Essay about Dream Analysis - 773 Words

According to Merriam-Webster, a dream can be defined as a series of thoughts, images or emotions occurring during sleep. Form many people, sleep can be a disturbing time, but for others it can be a peaceful, longing time of the day. For me, I LOVE my sleep, as well as any dreams that may accompany my slumber. I would like to think I have a very vivid imagination, based on some of the dreams that I encounter. I do find that I can remember most of my dreams, at least for a few hours, however, by the end of the day, I honestly can say that last night’s dream has been long since forgotten. After having a late night talk with my brother a year or so ago, I discovered that he and I are even more similar than I thought. He revealed to me†¦show more content†¦One dream in particular, is an old friend of mine. I dreamt that I was trying to find her house, and it was in a city and I got lost and couldn’t find it. I eventually found it and it was an old, run down apartment that was in a bad neighborhood. About two or three years later, I dreamt that I went to visit that same friend, but she had moved into a large home with red walls and a tall stair case. (Very weird, I know). Surprisingly, after having a few of these dreams about my friend Cindy, I decided to look her up on Facebook, and found her. Not only did we get a chance to talk, but also we met last summer for an afternoon. Since seeing her last summer, I have only dreamed about her once more. I did confide in her that I had been having dreams about her and didn’t know why. Interesting enough, s he had recently moved into a home that she and her husband had built themselves, after renting an old, run down house. Based on what I researched about reoccurring dreams, I would have to say that my reoccurring dreams most likely are due to the loss I feel about people moving on and me â€Å"not seeing† them again. For the most part, all of my family and friends live right here in Maryland. There are less than a handful of friends or family that do not live within driving distance from my residence. Perhaps I am feeling a loss and concerned over her welfare, since I had not seen her in quite sometime. Most of the time, I do not give much thought to my dreams. However, when I haveShow MoreRelatedAntwone Dream Analysis1470 Words   |  6 Pagesthat process is no different. Dream analysis, however, could be an effective way for a counselor to treat the problems that Antwone is having. As a currently angry individual, Antwone recalls some of the dreams he was having when trying to sleep. The movie opens with a dream sequence showing Antwone as a little kid in a field. He enters a building, which is presumed to be a church and is surrounded by what is presumed to be his family members. Antwone, in this dream, is led to a table covered inRead MoreDream Analysis2326 Words   |  10 PagesDREAM ANALYSIS This reflective essay illustrates Freud’s theory of dream analysis. It will begin with a brief overview of Freudian dream theory and will go on to describe the various components of personality structure and the unconscious from a psychodynamic perspective. This essay will analyse one of my personal dreams using Freud’s dream analysis theory and conclude with a critical reflection on the application of his theory as it relates to my dream. When Freud famously referred to dreamsRead MoreEssay about Dream Analysis768 Words   |  4 Pageschoose Dream Analysis. â€Å"Dream Analysis is a process of determining the meanings of dreams through symbols, myths, free association, and memories. There are a variety of philosophies and approaches for analyzing dreams including Adlerian (dreams are projections of a persons current concerns), Gestalt (every person and object in a dream represents an aspect of the dreamer), and psychoanalytic (dreams are a key to what is happening in a persons unconscious). Why would I want to choose Dream AnalysisRead MoreAnalysis Of My Dream1056 Words   |  5 PagesDream In my dream, I saw my stepmom talking to a group of men. This group of men looked like they were part of a bike gang, and they all had either a knife or a gun on them. The group of men had scary tattoos all over them, leather vests, and distressed jeans on with boots. The men took off and were headed to an apartment complex in search of someone. They didn’t knock on any doors or try to break into a specific apartment; they were just walking around looking for someone outside the apartment buildingsRead MoreDream A Little Dream Of Me Analysis Essay1241 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Dream a Little Dream of Me† Music Analysis First recorded in 1931 by Oswald George Nelson, known as Ozzie Nelson, with his orchestra, â€Å"Dream a Little Dream of Me† came into existence. Two days later, after Ozzie Nelson had recorded â€Å"Dream a Little Dream of Me†, the song was again recorded on February 18, 1931 by orchestra leader and musician Wayne King. Since those first two recordings of â€Å"Dream a Little Dream of Me† there have been approximately 60 versions by many well-known artists of whichRead More Dream Analysis Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesThe Meaning of a Dream The best part of a long, hard-working day is when you finally get to lay in your bed, close your eyes and let your imagination run free. As you sleep your mind takes you to another place far away from the real world. You begin to dream. Over the night, you may have several dreams. In the morning, you may wake up and wonder what your dreams were suppose to mean for you and your life. By analyzing your dream, it gives a true picture of the subjective state-how we reallyRead MoreAnalysis Of Lucid Dreams 3596 Words   |  15 Pages During lucid dreams we are remarkably wakeful—even though still asleep. We may be able to reason clearly, remember freely, signal that we are conscious, and may even change the plot if we so choose. But it takes training. I am in the middle of a riot in the classroom. Everyone is running around in some sort of struggle. Most of them are Third World Types, and one of them has a hold on me—he is huge, with a pockmarked face. I realize that I am dreaming and stop struggling. I look him in the eyesRead MoreEssay about Dreams Their Analysis1413 Words   |  6 Pages Dreams Their Analysis The assignment is to recall a dream and analyze it from one or two theoretical perspectives weve learned thus far in dream analysis. Dreams have been a vehicle to express emotions, thoughts and feelings. Sometimes they pose questions which have been rooted in our conscious. Dreams are personalized works which we have consciously directed and created in our minds and no one interpretation is right or wrong. Weeks later upon receiving this assignment I had an incredible dreamRead MoreHoop Dreams Analysis2621 Words   |  11 PagesLorenzo de Medici Film Analysis: Hoop Dreams (1994) Written by Ann Kelsey Cinema of the Real: Documentary Films Paolo Grassini December 5, 2012 The 1994 Documentary, Hoop Dreams, directed by Steve James, is a masterful display of human drama. The story-line is so captivating and theatrical that it seems crafted from fiction. The Documentary boasts cinematic techniques and private investigating that rivals most film of this time period. The film follows the high school careersRead MoreRhetorical Analysis : Dream A Motivational Video 878 Words   |  4 Pagestitled, â€Å"Dream: Motivational Video,† because of the boldness it projected to the audience. The speech is approximately six minutes and was published on July 2, 2013. It provides the audience with a background on how they should make their dreams realistic. Although obstacles will get in our way when trying to fulfill dreams—the purpose is to separate from negativity and dream big. Even though the fear of failure overtakes our mind, we cannot allow the fear to detour us from living out our dream. Finally

Non-Renewable Energy Resources - 1458 Words

Non-Renewable Energy Resources This Project will be in two Parts. The first part is about Non-renewable energy. Non-renewable energy is a resource that will some day we will run out of. Non-renewable energy is a resource that will some day we will run out of. The second part is on Renewable energy. Renewable energy is a resource that we will never run out of because it is continually being replaced. The sun is the source of all our energy resources. The suns energy reaches Earth and is converted into many forms , which we then use to supply our energy demand. Non Renewable Energy Resources COAL. One of the most important natural fuels, coal was formed from plant life buried in the Earth millions of years ago. Like†¦show more content†¦This type of reaction goes on in the sun. [IMAGE] Renewable Energy Resources WIND POWER. Wind is a clean and inexhaustible source of energy that has been used for many centuries to grind grain, pump water, propel sailing ships, and perform other work. The amount of wind power available, however, varies depending upon the weather. Thus the windmills used to pump water have been largely replaced by electrically powered pumps. Today wind power is used primarily in remote areas, but recent interest in fuel conservation has spurred development of modern wind machines for generating electricity. A renewed interest in the use of wind power to generate electricity followed the energy crisis of the 1970s. A program of the United States Department of Energy encouraged the development of new machines, the construction of wind farms, and an evaluation of the economic effect of a large-scale use of wind power. HYDRO-ELECTRIC By building a dam across a river, the natural upstream water level is elevated and a difference in levels is created that can be used to drive turbines and generate electricity. A large upstream reservoir may balance seasonal water flow; rain or melted snow can be stored in the reservoir during the wet season to provide electricity during dry seasons. Small run-of-river reservoirs or ponds are not large enough to provide seasonal balance. They can, however, provide extra power during daily peak hours. TIDALShow MoreRelatedEnergy Resources : Renewable And Non Renewable Ones1225 Words   |  5 Pagesa discovery of the ability to transform the energy into the electricity. In today’s modern world it is hard to imagine that there was a world without the electricity and that electricity was gifted to the humanity just 400 years ago. As George Gobel said once: â€Å"If it weren’t for electricity, we’d all be watching television by candlelight†. Electricity is the gift granted to humans and it is our generation’s duty to use the electricity energy smartly and pass it to future generations. ForRead MoreRenewable vs. Non-Renewable Energy Resources1840 Words   |  8 PagesRenewable Vs. Non-renewable Energy Resources: Environmental and Economical Advantages and Disadvantages Imagine a life without washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, computers, televisions, lights, and cars. Imagine a planet so polluted that smog is in the air so bad that one cannot see very far, lakes and streams are poisoned, and land so badly scarred from people trying to find more energy sources. One day this may be a reality if we do not do something to change how we use our energy resourcesRead MoreDepletion of Non Renewable Resources of Energy1422 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction A  non-renewable resource  is a  natural resource  which cannot be produced, grown, generated, or used on a scale which can  sustain  its consumption rate, once depleted there is no more available for future needs. Also considered non-renewable are resources that are consumed much faster than nature can create them.  Fossil fuels  (such as  coal,  petroleum, and  natural gas), types of nuclear power (uranium) and certain  aquifers  are examples. Natural resources such as  coal,  petroleum,  oil  and  naturalRead MoreEssay about Renewable Vs. Non-Renewable Energy Resources1748 Words   |  7 PagesRenewable Vs. Non-renewable Energy Resources: Environmental and Economical Advantages and Disadvantages Imagine a life without washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, computers, televisions, lights, and cars. Imagine a planet so polluted that smog is in the air so bad that one cannot see very far, lakes and streams are poisoned, and land so badly scarred from people trying to find more energy sources. One day this may be a reality if we do not do something to change how we use our energy resourcesRead MoreDifference Between Renewable Resources And Non Energy Resources1468 Words   |  6 Pagesclear explanation of the difference between renewable resources and non renewable resources Renewable resources can be used and replaced. Examples are fish stocks, forests, or water. They are resources that will refilled by itself through reproduction, plantation through the nature cycle. They are natural resources that technically regenerate itselves through ecological process. Non renewable resources, such as coal, oil, gold and cooper, are land resources which once used will never be replaced. OnceRead MoreDifference Between Renewable Resources And Non Energy Resources1417 Words   |  6 Pagesclear explanation of the difference between renewable resources and non renewable resources Renewable resources can be used and replaced. Examples are fish stocks, forests, or water. They are resources that will refilled by itself through reproduction, plantation and by nature cycle. They are natural resources that technically regenerate itselves through ecological process. Non renewable resources, such as coal, oil, gold and cooper, are land resources which once used will never be replaced. OnceRead MoreMotives of the Renewable Energy Policies in Resource Rich and Non-Democratic Countries1230 Words   |  5 PagesThis section will focus on the motivators of oil rich countries in the renewable energy field. Renewable energy can be defined simply as energy that comes from resources which are continually replenished by a period of time. From this simple definition it could be expected that use and introduction of renewable energy projects emerge and are promoted by countries with shortage of non-renewable sources and/or under a high risk of environmental degradation caused by those sources. Also it could beRead MoreBio Final Outline892 Words   |  4 PagesSentence: By using non-renewable resources mankind is putting a strain on the earth and causing global warming. 　 Paragraph: Do you know the difference between a non- renewable resource and a renewable resource? A non- renewable resource is a natural resource such as coal, gas, or oil that, once consumed, cannot be replaced. A renewable resource any natural resource (as wood or solar energy) that can be replenished naturally with the passage of time. By using non-renewable resources mankind is puttingRead MoreNatural Resources and Energy Paper1201 Words   |  5 PagesNatural Resources and Energy Paper An ecosystem is a connection among living resources, residents, and habitats of an area. It includes animals, plants, microorganisms, trees, water and people. Everything that lives in that specific ecosystem is reliant on the other elements of that ecological society. Oceans are considered ecosystems due to the plant life supporting the animal life and also the animal life supporting the plant life. The earth’s marine waters cover two- thirds of its surfaceRead MoreThe Long Term Effects Of Increasing Demand For Renewable Energy1690 Words   |  7 Pages Renewable Energy Wind, Water, Sun: Energy for the long run Prepared by Mashfik Shamir Midterm Proposal BUS 160W – An Introduction to Business Writing Queens College August 1, 2013 Professor Denise L. Miller Mashfik Shamir 8531 129 Street Richmond Hill, NY 11418 August 1, 2013 Prof. Denise Miller CUNY Queens College 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY 11367 Dear Prof. Miller: I am submitting this proposal to provide some information on the long term effects of increasing demand for

Financial Management The Measurement Metric

Question: Describe about the Financial Management for The Measurement Metric. Answer: Introduction:- Operating leverage is the measurement metric, which helps the analysts to determine the percentage of fixed expenses within the total cost of any business. It is a very crucial tool for measuring the profit margins on total revenue (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). The management of Rammstein Holdings has selected two Australian companies for investment. The company has decided to analyze the potentialities of the two investment alternatives in respect to the cash flow degree of operating leverage. The first alternative is GUD Holdings Ltd. GUD Holdings Ltd. operates in different forms of industrial sectors. It uses to manufacture cleaning items, industrial domestic storage materials, household industrial locking products, water supply related products for both commercial domestic purposes and automotive filters. Such diversified product range has helped the organization to grow faster. The company always maintains the vision to provide long term returns to its shareholders and other investors at higher rate. The other company is Breville Group Ltd. Breville Group Ltd. is one of the popular kitchen products and appliances companies in Australia. The company manufactures and sells various types of kitchen products under the brand names, Breville and Sage. The kitched appliances are sold under the brand, Kambrook and for electrical appliances, it operates the brand, Ronson. Apart from the own brands, Breville Group is also the exclusive registered distributor of the personal care and garment care appliances of Philips Ltd. for allover Australia and New Zealand. From the product ranges, it can be concluded that the company has focused on a specific market sector. With the prosperity of the brands, the company has also gain high popularity amongst the investors for its steady income level and high return. Cash Flow Degree of Operating Leverage:- The financial performances of both the companies are analyzed by comparing the cash flow degree of operating leverages of the two companies for two years. The comparison is shown in the graph:- Comparison of the DOLs of two companies:- From the above graph, it can be stated that both the companies are involved with manufacturing processes and have to incur higher amount of fixed expenses, such as depreciation and amortization, interest at fixed rates, insurance, fixed salaries to employees etc. Hence, both the companies have maintained the cash flow degree of operational leverage above 1 over the periods. Both the companies can enjoy high profit with increase in sales, but, they have to ensure high sales volume to cover the high amount of fixed expenses (Horngren et al. 2013). However, Breville has concentrated on a particular market and GUD Holdings has diversified its main operational activities. Due to such diversifications, the DOL of GUD has been more instable than Breville over the period. Comparison of DOLs of two periods:- As discussed above, the DOLs of Breville for the two years are more or less same. It implies that the proportion of fixed expenses and variable expenses has not changed too much over the years. Thus, the level of sales volume, to pay off the fixed expense, would also not change very much accordingly (Bierman Jr and Smidt 2012). On the other hand, the DOL of GUD holdings has increased significantly rapidly in the current year. It denotes that the company has incurred higher fixed expenses in 2015 than the previous year. Thus, the level of adequate sales volume for covering the fixed expenses has also increased according to the increase of fixed expenses (Bhattacharjee et al. 2014). Usefulness of DOL in accounting and cash flow for perspective users: The degree of operating leverage can be defined as the leverage ratio which sums up the amount of operating leverage on the companys earnings before interest and tax. Operating leverage takes into the consideration the fixed cost and the proportion of variable cost in the business operations. It is worth mentioning from the financial perspective cash flow that the earnings before interest and taxes would be unpredictable for the company even though all the accounting factors remains unchanged (Lee and Park 2014). The framework largely evaluates the breakeven point of the business along with the likelihood of the profitability level of individual sales. In order to compute the company is operating leverage, the contribution margin is divided by its net operating income. It is worth mentioning that the measurement of operating leverage involves constant monitoring as because small amount of change in sales can result in the dramatic increase in profit. This enables the users of financi al information to carefully forecast the revenue as small error in forecasting can translate into large error in both net income and cash flows (Brown 2012). On the other hand, the degree of operating advantage can create a profound impact on the pricing policy as because a business firm with large operating leverage should not set the prices so low that it can never generate sufficient amount of contribution margin in order to fully offset the fixed costs. The degree of operating leverage assists the company and its decision makers to determine the most appropriate level of operating leverage to maximise the companys EBIT. A company with balanced Degree of operating leverage can provide the financial leverage with contributing factor in business profits (Damodaran 2016). Formula of Cash Flow Degree of operating leverage : DOL = Contribution Margin / Net Operating Cash Flow This ratio helps in summarising the effect after merging the financial and operating leverage and what effect such combinations and variation creates on corporate earnings. The above stated formula is helpful in assessing both the financial and the operating perspective for a potential investors (Kahl et al. 2014). Conclusion:- From the above discussion, it may be concluded that Breville Group Ltd. is a better alternative for investment in comparison to GUD Holdings Ltd. The current DOL of the company is lower than GUD Holdings and moreover, the level is also stable than that of other company. Therefore, from an investors perspective it can be stated that though Breville Ltd. cannot earn higher profits by increasing sales volume, but the problem to meet the fixed expenses in case of reduction in sales volume will be lesser in comparison to GUD Holdings. References:- Bhattacharjee, A., Higson, C. and Holly, S., 2014. Asymmetric Price Adjustment, Sticky Costs and Operating Leverage over the Business Cycle.Spatial Economics and Econometrics Centre, Heriot Watt University Bierman Jr, H. and Smidt, S., 2012.The capital budgeting decision: economic analysis of investment projects. Routledge Brown, R., 2012. Analysis of investments management of portfolios. Damodaran, A., 2016.Damodaran on valuation: security analysis for investment and corporate finance(Vol. 324). John Wiley Sons. Horngren, C.T., Sundem, G.L., Schatzberg, J.O. and Burgstahler, D., 2013.Introduction to management accounting. Pearson Higher Ed. Kahl, M., Lunn, J. and Nilsson, M., 2014, November. Operating leverage and corporate financial policies. InAFA 2012 Chicago Meetings Paper. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Lee, S. and Park, S.B., 2014. A study on the association between operating leverage and risk: The case of the airline industry.International Journal of Economics and Finance,6(3), p.120.

The Shipping News Essay Example

The Shipping News Essay The countryside in Newfoundland is grim and rough in comparison to the pastoral beauty of Wessex. The description of landscape is less significant than in Tess of the DUrbervilles; Proulx concentrates more on the seas power as the force that shapes the lives of the habitants, and the importance of dwelling in representing Quoyles life and battles. Her narrative is strongly metaphorical and shares some of Hardys lyricism, his rich language, and this combined with fragments of local dialect injected into her prose fully submerses the reader into the world of the Newfoundlanders. Quoyles life in Bedraggled Mockingburg is one reflected by his squalid house, with its grey sheets and cribs jammed close like bird cages. It is indeed a caged, oppressed existence, superficial and unsatisfying. He feels out of place with his surroundings, alienated, isolated and uncomfortable. He has a sense that the triviality that surrounds him is the stuff of others lives. He is waiting for his to begin, longing for a more resolute, gratifying life.  After the death of his parents and his cruel, carnal wife, he returns with an old aunt to the land of his fathers, Newfoundland, to start a new life in a fresh place, a place of rugged, perilous beauty: We will write a custom essay sample on The Shipping News specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Shipping News specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Shipping News specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Miles of coast blind wrapped in fog. Sunkers under wrinkled water, boats threading tickles between ice-scabbed cliffs The alchemist sea changed fishermen into wet bones  Here he takes refuge in a house that is severe, bare, and empty. This house is a crucial metaphor in the novel, the mysterious house of his ancestors, pumiced by stony lives of dead generations, full of myth. Dragged to the headland across the ice, bolted and chained unnaturally to the rocky headland, Quoyle feels as if the house is A bound prisoner straining to get free. In this place he is swallowed by the shouting past. In the end the house is torn from its shackles by the wind, blown away, freed from its bondage. It is here we see a unity of person and place that is so evident in Tess of the DUrbervilles; Quoyle is the houses equivalent in human form, he has been dragged a great distance, bolted to his ancestry and emotions, unable to break free from the past. When the house is set free by a great storm, Quoyle is also released, able to understand himself as an individual, not merely a member of a corrupt family. Dwellings are used in some corresponding ways in the two novels. Tess has connections with various dwellings that are similar to Quoyles. She is haunted by the ancient DUrberville family, on the night of her wedding. The portraits of DUrberville ladies mock and sneer at her from the walls, smirking in merciless treachery, adding to her sense of guilt and impending doom in the run up to her disastrous confession to Angel. Ironically, it is the treachery of her family that has given her something to confess in the first place. Tess also feels the oppression and desperation felt by Quoyle in Mockingburg when she is forced to live with Alec in the grand but seedy Sandbourne. She feels a brief flutter of happiness when she spends a few days with Angel in the empty, fairytale Bramshurst Court; momentarily swept into an oblivious state of euphoria. This place is a brief refuge for the lovers, so exhausted and battered by fate. Here, in secluded and peaceful surroundings, they spend the only time together as husband and wife with no dark secrets, acting out a poignantly innocent charade, half-pretending that their lives will continue in peace, clinging to a fantasy. This short period is the calm before the storm, a moment of tranquillity which is destroyed soon after, when Tess is caught and executed. The Shipping News charts the struggle of people to live with an immense elemental power, the sea, at whose mercy they are. It is one of the most powerful images in the novel, and is described by Proulx as almost a deity, a primitive demi-god, an ambivalent force, terrible and generous, giving and ending life, paying no heed to human hopes, struggles and morality. The people of Newfoundland treat this force as such an entity, with hushed respect and fear. When Quoyle arrives in Newfoundland, he is not familiar with its way of life, or the might of nature. He cannot swim, is afraid and overwhelmed by this water, haunted by lost ships, fishermen, explorers gurgled down into sea holes as black as a dogs throat. Bawling into salt broth. His near drowning in chapter 26 can be seen as a wild baptism, a symbolic acceptance and immersion into the Newfoundland culture and society. The old Quoyle sinks with the useless boat which embodies his ignorance, and a new Quoyle is born, one who recognises his need to learn and to adjust to a new place and existence. The overwhelming force in Tess of the DUrbervilles is fate, a power that controls events and actions. In this novel, nature and weather are relatively benign; manifestations of fate, used to accentuate the characters experiences and occasionally to foreshadow events. The force of fate is portrayed as much more negative than the sea in The Shipping News; it is generally cruel and arbitrary, especially in relation to poor Tess. Fate is responsible for her encounter with Alec Stoke-DUrberville, her subsequent violation, the death of her child, and ultimately, her death. Although often hauntingly beautiful, nature is at times sinister, threatening, an omen: The occasional heave of the wind became the sigh of some immense sad soul, conterminous with the universe in space, and with the history in time This fatalism, seen in many of Hardys other novels, reflects his view of life. Tesss personal fatalism is a typical characteristic of her upbringing in rural poverty; she was reared in the lonely country nooks where fatalism is a strong sentiment.  Proulxs literary style is unusual, in comparison with Hardys, but in a world where authors strive to find original structural devices, The Shipping News is not so remarkable. Proulx often writes ungrammatically, disjointedly, in fragmented sentences. The protagonist, a newspaper reporter, presents his thoughts and feelings as headlines, so it seems fitting that, although at times Proulxs narrative is disruptive to the reader, it is reminiscent of newspaper shorthand. The most extraordinary device she uses is the knot definitions that introduce each chapter. Knots are of literal importance in the novel; fishermen, sailors and upholsterers use knots as part of their livelihoods. However, in this novel, they are more a metaphor for the versatility of human beings, specifically a metaphor for the lives of the Quoyles, who must undo the binds of the past in order to have a future. Knots tie Quoyle to his ancestors; the gruesome knotted hair brooch and the knots of Nolans sorcery. As the last chapter definition says, there will always be new knots to discover. Quoyle must release himself from the old knots and tie new ones. Both authors use setting as an essential component to their stories, instead of merely using it as a backdrop. In essence, Hardy uses the landscape in Tess of the DUrbervilles not only to magnify her experiences but literally to be her experiences in an alternative form. In Hardys own words, My art is to intensify the expression of things as is done by Crivelli, Bellini, etc., so that the heart and inner meaning is made visibly visible.(An extract from one of Hardys notebooks). Proulx uses the setting in her novel to mark each stage of her protagonists life, and like Hardy, to symbolise his struggles and the influences upon him. In my opinion, the power in both novels is derived, to a large extent, from the atmosphere created by the surroundings, whether the raw coast and fierce elements of Newfoundland or the idyllic warmth and beauty of Hardys Wessex.

Stardust essays

Stardust essays Spenser(protagonist)-Spenser, a former boxer, is a private detective from Boston. He is a very down to earth man, who likes to have fun in his work. He is very humorous and takes life as a fun ride. There is a point in the story where a larger man who attempts to intimidate Spenser, who responds by taking the large man down with one kick, all the while laughing at the man. Susan-Spensers girlfriend who has a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard. She is a clinical psychologist, who has been romantically involved with Spenser for many years. She often helps him on his cases when he is dealing with a disturbed or possibly dangerous person. She helps Jill Joyce overcome her problems in this novel. Jill Joyce-typical overzealous television star. She is extremely pampered and feels that it is her right to be waited upon. She has lead an extremely rough life, from abandoning her parents to having an illegitimate child. She has tried to keep this from ruining her reputation, so she is very quiet when it comes to her past. Hawk-is a large, intimidating black man who was born in a ghetto, served with the French Foreign Legion, and was a boxer during the same period as Spenser. His occupation is 'enforcer', collector for loan sharks; he will murder for money, which he makes a lot of. Spenser is hired by Zenith Meridien Television to guard Jill Joyce. She has experienced harassment in the recent past, and the company wishes for her to feel safe on the set. Spenser finds that Jill is a troubled, alcoholic, drug addicted, egocentric annoyance that is lost in life. The morning after they meet, a Mr. Rojack and his thug, Randall try to get Jill to go with them. Jill declines their offer, at which point, Randall attempts to attack the smaller Spenser, only to find himself on the ground within moments. Later that week, Spenser tracks down Rojack, who turns out to be quite wealthy and discovers that Rojack and Jill ...

What To Do If You Encounter Killer Bees

What To Do If You Encounter Killer Bees Even if you live in an area with African honeybees – better known as killer bees – the chances of your getting stung are rare. Killer bees dont look for victims to sting, and swarms of killer bees arent hiding in the trees just waiting for you to wander by so they can attack. Killer bees sting to defend their nests​ and do so aggressively. If you encounter aggressive bees around a nest or swarm, you are at risk for being stung. Heres what to do if you encounter killer bees: RUN! Seriously, run away from the nest or bees as quickly as you can. Bees use an alarm pheromone to alert other hive members of a threat, so the longer you hang around, the more bees will arrive, ready to sting you.If you have a jacket or anything else with you, use it to cover your head. Protect your eyes and face if at all possible. Of course, dont obstruct your vision if you are running.Get indoors as quickly as possible. If you arent near a building, get inside the nearest car or shed. Close the doors and windows to keep the bees from following you.If no shelter is available, keep running. African honey bees can follow you for as far as a quarter of a mile. If you run far enough, you should be able to lose them.Whatever you do, dont stay still if the bees are stinging you. These arent grizzly bears; they will not stop if you play dead.Dont swat at the bees or wave your arms to fend them off. That will only confirm that you are indeed a threat. Youre likely to be stung even more. Dont jump into a pool or other body of water to avoid the bees. They can and will wait for you to surface, and will sting you as soon as you do. You cant hold your breath long enough to wait them out, trust me.If someone else is being stung by killer bees and cannot run away, cover them with anything you can find. Do what you can to quickly cover any exposed skin or susceptible areas of their body, and then run for help as fast as you can. Once you are in a safe place, use a blunt object to scrape any stingers out of your skin. When an African honey bee stings, the stinger is pulled from its abdomen along with the venom sac, which can keep pumping venom into your body. The sooner you remove the stingers, the less venom will enter your system. If you were stung just once or a few times, treat the stings as you would regular bee stings and carefully monitor yourself for any unusual reactions. Wash the sting sites with soap and water to avoid infections. Use ice packs to reduce swelling and pain. Of course, if you are allergic to bee venom, seek medical attention immediately. If you suffered multiple stings, seek medical attention immediately. Sources: Africanized Honey Bees, San Diego Natural History Museum, accessed March 19, 2010Africanized Honey Bees, Ohio State University Extension, accessed March 19, 2010

International Financial Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

International Financial Markets - Essay Example effected where the surplus funds are invested in the markets through buying of assets, and the deficit is counteracted when investors sell their assets. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has played a major role in financing investors. The financing from an exchange in the recent decade has been viewed to be more effective compared to other financial institutions. The process applied in extending credit is much easier to undertake. A number of factors have been seen to enhance this process. These include the growing competition, fluctuating interest rates, deregulation and advanced technology that have resulted in the efficiency of operations of the LSE. LSE is among the largest trading market internationally serving 3000 companies in 70 different countries. Integrity, market knowledge and a lot of expertise have been a platform for LSE. It is a leader in providing of services that facilitate raising of capital amongst its participants. It is also among the leading stock exchanges in equity trading. LSE offers both real and virtual stock exchanges. Virtual stock exchange allows its investors to trade online while the real exchange is done offline. Advertently, this allows all manner of investors to trade in this stock exchange. The technological advances allow participants in this market to have the opportunity to trade locally and internationally. The LSE group has in the past decade offered high performance trading platforms, market softwares e.g. sets, crests, for assessment of assets as well as post trading services for its participants (Alexander, 2008, 281; Alexander, 2010, 137). Main markets works together with the LSE and the financial authorities in regulation of trades with big corporations. These are companies who are not only looking for ways of raising capital but also in having a reputation in their liquidity shares profile and international position. It has a combined market capitalisation of  £3.7 trillion. This market serves over 1400 companies. It

BHS 499 (Senior Capstone Project) Module 2 SLP Essay

BHS 499 (Senior Capstone Project) Module 2 SLP - Essay Example He would also require drug companies to offer bigger discounts/rebates (at least 22.1), to Medicaid, for the health program of low-income people. This up-to-date proposed legislation is directed to create an abbreviated pathway, as well as the potential effect of the said pathway for FOB approval of the PHS Act biologics on specific federal spending. In recent years, the introduction of bio-equivalent generics for drugs which are chemically synthesized or "conventional drugs" resulted in considerable generic penetration as well as average price effects (Mathieu, 2004; pp. 10-1). In pharmaceutical industries, Patents serve to protect inventors' intellectual property rights at the same time allowing them to share information which others might use in order to progress or advance the field. Yet, in the modern pharmaceutical business, the system is quite grossly abused as it permits companies to patent drugs which are not reasonably considered as "new inventions'. As a matter of fact, several companies flooded the market with drugs which are not affordable. This practice has been used by many companies to prevent altogether and delay competition among generic drugs. 2008) that those doctors prescribe. Doctors normally prescribe more drugs the moment they acquire gifts from drug makers.

International Management Research Paper Essay Example for Free

International Management Research Paper Essay Assessing the Environment As we look to take our business, International Jean Company, into the ever expanding global market, it’s important that we choose locations that are going to fit our needs. This location selection cannot just be random, nor can it be done hastily. Our time learning how to be International Managers have taught us that only through careful research into many topics like the Environment, the Geography and Climate, the Culture, and Communication, can we really have the information necessary to make an informed decision. Therefore, we began to look at Denmark, and extensively researched the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that lay before us here. Denmark is a small country with a population of just over 5 million inhabitants. It has achieved a remarkable degree of economic success over the last 50 years or so. With GDP per head of around $56,000 the country ranks fifth in the world and ahead of both Japan and Germany in terms of purchasing power. This remarkable economic success has been achieved by the Danes thanks, in no small measure, to their pragmatic business style.(1) According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, it has the most efficient distribution system, the best labor regulations, and the second highest GDP per person. According to Forbes.com, Denmark is the best country to do business in. The Danish economys mix of low inflation and low unemployment along with emphasis on entrepreneurship and lower taxes make Denmark an attractive company to business investors and entrepreneurs. These qualities combined with high marks for innovation and technological savvy lift Denmark to the top of the business worl d. Denmark is a country that is filled with many small and medium sized, independently owned businesses. Compared to the rest of the European Union, Denmark has a significantly less amount of large corporations, with the exception of Spain. They are known for their top quality production standards. Danish companies tend to concentrate on highly specialized products with a high margin production and rely more on product innovation and design instead of improvements in production technology and price competitiveness. Many small and medium sized companies are able to have major control over their market because they base themselves in small towns and rely on relationships with the community. This makes it difficult for large corporations to take their market share. Although Denmark has a significant amount of independent businesses that support its economy, it is highly dependent on foreign trade and international cooperation. Denmark is made up of a highly developed infrastructure, an advanced telecommunications system and a well-educated and stable workforce. Throughout all relevant levels of the workforce, English is spoken and written at an exceptionally good level. This is a very beneficial factor to the role that Denmark plays in the global market. Geographically, Denmark is in the perfect position for international trade. It is in the center of the Scandinavian countries and has easy access to the Northern and Eastern European countries. International surveys show that Denmark has top ratings in transportation, in all modes, energy, communications, and distribution systems. It is also highly rated in product quality, organizational quality, customer relations, credibility, and social responsibility. Denmark’s legal system is very similar to those of other European countries. Foreign business men may find some difficulty in legalities due to the use of civil law system and statutory law. Unlike the common law system used in countries such as the US, the Danish courts are not limited to the strict lettering of the law, but instead the purpose of the statute. This interpretation is also applied to private agreements. Compared to other countries, lobbying of the government is not as common and not as organized as in other countries. Usually, trade bodies will bring up issues to the government instead of individual persons or companies. The most common forms of companies used in Denmark are Public Limited Companies and Private Limited Companies. Denmark is known for having a high tax rate although when taking to account other costs of doing business (wages, benefits, cost of living, etc.) it balances out. The Danish tax regime relies heavily on direct taxes, such as taxes from labor, but there is little to no dependence on indirect taxes, such as social security and contributions from employers. Managing Interdependence Denmark is a significant player in the global market when it comes to social responsibility and ethics. It has the lowest rate of corruption of any other countries in the European Union. It also has very strict government regulations and very beneficial reasons to be socially responsible. Since the 1970’s, Danish environmental law has developed as part of public, private and European Community law. The National Agency for Environmental Protection, the National Forest and Nature Agency and the Department of Planning all make up the Ministry of the Environment. The have local and regional councils which are elected by the public and are responsible for environmental and planning procedures that conform to local wishes. Denmark is one of the few countries that have several kinds of green fees and green taxes. This is to motivate companies to use cleaner technologies, resource management, and/or environmental audit and management schemes. In 2008, Danish parliament passed a bill that forces large corporations to report on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) on their annual report. The Danish companies that have engaged in CSR have reported that it has had a positive effect on the companies. They claim that while it is flexible, it does bring up some legal burdens on them. It is the belief of the Danish government that the legal requirement marks the starting point for increased reporting on CSR, and in the forthcoming years the government intends to encourage progress and improvement of Danish businesses’ CSR work and reporting. Upon this laws implementation, 1100 companies were required to report CSR on their next annual reports. According to the 2009 reports, 89% of the required companies complied and 3% did not comply (8% complied by default because of being a subsidiary of a company that complied). The most common form of CSR among Danish companies related to environmental and climate issues. According to International Management, by Helen Deresky, Denmark is tied for the number one spot for the country with the least amount of corruption. This is because the Danish culture has a much more direct approach to business practices. They prefer openness and honesty, which sometimes seems rude to foreigners. It is clear to see that Denmark is ahead of almost all other countries in being Socially Responsible and having sound business ethics. For a new company, good ethics and social responsibility can be a make-it or break-it issue for a company. In one aspect, these issues can cost the company money. When just beginning, you should try to get your costs to be as low as possible. On the other hand, being viewed as an ethical company and by being socially responsible you improve the image and branding of the company. That will give the public a better perception of the company and can increase the demand for your product. Fortunately, in Denmark, only large companies are legally required to report their activities relating to social responsibility. While it would be a smart choice to make, not having to spend money on social responsibility during the beginning phases of the company will allow ease for penetrating the market and will allow us to be more socially responsible in the future. Overall, Denmark’s cost of doing business is about the same, if not lower than other countries, and the benefits of doing business in that country are much more significant. As long as our company helps locals and abides by their cultures and their rules, then the company should be very successful. Understanding the Role of Culture Before we can truly consider starting our business in Denmark, we need to understand the culture of the area. The viability of the economy, the labor market, the work environment, are all crucial to our success overseas. Taking the time to build a cultural profile of Denmark can help International Jean understand how to transition our business, and our expatriates to a very new experience. We begin our cultural profile by looking at the Government and Economic systems of Denmark. The politics of Denmark could best be described as a â€Å"Social Democracy† Though they do have a constitutional monarchy, like England it is a mostly ceremonial position. Elections occur democratically, similar to the United States without the Electoral College, which leads to a more direct representation of democracy. There are very low levels of corruption, not just in Denmark but in the entirety of the surrounding Nordic countries. As far as picking a market to operate out of, Denmark is a very excellent selection. Denmark has a prosperous, well-developed mixed market economy, ranking 16th in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) per capita. They use the Nordic Model, which is a version of what is traditionally called a â€Å"welfare state† The Nordic Model differs from other welfare states with an emphasis on maximizing labor force participation, promoting wage and gender equality, and a large amount of wealth distribution. A so called â€Å"welfare state† goes hand in hand with wealth distribution, citizens can count on monetary support during periods of unemployment and on welfare. The redistribution of wealth goes towards many societal needs, which will be explained further. Furthering supporting our transition, Denmark features low barriers to free trade, as well as little product market regulation. In fact, according to OECD rankings, Denmark has one of the highest ratings as far as product market freedom is concerned. We will be able to easily enter into this market, and will have a lot of freedom in regards to product selection, as well as advertising and marketing. This plays into the next few sections of our cultural profile: Kinship and attitudes towards leisure and recreation. Denmark, similar to most of the Nordic region, is one of the most liberal nations in Europe. They have an open attitude towards sex, nudity, and freedom of expression. As you walk around cities in Denmark, you can find advertising that features risquà © situations, and even cursing. The people of Denmark tend to have a darker sense of humor than what we’re acclimated to here in the United States, and often find ways to poke fun even at traditionally somber topics like death. Though we should be careful of how we utilize humor, both in our advertisements and in our work environment. Though good natured, citizens here tend to intensely dislike any joking at the expense of Denmark and its culture, particularly from outsiders. They are very proud of their country, and their family units reflect this. Families in Denmark are traditionally tight, well-knit units, who enjoy a good quality of life. They tend to live a relaxed lifestyle with a focus on family and friends. Bicycles are one of the predominant ways to travel around, especially in bigger cities like Copenhagen. We come to a big difference between the United States and Denmark, in terms of the attitude towards work. Whereas most Americans â€Å"work to live†, in Denmark the opposite is true. The Danish are taught from an early age to choose a profession that they would enjoy working, as opposed to a job taken out of financial necessity. This is reflected on Denmark’s scores in G.L.O.B.E/ Hofstede cultural dimension rankings in â€Å"masculinity†, which are very low, as well as â€Å"Uncertainty Avoidance† also being low. This is partly due to the fact that most of the labor market is a part of Trade Unions, as of 2008 Denmark had 67.6% labor union density. There is a partnership between employers, trade unions and the government, whereby these social partners negotiate the terms to regulating the workplace among themselves, rather than the terms being imposed by law. As we transition, we will need to make contact with these unions, and work closely with them to come up with rules and regulations for International Jeans that work for the native population. Another workplace difference is in the amount of work per week and the vacation time allotted. The Danish work an average of 37 hours a week, generally calling it a day around 4pm local time. Expatriates should be made aware that the Danish are not impressed with managers that work 50-60 hours a week. As mentioned previously, they believe in a balance between work and life, and would view those who worked considerably more hours to be less efficient at their jobs. In the United States, there are no laws concerning paid vacations or time off. To contrast, in Denmark paid time off is actually mandated by law. The Danish usually receive a minimum of 5 weeks of vacation, plus national holidays. These are factors we need to consider when hiring local workers. Other characteristics of the Danish work environment include high job mobility, as employees and managers are encouraged to take risks and make decisions that a more conservative American manager might not make. In general, Danish company activities are less structured and less formal, which is reflected again by the low score in the â€Å"Uncertainty Avoidance† category. There is a low level of Assertiveness on the Hofstede scale, as the strength of unions and the desire of the Danish to care about their work come together to make a highly productive and group oriented workplace. We would do well to hire a lot of local talent immediately. We mentioned the large amount of wealth distribution earlier. Denmark ranks highly on the Collectivism scale. Being a social welfare economy, much of that money is poured into both the Educational system as well as Healthcare. The Danish education system provides access to primary school, secondary school and higher education. All university education in Denmark is free; there are no tuition fees to enroll in courses. Danish universities and other higher education institutions offer international students a range of opportunities for obtaining an internationally recognized qualification in Denmark, and many classes are taught in English. Our company should take advantage of this when looking to hire. In addition to free education, there is also Universal Healthcare for all Danish citizens, paid primarily by taxes. Denmark spends 9.8% of GDP on healthcare. The life expectancy in Denmark is 78.6 years, and there is one doctor for every 294 persons in Denmark. It should be noted, that these social services also leads to a high tax rate for Danish citizens, hovering near 48-49% Communicating Across Cultures As we work towards bringing International Jean Co. to Denmark, we need to be aware of the similarities and differences in the way our two countries communicate. The characteristics of that communication, and the interplay between American expatriates and Danish locals will determine how well our new company will function as an overseas entity. We will begin by looking at native language, as well as the amount of English saturation in Denmark. The native language of Denmark is Danish, with other regional languages such as Faroese, Greenlandic, and German officially recognized. In selecting expatriates, we should look to be choosing managers that are able to speak Danish, or willing to quickly learn. However, we shouldn’t feel like the ability to speak the language is mandatory for expatriates. One of the great aspects of setting up our business in Denmark is that there is a very high proportion of Danish citizens who speak English. In the educational system, it is taught as the primary foreign language. English will be spoken and written well by all relevant levels of the workforce. This is further demonstrated by the fact that many commercials and advertisements, as well as trademarks, are used directly in Denmark without translation. The people of Denmark are, generally speaking, friendly but blunt in their speech with one another. Concerning Hofstede dimensions, they rank very highly in the â€Å"Humane† category. They tend to shy away from confrontation, so our expatriates are going to need to tread softly when it comes to moment of direct communication regarding mistakes or problems. Direct debate is encouraged, but keeping confrontational phrasing out of it is important. The Danish tend to be very plain speaking when communicating, which can be mistaken for rudeness in other cultures. Our managers need to be aware of this, so they know that they aren’t necessarily being insulted when talking about work issues. Like the United States, Denmark is a â€Å"low-context† culture. They tend to be direct and explicit when communicating among one another, and tend not to rely on non-verbal communication. They prefer to have direct conversations, either by phone or face-to-face, though increasingly more electronic communication has taken over. Also like the United States, Denmark is also considered a â€Å"low-contact† culture. They prefer a minimum of an arm’s length of personal space, and do not enjoy overly aggressive physical contact. Body language is very restricted, which can make interpreting responses and feedback difficult. Time is another major factor that we as Americans have in common with Denmark. The Danish follow a monochronic time system, which is more linear in structure as compared to polychronic time. Those practicing monochromic time, such as the Danish, tend to complete tasks one at a time as well as adhere to a stricter schedule. We also share similar views on proxemics, or proximity. The Danish see larger offices and more space as reflective of having more power and esteem. The United States and Denmark have a surprising amount of similarities in how we communicate, both in regards to interpersonal communication as well as in a work environment. This should greatly aid International Jean Co. in a smooth transition from the United States to Denmark. Cross-Cultural Negotiation and Decision Making The Negotiation Process: Danish people of business are usually very experienced in interacting and doing business with visitors from other cultures. They pride themselves on their Danish culture and tend to sometimes not be very open to information or assistance from the outside. Similar to many other countries, people of Denmark shake hands upon meeting. This is also the case when departing. It is good to familiarize yourself with the Danish culture before going in full steam. The Danish official language resembles Swedish and Norwegian, and shares a few commonalities with German, but DO NOT remark or even assume that they are similar. Most businessmen and women in Denmark speak English well, but it is recommended to stay away from using jargon and slang. Danes like to leave space between themselves when interacting, so be aware of other’s personal space and try not to be too touchy-feely. They usually speak in quiet, gentle tones and interrupting is considered rude. Danes usually do not openly show their emotions. Come well prepared! The Danes are meticulous when it comes to analyzing information and proposals. Know your information and bring in copies for your Danish counterpart to examine. Everything should be well organized and do not steer off topic; straight and to the point. Business relationships are often only fairly important in the country, and are typically not a needed requirement for initial business interactions. Just like your goal is to get to know one’s contacts in a host country and build mutual trust before embarking on business discussion and transaction, your counterpart is also trying to learn about you. Danes are cautious and appear to be reserved and proceed slow. Once the trust is well known, there will be a sense of allegiance to you as a respected business partner. Denmark is a democratic and understanding country. It can be cohesive to criticize other people or systems. Bosses are expected to be team leaders rather than private decision-makers. In the country’s business culture, the respect a person takes pleasure in depends mainly on his or her achievements. Well-liked personal traits include individual initiative, knowledge, and expertise. To the Danes, negotiation is a joint problem solving process and the buyer and seller in a deal are equal partners. The primary negotiation style is cooperative and they believe in the concept win-win. It is strongly advisable to avoid any open disagreement and to remain calm, friendly, patient, and determined. The Danish believe in information sharing as a way to build trust with their counterparts but this doesn’t mean that they are going to say everything. A good part of the communication may be in writing, which Danes often prefer. They move through things rather quick and are less observant over detail. They strive to conclude negotiations quickly but this does not mean they will readily accept unfavorable terms. Danes do not like bargaining or haggling such that they do not appreciate aggressive sales techniques. They do prefer negotiating in a straightforward and honest style and may use pressure techniques. When persuading your counterpart avoid aggressive tactics and negotiating with the Danish. If confronted, they will not shy away, but this is almost guaranteed to deteriorate your bargaining position rather than strengthen it. It can also eliminate your relationship. Although a verbal agreement can be considered binding and will most likely be kept, do not consider them final. Only a contract that is signed by the two parties makes up a binding agreement. Written contracts are a serious matter in Denmark. It is best to keep them concise without including too many legalistic details. Signing the contract not only shows your commitment but a strong confirmation of your Danish partners’ commitment also. Works Cited Brunson, Winnon â€Å"Cultural Perspective: A Year in Denmark† 2008 http://blogs.denmark.dk/winnon â€Å"Danish Communication Styles† 2012 http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Danish-Business-Communication-Style.html â€Å"ET Ã…R I KØBENHAVN: FOLKESUNDHED OG KULTUR† 2011 http://brunsonw.wordpress.com/tag/denmark-and-u-s-cultural-differences â€Å"The Monarchy today† – The Danish Monarchy 16, June 2012 kongehuset.dk â€Å"ETLA: The Nordic Model† http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf â€Å"The Nordic Model† Nordic Labour Journal: In Focus. 2001 http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/i-fokus/in-focus-2001/the-nordic-model â€Å"Business Negotiations in Denmark† http://www.danishnet.com/info.php/business/negotiation-76.html â€Å"Business Etiquette in Denmark† http://www.danishnet.com/info.php/business/meeting-etiquette-38.html â€Å"Negotiating International Business The Negotiator’s Reference Guide to 50 Countries Around the World† Katz, Lothar. 2007 www.globalnegotiationresources.com/cou/Denmark.pdf â€Å"Doing Business in Denmark† Kroman, Reumart. 11 February, 2005. www.mittlerer-niederhein.ihk.de/media/upload/ihk/imap//daenemark_doing_business_050211

Structure and Characterization in Sense and Sensibility Essays -- Aust

Structure and Characterization in Sense and Sensibility Fiction was not considered an important part of literature in the early nineteenth century when Jane Austen published her novels. Fiction was presumed to be immoral and even dangerous since it "over-excited the imagination" (Halperin 5). Many religious denominations instituted anti- fiction campaigns to protect young people from the corrupting influence of the novels. It was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that this attitude regarding fiction began to change. Due to this bias as well as the anonymity that Jane Austen sought by not putting her own name on her novels, there were very few critical reviews made of her work until the mid-1800's. Many early reviewers of Austen's work were uncomplimentary. Among them were writers considered to be literary greats, such as Wordsworth and Mark Twain. Though Wordsworth conceded that Austen's novels were an admirable copy of life, he remained adamant in his dislike for that type of literature. Mark Twain compared Austen to a Puritan as her novels made him feel like a "bar-keeper entering the Kingdom of Heaven!" (Halperin). Gradually critics have come to recognize Austen's literary talents. Austen's ability to make her characters "speak and act as . . . in every day life" has caused some critics to refer to her as the "greatest artist that has ever written" (Halperin 18). Her "attention to detail" can be compared to a conscientious seamstress who stitches her seams neat and leaves no ragged edges (Hardy 21). In her novels, she shows her ability to overcome the gap between the author and her reader which enables the reader to better understand the characters and their conduct. "Sense and Sensibility" was Austen'... ...Austen's Fiction." Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1980. Mudrick, Marvin. "Jane Austen: Irony as Defense and Discovery." Berkeley: U of California P. 1968. Nardin, Jane. "Those Elegant Decorums: The Concept of Propriety in Jane Austen's Novels." Albany: State U of New York P, 1973. Odmark, John. "An Understanding of Jane Austen's Novels" Character, Value and Ironic Perspective." Totowa: Barnes and Noble, 1981. Scott, P.J.M. "Jane Austen" A Reassessment." London" Vision" Totowa" Barnes and Noble, 1982. Wiesenforth, Joseph. "The Errand of Form: An Essay of Jane Austen's Art." New York: Fordham UP, 1967. Wright, Andrew H. "Jane Austen's Novels: A Study in Structure." 2nd ed. London: Chatto, 1964. Zimmerman, Everett. "Admiring Pope No More Than is Proper." "Jane Austen: Bicentenary Essays." Ed. John Halperin. Cambridge" Cambridge UP, 1975. 112-123.

Characters Effect on a Reader Essay

Characters dealing with a situation affect each reader differently. The characters reaction to a situation may have a reader feel exactly as the character does, or in some instances, the reader may look more at how differently they would feel in the same situation. In an attempt to answer Henry James on how characters are only as interesting as their response to the particular situation we will look at â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† by John Steinbeck and â€Å"To Build a Fire† by Jack London. In â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† we are introduced to Elisa Allen at her ranch working in her garden. She is described in the story as: â€Å"She was thirty five. Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were clear as water. Her figure was blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man’s black hat pulled down over her eyes, clodhopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold the snips, the trowel and scratcher, the seeds and the knife she worked with. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hand while she worked. †(Steinbeck 242) This detail gives the reader the mental picture of Elisa. The description makes it easy for the reader to know exactly what she looks like. Being around the outdoors and growing up on a farm helps me in picturing how a busy female rancher would look. This sets up the reader for when the wagon pulls up. As the gentlemen from the wagon talks with Elisa in attempt to get her to purchase work from him, I felt there was sexual tension between the two. Elisa attempts to hold her ground in the hopes he would just go away, but he finally breaks through to her by showing interest in her Chrysanthemums. By showing that they had something in common, the gentlemen is able to break the guard Elisa had put up, and she in turn, gives him work to do by fixing old saucepans. Once the gentlemen leaves, she runs into the house and begins to bathe almost in a way to remove the dirty thoughts. Once out of the bath, she takes her time looking at herself in the mirror and getting dressed; almost as if the thoughts were coming back, all to go away when she heard her husband returning. That is the way I felt towards Elisa Allen’s character. I am not sure if that is the intended way the author meant. Trying to look at the story from the author’s point of view, I almost see Elisa looking at the wagon as a way of freedom from where she has perfected her Chrysanthemums and looking for something new in her life. Early in the story, her husband jokingly asked about going to the fights and she quickly declined, but towards the end, after her encounter with the traveler, she started questioning how the fights were. It is almost as if she was looking for something different, something that would give her a sense of adventure to take her away from the monotony of her boring life. In the end she declines the opportunity and the author shows us she has accepted the reality of her life being boring with this excerpt: â€Å"She relaxed limply in the seat. â€Å"Oh, no. No. I don’t want to go. I’m sure I don’t. † Her face was turned away from him. â€Å"It will be enough if we can have wine. It will be plenty. † She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly – like an old woman. †(Steinbeck 249) Either way it was perceived, the character shows that there is something in her life she is missing and she attempts to fulfill it with the Chrysanthemums. Other readers may find different ways of seeing how Elisa Allen may feel in this story. Without the description of how she was, and the way she reacted to the fights, this may have been a boring story because it would have lacked the information about the character to make her interesting enough for the reader to wonder about her. Next, we will look at â€Å"To Build a Fire†. Right from the beginning the character has no name, only referred to as â€Å"the Man†. This gives the reader the chance to put themselves in the story. By not giving the character a name, it allows the reader to fall into the pages, especially with how descriptive the setting is. Each detail brings more and more bitterness on how cold it is. With this cold comes the overconfidence of the man: â€Å"Fifty degrees below zero was to him just a precisely fifty degrees below zero. That there should be anything more to it than that was a thought that never entered his head. †(London 128) This overconfidence leads the man down a path to death. My experiences in scouting and life have taught me to respect Mother Nature and never take her for granted. This also allowed me to put myself in the same situation in the story and imagine all the things I would have done differently. The man’s attitude was that cold is cold, no matter the temperature, and his knowledge will get him through his lack of experience. I became more frustrated with his actions, as I knew he was dealing with each situation incorrectly. As the story progressed, there was continued hope that his luck wouldn’t run out, but in the end, his handicap of ignorance led to his demise. A reader that has never been in this type of situation may not have understood the severity of the situation and would only be able to see from the eyes of the man. It is also possible for a reader to feel the frustration of him dealing with each of the problems he came across. If the man’s confidence was not as great, there would have been more thought to the situation, and he may have listened to what advice had been given. It may have also led to the man making different choices, or allowing himself some humility and turned around. This confidence allows the story to be thought of from a point of view that anyone could be put in a similar situation and that any daily life situation can cause our confidence to sometimes gets the best of us. We always think we know more that we do. â€Å"All a man had to do was keep his head, and he was all right. Any man who was a man could travel alone. †(London 132) This excerpt is a perfect example as shortly after this, the snow falls on the fire and the man admits his mistake. This would have not happened if the man’s confidence had not got the best of him. Additionally, the entire story would have changed, and the character would have had better chance if he would have thought things through or if he would have had someone else traveling with him. Both of these stories can be interesting to the readers from their own personal experiences, or quite simply by the details the authors publish. If the characters would have dealt with the situations differently, or the details of the characters, then they would have been boring. I believe that this easily answers Henry James because the details allowed my thoughts to wander and kept me interested on what would happen next. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums. † Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. 12th ed. Kennedy, X. J. , and Gioia, D. New York, New York 2013. Pearson. pp 242-249 London, Jack. â€Å"To Build a Fire. † Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. 12th ed. Kennedy, X. J. , and Gioia, D. New York, New York 2013. Pearson. pp 127-146.

Compare and contrast ‘Charge of The Light Brigade’ and ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ Essay

In this essay, I shall be comparing two poems namely ‘Charge of The Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and ‘Dulce et decorum est.’ by Wilfred Owen. Wilfred Owen was actually a soldier in the war, whereas Alfred, Lord Tennyson had no experience of the battle itself and only wrote the poem based upon the second hand evidence that he either read or heard. ‘Charge of The Light Brigade’ delivers a strong message base on the theme of the war. The poem gives the impression that war is a glorious and noble act and consists of phrases such as ‘When can their glory fade?’, ‘Honour the charge they made!’ and ‘The Noble Six Hundred’. This shows that in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s opinion it is noble and glorious act to fight and die for one’s country. Alternatively, Wilfred Owens’s poem has a far more negative outlook on war. Contrary to Tennyson’s noble and proud view of war Owen believes that dying in a war s a horrible, bitter death especially when such an end is as a result of a gas bomb being discharged in the surrounding area. He recounts graphic and horrific descriptions a soldier gradually dying while gasping for air. Some of the phrases that the poet uses to convey the hideous horror of the battlefield are; ‘He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning’, ‘And watch the white eyes writhing in his face’, ‘come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs’. I believe Wilfred Owen includes these vile descriptions to show the stark reality of war and the ultimate human sacrifice that so many of those innocent young men endured while fighting for King and country.. While the theme of both poems is of war; they are in fact depicting two different battles. The poem ‘Charge of The Light Brigade’ was written to commemorate the battle of Balaclava in 1854 while the other poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est ‘ was written to reflect battles of the First World War in 1916. The poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ tells the story of a young man and his fellow troops who march into war and find themselves fighting for air when a gas bomb hits the battlefield.

Differentiating Between Cedars and Junipers

Differentiating Between Cedars and Junipers Cedars and junipers are both evergreen coniferous  trees  belonging to the plant order  Pinales. They have many traits in common and are easily confused, in part because some trees commonly referred to as cedars are actually junipers. To sort out the confusion, it helps to take a closer look at the defining qualities of each tree. Cedar is the common name for a variety of trees, including both true cedars (those belonging to the genus  Cedrus) and false or New World cedars, which include a number of different trees from  separate but similar genera. Junipers are trees belonging to the genus  Juniperus. Some of these trees, despite being junipers, are commonly referred to as cedars, such as  Juniperus bermudiana, which is commonly known as the Bermuda cedar. True Cedars vs. False Cedars An important distinction needs to be made between true and false cedars. True cedars are members of the genus  Cedrus  and include species such as the Lebanon cedar, Atlas cedar, and Cyprus cedar. They are found in the Himalayas and the Mediterranean region and are often grown in parks and gardens. All true cedars are members of the pine family (Pinaceae). False cedars, sometimes known as New World cedars, are found in North America. They are members of the genera  Calocedrus,  Thuja, and  Chamaecyparis, all of which are part of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). Some believe that these trees came to be called cedars because of their  aromatic wood, which resembles that of true cedars. Characteristics of Cedars Cedars are evergreen coniferous trees found throughout the world. They are usually tall and often feature fan-like foliage, small cones, or tiny pink flowers. The major cedars of North America- including the  Atlantic white cedar,  northern white cedar, giant sequoia, and western red cedar- all have flat, scale-like leaves and stringy bark.  They grow in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and along the Atlantic coast. The  Japanese red-cedar, originally cultivated in China, is used to produce strong, weather- and insect-resistant timber for building furniture and houses. Other cedars, including the Mexican white cedar and Australian red cedar, are also used to produce durable timber. The  Lebanon cedar- one of the true cedars- is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. It was supposedly used in the construction of Solomons Temple in Jerusalem. Characteristics of Junipers Junipers, like cedars, are also evergreen coniferous plants. Junipers, however, are  most commonly shrubs, though they can be trees as well. The plants often feature  berrylike, bluish, glaucous, bloomy cones on the tips of their shoots. Some junipers also have spiny needle-like leaves. Juniper trees, when they are fully grown, often resemble narrow columns. One of the best examples of this is  Juniperus virginiana, or the eastern red-cedar, one of the several cedars that are actually junipers. It is the most common juniper in eastern North America. The most common juniper in western North America is the Rocky Mountain juniper. All junipers produce small seed cones that resemble berries. The seed cones of the common juniper are sold as juniper berries. Juniper berries are a key ingredient in the production of gin.

Biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan, Mathematical Genius

Biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan, Mathematical Genius Srinivasa Ramanujan (born December 22, 1887 in Erode, India) was an Indian mathematician who made substantial contributions to mathematics- including results in number theory, analysis, and infinite series- despite having little formal training in math. Fast Facts: Srinivasa Ramanujan Full Name: Srinivasa Aiyangar RamanujanKnown For: Prolific mathematicianParents’ Names: K. Srinivasa Aiyangar, KomalatammalBorn: December 22, 1887 in Erode, IndiaDied: April 26, 1920 at age 32 in Kumbakonam, IndiaSpouse: JanakiammalInteresting Fact: Ramanujans life is depicted in a book published in 1991 and a 2015 biographical film, both titled The Man Who Knew Infinity. Early Life and Education Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, in Erode, a city in southern India. His father, K. Srinivasa Aiyangar, was an accountant, and his mother Komalatammal was the daughter of a city official. Though Ramanujan’s family was of the Brahmin caste, the highest social class in India, they lived in poverty. Ramanujan began attending school at the age of 5. In 1898, he transferred to Town High School in Kumbakonam. Even at a young age, Ramanujan demonstrated extraordinary proficiency in math, impressing his teachers and upperclassmen. However, it was G.S. Carr’s book, A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure Mathematics, which reportedly spurred Ramanujan to become obsessed with the subject. Having no access to other books, Ramanujan taught himself mathematics using Carr’s book, whose topics included integral calculus and power series calculations. This concise book would have an unfortunate impact on the way Ramanujan wrote down his mathematical results later, as his writings included too few details for many people to understand how he arrived at his results. Ramanujan was so interested in studying mathematics that his formal education effectively came to a standstill. At the age of 16, Ramanujan matriculated at the Government College in Kumbakonam on a scholarship, but lost his scholarship the next year because he had neglected his other studies. He then failed the First Arts examination in 1906, which would have allowed him to matriculate at the University of Madras, passing math but failing his other subjects. Career For the next few years, Ramanujan worked independently on mathematics, writing down results in two notebooks. In 1909, he began publishing work in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society, which gained him recognition for his work despite lacking a university education. Needing employment, Ramanujan became a clerk in 1912 but continued his mathematics research and gained even more recognition. Receiving encouragement from a number of people, including the mathematician Seshu Iyer, Ramanujan sent over a letter along with about 120 mathematical theorems to G. H. Hardy, a lecturer in mathematics at Cambridge University in England. Hardy, thinking that the writer could either be a mathematician who was playing a prank or a previously undiscovered genius, asked another mathematician J.E. Littlewood, to help him look at Ramanujan’s work. The two concluded that Ramanujan was indeed a genius. Hardy wrote back, noting that Ramanujan’s theorems fell into roughly three categories: results that were already known (or which could easily be deduced with known mathematical theorems); results that were new, and that were interesting but not necessarily important; and results that were both new and important. Hardy immediately began to arrange for Ramanujan to come to England, but Ramanujan refused to go at first because of religious scruples about going overseas.  However, his mother dreamed that the Goddess of Namakkal commanded her to not prevent Ramanujan from fulfilling his purpose. Ramanujan arrived in England in 1914 and began his collaboration with Hardy. In 1916, Ramanujan obtained a Bachelor of Science by Research (later called a Ph.D.) from Cambridge University. His thesis was based on highly composite numbers, which are integers that have more divisors (or numbers that they can be divided by) than do integers of smaller value. In 1917, however, Ramanujan became seriously ill, possibly from tuberculosis, and was admitted to a nursing home at Cambridge, moving to different nursing homes as he tried to regain his health. In 1919, he showed some recovery and decided to move back to India. There, his health deteriorated again and he died there the following year. Personal Life On July 14, 1909, Ramanujan married Janakiammal, a girl whom his mother had selected for him. Because she was 10 at the time of marriage, Ramanujan did not live together with her until she reached puberty at the age of 12, as was common at the time. Honors and Awards 1918, Fellow of the Royal Society1918, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University In recognition of Ramanujan’s achievements, India also celebrates Mathematics Day on December 22, Ramanjan’s birthday. Death Ramanujan died on April 26, 1920 in Kumbakonam, India, at the age of 32. His death was likely caused by an intestinal disease called hepatic amoebiasis. Legacy and Impact Ramanujan proposed many formulas and theorems during his lifetime. These results, which include solutions of problems that were previously considered to be unsolvable, would be investigated in more detail by other mathematicians, as Ramanujan relied more on his intuition rather than writing out mathematical proofs. His results include: An infinite series for Ï€, which calculates the number based on the summation of other numbers. Ramanujan’s infinite series serves as the basis for many algorithms used to calculate Ï€.The Hardy-Ramanujan asymptotic formula, which provided a formula for calculating the partition of numbers- numbers that can be written as the sum of other numbers. For example, 5 can be written as 1 4, 2 3, or other combinations.The Hardy-Ramanujan number, which Ramanujan stated was the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of cubed numbers in two different ways. Mathematically, 1729 13 123 93 103. Ramanujan did not actually discover this result, which was actually published by the French mathematician Frà ©nicle de Bessy in 1657. However, Ramanujan made the number 1729 well known.1729 is an example of a â€Å"taxicab number,† which is the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of cubed numbers in n different ways. The name derives from a conversation bet ween Hardy and Ramanujan, in which Ramanujan asked Hardy the number of the taxi he had arrived in. Hardy replied that it was a boring number, 1729, to which Ramanujan replied that it was actually a very interesting number for the reasons above. Sources Kanigel, Robert. The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan. Scribner, 1991.Krishnamurthy, Mangala. â€Å"The Life and Lasting Influence of Srinivasa Ramanujan.† Science Technology Libraries, vol. 31, 2012, pp. 230–241.Miller, Julius. â€Å"Srinivasa Ramanujan: A Biographical Sketch.† School Science and Mathematics, vol. 51, no. 8, Nov. 1951, pp. 637–645.Newman, James. â€Å"Srinivasa Ramanujan.† Scientific American, vol. 178, no. 6, June 1948, pp. 54–57.OConnor, John, and Edmund Robertson. â€Å"Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan.† MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, June 1998, www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Biographies/Ramanujan.html.Singh, Dharminder, et al. â€Å"Srinvasa Ramanujans Contributions in Mathematics.† IOSR Journal of Mathematics, vol. 12, no. 3, 2016, pp. 137–139.â€Å"Srinivasa Aiyangar Ramanujan.† Ramanujan Museum Math Education Centre, M.A .T Educational Trust, www.ramanujanmuseum.org/aboutramamujan.htm.

Culture and Technology-Sheila Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Culture and Technology-Sheila - Coursework Example The distributed teams are also affected by these two in different ways. This paper is going to discuss the influence of technology and culture on the performance of organizations. A general definition of culture is that it is a shared platform of characteristics, beliefs and interactions. What this definition implies is all members of a particular culture have same behaviors, beliefs and way of socializing with others. The people forming a particular culture can be those operating in the same working environment, or those that are from the same geographical region. Workers of an organization usually have a culture that guides their operation in the firm. Therefore, they became members of this organization’s culture. Since they are operating in the same culture, these workers have similar traits and ways of operation that are connected to the organizational culture (Daim, 2012). The culture in which a team or organization carries out its activities would always influence the performance of this team or firm. There are various ways through which the team performance can be affected by culture. Even though most of the effects are positive, some of them are negative effects. One way in which culture influences the performance of a team is by creating a specific code of conduct that would regulate the operations of team members or employees in an organization. The restriction on what people can do in the firm is very important when it comes to maintaining relevance among team members as they work. If members are always participating in relevant activities within the group, the performance of the team is expected to go up (Wai On, 2013). A good organizational culture is also responsible for teamwork and collaboration among team members and stuff in a business firm. A good culture will always advocate for members to work together towards achieving the goals of the team. Teamwork is one factor that contributes so much to the performance of the

Why Business Law is significant and how it impacts our lives Essay

Why Business Law is significant and how it impacts our lives - Essay Example Laws are mainly formulated by the governments and also as a result of court decisions. That is, when a particular form of human activity is carried out by a group of people, there will be inconsistencies as well as violations, which could negatively affect the group themselves as well as other stakeholders including other groups or individuals. To prevent those issues, governments has come up with certain standard rules and regulations in the form of laws on how to carry out the human activity positively without negative impacts on the people. This is quite applicable to the key human activity of businesses because its survival and success mainly depends on how it treats or manages or entices its consumer. So, business laws relating to consumer care are the main laws, which maximally impact our lives. Each business law will stipulate the organizations on how to manufacture the products, on how to pack it, on how to market it or sell it, etc, etc. Although, each organization will have unique and different manufacturing processes, the basic point, is they need to follow certain laws as well as standards stipulated by the laws to ensure that the manufactured goods or offered service is of optimum quality and without any risks to the consumer. However, if there are any faults in the product or service after it reaches the consumer, due to faults or deficiency in any aspect of the organizational functioning, then also those business laws can be used by the affected consumer in the court of law. The laws can be used to get a simple apology to getting apt replacement for the deficient product or even financial compensation. Thus, it is clear that business laws maximally impacts our lives in a positive and helpful manner. Actually, the governments and other authorities will come up with laws including business laws based on common good, and it will be available to us all the time.

The problem of evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The problem of evil - Essay Example A number of intellectual opinions have explained impossibility of existence of both God and His powers, and evil and its associated powers and suffering. Two sets of elements, three about God’s power and one about evil illustrates mutual exclusivity between the power of God over evil and the persistent existence of evil to develop the controversy. God is, for example, believed to be super powerful, present at all places and at all times and knows everything that happens on earth and in heaven. This means that evil occurs in God’s presence, against his powers, and with His knowledge. Consequently, existence of evil casts doubts on the three properties of God (Beebe 1). Similarly, if God has knowledge about existence of evil and the suffering that evil causes, He knows how to control evil power and has the capacity to control, and then existence evil would mean that God is not as good as He is expected to be. Also, if God wanted to control evil but does not, then it would mean that His power is not as sovereign as it is thought to be. Alternatively, if God has the power to control evil and wishes to, but has not, then it would mean that He is not aware of the existence of evil. These therefore mean that the presence of evil implies absence of at least one of the properties of God (Beebe 1). McCallum also explores the problem of evil through existence of evil in the presence of God’s power. The author explains that if God loves and has supreme power, according to a believer’s faith, then He should be able to terminate evil and its consequences. Existence of evil therefore puts a believer in a dilemma over the properties of God. From a biblical perspective, the author argues that if God is the creator of all that exist then He created evil because evil also exist. Similarly, belief that God is good and powerful would result in Him destroying evil. As a result, continued existence of evil discredits God’s properties as held among b elievers (McCallum 1). While approaches to explain the problem of evil are intellectual and seems to initiate doubt among believers regarding existence of God and His characteristics, a biblical approach to the problem offers a solution that provides for existence of God, His defined characteristics and existence of evil. This refutes the mutual exclusivity property of God and evil that intellectual approach explains. Suffering that is viewed as a manifestation of evil has its roots in the Bible because of sin and is bound to last forever. While it is normal that men appreciate a good deed’s result into benefits and happiness, people should also accept the fact that pain and suffering are consequences of man’s fall and should be expected to last. A controversy should not therefore arise over God’s ability and existence of evil and pain because these are consequences of man’s action during the initial fall (Keyes 5-6). A solution to the problem of evil is also derived from the fact that evil is not a creature but a bad choice or consequence of a bad choice. Evil does not also emanate from God but from man and his actions. The problem of evil can therefore be resolved by a practical step of transformation from doing badly, to

Net present value and other investment

Net present value and other investment Question 1 List the methods that a firm can use to evaluate a potential investment. The methods used to evaluate a potential investment of the firm are as follows Net present value(NPV) Internal rate of return(IRR) Profitability index(PI) Cash discounted flow Pay back period Accounting rate of return(ARR) Question 2 Why is the NPV a preferred method when evaluating a potential investment opportunity? Npv can be explained as the difference between the initial cost outlay and the present value of the future cash flows. The total present value of the yearly net cash flow is the Net present value. Net present value may be used to find the value or reliability of any investment and also to decide if it is far better than the other investments in the market. It is considered to be a potential investment if the NPV is positive a bad investment decision if the NPV turns out to be negative. Whereas, if the NPV is equal to â€Å"0† the decision is indifferent, it can be either accepted or rejected based on other alternates/factors. Question 3 What is the IRR? How is it related to the NPV? Is the IRR always an effective method when evaluating a potential investment opportunity, and why? IRR is the internal rate of return. It is very closely related to NPV, except for a fact that IRR uses only single discount rate, which serves as an advantage also a major limitation. It equally proportionates the discount rate of the present value of the future cash flows with the initial investment. However, IRR is not very effective when it comes to multiple cash flows (particularly with both positives negatives) IRR equates in between initial investment and the present value of future cash flows whereas NPV gives the difference between the initial cost outlay and the present value of the future cash flows. IRR illustrates the advantages of the project, and NPV decides the best investment opportunity than the other investments. Despite all cons, IRR is still a very popular approach to investment decision amongst managers for its simplicity also the fund managers prefer to see a percentage rather than a dollar value. Question 4 Using the article from the Sydney Morning Herald, discuss why John Whiteman, the senior portfolio manager at AMP Henderson, can be considered skilled in respect of his stock pickings. Why would it benefit fund managers to use discounted cash flows when picking stocks? As per the article on Sydney Morning Herald, John Whiteman his team were considered to be â€Å"skilled† for the following reasons- The DCF approach to picking stocks has always proved to be a successful option to John Whiteman. He claims that the DCF approach to working out todays share price, given the future cash flows of the business is the most efficient effective way to estimate the time value of money. Since the discount rate addresses the two main criteria involved in any investment (time value of money risk), the fund managers consider it to be very useful effective, despite all its complexities. Also the long term forecast(10 yrs ahead) coupled with the DCF approach has enabled the AMP Henderson team to make wise investment decision over the last few years. Discounting the future cash flows to todays dollar helps in knowing the stock worth/business value of the firm as on date. As we all know, a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. The DCF approach once again proves the current value of the business is the most important aspect when it comes to investment decisions. Question 5 A firm that pays out 65% of its earnings as dividends has an accounting rate of return of 20%. Its P/E ratio is 10 and its earnings per share is 108 cents. What is the price per share? What is the dividend yield? If shares were bought, what would be the payback period? Assume the only return is the dividend. What is the net book value per share of the asset investment of the company? If the risk-adjusted required rate of return is 6%, what would be the NPV per share for buying shares? Would you buy shares using AROR or NPV? Chapter 11-Return, Risk and the Security Market Line Question 1 Discuss how risk is associated with the variances on an assets expected return. What are some of the factors that come into play with respect to changes in the price of a particular security in the market? Investment, risk return are closely related to each other. The higher the investment the risk the greater will be the return. All investment decision involves risk. The deviation is the difference between the actual the expected return and is directly proportional to the risk taken. Variance is the average squared deviation between the actual return and the average return In short; standard deviation is the square root of the variance. Question 2 What is risk with respect to investment? Identify the two types of risk and discuss each one. Which is the most important type of risk? Why can only one type of risk be mitigated or eliminated? Risk and investments are proportional, that it depends on the market strategic values, like the high risk you take the high returns you expect. Risks associated with individual assets, are of two types: Systematic risks Non-systematic risks Systematic risks are the risks which influence large number of assets may be to a greater or smaller extent. These risks influence market wide effects, so these are called market risks. Non-systematic risks are that affects a single asset or a small group of assets, as these risks are unique to individual companies or assets these are called as unique or asset-specific risks. Only one type of risk can be mitigated or eliminated, which is non-systematic risk, because these type of risks can be reduced or primarily avoided as it causes to a single asset or small group of them, but when you consider with systematic risk, it causes affect to the wide-range of assets or to an larger extent which couldnt be reduced or completely avoided. Question 3 What is beta? How does beta relate to systematic risk? Beta is a key component for the capital asset pricing model and is used to calculate the cost of equity or the risk involved. It is the covariance of the return of an individual stock with the market proxy portfolio return divided by the variance of the markets proxy return. A beta of 1 implies the asset has the same systematic risk as the overall market less/more than1 implies lesser/greater risk respectively. Question 4 What is the SML? What is the CAPM, and how does the SML relate to the beta coefficient? SML(Security Market Line) is the pictorial representation of the market equilibrium. The slope of the SML is based on the reward to risk ratio at SML the beta is always considered to be 1. A more risky stock will have a higher beta and will be discounted at a higher rate as opposed to the less sensitive stocks which will have lower betas and be discounted at a lower rate. CAPM is â€Å"Capital aaset pricing model† which is an equilibrium model of relationship between risk and return, the equation of the SML showing the relationship between the expected return and beta. Beta coefficient is the amount of systematic risk present in a particular risky asset relative to an average risky asset.we need the measuring level of systematic risk for different investments.The specific measurements that we use is called bets coefficient. Given below is the graphical representation of how SML relates to the beta coefficient. Question 5 Using the article from The Sydney Morning Herald, discuss how diversification is used to bring about a positive outcome for retail investors. Why do investment portfolios with different asset classes need to be continually monitored? What are some alternative asset classes that investors can diversify into? Diversification is that which reduces the risk,when into investing some assets will do very well,some will do very badly and most will perform upto expectations.Those which do very well will equivalate the very bad done assests minimising the risk with little variation to get the positive outcomes. Diversification reduces unsystematic risk,according to the Sydney Morning Herald diversification gives mostly with possible positive outcomes for the investment made which enhances the minimisal of the risks taken by the retail investors.However ,the risk of holding common stock cannot be completely eliminated by diversification. Asset classes is a group of investments that display similar characteristics viz., shares, bonds, property or cash rather than the same basket,which mitigates the risk involved in the investments. Question 6 Assume that you have the betas of all the companies listed on the ASX. Now you select 20 shares based on their betas and, by investing an equal amount in each share, you create a portfolio with a beta of 1.1. You make sure you select shares with betas ranging in value from 0.4 to 2.4. Is this likely to be an efficient portfolio? Is the portfolio likely to be well diversified? Is the portfolio likely to have much non-systematic risk? Question 7 Now your selection is based upon putting the company names into a hat and withdrawing 20. Revisit Question 6 with relation to this portfolio.