Utilizing Qr Code Technology for Emr. - 4005 Words

Utilizing QR Code Technology In Encoding Patient Summary List 2012 Utilizing QR Code Technology In Encoding Patient Summary List Fatima Alsaleh and Samir Elmasri PhD College of Computer and Information Systems, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia Abstract: In situations like emergency, where the immediately gained, summarized and accurate information may radically make the difference between life and death, the need for a solution that fulfills this requirement arises. Number of solutions was previously proposed including emergency card and smart cards, but each has number of cons and pros. With the rapid adoption of smartphones, QR codes (Quick Response) is the ideal substitute for the current circumstances. It can be easily read by†¦show more content†¦Smart Card is the perfect media that can be used as a health card due to its small size, secure, capability of digitizing a huge amount of personal and medical data [4]. Some attempts have been done by researchers to develop a personal portable healthcare record smart cards and a corresponding framework to simplify maintenance and transfer of patient records [9]. Researchers in the U.K. have created MyCare, a smart card with a fold-out USB plug that can hold a patien t’s medical history. MyCare was developed with open source that enables it to run on different computers and operating systems. Data is protected through PINs and encryption, with a higher level of encryption planned for further stages in the development process [5][6]. These smart card projects work better in countries with nationalized health care. In the US For example, competition among hospitals is a barrier to a smart card system [5]. Smart card technology was not widely spread due to lack of standards (Dash, 2001); the communications between a smart card and smart card reader. The cards also need to be updated constantly which would be hard to enforce [10]. For smart cards, user mobility is only possible if every machine that the user access has a smart card reader attached. The machine must support the same standard smart card reader interfaces or use the same proprietary smart card reader [11]. Research Statement Due to the barriers of smart cards usage including, the high cost value, the

Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount Free Essays

Abstract The fact that investment trusts and close-end funds in general trade at a discount has elicited debates among financial scholars and practitioners, often referred to as the closed-end puzzle. Based on this, this paper explores and explains some of the reasons that investment trusts trade at a discount. It also provides an in-depth explanation of characteristics of close-ended funds and conditions that lead to the classification of the share price as either a discount or a premium. We will write a custom essay sample on Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount or any similar topic only for you Order Now Investment trusts trading at a discount are those trading at prices that are below their net asset value. Those trading at a price higher than the net asset value are considered as being sold at a premium. Some of the main reasons that are explored in this paper include miscalculation of the net asset values of the investment trust, taxes on realized capital gains, agency costs, managerial abilities and investor sentiment. Even with the explanations that are provided in this paper, the closed-end fund prize puzzle continues to be debated upon and researched. Introduction The fact that investment trusts often trade at a discount is an aspect that has drawn interests from academics and practitioners in the field of finance. To have a better understanding of these reasons, it is ideal to provide an exhaustive definition of investment trusts. Investment trusts, which are typical to the United Kingdom, are defined by Barnhart and Rosenstein (2010) as types of investment firms that are formed with the primary aim of holding securities for other companies and the obtainment of capital from the public issue of shares trading on the stock market. They are also referred to as closed-end funds because they only offer a fixed quantity of shares that new investors can purchase from already existing shareholders (Hartzell et al., 2006). The prices of shares of investment trusts are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the share market. As a consequence, there are incidents where the price of a share may either be higher or lower than its net asset valu e. Whenever a share trades at a price that is higher than its net asset value, it is considered to be trading at a premium. On the contrary, if a share trades at a value that is lower that its net asset value, it is considered to be trading at a discount (Berk Stanton, 2007). In this regard, this report intends to discuss reasons why they trade at a discount. Reasons for discounting Investment Trusts One main characteristic of investment trusts and closed-end funds in general is the fact that they are permanent capital ventures and thus, the shares’ supply is fixed (Chan et al., 2008). Numerous attempts that have been made by researchers and practitioners to explain the investment trust discounts, and have resulted in conflicting results, commonly referred to as the closed-end fund puzzle. Even though these funds are known to trade at discounts, it is important to note that newly opened investment trusts and closed-end funds in general, usually begin trading at a premium of approximately 10% of their net asset value. After their initial premium trading, they shift towards trading at a discount that is at average rate of 10% within the first 120 days. After which, discounts remain substantial. In case closed-end funds are closed or terminated, there is an increase in their share prices, which in turn eliminates the existent discounts (Cherkes et al., 2009). Explanations for investment trust discounts that have been made by researchers include the risk of liquidity, the past and future performance of shares on the market and the miscalculation of the fund’s net asset value. Investor sentiment is also another reason for discount trading in investment trusts (Yanran Liyan, 2007). This section intends to provide a more in-depth discussion of these reasons. Misestimating the Net Asset Value (NAV) This reason has been pointed out by Halkos and Krintas (2006), who argue that such miscalculations of the NAV can result from a possible accumulation of capital gains illiquid assets that had not been realized. The reason why funds with high capital appreciations that have been unrealized ought to trade at a discounted share price is that potential holders of such funds will assume a potential tax liability. In a research that was carried out by Kousenidis et al. (2011) on the effect of liquidity on closed-end funds, he established that there is a possibility of illiquid assets to be traded at a discount to provide higher expected returns. In support of inaccuracy of NAV measurement as a reason for discounts in closed-end fund trading, Yanran and Liyan(2007)suggested that when closed-end funds own large amounts illiquid assets or restricted stock that are not fairly trading in the market, their NAVs can fail to provide an accurate reflection of their true value. As a consequence of this, the shares might either trade at a lower or higher value than the NAV. Investment trust discounts are also affected by restricted stock holdings. However, given that such holdings are often quite small or at a zero value, they do not hold as valid reasons for investment trusts trading at a discount. For investment trusts, there is usually no assurance that there will always be an available market. Therefore, this lack of an assured redemption of shares makes their valuation to be discounted. In addition to this, investment trusts that hold relatively liquid securities are valued lower than their net asset values (NAVs) at the marketpla ce (Cherkes et al., 2009). Putting appropriate measures in place to avoid miscalculation of the trust net asset value is vital to solve this issue. Agency Costs and Managerial Ability Discounts in closed-end funds could be a reflection of poor performance in the management of the fund or an overcharge of management fees (Bradley et al., 2010). Agency costs may also vary according to the agency issues or conflicts that may occur due to different interests between agents and principals. Managerial abilities have also been listed by researchers as being among the main factors that determine whether investment trusts can trade at a premium or a discount. The theory that investment trusts can trade at a discount if the managers charge a fee was originally proposed by Boudreaux in 1973 (Berk Stanton, 2007). He suggested that if fund managers charge investors a fee but fail to add value to their investments, then the value of the fund is likely to be less than its NAV. In a case where managers add value to the investment trust, the reason why it might trade at a discount is when investors are made to believe that the funds’ managers are not good at investing thei r funds. If investors believe that their money is being managed by people who are good at selecting viable investments, then the fund will trade at a premium. In a research carried out on the ownership of closed-end funds Cherkes et al.(2009) established that investment trusts with larger percentage of insider ownership are likely to trade at higher discounts. This is because investors of funds that are selling at higher discounts stand a chance of receiving windfall gains in case the funds undergo immediate liquidation at their net asset value. He also established that higher expense ratios lead to higher discounts of funds because management fees are considered as being deadweight losses. Thus, discounts are used to represent the capitalization of the management fees value. Management of trusts also affects their future performances in the market, which also determine whether investment trusts are to be traded at a discount or premium. Halkos and Krintas (2006) argue that in cases where investment trusts are managed in a highly professional manner and with a positive track record, investors may have the will to pay a premium for a share of the funds. This is also due to the fact that such trusts are often expected to maintain their superior performances in future. On the other hand, funds that are expected to underperform in the market are expected to be traded at higher discounts, mainly because of the scepticism that potential investors may have for the fund (Berk Stanton, 2007). Estimation of future performance of investment trusts can be done by comparing trends in the NAV, which are estimated on a frequent basis. It can also be done by evaluating the managerial capabilities of the fund. It can be thus argued that investment trusts whose management has a good reputation tend to perform well in the market and therefore, trade at a premium. On the contrary, poorly managed trusts fail to thrive in the market and therefore, are likely to trade at a discount. Taxes Another reason why investment trusts trade at a discount is taxes. According to Jin(2006), full taxes on the realized capital gains of a fund are paid for by the current shareholders, even though the highest percentage of their gains was accumulated before the investors bought the shares. Based on this, it can be argued that funds whose accumulated gains are large ought to trade at a price lower than their NAVs also suggests that investment trusts that have a high appreciation of unrealized capital sell at discounts because holders of such funds assume potential tax liabilities that depend on the holding periods of the investors. Berk and Stanton (2007) posit that discounts in closed-end funds are partially caused by the fact that investors usually lose valuable opportunities to trade tax because of holding shares in closed-end funds. Some of the tax trading approaches include individual portfolio movement. On comparing British and U.S. closed-end funds, Cherkes et al.(2009) establis hed that British funds do not have the freedom of distributing capital gains as the US funds do. In addition, shareholders have no liability in case the invested capital gains tax, except if they decide to put the holdings that they have in the fund up for sale. Yet U.S. and British closed-end funds behave in a quite similar manner. Thus, it can be concluded that discounts in investment trusts and closed-end funds cannot be explained based on country-specific tax factors. Investor Sentiment Many researchers have focused on the aspect of investor sentiment as a reason for discounts in investment trust trading. This hypothesis was proposed Lee, Shleifer and Thaler in 1991 (Yanran Liyan, 2007). According to them, premiums and discounts in closed-end funds are determined by the attitudes of opinions that investors have about them. To explain this hypothesis, two kinds of investors are identified. These are the noise investors and rational investors. Whereas the expectations of rational investors on their asset returns are rational, noise investors’ expectations are influenced by sentiment. They have the tendency of either overestimating or underestimating the expected returns on investment. Therefore, when investment trust shares are traded, noisy and rational investors make their investments based on their respective judgments. Due to the risk associated with assets and the fact that every investor is risk averse, closed-end funds ought to trade at equilibrium pric es that reflect opinions of the noisy and rational investors, which are often discounts. A proposal was made by Halkos and Krintas (2006) that noisy investors tend to concentrate more on the closed-end fund ownership than on the ownership of the underlying assets of the funds. Pessimism by noise traders on the future of fund drives down its price to a value lower than its NAV. This causes rational investors to avoid the buying the fund’s shares because of the risks associated with trading the funds at a discount. Chan et al. (2008) also argue that the sentiment of noise traders is stochastic and, therefore, cannot be accurately predicted by rational traders. Particularly, it is impossible for rational investors to make a perfect forecast whether noise investors will either be pessimistic or optimistic at the time that they intend to sell their assets. Due to the fact that rational traders are careful about the prices with which they will resale their assets, the unpredictable nature of noise traders’ sentiment increases the level of risk on the assets they intend to trade (Kousenidis et al., 2011). The biggest risk associated with noise investors is that they will be pessimistic at the time when rational investors intend to sell their assets, causing a drop in prices. Since there is always a risk of an adverse sentiment shift, the possibility of trading shares at a discount is always existent (Yanran Liyan, 2007). Conclusion This paper has provided an in-depth explanation of some of the reasons why investment trusts usually trade at a discount. Apart from this, other aspects of investment trusts have been explained. One of the main characteristics of investment trusts that has guided the establishment of reasons discussed in this paper is that it is a closed-end fund. This means that supply of shares is fixed, regardless of the market dynamics. Therefore, fluctuations of these funds that result into premiums or discounts are mainly caused by demand factors. The main reasons why investment trusts trade at discounts include the attitudes that investors have on the fund, commonly referred to as investor sentiment, agency costs and managerial abilities, taxes and miscalculation of the net asset value of the fund. However, the factor that is contented upon by most researchers in this field of finance is investor sentiment, which is a behavioural approach of understanding this concept. Some of the other reason s that have been cited in several other researchers include the institutional ownership and performance of the trust in the market. In future research, a more specific research could be carried out by focusing on a specific investment trust in the UK. References Barnhart, S.W. Rosenstein, S., 2010. Exchange?Traded Fund Introductions and Closed?End Fund Discounts and Volume. Financial Review, 45(4), pp.973-94. Berk, J.B. Stanton, R., 2007. Managerial Ability, Compensation, and the Closed?End Fund Discount. The Journal of Finance, 62(2), pp.529-56. Bradley, M., Brav, A., Goldstein, I. Jiang, W., 2010. Activist arbitrage: A study of open-ending attempts of closed-end funds. Journal of Financial Economics, 95(1), pp.1-19. Chan, J.S., Jain, R. Xia, Y., 2008. Market segmentation, liquidity spillover, and closed-end country fund discounts. Journal of Financial Markets, 11(4), pp.377-99. Cherkes, M., Sagi, J. Stanton, R., 2009. A liquidity-based theory of closed-end funds. Review of Financial Studies, 22(1), pp.257-97. Halkos, G.E. Krintas, T.N., 2006. Behavioural and fundamental explanations of discounts on closed end funds: an empirical analysis. Applied Financial Economics, 16(5), pp.395-404. Hartzell, J.C., Sun, L. Titman, S., 2006. The effect of corporate governance on investment: evidence from real estate investment trusts. Real Estate Economics, 34(3), pp.343-76. Jin, L., 2006. Capital gains tax overhang and price pressure. The Journal of Finance, 61(3), pp.1399-431. Kousenidis, D.V., Maditinos, D.I. Sevic, Z., 2011. Premium/Discount Of Closed-End Funds As A Measure Of Investor Sentiment: Evidence From Greece. Journal of Applied Business Research, 27(4), pp.29-52. Yanran, W. Liyan, H., 2007. Imperfect Rationality, Sentiment and Closed end fund Puzzle. Economic Research Journal, 3, pp.117-29. How to cite Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount, Essay examples

Analysis on Exposure Poem free essay sample

It portrays the message of the real enemy of the soldiers being the cold and icy conditions. Moreover, it provides us with a lively description of the persistent cold and awful conditions during one of the worst winters in the first world war. It shows that most of the soldiers were exposed rather than shot by enemies. The poem portrays all the opposing facts to make young men not join the war as it is nothing heroic. Owen uses all his senses to describe the frosty atmosphere and sets a lamenting and descriptive tone. The rhyme scheme is ABBA and the stanzas are continuous, emphasizing the continuous suffering of the British. It is written in first person plural, which makes us feel with the soldiers and put ourselves into their position. Exposure transports the reader into the pitiless trench warfare of the First World. It allows the reader to share the experience of having all vestiges of shelter removed, stripped back to the nakedness and feebleness of the human body against the wintry savagery of a snow storm in the dark, at the point of death. It starts by setting the scene of tired soldiers being ‘knived’ by the wind, too worried to sleep because of the unnatural silence. â€Å"Worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious, nervous, But nothing happens. † The sibilance of the repeated ‘s’ sound creates the effect of whispering, an attempt to not draw the attention of the enemy, who are futilely using flares to see what is going on. The trenches were protected by rolls of barbed wire, the barbs snagging the clothing and skin of any person trying to manoeuvre through it, delaying their passage and increasing the chances of being shot. Then allowing their comrades to witness their dying agony held up twitching on the wire. Owen uses a simile with naturally occurring brambles. The war continues in the distance but the silence and inactivity in the bitter cold makes it all sound unreal, as dawn brings more snow laden clouds into view. â€Å"Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence. † Has the battle started again? It is compared as less ‘deathly’ than the snow. Are the men staring so hard that they can no longer actually see and their mind accept what is happening. Is this the approach of death, where exposure to the winter cold is so close that a bullet seems less probable? The next lines are a reflection on the comforts of home, but only seen through the chinks in the shutters. The hopelessness of not being allowed into the warmth by the repeated use of closed; â€Å"Shutters and doors, all closed: on us the doors are closed,† The minds of the dying men are driven back to the battlefield because of the fear that if the enemy isn’t conquered that there will never be fires burning in the hearths of home again. He mentions children enjoying the sunshine, another reason that the war is for a just cause, to give security to the generations to come. The final part of the poem relates how the dead bodies will be found frozen with the mud by those designated to handle and remove bodies. Owen describes the unpleasant reality of fulfilling this last duty for comrades, some acquaintances, in these terrible conditions and the numbness of emotions that it would cause. Nature is used throughout the poem, its effect on the body, the coldness of the wind and snow; the fussing of the blackbird, in contrast to the stillness and the silence of the dawn; the innocence of the mice freely enjoying the warmth and comfort of the empty home, while the soldier is away. The exposure is not only to the cruelty of war, but also experiencing the cruelty of nature. How does ‘Exposure’ by Wilfred Owen tackle the Theme of War? ‘Exposure’ is a war poem written by Wilfred Owen in 1917 which describes how it felt like to be a soldier fighting war in the winter season. Owen focuses on the weather and shows how they are suffering more from the cold than getting wounded and hurt from the enemy which is not typical in war poetry. He has used a lot of figurative language and literary techniques to portray the cold and the soldiers’ feelings. Firstly, Owen applies figurative language like personification to describe the cold in the first stanza, where he says: ‘Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knife us†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This line explains how the winds are so cold and strong that it feels like it is cutting the soldiers. It is like the wind is slowly killing them by stabbing them to death. Owen has also said the winds are merciless showing the wind isn’t showing any pity for the soldiers which is quite similar to the enemy’s attitude towards them. The use of personifying the icy winds creates a sense of suffering towards the soldiers. Furthermore this line of the poem has used a lot of ‘i’ sounds like in ‘brains’, ‘merciless’, ‘iced’, ‘winds’ and ‘knife’ and this ‘i’ sound produces a sharp sound which, relating to an earlier point, reinforces the sharpness of the ‘knives’ and how painful the wind was. The assonance applied here has enhanced and has exaggerated the pain for readers to understand. A different way Owen attempts to show the theme of war is in the second part of the poem where many soldiers have died from the cold. Owen writes ‘The burying-party, picks and shovels in their shaking grasp’ which shows that although the soldiers are very tired and cold they still are willing to bury their unfortunate friends who have frozen to death. This line from the poem possibly suggests that the ‘burying party’ are angry and fed up of seeing soldiers dying because of war as Owen has used plosives like ‘burying’, ‘picks’ and

Mcdonald vs Burger King Compare and Contrast Essay free essay sample

Evidence #2: Burger King’s beef are 100% pure and they flame-boils their burgers, while McDonald’s fries their beef. C) Evidence #3: McDonald’s cost slightly less than Burger King. IV) *Topic Sentence 3: Their commitment with the community is different. A) Evidence #1: McDonald’s has House Charities and they give away millions of dollars in scholarship, while Burger King’s commitment is to provide good service and products to their clients. V) Conclusion McDonalds vs. Burger King â€Å"We see things not as they are, but as we are conditioned to see them† –Gandalf. Far from what we imagined, McDonalds and Burger King have huge differences. Most people perceive them just as the same fast food restaurant with different names. For this reason, â€Å"they create debates on which one of them is the superior restaurant† (Jeffrey’s blog, 2012, BK vs MC). Although, they have similarities, their differences become undeniable when we analyze deeply their advertising models, their food and their commitment to the community. We will write a custom essay sample on Mcdonald vs Burger King Compare and Contrast Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page An advertising model is the set of techniques that the companies use to call public attention to their products. Two of the best fast food restaurants in the world, McDonald’s and Burger King, invest a lot of money n their advertisements. Despite this, it’s quite remarkable that McDonald’s is smarter. Whenever we hear golden arches, Ronald McDonald, Big Mac, or extra cheese we think about McDonalds. In contrast, what do we think about when we hear Burger King? Maybe some guy that appear in their commercials, but besides that, there is nothing startling about the advertising their use. Their food seems to be the same, but it isn’t. On one hand, McDonald’s hamburger weighs less and has only 9g of total fat, while Burger King’s hamburger has 12g and they have a saltier taste. On the other hand, Burger King’s beef are 100% pure and they flame-boils their burgers, while McDonald’s fries their beef. That’s why they taste different. Concern at cost, McDonald’s simple burger is lower at $0. 89 while Burger King’s has their simple burger at $0. 99. Their commitment to the community is also different. McDonald’s has House Charities since 1974, where they help thousands of parents stay by their sick children’s side. In addition, they give away millions of dollars in scholarship to help people who can’t afford college. On the other hand, Burger King’s has some scholar program, which help poor families. However, their strong commitment is to provide good service and products to their clients and to make every Burger King restaurant a place where people love to go everyday. Even though McDonald’s and Burger King are really similar, they are also really different. They both try to have good advertising but McDonald’s is, most of the time, ahead. Their food seems to have the same condiments, but again, they are far away to be the same. They appear as the two most famous fast food restaurants around the world, but each one of them has their own techniques and secrets to be outstanding. McDonald’s, besides the service they offer, they help the community, and Burger King’s restaurants are commitment to be the best with their clients. Yes, they are fast food chains, they are famous, they are similar; but they also have huge differences in their food, advertisement, and the way they help the community. Reference: (Jeffrey’s blog, 2012, BK vs MC). http://sites. cdnis. edu. hk/students/043135/2012/01/24/burger-king-vs-mcdonalds/ http://www. burgerlad. com/2013/01/mcdonalds-limited-edition-big-tasty_4872. html http://www. thesaleslion. com/reasons-mcdonalds-crushes-beats-burger-king-year/

Battle of the Saintes in the American Revolution

Battle of the Saintes in the American Revolution Battle of the Saintes - Conflict Dates: The Battle of the Saintes was fought April 9-12, 1782, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Fleets Commanders British Admiral Sir George RodneyRear Admiral Samuel Hood36 ships of the line French Comte de Grasse33 ships of the line Battle of the Saintes - Background: Having won a strategic victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake in September 1781, Comte de Grasse took his French fleet south to the Caribbean where it aided in the capture of St. Eustatius, Demerary, St. Kitts, and Montserrat. As the spring of 1782 progressed, he made plans to unite with a Spanish force before sailing to capture British Jamaica. Grasse was opposed in these operations by a smaller British fleet led by Rear Admiral Samuel Hood. Aware of the danger posed by the French, the Admiralty dispatched Admiral Sir George Rodney with reinforcements in January 1782. Arriving at St. Lucia in mid-February, he was immediately concerned about the scope of British losses in the area. Uniting with Hood on the 25th, he was equally disturbed by condition and supply situation of his compatriots vessels. Shifting stores to compensate for these deficiencies, Rodney deployed his forces to intercept French reinforcements and box de Grasse into Martinique. Despite these efforts, some additional French ships reached de Grasses fleet at Fort Royal. On April 5, the French admiral sailed with 36 ships of the line and steered for Guadeloupe where he intended to board additional troops. Battle of the Saintes - Opening Moves: Pursuing with 37 ships of the line, Rodney caught up to the French on April 9, but fitful winds prevented a general engagement. Instead a minor battle was fought between Hoods van division and the rearmost French ships. In the fight, Royal Oak (74 guns), Montagu (74), and Alfred (74) were damaged, while the French Caton (64) took a heavy battering and steered away for Guadeloupe. Using a freshening wind, the French fleet drew away and both sides took April 10 to rest and repair. Early on April 11, with a strong wind blowing, Rodney signaled general chase and resumed his pursuit. Spotting the French the next day, the British bore down on a French straggler forcing de Grasse to turn to defend it. As the sun set, Rodney expressed confidence that the battle would be renewed the next day. With dawn breaking on April 12, the French were sighted a short distance away as the two fleets maneuvered between the northern end of Dominica and Les Saintes. Ordering line ahead, Rodney turned the fleet to head north-northeast. As Hoods van division had been battered three days earlier, he directed his rear division, under Rear Admiral Francis S. Drake, to take the lead. Battle of the Saintes - The Fleets Engage: Leading the British line, HMS Marlborough (74), Captain Taylor Penny, opened the battle around 8:00 AM when he approached the center of the French line. Easing north to remain parallel with the enemy, the ships of Drakes division passed the remaining length of de Grasses line as the two sides exchanged broadsides. Around 9:00 AM, Drakes rearmost ship, HMS Russell (74), cleared the end of the French fleet and hauled wind. While Drakes ships had taken some damage, they had inflicted a severe battering on the French. As the battle progressed, the strong winds of the previous day and night began to temper and became more variable. This had a dramatic effect on the next stage of the fight. Opening fire around 8:08 AM, Rodneys flagship, HMS Formidable (98), engaged the French center. Deliberately slowing, it engaged de Grasses flagship, Ville de Paris (104), in a protracted fight. As the winds lightened, a smoky haze descended on the battle impeding visibility. This, along with the wind shifting to the south, caused the French line to separate and bear to the west as it could not hold its course into the wind. The first to be affected by this shift, Glorieux (74) quickly was pounded and dismasted by British fire. In quick succession, four French ships fell afoul of each other. Sensing an opportunity, Formidable turned to starboard and brought its port guns to bear on these ships. Piercing the French line, the British flagship was followed by five of its comrades. Slicing through the French in two places, they hammered de Grasses ships. To the south, Commodore Edmund Affleck also grasped the opportunity and led the rearmost British ships through the French line inflicting significant damage. Battle of the Saintes - Pursuit: With their formation shattered and their ships damaged, the French fell away to the southwest in small groups. Collecting his ships, Rodney attempted to redeploy and make repairs before pursuing the enemy. Around midday, the wind freshened and the British pressed south. Quickly capturing Glorieux, the British caught up to the French rear around 3:00 PM. In succession, Rodneys ships captured CÃ ©sar (74), which later exploded, and then Hector (74) and Ardent (64). The final capture of the day saw the isolated Ville de Paris overwhelmed and taken along with de Grasse. Battle of the Saintes - Mona Passage: Breaking off the pursuit, Rodney remained off Guadeloupe until April 18 making repairs and consolidating his fleet. Late that day, he dispatched Hood west to attempt to head off those French ships which had escaped the battle. Spotting five French ships near the Mona Passage on April 19, Hood captured Ceres (18), Aimable (30), Caton, and Jason (64). Battle of the Saintes - Aftermath: Between the engagements of April 12 and 19, Rodneys forces captured seven French ships of the line as well as a frigate and sloop. British losses in the two fights totaled 253 killed and 830 wounded. French losses numbered around 2,000 killed and wounded and 6,300 captured. Coming on the heels of the defeats at Chesapeake and the Battle of Yorktown as well as the territorial losses in the Caribbean, the victory at the Saintes helped to restore British morale and reputation. More immediately, it eliminated the threat to Jamaica and provided a springboard for reversing the losses in the region. The Battle of the Saintes is generally remembered for the innovative breaking of the French line. Since the battle, there has been great debate as to whether Rodney ordered this maneuver or his fleet captain, Sir Charles Douglas. In the wake of the engagement, both Hood and Affleck were highly critical of Rodneys pursuit of the French on April 12. Both felt that a more vigorous and protracted effort could have led to the capture of 20 French ships of the line.

Analysis of India

This is a 8-page paper that analyzes the business climate of India with relations to neighboring countries. As the title says, this essay is a very factual and informative summary of a large list of national statistics. It covers population, religion, trade, politics, labor force, transport and even which fish they catch. It covers some modern internal/external political history and international trade history. A very useful essay for anyone wishing to learn about India especially regarding trade.From the Paper: Situated in the South East Asia bordering with the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, the country India is a country that is linked with Burma, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Belonging to one of the oldest civilizations the Indus Civilizations, its historical setting could be traced up to 5000 years. India has also been subject to a series of conquests like the invasion of Aryans, the Dutch, Portuguese, Turkish and Arabs. They were also subjected to a series of political strife when the country was endeavoring for its independence in the 20th century. Today it has a federal republic government established on 15th August, the country has a President as the head of state, while the head of the government is the Prime Minister. The legal system is ruled by a cabinet of council of ministers who are appointed by the president at the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

The Strategic Management of Economy Hotel in China (Proposal) Essay

The Strategic Management of Economy Hotel in China (Proposal) - Essay Example In the hotel industry a similar approach should be used. This study focuses on a specific part of the hotel industry: the low budget hotels. The strategic management framework of the sector’s hotels is explored by referring to the case of a specific country: China. The above country has been chosen because of the following two reasons: a) because of its position as a major competitor in the global economy and b) because of its significant achievements in regard to the development of the hotel industry. This study aims to show that the strategic management practices used in the sector’s hotels in China have a key role in the industry’s development; the improvement of certain of these practices, as suggested in the study, could secure the sector’s growth, a fact that would highly benefit the country’s economy. Introduction Economy hotels, as businesses, have been highly expanded worldwide. The strong financial pressures developed in the international market especially from 2007 onwards had a key role in this phenomenon. In addition, the development of technology has led to the radical decrease of distance between regions; travelling for covering various needs, including business, education or health, has become highly popular at the level that the time involved can be quite short. The establishment of hotels of low budget has been considered as a necessity so that the housing needs of an area’s visitors are covered at low cost; such perspective has been proved to increase the area’s popularity, as a tourist destination but also as a business center. Under these terms, the growth of economy hotels sector can be considered as expected. Countries that aim to secure their economic growth have emphasized on the development of the particular sector; China is an example of this trend. As in other countries, in China also, the sector’s rate of growth is not standardized; for example, during the recent global recessi on the profits for the hospitality/ tourist industry in China were reduced (Chon et al. 2013). This study aims to help to identify these problems so that solutions are retrieved based on the low cost philosophy that characterizes the sector’s businesses. Research Background and Motivation China is considered as one of the most powerful economies worldwide. The flexibility of the Chinese economy seems to be its major advantage. Indeed, the growth of China is not based on strict and standardized economic rules; rather, emphasis is given on innovation and the continuous monitoring of market trends (Freed 2011). Economy hotels have become quite popular in markets worldwide. The growth of the sector is indicated in the figures/ data included in the table of Figure 1 below. Figure 1 – Growth of economy hotel sector in China, up to 2012 (Shen 2013, p.1) The willingness to identify the strategic management needs of the economy hotel industry in China has been the key motivatio n for the development of this study. According to a recent report the economy hotels sector represents just 30% of China’s hotel industry, a percentage though that it is expected to be significantly increased in the future (PR Newswire 2013). At the same time, the competition in the sectors seems to be limited, as about 47% of the sector’s hotels are owned by three brands: ‘Home Inns Group, Hanting Inns and Hotels and 7 Days Group Holdings’ (PR Newswire 2013). The strategic management characteristics of the sector should be identified and

US Dropping of Two Atomic Bombs on Japan Research Paper

US Dropping of Two Atomic Bombs on Japan - Research Paper Example The historical event During the final stages of the World War II (WWII), United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on the Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Under the executive order of Harry Truman, the US president, the US dropped Little Boy, a uranium atomic bomb, on the city of Hiroshima, the 7th largest city in Japan. This was on 6th August, 1945. The uranium bomb was so powerful that within minutes half of Hiroshima city vanished. The city was unbelievably destroyed. Out of its 90,000 buildings, more than 60,000 were utterly demolished (Rezelman et al, 2000 and Adamsand Crawford 2000). Information from Harry S. Truman Library & Museum (1946) reveals that as brief as it was, the flash of the explosion emitted intense radiant heat travelling through the air at the speed of light. The explosion was, therefore, followed instantly by flash burns. The US estimates that 60,000-70,000 people were killed and 140,000 others were injured (Rezelman et al, 2000). On 9th August, 1945, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, Fat Man, next nuclear weapon was dropped in Nagasaki over the north factory. It was exploded at a height of 1,800 feet above the city in order to attain a maximum blast effect. At its blast, buildings collapsed, there was shortages of electric systems and as a result of this, as well as a wave of secondary fires which contributed to massive deaths. Most of the casualties to the inhabitants of the city were caused by primary heat waves. Many others were burnt and killed when their homes, offices or other buildings were burst into flames. Flying debris also contributed to more injuries. 39% of the buildings standing were destroyed. Air was being drawn back to the middle of the burning area, a firestorm of winds immediately followed and because of this, trees were uprooted. The bomb killed 42, 000 people and injure d over 40,000 more (Rezelman et al, 2000 and Adamsand Crawford 2000). The Radiation Effects Research Foundation (2000) estimates that within the 2-4 months after the bombings, 90-000-166,000 people in Hiroshima were killed by acute effects of the blasts, while 60,000-80,000 were killed in Nagasaki but roughly half of the death in each case occurred on the first day. During the two explosions, the causes of deaths were generally the same. Thousands died instantly from flash or flame burns, falling debris and other secondary causes; over the following months others died from acute radiation sickness and other conditions arising from compounded effects of injuries and sicknesses. Most of the people who died were civilians (Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, 1946). Analysis of the historical and contemporary causes of the event On 7th December, 1941, Japan invaded Thailand. It then moved to invade British Malaya and the Pearl Harbor in the US territory of Hawaii. This war was referred to as the Pacific war or the WWII. The war saw the US, China and UK as members of the Allied Powers coming together against the Empire of Japan. The allied power wanted Japan to withdraw from the WWII. On 26th of June 1945, the Harry Truman, the US president, Winston Churchill, the UK Prime Minister and Chian Kai-shek, the chairperson of the Nationalist government of China, issued a document called the Potsdam Declaration. The Potsdam Declaration document which was agreed upon during the Potsdam conference outlined the terms of surrender for Japan. The ultimatum clearly stated that, if Japan did not pull out of the WWII, it would face quick and utter destruction (Villa,

Social Stigmas and Gender Roles Essay Example for Free

Social Stigmas and Gender Roles Essay Social stigmas accompany every one of life’s categories – especially male and female. Gender-based stereotypes – existent since the beginning of time – help in both the advancement and hindrance of the sexes and of society. Gender roles helped create society. They generated a world in which the man went out into the world in order to work and provide monetarily for his family while the woman stayed in the home, working hardly to accomplish the couple’s domestic responsibilities and to raise the couple’s children. This traditional notion of the roles of genders enabled families to function in history; however, in the modern-day era, this notion only thwarts progress. As women travel out into the work place, they are not treated as the equals of men. The societal perception of the weak, lesser woman still remains, preventing women to become truly equal. On the contrary, gender stereotypes also inhibit the growth of men, causing them to feel compelled to follow the traditional definition of masculinity. Gender should be seen as fluid (with personality characteristics and preferred hobbies that can be demonstrated and admired by both sexes), rather than as a rigid set of characteristics needed to be met. Societal expectations of gender differences should not be forced upon people. Gender roles played a big role in the formation of history. In prehistoric times, women gathered food near their home while their male counterparts hunted for game. While searching for food, the women took responsibility over the children and the cleaning of the house. These roles followed men and women into modern times. The man – venturing out into the world – was always considered to be stronger and worldlier, while the woman was considered to be innocent and naive. During the nineteenth century, women were denied the right to vote because it was seen as something that would tarnish their innocence and disrupt the so-called Cult of Domesticity. Women were also denied the right to vote because it was assumed that they would vote for the same candidates as did their husbands and brothers, thus essentially doubling the vote of the male population (Cayton). Roles that once were beneficial to culture – as during the prehistoric times when necessary labor could be unquestioningly divided between the sexes – now hinder from expansion the very society they created. The same gender ideations that existed in the times of the prehistoric human still determine a lot of today’s social and cultural characteristics. These roles and preconceptions are dramatically outdated and obsolete. In a world where a woman can be the breadwinner of her family, she should not be looked down upon simply because her cells code for XY chromosome sex characteristics. Vice versa, men should not be expected to be perpetually tough and strong. Men who do not fit the mold are immediately ostracized and ousted from society, mocked for their â€Å"feminine† traits. However, personality characteristics should not be assigned to different genders. The association of certain inherent qualities with one gender over the other causes a schism in humankind, separating people into two groups of male and female. The mere grouping of people based on common characteristics leads to the assumption that all people in the category must abide by the decided upon characteristics, or said person will be seen as an anomaly and ousted. The necessity to conform places an undue pressure upon the citizens of the world. This stress manifests itself in a myriad of different (sometimes harmful) ways: a person may become depressed or even suicidal. Many people, in response to intense societal pressure break laws and attack others (such as when people rape or murder others, based on their gender or sexual preferences). Societal perceptions of man and woman should be eradicated; they are much too outdated, specific and assuming for a self-proclaimed â€Å"progressive† society. Although it is clear that current gender roles are extremely outdated and inapplicable, many people still enforce them. Why does this coercion to conform occur? People from all walks of life buy into the theory that men should do certain tasks and women should do others. Why does a world so partisan about most issues suddenly join together in a crusade to maintain the tradition of the separation of genders? Many people enforce gender roles simply because they are accustomed to such notions. People generally fear the idea of change rather than the aspect that should be changed. Meaning, people fear more the act of change rather than the results of change. The masses usually do not like learning how to accept the new. Fear also fosters intolerance, which then leads to the alienation of the people who have the undesirable trait or traits. Some religions also heavily discourage the expression of traits that deviate from the social normal. Not only are expectations of each gender detrimental to society in an economic sense (as women are often not treated equals in the work force and thus not offered the same occupational and pay opportunities), but they also greatly harm society’s social integrity. Women are often victimized for their gender, through crimes as heinous as rape and murder. These cr imes are most often committed because women are seen as weak and sinful creatures, according to old notions. In the Bible is the story of Adam and Eve – the first humans ever to grace the Earth. One day in the Garden of Eden – the cradle of civilization – Eve was seduced by a snake to eat the red apple, the very fruit she was instructed by God to avoid. Eve then coerced Adam to eat the apple as well, and both were punished by God’s wrath accordingly. Whether the Bible tells the truth is up for debate; however, the influence of this book is irrefutable. Religions all over the world follow the word of Genesis as if it were law, reaffirming the belief that women are lesser, irresponsible beings due to the supposed actions of Eve (The Bible). Due to the belief that women are sinful creatures, an excuse – a duty – arises for the mistreatment of women. Men, usually those who have a mental illness, rape and otherwise attack women because they see something inherently wrong with all women, and see it as their duty to correct it. Society pressures men to be macho, thus giving them the twisted idea that they need to victimize women to be so. America’s notion of manhood is â€Å"pitiful,† convincing men that they must be violent and oppressive to be considered men (Theroux). Many women fall victim to female genital mutilation (otherwise known as FGM). Many governments of the world turn a blind eye to this awful human rights violation. One hundred to one hundred and forty girls worldwide are victims of female genital mutilation (WHO). Female genital mutilation occurs usually because women are not respected in society. According to traditional values, males are stronger and more powerful than are females. This notion contributes to why, in some cultures, the genital region of a female is sewn shut. This way the male has to forcible penetrate the female during sexual intercourse, asserting his dominance as a man. Yet in other cultures, the clitoris is removed from the female anatomy before she reaches puberty. This atrocity is committed because the people of these cultures want to preserve the innocence of women. Society expects women to be innocent, pleasant creatures, contributing to some extremes like female genital mutilation. In a gain for the equal rights movement, women can fight in the armed forces (in America, at least). However, this win did not solve all of the problems of women: although they can enlist in and fight for the armed services, they are most often not treated as legitimate soldiers. Not only to they not receive the respect they have earned, but they are also victimized by their fellow soldiers. In 2009, over 2,900 women in the armed forces reported being raped. Out of the 2,974 women who reported a rape or sexual assault, only 292 women even got their day in court, and even fewer got justice. In addition to these shocking statistics, it is estimated that another 80% of women in the military endure a sexual assault but are too scared to report it (Couric). In addition to the rampant nature of rape in the military, officers make it extremely hard for women to report the abuse. The attacker is usually a person of a higher rank so when a victim speaks out, she is disbelieved more than would be for a civilian. These rapes occur for the same reasons civilian rapes occur: men see themselves as of high statuses than those of women. That notion goes back to the prehistoric notions of man and women, and the presumed societal differences between men and women. Women are not taken seriously because of their gender, and thus men try to put them back where the men think they should be through rape and other suck attacks. Although most people see women as getting the short end of the stick as far as societal pressures are concerned, men lose some of their individualism through expectations enforced by society. Males are seen as inhuman, almost, expected to be emotionally stoic and stolid regardless of their situation. Men are traditionally deprived of the privilege of spending time with their children. They are forced out into the cutthroat world of business and finance, giving them little time to spend with their families and forcing them to become the macho, stoic men they are supposed to be. All men do not fit these characteristics; each person has their own personal characteristics that create their being. Personality characteristics should not be associated with a specific gender; the way a person acts is not determined by his or her sex. Men are pressured to be very macho, which leads to them attempting to overpower women and commit many different crimes against them. Also, men portrayed in advertisements are not the average man and the two specimens do not have the same characteristics (Ehrlich). The societal pressure to conform to a specific gender makes many people feel very isolated and alienated from their communities. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people suffer a lot of backlash from society for expressing their true selves. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people (LGBT) discover – from early childhood – that the world is not sympathetic to their plight. LGBT teens are bullied, in schools all across the country and all across the world, to the point of suicide. Many feel forced to keep their sexual orientation a secret. Transgendered people especially are tormented for expressing their true character. A transgendered person is someone who feels that they were born in the wrong body; a male feels like a female and a female feels like a male. Recently, more and more studies have been discovered that say that gender is more fluid than it is rigid: for instance, a boy can still want to be a boy anatomically, but he may want to partake it traditionally more feminine activities (Gash). These people feel extremely alienated because of they believe gender is a personal decision. Some transgendered people can feel like a woman one day, and a man the next (Gash). LGBT people further show why society should not push its expectations upon its citizens. Because of the blind hate and fear society projects, LGBT people are ridiculed and tortured all over the world. This form of bullying is one of the most ruthless forms in existence. Researchers show that LGBT teenagers are at greater risks of suicide and depression than are any other category of people (Soulforce). This country was founded on the soul principle of freedom. If even one person doesn’t have the freedom to express him or herself, can the nation ever be truly free? The Constitution of the United States of America was founded to promote and ensure equality amongst its itizens and amongst the citizens of the world. The preamble states that there are certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away from the people by their government: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If the pursuit of happiness of some citizens is halted because of the pressures and preconceived notions about gender and sexuality, how can Americans claim to live up to the promises of the Constitution (Attendees of the Constitutional Convention). In the Gettysburg Address, late President Lincoln made a speech dedicating a cemetery to fallen soldiers. In the speech, the President referred to a government that was â€Å"of the people, by the people and for the people. † This quotation refers to the fact that the government of the United States of America was founded in order to help the people of the United States of America, and the people first (Lincoln). However, with a government that increases intolerance by throwing around old notions of what a man is and of what a woman is, how can the youth change the future? Gender roles – although previously useful – should not be implemented in today’s modern society, because they only lead to havoc and inequality.

Feminist Rhetoric in Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe :: Feminism Feminist Women Criticism

Feminist Rhetoric in Uncle Tom's Cabin      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     In considering whether Harriet Beecher Stowe's book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, is an example of, or contains remnants of, feminist rhetoric or not, one must first solve the problem of defining what is meant by the term feminist. This is difficult to do when one considers that Uncle Tom's Cabin was written over one hundred and forty years ago, and that feminism has moved through so many different stages since that time. One must resist applying the standards of twentieth-century feminism to Stowe's time, and instead, try to view Uncle Tom's Cabin as it would have been viewed given the sentiment of the time. In order to do this, one must first define feminism within the historical context of the 1850's, when Uncle Tom's Cabin was published.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Perhaps the term feminist itself was not commonly associated with women's rights in the 1850's, but certainly the ideal was. The climate of the time in which Stowe published her anti-slavery novel was fruitful with unrest, not only because of the slavery issue, but also because of women's rights issues. The focus of the women's rights movement, led by women such as Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, and Elizabeth Stanton, was not only women's attainment of the vote, but also the emergence of women as public citizens, a role that went beyond that of ruler of the domestic, private sector.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Women's suffrage was first proposed in the United States in 1848 at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, just two years before Uncle Tom's Cabin was published. At this convention, a Declaration of Sentiments that paralleled the wording of the Declaration of Independence was drafted, insisting on the adoption of a women's suffrage resolution. The Women's Rights movement of this time also advocated more liberal divorce laws, less restrictive clothing for women, coeducation, and the right of married women to control their property. Though it would be seventy years before women would be granted the right to vote by the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the Women's Rights movement was in place and active during the time that Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even so, Uncle Tom's Cabin is seemingly about slavery, not women's rights, and it is not erroneous to assume that Stowe's intention was to highlight the evils of slavery and the decay of human morality, rather than directly discuss women's roles when she penned the novel.

Scholasticism

Scholasticism is derived from the word â€Å"scholasticus† which denotes â€Å"that belongs to the school. † This term refers to the â€Å"school of philosophy† that were instructed by the â€Å"academics or schoolmen of the medieval universities between the periods of 1100 to 1500. † The â€Å"medieval Christian theology and the ancient classical philosophy† were brought back together by scholasticism (Webster’s online dictionary, 2008, â€Å"Scholasticism†). The definition of scholasticism is not generally based on a particular belief or principle but more of a method and a system for the academics that focused on dialectical reasoning. To provide answers to philosophical questions and to reconcile conflicts are the main objectives of scholasticism (Truner, 1912, â€Å"Scholasticism†). â€Å"Logic, metaphysics and semantics† were included in the study of scholasticism which had been considered as major factors in the advancement of knowledge about logic. More so, â€Å"philosophy of nature, psychology, epistemology and philosophy of science† were deemed significant elements for inquisitions. Most scholastics read books as part of their â€Å"basic course literature† in every discipline that was usually written by auctors who were famous scholars. Reading is a method of the study that ensured aspiring scholars to become learned individuals. Through this process, scholars have developed a sense of appreciation for the â€Å"theories of the auctor. † As a result, the problems tackled throughout the whole discipline were dealt with by the scholars in a critical and confident manner. However, scholastic works usually â€Å"have tendencies to take the form of a long list of â€Å"footnotes† to the works studied, not being able to take a stand as theories on their own† (Truner, 1912, â€Å"Scholasticism†). According to Gerard Defaux, criticisms on scholasticism are rooted on scholasticism’s closed attachment to Aristotelian dialectic and philosophy that were used in the formulation of concepts and methodologies which were evident in biblical commentaries and Christian doctrine. Because of the immense â€Å"audacity in the domain of speculative theology and superior rationalism and intellectualism of scholasticism,† pagan philosophy had prevailed over â€Å"intelligence of faith† (Defaux, 1995, p. 1017).

Power and Dependency

Section B: The Power-Dependency Relationship In order to understand power, one must understand that it comes from dependency. Power and dependence have a causal relationship in that power creates dependence and vice versa. In addition, power and dependence are positively correlated because the degree of power A has over B is equal to the degree of dependence A has on B (Molm, 1990). Therefore, the more power A has over B, the more dependent B will be on A. â€Å"Dependence increases when the resource [one controls] is important, scarce, and non-substitutable (Robbins & Judge, 2013)†.To illustrate this point, consider the following: 1. Importance – If A places great value on a resource B controls, then A’s dependence on B increases. For example in the given scenario, Employee 1 places great value on receiving a large bonus that will be used to go on a much needed vacation. Since the bonus depends on the performance review rating given by the manager, Employee 1’s dependence on the manager increases. This can also be demonstrated in Employee 3’s case. The sales team places high importance on increasing sales. Employee 3 used referent power to convince the team to try the new idea and was selected to lead the team.The sales team is now dependent on Employee 3 to be their leader and generate increased sales. 2. Scarcity – If A has sole control over a resource that B considers valuable or important then B will be solely dependent on A. For instance, Employee 2 is the only CPA in the company and as a result is the only employee able to prepare financial statements. CPA’s are scarce in the company therefore the accounting manager’s dependence on Employee 2 increases. The manager is solely dependent on Employee 2 to complete this vital task for the company.Another example can be seen in Employee 1’s case. Employee 1’s manager has sole control over the performance review rating which means that he or she is solely dependent on the manager. 3. Non-Substitutability – The less alternatives there are for a resource which A controls and B requires, the more B will be dependent on A for that resource. The Accounting Manager over Employee 2 has Legitimate Power to approve the shortened workweek and that power cannot be substituted by any other employee in the company. As a result, Employee 2 is solely dependent on the manager to approve the schedule.

Analysis of Preserving Women by Shelley Nickles Essay Example

Analysis of Preserving Women by Shelley Nickles Essay Example Analysis of Preserving Women by Shelley Nickles Essay Analysis of Preserving Women by Shelley Nickles Essay In this Historical Perspectives on Technology class we learned to take a hard look at the players who were in a work, and this piece offered an interesting and complicated story of how the different players (advertisers, different classes of people, refrigerator companies, women, etc. Interacted with each other. The author talks about how many people bill this time as a time when women helped develop the refrigerator and how this Is Inaccurate. But though It Is not a story in the championing of womens rights, it is a story in a large shift in companies advertising focus towards the common consumer. So many of the themes discussed during class are present in this piece, though mainly it contains themes of the following: the theory of perfecting and analyzing systems; the shaking of social norms and modernity; and the idea of artifacts having politics. Many of the themes in this article go on to explain many Ideas still rampant or still subliminal In our lives and culture today. There were several modernist themes and ideas weaving their way through the process that was modernizing the refrigerator and Americas kitchens. The Frigidaire Company, like other companies of its time, wanted to pander mostly/only to the upper class. They had the Idea that their product was inherently desirable and that they TLD need to know what the consumer wanted or needed. The ad company that they hired, Lord and Thomas, came around and tried to shatter those perceptions. Lord and Thomas showed that Frigidaire was alienating potential customers by pandering to only the upper class, and that market research could increase their sales. They wanted Frigidaire to reject the status quo, the old way of doing things, and accept a new and evidence-based way of doing things. This is one of the mall points about modernism, outlined In The Horse In the City by Ma chines, Clay, and Joel Tart and many other class readings. Kitchens that people currently lived in were advertised as the old way of living, and the government even subsidized the transition to the new electric kitchen of the future. Another modernist element in this design process was the lack of ornamental-news in the design of the fridges. Also, the fridges were to be designed with maximized efficiency in mind, and that was to be used as a selling point. This not only fits in with modernity but also carries tenses Trot ten tannery AT Clientele Management. Housewives were total Tanat aurally this depression, they could economically and efficiently feed their families with this tool. This may seem an odd thing to attribute to Tailoring, as usually Tailoring is implied in relation to the work force, but I would argue that housewifely was these omens Jobs, and was used to streamline their work for economic gains in much the same way as other, more classic examples. Male engineers of the refrigerator design were frustrated however, that the designs were not purely functionalist, that they were stylized away from perfect efficiency. They particularly mention in this article, the ladies baffling opposition to the Monitor model of refrigerator, which was ugly with a large mechanism on top but was the most efficient, mechanical-wise. I would argue though that this was not stabilization, the other designs that women chose were the most functionalist for their user needs. The mechanism on top was hard to clean and reduced storage space. The frivolous aerodynamic design of stationary objects described in the article can similarly be attributed to curved edges being faster and easier to clean. This brings us to our next thematic plot in this article. The refrigerator was highly political in that it was highly gendered (and class-defined). Dry. Winner talks about this in his essay entitled Do artifacts have politics? This article reminded me deeply of a Kurt Evensong story entitled Jane. In the story a traveling refrigerator salesman (similar to the traveling survey takers) ends up building a robotic wife named Jane out of one of his refrigerators. There is a theme of subservience there, the ultimate patriarchal fantasy is the foment?a programmable sex-slave whose only purpose is to serve its master. And that aspect touches on the classicism of the refrigerator?middle class white women were able to regain some of their privilege through the refrigerator by having it be the robot replacement for their servants they could no longer afford. But ultimately, the wife- made-out-of-a-refrigerator thing is symbolic of how closely the refrigerator is regarded as a symbol of femininity. The article talks about how advertisers used tactics such as telling women that theyd be able to preserve the health of the house, linking their desire to be maternal and feminine with their desire for a refrigerator. Furthermore, the refrigerator got some of its gender-identity only reluctantly. Male engineers were skeptical of the findings of surveys, and only wanted to focus on the mechanics of their designs instead of thinking of the lifestyles of women. In one instance, only when a woman designer wrote a report outlining how the inclusion of an efficient design feature would cost them sales did they relent to revert loss of revenue. Nowadays, all engineering classes take user needs into very high esteem, and with good reason?an end design is only useful if it gets used. So in conclusion, the first remaking of the refrigerator is a many faceted topic involving many nuances of gender, efficiency, culture, and politics. This narrative shows the beginning of many integral parts of our culture today. Every household has a refrigerator, specifically an electric one. And the refrigerator has remained gendered to this day. For evidence of this, look no further than the millions of internet trolls that view the kitchen as a womens space, which is not to say this wasnt a relevant idea in the time outlined in this article; which perhaps should be mandatory rearing Tort sun trolls to see now really antiquate Ana unoriginal ironic sexism turns out to be.

English Literature - High school 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

English Literature - High school 1 - Essay Example However, the latter’s love for hunting has surpassed one’s expectations. General Zaroff’s unique hunting style has made him very selfish, egotistic, and inhumane: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits.† The aforementioned internal conflicts are somehow in contrast with how General Zaroff poised himself from the beginning up to the end of the story. He showed no remorse feelings or sign of conscience with what he has been doing. Always the hunter but never the prey, the General’s character is unique of its kind. As a young boy, his selfishness and inhumanness grew day by day as he was able to hone his marksmanship, mercilessly killing all animals that come in harm’s way. By being egotistic (or narcissistic), he never valued life, much less human life. And knowing that he is a gifted hunter, he never showed importance to anyone; thus everyone and everything within his eye s ight is disposable – like his pack of dogs and his loyal servant Ivan. These internal conflicts are put to an end when, with great pride from General Zaroff, he is defeated by Rainsford: â€Å"The general made one of his deepest bows. â€Å"I see,† he said. â€Å"Splendid! One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford. . . .† Unlike General Zaroff, Sanger Rainsford shows compassion for hunting. He condones cold-blooded murder and value human life. But because he is a prisoner of General Zaroff, Rainsford became fearful, angry, and indignant. He is fearful for his life, knowing that his existence on the island is ticking day in and out. He is also angry with the hunting style of General Zaroff, as mentioned in the story: â€Å"Rainsford did not want to believe what his reason told him was true, but the truth was as evident as the sun that had by now pushed through the morning mists. The gen eral was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day's sport! The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror.† And because he never knew how it was to become the prey, Rainsford is indignant with the General’s treatment of him – being a mouse trapped in an island of terror. Through his quick wit and vast experience in hunting, Rainsford is able to resolve these internal conflicts by defeating General Zaroff: â€Å"He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.† 2. Setting provides much more than just the backdrop for the action of a story. In addition to giving the time and place, setting establishes the atmosphere/mood and influences the characters. Setting also affects readers emotions, for example, a story set in a dank and foul dungeon instantly lowers our sprits. Choose one of the short stories from the list below and analyze how the story's setting contributes to the stor y and affects the reader (be sure to indicate which story you chose). The short story â€Å"Thank You, M'am† by Langston Hughes is set late in the evening, along the dark, dimly-lit streets of an unnamed city. The streets are already quiet, with very few people and automobiles pass by. It seems that the neighborhood has been quite tired from the day’s work. It wants to rest from all the shouting and blowing of horns during its waking hours. And like its setting, the story’s main character, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, is also tired, almost dragging herself to walk by the streets. She is carrying her purse like she was

Wall-Mart Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Wall-Mart - Case Study Example Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart are the top retailers in the present American market. Each of them is having more than 1000 stores. Wal-Mart is the king of the ring. It's the number one retailer in United States of America. Target is slowly moving closer to Wal-Mart and has become a tough competitor to Wal-Mart. Kmart has a long history; recently it is trying to emerge from bankruptcy reorganization. Kmart is slowly losing its customers to Wal-Mart. Their strategies include low price and highly qualified customer care service. This factor played an important role in the long-term development of the Hotel. The cheaper prices with high quality service and further free goodies attracted many. Another factor is the customer service. Customer plays an important role in the development of the company because it is the customer who uses the product that was developed by the companies was good at it. Before being bankrupted Kmart was the second best retailer after Wal-Mart. Both companies used different strategies to outsmart each other. They tried different strategies to woo the customers. After coming out from bankruptcy Kmart found that it has lost most of the customers to Wal-Mart and other retailers like Target. Its total net profit also declined considerably. Target took this opportunity to its full advantage and started aggressive campaigning. Though the think tank of Target knew that most of Kmart's customers would go to Wal-Mart rather than coming to Target's stores, they started slashing the prices of the products and announced heavy discounts on them. They used innovative ideas to woo the customers. To maintain its top position Wal-Mart used to slash the rates so that when customers come to purchase the items would buy other products also. These items were termed as loss leaders. Most of the middle class families are Wal-Mart's customers. Target aimed at upper middle class. Because of this stiff competition between Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Costco, etc., customer has wide range of choices to choose. Customer can buy products at discount rates. The companies are employing every possible method to woo the customers to their stores. Due to the bankruptcy Kmart lost its most of the investors to other retailing companies. The company that largely profited by this was Wal-Mart that was so much preoccupied of defeating Kmart. Most of the investors purchase bonds. A bond is nothing but a promissory note that the company would repay the sum over a certain period at a certain interest rate. Bonds are also called as debentures. If the company is in trouble and has to be dissolved, bondholders must be paid in full before paying the stockholders.Experts advise the investors to buy both Wal-Mart and Target stock. Both the companies had seen upswing of their net profit in the recent past. In the present market everything sells by brand names, the marketers are expected to put up good brand name products for sale. The purchaser desires to have or own a good brand name product and material with good quality at reasonable and cheaper rate. If the marketers were able to meet this demand of people of the society, definitely there would be a souring business for their product. Wal-Mart from its good service,