Ethan Frome and Feminism Essay

Ethan Frome is the main subject of the book Ethan Frome. Ethan’s wife Zeena from Ethan Frome represents middle class women. For a long time, social roles of women in the society and within the family were limited by gender stereotypes and social norms dominated since prehistory in a myriad of cultures. These norms were closely connected and influenced by class location of women and their social status. The following paper will focus on the main characters Zeena, Mattie and Ethan of Ethan Frome and their presentation as literary characters and their attributes of the real world struggle for feminism. It is with Zeena and Mattie that the story hinges upon an idea of the lifestyle of women during this time period and the needs which they staunched through patriarchy. The paper will focus on how the values of this time period did not leave room for independent women and the reaction of women to this societal assignment will also be analyzed. In the work, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton the author explores questions concerning the role of social class and social position in life of ordinary people especially in reference to the gap between women and men in reference to equality. The female characters are influenced by false social values and traditions accepted by society’s mores, but their ‘awakening’ is caused by different events and life circumstances, so they choose different methods to resist social oppression and tyranny. The dissection of women’s social roles and their ability to traverse these roles will be examined through character analysis of the literature mentioned. Ethan’s story is told, or discovered by the reader when the narrator becomes fascinated by the history of this lone man who comes into town to pick up mail. Interest sparks greater when the silent ride to Corbury Flats is bridged by a hint or two of what Ethan lived, or had done in his life. There are elements of feminism in this book as they relate to the strength of the women of the story, such as Mattie. The main focus of this paper will explore the dual role of feminism and strength of the women through love. A snow storm comes which permits the narrator to spend the night at the Frome farm. Here the reader is shown the complete past of Ethan Frome as told by Mattie in the kitchen. Mattie and Ethan had a forbidden love because Ethan was married at the time of their tryst. Ethan was married to a woman named Zeena and Ethan was logical with himself and thought that it would be better to run away with , and as Lawson states, The warmth of the evening is brought to an apprehensive end by the accidental breaking of one of Zeena’s sacred, never-used pickle-dishes. That the pickle-dish, a wedding gift, has never been used makes it a strong symbol of Zeena herself, who prefers not to take part in life. The depth of Zeena’s reaction to its being broken is revealed by her angrily twitching lips and by â€Å"two small tears†¦ on her lashless lids. † (Lawson 30). And their love could flourish outside of the watchful eye of his wife. Their fate together however was doomed. One winter night when the moon was high in the sky, in desperation for fear of dying slowly without eachother Ethan and Mattie decided a double suicide would be a better fate and symbol of their love. Here certain feminism elements in the story can be examined such as the lack of strength in the character Mattie, but as critic R.  Baird Shuman states, â€Å"there is probably no more pervasive single element in Ethan Frome than the symbolism. † Although Mattie loves Ethan, she does not attempt to ask Ethan for a divorce from his wife, but her ‘logical’ thought pattern suggests to there that suicide is the answer for both of them. There is a definite emasculation in this action as it does not allow the lovers to actually be together in a life, but rather to die dramatically and when this type of death is decided upon it is purely an act of attention to say to the world, or to Zeena that they are better off dead than with her in their lives. Thus, the act of suicide is not a strong feminist action but merely a cowards way out of a live neither of them want, without each other nor understand. The suicide attempt is done by sleigh riding into a tree together. The plan ultimately and tragically fails and they live with Zeena where the narrator finds them. It seems that the true feminist in the novel is Zeena. Despite the fact that she was abandoned by her husband for his new lover, and in the fact that she takes both of them back in, her strength as a character comes through. Ethan Frome was a strong young man doing what he thought was right. It was a sad thing that he married Zeena but then he wouldn’t have met Mattie. Ethan is an upright man with enough loyalty to love to end life with love and enough honor toward marriage to not run off like he was going to do. Ethan was a man with few woes but the ones he did have were seemingly too large to bear. How could he live without his love, but in living at all live being changed by guilt to his wife. He was a sad man that life couldn’t do without because it made him live through the torment of having a faithful wife, this is what Kenneth Bernard speaks of when he mentions ‘true dimensions’. These true dimensions center around the revelation of character through landscape; such as the snow as a symbol of things being dormant between Frome and his wife. Although Ethan was an honorable man there does seem to be a striking difference between Zeena’s honor and Ethan’s honor; could both of them be considered feminist? Feminism is not an theory based primarily on the injustices done to women, but is in fact a statement that women have had injustices done to them, and there is finally action and unification among women and men to stop such actions. So, the question becomes how is Wharton’s book about feminism. The concept of feminism in Ethan Frome is arranged around how the characters react with one another. Zeena is a strong willed woman who does not cheat on her husband and thus is an upright and outstanding wife, except for the fact that Ethan is not in love with her. Zeena does not appear to have any character flaws, but she does seem to be overbearing in parts, unless that is the impression the other characters want to give of her. However, it does seem that the characters only exhibit qualities of feminism during parts of the book. It may safely be surmised that Zeena was only a faithful wife out of spite. She used her faithfulness as a weapon to shove into Ethan’s face to keep him chained to her. Zeena was a typical wanna be invalid: Complaining about anything for attention and if someone found something to be good at she despised that thing and that person. She wanted to be the perfect Christian girl and be good to Ethan and Mattie just so that the town would feel sorry for her and say what a splendid woman she was to be kid to such a vile husband. She wanted that glory, thus although she was a strong woman in her own character this strength was a curse to those around her. The debate then is, is Zeena feminist or just a spiteful woman. Her husband cheats on her, tries to kill himself with his lover, and she takes him back and nurses Mattie. This may seem like a genuinely good woman according to this unbiased facts, however, it is in Zeena’s reaction wherein lies the true character. This type of characterization does not have to be with patriarchy or developing an equality among women and men but facing the fact of Zeena’s deplorable character in the reasons that she allows Ethan and Mattie back in the home. Therefore, although Zeena is a very strong female character there is no reason except a selfish reason of propriety to allow her husband back in the home, and this is not a feminist woman. Mattie’s character can best be described as sweet, loving, and at least trying to do something nice. She puts up with Zeena silently which is more than what most of the women in the novel could have done. She did what love, or what she love wanted her to do and be, a silent woman. A simple country girl looing for a life to live with someone she cares about. Thus, here is the counter to Zeena’s character. Mattie is not a strong character, so love for her does not prove that she is strong but rather weak since her escape is suicide. She does not stand up to Zeena in any way in the beginning or middle of the novel and thus her character is even further away from being considered a feminist than Zeena. In view of this comparison Mattie is not a feminist but Zeena would be considered one, only in comparison with one another. Mattie is a silent woman, she does not challenge what Ethan says to her, she does not voice her own opinion, and she goes along with Ethan’s suicide attempt without a word of complaint or counteraction. Almost the entire story is told in the kitchen, which in a patriarchal society is considered the woman’s part of the house. Although most people attribute women’s liberation to Betty Friedan’s wakening book Feminine Mystique the dates of women’s freedoms go as far back as 1848. During the freedom’s ferment era, women were contributing their time and ideas to many movements. One such movement included greater power for women. During the late 19th century women were not well accepted or permitted to hold positions of power in any political regime. Their daily duties consisted of housework, and motherly duties not to say that women were not including themselves in political venture, but the common belief of women’s place being in the home was widespread. Thus, it seems that the focus of the book should not be on Ethan Frome but these two female characters. The emotional entanglement of Edith Wharton’s characters to their situations of love, sex and death, the reality for the story is one, is the complete circle of the other, and for Wharton this circle represents the emotions of the characters themselves in their unique situation, as Kuribayashi writes, â€Å"†¦erotic impulses are often born of close encounters with death, either one’s own or that of a loved one, though contact with death may also quench one’s sexual urges†. In addressing these topics the subject of writing style isn’t elusive to its relevance in feminism. It is in postmodern feminism style that Wharton writes. This style of writing begets the transcendence of female writers and characters into a world where not necessarily control but freedom from man exists. This is how Wharton writes, with patches of reality mixed with cerebral counterparts. Wharton’s writing style does not reflect a precise example of postmodernism but a hybrid form of it with feminism. She doesn’t write disjointedly but when looked at as a whole, her story comes together to reveal Ethan Frome as a patriarch of the story despite his honor and Mattie as the typical silent woman and Zeena as the witch of the story, and their story is quilted together with a basis of shared experiences coupled with various reactions. Wharton’s style of writing is one that isn’t intrusive as most postmodern writing reflects but is inclusive allowing the reader to form a cohesive viewpoint once each side of the story is known. Wharton doesn’t focus on the complete picture but the experience and emotional narration of the character’s experiences. For these issues the inclusion of Wharton in a literary canon involves this narrative style which is very avant-garde and deserves recognition in her ingenuity and preference for that state of emotional landscaping (for it is through the details of the lives and events of these women and Ethan that the quilting effect or common thread is revealed). This is the new literary canon as derived from Munro; feminist postmodernism. This metaphoric approach to writing ensures that her craft delivers reference to feminism for each of these three characters. In this the narrative gives space to the character’s desires. For Wharton, these desires aren’t about love necessarily but about being touched and gaining experience and not being lonely as Ethan seems to be. The true genius in Wharton’s new literary canon is that of upsetting the normal devices of narrative. As Nunes states, â€Å"As a metaphor for narrative, quilting/piecing destabilizes notions of unity, coherence, and balance; it becomes a source of disruption for patriarchal narrative structure† (1997). The style of piecing together a story becomes in this new tradition of a canon a feminine aspect. Wharton works her writing style in metaphor. In Ethan Frome each character circles around to the next until they complete eachother, despite this circle having a negative connotation. Her writing style doesn’t necessitate an attachement between the characters but does give concord to their actions. The capacity Edith Wharton has to deliver a unique and persistent narrative exudes her place in the literary canon and the new definitions she lends to it. Her style of writing, at once reflecting her life and at once giving the reader clear identities to the characters and their emotional attachments to each other or to their own experiences makes Edith Wharton a literary genius. It is her writing wit, intelligence, eroticism and her complexities in dealing with these issues through characters and personal development that contribute to the changing face of feminist postmodernism. The association the main characters have with each other and their identities is what makes this story intriguing in a feminist way, and their identities seem to be lost with one another as the story progresses is definitely felt. Through lack of communication between the genders, the characters find themselves imprisoned with one another.

Individualism as an American Cultural Value Essay

American culture is often associated with some images related to general stereotypes such as assertiveness, optimism, boldness, a sense of enterprise, and a solid handshake. However, these characteristics are only general observations about the American society. Given this, the mentioned characteristics may be present to only some Americans and cannot be attributed to everyone. But there is one value that nearly every American possesses and that is individualism. In defining the American culture, individualism is the immediate concept that comes to mind. Because of this, â€Å"outsiders† like immigrants, foreigners or people from different backgrounds will have a difficult time to become accustomed with this kind of culture. In fact, in the early period, outsiders found it hard to adapt to the American value of individualism because of the differences in cultural values. The idea of a family often poses as the source for confusion or misunderstanding between cultures. In the US, bringing happiness to every family member is the main purpose of having a family. This can be carried out by giving each family member the right to express themselves and pursue their dreams and passions in life. However for other cultures, the emphasis on the achievement of an individual’s happiness without the help of the others may be perceived as rude or inappropriate. It could be a sign of disrespect or lack of love. But for many Americans, it is simply just an act of encouragement for a person to reach his or her utmost potential. For instance, a typical American would usually start to live independently after highs cool by going to college and living in campus dormitories. Also, Sponsol had a similar experience when he attended a summer camp for the East-West Center participants. One of the supervisors brought his wife and kids. The ten month old son of the supervisor acquired the most attention because of his cuteness so everyone wanted to play. During this interaction, the kid fell down and everyone tried to help him get up. But the parents became and asked the students to leave the kid alone who eventually got up on his own and stopped crying ( Sponsol 423). Moreover, privacy is definitely another aspect that an â€Å"outsider† would find unusual in the American culture. Majority of the American population value their privacy. It has been observed that most Americans just say hello and seldom pursue a conversation with other people. For â€Å"outsiders,† this can be a sign of being impolite particularly for those who grew in a setting wherein asking private questions are accepted. Because of this, many find it hard to be friends with Americans. Sponsol explained that in the book, Americans do not like to be asked in with private questions or pried on their personal affairs. For instance, asking questions like, How long have you been divorced? Or Are you going to marry a Thai again or American? Or How much do you earn? or How long have you been married? , can be recognized as an invasion of one’s privacy (421). A lot of people could experience having cultural shock when they visit the US for the very first time. As a result, it would be difficult for them to get used to the American culture. There are many reasons why this happens but cultural background plays a major role in drawing the line between the Americans and â€Å"outsiders. † Some may have a privileged life in their home lands but when they migrated to the US, they had to work in order to sustain their daily living. Furthermore, in the US culture, an individual has to be independent and hardworking to earn money in order to pay for the bills and other necessities such as food, home and education. In other cultures, some individuals do not have to work in order to survive because their parents are the ones taking care of their finances. It is very hard for an â€Å"outsider† to adapt and imbibe the American Culture. In the experience of Hanan Al-Shaykh, a Lebanese, she was filled with shock when she visited her sister in the US. Their family was accustomed to the good life in Lebanon but in the US, her sister lived a minimum wage earned. She felt pitiful for the living condition of her sister in the Land of Milk and Honey. Her sister even found it hard to get a job in the US even though she has a good educational background (Hanan 287). As a foreigner, I also experienced some difficult times in getting immersed and accustomed with American society and culture. In Saudi Arabia, my life was easier. In my native land, dependence to others is a common practice. For instance, my family employed helpers to take care of all our needs at home. Their duties mainly evolved on domestic chores such as cleaning clothes, cooking food and many others. Because of this, easy and carefree lifestyle, I had trouble adapting to the American culture when I moved there. I had to learn to look after myself wherein all the duties of our helpers back home, I had to them on my own in the US. Finally, because of the cultural values of the Americans, an â€Å"outsider† will find it hard or at least will need a longer time to adapt to theses values. Besides the assertiveness, optimism, boldness, a sense of enterprise, and a solid handshake, individualism will always be a crucial value of the Americans that will aid in developing and achieving their dreams and passion.

NPV method

This report focuses on three Important areas of financial management namely Capital structure, Management of Working Capital and Investment appraisal. While the flirt two parts of the report analysis Apple's activities, the last part of the report is related to the given scenario. The first part of the report evaluates Apple's capital structure. After determining the company's capital structure, the report will evaluate different financing options for the company's capital investments. The analysis involves the cost of debt and equity. The aim Is to justify the financing decision for a Eng term.The second part of the report evaluates the performance of Apple's working capital management practices. This part relies on the ratio analysis. Current Ratio, Debtors, Creditors and Inventory days will be calculated over a three years period. The data is gathered from the Yahoo Finance. In order to make the analysis more meaningful there will be a benchmarking with a main competitor. The last part of the report conducts NAP analysis to find out the best investment option for the given scenario. The project with the highest NAP is likely to be most beneficial for the company.Subsequently conclusions will be drawn. Reason for Choosing Apple for this study I have a personal interest in this company as it is seen the most successful company in the world at the moment. I will be able to learn from the best practice. Capital Structure and Financing Decision A firm's optimal capital structure is the mix of debt and equity that minimizes the weight cost of capital of the firm. When the cost of capital is minimized, the total value of firm's shares are maximized. As a result the minimum cost capital structure is called as the optimum capital structure. (Moyer et al. 012) According to Moles et al. (201 1) managers decide on the optimum capital structure based on the trade-offs between the benefits and costs of debt. The fact that there are a number of different benefits and costs associated with the use of debt flagging suggests that managers will balance these different options. Moles et al. (2012) explains that debt can be cheaper as debt is less risky than the equity. In addition, there is a tax advantage with debt financing as interest expenses are generally tax deductible. Another world, the company pays less tax if they use debt financing.However, a company can go into liquation If It cannot payback Its debts of Interest obligations. According to Apple's financial statements on Yahoo Finance (2012) over the last three years period (2009, 2010 and 2011 ) the company did not have any long term debt as well as short term debt. While the company's retained earnings increased from $23. 4 billion in 2009 to $37 billion in 2010 and this figure reached to $63 billion in 2011, the company financed its projects through retained profits. The company was able to do this because It had large profits. Apple's net profits were $8. Lion, $14 billion and $25. 9 billio n In 2009, 2010 and 201 1 respectively. According to the Apple's Annual and $1. 3 billion in 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively. Currently the company is using equity option to finance its capital expenditure. According to BBC (2012) this year the company announced $2. 65 per share quarterly dividends. This is the first dividend payment since 1995. As the company does not pay regular dividends, it is not meaningful to calculate the company's cost of equity using the divided valuation model. However, the market prices of Apple shares increased almost 22% in 2011.Therefore, it can be said that Apple's cost of equity is quite high. In conclusion, currently Apple finances its capital projects through equity financing. With a possible debt financing the company is likely to reduce its cost of capital. This could be a good idea if the company's profit figures start to decline. According to the financial statements of the company Apple did not have any short term or long term loans between 2 009 and 2011. Analysis of working capital management Working capital management concerns with organizing a company's short term sources to sustain ongoing activities mobiles funds and optimism liquidity.It further dropped to 1. 61 in 2011. The company's figures can be compared with the Blackberry manufacturer RIM. RIM's current ratios are higher than Apple's in 2010 and 2011. RIM 2011 2010 2009 current Ratio 2. 08 2. 06 2. 39 The main reason for the decline in Apple's current ratio is decline in debtor and from 2010 to 2011. In the same period, the inventor days decline from 9. 3 days to 4. 4 days. This indicates that the efficiency of the company's working capital management as they were able to receive the money from debtors faster and to keep fewer inventories.The company also was able to keep creditors days high with 135. 5 days. Consequently the company's current ratio declined dramatically in recent years. However, this decline should be seen as a positive development as the c ompany has been leaner in recent years. Therefore, the figures above indicate the company's working management practices are successful. Investment Appraisal with NAP method Net present value (NAP) of a project is the sum of the present values of all its cash flows, both outflows and inflows. The rate used to discount the cash flows must be consistent with the project's risk.Another word, if the project risky then higher discount rates should be used when appraising the investment options. The same company might use different discount rates for its difference projects depending on a rockiness of the project. (Graham and Smart, 2011) According to Graham and Smart (2011) the companies can invest in any projects if the NAP figure is positive as any positive figure will increase the value of the company. The table below demonstrates the NAP calculations for an investment option. Delta Printing is considering buying machinery and there are three different purchase options.The machines ca n be used for a six-year period. After six year Machine A and B can be sold with a scraped value. Initial cost of each options are as follows; El m for Machine A, CHEEK for machine B and CHEEK for Machine C. According to the initial cost figures the Project C is the best option as it requires less investment. However, there will be no scrapped value for Machine C. With the original figures, it is difficult to make a decision. In this case, NAP method can simplify the investment decisions. The cash inflows are discounted with the company's cost of capital of 15%.

Cross Cultural Organizational Behaviour-&ltFear and Trembling&gt Assignment

Cross Cultural Organizational Behaviour-<Fear and Trembling> - Assignment Example In human resource management, the Herzberg’s two-factor theory states that both job dissatisfaction and job satisfaction exist, but work independently of another. This means it is guided by the fundamentals of attitudes and motivation to integrate practicality when enhancing workers’ productivity. The theory was advanced by Frederick Herzberg and it continues to streamline the human resource management in terms of recognition, advancement, achievement and even responsibility. On that account, the movie Fear and Trembling directed by Alain Corneau attempts to evoke Herzberg’s two-factor theory in particular scenes with emphasis on its numerous characters. This is exemplified in Amelie’s return to Japan after many years seeking a reconnection and a means of integration, but the circumstances and conditions are difficult. On that perspective, the protagonist’s behavior is an epitome of a reformed attitude and motivation to perform her duties in a diffe rent way that evokes a sense of responsibility and recognition. Amelie also intends to increase her satisfaction in serving her nation, but the retrogressive forces such as those depicted by Ms Mori acted by Kaori Tsuji are hell-bent on questioning her willingness to work. In the same account, the lead character’s embodiment of humility in facing her tasks as a translator at an import/export company does not favor her because she barely remembers the Japanese cultural norms (Sheldrake 164). Unfortunately, this negates her intentions that Herzberg asserts that are guided by higher-level gratification and other forms of psychological needs rather than mere competence. Contrastingly, Ms Mori’s callous trait represents the two-factor model of failing to offer the worker the set of job characteristics that will spur satisfaction. Instead, she belittles Amelia particularly in the scene where the protagonist requests for better work conditions to fully integrate in her native country. This clearly demonstrates Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory of diminishing one’s job attitudes and eventual productivity. It is also evident when Ms Mori delegates Amelie to become a bathroom attendant not as a means of recognizing her efforts but as a revenge tactic to demoralize her efforts. The scene provokes a sense of defeat in the motivated worker and is further manifested when Amelie angrily tells refuses to renew her contract. Such a scenario in any job setting is a replication of worker subjugation and exploitation that cannot be prevented thus Herzberg’s conclusion on the two-sidedness of job satisfaction in various firms. According to Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory, the plight of Amelie in the import/export company remains evident in the scene where the main character finally meets the company’s president. The office evokes a sense of cultural Japan when people addressed the Emperor and was a sign of reverence and contentment. In th e work context, it displays a renewed hope and motivation in the incompetent translator who has been thoroughly humiliated by Ms Mori in her quest to crush any form of productivity. Additionally, Ms Mori’s retrogressive display of converting a former translator to a bathroom attendant clearly proves her failure to distinguish the building blocks of Herzberg's

Analysis of the organization of a target company (General Motors Essay

Analysis of the organization of a target company (General Motors Corporation) - Essay Example Indeed, the company has been able to harness the capabilities of each individual so that they can help in the historic comeback of a legend in business that has succumbed to the pressures of the financial crisis that engulfed the United States (GM Website). The paper also aims to gather different perspectives from different authors and papers that have been available throughout the past two decades. As such, it is important to note the there has been two significant changes that affected the organization of General Motors. One is the transition from the industrial age to the information age which has yielded what Serrat (2008) calls the knowledge workers. Also, automobile giant has not been spared by the onslaught of the credit crunch that engulfed most of the advanced economies towards the latter part of this century’s first decade. Paradigmatic Perspectives The lens for analyzing this paper has already been settled. As such, the views presented herein will illustrate how Gen eral Motors was able to harness their diverse employees into one functioning organization. There will be various literatures that will be able to shed some light into the organization that has been formed within this company. However, the analysis will be anchored upon the basic paradigm that has been established for this study. As such, this will hopefully show the organization of GM and its employees as it rises back from bankruptcy. Looking at the organization of the company, the channels of communication has been established in order to capture the suggestions of their diverse employees (Hoffman and Gavin, 1998). Still, despite the diversity, the company’s organization has been able to maintain a certain degree of linearity as they are able to funnel all these suggestions from all their diverse employees into the top management. In addition, it is important to see how these employees can be effectively harnessed. Indeed, central to the efforts to improve a company’ s organization is its human resources department. As such, it is important that the company is able to maintain within its organization the needed manpower that fits its culture perfectly and contribute to the company (Huselid, 1995). Also, it is important to note that the employees ought to be able to identify themselves with the company and this is what the organization of GM has so far been banking on. Company Background The company that this analysis will focus on is General Motors Corporation (GM), one of the biggest players in the automobile industry in the United States. Last June 2009, at the height of the Global Financial Crisis, GMC filed for bankruptcy that has practically wiped out jobs and share value. However, after being bailed out by the United States government, the company has been able to recover and has been able to record decent profits. As such, the company has tried to distance themselves from their previous image putting forward the impression that General Mo tors has been remade (GM website). Aside from the help from the government, the company has been able to maintain its diverse pool of talents since they rely on their greatest asset – people. Hence, the company tries to maintain a workplace that employees would prefer to work on by making sure that theirs is an organization where people can perform to the best of their abilities. To do so, they have an organization that welcomes the

The War on Terror U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan Essay

The War on Terror U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan - Essay Example Thesis statement: The U.S. initiated War on Terror and invasion of Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) is helpful to obstruct the rapid spread of terrorism, restoration of democracy in Afghanistan, and peace in the Middle East. The War on Terror The War on Terror, a military campaign initiated by the U.S. and its allied nations, primarily aims to resist rapid spread of terrorism, especially the terrorist plots like 9/11. Duffy (2005), an eminent human rights activist, writer, and the director of the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights points out that, â€Å"In the immediate wake of the attacks of 11 September 2001, the United States committed itself to a sustained ‘war on terror’, a significant component of which has involved the use of military force by the United States and its allies in several countries, notably Afghanistan and Iraq† (p.186). One can see that the origin of terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and Taliban is inte rconnected with the growth of militant nationalism in the Middle East. On the other side, the War on Terror never hindered counter-terrorism measures adopted by the world nations. To be specific, the War on Terror aims to reduce the influence of terrorism among the world nations. ... The origin of the War on Terror is interconnected with the growth of al-Qaeda and Taliban in the Middle East. The end result of the creation of al-Qaeda by Osama bin Laden in 1980s was the rapid spread of terrorism and the origin of Taliban in Afghanistan. Gradually, Bin Laden began to control Afghani Taliban. This eventually led to the origin of terrorist networks in the Middle East and in the African continent. On the other side, the U.S. interest and influence among the oil rich Middle Eastern nations was an imminent threat to the terrorist networks. So, Bin Laden decided to intimidate the U.S. and other Western nations by attacking the officials and civilians. Soros (2007), who is the chief of the Soros Fund Management, supporter of open societies and an important critic on the War on Terror, opines that, â€Å"Bin Laden correctly identified the one aspect in which military Islam is superior to Western civilization: the fear of death† (p.108). The millennium attack in the year 2000 proves that Bin Laden was ready to challenge the U.S. and its allied nations. The immediate cause behind the War on Terrorism and the attack on al-Qaeda and Taliban is the 9/11 attack, formulated by Bin Laden. This attack infuriated the U.S. and it eventually led to the extension of the War on Terrorism to new levels. The War on Terrorism aimed to destroy the mastermind behind the rapid spread of terrorism. Soros (2007), opines that, â€Å"My emphasis on the role of the United States as the source of stability in the world and the protector of our civilization is somewhat exaggerated on account of personal considerations† (p.xviii). But, Bin Laden and other leaders of Al-Qaeda and Taliban like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi were in Afghanistan. So, the warfront gradually shifted to

Buddhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Buddhism - Research Paper Example Second one is the practicality check measurement in the Buddhists beliefs to explore its flexibility and modernism that may lead to the problem handling processes in the modern era of science and technology. Self-awareness is the primary motive behind such critical constructive reflections. Generally there are two ways to explore any religion as the beginner. The first one practiced commonly is researching and observing the ideas and beliefs of a particular group of people with a defined school of thought in order to validate the truth and purity behind the theoretical and practical aspects of a religion. Second one is to make an unbiased research on the personality of central concern to the followers of certain religion. Its little bit more productive to do a critical reflection in a way to first explore the central character and then to observe the followers community. Siddhartha Guatarna is the central focus of the Buddhist community. Siddhartha Guatarna was bold and visionary soul with a mission to drive his live. He left his house to explore the world, the research out the source of happiness and to discover the cause of being. It was indeed a hard journey – journey towards the truth. He was a kind soul and wanted to help out the people in misery situations, he worked hard to aid people suffering, he applied his knowledge to save people’s life, and collectively he was much more than an ordinary man [AE12]. He was the brave soul and practical example of noble people for those who found no one to help them out. Some of the practices in the Siddhartha Guatarna period were simply astonishing. For women, Buddhism allowed the ownership of private companies and personal Sangha at that time. The time when no strong set of moral values was any more practiced in the society, such freedom of choice provided to women was indeed worthy appreciation [PG10]. It was the same time when talking about women

Hacking Exposed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Hacking Exposed - Essay Example viewing the Defense Threat Reduction Agency server, the agency of the Department of Defense; and â€Å"downloaded the proprietary environmental control software for the International Space Station — the programming that controlled the temperature and humidity in the station’s living space† (What’s the latest, 2010, par.1). Initially, James was â€Å"banned from recreational computer use and was slated to serve a six-month sentence under house arrest with probation. However, he served six months in prison for violation of parole† (IT Security, 2010, par.7). It was clearly indicated in the article that James hacked computers for fun. He was exposed to computers at a very young age. His father remembers James as â€Å"a passionate computer geek, who started playing with the family PC at the age of 6, and switched his own computer from Windows to Linux in middle school† (What’s the latest, 2010, par. 8). Due to the tender age of James, at 16, when he was sentenced for the crimes committed, what could have been a 10 year sentence of incarceration for an adult for the crime, he was only restricted from using the computer and was on house arrest with clear probation. Given the sensitivity of the organizations he hacked, he should have been given a more stringent punishment in terms of an extended period of incarceration (or house arrest, for that matter). Or, since he has proven to have the intelligence and the capacity to intrude sensitive softwares of top organizations, one of these organizations could have used his potentials to productive use. By merely letting him go after the punishment, he was again suspected of â€Å"being part of the conspiracy responsible for the largest identity theft in U.S. history. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home on May 18, 2008, less than two weeks after agents raided his house in connection with a hacking ring that penetrated TJX, DSW and OfficeMax, among others† (Whats, 2010, par.6). Ultimately,

Control room Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Control room - Movie Review Example As they say, there are always two sides of the story, so it is important for me to listen not just to one opinion and make my own opinion based on that of one group’s point of view. I have always believed that the things I see on television are presented as they are but watching the film, I have come to realize that indeed, we are all humans after all so that even professionals bend their ethical views to favor there personal views. The media is expected to be objective at all times as they are supposed to present facts to the people and how they perceive the circumstances they are reporting about but as Joanne Tucker, the manager of AlJazeera.net said, objectivity is almost a mirage. One cannot really get away from taking sides especially in a case like the war in Iraq because it is a global issue that affects lives, not to mention the lives of civilians and most especially, the lives of innocent children. The video has shown that everyone has his or her own propaganda in suc h chaos. While we would all want peace and order, wars break out because of personal agendas of wanting to be the hero, wanting to be at the top and having all the power and fame. Presidents aim for peace and unity with another aim of being a part of a great cause which could be understandable because they are humans. The media have the same objectives as well, wanting to unite the people with the facts they present yet to some extent fail in their cause, and we understand that again because they are humans. What could probably most unacceptable is the fact that the ordinary person on the street, the innocent ones, the helpless mothers and children in their homes are the real victims, the pawns in this game called war. The video may have caused me to think more critically of the news I watch from now on but it will never change my perceptions on who are the true winners and losers in the issues of war. People fight their fellow people. Regardless of cultural backgrounds, we are all still human beings and have to act as one and not like animals killing each other. In wars, there can never be winners but that we are all losers. Millions of dollars are spent for wars and millions of people die in the course and there will always be rage in our hearts even if we continue to try to live in peace. If our money and strength would have been directed to the higher cause of fighting the war against poverty, then we would all be winners, making others live rather than killed. Whatever the truth is behind all the explanations of all the groups of people interviewed, the fact that wars are a losing end, will always remain true to me. Behind the politicians’ agenda to gain power, honor and fame, they are not winners. Behind the media people’s agenda of prospering their network and being recognized to be the best, gaining as much trophies as they can to parade in their offices, there is no honor found in it because behind all these, the victims are us. Who will speak for the child who spoke for the good of his people, endangering his life by being used as a pawn only to get to the conscience of those concerned? Would you not call that as a losing end as I view it? The video is a presentation of the sides of the people or groups of people i

Criminal Justice Process Essay Example for Free

Criminal Justice Process Essay Juveniles are not extended the right to a jury of their peers. What is the most significant reason why this right is not extended to juveniles? Please explain in detail why you chose that particular reason. I do not think that there is only one significant reason as to why juveniles are not extended the right to a jury of their peers. I think that one of the multiple reasons for this right not being extended is because a jury has to be able to be responsible enough to actually show up, they have to be able to convict or not convict based on evidence beyond a reasonable doubt and be able to disregard any evidence or statements when a judge asks them to. I do not think that most juveniles are mentally, nor emotionally equipped to do deal with the responsibilities of being a part of a jury. Most juveniles are still immature and when someone’s life is at stake and their freedom can be taken away I do not think that having a â€Å"child† decide their fate is appropriate. Why do you believe that there are differences between the adult justice system and the juvenile justice system? Please explain in detail why you believe as you do? I believe there are differences between the adult justice system and the juvenile justice system because of the differences in age, experiences, knowledge, and maturity. The juvenile justice system focuses on the rehabilitation of the juvenile, whereas the adult justice system’s goal is to punish and obtain retribution for the crime(s) committed. Juvenile offenders are given sentences that seek to rehabilitate rather than punish. Some of the treatment options offered could include counseling and placement in juvenile institutions that were also created to help restore them. Adult offenders are given harsh sentences. The sentences given can include a fine and or incarceration in jail or prison. All of the sentences given are solely based on punishing the offender. The adult court system is primarily concerned with the offender paying for the damage that they have done to society and the courts isn’t interested in rehabilitating or trying to change the behavior of the offender. After reviewing this entire building in CJ Interactive, describe ways that you can use this interactive tool to improve your learning of criminal justice concepts. Describe in detail the ways you can use this tool to further your criminal justice education, identifying at least three specific ways you would use this tool. After reviewing the entire building in CJ Interactive, I was able to see how this tool will help my learning of criminal justice concepts. I am a visual and auditory learner and both of my learning styles are incorporated in the CJ Interactive tool. I was able to get a better understanding of many of the topics that we have discussed in class thus far. For example through this too I was able to get a better understanding of the differences between the adult and juvenile court systems as well as how crime is defined and measured. I will be able to use this tool as another way of learning and understanding the criminal justice system by using the glossary to learn the terms used to explain the criminal justice system and its process. I will also be able to use this tool to learn and understand the criminal justice system by utilizing the different ways information is given is given in CJ Interactive for example there are 14 buildings located in this learning tool and each building represents a different topic in criminal justice and gives us students access to different learning modules, myths and issues, simulation activities, homework and review, and glossary terms associated with each particular topic. I can see myself utilizing all of these resources as a way to better understand the criminal justice system, my assignments that I have to complete in class, and for me to just use to gain as much knowledge as I can about the different topics in criminal justice throughout my college career at Colorado Technical University.

Sources Of Finances Available To A Business Finance Essay

Sources Of Finances Available To A Business Finance Essay Starting and running a successful business in the current world is not easy. Due to the rising costs and falling value of stocks, consumers have been left little money to spend. This has led many investors to sell their stock at a loss or just to break even. One way of maintaining a profitable business is constantly injecting some capital into it. Below we identify the major sources of finance available to a business. Bank Overdraft This refers to a short-term credit facility that is provided to a business by the bank. It is one of the most common that a business can use to raise some to receive extra. A bank overdraft permits an account holder to withdraw more the amount of money they have in their bank account. The overdraft attracts interests on the amount overdrawn (Shaw 2011). Loan Business loans can be classified as either long term, medium or short term. Although loans are regarded as costly way of raising extra capital, it is ideal for long-term business projects such as development and expansion. Grants As a source of finance, grants are offered to businesses for services or programs that profit the local community. Grants are offered by large private firms and government agencies. Retained Profits A business can plough back some of its undistributed profits back into the business. Retained profits are the amount of money held by a business to provide financial back-up in times of need. This is acknowledged as the most ideal way of raising extra capital in business as there is no interest or extra charges incurred. Working Capital Working capital refers to the sum of money that a business has set aside meant for financing the day to day activities. Working capital is also ideal as a source of addition capital since no cost is incurred (Shaw 2011). LO1 1.2 Implications of finance as a resource The main sources of finance are credit unions, banks as well as private investors. Funds from other income streams such as rented properties and money from stock are also credible sources of cash to finance a business. Each source of finance is associated with a set of implications such as the amount that is paid as interest on a bank loan, penalties for late payments as well as other infractions set in the contract between the borrower and the lender. Although the implications might be more or less the same as those of regular banks, credit unions may however set their interest rates at a lower figure. Private Investors: The use of private investors as a way of financing a business will attract a legal agreement that is bidding to both the seller and the buyer. Although the agreement maybe at times verbal, the implication of avoiding a written legal contract between the two parties involved might be severe and one party may fail to honor their obligations. Good private investors are know not lend money to business people until they performed due diligence on the businesses (Ralph 2005). Sources of finance from dividends, sale of stock or rented properties is practical and more lucrative. However, these kind of financial sources have been associated with a number of implications. For instance, stock prices may fall drastically leaving the investor with huge losses. The solution to finding the right sources of finance is to look at the benefits and drawbacks, and come-up with the best fit for a given business loan, investment prospect and other financial needs. LO1 1.3 Appropriate sources of Finance There are so many sources of finance that a business can choose from and it therefore up to the business owner to select the most appropriate way to finance business projects. To fund that important business project, a business may seek a loan from bank as well as any other financial institution with lending services. Another appropriate method of raising the necessary finance is by requesting for a bank overdraft. Another method that has become quite popular is raising finances through venture capital. Investment specialists and merchant banks might be willing to finance fast-growing and promising business project. Venture capital is a composition of chare and loan capital. Lucrative business projects may qualify for funding and assistance through grants offered by the government and other non-governmental organizations. For instance, low interest loans and grants may be offered to business that establishes their operations in the rural areas. One of the viable ways of financing ong oing and expensive business ventures is by leasing expensive equipment. This helps the business to save a lot of money. Lastly, businesses may raise finance through trade credit. This is a short term source of finance that makes it possible for business to purchase items on credit and pay later (Incstaf 2010).   LO2 2.1 costs of different sources of finance The cost associated with loans (debt financing) is interest while the cost of investments (equity financing is share of the profits or dividends. Comparing the costs for different sources of finance may involve the analysis and calculation of cost of capital. This may involve comparing the interest charges on a loan with the businesses with the total percentage of accumulated profits or retained earnings that belong to the investor. Business owners seeking loans from a number of banks should compare the payments terms and interest rates being offered. Even very little variations in the interest rate can tote up to considerable amounts over a long period of time. Unsecured Short-term loans, for example lines of credit, usually have a high rate of interest as compared to long-term secured loans such as mortgages. The fact trade credits and bank overdrafts attract high interest rates make them to be too costly (Higham 2004). The interest rate is normally dependent on the risk as well as the credit rating score of the borrower. If a business need financing for a fixed period of time mostly less than a year, it could be more suitable for the business to borrow from friends and family or set up a short term loan from a bank. As an additional cost to the business, banks may require security or collateral for the loan being secured as insurance against loan defaults. LO2 2.2 importance of financial planning Financial Planning is the practice of determining the amount of capital needed as well as the competition of the capital. The process of financial planning involves creating policies, objectives, procedures, budgets and programs concerning the financial activity in concern. Financial planning ensures the adequate and effective financial and investment policies. Some of the importances are as outlined; Financial planning guarantee the adequate utilization of funds Financial Planning assists in maintaining a reasonable stability between the inflow and outflow In addition, Financial Planning guarantees that the suppliers of funds are effortlessly investing in businesses that observe financial planning. It has also been attributed in facilitating expansion and growth programmes which assists in the long-run survival of the business. Financial Planning decreases uncertainties with respect to shifting market trends by eliminating these hindrances, financial planning helps in maintaining profitability and stability in a business (Higgins 2011). LO2 2.3: Information needs of different decision makers There are various parties keen on the information of a business. These parties can be classified as either internal or external depending on how interested they are in the business and the influence they have on the organization. They also need different forms of information and based on their requirements. Owners/ Shareholders These are internal parties of the organization and they need information for sound decision making when it comes to productivity of the firm, income belonging to shareholders, asset base of the company (net worth or payable), as well as the availability of assets (cash) for future development. Employees These are also internal parties whose purpose of acquiring information on the organization is totally different from that of its proprietors. Workers are mostly worried about their wages and other remunerations from the job and the permanence of the company for the safety of their employment. Their main areas of interest are the organizations economic information, productivity of the business and any future development plans (Suthaharan 2010). Lenders Financial institutions like banks and lenders also have a keen interest on the financial reports of the company, especially if the company wants to borrow funds for expansion or for settling operational costs. Banks are interested in gearing ratio of the organization (a form of ratio involving the loan capital and equity capital). Profitability of the firm: liquidity ratio, interest covers (capacity to offset interest charges if the loans are acquired); fixed assets foundation to obtain the information regarding the securities obtainable for the loan etc are all necessary to financial institutions. Government/ Regulatory institutions The government is interested in how much profit the company is making and if it is paying the correct tax charges for their income. The government also checks for other forms of applicable tax charges; compliance with the managerial bodies systems (bookkeeping principles, Colombo stock exchange requirements etc (Suthaharan 2010). General Public/ customers The general public is interested in knowing the operation of the firm and the stability of the employment. LO2 2.4: Impact of finance on the financial statements Presently, companies frequently smother monetary statement like the balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the income statement. Once the financial statements have been released at the end of a financial year, they may have huge impacts on the investors and other stakeholders. Hence, it is up to the company to make sure that all the information the financial statement is correct. Impact on Stock Price the stock of a company can be greatly impacted by financial statements. In making their investment decisions, several investors use financial statements to establish the viability of investing in certain stocks. The upward and downward movements of stock prices are dependent on the information presented in the statements (Stansky 2010). Financing Decisions financial statements are likely to affect the likelihood of accompany to acquire funding. If a business is attempting to take out a production loan, the lender will routinely scrutinize the financial statements of that company. Lenders are more likely to invest in businesses that have good financial statements. LO3 3.1 Analyze budgets and make appropriate decisions Once a business becomes operational, it is important tightly manage and plan its financial performance. One of the most effective methods of keeping the finances of a business on track is by creating a budgeting process. Managing, monitoring and creating a budget are important in guaranteeing the success of the business. The budget should help the business owner in allocating resources where they are required, so that the business remains successful as well as profitable. The budget process should be simple and should take into consideration what will be earned and spent in the business. Start-up businesses may run their businesses in a tranquil way and may not even require a budget. on the other hand, if a business is planning to grow and expand into the future, budgeting is one of the most effective way of managing funds and new stream of cash flows thus allowing the business owner to invest in fresh opportunities at the right time. A budget is an important planning tool that helps business in making appropriate decisions relating control of finances (Wendy 2006). LO3 3.2 calculations of unit costs and making pricing decisions A Unit cost refers to the actual cost of delivering a single unit of a product or service. The calculation of unit costs is done with the intention of providing a basis of comparing the costs of different providers of goods and services. It can be used in identifying trends that might signal variations in productivity, resources as well as the quality of services. Unit costs may be termed as the benchmark for measuring performance (Damodaran 2011). By understanding how to establish Unit costs, a business can be able to promote effective use of funds. It can provide information that can be used to improve services. The use of unit costs can help in identifying economies of scale, assist in establishing fee policies, strengthening future applications as well as informing on the contracting processes, identify economies of scale, help to establish fee policies, and strengthen future grant applications. Making pricing decision can sometimes be a tricky and hard decision. For instance, if goods and services are priced too low, the business might not be able to cover all the expenses and if highly priced, the business might not realize any sales at all. LO3 3.3 viability of a project using investment appraisal techniques In nature, different Investment opportunities and projects vary considerably. Hence, project appraisal techniques were designed to assist business managers and investors make good decisions and choose the most viable projects. The real meaning of all investment appraisals is the evaluation of the value of proposals which need financial and economic commitment of resources, by taking into consideration the costs and benefits. For any business, making bad investment decisions can end in loss of opportunities to net new investors, limited future growth and poor financial and economic performance or the disappointment of shareholders. Investment appraisal intervenes at the stage where a business plan is transformed into its corresponding financial plan and the choice to finance its execution (Hassan 2008). LO4 4.1 main financial statements In a company, there are three major financial statements namely; the balance sheet-which is a report of a companys assets, liabilities and stockholders equity as at a given time. Then there is the income statement which simply is a record of a companys revenues and expenses during a certain financial period. The last major financial statement is the cash flow statement (commonly known as the statement of cash flows). This statement provides information on the changes that have occurred a companys cash and cash equivalents during the similar period income statement (Leigh 2012). LO4 4.2 formats of financial statements for different types of business The income statement of a manufacturing business is different from that of a retail store. In this income statement (manufacturing), the first line is occupied by gross income followed by the subtraction of goods manufactured. This results to gross income. The second portion of the income statement records all expenses that are linked administrative, general and selling costs. This is again subtracted from gross income to disclose operating income (Steiner 2012). For smaller businesses and companies, the business may maintain very simple balance sheet but for large companies, the balance sheet is broken down into current assets and liabilities and long-term assets and liabilities. Several businesses use the accrual basis of accounting. This implies that they will identify income received from a sale after the sale has been completed and not essentially when the cash is received. LO4 4.3 financial statements and Ratio A ratio is an expression of a relationship between two or more quantitative variables. On the other hand, financial ratios show the interrelationships between different elements in the financial statements. The analysis of financial ratios involves determining a standardized connection between figures showing up in the financial statements as well as using those relationships known as ratios to evaluate the business financial performance and position. A number of techniques have to be used in ensuring that financial statements of different businesses have been simplified and made compatible. Such method may incorporate the use of great tools for example common sized financial statements and ration analysis. Financial ratios fall in one of the four classes, namely; liquidity (current ration, quick ration), profitability (return on assets, return on equity), investor (Earning per share) and long-term or risk (asset turnover, asset receivable turnover ratio) (Loth 2011).