Financial Crisis of 2008 Essay

The financial crisis is the problem that is faced by many countries like United Nations, Canada and others. It came as a result of economic difficulties triggered by the financial markets, currency fluctuations and liquidity shortfall in banking. The problem started from financial markets to the entire economy. The crisis in 2008 triggered falling of prices for homes. The homes prices in United States dropped after the depression of home sales (William, 2012). There was high rate of unemployment and tighter credit. This led to the drop of real estate prices which encouraged massive increase in construction and extraction of home equity. The housing price affected the recession and economic recovery in United States. United States is recovering slowly from the financial crisis after 2008. The studies show that the financial crisis comes as a result of growth-stifling policies. They clarify their issue in political perspective by showing that in 2012 the voters blamed their political leader especial president Bush for the financial crisis in their country. They still blame president Barrack Obama for the weak recovery (Davis, 2014). According to the research of Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Renhart, they claim they predicted the financial crisis before it took place. They also claim that their research showed there would be slow recovery. This is seen in how United States experiences slow recoveries and people blaming their leaders for it. The recession took place occurred when the governments, households and corporations were in great debt. This is what triggered a high rate of crisis in finance. The research show that on the issue of crisis Bordo argues that recession tend to lead into strong recovery. He does not concur with Kennetth and Carmeths research. The financial crisis started in 2007 in United States resulted in the federal bank of US investing in financial markets. By the year 2008, the crisis had worsened and the markets around the world had become volatile. Those who had taken up loans were unable to pay for mortgages and borrowers found themselves with negative equity. The other aspects that also led to financial crisis were the collapse of Lehman Brothers (Davis, 2014). Due to their collapse the government was forced to work hard in order to restore its financial institutions. In order to secure itself it had to propose a plan that required around 700 billion dollars. The plan failed due to opposition from people. Instead, people started to invest in gold and US dollar euro as an alternative to save the country from financial crisis since housing market had collapsed. President Obama helped restore United States to its place by spending one trillion dollars. Despite of his effort the people blame him of the slow recovery. According to Lothian & Dwyer (2011), the United States support for current recovery is similar to that of the Great Depression. They do not provide support to link low employment and the high employment in the current recovery. They focus on low aggregate demand and policies that decreases productivity in the country. The research shows that there is a high rate of poverty levels, low birthrates and crippled middle class. This shows that America is still under crisis. According to the president the slow recovery is to the deep recession faced by the country. He claims it will take long time before US recovers. According to Williams (2012) the Federal Reserve has made a lot of effort by taking a step to combat the issue of financial crisis in countries like United States and Canada. It has developed great goals of maximizing employment and make sure there is stable prices. Although the Federal Reserve is doing its best unemployment is still on a high rate. The economic crisis encountered at the early 2000 when the state was still recovering from the recession caused a deep depression in the country. Before the states had recovered full another crisis took place in 2008. The housing market was the only thing that took off to boost the economy of the country in United States. People become wealthier financially. Housing was the main business that boosted the economy of the states financially. The buyers ended up in the housing business in the market with courage of it expanding in future. Acquiring mortgages became much easier and the business mushroomed afterwards (Williams, 2012). The financial engineers took steps of selling mortgages to investors all over the world. The lenders on the other hand emerged and they could sell mortgages with high rate interest. The financial crisis began again when people who had low income just signed up for a mortgage and walked away without making a down payment. This is due to the financial institutions making lots of money at that time since the rise of housing markets had reduced. After the boom on the housing, the financial institutes and lenders encountered great loss which resulted in placing big bets on mortgages. This shows that U.S has not fully recovered and is still doing so slowly due great depression in housing market. The first recovery they conducted was by spending resources on construction and household goods. The Federal Reserve has exerted its effort to recover countries from financial crisis (World Bank, 2010). It innovated the world by setting up Large-scale asset purchases (LSAPs). The LSAPs introduced liquidity to boost the economy through banks purchasing financial assets like mortgages. This helped raise the financial situations in markets not just in united states but worldwide. Their collaboration with the banks helped lower the level of financial assets. The Federal Reserve has done its best to help retain United States to its sustainable economic growth (Williams, 2012). Despite all this efforts the economy of U.S remains weak and inflation below what the Federal Reserve has been targeted. According to Reinhart research, Americans still commit the same mistakes of having weak banks that are unable to make new loans and encourage economic growth. He claims the banks are not performing and may lead to financial crisis again. Some recent studies points out that the financial crisi s may lead to other quick recoveries and studies need to be conducted to focus on how long it will take for the economic standard to return to its level. As for Canada they did not experience high rate of financial crisis as compared to United States. The main problem they encountered was with the Canadian marketing collapsing. Both public and private sectors helped to resolve the situation (Lane & Ontara, 2014). The recession that occurred in Canada led to collapsing of exports. This did not affect Canada alone but also United States since a half of its products were exported to United States. It encountered great loss since both countries were facing financial crisis. Their business was linked to economic investments and housing that collapsed due to recession in the country and United States (Lane & Ontara, 2014). To save itself from economic decline it initiated monetary policy to expand Canadian households and companies to rise to its level. Canada made sure that prices for natural resources remain elevated to help its country quickly pick up. This enabled boost its income, employment and government revenue. Canada is among the countries that have quickened its process to recover from financial crisis. In 2010 it had already passed pre-crisis peak and employment was back into track (Lane & Ontara, 2014). Although it picked up quickly than other countries it needs to lay down more excellent strategies to fully recover from financial crisis. Its economic standard is unbalanced which causes problems to financial system. Its efforts of United States to strengthen its export with Canadian did not work. This shows that it is still facing some financial crisis since U.S was the main country it exported its goods to. However, Australia is also among the countries that faced financial problems but it has done its best to combat the problem. Their president delivered a budget in order to fight inflation. He guaranteed bank deposits with 10.4 billion dollars. It enabled pay for care, families and seniors. He also gave help to automotive industry since lenders at that time had withdrawn from the market. Their withdrawal left banks empty. In 2009 they announced another stimuli package of 47 billion dollars to help boost the economy of Australia (Lane & Ontara 2014). These helped built schools, repair roads, boost small business, construction of new homes and to pay taxpayers. Australia among other countries has made a great improvement to its economy and financial state is not at risk. Nevertheless, among the countries that faced global crisis Poland turns out to be a little bit of resistance for a long time. It was not affected by the first crisis. It has made efforts to heighten its credit policies and the banks being re-assessed. Poland is the only country that has raised its economic growth in the first half 2009(Jungmann & Segemann, 2011) due to its minor share in machinery and equipment in exports. The global crisis had little impact on its economic situation. Their economic growths in 2007 only fell for a little rate. It has increased financial due to construction and assembly production. Employment and wages is not an issue since it is of a high rate compared to other countries. Apart from that, their profit of construction business gives positive results (.Jungmann & Segemann, 2011). The financial crisis in 2008 had little impact to its construction growth. It only affected its investment growth and deterioration in financial cooperation. In 2010 the reces sion spread all over in the construction and engineering. Despite of the effects on the sector Poland has shown slight improvement in the sector. This shows how its construction sector still faces little financial crisis. Since 2008 the countries continue to suffer the financial crisis due to the boom that took place in 2008. Lack of oversight and regulation by united states is a major contributions to the crisis which led to the huge costs to investors. The united states remain to be central in the problems of financial crisis. To solve the global financial crisis countries such as China, India and Russia have collaborated with advanced industrial nations of North America and others to combat the financial crisis (Ciro, 2013). The financial crisis has also enabled large currency reserves to assume higher profiles in financial circles. President Obama conducted a congress required to close attention and skills to manage relations with Chinese leadership. This is due to Chinese being a contributing factor to United States Mortgage bubble (Ciro, 2013). United state still faces financial crisis due to having many trade crisis. Trade is very important it is able to reduce financial vulnerabilities and red uce financial shock to countries. The main reason why United States still faces the financial risks is due to lack of tires with its traders. The only country that did not suffer from high rate of financial crisis in 2008 is china. It is the only country that has brought recovery in many countries. It has played a big role of a main engine in restoring economy in the world. According to the World Bank (2010) china still maintains high percentage in growth. The global economy is still recovered slowly. This has forced china as country with its expanding market to shift from export oriented to domestic- pull (World Bank, 2010). China economics has improved becoming the second biggest growth engine. The World Bank explains out that the financial crisis in many countries have reduced due to the prices in the economy strength. Countries like Korean have difficulties in combating the problem of financial crisis. Their government policies have been exhausted creating difficulties to remedy the financial crisis (Lin, 2013). Apart from that, South Africa has picked up since the financial crisis economy has improved. This is due to the hosting of world cup in 2010. Their banking system has remained stable. They have been introduced diversification by building manufacturing industries to address unemployment crisis (Lin, 2013). As to Brazil the economic situation is unsteady but with the large capital inflows and taxes imposed on foreigners, Brazil is trying to recover from the crisis. The financial crisis continues to be a problem due to epidemics such as viruses, and the gap between countries that perform best and worse in trade. Many business people are missing out on opportunities in the markets to expand their growth. There is marginalization and lack of unemployment to teenagers. House prices are still a major problem and due to this many people are left homeless. Despite of all of this has, globalization has helped incur the financial crisis that took place (Bann, 2014). The globalization has boosted the trade system and in future many countries will recover fully and gains trillions. The international interaction has boosted the economy since people are able to do businesses together. Globalization has worked as a connection index to link people together in boosting trade and export systems in markets (Bann, 2014). Many countries such as china and United States have linked together to do businesses. This has enabled fight the problem of financial crisis in many countries. Globalization has led to negotiations among bilateral and regional trade which has facilitated access to markets. Some countries are able to access different markets and acquire large market share through exports. The large market share increases their financial levels. The countries mentioned have encountered financial crisis and still are going through the same problem. This is due to the boom that took place in 2008. Many countries have not recovered and they are doing their best to get back to track. The only country that remains strong is china due to its stability in economic growth. It is the only country that tried to resist financial crisis unlike other countries. Countries like Canada and United States continue to face financial crisis and their recovery is slow. This comes as a result of aspects such as unemployment, poverty and reduction in house marketing business. They face trade crisis which comes as a result of their trade with other markets collapsing. They are unable to manage financial crisis due to trade. The recession affected main businesses that boosted the economy revenue of many countries. Accumulation imbalances in financial sectors need to be reduced and provide equality to all areas to enable fight for financial crisis. In order to survive in the market and boost the countries revenue, economies should be vulnerable to external stocks. They should encourage higher growth rates and political risks should be involved when unemployment rate still remain at a high level. After the normal recession that took place earlier the economy still remains the same as it was and recoveries have lost ground. Research on how the crisis will be solved shows that it will take a long time since the process will be slow. People need to take action but not rely on leaders to bring change. Everyone possesses entrepreneurial spirit. This is what is needed to help boost the economic standards of many countries. The entrepreneurs need to sustain their families and businesses to help boost the economic growth of the countries. Conclusion Although the researchers claim the recession brings a quick recovery, it cannot solve the issue of financial crisis. Once a country has fallen into deep depression it takes time and efforts to recover from the incidences, it cannot take a short period neither can the country recover quickly. Recovering from financial crisis needs time that’s why many countries are still facing financial crisis. Leaders cannot be a solution for the problem in the state, but the help of other people is also required. Countries working together will help in boosting the financial revenue of their states. Since, the financial crisis has not been recovered yet, it will take time for countries like United States to do so. References Bonn (2014) globalization is recovering financial crisis, DHL global connectedness index reveals Ciro, T. (2013) the global financial crisis: triggers responses and aftermath. Print. Davis, J. (2014) Global financial crisis- what caused it and how the world responded. Retrieved on 2th December 2014 Jungmann, J., & Sagemann, B. (2011). Financial crisis in Eastern Europe: Road to recovery. Wiesbaden: Gabler. Lin, C. Y.-Y. (2013). National intellectual capital and the financial crisis in Brazil, Russia, India, China, Korea, and South Africa. New York: Springe Lothian, J.R. & Dwyer, P.G (2011) the financial crisis and recovery . Retrieved on 2th December 2014. M.C.K (2012). Is the slow recovery unsual? Retrieved on 2th 2014. Timothy, L. & Ontara, O. (2014) are we there yet? The united states and Canada after the global financial crisis. Retrieved on 2th December 2014 William, C.J. (2012) the federal reserve and the economic recovery. Retrieved on 2th December 2014 World Bank (2010). Global prospets 2010: crisis, finance and growth. Source document

Strategic Cost Management (SCM) GPBL Trimester Essay

Strategic Variance Analysis of a Firm Growth,Price, Profitability, Productivity Elements affecting its Profits and consequent Cash Flow. Max. Word Count – 3000 words This is a study on a Strategic Variance Analysis for the profitability as well as the Operating Cash flow. In this context you need to take some critical assumptions if you are unable to procure the relevant quantitative details. The quantitative details you will need are as follows: 1. Industry aggregates of the Units Produced and Sold 2. Chosen Firm level details of the Units Produced and Sold. 3. Input Output Ratio. This will need assumptions and perhaps be restricted only to the materials. You need to perform a reasonable amount of research to obtain these numbers. Quantitative details may be provided in Annual Reports of the firms constituting the industry you have considered. Check sources such as the Capitaline. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RBI, Planning commission, some publications such as the stati stical outline of India etc etc. You need to examine the following: a) Select an Industry, use an appropriate justification of having defined the industry by using the ITC code, HSN or SIC classification or any other that will have some universal acceptability. b) Choose a Firm you would want to analyze that constitutes the Industry you have chosen. c) If industry aggregates are not available define the industry by identifying the major industry players and then aggregate their quantitative details to make this a proxy for the Industry or the market you would want to consider. d) Perform a Strategic Variance Analysis to demarcate the impact of Growth, Price and Productivity elements in explaining the impact on the changes in the profits of the firm you have chosen for the year with its subsequent year. Therefore if you are analyzing the Year 2011 compare this with 2012 for the firm and the industry. e) Perform a strategic variance analysis on the operating cash flow for the firm cho sen. f) Conclude on strategy you believe the firm is adopting given the financial analysis you have done. Marking Parameters: 1. Choice of the Industry and the firm and its justification. -[10 Marks] 2. Demonstrated evidence of the research done in obtaining information for points (a), (b) and (c). [30 Marks] 3. Critical Analysis of Points (d) and (e).[50 Marks] 4. Conclusion[10 Marks]

The Family Album: Questioning Memory.

The Family Album: Questioning Memory. â€Å"After 17 years I’m back in Shanghai and all along, my memory has been playing tricks† (Otsuka, 2006:33). Why do we take images for family albums? We take them to remember people as they were. Traditionally in portrait photography, it has been a point of argument whether a photograph can or cannot reveal the true sense of a person, their personality or inner self. To me the photograph is merely surface – a likeness -, it is what the photographer or archivist wants to be seen, and holds no deeper resonance.In addition, not only do we want to remember, we want to acknowledge our existence, and in the future, be ourselves remembered as an essential part of the family unit. It is not only about belonging, but about leaving a trace of ourselves that will be around long after we are gone: photographs are tokens of immortality. The family album both represents what has to be continued and perpetuates the myth of the ‘happ y family’, which can be construed in multiple ways depending on the viewer and their motives.The portrayal of the ‘happy family’ is dependent on the various stages of editing – the photographer decides who is included or left out, tells the subjects where to stand or sit, and when to say â€Å"Cheese! † The collator then decides which photographs are worthy of going into the album and which will be left in a box, or thrown away. The editing and archiving follow perceived ideologies of family history, reflecting the editor’s own purpose and personal viewpoint. Claire Grey believes that history is always a personal account (Holland Spence, 1991: 108).But do these photos help us remember or do they alter or replace the real memories of what happened and who the people in the photos really were? In this essay, I will attempt to explain why I believe that the memories imbedded in the family album are constructs, falsehoods. I am going to look at i mages from six photographers as well as my own family albums to ascertain the accuracy of memory generated by image. In looking at a family album, do I take other people’s and family member’s recollections and apply them to my own history?Collective memory can twist the truth and often construct altered variations. As stories pass from one generation to the next, they are prone to fabrication and exaggeration. Lorie Novak states, â€Å"Our own images are often tied up in family legend with conversations about family photographs frequently accompanied by embellishment and invention. Photographs and the narratives they inspire can become substitutes for memories of actual events† (Hirsch, 1999: 26-27).She also wondered whether the information omitted from her own family album shaped her memories and studied this concept in her work (Hirsch, 1999: 15). Maybe this is the same for Ingrid Hesling, who, at the age of 16, found out that she was adopted – I wonder if this new information changed her memories or merely her perception of her memories: it would appear those that were once fond became bitter. She questioned her entire childhood leading her to create work using a combination of old family photos, text and her own contemporary images.Her work is an investigation into how memory can be altered depending on how you relate to the history behind it and the images documenting it. Analysing Numbers (Figure 1), the eye is drawn immediately to the smiling child clutching her toys, an image taken from the family album, then to the accompanying photo, and finally to its contents, the numbers – which symbolically do not reach 16 – and the text. The emptiness behind the child and the distance between her and the numbers – enhanced by the strong horizontals – metaphorically represents the separation from the truth.The child and toys have connotations of family, comfort and home, whereas, the numbers suggest conformi ty, lack of individuality and belonging, – being a number without identity. The subject matter is not immediately obvious until the text (both within and out of the image) is included. The initial impression of happiness is underscored and then submerged by a sense of unease, of anger and of betrayal. The original photo should evoke happiness but the viewer becomes disturbed when the opposite occurs. Is this family image therefore a fabrication, just because the way we see the memory has changed?Were things left out of the Hesling family album images in order to conceal the truth from her? In my own work, I use the family album aesthetic frequently. I seek out, analyse old family photographs, and try to apply them to my work. It fascinates me when I find images of myself as a child that I have never encountered before. I automatically try to locate any memories associated with the image, despite the fact that they do not exist for me, as I was too young, and attempt to rememb er stories I may have been told about the photograph.But this is not a true memory – it is assimilated from my family’s collective memory. Jo Spence said that searching for memories within family photographs, was impossible (Holland Spence, 1991:203). Trish Morrissey is a photographer who looks at ‘the family album as fiction’, carefully constructing the conventions and cliches of the domestic snap shot; thus, courting reality by the act of staging. In this way she has created a generic family album, to which anyone can relate: her family album has become everybody’s family album and countless others now share the memories.Anne McNeill states in her essay on Morrissey’s work that the images in the ‘shoe box’ are not the ‘official’ history of the family, but â€Å"the ones that got away† (Morrissey, 2004:23). This is an interesting concept, in that the family deem some images more important than others: ‘ proper’ images are displayed on top of the TV or framed for the wall, whereas the pictures that could be perceived as being more ‘real’, of everyday life, are put away in a box or packet to be perused at times of reminiscence.I am attracted to Morrissey’s work because of the questioning nature of her images. In September 20th, 1985 (Figure 2), with her sister in the other role, she meticulously recreates the original connection between the subjects as well as the peripheral details. However, in contrast to most family photos, the people in her images rarely smile, forcing the viewer to concentrate on the gestures and body language and use them to interpret and reveal hidden tensions between family members. Such underlying tensions tell more of the history and context than smiling faces.Staging allows the viewer to witness Morrissey in the act of constructing photographic meaning. Colour draws the eye to the teenage subject, her expression, and then to the contrasting expression of the older woman. The title includes the date – confirmed by the style and fashion – however as it is known that the images are reconstructed and were taken more recently than the title states, this inclusion generates more questions than answers. She questions the truth of the family album. Her images constructed as generic examples, using, and according to, her memories and the original photos.But how accurately can these be recreated when personal memory and current emotions are present? The reconstruction becomes a new history of her and her sister. Then we realise it is, and always has been, about her relationship with her sister, and this in turn, makes the viewer question the validity of all family album images: the allusion to unacknowledged family tension and the fallacy of the ‘happy family’. She questions the legitimacy of the entire tradition of the family album. Tim Roda is another artist who recreates personal histori es using his memories.Roda uses his family to recreate definitive life-changing memories and moments from his life: his son assumes his childhood role and he becomes his father. This strikes a chord with me as my current work revolves around the ideas of role reversal – child becoming adult and vice versa. Roda’s Untitled (Figure 3) initially caused me confusion and distress, as if a still from a horror film: it is dark, shadowy, and menacing. It is obviously and unapologetically staged, but why? It makes me ask questions. What is it about?It is a narrative, but is it fact or fiction? The camera is used to record a moment in time that balances between memories and constructed commentaries, yet it is a documentation of real events for the people taking part in the image making. Although his family are the immediate subjects, the work is filled with metaphorical reverberations of family history and childhood memories. Initially the composition leads the viewer to the man . What is he doing? Then the attention is drawn to the child with sharp shears, then to the birds hanging from the ceiling.These birds give a context to the image and place it somewhere that is recognisable. The man appears to have been hunting and is subsequently preparing the animal for cooking. The scene suggests that that they are country people, perhaps poor and living off the land: the father now teaching the boy by passing on traditions and skills. But is this a true memory or a corrupt, idealised memory? How much of it has been exaggerated or changed from the reality of the past? How would we know? Miyako Ishiuchi, in contrast, photographed her late mother’s belongings.She never got on with her mother but was distraught at her death, leading her to create a series of images as a memorial and tribute: a catalogue of personal belongings, objectified in the images, but subjectified in the photographer’s mind. In this way Ishiuchi sought to create an emotional conn ection, a sense of personal closeness and history, she never had when her mother was alive. The image is slightly off centre: does this reflect the true relationship? Despite this, the images remain clinical and objective: the daughter becoming the photographer and archivist of her mother’s possessions, using them to create a pseudo family album.Although Figure 4, an image from the Mother’s’ Series, is skeletal and ghostly, its forensic detail alluding to death, it is very simple and beautiful, with connotations of family love and loss – in some ways a memento mori. It is aesthetically pleasing, like still life, but ‘still death’. The image is deeply personal and yet it holds universal meaning. She strives to seize a point of contact between the past and present. The meaning of this single image is not obvious when viewed on its own, however becomes clearer when viewed with the others in the series.It is a highly emotive collection of images, reminding me of my own mother’s death, my relationship with her and how I dealt with her possessions and my memories of her after she died. One of my favourite photographers of the moment is Chino Otsuka. She has approached the questioning of the family album image in a new and unique way. At first glance, 1976 and 2005, Kakamura, Japan (Figure 8) appears to be an actual family album photograph, perhaps of a mother and daughter, maybe a holiday snap. However, once you are made aware of the digital alteration, it becomes much more interesting and poses many questions about the context.Otsuka includes verses in her book, which help to explain her intentions: â€Å"One by one, I retrieve fragments of memories and paste them all together† (Otsuka, 2006:37). This has double meaning: the ‘pasting’ both psychological as well as physical. The final image is a construct both as a photograph and as a memory. At first glance, she could be taken for the child’ s mother, sister, or aunt. It makes me question familial roles and place within the family. She has created time travel: â€Å"Past becomes present, the present becomes the future, back and forth, travelling in time† (Otsuka, 006:31). This makes us question, if we could go back, what would we do, say or change? In actuality Otsuka photographed herself in 2005, replicating the correct light conditions, and then digitally compositing the new image next to herself as a child. The original image was perfectly symmetrical, with the child in the centre. The addition of the adult shifts the balance. But what balance has changed? Is it merely the symmetry or is it rather the balance of power and control? Here because the adult and child are the same person, the family album becomes a mockery.She speaks of memory, â€Å"Until I look for it, it will hide forever [†¦] Just when I have forgotten it, it comes into sight and when I finally catch it I realise how much of it has escape d† (Otsuka, 2006:39). She is questioning her own memory and realising her memory lies to her. Even the recreation of the memory will eventually be corrupted. Here she categorically states that nothing can be received at face value. The apparent truth may in fact be corrupt, but to accentuate her belief in this dishonesty she has tainted it further.She may in fact remember the original memory but has replaced it with a falsehood. This event never happened, could never happen, it is an impossibility: a visual paradox. As my attention is drawn first to the child, then the woman, then the shadows, I seem to be searching for a reason to disprove the truth of this image. Why is the knowledge that it is fake not enough? Am I still so programmed to accept the photograph as truth, that I must find proof that the photograph is a lie? How then do these photographers’ interpretations of the family album reflect in my response to the images in my own?Through family photos, I place m yself within my family’s history. If they, as I believe, mean nothing, then how does that in turn affect how I view my history and my memories? ‘Christmas’ (Figure 9) was taken at my father’s parents flat in Glasgow, in1972. It is not unusual in any way. It does not differ greatly from other family album images. In fact, the majority of families have very similar images in their collections. I, at three years old, stand between my grandparents, seemingly being presented to the camera, with my mother and father (and the dog) at the back.My father, an amateur photographer, would have proudly taken the photo using the self-timer, explaining the not-quite perfect stance of the subjects. I assume it is an individual image, and not part of a series, although through the nature of editing – as spoken about previously -, other images, taken at the same time, may have been discarded or lost. This means that I am unable to build a picture of the whole holiday : it is merely a captured moment in time. My eye is first drawn to myself, perhaps looking for recognition, then to my Grandparents and my mother – all three of whom are now dead -, then to my father.The image was taken in the tradition of family portraiture to commemorate the family being together (our family lived abroad and only visited Scotland occasionally). You would expect this to be a happy time, however, my grandfather and I – who reputedly enjoyed and sought out being photographed – are noticeably uncomfortable. On closer inspection, I can see that we are not in fact the happy family my father wished to depict. It reminds me of Trish Morrissey’s work, where the tensions between family members are apparent despite the fake smiles attempting to cover up the real feelings.However, this image was intended only for family viewing, so why the faking? All the people in this picture will have been aware of the reality. Who are they faking for? I presume it can only be the tradition of smiling for the camera and a subconscious conveyance to future generations of family and friends that we were the archetypal ‘happy family’. Certain things in the image trigger my sensory memory, such as the material of the seat, the curtains and carpet, but I have no visual memory of this time.Roland Barthes wrote about his sensory memory being triggered by an image: â€Å"[my mother] is hugging me, a child, against her; I can waken in myself the rumpled softness of her crepe de chine and the perfume of her rice powder† (Barthes, 1982: 65). I found an image of myself aged six that I had previously not seen, and although I do not remember the photograph being taken, I do recall the texture, colour and smell of my dress, and associated images of my Mother leaning over the sewing machine making it. Are all these fake memories?Even if I cross-referenced with someone else that was there, their memory would be different as it is as per sonal to them as my memories are to me. To me this is the truth, as it is all I have. Is it better to have some believed memory, no matter how untruthful, than no memory at all? Looking to my own, more recent, family album images I have noticed that the family album has recently begun to change in style and content, partially due to the onset of digital cameras and computers. It is no longer merely portraiture but also has a documentary style. Gone are the formal (or informal) posed portraits of individuals and family groups.People now take more pictures of their friends and family candidly, when the subject is unaware of the image being taken. These may not be intended for the ‘official’ family album, but are most family’s more personal ‘shoe box’ pictures. This raises the question of whether the memories associated with these images are related to differently by both the photographer and the subject. Are these recalled memories more ‘realâ₠¬â„¢ than formal, posed images? As photography changes in our digital and computer based society, so does the way we take, edit and construct images for the family album.There are now fewer mistakes made when taking images. Only a few years ago, films were shot and printed, and all the images were kept, even the mistakes (cut off heads, fingers in shot, badly exposed, etc), whereas, now, with digital technology, the editing is done in camera. The ‘bad’ or unacceptable shots are deleted and re-shot before printing (if they are printed at all). There is now also a mass profusion of images, whereas before, due to cost of film and printing, families were more selective with their image taking, and consequently saved every image, however ‘bad’.Images now, are more likely to be kept on disc, losing the tactile quality we associate with photographs. The family album is becoming no longer a literal book of images. They are spread throughout cyberspace on social net working sites. Has this given the family album less value? Certainly the extended family can now have instant access to the family album, but are they really interested in any other images but their own? Why do we insist on sharing our most personal family moments with anyone and everyone?Again, I think it is about portraying the ‘perfect, happy family’ as well as spreading our immortality as far and wide as possible before we die. These modern methods of image dissemination negate the importance and relevance of the family album as a historical document, and we cynically become blase about images in general. In Umberto Eco’s book, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, the protagonist is struck with almost complete memory loss, and in attempting to reconstruct his personal history, he comes to realise that he cannot rely on other people’s remembrances.He is shown a photograph of his parents, and states, â€Å"You tell me that these two were my parents, so now I know, but it’s a memory that you have given me. I’ll remember the photo from now on, but not them† (Eco, 2005: 24). He then retreats to his old family home and spends all his time in the attic, attempting to regain his memories, but only discovers that memory once lost cannot be regained, merely re-learnt: â€Å"Our memory is never fully ‘ours’, nor are the pictures ever unmediated representations of our past. [†¦ we both construct a fantastic past and set out on a detective trail to find other versions of a ‘real’ one† (Hirsch, 1997: 14). Similarly, Mier Joel Wigoder speaks of placing this photograph (Figure 12) of his father and grandfather on his desk, in place of an image of himself and his father that never existed. It is not his memory as he was not there, but it is a memory he wishes he had. He has invented a memory (or a fantasy? ) for himself based on a photograph taken before he was born. However, it is possib le that all memories are created in this way.I have looked at other people’s family photos and used them to prompt my own memories of similar times, places and people. As Heather Cameron says, â€Å"Our memory [†¦ ] is a constant process of writing and rewriting, crossing out, overlapping images and distortion. It shifts and flows and moves without a fixed foundation† (Cameron, 2002:6). Nan Goldin believed that by taking photos of her friends and family, she would be able to retain her own memories of them and not be influenced by the memories of others (Goldin, 1986:9), but even in her candid style that seems impossible. Annette Kuhn states, â€Å"Family photographs are supposed [†¦ to evoke memories that might have little or nothing to do with what is actually in the picture. The photograph is a prop, a prompt, a pre-text [†¦ ] but if a photograph is somewhat contingent in the process of memory production, what is the status of the memories actually p roduced? † (Kuhn, 2002: 13). When I recall some memory or look at old photos of myself when I was young, I could just as easily be remembering a particular thing because my Mother had related it to me when she was alive. However, I may be seeing these memories through rose tinted glasses, editing out the bad times before I can recall them.Personal family photos are not the only ones to generate an emotional response, and photographers such as Morrissey use this to effect. September 20th, 1985 (Figure 2) elicits an emotional response in me, making me laugh by triggering my own personal memories, remembrance of my own family album images and experiences: creating a transferrable memory. Everyone has some images similar to this in their collection. It makes us reassess our own memories and question them. The family album forms the basis of a pictorially gilded game of Chinese Whispers, as family stories and histories are passed down the generations.Memory is ever changing depende nt on the viewer or narrator’s state of mind and intentions, and these stories, intentionally or not, become distorted, exaggerated or even fabricated. This is not memory – it is learning, and the learning gradually replaces the real memory until, finally, it is completely lost in the past and the faked history becomes legend. Everything is not always as it seems in the family album. Smiles are often faked (even in unhappy, tense situations), and everyday tensions and power struggles between family members are hidden, the very act of taking a posed photograph is essentially faking the memory at its conception.Thus family albums can be seen as fiction, a subjective story rather than, if there is such a thing, an objective history. The photograph can merely show what was in front of it at a specific moment in time, but the mind takes this information and runs with it, creating stories around the image – â€Å"In short, to remember is to reconstruct, in part on th e basis of what we have learned or said since† (Eco, 2005: 25). ———————– Figure 2: Morrissey, T. 2004. September 20th, 1985. Figure 3: RODA, T. 2004. Untitled.Figure 4: ISHIUCHI, M. 2002. (‘Mother’s’ Series). Figure 7: ISHIUCHI, M. 2002. Mother’s #24. Figure 8: OTSUKA, C. 2005. 1976 and 2005, Kakamura, Japan. Figure 9: PIPE FAMILY ALBUM. 1972. Christmas Figure 12: WIGODER FAMILY ALBUM. 1942. Louis and Geoffrey Wigoder walking down Westmoreland St, Dublin, 1942. Figure 1: HESLING, I. 2000. Numbers. Figure 11: BEST FAMILY ALBUM. 2008. Untitled. Figure 6: ISHIUCHI, M. 2002. Mother’s #33 Figure 5: ISHIUCHI, M. 2001. Mother’s #55 Figure 10: BEST FAMILY ALBUM. 2007. Untitled. ———————– 3

BUS 263 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BUS 263 - Essay Example According to the CPSC (Murray), there is a total cost of up to $3,100 over 15 years for a table saw whose original costs may be only $100 to $300. This cost takes into account (1) direct medical costs, but more importantly (2) legal costs for the inevitable lawsuits which surface over bodily injury. What is not counted in the cost is the legal expense incurred by the manufacturers, even if they win the case. In the past, Quik-Cut could argue in personal-injury cases that its customers were using state-of-the-art technology at their own risk. In the future, the company has fewer legal arguments. Even if it chooses to offer the stop technology at an additional price, there is a risk that the jury would find Quik-Cut liable for not installing the innovation on all of its products. The president of Quik-Cut has a choice at present: embrace the technology and seek a competitive advantage for a period of time, or work with the rest of the industry to stonewall the invention, at least for a period of time. A third alternative—design around it—may or may not work. Design around It: The company would develop its own technology, but that would take time and perhaps expertise that the company doesn’t have. In addition, if a competitor introduced the technology prior to Quik-Cut bringing it to market, the company may face the same legal dilemma it faces today. Stonewall the invention. This would require that all the manufacturers—large and small—hew to the industry line. If Quik-Cut and its competitors chose not to introduce the invention, they could construct a case on technical merits illustrating why the technology was not yet ready to be implemented. The two dangers to this strategy are (1) there could be a later discovery procedure as a part of a product-liability lawsuit that could reveal the industry’s

Paraphrase and Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Paraphrase and Summary - Essay Example rration has become a contrary to the one that is trendy nowadays, which is spoken in the intonation that distorts the essence of what a speaker is talking about. That fact that I’ve noticed this phenomenon doesn’t make me unfashionable, I’ve just witnessed this on a street and I want you to understand and feel the same lack of assurance, which I felt. Where is our conviction now? Where are those feet we used to confidently stand on and move? Where has this all disappeared to? Does it mean that we already have nothing to say to each other? Probably the point is that people’s feelings have become uncertain and maybe even contradictory or indistinct, so they don’t know what exactly they want to express. It means that the problem of slurred speech is just a convenient way of hiding that fact that our thoughts don’t have a clear direction and we have a vague idea of what we are going to say. The matter is that we don’t even know when exactly it started. People should speak such a way that their speech could show their confidence in what they’re saying. Because especially nowadays it is very important not to ask whether you are authorized to say something, but to assert that what you’re saying is

I have an article need to be reviewed Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

I have an need to be reviewed - Article Example Chris Howell has a Doctor of Philosophy from Yale University, while Rebecca Kolins Gavin has a doctorate in Political Science from Northwestern University. Their work has been cited 14 times since it was published in 2011. Comparative political economy claims that institutions are important because they mediate economic pressures, distribute powers among actors, and offers solutions to problems that are faced by market economies (Hall & Taylor 1996). The authors have focused on the political economic approach, developed by Frege and Kelly (2013), in which the focus is on the historical and institutional roots of employment regimes and institutions. They have described in detail the role of the state in the development of industrial relations in all three countries, but have given limited description about the role of the market factors in these events. The Varieties of Capitalism (VOC) model (Hall & Soskice 2001) has been used to try to understand and compare the patterns of industrial relations and institutional changes in the three countries. It is mentioned in the article that institutions are not able to perform in isolation, and that there will be interactions and complementarities between them as suggested by the VOC model. The Dunlop system theory has assumed that common technologies and cross-national markets would create convergence towards a common model of employment regulation. A feature of the period since the mid-1980s can support this claim where it can be observed that even though there have been differences in the policies and details accompanying reform, the direction of institutional change has been broadly similar across governments of different political natures. However, it also assumes that the market factors and employers are the main factors, while politics and the government are just secondary forces.

Convertible Debentures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Convertible Debentures - Essay Example Some small companies are not able to meet the financial parameters for raising equity; thus, convertible debentures are issued instead of selling shares of stocks (Market Outbox par.3). Another motive of corporations for issuing convertible debentures is that they are able to raise equity without giving up control of ownership until such time that the debentures are converted into shares of stock. Furthermore, with debentures, the assets of the company will not be tied up unlike other forms of debt which require assets as collateral for the loan (Business Finance ,par.2). It is believed that issuing convertible debentures is a good alternative for companies who want to raise capital in short term intervals. It is win-win solution for both the issuer and the investor. It is attractive to investors because of the guaranteed interest payments and an option to convert to equity if the price of the stocks goes up. The company on the other hand is able to enjoy lower interest payments and can offer their shares at a premium based on the present value in the

Economics Regulation and Market Structures Essay

Economics Regulation and Market Structures - Essay Example Economic regulation affects new companies who want to enter into a market. This reason why new competitors are affected is that they may not be able to enter into a market due to this form of regulation. Social regulation deals with exact social problems such as toxic waste, produce safety, employee safety, and prejudice (â€Å"Social Regulation†). Social regulation exists because in the 60s and 70s the government established regulatory agencies to handle a wide variety of social problems. The entities affected by social regulation include local businesses and citizens. Businesses may have to have a plan to deal with social problems, while citizens may have their rights restricted in terms of what they can purchase. A natural monopoly occurs when a firm can fulfil the market demand for a good or service at a cheaper price than all other competitors (â€Å"Natural Monopoly†). The reason why natural monopolies occur is because sometimes a market can only support one produ cer. According to economic theory, firms can attain monopolies because of unique raw materials, technology, or other factors. An example of a natural monopoly is the gas industry. It is uneconomical to build new infrastructure so just one set of infrastructure is built. This results in company having total control of the market (Pieterz). The antitrust laws attempt to order business to compete fairly.

Terrorism and the News Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Terrorism and the News Media - Essay Example The UK government, considering the enormity of the previous terror attacks and potential threats has developed extensive plans and framed regulations to fight terror. The claims made by the news media and the politicians that the world is becoming more and more unsafe due to terrorist activities cannot be refuted. With a spate of terrorist activities since the last ten years, with the American tragedy of the twin towers, the gruesome subway bombing in London and the recent Mumbai massacre being some of the ugliest terror strikes, common people can hardly think otherwise. The sophistication of the 21st century terrorism in terms of weapons, training, logistic support and strategy planning has made it a deadly game of mass destruction. It is alarming how the agents of terror spare not even children leave aside civilians. They target common innocent people to cause maximum casualty. The past records show that the terrorists aim their strike at business and entertainment hub which also indicate that killing people is not the only motive but there is a hidden agenda and that is to bring a blow to the economy and stability of the nation. It is pretty e vident that an international terror nexus is operative establishing terror modules and sleeper cells across the world and in different nations. There is huge cash flow from the underworlds which is another reason to worry. Hackers and cyber criminals have joined in and given terrorism a new and fatal dimension. With this kind of an agenda and ruthless mentality there is no stopping them from wrecking havoc worldwide unless some very strong measures are adopted and successfully implemented. It does not remain for the news media and the politicians to pronounce the threats to humankind and to the environment of peace caused by terrorism. Terrorism is no longer a distant fear but fear that accompanies one at every step of one’s daily life. The

The term illumination Essay Example for Free

The term illumination Essay In metaphysics refers to an ineffable state of knowledge or communion with a godhood or an absolute ideal. Because the state of illumination is, by nature, a deeply subjective experience, the quantification or definition of the state is difficult to execute through traditional expository methods or scientific investigation. Illumination is a desired state for mystic who maintain the practice of putting oneself into, and remaining in, direct relation with God, the Absolute, or any unifying principle of life. Mysticism is inseparably linked with religion. Because of the nature of mysticism, firsthand objective studies of it are virtually impossible. (Mysticism, 2004) Rather, what can be known, second-hand, about the illuminative state is gleaned through the expression of mystics,artists, poets, and writers who express their subjective apprehensions through various means, often utilizing complex and mythologically driven symbolic systems of reference. The language of mysticism is always difficult and usually symbolic. This is readily seen in the Song of Songs in the Old Testament, in the book of Revelation in the New Testament, and in the writings of William Blake. Mystics, especially those of the Roman Catholic and the Islamic traditions, have made use of a terminology borrowed from ordinary human love. (Mysticism, 2004) In many cases, illumination is closely affiliated with established mystical traditions (as in Zen Buddhism) and also with established religious traditions (such as Roman Catholicism). In all cases, illumination is regarded as a step on the road to union with God or the ideal, but not a conclusion or attainment of the goal in and of itself. In this regard, illumination stands closely in hand with another mystical state known as purgation where the soul undergoes a painful cleansing of its impurities in order to enter into union with God or the ideal. Illumination can be Illumination page -2- regarded, metaphorically, as the light which shines through the cleaned window of the soul, as it has been cleared through the purgative state. The two states are seen as continuing and sometimes overlapping. (Mysticism, 2004) The basic pattern for the path to mystical union with God or the ideal can be generically rendered, although the specific differ widely throughout geographic and culturally specific traditions and beliefs. At the core of the mystical journey, involving periods of illumination, several key archetypal aspects can be cited: The soul undergoes a purification (the purgative way), which leads to a feeling of illumination and greater love of God[ ] after a period the soul may be said to enter into mystical union with God[ ] an ecstatic state to a final perfect state of union with God. (Mysticism, 2004) The process above is quite generally envisioned and the above description is probably as close to anything like an objective account of what mystical experience is and what its goals are; the illuminative feeling indicates that the mystic has successfully enjoined the path to union with God or the ideal. However, it is not the final union with God or the ideal and its ecstacy are not particularly connotative of what mystics have imagined the final union with God or the ideal to be, once actually attained. Rather, illumination is a state of awareness and knowledge that blossoms from mystical communion with God or the ideal. It is not a linear knowledge:We have illumination which is no mere deduction from previous knowledge; but the illumination is at the same time like a leap of recognition. This may throw some light on the problem we noticed earlier the relation between faith described in terms of the energizing of the Holy Spirit, and mans efforts of reason. (Emmet, 1945, p. 133). Illumination page -3- The distinction between ordinary rationality and mystical illumination is an important one, for knowledge that is derived by linear reason is often interpreted by humanity as an achievement of humanity alone, whereas illuminative knowledge gleaned from communion with God or the ideal often comes like a bolt out of the blue and transcends not only individual ego, but racial, national, and cultural biases as well: Thus the community whose way is defined by Torah looks to the moment when Moses stood on Sinai; the Christian Church sees its life as continuing Gods act of reconciliation Prophet as the community of the faithful, committed to God in submission to the stark majesty of His Transcendence; Buddhists look to the moment of illumination under the Bo tree, when Buddha saw the way of release from the restlessness of finite existence. (Emmet, 1945, p. 156). Just as scientific or other types of linear knowledge may cast world-changing ideas or technologies into the flow of history, the mystical tradition reminds humanity that we are all united in the truths of the highest ideals, in the love of God. Illumination often transports the mystic not only to euphoric feelings of ecstacy, but important realizations about the nature of human existence and how human tragedy and pain can be minimized and sometimes overcome. From important illuminations come new ways of living in relation to the transcendent, which have given form to new ways of feeling and of thought. These were not reached by general reflections on the general character of experience but born out of the devotion of individual seekers who looked inward to find the illuminative power and phenomena which every mystic believes emanates directly from God or the ideal. (Emmet, 1945, p.156). The verifiable impact of religious and philosophical movements and doctrines that began in the subjective state if illumination are evidence that illumination represents a process of human reason and knowledge which is as important as linear modes. References Mysticism. (2004). In The Columbia Encyclopedia (6th ed. ). New York: Columbia University Press. Emmet, D. M. (1945). The Nature of Metaphysical Thinking. London: Macmillan Co. Ltd.

Essay on Fame in Djerassi’s Cantors Dilemma -- Cantors Dilemma Essay

Dreams of Fame in Djerassi’s Cantor's Dilemma  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Opportunistic scientists, the most hypocritical deviants of the modern age, revolve around the scientific method, or at least they used to. The scientific method once involved formulating a hypothesis from a problem posed, experimenting, and forming a conclusion that best explained the data collected. Yet today, those who are willing to critique the work of their peers are themselves performing the scientific method out of sequence. I propose that scientists, or the "treasure hunters" of that field, are no longer interested in permanent solutions, achieved through proper use of the scientific method, and rather are more interested in solutions that guarantee fame and fortune. Fame and fortune as a motive for scientific discovery is a popular theme in fictional writing, especially in Cantor's Dilemma by Carl Djerassi. Cantor's Dilemma is a novel of the struggles of two scientists through life and a Nobel Prize "campaign". As one digs deeper into the context of the novel, one finds it similar to that of a political race, a fight for glory. For example, the "Cantor-Stafford experiment", the first tumorigenesis experiment tested in the novel, was not validated before its findings were published. This example fails to meet the standards of the scientific method because a conclusion was reached before experimentation was fully executed. Surely any true scientist would know such conclusions to be unsuitable and not "Nobel" worthy. Yet, Cantor and Stafford, both, won a Nobel Prize for their work. Kurt Krauss in Cantor's Dilemma, an opportunistic scientist, is the extreme of scientific deviance. As a fellow scientist and a competitor, Krauss is charged with the duty of ch... ...o not believe my experience has changed the ways of the scientist at that company. Both in fiction and in real life a certain breed of scientists has decided to ignore the scientific method and chase dreams of fame. With that fame, they hope to dig deep into our pockets and reap the benefits of their poor workmanship. It is most evident from the examples given that these scientists, who have seemingly reversed scientific evolution, no longer care for true science and the scientific method, but rather are interested in personal glory. 1 Carl Djerassi, Cantor's Dilemma (New York, New York: Penguin Books, 1991), pg. 113. 2 Djerassi, Cantor's Dilemma, pg. 113. 3 Abbott laboratories, medical news, (http://www.plsgroup.com/dg/72da.htm), 5:25 p.m. 9/23/97 4 "Cold Fusion Times", (Wellesey Hills, MA http://world.std.com), 7:15 p.m. 9/23/97      

The Populist and Progressive Movements Essay -- Progressive Movement P

The Populist and Progressive Movements The Populists and Progressive were form of movement that occurred during the outbreaks of the workers union after the civil war. The populists began during the late 1800s.The progressive began during the 1900s. There are many differences between these two movements, but yet these movements have many things that are similar. Farmers united to protect their interests, even creating a major political party. The party was called the peoples party which became known as the populist party. Populists drew its strength from rural areas. Populists tended to be poor and uneducated. They had ideas such as government ownership of major industries. The Populists supported labors demand for an eight hour work day. The most controversial Populist demand concerned the money supply. Farmers being both sellers and debtors, saw inflation as a way to improve their standard of living, but they wanted to expand the money supply. Farmers convinced the government to use silver as well as gold to back the money supply. The congress passed the Bland-Allison Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase. Populist platform urged congress to authorize free and unlimited minting of silver. The Populists were united in favoring the minting of silver to expand the money supply. Democrats agreed with the Populist, but most Republicans favor ed the gold standard and a smaller money supply. Democrats agreed on a presidential candidate that was with the mint silver, wh...

Nutrition and You :: Health Nutrition Pyramid Diet

Nutrition is the relationship of foods to the health of the human body . Proper nutrition means that you are receiving enough foods and supplements for the body to function at optimal capacity. It is important to remember that no single nutrient or activity can maintain optimal health and well being, although it has been proven that some nutrients are more important than others. Nutrition plays a critical role in athletic performance, but many active people do not eat a diet that helps them do their best. Without a basic understanding of nutrition, popping a pill seems easier than planning a menu. In reality, there is no pill, potion, or powder that can enhance your performance like the right foods and fluids. All of the nutrients are necessary in different amounts along with exercise to maintain proper health. There are six main types of nutrients used to maintain body health. They are: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water . They all must be in balance for the body to function properly. There are also five major food groups. The groups are: fats and oils, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, grains, and meats. Exercise is also an important part of nutrition. Exercise helps tone and maintain muscle tissue and ensure that the body?s organs stay in good condition. Healthy eating without exercise will not result in good nutrition and a healthy body - neither will exercise without nutrition. The most important thing about exercise is that it be practiced regularly and that it be practiced in accompaniment with a healthy diet. It is also desirable to practice more that one sport as different sports exercise different areas of the body. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the sources of energy for the body. To have enough energy you need to consume enough energy. Getting adequate calories is one of the keys to an ergogenic, or performance-enhancing, diet. With too few calories you will feel tired and weak, and you will be more prone to injuries. The contained energy is expressed in calories. There are 9 calories per gram in fat and there are about 4 calories Nutrition and You :: Health Nutrition Pyramid Diet Nutrition is the relationship of foods to the health of the human body . Proper nutrition means that you are receiving enough foods and supplements for the body to function at optimal capacity. It is important to remember that no single nutrient or activity can maintain optimal health and well being, although it has been proven that some nutrients are more important than others. Nutrition plays a critical role in athletic performance, but many active people do not eat a diet that helps them do their best. Without a basic understanding of nutrition, popping a pill seems easier than planning a menu. In reality, there is no pill, potion, or powder that can enhance your performance like the right foods and fluids. All of the nutrients are necessary in different amounts along with exercise to maintain proper health. There are six main types of nutrients used to maintain body health. They are: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water . They all must be in balance for the body to function properly. There are also five major food groups. The groups are: fats and oils, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, grains, and meats. Exercise is also an important part of nutrition. Exercise helps tone and maintain muscle tissue and ensure that the body?s organs stay in good condition. Healthy eating without exercise will not result in good nutrition and a healthy body - neither will exercise without nutrition. The most important thing about exercise is that it be practiced regularly and that it be practiced in accompaniment with a healthy diet. It is also desirable to practice more that one sport as different sports exercise different areas of the body. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the sources of energy for the body. To have enough energy you need to consume enough energy. Getting adequate calories is one of the keys to an ergogenic, or performance-enhancing, diet. With too few calories you will feel tired and weak, and you will be more prone to injuries. The contained energy is expressed in calories. There are 9 calories per gram in fat and there are about 4 calories

Books and e-books Essay

Some people believe that printed books are no longer necessary in this digital era, as all writings can be stored electronically. Others think print books till play important role. Discuss both views and give your opinion.  In the past few years, e-books have been sold or downloaded for free in large numbers on the internet. These books and e-readers are challenging convention reading habits making the sales of traditional books decreased. But it still needs much consideration before eliminating altogether the need for printed books. There is no doubt that e-books are able to offer huge amount of information with feather like weight. Readers do not have to face the difficult choice of which book should be taken with on vacation, as one single e-reader like kindle or Nook would hold all the books you might want to read on the trip with no extra space in suitcase being wasted. E-books are also strong contenders when it comes to pricing. Because they are delivered in digital format, a part of the overhead including printing, storing and distribution can be avoided. And many classic books are free online, which is a boon to readers who only need a partly review or reference from those books. However, we cannot ignore a fact that the popularity of digital books can be a bit daunting for many readers who are used to going to the local book store, browsing the aisles and perhaps reading any chapter before purchasing. Or, there still are some senior readers who are reluctant to buy and learn to use an e-reader instead of holding a real book and making note wherever they want. Then when we talk about personal book collections, electronic ones can hardly be involved. Privately owned printed books can typically be displayed neatly as part of the household collection. These books may build up a reader’s spirit world and be good company as having friends being around. The bottom line is that both printed books and e-books have something to offer. We cannot simply eliminate the use of any single format because they are needed in different situation by various kinds of readers. They are all  making life better.

Improving Public Education Essay

In today’s time and tough economy a good education must be a top priority. Are our children receiving the best education possible? America was once the best educated nation in the world. Now the United States ranks seventeenth out of forty countries in overall educational performance according to The Learning Curve report, developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit. (US 17th In Global Education Ranking, par. 1) These higher ranking countries promote a culture that is supportive of education and the understanding of the importance of good teachers in improving educational output. To improve our education system we must place a greater emphasis on the early education, parent involvement and quality teachers. By doing this we will be able to become one of the top ranking nations again. Nelson Mandela once said, â€Å"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. † Early learning education is a far greater tool for success. (The Importance of Early Childhood Education, par. 1) Studies have shown that a child’s earliest years of development are the most critical with 85% of the brain developing by age five. Since children are most receptive to information during this time, early learning exposure plays an essential role in fostering mental development. The years prior to kindergarten are critical in shaping key academic, social, and cognitive skills that determine a child’s success in school and life. A high-quality early learning program can help children arrive in kindergarten ready to succeed. Expanding access to high quality early childhood education is among the smartest investments that we can make. Participation in high-quality early learning programs, like Head Start, public and private preschool, and childcare, will provide children from all backgrounds with a strong start and a foundation for school success. These programs also generate a significant return on investment for society; numerous economic studies have documented a rate of return of $7 or more on each dollar invested through a reduced need for spending on other services, such as remedial education, grade repetition, and special education, as well as increased productivity and earnings for these children as adults. (Education Knowledge and Skills, par. 2) Appropriate early childhood programs contribute to physical, emotional and social development as well as school readiness. High-quality preschools recognize the importance of providing an environment that teaches and nurtures children to learn. In fact, a high quality early childhood education can result in a higher level of education and a better job with more pay later on. Early education programs not only improve children’s cognitive abilities but also crucial behavioral traits like motivation and self-esteem. Young children learn social skills when they interact with other children. Interacting with other children means learning how to wait, how to take turns, and how to listen. Children will be exposed to activities and materials that promote basic math concepts, language development, science, problem solving, technology, cause and effect, literacy, and physical development. Early education focuses on developing the whole child not just one skill. â€Å"There is no program and no policy that can substitute for a parent who is involved in their child’s education from day one. —President Barack Obama (ESEA Reauthorization, par. 1) Parents and other family members play an important role in supporting their child’s growth and development. The parent after all is the child’s first teacher. Children are more likely to lead healthy, productive lives when both parents are actively involved in their educational achievement and behavior. They maintain higher grades, te st scores and graduation rates, have better attendance, increased motivation, better self-esteem, lower suspension rates, decreased use of drugs and alcohol, and fewer instances of violent behavior. The earlier in a child’s educational process parent’s become involved, the more powerful the effects. The most effective forms are those, which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home. (â€Å"What research says about parent involvement,† par. 2 & 3) The research has shown that quality teaching matters to student learning. Teacher quality has been consistently identified as one of the most important school-based factor in student achievement. A quality teacher is one who has a positive effect on student learning and development. Quality teachers are life-long learners in their subject areas, teach with commitment, and are reflective upon their teaching practice. They transfer knowledge of their subject matter and the learning process through good communication, diagnostic skills, understanding of different learning styles and cultural influences, knowledge about child development, and the ability to use different teaching techniques to meet student needs. They set high expectations and support students in achieving them. They establish an environment conducive to learning, and make available resources outside as well as inside the classroom. Quality teachers have a lasting effect on the student’s academic career. (High impact philanthropy to improve teaching quality, p. 7) Anyone that has children wants them to get a good start in school. If we as a society would change our opinion and all view a quality education as an important factor to our success then we could make significant changes to our public school system. If more emphasis and funding was put into the early education system more children would arrive in kindergarten with the skills they need to learn. If more parents would become involved with their children’s education from the beginning then the children would see the importance of being motivated to do their best. And of course with more quality teachers students would strive to succeed. One can see how all these factors could make great changes in our education system and help more the United States back on top in overall educational performance.

Pamphlet analysis Essay

The purpose of this film pamphlet is to influence and persuade as much people as people to watch the film. The pamphlet also briefly describes what the film is going to be about. This pamphlet attempts to do these things by visual, layout and language features to achieve its purpose. A visual feature that helps to achieve its purpose is colour which is all over the film pamphlet. Colours may be used to create a feeling or mood depending on the context. In this particular film pamphlet, the colours have been put together to establish a romantic feel. The two most obvious colours on the cover of the film pamphlet are the orange of the title and the red of the chilli. These two colours are clearly creating a romantic sense. The tone of the title is quite light and that helps emphasise the feel of the advertisement for the title is called A Touch of Spice. Having a light tone makes it seem as though the title was written out with orange spices and supports the word touch in the title which means a small amount in this context. The large chilli on the front of the cover is highly saturated. The red on the chilli is of a high degree of purity and that helps the advertisement gain the attention of consumers and also creates a romantic feel in this context. Red in this ad can be seen as an allusion because red is a very popular colour on Valentines Day [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l43rqt12KcE] which is seen as a very romantic day where many people buy cards and flowers and even plan special occasions for the ones they love. The many colours on this pamphlet achieve their purpose by creating a romantic feeling or mood and that will hopefully lure many people who like romantic films to watch this particular film. Another visual feature that helps to achieve its purpose is the font sizes and writing style of the text on the film pamphlet. Font sizes and styles can be used to help create a sense or mood by doing things such as looking if as though the writing were done in blood, this would create a sense of horror or danger. The title A Touch of Spice on the film pamphlet is the most large and clear because of its background. The title is usually in the largest font and in this case, it is no different. This is used to hopefully gain the attention of the consumer to come and watch the film or pick up the pamphlet. The title is written in a very natural way so it makes it seem as  though someone had put some spices on a table and written the titles out with their finger. It is quite cleat that the font is not times new roman because there are lines that are sticking out of the letters which creates the effect that to make it seem as though as if it were written. By having the title in such a way it creates a mysterious and exotic feel. On the back of the film pamphlet, there is a small section of writing where it is obvious that it is in a foreign language. The small section in a different language almost guarantees that the film will be from another country. Using this technique, it will be able to attract as much viewers as possible who like foreign films and in turn achieve its purpose. A very effective technique on this particular film pamphlet would be the logo. A logo can be used to help the advertisement gain the attention from consumers such as the Sony logo on one of their products. The logo on their product would tell the consumer that the product was at a very high quality because of their reputation. On this particular film pamphlet, a logo or badge has been put in the corner of it saying that is was the no.1 film at the Greek box office for an amazing 7 weeks. This would assure many viewers that the film would be good because of its great performance in Greek. The logo achieves its purpose by hopefully building a good reputation, which the quotes on the back of the pamphlet also do, so it is able to lure as much viewers as possible to watch the film. A language technique that is used on this particular film pamphlet is repetition. Repetition is often used to help send a message across to a viewer and help them to remember the message that was put across. Repetition is ubiquitously found on the cover of the film pamphlet. The theme of spices and food is found all over the cover of the film pamphlet in simple sentences. Cinnamon is bitter and sweet, just like a womanA beautiful, touching romance that will leave you craving for moreSalt is used as needed to spice up ones lifePepper is hot and scorches, just like the sunAll of these sentences, which are all found on the front cover, refer to a theme of spices and food and then link the food to another subject such as a woman or life. The  repetition on this film pamphlet is attempting to reinforce the title A Touch of Spice which emphasises the fact that the film is a romantic film and would leave them craving for more. The repetitive messages of spices and links to romance would have been received by the viewer and so achieves its purpose so enticing them to come and watch the film. Another language technique used on this film pamphlet is adjectives. Products and services are usually described with adjectives to hopefully appeal to consumers to purchase the product. In this particular case, adjectives are not used to describe the film itself but to describe other things which the film is relating to. The film pamphlet compares spices to things such women. Cinnamonis better and sweet just like a womanPepper is hot and scorches, just like the sunBoth of these quotes contain adjectives to describe spices and link them to romantic themes. The second quote links pepper to the sun where they say both are hot. This creates a sense of passion and exoticness to viewers so they understand that this film is a romantic one. Another language feature that is used to help the film pamphlet achieve its purpose is persuasive language. Persuasive language helps to convince consumers by using powerful and effective language to hopefully get people to buy the product. On the back of the film pamphlet, there are four quotes from people who seemed to have watched the movie and enjoyed it. A film of international standards and genuine emotionis undoubtedly one of the best gastronomic movies I have seen.an intensely moving experienceAll these quotes are the reviews or opinions of those who have already watched the film. The people who created this particular chose these reviews because it is their opinion that the film is of a very high quality. By getting the message through to the consumer that the film is actually good, more people would be interested to watch the movie so the film pamphlet has achieved its purpose. A layout technique which has been used on this film pamphlet is text boxes. Text boxes are usually used in ads to help make the ad easier to read and to  help all of the text to stand out. For this film pamphlet, there are many text boxes because there are many sections of text on the back with equal importance. On the back of the film pamphlet, there are many quotes which praise the film and the advertisers would have wanted to make sure that the viewers did not miss that section. The blurb is also in a text box and that is where the creators of the film give their own description of the film and where they give their own praise. Boxes have not been only to help text to be read more easily but also for images to stand out. Since there are many pictures on the back cover of the film pamphlet, they can be made more easily seen and recognised if they are in boxes. Text boxes have been effectively used in this film pamphlet to help important information to be unmissed and easily read and that is how they achieve their purpose. The film pamphlet is created to help attract as much viewers as possible to watch their movie. The film pamphlet attempts to do so by using visual, language and layout techniques to help inform people that the film is of a high quality so they can persuade as many people as possible. bibliography: pamphlet 1994

Guns, Germs and Steel Essay

The book Guns, Germs and Steel is an interesting impression of Jared Diamond to challenge and refresh our outlook towards the effect of politics to cultural and individual development as based from historical and theoretical concept. JD is a physiologist and evolutionary biologist and has made this work on a broader scope during his explorations in New Guinea to study the culture as well as the environment of the people. It started out in a prologue while Jared travels with his friend Yali, a New Guinean and questions the diminutive cargo of the locals against the bulk of cargos of the Eurasians. JD tried to explain to Yali by answering him with historical and theoretical views according to his research. JD said that while the natives own the land and the resources, the foreigners are capable of dominance because they are superior in technology as can be seen with their tools and machinery. But JD explained to Yali that what he sees is not proof of the superiority of the Eurasians over the natives but rather the opposite. JD said that Yali’s people are actually smarter and adaptable to any environment because they live in a world that has requires critical survival. Chapter 1 of the book discusses the origin of man and their discovery of tools and art as depicted from their paintings. JD theorizes that man made a great leap and used his intelligence 50,000 years ago as found on skeletons found in Australia and New Guinea. Accordingly, the Americans were probably colonized during 11,000 BC which correspond to the final stage of the Pleistocene Era and the melting of the ice in the last Ice Age. Chapter 2 details the war between the Maoris against the Morioris in Polynesia as early as 1835 in the Chatham islands and. Polynesia during that period has different set of climates, geography, resources and political and social conditions which lead to less diversification of human populations to be able to adapt in their environment. Chapter 3 details the conquest of European Francisco Pizarro and his men to capture Atahuallpa, the Inca emperor at Cajamarca, Peru in 1532. The superior weapons and their armor which were made of steel and the horses and cavalry pushes the natives out of their place while the Europeans brought along with them diseases such as smallpox and eventually infected and killed another native emperor of different tribe. JD pointed out that people of dominant culture has the foremost advantage over those who are less in technology and political organization as the Incas does not have. On Chapter 4 of the book, JD significantly emphasizes the importance of agriculture to propel the development of a fragile society because with the increase of food production there is a room for population to grow larger and stronger. Enough supply of food can sustain people to be more vigorous and organize themselves without resorting to violence to survive. An organized society can form political government to protect its people against conquest such as JD pointed out. In chapter 5, the author describes the technology of calibrating sites for food production by naming sites and crops suitable to grow in their environment while in chapter 6, 7 and 8 discusses his confidence the possibility of converting native hunters into agriculturist because of degeneration of wild games and animals in their environment. He said that there are already great varieties of plants and animals that can be domesticated and cultured and there is no need to hunt for food for a family to survive. JD gave an example in chapter 9 and 10 the success of the Indians in domesticating animals and prevents the extinction of wild animals in their forest. He said that breeding animals is one of the most accepted principles in domesticating animals that even wild species of animals can be bred in captivity. But this depends on the adaptability of animals with the climatic conditions on certain locality. Lack of animal adaptation means limited domestication and cultivation of animals and plants. The New World on the other hand is located on a tropical zone therefore people have more favorable climatic conditions as compared with the Eurasian countries. However, major infectious diseases or what JD calls â€Å"killers of humanity† mainly comes from animals men domesticates. He said that small pox originates from cowpox, flu from pigs and ducks and tuberculosis from cattle. These are only few of the negative impact on the cultivation of livestock by man that even people in the cities are not safe from certain diseases as they kept animals as pets. Industrialization gave man endemic diseases because he attracts germ carrying pests and we now have yellow fever, hookworm, bubonic plague and many other diseases transmitted by pests. Man also is a carrier of pest and diseases to his fellow human such as the body lice, sexually transmitted disease and other human infections. The following chapters introduced the origins of writings in early period of Mesoamerica and most part of Asia. JD significantly highlights necessity as the mother of invention and the invention of writings lead to the invention of the technology and then to arms for weapons and destruction. He said that the introduction of technology was also the beginning of civilizations to colonize other civilizations, destroying their population and their culture. The author also reviews the societal form of organization on a certain level which starts from the smaller faction or the band. The â€Å"band† is composed of people that are usually related by blood, nomadic in nature and have one ethnicity and language and no more than 5 to 80 people bonded together to be form a small society. The â€Å"tribe†, however has more people with fixed community, one ethnicity and language but being led by a leader in a societal form of government such as tribe in New Guinea and Australia . The â€Å"group† leads to chiefdoms and then to a larger extent which forms the state. The â€Å"state† have more than 50,000 people living in various villages, class and residence-based relationships. They also have more than one language, have centralized bureaucratic government levels and politicians to man the government, the law and the state. States have also their police and militaries to protect its citizenry against injustice. This was discussed on chapter 14. Chapter 15 to 16 depicts the Australian and New Guinean’ climate where Yali belongs. These two countries were formerly united as one large mass of land but separated because of the effect of large body of water 10,000 years ago. The following chapters discuss how China became the China of today which brought by forced unification of the Qin dynasty in 221 BC. Continuous fighting and dominance of Asian ethnicities in old China produces mixed races of different Asian origins but came up to have one traditional language which is the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Among these languages is the Mandarin. Chapter 17 is explained by JD on how the islands of the Pacific were able to be colonized by the Asians who arrived in New Guinea around 40,000 BC. This Asian group composes the ancestors of Philippine Negritos and formerly called the Austronesian. Their migrations began from China, reached Taiwan and then the Philippines at around 3000 BC. Those who came to Sumatra and Java became the Malayo-Polynesian while those who arrived in Northern New Guinea and Samoa became the Samoans. JD reviews on chapter 18 the factors which led to the European conquering Americas. The Europeans are better in food production, domestication of animals, producing metals and weapons, organization of armies, transportation and communication and solid political organization which the people of early America lacks. The people of the New World such as New Guinea, however are more primitive and backward and lacks capabilities to organize themselves. This was the reason why the Europeans or the Eurasians have been able to establish their colony in their nation without conflict and resistance. And finally chapter 19 discusses how the people of Africa came to be blacks. Accordingly, in the previous era, North Africans were whites who resemble Middle Eastern and Europeans and speak Afro-Asiatic languages. The pygmies or small black African people are mostly confined to Central Africa but were outnumbered by indigenous people. The blacks occupy only most of the Saharan Africa but extended their occupancy to the East coast to Cape town. From there they began to cultivate crops and domesticate animals and expand largely in numbers. The epilogue of this book answers Yali’s question on why whites have been so successful with their trades and always have larger cargos compared with the locals on a shipping trade comes to conclusion. The book answers his question by chapters and details. The effect of geographical formation and the environment clearly emphasizes the commencement of dominance by the Eurasian whites. Dominance factors illustrates the capability of the Eurasian to domesticate plant and animals better than the people of the New World, the speed of their technology which also sped up the rates of migration and their concrete population and size of their continents enable them to migrate and search for more opportunities to other continents. Furthermore, JD wants to search further with his study to come up with more variables that could defend his theory. He believes that he can only do this through natural historical experiments that need to be researched. These involve the history of human societies which are always intricate to understand than the lost dinosaurs of the old world (McGoodwin). Work Cited: McGoodwin, Michael. â€Å"Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel. † (2000). April 10, 2008 .

Contrast and Comparison of Three Famous Paintings Essay

Contrast and Comparison of Three Famous Paintings - Essay Example The essay "Contrast and Comparison of Three Famous Paintings" explores such famous paintings as Collision of Moorish Horsemen" of Eugene Delacroix, "The Stone Breakers" of Gustave Courbet and "Haystacks, (sunset)" of Oscar-Claude Monet. The painting "Collision of Moorish Horsemen" has embraced the brighter use colors that portray a romantic design of the art. There is the use of the expressive brushstroke that is used to present the bright colors. As a result, the color has been used to emphasize on the Moorish Horsemen. The painting's visual texture has been used to create a feeling of the battlefield as shown in the art. The background has become successful due to the rapid brushstrokes. The contrast and balance of the piece of art have been made possible by the presence of bright colors in the horses at the front and darker for the one at the background of the battlefield. The painting "The Stone Breakers" has also used bright colors that represent different aspects of the subject s involved in the art. The frontline has brighter colors than the background; hence, presenting different directions and values in the painting. Moreover, unity has been emphasized through the use of active, aggressive subjects. Visual texture has also been embraced where a rough consistency exists in the front (through the stones that the miners are working on) rather than at the background where there is a mountainous background. The painting "Haystacks" has a variety of colors mostly tertiary that present the main theme.

Discuss why Hybrid Cars are negative to the Envirornment Research Paper

Discuss why Hybrid Cars are negative to the Envirornment - Research Paper Example Hybrids, formally referred to as hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), infer automobiles powered by both petroleum products and electricity. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) employ a number of power sources to fuel movement. In the case of HEVs, the automobiles may be propelled by a combination of traditional gasoline or diesel with an electric battery that can be plugged in a peripheral power source (Anderson and Anderson 115). Electricity mainly supplements petroleum products as a prime power source, which in turn, yields fewer emissions and an enhanced gas mileage. The overriding perception within the car market industry is that hybrid or electric cars are environmentally benign. To some extent this is true as there are several benefits to purchasing a hybrid car; however, one should be conscious of some of the potential negative environmental influences of hybrid cars. If one takes the overall environmental cost of a vehicle right from design to its dismantling or recycling, hybrid-electric vehicles do not reasonably match the hype that they are presently getting (Phukidides par.1). Although hybrids are perceived as clean technology by a majority of people, hybrids with an internal combustion engine still generate pollutants to the environment. Similarly, the electricity generated to recharge the batteries and power the vehicles may be produced through â€Å"dirty technology† such as burning fossil fuels. The long-term impacts of hybrid cars to the environment include destructive impacts of battery waste disposals, and landfill contributions. Disposing of the batteries when they have outlived their worth also poses some environmental risks. Moreover, the metal components used in making the batteries may be processed and manufactured with diverse degrees of environmental risks (Anderson and

Any topic concerning US or World economy(within the past month to Article - 1

Any topic concerning US or World economy(within the past month to date) using an WSJ , web or any newspaper - Article Example Allowing religious services on schools would identify schools with Christianity which is usually practiced on Sundays. In 1995, the city was sued by the Bronx Household of Faith for the policy, arguing for the protection of religious freedom that was supposedly violated by the prevailing policy. While the church generally holds services in the Public School 15 on the Bronx, it has constructed a new community space for worshipping in the vicinity. In 1998,the church lost the lawsuit but won space inside the school temporarily on the year 2002 when the city was stopped from enforcing the ban by a federal judge. The church win in the District Court in 2012, but the decision was overruled by the Second Circuit. Despite the fact that the mayors decision is against the schools Chancellors previous public statements, many people approve of the mayors decision as it gives more freedom to the religious organizations in the