Marine Finance and Insurance - Coursework 2 Essay

Marine Finance and Insurance - Coursework 2 - Essay Example Similarly, they also have come to cater to companies from other countries in the course of their business. Through it all, marine industry players have become subject to foreign exchange risks. They have engaged in deals that would involve gains or losses resulting from the fluctuations in the exchange rates of foreign currencies used. Thus, foreign exchange risk should be acknowledged in the marine industry as a reality that all companies should be prepared for. If managed well, foreign exchange fluctuations can even present opportunities for companies to earn more. Huge capital investments for boats or similar fixed assets purchased from a foreign supplier can turn out to be big mistakes for marine companies that transacted them in a currency whose equivalent conversion to the native currency takes a nosedive right the next day or even weeks after the purchase date. The same is true with having collected revenues in currencies whose values abruptly plummets. Indeed, such cases are not to be underestimated or overlooked. They can lead to material, negative impact on the profitability and financial soundness of any marine company. As a matter of fact, the dread of ending up as casualties of abrupt foreign exchange fluctuation has led businessmen and investors across all industries to adopt different mechanisms to mitigate such risk. Fear and risk-aversion naturally come with things that are unpredictable, uncontrollable or unfamiliar. Risk, then, is a subject that ought to be explored and studied. If risks will be capably viewed in the right perspective by decision-makers, then strategic opportunities for growth and development will not go wasted or deliberately missed out due to attempts to avoid them. Winning companies do not avoid having to face risks; they embrace risk-taking and then learn from it. It is important to create in the company a culture that welcomes risk-taking as part and parcel of excelling in the

White Privilege Essay Example for Free

White Privilege Essay In the aftermath of the election victory of Barack Obama, white supremacists rushed to online discussion forums to vent anger and disbelief that voters had chosen an African-American candidate as the next president of the United States. The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors and exposes extremist activity and rhetoric, said anger among white supremacists and other right-wing extremists in response to Obamas victory, resulted in an avalanche of vitriolic ranting postings on racist Web sites. At one point, the chatter so overloaded the server of the most popular white supremacist internet forum, Stormfront, which was temporarily shutdown. The notion that racism is a violation of human rights is not a new one, as those who have experienced it effects would testify. The ground-breaking progress gained by the civil rights movement of the 1960s in the United States has steadily eroded over the past decade, and the issues and incidents of racism as well as anti-Semitism, homophobia, and violence against women are ones that need to be addressed with increasing urgency. While the courts are more and more frequently relying on civil rights laws to prosecute racially motivated violence, the common abuses of basic human rights are often overlooked. In fact, the encroachment of white supremacist ideologies into the social fabric of our politics, our institutions, and our laws means that intolerance 1. is becoming the rule of the day, and the overt violation of the persons and property of individuals and groups is not only easily accepted, but part of the status quo. America has moved into a new era of white supremacy. The new tactics used by white supremacists and far right organizations must be exposed so that we can work together to mitigate their effectiveness. This includes a discussion of the relationship between three converging and ever-growing factionsthe ultra-conservatives, religious fundamentalists, and the far right. In this context, racism cannot stand alone as the sole antagonist of human rights violations. The victims of white supremacist ideologies and politics include immigrants, gays and lesbians, Jews, and women, as well as people of color. From the ranks of homophobes, anti-abortionists, racists, anti-Semites, and those who are simply afraid of a fast-changing world, white supremacists find willing allies in their struggle to control Americas destiny. Hate groups cannot be dismissed as a more complex than the virulence of a few fringe fanatics. With the breathless way the media covers hate groups, it is sometimes easier to characterize them simply as misfits or extremists, rather than acknowledge them as part of the larger problem of widespread racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia. FBI statistics report that 65 percent of Americas hate crimes are committed by whites against blacks. A good portion of such hate crimes are what we call move-in violence, when neighborhoods, schools, churches, or jobs are finally integrated 2. 30 years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Terror over the visibility of the lesbian and gay movement lays behind the numerous hate crimes against gays and lesbians (and their allies) the fastest-growing hate crime category in the country. Some of the haters, living on the United States borders, are petrified at the thought that brown hordes of Mexicans, Chinese, or Haitians may swarm over them if they cease their militant rhetoric and violence toward these immigrants. If they live near Native American reservations, the aim of their violence is to challenge the few remaining treaty rights granted native peoples. Other white supremacists want to save the white race by controlling the behavior of white womenthey attack interracial couples, lesbians, and feminists. They join the anti-abortion movement, believing they can prevent white women from getting legal abortions. Racist far right organizations have been quick to glorify anti-abortion violence, making it yet another hot issue to fuel the fires of the white revolution. Hate groups have decided that they are no longer willing to wait for the white revolution, the violent backlash against human rights movements. They want a fast solution before, as they put it, the white race is extinct. These fanatics are terrorists who use bombs, murder, arson, and assaults in their genocidal war. Some skinheadsfor example, the Fourth Reich Skins arrested a few years ago in Los Angeles or the Aryan National Front, convicted of murdering homeless people in Alabama are in the vanguard of this street-level violence. Meanwhile, older survivalists like Randy Weaver, who was acquitted of killing a federal marshall in an Idaho firefight in 1992, 3.are barricaded in mountain shelters with stockpiles of weapons, awaiting the final Armageddon. Impressionable, often alienated people, both young and old, are natural recruits for this movement. They bring new energy and a willingness to display their hatred aggressively. They also expand the influence of the white supremacist movement, into the anti-abortion movement, into the anti-gay movement, into the English only movement, opening new avenues for the expression of hate. In the 21st century, the image of organized hate is rapidly changing. It is no longer the exclusive domain of white men over 30. It is becoming younger, meaner and more violent. Many people join the movement as teenagers, including a remarkable number of young women. This new and dangerous increase accounts for nearly one-third of the membership of some hate groups. The increase in the number of women, coupled with a strategic thrust to reform the public image of hate groups, has expanded womens leadership. These new recruits do not fit the stereotypical image of wives on their husbands arms. In fact, many of them are college-educated, very sophisticated, and display skills usually found among the rarest of intellectuals in the movement. Of particular concern in this early 21st century is a continuing convergence of sections of the white supremacist movement with the radical Christian Right, as represented by Pat Robertson, and nationalist ultra-conservatives, as represented by the crackpot Tea Party members and conservative Republicans such as Rick Santorum. This alliance is between religious determinists who think that ones degree of Christianity determines one’s future, economic determinists who see themselves in a 4.war of the haves against the have-nots, and biological determinists for whom race is everything. All believe they are in battle to save Western civilization (white Europeans) from the ungodly and the unfit (people of color, gays and lesbians, and Jews). What many Americans fail to realize is that, increasingly, white people are being literally scared out of their wits by demagogues, who crystallize for them their fears of people of color, lesbians and gays, the government, the media, welfare mothers, immigrants, the economy, health care, and the list goes on. The fact that race relations in the United States are usually presented as a black/white model disguises the complexity of color, the brutality of class, and the importance of religion and sexual identity in the construction and practice of white supremacy. This simplistic model, which fails to convey many of the important aspects of white supremacy, cannot specifically explain how white supremacy influences American culture and politics. White supremacy is an ideology that manipulates US politics and affects all relations in American society. It is sustained by rigid ideological categories. The construction of racial categories, although varying greatly over time, has always been based on the economic, social, and political aspirations of people of European descent. Throughout European history, racial definitions have been based on lineage, characteristics, skin hue, and religion. At the present time, there are not safe places for the victims of this type of violence to turn. No homeless shelters, no womens shelters, and often not even 5.police departments offer them support. The first step in building these resources is to recognize the magnitude of the problem so that human rights activists can come together to offer help and support to those outside the majority rule. A concerted, prolonged effort to teach young people about the true impact of white supremacy and its prevalence in American society is fundamental to breaking the cycle. To ignore this issue is to build intolerance into the next generation. An understanding of the historical and institutional effects of racism and the other isms that dominate our culture and society is vital to understanding present bigotry and abuse. In conclusion, when we recognize that racism, homophobia, sexism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia flow from the same spring, and that they permeate every aspect of the lives of all Americans, we can then take steps together to make the United States a place that respects and honors the dignity of all people. 6. A Childs Tale By Gloria A. Loftin Let me tell you a tale my child of blue and grey of a world gone wild Let me tell you a tale my child of men in hoods and capes of hearts full of rage and hate Let me tell you a tale my child of men of god of greed and wealth Let me tell you a tale my child of peace and hope for all the world Let me tell you a tale my childÃ'Ž

Importance Of Geographic Profiling

Importance Of Geographic Profiling This paper shall give a comprehensive discussion about the importance of geographic profiling to aid in investigative methods employed by government agents and police officers in pinpointing predatory criminals. The sophistication of the techniques in crime scene investigation have kept pace with the rapid development in the tools and technologies used in the field, and this has enabled police authorities to employ a variety of methods to help them pinpoint perpetrators in the most accurate, efficient and timely way. The renewed public interest in the formerly esoteric field of forensic science has been sparked by a series of television shows that are focused mainly on the techniques and tools used by crime scene investigators in the course of their daily work. For example, Coetzee (2008) noted the popular TV series Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) in all its different seasons have helped to throw some light into the work performed by crime scene investigators. As has already been mentioned, new and more sophisticated ways of doing crime scene investigation is being designed every day. On the one hand, this is meant to keep up with the developments in the field of forensic science. On a more practical note, however, developing new techniques and tools will help police authorities to clear their cases faster and more efficiently and allow them to stay on top of all their assignments. Likewise, the reality is that more and more perpetrators are employing more covert methods to keep themselves out of the reach of the law, and so police investigators must be able to devise ways to speed up the proceedings of their cases in such a way as to effect speedy justice. There are various ways by which crimes are solved, and it is by no means only the police investigator who is responsible for the successful closure of a criminal case. The investigation of a crime involves a wide array of activities and areas of expertise, such as DNA profiling to examine shoe prints, toxicology and handwriting analysis (Sjerps, 2008). Other scientific experts are also routinely called upon to testify in court depending on the nature and circumstances involved in the crime at bar. The solution to a crime starts with the crucial information that a dutiful crime scene investigator can offer (Coetzee, 2008). He or she identifies, interprets, and provides the necessary clues and leads for the investigator in charge to follow. The ever-increasing importance of the detection and identification of physical evidence left in a crime scene in order to bring about a successful prosecution also underscores the critical nature of a crime scene investigators work. The Locard principle-that every contact leaves a trace-is the primary assumption on which crime scene investigation rests. Thus, when two objects come together, there will inevitably be mutual contamination and it is through the proper tracing and identification of these contamination points that crimes can be possibly solved. Trace evidence is any object that can be brought back to police laboratories that may help investigators determine who committed a crime and why (Thompson, 2006). Because of the critical nature of the evidence, they must be preserved properly and analyzed accurately in order to withstand the rigors of court examination. An investigator may probably be able to work with very small amounts of trace evidence, but the persistence and purity of such evidence is important for him or her to cull crucial information from the same. Whether or not they criminals are aware of it, they actually leave something in the surroundings, while at the same time taking something with them from their contact with the victim or the objects at the crime scene. Traces of contact evidence are also very different to detect with the naked eye, and that is why criminals cannot always erase all the evidence that they leave behind. These traces are important for the crime scene investigator to find, tag and identify. They are sometimes referred to as silent evidence as they point out crucial leads that the investigators can follow by giving material bases for the leads that they follow throughout the investigation (Kaza, n.d.). Some of the most common types of trace evidence found at the crime scene include bloodstains, paint, hair, textile fibers, and glass fragments. Microscopic particles are also important because they may give clues as to what is inherently a part of the surroundings in which the crime took place and what is linked to the crime committed. There are times, however, when the perpetrator leaves traces that are hard to analyze in order to gain a probable physical description of him. For this reason, criminal investigators employ a variety of other methods that are not dependent on tangible evidence left behind by the perpetrator, relying instead on the behavioural patterns and the modus operandi of the suspect to gain a clue as to his possible whereabouts, his state of mind, and hopefully his next supposed victim. The idea is therefore to read such intangible clues and get into the mind of the perpetrator to prevent him from committing another crime and hurting another person. While these information may not be helpful in the actual prosecution of the case, they would oftentimes lead the police officers into valuable leads that can help them track down the suspect. Among the non-physical evidence based methods used by criminal investigators are criminal profiling and, more recently, geographical profiling. These methods are used to predict the subsequent actions of the perpetrator based not only on the physical evidence that he left behind but also on the conscious or unconscious choices that made before, during, and after the commission of the crime. These methods are not as accurate or exact as forensic science itself, but they do provide valuable clues as to the next steps that the police should take in order to catch the criminal faster. Criminal profiling through geography In general, criminal profiling is the art of weaving together traces left in the crime scene to develop a likely story about the criminals plan, his method of operation, his thoughts, and his next target. The aim is to provide a map of sorts that will help police investigators and forensic psychologists to nail down the perpetrator. Criminal profiling methods are becoming more and more sophisticated as well, with the help of not only advanced technological tools but also developments in behavioural sciences, particularly psychology and psychiatry. Winerman (2004) noted that informal criminal profiling had its beginnings in the 1880s, when two physicians named George Philips and Thomas Bond utilized crime scene clues to discover the personality of the British serial murderer Jack the Ripper. In the decades to come, criminal profiling methods remained largely informal and the police investigators were often left to use intuition in tracking down their quarry. It is only in the 1970s when the US Federal Bureau Investigation opened its Behavioral Science Unit that criminal profiling became an actual scientific process. From then on, it became widely accepted in law enforcement circles as a reliable technique for predicting criminal behaviour. From the nature of these techniques, it can be deduced that profiling works best only when the police investigators already have a string of clues from different crime scenes at hand. Moreover, they are also likely to have an idea of who the suspect is, or at least they have a shortlist of suspected offenders. The trick is therefore pinpointing exactly who among these individuals actually perpetrated the crime, and to catch him before he does it again. Some of the most common things that criminal profilers look at when deciphering cases where the criminal has committed a series of offenses are the following: ÂÂ · Antecedent: what is the criminal plan or fantasy behind the action? ÂÂ · Method of operations: victims identity, weapon(s) used on the victim, degree of hostility or cruelty exhibited by the act, the existence or lack of sexual overtures to the crime, method of body disposal ÂÂ · Post-offense behaviour: is the suspect trying to give false leads to the media or to the police authorities? While methods are beginning to resemble an exact science, it cannot be denied that most of the data that investigators follow up on are mere guesswork and speculations backed up by circumstantial evidence. Thus, there was a need to develop a more foolproof method that will police authorities to limit their investigation to a particular area or community, and thus crack down on the perpetrator in a shorter amount of time. It is at this juncture that criminal geographical tracking (CGT) or more commonly known as geographical profiling came to be. Knowledge of criminal mobility and the geographical characteristics of crime scenes concurrently prompted investigators to look for a way that will allow them to manage their time and resources more effectively by confining the investigation to the most probable location of the perpetrators residence or his hub of criminal activity (Holmes and Holmes 2002). The most popular name that is associated with geographical profiling is Kim Rossmo, who started to make this method of investigative profiling more exact and accurate through his doctoral dissertation at Simon Fraser University in 1995 (Ramsland 2010). He developed a computer software called the criminal geographical tracking or (CGT) that is meant to assist in cases involving violent serial crimes. It feeds a number of important geographical characteristics into the software, which in turn tries to zero in on the most probable area of residence of the offender. CGT was meant to be an information management system that can help law enforcement agents cut down on their investigation time and resources by locating an exact area where the perpetrator is most likely to reside or to operate. This pioneering technology was first adapted by the Vancouver Police Department and was later on utilized by a number of other police districts across Canada. As a method of investigation, geographic profiling works by utilizing the locations of connected series of crimes to come up with the most probable area of residence of the offender. Oftentimes, it is used in cases where serial murder, rape, arson or robbery is involved, but it can also be applied in instances of single crimes like carnapping, burglary, bombing, and others. The most important element of this kind of investigative technique is the presence of distinguishing geographical features that can point the police officers to a specific place to conduct their investigation. Rossmo likened geographical profiling to looking at the traces left by a garden sprinkler on a lawn-there is no exact way to predict where the water droplets will fall, but it will leave a pattern that will show whoever is looking at it to guess where the sprinkler was most likely located amidst the marks on the wet ground (Grierson 2003). Grierson (2003) noted that Rossmo noted four important principles underpin geographical profiling. Rossmo borrowed two concepts from the original crime-pattern theory proposed by his teachers. The first idea is that offenders often leave a buffer zone around their area of residence in order to maintain their anonymity, while the second posits that there is a distance decay that can be interpreted from the actions of offenders. That is, an offender will be more willing to travel farther from home if he thinks that the payoff for the crime will be that much greater, meaning the violence involved in the commission of the crime will also be greater. Rossmo also added his own ideas to these theoretical concepts. He incorporated what he called the least effort analysis wherein he postulated that an individual will not act without performing some kind of cost-benefit analysis for his proposed course of action. The last concept in the puzzle is that of routine-activity theory, which states that crimes can happen at the junction of opportunity and familiarity. In other words, the decision to commit the crime in a particular manner is influenced by where the criminal finds himself at the time he decided on pushing through with his criminal design. This method is highly dependent upon two basic assumptions: 1. That the set of crimes being analyzed belong to one and the same series only. This can be validated only by exhausting other police methods that will confirm that a particular set of discrete offenses can be actually be attributed to the same person. 2. Accurate and valid geographical modelling that can show travel distance to the crime sites relative to the type of crime committed, type of offender, and the area or location being studied. Geographical profiling links the geographical characteristics of the crime scene and the known propensities of serial criminals in terms of choosing their victim and the location for deed. The result of the corresponding analyses will be a map that shows the offenders area of criminal activity. The locations of the occurrence of the crime would often belie a certain rational choice on the part of the offender, which would then help the investigators to trace him to his place of residence. Geographical information systems can be adapted to fit different scales, from global to small-scale investigation. Most geographical profiling occurs at the medium scale level, applying to particular cities or neighbourhoods. Smaller areas such as individual buildings can also be subjected to geographical profiling to determine more and more specific locations for the crime, such as an elevator shaft or a fire exit. According to Harries (1999), mapping crime is an important step in criminal investigation because it helps to provide a visual representation of the course of the investigation and what the authorities have found so far based on the existing evidence. Rossmos CGT would come up with either 2D or 3D map that can show the criminals most probable locations of activity based on the past crime scenes and corresponding accuracy rates. This map represents the offenders mental map of the city based on his past experience and activities within the area, his travel routes, and reference points. Some offenders stay within a particular geographical region, while others are willing to travel great distances in order to perpetuate their criminal design. The chances of the offender being a stable or a mobile one depends on a number of factors, such as his past travel experiences, means for transportation, predatory motivations, sense of personal security and even his preferred mode of attack. Rossmo also makes the assumption that the more crimes the offender is able to commit successfully, the more confident he feels about his particular mode of operation and the more willing he is to expand his area of activity. Geographic profiling can help the investigation in a variety of ways, such as choosing the most appropriate and efficient investigative strategy, prioritizing tips and evidence, running searches on existing DNA and fingerprint databases, neighbourhood canvasses and questioning of key people associated with the suspect, and address-based searches of police records. It is not meant to be a standalone technique to solve a crime, but rather to point the investigators to a particular locality where they can more extensively concentrate their investigation efforts. Ramsland (2010) noted that some law enforcement experts are actually more confident in the turnouts that geographical profiling can give rather than the traditional investigative methods that have been used in the past. Conclusion At present, the future of geographical profiling methods seems promising because of the increasing sophistication of crime mapping techniques and technology. Geographic information systems like Rossmos CGT was the first important step in the evolution of this branch of criminal investigation in the past decade, but it seems likely that we will be seeing more and more non-conventional and innovative methods in present-day investigations. Harries (1999) predicted that technologies like global positioning system or GPS, digital photography, local police databases and even the Internet as invaluable aids to police investigations. Spatial analysis giving police investigators a definite edge over their criminal counterparts, therefore shortening the criminal investigation considerably and allowing the prosecution stage to happen earlier. One of the most important advantages that technologies like geographical profiling can offer the law enforcement circle is its ability to reduce wastage of time, effort and resources by pointing the investigators to the most probable area of activity that the offender inhabits. Instead of spreading the manpower of the authorities over a large area and spending too much time chasing down false leads, the police can now focus on a specific location and conduct a more narrowly-tailored search. Rossmos CGT has spawned a series of new technologies that are now aimed at making police work more scientific and accurate. Even if the earliest beginnings of criminal profiling were largely dependent upon luck and guesswork, advances in science and technology have made it possible for criminal investigations to proceed with more certainty. Thus, it is important for investigators to also continue using it to improve upon the technology and make it more prevalent in law enforcement.

Macroeconomics :: essays papers

Macroeconomics IS-LM Basics A) The IS curve slopes downward and to the right. B) The LM curve slopes upward and to the right. C) The slope of the LM curve depends on the interest sensitivity of money demand. An elastic money demand function caused the LM curve to be relatively flat. An inelastic money demand function caused the LM curve to be steep. D) The slope of the IS curve depends on the slope of the investment function. If investment is highly interest elastic, then the IS curve is relatively flat. If investment is not highly interest elastic, then the IS curve is very steep. E) The quantity of money and shifts in money demand at given levels of income and interest rates will shift the position of the LM curve. F) Government expenditures, tax increases, and autonomous investment expenditures shift the position of the IS curve. Transaction Demand – Money is a medium of exchange and individuals hold money for use in transactions. Money bridges the gap between the receipt of income and eventual expenditures. Precautionary Demand – Keynes believed that, in addition to the money people held for planned transactions, more money was held for unexpected expenditures that were at times necessary. Money would be held for emergencies, to pay unexpected medical bills or repair bills of various types. Speculative Demand – Money held by those speculating on future changes in the interest rate and the relationship the interest rate had with the level of bond prices. Keynes’ Money Demand Function Md = Co + (C1 x Y) + (C2 x R) , C1 * 0 , C2 * 0 A rise in income increases money demand, a rise in the interest rate leads to a fill in money demand. Md = Money Demand Y = Income R = Interest Rate C = Parameter (Holds no economic value) Transaction Demand - Dependent positively on the level of income. Precautionary Demand - Keynes believed that the amount of money held for this purpose depends positively on income. The interest rate might be a factor if people tended to economize on the amount of money held for the precautionary motive as interest rates rose.

Character Development in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

Writers usually make use of and incorporate certain literary elements into their novels in order to make character development possible. Literary elements—Conflict, Theme, and Symbolism—were employed by Twain, Austen, and Potok in varying levels as well as executed using their own literary styles and techniques in order to show the characters’ development and growth throughout the novels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck braved that era’s social conventions (including his own personal prejudices) by associating with a black man and later helping that person escape from slavery. Jane Austen’s Emma is a lighthearted story about a young woman’s disastrous foray into the pursuit of romantic matchmaking. It shows how Emma’s false presumptions can conflict with the real intentions of the people whose lives she meddles with, and how her misguided actions can create unfavorable results. In Chaim Potok’s My Name is Asher Lev, the young man, Asher, was embroiled in the clash between his passion and the sensibilities of his family and religious congregation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn presents social conditions and attitudes during the late 1800s in America, particularly that towards racism. It chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Huck wherein he faces numerous moral and ethical dilemmas. And just like Twain’s novel, Austen’s Emma is a study on the sensibilities and social norms of her time. It tells the story of Emma, a rich and beautiful girl with a lot of idle time on her hands. Although she lives a trouble-free life, it is uneventful and devoid of excitement—she is a woman, hence, she has no true career prospects. But then Emma discovers that she has a knack for matching couples. She discovers that this endeavor provides her with great amusement so she goes off pairing up the people around her. Lastly, Asher, in My Name is Asher Lev, struggles as he is confronted by two cultural influences—that of the Orthodox Jewish subculture that he grew up in, and that of the pervasive, secular Western culture. He is presented with the dilemma of choosing between art and his religion. Just like Huck’s and Emma’s stories, Asher’s story chronicles his quest for truth and self-discovery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many authors use the element of conflict to bring about and affirm certain facets of a protagonist’s character.   In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck faces the conflict between the society’s expectations and what his conscience tells him is right when he is given the opportunity to help Jim, a black man, escape. He struggles to see beyond the black stereotype—what the society has taught him to be right. In the end, Huck chooses to follow what his conscience dictates—that Jim is a human being who deserves the same rights as everybody else. He admits about Jim: â€Å"I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n† (Twain, 1999, p. 141). In the end, Huck developed a pure, undiscriminating sense of morality that many people of that era did not posses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel Emma, the conflict lies in Emma’s inability to understand the true desires and intentions of the people around her, including her own. Emma does not realize this, and fancies herself as a good matchmaker, and as Austen describes in one episode, Emma was â€Å"amusing herself in the consideration of the blunders which often arise from a partial knowledge of circumstances, of the mistakes which people of high pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into† (Austen, 2003, p. 89). Ironically, what Emma thinks of other people (as evinced in the previous sentence), actually applies to her. In the end, Emma realizes that it’s no good making decisions for others   and manipulating their lives because only they know and therefore should decide what’s best for them. This discovery also leads her to mature and develop emotionally, and in the end, makes her realize what her heart truly desires.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his novel, My Name is Asher Lev, Potok portrays the kind of pain and emotional anguish one can carry when one chooses to embrace those things that come in conflict with one’s upbringing and religious ideologies. In a lecture wherein he reveals the analysis to his novels, which included My Name is Asher Lev, Potok states: â€Å"Ideas from this secular world inevitably impinge upon an individual born in a church community or a synagogue community, especially when that individual embarks on a college experience† (Potok, 1896, par. 7). As a young boy, Asher tries to break free from the conservative Hasidic community that shuns the very thing that he was passionate about—art. However, his dream is met with condemnation from almost everyone around him, including his family. The following litany succinctly expresses the kind of backlash and emotional turmoil this conflict has brought upon him: â€Å"So strong words are being written and spoken about me [†¦]: I am a traitor, an apostate, a self-hater, an inflicter of shame upon my family, my friends, my people; also, I am a mocker of ideas sacred to Christians† (Potok, 2003, p. 3).   Another point of conflict deals with Asher’s relationship with his father. Amidst the weight of the conflict bearing down on him, Asher chooses his own path and tries to discover his own truths. By confronting these issues, he grows as a human being, artistically and emotionally.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One dominant theme in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is that of racism and slavery. The novel is set in a time where blacks are considered to be no more than property. As the story develops, so does Huck’s character and value-system. Eschewing the societal and cultural norms of the time, he adopts a different moral outlook towards the people around him, especially when he decides to help a black man escape from slavery. In a climactic episode, Huck writes a letter to Miss Watson, Jim’s owner, to tell her where Jim was, but then tears up the letter and says to himself: â€Å"All right then, I’ll go to hell† (Twain, 1999, p. 193)—here, he finally decides to ignore social convention and help Jim.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marriage is a major theme in the novel, Emma. In the 1800s, marriage was one of the most important concerns for women, especially since they were financially dependent on men and could not have their own careers. Emma takes this into consideration when planning her match-ups and decides on unions which will yield the best material benefit for both parties. However, Emma eschews the idea of marriage for herself—when her father tells her not to do any more match-making, Emma replies: â€Å"I promise you to make none for myself, papa; but I must, indeed, for other people. It is the greatest amusement in the world!† (Austen, 2003, p. 10). But in the end, she realizes that she too can fall in love, after all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One important theme in My Name is Asher Lev is that of Individualism. This was explored in the context of Asher’s adolescent struggle to assert his identity in an environment that rejects the very thing that makes him stand out. When an uncle compares his work that of Chagall, he replies: â€Å"No, my name is Asher Lev† (Potok, 2003, p. 313). Asher is a visionary and has prodigious painting skills, but he is pressured to conform to the conventions of his society.   He tries to discover his role as an artist and reconcile it with his faith—this paves the way to his personal development, not to mention the realization of his gift’s significance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Twain’s novel, the Mississippi river figures greatly in the story. It is used to symbolize life; the river’s ebbs and flows—its movement—shows the ever-changing nature of life. The changing tides causes Huck and Jim to come in contact with different people and situations. It represents man’s capacity to change—the same way Huck’s attitude and personality changed to embrace the greater morality regarding human existence. It’s also a symbolic representation of freedom—in the confines of the raft, they are safe. They are in a world where laws do not apply, far from the reaches of society. Huck says: â€Å"We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft†Ã‚   (Twain, 1999, p. 107).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Emma, charades and word games are symbolic of the misunderstandings in the story. The same way that it’s hard to guess the intimations and desires of the other characters in the novel, word games are meant to be elusive—one   can easily go wrong and perceive a totally different meaning. In a gathering, Frank makes words for the ladies to decode, but each lady attaches different interpretations to them. Such is Emma’s situation: she does not perceive everyone’s feelings correctly so she makes a lot of false assumptions. This is more evident when she tries to hook-up Harriet and Mr. Elton—she construes Mr. Elton’s words and actions as proofs of his adulation for Harriet, when in fact it is Emma the he is interested in. When she finds out, she woefully reflects: â€Å"The picture!—How eager he had been about the picture!—and the charade!—and an hundred other circumstances;—how clearly they had seemed to point at Harriet† (Austen, 2003, p. 106).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Symbolism, particularly those in paintings, also plays a significant part in the novel, My Name is Asher Lev. Paintings were used to convey the abstract and intangible; Asher said: â€Å"I worked for – what? How could I explain it? For beauty? No, Many of the pictures I painted were not beautiful. For what, then? For a truth I did not know how to put in words. For a truth I could only bring to life by means of colour and line and texture and form† (Potok, 2003, p. 369) In his controversial painting, Asher uses the crucifiction scene as a symbolism of his mother’s sufferings, much to the chagrin of his religious community. But even with all the antagonism towards art, he feels that painting was but a natural way to express his feelings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Literary elements give writers the means to project the qualities as well as develop the personalities of their characters. All protagonists in the aforementioned books were presented with points of conflict that each of them must address and contend with. Various symbolic representations, those that attribute certain intangible meanings to things, events, and other sensuous manifestations, were also utilized in order to highlight the protagonists’ personal issues and struggles. Thematic concepts tell what the stories are about and help reveal how each character progresses. References    Austen, J. (2003). Emma. New York: Oxford University Press. Potok, C. (2003). My name is Asher Lev. New York: Random House. Potok, C. (1986). On being proud of uniqueness. (J. Gladson, Ed.) In La Sierra University   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   website. Retrieved July 24, 2006, from http://www.lasierra.edu/~ballen/potok/Potok.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   unique.html. Twain, M. (1999). The adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Oxford University Press.

Philosophy of War Essay

Human history is plagued with series of bloody conflicts and wars, which resulted into killing of millions of men, women, and children. Different historians and analysts have presented variety of theories debating on the root causes of war. What ever the reasons, wars bring destruction, annihilation, and sorrows to the humanity. Development of technology further compounded the situation. It simplified the obliteration of mankind with introduction of weapons of mass destruction. Man is now capable of wiping out the humanity with least efforts. Inventions created for warfare have also helped in maintaining a balance of power and were actually successful in preventing wars from materializing. This paper will focus on philosophy of war, highlighting various theories about causes of war, with an analytical scrutiny of the present scenario where weapons of mass destruction have deeply affected the world peace. War is an instrument of policy. It is the continuation of national policies through other means (Clausewitz 12-13). In general terms, war can be described as a method and an approach of pursuance of national goals and objectives. War in military terms is a state of widespread conflict between states, organizations, or relatively large groups of people. It involves use of bloody aggression between two regular armies or between armed civilian groups (â€Å"War,† pars. 1-2). A common perception of war is a military campaign between at least two opposing sides. The disagreement leading to war may involve a dispute over sovereignty, territory, resources, or religion etc. Wars take place despite majority of populace opposing them. There are a large number of theories debating over why wars happen regardless of strong opposition. Whatever the cause of war, the development of technology has intensified the resultant human destructiveness. Development of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction have altogether changed the nature of war. The latest deadly military arsenals have reshaped the war strategies. These weapons are proving to be a strong deterrence against outbreak of war between two states but their possession by belligerents and terrorists have serious implications. Human history is devoid of any era which can be termed as peaceful. There has always been some war or conflict taking place between two opposing sides. The war itself has remained a constant phenomenon throughout the course of history however causative factors for such conflicts are certainly numerous. There are a large number of theories explaining causes of war including the political, economical, psychological, sociological, anthropological, and historical theories. These theories identify specific circumstances and inescapable trends imposing war on humanity. Two important theories have been deliberated upon in following paragraphs which stem out significantly when viewed in concurrence with present scenario. The theory most affected with advent of weapons of mass destruction is the psychological theory, also known as human aggression theory. This theory professes that human beings, especially men are born aggressive and violent. History is witness of the fact that people are capable of committing the most terrible acts of violence on other people. Wars have been waged, and millions have been killed due to personal agenda of leaders. Even before recorded history men killed men for petty issues, and vested interests. People when equipped with weapons tend to be more threatening and provoked in their aggression. Experiments have indicated that the presence of a weapon can augment ferociousness. It increases the consequences of aggressive incidents (Hinde and Pulkinnen, pars. 2, 15). Psychologists have agreed to some extent that although human nature is violent but people forcing large scale destruction and wars do not possess stable personalities. These people are normally mentally unbalanced and lack rationale. This school of thought argues that leaders like Napoleon, Hitler, and Stalin were mentally abnormal. Just consider, any such leader, if in possession of nuclear arsenals in today’s world, can play havoc with the humanity. Inherent aggression of mankind coupled with modern weapons of mass destruction, if left uncontrolled and unchecked will ultimately lead the world to the end of times. The other important cause of war having serious implications in today’s world is rooted out of anthropological theories. Several anthropologists see the war as fundamentally cultural, learned by nurture rather than nature. To this school, religious, ideological, and nationalistic beliefs create an environment for acceptance of war (â€Å"War,† par. 16). Religion is often exploited to justify actions and motivate the masses to support the aggression. Most wars in the history are perhaps fought in the name of religion. It is fact that Crusades are more commonly attributed to the religion than any other war. There had been many other conflicts as well originating out of religious differences. Islam emerging out of Arab lands in 8th century started posing a major threat to various kingdoms ruled in the name of Christianity. Religion thus became a central theme in most conflicts fought there on (Armstrong 4). The late 20th century witnessed struggles for territorial sovereignty, political autonomy and access to resources. Religion remains the major motivating factor here as well, and dominates most of the post World War II conflicts. Issues in former Yugoslavia, Middle-East, South Asia, and Central Asia, are all evidences of anthropological theory about the causes of war (Dorfman 103). The ongoing war on terrorism highlights an interesting analogy regarding the previous discussion. The West (dominated by Christians) is threatened by the East (Islamic world). There are extremist elements existing in the East which are making all out efforts to crush the hegemony of the West. The attacks of 9/11 were perpetrated by Islamic extremists. The riposte in the form of war on terror is though not directed against the religion of Islam but it is manifested to root out the Islamic extremist elements which are causing grave concerns to the real existence of modern world (Conway, par. 7). Imagine, if Al Qaeda gets nuclear weapons, rest assure it will not hesitate a minute to use it against the West. Technology and nuclear arsenal held by former soviet republics provide an open market to religious terrorists. Most of this equipment was retrieved by Russia. The threat still exists due to presence of left over infrastructure and skilled human resource. The philosophy of war is deeply affected by the advent of weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear weapons deter the escalation of crises to war. The weapons of mass destruction may not help in stopping outbreak of disputes between two opposing states but certainly prevents a war. The cold war era is an evidence of this prevention. In the recent times, it stopped a major war between India and Pakistan. In year 2001, there was a long standoff between large conventional armies consisting of over one million regular troops of both the nuclear states. In the recent history, it was the largest concentration of troops on international borders. Armies of both the countries equipped with weapons of mass destruction stood face to face for complete one year. The only thing which prevented the deadliest war in the history of mankind from materializing was the nuclear capability of both the sides. Using weapons of mass destruction for peaceful purposes is always viewed apprehensively, and with doubts. In today’s transforming world, the idea of preventing a war by keeping nuclear arsenals is much debatable. The question arises that do we still need to parlay the fear of nuclear war in order to secure our national interests and international peace (Gompert, pars. 0-15). The facts however can not be ignored. The technology exists in the market. It is available to all and can be well exploited for all purposes. If we can not keep away the extremists, and mentally abnormal leaders from possessing it, then we need it too. It is not only necessitated from the point of view of our own security but it is mandatory for maintaining peace in the world. Modern weapon systems and latest war machinery will be required to harness the people with dreadful intentions (Orend, pars. 11-15). Once war commences, whatever its merits, philosophers disagree on the role of morality within war. Many have claimed morality is necessarily but it is discarded by the very nature of war including Christian thinkers such as Augustine, whereas others have sought to remind warriors both of the existence of moral relations in war and of various strictures to remain sensitive to moral ends. Sociologically, those going to and coming back from war often go through rites and rituals that symbolize their stepping out of, or back into, civil society, as if their transition is to a different level of morality and agency. War typically involves killing and the threat of being killed, which existentialist writers have drawn on in their examination of war’s phenomenology (Moseley, par. 4). Philosophy of war is a complex and intricate matter. It has an expanded horizon, with a broad spectrum of hypotheses. Simple and undeniable explanation of warfare would imply annihilation and sufferings. Man has killed man for various motives. No solid reasoning can be offered for an unimaginable scale of bloodshed caused by the humans against humanity. The subject lends itself to metaphysical and epistemological considerations, to the philosophy of mind and of human nature. It also encompasses more traditional areas of moral and political philosophy. With the invention of weapons of mass destruction, mankind is vulnerable to extreme dangers of extinction. Hope however is never lost. Eisenhower in 1953 while addressing United Nations General Assembly in the backdrop of the atomic bomb said that the United States does not wish merely to present strength, but also the desire and the hope for peace. The atom can be used for peace, and welfare of mankind. However, the constant threat of these weapons falling in the hands of extremists or abnormal leaders would keep haunting the humanity.

Asian Indians in America essays

Asian Indians in America essays Their struggle as immigrant minority and major contributions to the American society Asian Indians come from an area with the second largest population in the world, but form only one of the smallest minorities in the United States. America was influenced by their religious and political beliefs long before the first immigrants arrived in the 19th century. The congressional act of 1947 granted them citizenship. Now, Asian Indians hold many important occupations (students, teachers, writers, musicians, scientists). Their most important contributions are geared toward engineering and the sciences. India was in a great shape up until the end of 19th century. When British arrived, the country was depleted of its wealth and resources. The poor had no choice but to come to the United States (The Land of the Free and the Land of Opportunity). The United States, due to the abundance of jobs and scarcity of labor, became a Mecca for immigrants from all over the world. The United States, in the nineteenth century, remained a strong magnet to immigrants, with offers of jobs and land for farms. Asians and Italians came for work, Russians came to escape persecution, and Jews came for religious freedom. Immigrants from all over the world including Europe, China, and Japan wanted to experience the freedom of improving your life and being able to take care for ones family. East Indians represented a big group that wanted to take part in American culture. The large majorities from India were Punjabis, from a region called the Punjab. Most of these immigrants were young men, between 16 and 35 years old. They left their families in India, and came here in small groups of cousins and village neighbors. Thus, the family and community ties remained very strong. They had several reasons to come to America. They were repressed by the British rule and had no land to farm on. To make matters worse, famine dev...

Word Choice Choose vs. Chose - Get Writing Tips with Proofed!

Word Choice Choose vs. Chose - Get Writing Tips with Proofed! Word Choice: Choose vs. Chose The difference between the present and past is important. After all, you’d never get anything done if you couldn’t tell the difference between today and yesterday. Or perhaps you’d think you’d already done it†¦ The point is that it’s confusing, which is also true if you mix up â€Å"choose† and â€Å"chose.† These are variations of the same word. â€Å"Choose† is a present tense verb; â€Å"chose† is a past tense verb. But how should you use them? Let us explain. Choose (Simple Present Tense) To â€Å"choose† (pronounced to rhyme with â€Å"shoes†) something is to make a decision. Since this is a simple present tense verb, we typically use it for generalizations and current actions: Many people choose to wear a hat in the summer. Many cacti, too. â€Å"Choose† can also be combined with â€Å"will† in the simple future tense or â€Å"would† to express a hypothetical: I will choose what to wear before I go out. If I were you, I would choose now. The first sentence here expresses an intention in the future simple tense. The second is a hypothetical scenario about making a choice. But in both cases, â€Å"choose† is the correct term. Chose (Simple Past Tense) If a decision has already been made, the word you’ll need is â€Å"chose† (pronounced to rhyme with â€Å"nose†). This is the simple past tense form of this word. For instance: When I saw the rain, I chose not to go out. Here, for example, the speaker is talking about a past decision. Choosing and Chosen (Present and Past Participles) There are two more variations of this word: the present participle â€Å"choosing† and the past participle â€Å"chosen.† We use present participles in the continuous (or progressive) tenses to describe an action that occurs over a period of time. For instance, we might say: I am choosing what to wear for the interview. This sentence uses the present continuous â€Å"am choosing what to wear† to show that a decision is currently being made. With a tie like this, I know Ill get the job! Past participles, meanwhile, are used in the perfect tenses. For example: She had chosen what to wear, but then she decided to stay home instead. Here, the past perfect â€Å"had chosen† shows a decision was made in the past (i.e., what to wear) before something else happened (i.e., deciding to stay home). Choose or Chose? The participle forms above are easier to remember because they look quite different written down, but it’s easy to mix up â€Å"choose† and â€Å"chose† if you’re not careful (even if it is just a typo). Our main tip is to proofread your work thoroughly (or ask a professional to do it). Keep an eye out for these words and make sure that each one is the correct tense for the sentence. Remember: Choose = Simple present tense Chose = Simple past tense

Portfolio Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Portfolio Analysis - Essay Example Logically, then, the risk and return of an individual security should be analysed in terms of how that security affects the risk and return of a portfolio in which it is held. As mentioned in Finance for Non-Financial Managers by Lawrence W Tuller, Diversifiable risk is also known as company-specific, or unsystematic, risk. Market risk is also known as non diversifiable, or systematic, or beta, risk; it is that risk remains after diversification. Diversifiable risk is caused by such random events as lawsuits, strikes, successful and unsuccessful marketing programs, winning or losing a major contract, and other events that are unique to a particular firm. Since these events are random, their effects on portfolio can be eliminated by diversification- bad events in one firm will be offset by good events in another. The riskiness of a portfolios declines as the number of stocks in the portfolio increases. The smaller the correlation coefficient (the movements of two variables with respect to each other), the lower the risk in a large portfolio. If we could find a set of stocks whose correlation were negative or zero, all risk could be eliminated. Consider Stock M with the beta coefficient of 2 i.e. ... This is due to the diversification of risk in a portfolio. (2) Explain carefully how diversification leads to the construction of the Markowitz efficient frontier. Answer: As explained by Eugene Brigham and Gapenski, the computational procedure for determining the efficient set of portfolios was developed by Harry Markowitz and first reported in his article "Portfolio Selection", Journal of Finance, March 1952. Markowitz developed the basic concepts of portfolio theory. With only two assets, the feasible set of portfolios is a point within the curve. However if we increase the number of assets, we would obtain an area under the curve. The points A,B,C and D represent single securities. All other points with in the curve, including its boundaries, represent attainable set. The above Curve boundary from A to D however defines the efficient set of portfolios, which is also called efficient frontier. Portfolios to the left of the efficient set are not possible because they lie outside the attainable set. Portfolios to the right of the boundary line (interior portfolios) are inefficient because some other portfolio would provide either a higher return with the same degree of risk or a lower risk for the same rate of return. Markowitz efficient frontier model. The optimal portfolio for each investor is found at the tangency point between the efficient set of portfolio and one of the investor's indifference curves. This tangency point marks the highest level of satisfaction the investor can attain. The investor's risk/return trade off function is based on the standard economic concepts of utility theory and the indifference curves. Here we have 2 Stock holders. Mr Y and Mr Z. Mr Y is more risk

Compare and contrast between liberalism and conservatism Essay

Compare and contrast between liberalism and conservatism - Essay Example High level of individual freedom is the core of classical liberalism whereas liberal conservatism advocates small governmental intervention on individual matters. In other words both are similar as far as individual freedom is concerned. Classical liberalism advocates private property and liberal conservatism also do not deny earning of private property. Liberty and prosperity were the major slogans of classical liberalism. Liberal conservatives also emphasize human's freedom, capitalism and a free economy/market. Progressive liberals are not much keen in doing what they advocate in their manifesto. Most of their principles and policies were lie on paper alone. On the other hand, traditional conservatives believe in natural laws and moral principles. Tradition, custom, hierarchy, patriotism, localism regionalism etc are different dimensions of traditional conservatism whereas progressive liberals will never advocate all those things publicly, but they engage in similar activities pri vately.

The Works of Ai Wei Wei Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Works of Ai Wei Wei - Essay Example I believe that he is trying to tell that we can create beauty out of everyday ordinary things and that they could represent a bigger and grander idea. According to Wei Wei, our respective culture is the context and â€Å"lens† by which we see and interpret the world. Thus, we assign a value to images and symbols differently. One may be important to other culture while it may be without meaning to other cultures. We can cite the example of Wei Wei’s sunflower seeds as an example. For the outsider, one may see it as a literal sunflower seed that at the beginning of the video, some of Wei Wei’s audience even tasted it to check if it is real. To the Chinese however, especially those who lived during the revolution and the time of Chairman Mao Zedong, the sunflower seeds meant something else. It is not just seeds of a sunflower but represented the number of people that supported the revolution. The seeds were so many because the ordinary people of China that supported the Chairman were also so many. As an artist, Ai Wei Wei viewed his role as someone who challenges his audience to ask new questions. He wants to create as an artist, the basic structure which can be open to possibilities. His artworks have political connotations also and Wei Wei would like his audience to engage them with his artworks as a medium to instigate curiosity that would foster understanding and hope to make it a happier place just like the seed makers in Wei Wei’s artwork who were happy to do create the porcelain sunflower seeds because it gives them livelihood and meaning. Ai Wei Wei’s artworks are not just for an aesthetic purpose that conveys beauty where its audience can appreciate the joy in the magnificence of their artwork. If one would examine closely, Wei Wei’s artwork has political significance and invites the audience to ask questions.  

Vancouver, Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Vancouver, Canada - Essay Example The area has a population of 5300 people per square kilometer (Kalman 21). One of the most important aspects that tourists may have interest in when visiting the country is the town’s architecture. Vancouver is the only place in Northern America with diverse architecture where it hosts different styles of building. The Marine building is one of the chief architectural landmarks in Vancouver. Visiting it gives tourists a general idea of the manner in which buildings in Canada were constructed in the 20th century. The diversity is unique and attractive and this is something that would amaze tourists (McDonald 18). Among the most striking figures in the city is Inusk at the Bay of England. Cactus Club Cafà © is attractive from outside and has a welcoming group of people that tend to the visitors (Alberta). Vancouver Bed and Breakfast is another attractive location for tourists where they can spend the night before they wake up to visit the different sites the country has to offer. The Lonsdale Quay is a hub overlooking the city of Vancouver (Ellen 53). When staring across the lake, one has a clear view of the landscape of the

Critique of a research paper qualitative in nature Assignment

Critique of a research paper qualitative in nature - Assignment Example The sample sizes of GPs and care home professionals were 3 and 8 respectively. Sample sizes of care home residents and family members were 23 and 2 respectively. On introspection from an academic researchers’ point of view, these sample sizes leave some ambiguity regarding the procedure adopted in selecting the sample. The researcher has not clarified which scientific method of sampling was adopted in selecting this sample. This raises a doubt about the authenticity and validity of this study. One definition of validity in research is that â€Å"we have reached the goal of validity when our statements or conclusions about empirical reality are correct† (Engel and Schutt, 2005, p.18). This research exercise is ambivalent, when considered from the angle of â€Å"measurement validity, generalizability, and causal validity,† which are the three aspects of validity as far as social science research is concerned (Engel and Schutt, 2005, p.19). This is so because no pro per measurement has been made by this research exercise, it has very limited generalizability because of the erratic sampling and also the cause of change has not been properly identified in terms of dependent variables other than the adoption of LES. There could be locally specific and institution-specific causal factors. Another matter of concern is that the sample size seems to be too small to be in agreement with the existing social science research norms. It has been observed, â€Å"you would need a very large sample in order to have a chance of finding an impact of social work† (Gorard, 2003, p.61). Though this notion has been somewhat changed after approval for qualitative research with smaller sample sizes grew, the extremely small sample size (with no consistency while selecting respondents from each category) in this research limits its scope of application to the narrow geographical area in which it is conducted. And it has to be reminded, â€Å"by convention, [â € ¦] thirty comprises the magic number for the allowable minimum sample size† (Seidman, Seidman and Abeyesekere, 2001, p.174). In this research, it can be seen that no sample from any of the categories of respondents chosen by the researcher meets this criteria. The researcher has said that, the â€Å"interviews were [†¦] open-ended and required participants to reflect on their general experiences of GPs and the ease of accessing support, and comment on any improvements to the service† (Briggs, 2011, p.6). Though open-ended questions are more suitable for small sample sizes, it has to be remembered, â€Å"open-ended questions are far more difficult to code† (McNabb, 2010, p.118). The researcher in this particular study has not given any information on the data collection procedure and also the coding of the data thus collected. This has badly affected the credibility of this study. At the same time, the research has fulfilled the ethical conditions require d in such a venture, by following the â€Å"established procedures† as prescribed by the British Sociological Association (Briggs, 2011, p.6). The researcher has maintained transparency by admitting that the â€Å"review [that was carried out] was not commissioned as research and therefore ethical approval was not required† (Briggs, 2011, p

Two Different Regulatory Models That Can Be Adopted In the Financial S Assignment

Two Different Regulatory Models That Can Be Adopted In the Financial Sector - Assignment Example In order to effectively identify the best models to address future financial crises, it is important to go back to the specific cause of the crisis. According to George Soros (2008), â€Å"the salient feature of the current financial crisis is that it was not caused by some external shock†¦ the crisis was generated by the system itself.† Specifically, it was the housing bubble the eventual drove the financial meltdown as excesses became evident when people could borrow money easily to buy houses with inflated prices. Mortgage lenders started to declare bankruptcy and reached crisis proportions, with effects spilling over other markets – from hedge funds to financial institutions. If there is a tight financial regulation in place the housing bubble could not have happened or, at least, the crisis has been confined to the industry. In this regard, two regulatory models are proposed: the centralized financial regulation and supervision used by United Kingdom’s FSA and the Basel II/domestic regulatory model. In the centralized regulatory and supervisory model, all financial policies – for banks, securities firms, other financial institutions, insurance companies, and so on – are under one umbrella. (Schwab, Roubini and Bilodeau, p. 44) The model is seen as a more superior framework than those models wherein powers are fragmented among many and different institutions, as with the case of the model adopted by the US. The recent subprime financial crisis has confirmed the mismatch between regulation and supervision as well as global banking and financial activities. The general consensus today is that it is too late to continue with different national (or state) regulators and supervisors. (Alessandrini, Fratianni and Zazzaro 2009, p. 8) An integrated regulatory agency as proposed by the centralized model would be able to monitor the activities of integrated firms and markets more effectively than separate agencies as well as effectively develop and implement appropriate resp onses to financial threats.  

Vancouver, Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Vancouver, Canada - Essay Example The area has a population of 5300 people per square kilometer (Kalman 21). One of the most important aspects that tourists may have interest in when visiting the country is the town’s architecture. Vancouver is the only place in Northern America with diverse architecture where it hosts different styles of building. The Marine building is one of the chief architectural landmarks in Vancouver. Visiting it gives tourists a general idea of the manner in which buildings in Canada were constructed in the 20th century. The diversity is unique and attractive and this is something that would amaze tourists (McDonald 18). Among the most striking figures in the city is Inusk at the Bay of England. Cactus Club Cafà © is attractive from outside and has a welcoming group of people that tend to the visitors (Alberta). Vancouver Bed and Breakfast is another attractive location for tourists where they can spend the night before they wake up to visit the different sites the country has to offer. The Lonsdale Quay is a hub overlooking the city of Vancouver (Ellen 53). When staring across the lake, one has a clear view of the landscape of the

Two Different Regulatory Models That Can Be Adopted In the Financial S Assignment

Two Different Regulatory Models That Can Be Adopted In the Financial Sector - Assignment Example In order to effectively identify the best models to address future financial crises, it is important to go back to the specific cause of the crisis. According to George Soros (2008), â€Å"the salient feature of the current financial crisis is that it was not caused by some external shock†¦ the crisis was generated by the system itself.† Specifically, it was the housing bubble the eventual drove the financial meltdown as excesses became evident when people could borrow money easily to buy houses with inflated prices. Mortgage lenders started to declare bankruptcy and reached crisis proportions, with effects spilling over other markets – from hedge funds to financial institutions. If there is a tight financial regulation in place the housing bubble could not have happened or, at least, the crisis has been confined to the industry. In this regard, two regulatory models are proposed: the centralized financial regulation and supervision used by United Kingdom’s FSA and the Basel II/domestic regulatory model. In the centralized regulatory and supervisory model, all financial policies – for banks, securities firms, other financial institutions, insurance companies, and so on – are under one umbrella. (Schwab, Roubini and Bilodeau, p. 44) The model is seen as a more superior framework than those models wherein powers are fragmented among many and different institutions, as with the case of the model adopted by the US. The recent subprime financial crisis has confirmed the mismatch between regulation and supervision as well as global banking and financial activities. The general consensus today is that it is too late to continue with different national (or state) regulators and supervisors. (Alessandrini, Fratianni and Zazzaro 2009, p. 8) An integrated regulatory agency as proposed by the centralized model would be able to monitor the activities of integrated firms and markets more effectively than separate agencies as well as effectively develop and implement appropriate resp onses to financial threats.  

Benefits of the European Union Essay Example for Free

Benefits of the European Union Essay The European Union is an organization of democratic European countries based on the idea of committing to working together for peace and prosperity. In the recent years the Union is considered to be one of the most strongest and most influential organisation in the world. Therefore all questions related to this are become questions with significant matter. In this essay I shall be firstly define my academic subject with presenting a short rà ©sumà © of the history of the European Union followed by an explanation of its main benefits and why they are so important. In order to support my arguments I shall use reliable sources and materials, whose authors are regarded as trustworthy on the European Union issues. In my conclusion I’ll summarise the main advantages of the European union and I’ll explain why every one of us should be interested in this subject. Identifing   myself as a part of the Union and conduct from the heart of the european idea,I shall strongly backing my position that the European Union is the only future for Europe. The European Union is a unique legal system which, following the most recent expansion of 1st January 2007, comprises almost 489 million people within 27 States with diverse legal traditions. Any further enlargements would bring the EU’s population to over half a billion people, (more than the USA and Japan combined). The main idea of creating an integrated Union was conceived before 50 years as a way to prevent destruction and to maintain peace within Europe.   The general aim of the European Union is an economic and political progress and to realize a common foreign and security policy, to stabilize the protection of the rights and interests of the member states, and to develop close cooperation on justice and home affairs (Politics in the EU, p.90). All European Union decisions and procedures are based on the Treaties, which are agreed by all the EU countries. This is one of the main democratic characteristics on the Union. The core of the Union, which is the single market, consists the main benefits and advantages that European Union can offer to its citizen. From 1 January 1993 the European Community formally became a Single Market without internal frontiers. What does this actually means? This means that people, goods, services and capital will be able to move around as freely as within one country. (EU Law 2006, p.369).   Its creation was one of the main objectives of the original Rome of Treaty (1957). These four freedoms of movement are underpinned by a range of supporting policies and they are the engine of the single market. Consequently many standards have been harmonized for hundreds of products, producing a level playing field for manufacturers across the EU, regardless of where they are based.  Moreover the process of harmonization of goods produced in one country of the Single Market by all the others means that if this product is high quality to be sold in one member state, it cannot be excluded from sale in another.   The overall effect has been to turn the EU into a huge â€Å"domestic† market for all citizens.

Challenges Faced By Human Resource Planning Business Essay

Challenges Faced By Human Resource Planning Business Essay In the human resource planning function, the number and type of employees needed to accomplish organizational goals are determined. Research is an important part of this function because planning requires the collection and analysis of information in order to forecast human resources supplies and to predict future human resources needs. The basic human resource planning strategy is staffing and employee development. Job Analysis: Job analysis is the process of describing the nature of a job and specifying the human requirements, such as skills, and experience needed to perform it. The end product of the job analysis process is the job description. A job description spells out work duties and activities of employees. Job descriptions are a vital source of information to employees, managers, and personnel people because job content has a great influence on personnel programmers and practices. Staffing: Staffing emphasizes the recruitment and selection of the human resources for an organization. Human resources planning and recruiting precede the actual selection of people for positions in an organization. Recruiting is the personnel function that attracts qualified applicants to fill job vacancies. In the selection function, the most qualified applicants are selected for hiring from among those attracted to the organization by the recruiting function. On selection, human resource functionaries are involved in developing and administering methods that enable managers to decide which applicants to select and which to reject for the given jobs. Orientation: Orientation is the first steps toward helping a new employee adjust himself to the new job and the employer. It is a method to acquaint new employees with particular aspects of their new job, including pay and benefit programmers, working hours, and company rules and expectations. Training and Development: The training and development function gives employees the skills and knowledge to perform their jobs effectively. In addition to providing training for new or inexperienced employees, organizations often provide training programmes for experienced employees whose jobs are undergoing change. Large organizations often have development programmes which prepare employees for higher level responsibilities within the organization. Training and development programmes provide useful means of assuring that employees are capable of performing their jobs at acceptable levels. Advantages of training (I) Self-confidence. Training helps to improve the self-confidence of an employee. It enables him to approach and perform his job with enthusiasm. (ii) Higher Earnings. Trained employees can perform better and thereby by earning more employees become more efficient. (iii) Safety. Training helps an employee to use various safety devices. He can handle the machines safely and becomes less prone to accidents which can save organizations from legal actions. (iv) Adaptability. Training enables an employee to adapt to changes in work procedures and methods. (v) Promotion. Through training, employee can develop himself and earn quick promotions. (vi) New Skills. Training develops new knowledge and skills among employees. The new skills are a valuable asset of an employee and remain permanently with him. Performance Appraisal: This function monitors employee performance to ensure that it is at acceptable levels. Human resource professionals are usually responsible for developing and administering performance appraisal systems, although the actual appraisal of employee performance is the responsibility of supervisors and managers. Besides providing a basis for pay, promotion, and disciplinary action, performance appraisal information is essential for employee development since knowledge of results (feedback) is necessary to motivate and guide performance improvements. Advantages of performance appraisal It offers a rare change for a supervisor and subordinate to have time out for a one-on one discussion of important work issues that might not otherwise be addressed. Almost universally, where performance appraisal is conducted properly, both supervisors and subordinates have reported the experience as beneficial and positive. Appraisal offers a valuable opportunity to focus on work activities and goals, to identify and correct existing problems, and to encourage better future performance. Thus the performance of the whole organization is enhanced. For many employees, an official appraisal interview may be the only time they get to have exclusive, uninterrupted access to their supervisor. Career Planning: Career planning has developed partly as a result of the desire of many employees to grow in their jobs and to advance in their career. Career planning activities include assessing an individual employees potential for growth and advancement in the organisation Compensation: Human resource personnel provide a rational method for determining how much employees should be paid for performing certain jobs. Pay is obviously related to the maintenance of human resources. Since compensation is a major cost to many organizations, it is a major consideration in human resource planning. Compensation affects staffing in that people are generally attracted to organizations offering a higher level of pay in exchange for the work performed. It is related to employee development in that it provides an important incentive in motivating employees to higher levels of job performance and to higher paying jobs in the organization. Benefits: Benefits are another form of compensation to employees other than direct pay for work performed. As such, the human resource function of administering employee benefits shares many characteristics of the compensation function. Benefits include both the legally required items and those offered at employers discretion. The cost of benefits has risen to such a point that they have become a major consideration in human resources planning. However, benefits are primarily related to the maintenance area, since they provide for many basic employee needs. Labour Relations: The term labour relations refers to interaction with employees who are represented by a trade union. Unions are organization of employees who join together to obtain more voice in decisions affecting wages, benefits, working conditions, and other aspects of employment. With regard to labour relations, the personnel responsibility primarily involves negotiating with the unions regarding wages, service conditions, and resolving disputes and grievances. Record-keeping: The oldest and most basic personnel function is employee recordkeeping. This function involves recording, maintaining, and retrieving employee related information for a variety of purposes. Records which must be maintained include application forms, health and medical records, employment history (jobs held, promotions, transfers, lay-offs), seniority lists, earnings and hours of work, absences, turnover, tardiness, and other employee data. Complete and up-to-date employee records are essential for most personnel functions. More than ever employees today have a great interest in their personnel records. They want to know what is in them, why certain statements have been made, and why records may or may not have been updated. External environmental factors Administrative/Legal Environment The administrative and legal environment in a country provides a framework within which an organization operates. In some countries this environment is very restrictive and has significant impact on all aspects of the organization; in other countries the administrative/legal context is more permissive. Understanding the administrative/legal environment is essential to determining if organizational change can take place. The administrative context within which the organization operates may be shaped by a unique combination of forces, including international, governmental, nongovernmental policy, legislative, regulatory, and legal frameworks. An organization is affected by the policy or regulatory context that gave rise to it. This includes specific laws and regulations that support or inhibit the institutions development. HR plays a role in examining several specific dimensions of the administrative environment Whether there are constitutional restrictions on the organization working environment and employees rights however HR does assessment to determine whether the organization employments policies comply with the government rules and regulations Whether there is a legislative mandate that restricts leadership of the organization:  It is helpful to understand any parameters that have been set around who can lead an organization. This includes identifying the governing body of the organization, and understanding how its members are selected, and further understanding who has the mandate or authority to set goals for the organization and develop curriculum YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE ABOVE FACTORS MORE. Best Companies In 2009 Nandos celebrated achieving the maximum three stars in the Best Companies Accreditation award.   We were the only big company in the UK to achieve three stars! This award measures eight key areas including   Personal Growth, Well Being and Leadership.   Last year we entered the starred accreditation for 2010 once more and again received three stars! We also entered the  Sunday Times Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for  (a big company is classed as one with 5,000 or more employees). This takes the score awarded to each company in the Best Companies star accreditation and then ranks them against other Big Companies in the UK who have entered. In March we achieved first place in the Best Big Companies to work for! Click hereHYPERLINK http://www.nandos.co.uk/defaultnav/NE6/Best_Companies.html  to read the article about Nandos in The Sunday Times Best Companies supplement. Investor in People Nandos was first recognised as an Investor in People in 1998. We are now celebrating ten years of recognition following a reassessment in 2008. We remain committed to maintaining this award. National Training Award Scheme National Training Awards are the most prestigious awards for training in the UK and at Nandos we have achieved awards for five of our training schemes. Buddy System (Buddies are staff who help train new staff) New restaurants opening training Working in Management Teams (Team Building) Nandos Inductions Coaching Programme The jobs available through staffing companies are real jobs at companies like: Amazon, Continental Airlines, Freddie Mac, Hearst Publications, Microsoft, PG E, RBC Dain Rauscher, Suntron, Sony, Starbucks, and Visa. These companies develop budgets to hire a set number of full-time employees on an annual basis, and include in that budget a substantial amount of money that can be used to hire temporary staff throughout the year to handle the ebb and flow of business. When the time comes for the company to open up the temporary position as full-time, you are perfectly positioned to interview for the full-time job [emailprotected]

Othello :: essays research papers

(II, i, 176-178, p.71) IAGO (To himself) He takes her by the hand. Yes, very good, whisper to her! With This little web, I’ll catch a fly as big as Cassio. Yes, Smile at her, go ahead! I’ll catch you in your own flirtation. Character Intent: Iago is definitely speaking these lines for one clear reason. Iago wants to manipulate Cassio and get him close to Desdemona therefore Othello could see this occur and become angered. Iago knows that Cassio is a very flirtatious person and therefore, Iago’s evil deed might be a very easy task to accomplish. Iago uses the metaphor of the fly and the spider web to symbolize Cassio (fly) getting caught in the web (getting caught in Iago’s manipulation). Writer Intent: Shakespeare uses these lines in the dialogue to show Iago’s sarcasm about the situation occurring. Shakespeare also has Iago speak to himself in this part of the dialogue to show the insanity and sickness that Iago has built up inside, just aching to be released. Shakespeare also puts this dialogue into the story to show how courteous and respectful Cassio really is to Desdemona. And by seeing this, Shakespeare had the perfect opportunity to let Iago’s plans unfold. Behavior: The following lines should be said very dementedly by Iago. He should read the lines very slowly and creepy to show how passionate Iago is in wanting to achieve his goal of destroying Othello. (II, i, 197-201, p.73) OTHELLO If I were to die right now, I would die perfectly happy; for I’m afraid I am so splendidly content that I won’t have another joy like this one for the rest of my life. Character Intent: Othello spoke these lines in the dialogue to show the only thing he cares about. Othello shows that he cares about and loves Desdemona. He really puts his point across to everyone by saying that even if death struck him down at that very moment, he would die happy since he had the chance to see the love of his life, Desdemona. Othello makes it clear that even after his hellish fleet, the voyage would not be over until Othello saw his beautiful bride. Writer Intent: Shakespeare puts these lines in the story because they show a really strong meaning. This line reinforces everyone that Othello and Desdemona are in love with each other. Shakespeare shows the deep relationship between Othello and Desdemona to show how much they truly care and love each other.

Gender Roles In Star Trek Next Generation Essay -- essays research pap

In 1966 a series called "Star Trek" was created. It's creator, Gene Roddenberry, did not create the show to be a science fiction series. The series was much deeper than that. It wasn't just about discovering new planets and civilizations. It was about controversial issues. Even though the series' take place in the 23rd and 24th century the issues struck with the times and related current issues. Through each series, The Original, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager, there has been progression with the times and the issues. The issues that surround the episodes of Star Trek include race, religion, sexuality, the depiction of science and gender roles. The central focus being talked about in this paper will be gender roles. Gender roles in Star Trek deal with leadership and sexuality. Men and women have had different roles in Star Trek as well as different progressions. Men in Star Trek have always had a leadership role. In the original series the four main characters are men. The captain, Kirk, the second in command, Spock, the doctor, Bones or McCoy, and the head engineering officer Scotty are all men. In the Next Generation series there is Captain Picard, the second in command, Riker, and there are others engineering roles played by Warf and Data who are all men. In the Deep Space Nine series Captain Sisko and the head engineer is male. In Voyager the second in command, Chakotay, as well as Tuvok, a Vulcan Spock like character, and Neelix, the cook are all men. Women in Star Trek have made a real progression, at least more then Men have. When men are already at the top having leadership roles there's no place to go but down. This isn't necessarily there work performance or merit is going down but the women's performance, merit and acceptance going up. The women of Star Trek started at the bottom and could only go up. The original series did have one woman in a starring role. Uhura was the head communication officer, however her role was really more of a secretary and didn't really have many lines and if she did they weren't very lengthy, nothing much more than, "Yes captain." In the Next Generation series the women started to move farther up the leadership ladder. The women starring roles were Beverly Crusher, the doctor, and Diana Troy, the counselor. In Deep Space Nin... ...s. Women usually aren't as forward and her forwardness gives the essence of a male fantasy, the female making the moves on the male. Males and females are almost in pursuit of a mate, however males are usually the gender that make the first move. When the female shows immediate and obvious signs of interest, males in general think of it as something with no real challenge and therefore no real commitment. This presents a good time for the crowd of men in 10 Forward. Sexuality plays a big part in gender roles. In Star Trek Next Generation one of biggest issues is gender roles. Sexuality has played a little role in Star Trek. It showed a woman who's only purpose in life was for procreation. Although her actions were abnormal for a woman, it is the only real purpose of both genders. Survival is the goal of both genders and that is done through procreation. Also, men have always had leadership roles in Star Trek since the beginning of the series. Women, however have had to work there way up the leadership ladder. Their roles have been equal to the times or slightly pushing forward a bit, which has been the most important part of gender roles in Star Trek.

Jet Blue Essay

There are a few trends that have come into play over the past few years. These different trends range from pricing for the flight to in flight perks. It seems that the perks and other in flight amenities are what may be what makes the difference and will impact any of the airline company’s strategy. Due to major hikes in fuel costs over the past year the airlines have had no other choice but to start passing this expense on to the flyers. The airlines have been trying to come up with competitive ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. Many of the airlines even charge for you check bags also. According to Ethan Davidoff in his article The Cost Behind Checking Bags most airlines only charge $25 for a bag to be checked but there is Southwest Airlines that allows two bags to be checked before charging. With that said in the above mentioned article one can see that you definitely want to travel light because for more than one bag the prices start to increase all the way up to $600. Although Southwest allows two checked bags there are other airlines that allow one free checked bag and most have a weight limit of 50lbs. If one were to travel internationally it may be cheaper to just purchase brand new clothes when you land. Not to mention the convenience of not checking any bags or having to wait to pick it up when you land, etc. So not only have airlines starting charging to check bags but many have stopped providing food, unless the flight is over a given amount of time and you are usually paying for that snack. The above mentioned change in airline airfares has certainly affected many airlines’ strategies. Also as mentioned above it has affected them most specifically in what type of benefits, perks, or amenities that they are willing to offer their flyers. Jet Blue has certainly followed suite and done various things to try to set themselves apart Discuss Jet Blue’s strategic intent. Jet Blue says that their â€Å"objective is optimize our fare mix to increase our average fare and, in certain markets, utilize our network to maximize connecting opportunities while continuing to provide our customers with competitive fares† (jetblue. om SEC filings, p. 31). Like any other company they are looking to cut costs without hurting any of the aspects of their company that sets them apart (i. e. customer service, tv, radio). Jet Blue airline seems to have set its strategy to take advantage of the charges that other airlines charge. They have set themselves apart by offering things on their flights that other airlines either don’t have or charge for. Jet Blue allows the firs t bag to fly free, the second costs $35, and the third costs $75. Although they do not have wireless broadband yet, unlike some other airlines, they do plan to have it in place 2012, and this is so because all of Jet Blue’s aircrafts are being set up for ViaSat satellite wireless which is new and no other airline has. Jet Blue is testing the service for ViaSat and the FAA for testing to be approved for use on airlines. However on the ground in the terminal it does offer free broadband at most airports (http://www. jetblue. com/flying-on-jetblue/onboard/wifi. asp). A strategy held by Jet Blue like that of any business is to improve its bottom line. Jet Blue wants not only to be profitable while reducing costs but they want their customers to be happy and have a good flying experience. Jet Blue has a saying on their site that says â€Å"our standards beat their extras† (http://www. jetblue. com/flying-on-jetblue/). They aim to provide stellar customer service. As a matter of fact according to ehow. com Jet Blue â€Å"was awarded the Conde Nast Traveler ‘Readers’ Choice Award’ for best domestic airline† and â€Å"in 2008, it won J. D. Power and Associates’ ‘Highest Customer Satisfaction Among Low Cost Carriers in North America’ award (ehow. com). More specifically they also state on their website that they have † ranked ‘Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America’ by J. D. Power and Associates for five years in a row† (http://www. jetblue. com/about/work/). Jet Blue airlines prides itself on its customer service. As noticed from the previous paragraph they have won awards for their customer service. It is no wonder that the company believes in making their customer’s flight experience a pleasant one since the company was started by â€Å"David Neeleman and a number of Southwest Airlines employees in February 1999† (ehow. om). Outstanding customer service is part of their strategy and it is one of their many features that puts them heads above the competition. Discuss Jet Blue’s financial objectives and whether or not the company has been successful in achieving this objective. Before even getting into the financial objectives of the company just reading the SEC report for 2010 really shows proof that Jet Blue has been an extremely successful company over the past ten years. Since they were incorporated in 1998, flight starting in 2000, they have grown from $38. million in net income in 2001 to net income of $97 million in 2010 (jetblue. com). The aforementioned data shows proof of growth and success in lieu of turbulent financial times with rising fuel costs. Fuel costs dramatically rose over the company’s time in business which could have easily put a company under but they continue to strive. Discuss Jet Blue’s strategic elements of cost, organizational culture, and human resource practices and evaluate whether each element provides the organization with a competitive advantage. Jet Blue continues to be competitive with their ticket and baggage pricing. In their 2010 SEC filing they term themselves a â€Å"value airline – based on service, style, and cost† (p. 4). They go on to discuss in the overview how they feel that they continue to provide â€Å"best coach product† and â€Å"reasonably priced optional upgrades† (http://investor. jetblue. com, p. 4). As for Jet Blue’s organizational culture their web site specifically says â€Å"If you’re looking for a job where your career, your passion, and your sense of fun are all important then you’ve landed at the right place. At JetBlue we’ve built an award-winning brand based on delivering value, service, style and comfort to our customers — and to our crewmembers. And, by hiring people who share our vision, we’ve created a place where people enjoy coming to work† (http://www. jetblue. com/about/work/). Jet Blue continues remain un-unionized. Discuss Jet Blue’s strategies for 2008 and beyond and evaluate whether or not Jet Blue will be successful implementing these strategies. Part of their strategy in 2008 has been the same as previous and later years, to remain on time with their flights. They have continued to do well meeting this goal. Jet Blue’s ongoing strategy has been to deliver exceptional customer service and on time direct flights. In 2008 they stated in their SEC filings that they were the â€Å"7th largest passenger carrier† and in their 2010 SEC filings they were the â€Å"6th largest†. Regardless of any strategies that they planned to implement they were obviously successful. The proof lies in their continued recognition by JD Power & Assoc, their net income increases, and their growth to 6th largest passenger carrier in the US. While other airlines are folding, being bought out, or merging Jet Blue is continuing to grow. It is no wonder since they offer outstanding customer service as only part of their strategy and it is one of their many features that puts them heads above the competition. Some of their other features that ranks them high with their customers is the fact that they offer 36 tv channels, XM/Sirius radio, and unlimited snacks and beverages to all passengers at no cost. Kudos to a company for keeping its employees (all non-union) and customers happy.