminate the agency problems arising from the separation of ownership and control (OECD, 1997). Agency problem occurs when the agents of an organization (e.g. management) use their power to satisfy their own interests rather than those of the principals (e.g. shareholders). It may also refer to simple disagreement between agents and principals. For example, the board of directors may disagree with shareholders on how to best invest the companys assets, especially when the board of directors wishes to invest in securities that would favour their interests. Not merely does the term corporate governance carries different interpretations, its analysis also involves diverse disciplines and approaches. One of the most quoted definitions of corporate governance is the one given by Shleifer and Vishny (1997): corporate governance deals with the ways in which suppliers of finance to corporations assures themselves of getting a return on their investment. The Cadbury Report, however, defined corporate governance as the system by which companies are directed and controlled (para 2.5). Additionally, it recognised that a system of good governance allows the board of directors to be free to drive their companies forward, but exercise that freedom within a framework of effective accountability (para 1.1). The Hampel Report, whilst accepting the Cadbury definition of corporate governance, also noted that the single overriding objective of companies is the preservation and the greatest practical enhancement over time of their shareholders investment ( para 1.16). In a similar vein, Charkham (1994) identified two basic principles of corporate governance: That management must be able to drive the enterprise forward free from undue constraint caused by government interference, fear of litigation, or fear of displacement. That this freedom- to use managerial power or patronage- must be exercised with a framework of effective accountability. Nominal accountability is not enough. In the banking sector, however, corporate governance differs greatly with other economic sectors in terms of broader extent of claimants the banks assets and funds. In manufacturing corporations, the issue is to maximise the shareholders value but in banking, the risk involved for depositors assumes greater importance due to the fact that almost every bit of banks investment are financed by the depositors funds. If it goes bankrupt, it will be depositors savings that the bank will lose. Indeed, Macey and OHara (2001) states that a broader view of corporate governance should be adopted in the case of banking institutions, arguing that because of the peculiar contractual form of banking, corporate governance mechanisms for banks should encapsulate depositors as well as shareholders. Arun and Turner (2003) also support this argument. Furthermore, the involvement of government in the banking sector is discernibly higher compared to other economic sectors due to the larger interests of th e public (Caprio and Levine, 2002; Levine, 2004). Rational depositors require some form of guarantee before depositing their wealth in banks. Yet, it is relatively difficult for banks to provide these guarantees to them because communicating the value of a banks loan portfolio is quite impossible and very costly to reveal. As a consequence of this asymmetric information problem, bank managers can have an incentive to invest in riskier assets than they promised they would ex ante. To assure depositors that they will not expropriate them, banks could make investments in brand-name or reputational capital (Klein, 1974; Gorton, 1994; Demetz et al, 1996; Bhattacharya et al, 1998), but these schemes give depositors little confidence, especially when contracts have a finite nature and discount rates are sufficiently high (Hickson and Turner, 2003). The opaqueness of banks also makes it very costly for depositors to constrain managerial discretion through debt covenants (Capiro and Levine, 2002, p.2). As such, government interventions provide the lacking assurance to economic agents in the form of deposit insurance. Nevertheless, although the government provides deposit insurance, bank managers still have an incentive to opportunistically increase their risk-taking, but now it is mainly at the governments expense. Apart from supporting the argument that a broader approach to corporate governance should be adapted to banking institutions, Arun and Turner (2003) also argue that government intervention do restrain the behaviour of bank management. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has defined the governance in banks as the methods and approaches used to manage banks through the board of directors and senior management which determine how to put the banks objectives, operation and protect the interests of shareholders and stakeholders with a commitment to act in accordance with existing laws and regulations and to achieve the protection of the interests of depositors. The Table 1 below shows the general principles concerning corporate governance issued by the Basel Committee specifically for bank boards and senior management. Principle 1 Board members should be qualified for their positions, have a clear understanding of their role in corporate governance and be able to exercise sound judgment about the affairs of the bank. Principle 2 The board of directors should approve and oversee the banks strategic objectives and corporate values that are communicated throughout the banking organisation. Principle 3 The board of directors should set and enforce clear lines of responsibility and accountability throughout the organisation. Principle 4 The board should ensure that there is appropriate oversight by senior management consistent with board policy. Principle 5 The board and senior management should effectively utilise the work conducted by the internal audit function, external auditors, and internal control functions. Principle 6 The board should ensure that compensation policies and practices are consistent with the banks corporate culture, long-term objectives and strategy, and control environment. Principle 7 The bank should be governed in a transparent manner. Principle 8 The board and senior management should understand the banks operational structure, including where the bank operates in jurisdictions, or through structures, that impede transparency (i.e. know-your-structure). Table 1- Principles of corporate governance for bank boards and senior management 2.2 Corporate Governance Mechanism According to agency theory, the corporate governance mechanisms reduce the agency problem between investors and management (Jensen and Meckling, 1976; Gillan, 2006). Traditionally, these mechanisms can be classified as internal and external. Llewellyn and Sinha, (2000) states that internal corporate governance is about mechanism for the accountability, monitoring, and control of a firms management with respect to the use of resources and risk taking. Its main mechanisms are the board of directors, the ownership structure of the firm and the internal control system (Gillan, 2006). Whereas, external corporate governance controls encompass the controls external stakeholders exercise over the organisation and its primary external mechanisms are the takeover market and the legal/regulatory system. However for the purpose of this paper, we will mainly focus on some internal corporate governance mechanism such as the board of directors, more precisely on its independence and financial knowledge. Corporate governance best practices have also stressed in particular the key role played by the audit committee in reviewing a firms internal control system. Internal control systems contribute to the protection of shareholders interests by providing reasonable assurance on the reliability of financial reporting, effectiveness of operations and compliance with laws and regulations (COSO, 1994; 2004). As such, we will also draw some attention on the audit committee. 2.3 The boards independence The popular media as well as corporate governance experts have characterised boards largely as rubber stamps for management. They are the link between the shareholders of the firm and the managers entrusted with undertaking the day-to-day operations of the organisation (Monks and Minow, 1995; Forbes and Milliken, 1999). As stated in principle 4 above, bank boards should properly supervise the work of managers. Which type of directors can perform better this duty than independent director? In fact, such directors can bring additional experience as well as clarity of thought to deliberations independent of views of management. Moreover, since their careers are not tied to the firms CEO, outside directors are believed to be more powerful in keeping efficiently the firms top management (Fama, 1980; Fama and Jensen, 1983) and so could be associated with better performance. Some papers do support this theory. Baysinger and Butler (1985), being among the first studies, find that the relative independence of boards has a positive effect on the firms average return on equity by comparing 266 major US businesses over a ten-years period. Kesner (1987); Weisbach (1988); Rosenstein and Wyatt (1990); Peace and Zahra (1992); Ezzamel and Watson (1993); MacAvoy and Millstein (1999); Brown and Caylor (2004) and Ho (2005) also show that shareholder returns are enhanced by having a greater proportion of outside directors on the board. Research by Brickley, Coles, and Terry (1994) shows significantly higher returns to firms announcing poison pill  [1]  when outside directors dominate the board. Other studies supporting the benefit of the boards independence are Dechow and Sloan (1996); Beasely (1996) and Klein (2002) who state that as outside membership on the board increases the likelihood of financial statement fraud decreases. There is also Black et al. (2006) who reports that firms with 50% outside directors have approximately 40% higher share price by studying 515 Korean firms. And more recently, Staikouras C. K., Staikouras P. K. and Agoraki M. K. (2006) find that the percentage of independent directors is positively related with performance measured by Tobins Q on a sample of European banks. On the other hand, others find no convincing evidence that the level of outside directors on the board do add value to corporate performance. For instance, Fosberg (1989) finds that firms whose board is composed of a majority of outside directors do not have a higher performance as measured by the firms ROE or sales. Similarly, Hermalin and Weisbach (1991) find that non-executive directors have no impact on corporate performance in their sample of 142 NYSE firms. Pearce (1983) also find no relationship, as too Changanti et al. (1985) in their study of board composition and bankruptcy. The lack of relation between these two components has also been confirmed by Klein (1998), Bhagat and Black (2002) and Hayes, Mehran and Scott (2004). Other scholars refuting the effectiveness of outside directors on the board are Subrahmanyam et al. (1997) and Harford (2000) for the acquisition transactions, Core et al. (1999) for CEO compensation and Agrawal and Chadha (2005) for earnings restatements . It is normally the board of directors which overviews and approves the risk management policies. But, few papers have tried to link its independence to the firms risk management practices and hedging. By analysing a sample of bank holding companies, Whidbee and Wohar (1999) find that the likelihood of using derivatives seem to increase with the presence of external directors on the board but only when insiders hold a large proportion of the firms shares. Borokhovich et al. (2004) demonstrate that firms most active in hedging risk, especially when making use of interest rate derivatives usage, are those whose boards are dominated by external directors. Conversely, Dionne and Triki (2004); Mardsen and Prevost (2005) point out that outside directors has no impact on the firms risk management policy. Given the mixed empirical findings, it is quite difficult to assert whether the board independence contribute to corporate performance and the effectiveness of risk management. Although Fields and Keys (2003) assert that there is overwhelming support for independent directors providing superior monitoring and advisory functions to the firm, a unique and clear sign concerning the effect of the boards independence on any decision including the risk management one could not be predicted. 2.4 The financial knowledge of the board To adequately perform their supervision role, the board of directors must have financial knowledge  [2]  . Indeed, when board members are generalists and lack the technical financial knowledge to understand the complicated reports presented to them, they could vote for motions that increase the risks facing of the firm to a large extent. The company may collapse in this way and therefore hinder the shareholders interest. Because of the banks dominant position in the economy; they should possess some financial expertise directors on its board so as to make better decisions that will not lead the firm to go bankrupt. However, given its importance, the research on the value of the boards financial knowledge is quite scarce. At times, reports recognising the benefits of the boards independence also recommend financial literacy/expertise for directors in monitoring the firms performance. In fact, Booth and Deli (1999) and Guner, Malmendier and Tate (2004) suggest that commercial bankers on boards provide the financial skill needed to enable the business to contract more debt. Thus, this states that financial directors do add value to the firm. There is also Agrawal and Chadha (2005) who discover that there is lower earnings restatement in firms whose boards have accounting or financially knowledgeable independent directors. However, Rosenstein and Wyatt (1990) provide evidence that positive abnormal returns associated with the addition of an outsider to the board are higher when the latter is an officer of a financial firm. Later on, Lee, Rosenstein and Wyatt (1999) do come to the same conclusion. However, they were unable to make any statistically difference among the reaction of the three categories of financial directors they consider: commercial bankers, insurance company officers and investment bankers. To the best of our knowledge, researches on the boards financial knowledge have only been related with the firms performance and not specifically on its impact on risk management practices. As mentioned earlier in this study, the board of directors is usually responsible for the firms risk management policies. In other words, risk management is at the core of any board members charter. Financially knowledgeable directors will obviously make better decisions on risk management practices since they will have the technical background to understand the sophisticated tools involved in risk management transactions. As such, firms whose boards are composed of financially knowledgeable directors engage more actively in risk management. 2.5 The audit committee The audit committee is intended to provide a link between the board and the auditor independent of the companys management, which is responsible for the accounting system (IOD, 1995). The chief objectives of an audit committee are to improve the quality of financial reporting, to reduce the potential authority for the non-executive director, to improve the channel of communication with the external auditor and, perhaps most importantly, to review the adequacy of the companys financial control systems. Tricker (1984) defines audit committee as being an important vehicle for ensuring the supervision and accountability at board level. As such, audit committees are very important in banking to safeguard the shareholders interest as well as the public trust. Just as for the board of directors, independence is also considered important for an audit committee because outside directors can exercise their voice and be seen to make a valuable contribution since they are free of any influence arising from the firms CEO. Thus, the reported empirical evidence supports this argument. Klein (2002) shows that independent audit committees reduce the likelihood of earnings management, thus improving transparency. In addition, Abbott, Park and Parker (2002) argue that firms with audit committees comprising entirely of independent directors are less likely to have fraudulent or misleading reporting. Ho (2005) states that there is a strong positive link between independent audit committee and corporate competitiveness and also with return on equity after analyzing the international companies from 1997to 1999. Brown and Caylor (2004) do provide evidence that audit committees comprising of independent directors are positively related to dividend but not t o operating performance. On the other hand, some authors find a negative relationship or simply no relation at all between independent audit committee and the firms performance. Hayes, Mehran and Scott (2004) prove that the firms performance measured by the market to book ratio is not affected by the proportion of outside directors sitting on the audit committee. Agrawal and Chadha (2005) do come to the same conclusion by indicating that independent audit committee members are unrelated to earnings restatement. There are also Beasley (1996) who finds no apparent correlation between audit committees composition and financial statement fraud, and Klein (1998) who reports no relation between share prices and the audit committees composition. Yet, Carcello and Neal (2000) report a negative relationship between the probability of receiving a going-concern report and the proportion of outsiders on the audit committee. In addition to independence, the accounting and financial expertise of members of the audit committee has also received widespread attention from the media and regulators  [3]  . An audit committee with such characteristics is expected to provide effective monitoring as it possesses the skills needed to understand what is going on in the organisation. Interestingly, Agrawal and Chadha (2005) show that firms whose audit committees have an outside director with accounting background or financial knowledge are less likely to report earnings restatement while Abbott, Parker and Peters (2002) discover that the absence of a financially competent director on the audit committee is highly associated with an increased in financial misstatement and financial fraud. Xie, Davidson, and DaDalt (2003) find that the presence of investment bankers on the audit committee decreases discretionary accruals in a firm. Davidson et al. (2004) and Defond, Hann and Hu (2004) show that the market has a po sitive reaction following the announcement of directors with accounting /auditing experience on audit committees board. The audit committee is also responsible for evaluating the risk exposures and the measures taken to monitor and control these exposures. To our knowledge no paper has tried to link audit committees composition with risk management practices. Because of the mixed and conflicting argument on independence, it is quite difficult for us to attest whether audit committees independence encourage more corporate hedging. Furthermore, risk evaluation and risk management tools are quite difficult to use and thus understanding them requires a good grasp of mathematics and statistics. As such, we expect firms whose audit committees members are qualified as accounting/financial expert to engage more actively in risk management practices. Besides independence and accounting/financial knowledge, the Cadbury Report has insisted that all listed companies should have an audit committee comprising of at least three members. This is to urge firms to devote significant director resources to their audit committees so that audit committees monitor the firms management more efficiently. However, several studies support the idea that larger boards can be dysfunctional since they may be plagued with free rider, communication problem and monitoring problems  [4]  . Therefore, as long as the increase in the audit committees size does not pose these types of problems, firms complying with this requirement are expected to report a higher hedging ratio. Often, corporations, especially financial ones, create another committee named risk monitoring committees. This type of committee is often responsible of the risk monitoring of the firm. However, this does not imply that audit committee is no longer responsible for evaluating and managing risks. It must still discuss and evaluate risk management processes. In other words, the audit committee is there to review risk management processes proposed by the risk management committee. As such, we assume that the same characteristics as the audit committee should be applied to this type of committee to fulfil their duties well.

Story of a Different Hour :: Essays Papers

The Story of a Different Hour Mrs. Millard just found out that Mr. Millard was killed in a tragic train wreck. Because of a heart condition, Josephine (Mrs. Millard's sister) was hesitant to tell her what happened. Richard (Mr. Millard's good friend) was also there to comfort the newly widowed Mrs. Millard. Josephine was concerned for her sister. To everyone?s surprise Mrs. Millard was rather joyful rather than devastated of the tragic news about her husband. ?Free! Free! Free!?, ?Free! Body and free soul?. Everyone was a bit confused, why Louise was jumping for joy when she just received that her husband passed away few minutes ago. Something smells fishy in this story and who really is Richard? Is he a good friend of Mr. Millard or he is a lover of Louise?.. Well, we will modify some sentences in this story. We all knew what happened in the end. Mrs. Millard was having the time of her life because she just found out that her husband just died. Was Louise happy because of the hefty insurance money that her husband left her? We can?t tell. So as the door was being opened by a latchkey everyone ran through the long stair case and found ?Brently Millard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella?, then Louise was so flabbergasted that she had a heart attack and eventually died. In my opinion the story could use a better ending than Louise dying at the end of the story. If only Chopin talked to me about this story before she published it in 1894 it would probably be a little different. We left of where before Brently opened the door. After Brently died, Louise was alone in her huge plantation. She asked Josephine to move in with her because she can?t bear to be alone any longer. One day Richard dropped by to check on Louise and to drop the title of the house, Richard is a prominent lawyer nowadays. Richard stayed for supper, and Louise told him ?

Jewish, Early Christian, Byzantine and Islamic Art

Teri Wilson March 1, 2010 Professor Hollinger Module 5 JEWISH, EARLY CHRISTIAN, BYZANTINE AND ISLAMIC ART Every religion has its own approach to art and architecture. An assessment between different traditions can offer an illuminating insight into the varying religious outlooks and theologies. Architecture, as well as art, is influenced by a number of forces in society, in the environment, in the psychology of the people who produce it, and in different institutions. It is an expression of inner feelings and beliefs and so naturally is influenced by religion in many societies. Religious architecture is created to experience the sacred, to provide a place into which spiritual energies flow and reflect a sense of the divine. Some religions speak of art directly or have tenets which influence what can and cannot be depicted in art. The scriptures of these religions are the theological basis and shape the way people in express themselves, and this includes how they express themselves through art and architecture. The architecture in Judaism, Christianity, Byzantine, and Islam has important similarities and differences that are a result of the teachings of these faiths. In the first centuries C. E. , Jewish communities could be found in every corner of the Roman Empire. The archaeological remnants and literary attestations of more than 150 synagogues throughout the empire make clear that Jews were integral to the urban landscape of late antiquity, well beyond the borders of Roman Palestine. Asia Minor, in particular, was one of the most prosperous, Jewish communities (Stokstad, 164) The third-century synagogue in the Roman garrison town of Dura-Europos, Syria, like the Christian meeting house and the shrine devoted to the Persian god Mithras that stood just yards away, was adorned with sumptuous painting. The Wall of Torah Niche had splendid murals with narrative scenes from the Bible covered the synagogue's walls; painted tiles of zodiacal symbols ornamented its ceiling (Stokstad, 165). Plaques with dedicatory inscriptions give some indication of the individuals and families who funded the building of such synagogues. In building their monuments, Jews often embraced the Greco-Roman practice of paving the floor with elaborate mosaics, many of which demonstrate an understanding of the second commandment injunction against image making that may surprise today's viewer. In early Byzantine synagogues such as Hamman Lif in North Africa and Beth Alpha, Hammath Tiberias, and Sepphoris in Israel, specifically Jewish symbols—shofarot (ram's horns), menorot (branched lamps), and Torah shrines—might appear alongside pomegranates, birds, lions, and fountains (metmuseum. rg). Zodiac wheels with human figures also find a prominent place in the pavements of several synagogues, dated from the fourth to the sixth centuries, as do scenes drawn from the Bible or allegorized images of the River Nile. After the destruction of the Second Temple by Roman emperor Titus in 70 C. E—an event commemorated on the Arch of Titus in Rome and in Jewish liturgy—images of the Temple's furnishings, especia lly the celebrated gold menorah, or seven-branched lamp, became emblematic of Jewish religion. Marble sarcophagi favored by wealthy Romans were adapted for Jewish use by incorporating a stylized relief image of a menorah (metmuseum. org). In the catacombs of Rome, Jews placed gold glass disks representing the menorah and Torah arks at their tombs, as well as symbols of the festival of Sukkot just as Christians placed glass disks showing saints All these images reference the destroyed Temple and invoke a hoped-for messianic age when the Temple would be restored. So wide-ranging are the contexts for the menorot that it is clear the symbol frequently served merely to distinguish a Jewish monument or a Jewish patron. Seven-branched candlesticks appear in Roman and Byzantine art: in graffiti in the catacombs, inscribed on plaques, as a motif on seals, as decoration on glass bottles and on clay lamps all further testimony to the integration of Jews into late Roman and early Byzantine society (metmuseum. org). With the adoption of Christianity as the official religion, art was able, so to speak, to come above ground in the old pagan city of Rome, and painting, instead of being restricted to the decoration of the walls of the Catacombs or of small chambers and chapels, came into use on a large scale in the new churches that were at once set up. At the same time patronage moved from the hands of the poorer classes to the richer, and artists of outstanding quality came to be employed as well as those of obscurer character, who would work for small fees (www. religion-online. org). To wall painting was added the more luxurious art of mosaic; numerous sculptures were done, and minor objects, often in expensive materials, were in addition produced in the service of the Church, so that art production became at the same time both more extensive and more luxurious (www. religion-online. org ). A great deal of the work that was done at this time has of course perished, more especially that in fragile materials, such as textiles or paintings on panels, but a few mosaics of the fourth century and a good many more of the fifth survive in Rome, and there is quite a lot of sculpture, both on a large scale in stone and on a small in ivory. Something has already been said about the ivories, more especially the Consular diptychs, which necessarily form a part of the general picture, though it is not always easy to be sure of where they were made, as they are in a diversity of styles (www. eligion-online. org). Here we are concerned not so much with these things as with works which are essentially Christian and also undoubtedly Roman, such as the mosaics and wall painting, which are necessarily immovable or stone sculptures on a large scale in a material which was carved on the spot and quarried in the neighborhood. The earliest of the mosaics are those in the church of Sta Constanz a, which was built as an octagonal martyrium or tomb sanctuary between 306 and 337. It was converted into a baptistery in the fifth century, when the lateral apses were added. Only the mosaics on the roofs of the vaulted aisles are of the same date as the original building. This roof is divided into eight compartments, and there are different designs in each, though only those on the three sets on each side survive; they are in pairs, balancing one another on each side. These mosaics, which consist in the main of scrolls and other diverse motifs shown in isolation against a white ground, are very classical in character; they are virtually floor mosaics transferred to the roof. The mosaics which decorated the central dome have not survived, though there is a sixteenth century painting of them in the Escorial. They included scenes from the Old and New Testaments, bordered below by a river and separated one from another by caryatid figures, not unlike the dividing panels in the Baptistery of the Orthodox at Ravenna. In the apses which terminate the sides of the octagon to the north and south are figural compositions of a rather different character, depicting the â€Å"Traditio Legis†, where Christ conveys future responsibility for preaching on one side to Peter and on the other to Paul. Our Lord stands in the centre of each apse, with the Apostle before Him, against a background of trees (catholic-resources. org). The mosaics are probably to be assigned to the time of the building's conversion for use as a baptistery in the fifth century. They have, however, been very much restored at subsequent dates, and to-day appear somewhat clumsy (catholic-resources. org). Those in the dome probably belonged to the same date as those in the vaults of the octagon. Another similar church of this kind is the Church of Santa Sabrina, a fifth-century basilica in Rome. The basilica, constructed by Bishop Peter of IIyria between 422 and 432 BC, is another must see (Stokstad, 170). Santa Sabrina, exterior is typical of the time, which is severe brickwork. In contrast, the interior displays a wealth of marble veneer and 24 fluted marble columns with Corinthian capitals acquired from a 2nd century building (Stokstad, 170). Christianity subject matter is the prime source of art up to the modern era. We find religious art in all styles and the major artists used Christianity in most of their paintings and built structures for Christian churches. In conclusion, it can be seen that art is not just one thing. It is a combination of devices which have taken thousands of years to grow and develop, through different religions, and through time. I personally feel that art is not something that we can define or even begin to describe. Art is to much a part of life to single out on its own or define, especially, religious art. Trying to write a summary on a general view of what art is is virtually impossible. Art, inside of every person is seen as something different and unique making the definition of art diversified for every person. Works Cited 1. www. metmuseum. org 2. www. catholic-resources. org 3. www. religion-online. org 4. Our book, â€Å"Art: A Brief History† by: Marilyn Stokstad