Monday, September 30, 2019
What Makes a Piece Literature?
Some claims that every literature tries to make a specific point. A good writer they say always associates her opinion, ideas and thoughts in her or his masterpiece. Some produce literature purely for entertainment stressing that life is funny and humorous, some include many ironies highlighting that life is complicated and hard to understand, some literature especially those classics are for the purpose of political movement portraying the kind of values and morality the society has, some are for the purpose of religion and spirituality, some literature was made to emphasize creativity or unconventional way of creating a literature redefining the stereotypical characterization, themes, settings, conflicts and endings, and most importantly some literature are made for the purpose of persuasion. Literary works of writers especially from the past reflect their artistic interpretation of the world which is usually in the midst of inequalities, war and conflict. Literature basically speaks volumes about human ideas, emotions and nature that illustrate the kind of culture, religion and social orientation the writer has during the time he or she created it. There is no given absolute standard of what makes a piece a literature. Literature is basically the product of writerââ¬â¢s consciousness and experience. Literature can be always authentic or original. Most of the time, writerââ¬â¢s inputs in his writing is a mixture of acquired knowledge from the previous readings and his own (Elliot). In the earliest literature, the themes of something metaphysical are often explored especially in Greek and Roman literature during the time when most people were still in search of religion. One of the strongest and perhaps oldest emotions of mankind is fear, and the most intriguing fear is the fear of the unknown. The idea of fear inspires classic and contemporary writers to explore the things that cannot be seen or fully comprehended by human understanding, from the element of fear of the unknown to the exploration of something metaphysical that motivates detachment from life. As time passes by however, human interaction and attachment is increasing. There is a rapid development of ideas towards the standard of morality and ideal society. System and government arises and so inequality. Chaucer and Twain for example express their thoughts regarding inequalities of societal system through the stories and characters they created in their literature. Their works are considered timeless since the human problems they battled and experienced before are still being experience today. All literature is timeless in their own way since it explores human experience and human nature. Since everybody who can read literature is human, everybody can relate. There is no such thing as traditional literature when it comes to themes and symbolisms. What makes a literature traditional is that it was created long time ago.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Analysis of the Roots That Created Bigger Thomas
Thomas, give rise to strident yet silent clues, which will help understand some of the underlying roots that drove Bigger Thomas to submit to a life of criminal activities. The first aspect that contributes to Mr.. Thomas' downfall Is the brutal and unfair racial perceptions of his time. Bigger Thomas is accused of a crime which he did not commit. The rape of a white wealthy woman named Mary. Although Bigger Thomas did not commit the rape, he will always be accused of such behavior for being black. As stated by Bigger himself: â⬠All those white men In a group, guns In their hands, ant be wrong.I do not know of what but I know that I am no goodâ⬠. Richard Wright wants to show that although what occurs to Bigger Thomas is strictly accidental and innocent, the white man's oppression has the power to turn any black man into a beast, a rapist, and a killer. It is inevitable! In other words, Bigger Thomas represents the black race as a whole, the black man to be more specific. N o matter how innocent the black man is at first or at birth, circumstances and life changing events will turn him into what he was preconceived to be: a beast.The second aspect that contributes to Bigger Thomas' creation and destruction is his family. Bigger Thomas, like most African-Americans of his time, was raised without a father, whether It be through abandonment or unfortunate accident. At an early age, Bigger Thomas Is forced to assume the Father figure of the household. HIS mother's constant disapproval of him as well as his younger sister's criticism weighs heavily on the person he became: a Black man who will never have the respect he deserves from society as well as his family. The third aspect that added to the creation and destruction of Bigger Thomas is he Dalton.One symbolic view that supports this idea is the fact that Mrs.. Dalton is blind. She is blind to the social stigma of blackness, prejudices, and injustices around her. Mr.. Dalton on the other hand, even from a good heart, does not realize his contributions to the collapse of many men like Bigger Thomas. Although he views himself as a philanthropist, racial laws that Mr.. Talon's business abides to concerning housing leave the blacks feeling exploited and used. The Dalton do not realize the effect of racism on the oppressed and the effect of racism on the oppressor.They represent the small percentage of whites that view themselves as advocates for the black race while being completely oblivious to the harm that they are actually causing. Although external stimuli sun as racial prejudices, oppression, ten lack AT respect from society and from his family have a say to the demise of Bigger Thomas, it would be unjust to not also give Bigger his share of responsibility. Bagger's his own person and should be able to see the difference between right or wrong. However, it is clear that growing up in the circumstances that Bigger Thomas did, one could say he never stood a chance in hell.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
To what extent does wealth equate with happiness Essay
To what extent does wealth equate with happiness - Essay Example This was considered after recognizing that personal happiness has not increased in the Western countries regardless of the growth experienced in economic wealth (Penec, 2008:18). Brandon Keim noticed the same trend in China, where the Chinese have not achieved any life satisfaction from the two decades of speedy economic growth. The wealthy people are a bit happier than before, the middle class have not had any changes while life satisfaction for the poor has decreased sharply. This indicates flaws in the conventional system used to examine life satisfaction and happiness. Keim refers to a research conducted by Easterlin, an economist, who discovered that money only created happiness to a certain degree after which, people returned to the usual. Easterlin concluded that money could not buy happiness because after some crucial needs are met, life satisfaction begins to decline with increasing income. Of course, many theorists disapproved this theory (Keim, 2012). Domestic product incr eased by four times but surveys conducted in China showed a decrease in personal satisfaction. Could Easternlinââ¬â¢s theory or paradox be right after all? The wealth in China seems to be concentrated among the few wealthiest people, therefore, the surveys could have indicated just how much the Chinese people resent inequality. However, Penecââ¬â¢s article shows that money increases individual happiness but when the entire society becomes wealthy, people do not feel prosperous. People feel happy after they achieve a certain financial status but they get used to it and take it for granted. Other factors also play a role in an individualââ¬â¢s happiness, for example, type of job, stress levels, and environment factors (Penec, 2008:18). An article on The Economist, a weekly newspaper, analysed the situation in China indicating gain that the Chinese masses are not happy with their situation. In ancient China, Chinese leaders ruled by ensuring that their subjects were happy. Thi s is not the case with the country experiencing over five hundred protests every day. This shows that the people are not happy despite the immense economic success that China enjoys today. The main problem is the gap created between the wealthy and the poor, which has resulted to inequality among Chinese citizens where the poor are in a struggling situation while the wealthy decide on the countryââ¬â¢s economy. The article tries to show that the peopleââ¬â¢s happiness does not depend entirely on a rapid economic growth but relies on proper distribution of a countryââ¬â¢s expanding wealth (The Economist, 2012). Tim Weber, an editor, claims that there is a research that shows that money makes people happier. The only problem is that economists are finding it hard to describe happiness, therefore, making it hard to measure it. Weber notes that a high gross domestic product translates to a lower chid morality, better education, and better quality of life. These are some of the factors that economists measure when they explain happiness. Weber writes that though an individual can earn more money than everyone else, some factors such as education, literacy, lifeââ¬â¢s longevity, and health, can only reach to a certain level, therefore, an economistââ¬â¢s happiness cannot exceed a certain level. Weber also indicates that happiness is subjective meaning that people have
Friday, September 27, 2019
Answer the question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Answer the question - Assignment Example Different previous studies have shown that coral snakes become increasingly rare as the elevation increases. Thus, it can be said that the increasing absence of coral snakes causes increasing attacks on replicas as predicted in 3b. Q.6. Evolutions suggests "survival of the fittest". This means that every species will try to evolve to a form that is best suited to survival, or it will become extinct. From my knowledge of evolution, I can understand why the pigmentation pattern of kingsnakes evolved to that of coral snakes. The reason is that as kingsnakes are non-venomous and palatable, they would have been extinct by now due to the ecology of predation. But they did not become extinct. This can be explained only by the fact that a certain population of the kingsnakes started replicating the pigmentation pattern of the venomous and non-palatable coral snakes, just through the primal instincts of evolution. Slowly as the rest of the pack started becoming extinct, the evolution took a faster pace. Also, it was continued in the shape of reproduction of the evolved species and continual changes to mimic the coral snakes in the best way possible. Here, it is not suggested that a certain group of kingsnakes evolved suddenly to the color pattern that is observable now; rather this took place in continual steps of natural selection through which small but gradually observable changes kept taking place, leaving behind the no-mimics stage and evolving slowly to a near perfect mimicry. It is a known fact that the pigmentation pattern on kingsnakes is not a perfect match of coral snakes, but who is to say that this will remain so? We might be present right now at a time when the evolution is still occurring, and a few centuries from now, the pigmentation pattern might evolve to perfect mimicry or take a new turn of its
Thursday, September 26, 2019
The Long Term Effects of Divorce on Children Essay
The Long Term Effects of Divorce on Children - Essay Example They converse less and as a result open up negligibly. They seldom speak out what is within them and hurting from inside. They seem to be in a constant fight with their existence and life for them becomes a problem ââ¬â a problem that has got no bearing on their actions and yet they are on the receiving end. Academically, these children fall back on the track of education and are less interested at gaining the new avenues of knowledge and information. They seem unwelcoming to the new technological changes and are happy with their lives, in a desolate area with no one in company. Life for them is a slow killer but a killer for sure. With the passage of time, these children grow up to a less secure financial environment and they fall back on their expenses most of the times. They are usually dependent on one of their parents, with the one they live most of the times or in instances where both the parents have let gone on them, they are dependent on their guardians, which could be just about anyone. They are always trying to make both ends meet and in this quest cry their hearts out for having more of the finances since they seem to go broke on most of the times. As stated before, academically, divorce leaves an indelible negative impression, which means that education takes the backseat for them. They seem to focus more on the material gains and yet fail to realize the importance of gaining quality education for their own betterment ââ¬â education and knowledge which will guarantee them success in different areas of life. (Sun, unknown) They do not think of making a respectable career and their attention is more or less bent on extracting short term gains rather than long term profits, which could only be had in the wake of attaining education and that too in a consistent manner. Since these children are on the receiving end, they seem to end up using substances which are illegal and morally wrong for them. They indulge in
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Chinese income Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Chinese income - Article Example China used to have many hundreds of millions of people below the poverty line who could not support themselves, so finding manual labor jobs can be a lifeline for these types of people. The United States also gets something out of the deal in that it consumers get to purchase goods at lower costs than if those goods were made in America. Trade between China and America is currently strong because each party can gain something out of the deal. If the conditions of trade change, such as an increase in Chinese wages, then this will negatively affect international trade because American firms will not make as much profit. It is likely that these firms will look for other countries that have relatively low wages, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and the Philippines, because their profits margins will stay the same. At the end of the day, trade revolves around benefits, usually in the form of profits. If these benefits are reduced, then international trade will decrease because only one party will be gaining from the
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Past and present and fuuture technologies in his field of study or his Essay
Past and present and fuuture technologies in his field of study or his interest - Essay Example Students who study science and engineering are supposed to have more interest in the history of their main subject of study. In terms of the evolution of computers, the same capital has always been used but fresh and creative ideas over the years have allowed the technology to become better than the ones which were already being used. This paper will consider the development and improvement of computers over the years all the way to the present and will continue to predict what the computers are likely to do in the in the coming years. This paper should give a proper description of the improvement of computers together with the progress that have been seen it their technology. It is obvious that computers have become important in all the countries of the world even though the success they have achieved did not come overnight. The capabilities and abilities of computers have undergone a lot of improvement since they were invented with numerous advancements on a regular basis (Thyagarajan, Chelvi & Rangaswamy, 2000). This essay will study the progress that has been made in terms of computers, the way that they exist today as well as try to try to predict what they will be and the abilities they might have in the days to come. The initial function associated with computers, which was computing, was also important in coming up with their name as computing involves accepting inputs and creating outputs. During the Second World War, computing assisted physicists to develop the first ever atomic bomb as well as intelligence officers to understand the message in communications that were being sent by enemy soldiers. Regardless of the fact that these activities could have been done without the help of computers, they made the entire processes easy therefore decreasing the chances of human errors simply through provision of instruction making the activities undertaken efficient and effective. Even though the first computer had huge
Monday, September 23, 2019
East Asia Past and Present Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
East Asia Past and Present - Essay Example Similarly, historical assessment and analysis from the perspective of a specific nation requires recognizing major events which occurred in the countryââ¬â¢s history. Therefore, by identifying the key historical events which occurred in Japan between the period of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, this paper highlights how these events contributed to the challenges posed by the modern Western world in order to examine the mechanism through which Japan responded to these challenges and why it chose to do so. The challenges posed by the modern Western world during the period of the late 19th century while, progressing towards the 20th century was characterized by the acquisition of superior military prowess and alliance. The influence of this factor meant that the political scenario during the period was dominated by Western powers. This aspect of the analysis aims to incorporate the political and militia factors which contributed towards the shaping of world affairs during the time and the manner in which they posed challenges. Most importantly, during the early 20th century Japan combated against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The implications of this war transpired in a positive fashion for Japan as it military skills and techniques enabled the country to hold a superior position amongst Asian nations. Similarly, Holcombe states that Japanââ¬â¢s military prowess intriguingly did not coincide with widespread economic or technological progress, for example, the nation was only able to initiate significant infrastructure developments in 1872 with the launch of the railways yet, the military strength of the country was rising despite of these claims (227). In the period between 1880 and 1905, Japan achieved three critical military milestones, the production of locally produced rifles in 1880, becoming a
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Globalization and state sovereignty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Globalization and state sovereignty - Essay Example Sometimes the issue centers on the exaggeration of globalization while at other times the question centers on whether any material change is brought about. The question still remains regarding the loss of state sovereignty or the significance of the state to international associations. Globalization and its consequential transnationalism has brought about a loss in stateââ¬â¢s sovereignty in some respects while Before analyzing this argument of state sovereignty it is important to elaborate upon the different definitions of the concept and its relevant concept. The autonomy of the state gradually comes to be threatened under the pressures of market forces acting globally, or transnational administrative system. The country states have been losing grip over certain domains within and across the boundaries. Eli Noam observes that the influence of telecommunications will gradually lead to fading of the concept of the territory and the idea of a nation exerting influence over electron ic communication will become outdated. In most cases the power of the state is fragmented especially in complex system. The power is delegated stepwise to other institutions and organizations for taking collective decisions. It is difficult to identify any single origin of authority especially in the context of the international institutions. The international organizations project a framework which is competitive in nature but their ways of decision making through the principle of agreement or majority rule might lead to decisions which are not in tune with the stateââ¬â¢s interest or different form state policy. The minimization or time and space resulting from globalization reduce the role of the state in the global context. This process of globalization, as described by Ronald Robertson might be stated as ââ¬Å"compression of the world and the intensification of the consciousness of the worldâ⬠which is caused by the fast progress in technology and growing economic acti vities (Lynch, 51). The self-sufficiency and the proficiency of the countryââ¬â¢s power get eroded as the societies are penetrated by international forces. Government therefore loses control over the local or domestic market and the economy as it incorporates the ââ¬Å"development of transnational practicesâ⬠and ââ¬Å"an increasing number of inter-state connectionsâ⬠(Lynch, 51). Eric Helleiner has however ventured towards a careful analysis of the loss of sovereignty concept. According to him economic globalizationââ¬â¢s impact on the world is more complex compared to the argument centering on the challenge posed by financial globalization to the nations. His argument speaks in favor of information technology enabling the regulatory power of the states. Therefore one cannot say that the sovereign states have been able to regulate international funds into the nationââ¬â¢s economy. It has often been argued that as the movements of financial capital increased acr oss borders it created pressures for deregulation which in turn provoke liberalization of financial markets. According to Helleiner the influence of the nation states should not be emphasized. This is because the economic globalization has merely led to increase the nation statesââ¬â¢
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Education - Gymnasium Essay Example for Free
Education Gymnasium Essay Title Education is everywhere in the world. Individuals are learning here and there. Everyone would agree that education is a fundamental way of life. Education is obtained learning from multiple people such as parents, friends, teachers and even other surroundings. Every individual is educated and taught differently. Education should be built not only on the text that lies within a book, but should also be base with everyday life. Agree on McCullough and Oliphant perspectives because grades and how life is not revolved around grades. | Grades should not be based on how smart an individual is. Although Oliphant ââ¬Å"Letter to a B Studentâ⬠wrote ââ¬Å"Your performance is generally assumed to correspond to the knowledge you have acquired and will retain (137). â⬠They could be really intelligent or ignorant, but the letter grade they receive defines who they are. The letter grade that most individuals want to receive is an A, but others settle for the best they can receive. In McCullough speech ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re Not Specialâ⬠he says ââ¬Å"Where good is no longer good enough, where a B is the new C, and where the midlevel curriculum is called Advanced College Placement (McCullough). â⬠Even the ones that try their hardest on something might have a difficult time trying to comprehend the material. They worry about the grade they might receive and it stresses them out. There are individuals that just brush off or brag about the grade they received to make the others feel bad about themselves. For example, one student might have taken an exam that they studied for and failed; the other student did not study and passed. Individuals like to brag about their grades that they probably do not deserve. | How life is not revolved around grades because it is more than that to life. Oliphant said ââ¬Å"Your grade does not represent a judgment of your basic ability or of your character (137). â⬠People think that individuals such as students that do not make a high grade that they are not trying their best at what they are doing. There are a lot of wealthy people that are wealthy without grades defining them. Some of them could have made low grades when they were younger and people said they would not be successful it because they are failing everything. There are a handful of successful individuals that did not make it far in school, but is doing something good with their life. Individuals should not judge people because of several failing grades they could be more intelligent than everyone thinks they are. McCullough talks about ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re not special, because everyone is (McCullough). â⬠In conclusion, grades should not define a person on what they make on a paper. People should not judge a person by a low grade or high grade. Agreeing with McCullough and Oliphant perspectives. People are more intelligent than individuals think they are. | Works CitedMcCullough, David. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re Not Special. â⬠Myfoxboston. com. Fox Television Stations, Inc. 6 June 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. Oliphant, Robert. ââ¬Å"Letter to a B Student. â⬠Writing on the River: An Anthology. 3rd ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2012. 136-142. Print.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Change Blindness and Visual Memory: Research and Theories
Change Blindness and Visual Memory: Research and Theories What is change blindness and what can it tell us about attention? Recent research on visual memory has shown that people have great difficulty in detecting obvious changes to an object, such as colour and size, if the change occurs simultaneously with a distraction. The term change blindness is used to describe this phenomenon and much research has been carried out to further our understanding of the condition. Research on change blindness has also produced valuable information about how our visual attention is involved in the encoding process. A variety of tests have been developed to test the prevalence of change blindness and the results show that it is a robust phenomenon. Although change blindness was studied many decades ago it is only in the last decade that research in this area has increased dramatically. Earlier research relied on using shapes or novel objects to induce change blindness and therefore some argued that the condition was caused by artificial stimuli. However, Grimes (1996) showed that more natural images could be used to induce change blindness. Using a computer screen he showed observers photographic images of natural scenes and asked the observers to remember as much of the photograph as possible for a later memory test. However, during a saccade (when observers were visually scanning one object to another in the image) the image was altered. The observers were then asked if they noticed if anything had changed to the image. Invariably, observers were oblivious to the changes even when they were ma jor ones, such as two people exchanging heads. Although previous experiments had shown the existence of change blindness, Grimes 1996 study was the first to show that individuals can fail to detect major alterations to images. Moreover, Grimes used everyday natural images thereby bringing demonstrations of change blindness closer to everyday perceptual experience. Other similar studies also showed that different distracters could be used to induce change blindness. For example, during eye blinking (Oââ¬â¢Regan et al 2000) or by applying mudsplats in the surrounding area of the objects that were changed (Oââ¬â¢Regan et al 1999). The fact that distractions are needed to induce change blindness suggests that attention is needed for change perception. Without distracters it is very easy for an observer to notice any change that has taken place. This led researchers to investigate the role of attention in change blindness and now there is mounting evidence that attention plays a pivotal role in the condition. For example, in change blindness tasks it has been found that attention to objects can vary depending on the objects location and this can influence whether the change is detected. This has been demonstrated by studies such as Rensink et al (1997). They developed the flicker task which involves using an original and altered image that is repeatedly shown to the observer with the two images separated by a blank screen for a fraction of a second. As with other distracters the observers demonstrated change blindness by invariably taking a long time before they noticed the change to the original image (average being 40 repeats). Another interesting finding of this study is that the observers found it easier to detect changes to objects that were the centre of interest of a scene than objects that were of marginal interest even when the changes were of equal physical salience. This has also been found in other change blindness studies. Levin Simons, (1997), for example, found the same effect when they changed movie objects during a film cut. One theory to explain this finding is that focused attention is required to detect change. This makes sense as a change of any object is always accompanied by a motion signal and therefore attracts attention to the site of change. This allows the change to be observed. However, if the signal is too weak (e.g., because of distracters such as saccades or blanking) it will fail to draw attention to the location of the change which will result in change blindness (Rensink et al 1997). Change blindness can also be demonstrated in real-life situations. Simons and Levin (1998) carried out an experiment in which members of the public were approached by an experimenter who asked for directions. During their conversation two actors carrying a large occluder would walk between the experimenter and subject. At this point the experimenter would swap places with a colleague who would continue the conversation with the subject. The findings showed that some individuals failed to notice that the experimenter had swapped places with another person even though the differences between the two were obvious, such as size and different clothes. This study was important because it showed that change blindness could occur using complex stimuli usually found in the real world. Therefore, finding change blindness can occur in more naturalistic settings counteracted some claims that it was only caused by artificial disruptions, such as the blanking-out distracter in the flicker paradigm (Simons Rensink 2005). There are several theories that attempt to explain change blindness in relation to the interaction between attention and visual perception. For example, Rensink (2000, 2001) developed his coherence theory. This theory is based on several assumptions. First, prior to focussed attention there is an initial stage of processing across the visual field of view. This processing produces representations of several objects in the field of view, but the representations are not stable and therefore are quickly replaced by new stimuli at their location. Second, focused attention produces a very detailed and longer-lasting representation of the object. This allows the representation of the object to be more stable which can withstand brief interruption. Therefore, a change in a focused object will be easily detectable. Third, removing focussed attention will result in the representation of the object disintegrating and returning to the unstable state it was prior to focussed attention. From the above assumptions it follows that only changes made to objects that are the focus of attention will be detected. This can explain why change blindness is a common phenomenon, because any changes to an unattended object will not be detected. The assumption that attentional processes are crucial in underlying change blindness is a common one. For example, Hollingworth and Henderson (2002) agree with the assumption. However, they propose an alternative theory of the relationship between attention and object perception. They argue that detailed perceptions are formed when we look at objects which are the focus of attention. These representations are then incorporated into a mental map and information about these visual representations is then stored in the long-term memory. Therefore, multiple fixations of a scene will result in information accumulating in the long-term memory about local objects from both the attended and previously attended areas, and this forms a detailed representation of the scene as a whole (Hollingworth and Henderson 2002). There are several differences between Hollingworth and Hendersons theory and the coherence theory that have implications about understanding the role of attention in change blindness. First, if objects change, (e.g., disappear or move) sometime after they were attended to, according to Hollingworth and Henderson they would still be mentally visible for some time after the change. Therefore, any change has a good chance of being noticed. Whereas the coherence theory predicts that when attention is withdrawn from objects the mental representation of such objects disintegrate rapidly and therefore any change will result in change blindness. Second, unlike the coherence theory, Hollingworth and Henderson assume that detailed representations of most scenes are stored in the long-term memory. Therefore, any changes made to objects should be detected several minutes later. Finally, in the coherence theory it assumed that focusing attention on an object produces a very detailed image that ca n withstand a brief interruption, such as a saccade. In contrast, Hollingworth and Henderson believe that less detailed visual representations are made when the object is the focus of attention. To date, research has not provided clear evidence to support either Hollingworth and Hendersons theory or the coherence theory (see Simons Rensink 2005 for an overview). Therefore, further investigations are required to better understand the interaction between attention and change blindness. Change blindness is a robust phenomenon that has been demonstrated in many different laboratory and naturalistic studies. The overall assumption of the findings of change-blindness experiments is that attention seems to play a major role in determining the extent of the condition. The importance of attention in change blindness appears to arise because we do not maintain a detailed representation of what we have just seen. Otherwise individuals would have little problem noticing the obvious changes that occur between images. Change blindness studies have proved a useful tool in providing information about the processing mechanisms of attention, such as we direct attention more to objects of interest within a scene. However, although studies on change blindness have increased our understanding of attention there is much debate about the exact role of attention in change blindness. Further research is therefore required to fully understand the relationship between attention and change blindness and what other factors are involved in the condition. References Grimes J. (1996). On the failure to detect changes in scenes across sac-cades. In K. Akins (Ed.), Perception (Vancouver Studies in Cognitive Science, Vol. 5. (89-110). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hollingworth A. Henderson J. M. (2002). Accurate visual memory for previously attended objects in natural scenes. Journal ofà Experimental Psychology: Human Perception Performance, 28,à 113-136 Levin D.T. Simons D.J. (1997). Failure to detect changes to attended objects in motion pictures. Psychonomic Bulletin Review, 4, 501-506 Mark T. Keane Eysenck W. (2005) Cognitive Psychology: A Students Handbook Psychology Press UK pages 133-136 Oââ¬â¢Regan J.K., Rensink R.A., Clark J.J. (1999). Change-blindness as a result of mudsplashes Nature 398, 34 ORegan J.K, Deubel, H., Clark J.J., Rensink R.A. (2000). Picture changes during blinks: Looking without seeing and seeing without looking. Visual Cognition, 7, 191-211 Proctor R. Johnson W (2004) Attention: Theory and Practice. Sage Publications inc pages 212-214 Rensink R. A (2001) Change Blindness: Implications for the Nature of Visual Attention. In Vision Attention. M. Jenkin L. Harris, eds. New York: Springer. 2001. 169-188 Rensink R.A., Oââ¬â¢Regan J.K., Clark, J.J. (1997) To see or not to see: The need for attention to perceive changes in scenes. Psychol. S 8, 368ââ¬â373 Simons D.J. and Levin D.T. (1997) Change blindness. Trends Cogn Sci. 1, 261ââ¬â267 Simons D.J. and Levin D.T. (1998) Failure to detect changes to people in a real-world interaction. Psychon. Bull. Rev. 5, 644ââ¬â649 Simons D.J. Rensink R.A (2005) Change blindness: Past, present, and future. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Vol.9 No.1 16
Thursday, September 19, 2019
What Conditions To Keep Chips In Overnight :: essays research papers
Background Information. I think that this practical will be based on osmosis because ,Osmosis is the random movement of water molecules from a high concentration to a low concentration . This will then happen between the chips and the liquid in the McCarthy bottles . This already tells us that the chips will vary in size from the concentration of water . Plan of the Experiment. Method 1 Firstly we shall set up the experiments by getting the apparatus and the materials (potatoes) ready. We shall then get the 18 McCarthy bottles needed . Then put them on the desk ready for the potatoes to be added when ever. We should then get the weighing scales and the core remover, along with a ruler on the side. 2 Secondly we should core the potatoes and then accurately weigh, and measure them. To measure them we should use a scalpel and a ruler the scalpel should then be used to accurately cut the pieces of potato, the potatoes should all be cut with the same corer to ensure a fair test. To make the cutting even more accurate we should use a square so that the potato is accurately cut. We should also then weigh them accurately so that we will be able to find out the difference after. We should record these results. 3 Also, we should then start to add the liquids to the cylinders , We should then add all the potatoes at roughly the same time after they are all full. We shall then record these details and use them so that when we take them out it will be exactly the right time each. For the test to be as accurate as possible my nights will be until lunchtime the next day, so we can find out exactly which one is the best . 4 Finally when we take them out of the cylinders we should then put them straight onto the weighing scales to find out what the results are. We will then record them to find out the results. Preliminary Work I think that the preliminary work I have completed has helped tremendously with the practical experiment. The work on osmosis has helped with understanding and helping to put together this experiment . Factor In this experiment the factor we will vary will be the S.S.S , this will be the molar amount in the liquid . We are going to use ; 0 molar (distilled water) 0.1 Molar 0.2 Molar 0.4 Molar 0.6 Molar 0.8 Molar
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay -- Nathan
Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown à à à à à Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes symbolism throughout his short story Young Goodman Brown to impact and clarify the theme of good people sometimes doing bad things. Hawthorne uses a variety of light and dark imagery, names, and people to illustrate irony and different translations. Young Goodman Brown is a story about a man who comes to terms with the reality that people are imperfect and flawed and then dies a bitter death from the enlightenment of his journey through the woods. Images of darkness, symbolic representations of names and people and the journey through the woods all attribute to Hawthorne's theme of good people sometimes doing bad things. à à à à à The use of dark imagery throughout the story gives you a sense of fear of the unknown that lies ahead of Goodman Brown on his journey. The beginning sentence of the story illustrates an image of a sunset and the approaching of night as Goodman Brown sets off on his mission. ?Young Goodman Brown came forth, at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold.? (196) Here, the light of the sun represents the knowledge that Goodman Brown already has. The imagery of darkness setting in is the unknown knowledge Goodman Brown is out to discover. Goodman Brown must first travel through the darkness of the unknown before he reaches the light of enlightenment and truth that is why he is embarking on his journey throughout the night hours. ?My journey, as thou callest it, forth and back again, must needs be done ?twist now and sunrise.? (197) à à à à à The next use of symbolism is the setting of the journey and meeting in the woods. Early Americans looked at the woods as a test of strength, bravery and endurance. It took a lot of courage for someone to enter the forest because it was unknown territory and they would not emerge the same. ?He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all gloomiest trees of the forest?that the traveler knows not who may be concealed by the innumerable trunks?he may be passing through an unseen multitude.? (197) Goodman Brown does not face the dangers of Indians but faces the danger of reality and truth. Goodman Brown does not emerge from the forest tougher or braver but hateful and spiteful because he becomes enlightened to the ways of world. He comes to terms with the reality tha... ...er swell of those familiar tones, heard daily in the sunshine, at Salem village, but never, until now from a cloud of night.? (202) The use of light and dark imagery in this particular sentence helps you understand Goodman Brown?s despair. He has realized the truth that the people he sees in the daylight hours pretending to be pure and good are the total opposite in the dark. à à à à à Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolic imagery throughout his story Young Goodman Brown to impact the theme of good people sometimes do bad things. Hawthorne takes us on a journey of truth and realization. Goodman Brown was not open to the truth or the reality that the world is filled with evil and people are imperfect. His perception of the world was it was a fun loving happy place and when he was exposed to reality he turned away from people and lost faith in them. His faith should have been in God because God will never let you down but his faith was in people and people are imperfect and subject to disappoint you. Works Cited: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." 1835. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Lexington: Heath, 1944. 2129-38.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Alfred Adler Personality Theories
Alfred Adler was a little baby boy born on the suburb of Vienna on February 7, 1870. He almost died of pneumonia when he is five years of age. At this age he decided to become a physician. (Ewen, Robert,p. 5) . Alfred was an intelligent, sociable and a very active boy. He was n average student of a University. He finished his medical degree in the University of Vienna in 1895.Alfredââ¬â¢s wife was Raissa Timofeyewuna Epstein, a social activist and a very intelligent woman and blessed with four children. (Ewen, Robert, p. 15) at first Alfred Adler become an ophthalmologist and soon changed it toà his general practice..He encountered clients like circus people. Because of these clients he realized that the strength and weaknesses of the performers made him develop into organ inferiorities and compensation. (Levine, Robert Alan,p. 10)He becomes a physician or a doctor in the Australian army. Because of this experience he comes up to a concept of social interest. This concept makes every human to realize that they must survive and change in their own ways. Contribution to the field of Psychology of Personality Alfred Adlerââ¬â¢s motivating force is striving for the perfection. Adler believe that this is the desire of people have to fulfill their potential in order to come up their ideal.Agression drive which refers to the reaction of people have, as well as their drives. Compensation is another term used by Adler which means striving to overcome. In the masculine protest, Adler emphasized that the boys have a high esteem than girls. It means that men are better than women. Boyââ¬â¢s have the capacity to do all great things and women donââ¬â¢t have. Just because they do have the power, education, talent and motivation needed to do all the excellent work. And the last one is the striving for superiority.It is the desire to be better not for his own but to better than others. (Ewen, Robert, p. 22) Adlerââ¬â¢s approach ââ¬Å"individual psychologyâ⬠was contributed to psychology. Adler developed a different personality types like the getting or leaning type, in this type people are anti-social and have a low activity levels. Next is the avoiding type, are people who hate to be rejected. People have a low social contact and afraid of rejection. In this type, people always aware to their actions and behavior. They are very careful on what actions or decisions should be made.Ruling dominant are people who are willing to manipulate situations and people. And the last one is the social useful type, people in this type are very sociable and active. Instead of discussing about a personââ¬â¢s personality Adler also talk about lifestyle. According to Alfred Adler, lifestyle refers to how you live your life, how to handle problems and interpersonal relations. It means that lifestyle of people help them realize their selves, how to handle their problems and how to communicate to other people. Application of Personality Theories to W ork Place Alfred Adlerââ¬â¢s theory of personality is very useful because it can help people act properly.People always think positively so that they can perform better and resulting to an excellent performance. They can carry all the problems that they will be encounter and they can find a better solution for that. People will always aim high and give excellent effort to perform their jobs. Personality theories application is said to be a positive theory, make people a goal oriented, positive thinking, problem solver ,and help to make people an excellent one in terms of their work and in their life. Life style approach of Adler refers how to live life, how to handle problems and interpersonal relations. According to Alfred Adler ââ¬Å"The style of life of a tree is the individuality of a tree expressing itself and molding itself in an environment.We recognize a style when we see it against a background of an environment different from what we expect, for then we realize that ev ery tree has a life pattern and is not merely a mechanical reaction to the environment. â⬠Base on this approach we can conclude that every personââ¬â¢s behavior and personality usually based on their life pattern and their environment . Personality theory can help a lot to the work place because individual here has a good life pattern and environment.People are willing to achieve goals and always want to excel in their own specializations. Problems are disregarded and always find solutions for it Because of this positive personality of people ,they become very successful and fulfilled. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ewen, Rowen B. , 1998, An Introduction to Theories of Personality Mahwah, New Jersey.Ewen, Rowen B. , 2003, An Introduction to Theories of Personality Mahwah, New Jersey.Levine, Robert Alan, 1982, Culture, Behavior, and Personality New York.Schinka, John A. , 1997, Introduction to the Special Series-Personality Assessment Instruments.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Medision river Essay
Medicine River chronicles the lives of a group of contemporary First Nations people in Western Canada. The novel is divided into eighteen short chapters. The story is recounted by the protagonist, Will, in an amiable, conversational fashion, with frequent flashbacks to earlier portions of his life. In the novel, Medicine River, Thomas King creates a story of a little community to reflect the whole native nation. A simple return of Willââ¬â¢s makes the little town seem to be more colourful. ââ¬Å"Medicine River makes non-native readers think a little longer and harder about the lives of the first people they live among and the places they inhabit. â⬠Although Will enters the town as a foreigner, he eventually becomes part of the community. Medicine River shows the history of Canada and teaches readers to learn from the past experience in order to become better people. Will meets Louise who becomes an unfulfilled love interest that very much represents Willââ¬â¢s existence, a series of half-fulfilled expectations. That is, he develops an ongoing relationship with Louise and her daughter, South Wing, for whom Will becomes a kind of father-figure. It has been included on the high school reading curriculum in many Canadian jurisdictions. One advisor writes, ââ¬Å"It is a humorously told ââ¬Ëhomecoming novelââ¬â¢ that echoes an oral storytelling style, yet at the same time, debunks any kind of stereotypical ââ¬Ëcultural voice. ââ¬Ë Although the protagonist is a middle-aged man, the novel is appropriate for young people, simply because of the way it is written, drawing in any audience. ââ¬Å"[1]The Aesthetic of Talk in Thomas Kingââ¬â¢s Medicine River By: Robinson, Jack; Studies in Canadian Literature/Etudes en Litterature Canadienne, 2006; 31 (1): 75-94. There Is No Bentham Street in Calgary: Panoptic Discourses and Thomas Kingââ¬â¢s Medicine River By: Stratton, Florence; Canadian Literature, 2005 Summer; 185: 11-27. ââ¬ËStay Calm, Be Brave, Wait for the Signsââ¬â¢: Sign-Offs and Send-Ups in the Fiction of Thomas King By: Hirsch, Bud; Western American Literature, 2004 Summer; 39 (2): 145-75. Steinbeckââ¬â¢s Influence upon Native American Writers By: Hadella, Paul. IN: Shillinglaw and Hearle, Beyond Boundaries: Rereading John Steinbeck. Tuscaloosa, AL: U of Alabama P; 2002. pp. 87ââ¬â97 Purana Narratology and Thomas King: Rewriting of Colonial History in The Medicine River and Joe the Painter and the Deer Island Massacre By: Vahia, Aditi H. ; Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 2002; 22 (1): 65-80. The Art That Will Not Die: The Story-Telling of Greg Sarris and Thomas King By: Mackie, Mary Margaret; Dissertation, U of Oklahoma, 2001. Time Out: (Slam)Dunking Photographic Realism in Thomas Kingââ¬â¢s Medicine River By: Christie, Stuart; Studies in American Indian Literatures: The Journal of the Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures, 1999 Summer; 11 (2): 51-65. Beyond the Frame: Tom Kingââ¬â¢s Narratives of Resistment By: Peters, Darrell Jesse; Studies in American Indian Literatures: The Journal of the Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures, 1999 Summer; 11 (2): 66-79. Thomas King: A Trickster Healing through Humour By: Pascual Soler, Nieves. IN: Alvarez Maurin, Broncano Rodrigues, Fernandez Rabadan, and Garrigos Gonzalez, Actas III Congreso de la Sociedad Espanola para el Estudio dos Estados Unidos/Spanish Association for American Studies (SAAS): Fin de Siglo: Crisis y nuevos principios/Century Ends, Crises and New Beginnings. Leon, Spain: Universidad de Leon; 1999. pp. 299ââ¬â305 Status, Mixedbloods, and Community in Thomas Kingââ¬â¢s Medicine River By: Mackie, Mary M. ; Journal of American Studies of Turkey, 1998 Fall; 8: 65-71. Coyote Agape: Thomas Kingââ¬â¢s Working for Love By: La Bossiere, Camille R. ; River Review/La Revue Riviere: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Arts and Ideas/Revue Multidisciplinaire dââ¬â¢Arts et dââ¬â¢Idees, 1995; 1: 47-57. ââ¬ËTell Our Own Storiesââ¬â¢: Politics and the Fiction of Thomas King By: Walton, Percy; World Literature Written in English, 1990 Autumn; 30 (2): 77-84. Lavalley, Giselle Rene (1996). ââ¬Å"One Tricky Coyoteâ⬠: The fiction of Thomas King (M. A. thesis). Wilfrid Laurier University. References[edit] Jump up ^ Renate Eigenbrod, Georgina Kakegamic and Josias Fiddler, ââ¬Å"Aboriginal Literatures in Canada: A Teacherââ¬â¢s Resource Guideâ⬠, 2003 Jump up ^ ââ¬Å"Medicine River: Reviewâ⬠. TV Guide. Retrieved 8 February 2011. External links[edit] Medicine River at the Internet Movie Database Spirit Rider at the Internet Movie Database Categories: 1989 booksNovels by Thomas KingNative American novelsNovels set in Canada Navigation menu Create accountLog inArticleTalkReadEditView history Search Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Donate to Wikipedia Wikimedia Shop Interaction Help About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact page Tools Print/export Languages à Ã'Æ'Ã' Ã' à ºÃ ¸Ã ¹ Edit links This page was last modified on 18 July 2013 at 22:44
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Josephine Beauharnais Essay
Behind every great man lies an even greater woman. The woman adds character to the man and also affects his actions and morals. The story of Napoleon Bonaparte would be incomplete without consideration of his first wife, Josephine. She contributed so much to his development and passion because of her influence. This greatly impacted his leadership, military victories, and and was an inspiration behind the Napoleonic Code. Therefore without Josephineââ¬â¢s influence, Napoleon would not have become who he was. To understand Napoleon one must first understand Josephine Bonaparteââ¬â¢s history. Marie was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.She was a popular Empress and had many defining characteristics which helped to shape her life. Josephine had a great impact on Napoleonââ¬â¢s emotions which affected the decisions and actions that he made directly and indirectly. (PBS; Napoleon and Josephine, http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/n_josephine/courtship/page_1.html) She made him feel secure, provided him with emotional support, and gave him confidence which ultimately had a bearing on his decisions and actions. (PBS; Napoleon and Josephine, http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/n_josephine/emperor/page_1.html) Another one of the ways in which Josephine helped Napoleon was through his military accomplishments. Prior to meeting Josephine, Napoleon was nothing more than a short, slight, shabby young artillery man, lacking real military victories. (Mossiker, 79) Josephine allowed Napoleon to strive for more than just a mistress but love. (Mossiker, 81) His fondness for her still remained with him even during his battles. After their wedding, he successfully conquered Italy in 1796-97. (Mossiker, 202) He continued his success conquering Egypt and this battle was significant because France gained a lot of gold and rare gems as well as the Rosetta stone; which was the key to hieroglyphic translations. (Mossiker, 134-139) While Napoleon was fighting his campaigns, Josephine used her connections to Franceââ¬â¢s political leaders to further Napoleonââ¬â¢s political career, hosting several parties that resulted in Napoleon quickly being promoted. That resulted in Napoleon gaining national prestige. (Josephineââ¬â¢s Influence on Napoleon, http://sphseuro.blogspot.ca/2009/02josephines-influence-on-napoleon.html) However, Josephine was chronically unfaithful to Napoleon. Napoleon nearly ended his Italian Campaign early simply to return to France and confront his wife. (Josephineââ¬â¢s Influence on Napoleon, http://sphseuro.blogspot.ca/2009/02josephines-influence-on-napoleon.html) A letter written to Josephine from Napoleon on the subject of her infidelity was published in several English newspapers, which mocked France and its ruler. Her several affairs almost led to their divorce, but Napoleon felt that a seemingly stable marriage would further his political aspirations and the two remained married. Josephineââ¬â¢s Influence on Napoleon, http://sphseuro.blogspot.ca/2009/02josephines-influence-on-napoleon.html) Therefore, even without her being present on the battle field, or even in the same country, it was Josephineââ¬â¢s inspirational spirit, that encouraged Napoleon throughout all of his major victories against Italy and Egypt. Napoleon created a code in which reflected his morals towards the family unit and marriage. In 1803, Napoleon established his own code of laws in order to repeal previous laws that weakened marriage. (The Law Behind the Man, https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/jkr/napoleon.html) The 1792 divorce law was repealed and drastically changed. Before it was possible for either a husband or wife to petition for a divorce on numerous grounds, but Napoleon changed the laws so divorce could only be petitioned for under mutual consent and incompatibility. (The Law Behind the Man, https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/jkr/napoleon.html) There were criteria that had to be met before a husband or wife could petition for a divorce on either of those grounds; if it was because of incompatibility the petitioner had to show proof of cruelty, adultery, or objected to certain humiliating forms of punishment administered by her spouse (Phillips 1988, p. 185). This is significant because it helps strengthen the family by giving both husband and wife the power to separa te. The Napoleonic Code also emphasized the family as a functioning unit. The needs and desires of the individual had been put ahead of others in the eighteenth century. (The Law Behind the Man, https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/jkr/napoleon.html) Napoleon heightened parental authority by requiring their permission in divorce cases and a husbandââ¬â¢s power by reducing the rights of his wife. ââ¬Å"A wifeâ⬠¦.owed obedience to her husband, a husband protection to his wife, and that the wife was obliged by law to live with her husband and to follow him wherever he judged it convenient to live.â⬠(Phillips 1988, p. 186) This law strengthened the family unit, giving each marriage partner specific duties and rules. Again, because of Josephineââ¬â¢s influence he created this law to protect his family by providing more structure in the family unit. Even though it may seem that Josephine did not have a more profound impact on the world as Napoleon did, her relationship with Napoleon helped to motivate him to develop his military, personal, social achievements. Without Josephine, Napoleon would not have accomplished what he did and the world we know today would be drastically different. Works Cited Biography.com. A+E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. . Courtiers and Favourites of Royalty. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Open Library. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. . only read the short 4 paged biography Empress Josephine. London: Oxford UP, 1963. Print. Encyclopedia Brittanica. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. . European History. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. . Heritage History. Heritage-History, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. . History Reference Centre. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Ebscohost. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. . Napoleon and Josephine. N.p.: Simon, n.d. Print. Bonaparte. London: Allen & Unwin, n.d. Print. Empress Josephine. Cambridge: Knapton, 1964. Print. Frances Mossikerââ¬â¢s Napoleon & Josephine. N.p.: Frances Mossiker, 1965. Print. Napoleon. New York: Aubry, 1964. Print. Napoleon Bonaparte. New York: Thompson, 1952. Print.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
American Barrick Resources Corporation Case Essay
a. Explain the value chain for gold mining firms (how can a mine create a competitive advantage relative to its rivals). What are the factors that may explain exceptional performance of ABX relative to the other gold mines? To create a competitive advantage, a mine has to properly manage its exposure to gold price fluctuations. This is not an easy thing to do since there are so many factors to consider: when, how much, and how to hedge the gold production. Firms in this industry differentiate themselves based on the risk management strategies they implement. Furthermore, mines should also be able to minimize the cost of gold production along with making large sunk costs. Operating in this sector obliges the companies to make huge investments to create the proper infrastructure to dig and process the ore; therefore, they should be financially stable on order to afford investing large amount of money. ABX implemented a gold hedging program that quickly became an integral part of its corporate strategy. This strategy helped it to hedge efficiently against gold price fluctuation. Besides, it allowed it to occasionally sell its gold at prices above those of the market. The exceptional performance of ABX was also due to its annual acquisitions. Luck was an important aspect as well, since gold was discovered in most of its new properties. Moreover, American Barrick generated a lot of cash, which it reinvested to finance its growth. It was also able to cut its expenses in order to enhance its growing profitability. The management of American Barrick wanted to diversify its activities by listing the company in Toronto, Montreal, and the United States among others. The top managers were very serious about keeping a financial stability and a liquid balance sheet by issuing few debts and hedging against risk. All in all, American Barrick attracted a lot of investors because of its risk management strategies, expected future growth, strong and liquid balance sheet, and finally its efficient management team. b. Quantify the nature of gold exposure, that is, in the absence of a hedging program using financial instruments, how sensitive would Barrick stock be to gold prices changes? For every 1% change in gold prices, how might its stock price be affected? How could the firm manage its gold price exposure without the use of financial contracts? If American Barrick wanted to protect itself from gold price exposure without the use of financial contracts, it could use natural hedges. One way to hedge against undesired risk is to match cash flows such as revenues and expenses. In other words, a commodity producer such as American Barrick, which has revenues payables in U.S. dollars and incurs cash outflows in a different currency, will try to match its outflows to its expected inflows in the foreign currency. Another way of hedging against risk is the purchase of insurance to protect against financial loss due to external influences. It is also common to hedge gold investments against fluctuations of the U.S. dollar. It is extremely important for commodity traders to know which currency is correlated with what commodity in order to be able to predict certain market movements; for instance, there is often a negative correlation between gold and S&P 500. c. What is the stated intent of ABXââ¬â¢s hedging program? What are the arguments for managing gold price exposure? ABX wanted to lock in the price at which it could sell its output in order to avoid seeing the expected value of its projects fluctuate widely. It wanted to differentiate itself from its competitor by choosing the right hedging policy. ABX aimed at being financially stable by protecting itself against the dips in the gold price. It vehemently argued that managing gold price exposure would allow it appropriately forecast its cash flows, rise its production, and offers its investors a clear vision of their future earnings. d. How would you characterize the evolution of Barrickââ¬â¢s price risk management activities? Are they consistent with the stated policy goals? American Barrick used to use gold financings. Through this way of financing, investors could benefit from both the increase incurred in the volumes of gold to the trust and the gold price. In 1984 and 1985, ABX used forward sales right after a sharp drop in gold prices. This strategy allowed the company to eliminate its exposure to price drops; however, it also limited its opportunities to benefit when the prices rose. This led it to try option-based insurance strategies that could manage the risk but still allow retaining some of the benefits of rising prices. However, as it needed contracts with a longer maturity, ABX shifted to spot deferred contracts. The evolution of Barrickââ¬â¢s risk management activities is characterized by its wish to be fully protected against price declines and still be able to capture benefit from increasin g gold prices. The risk management strategies implemented by American Barrick were consistent with their goals since its positions grew considerably. à e. How should a gold mine which wants to moderate its gold price risk compare hedging strategies (using futures, forwards, gold loans, or spot deferred contracts) with insurance strategies (using options)? On what basis should these decisions be made? Once a firm has decided on either a hedging or an insurance strategy, how should it choose from among specific alternatives? A mine that wants to moderate its gold price risk should first analyse the differences between the hedging and the insurance strategies. Indeed, hedging allows eliminating risk by giving up the potential for gain. While an insurance strategy requires a premium to eliminate risk but allows retaining the potential for gain. The decision should be made based on the cost of the strategy, the maturity of the strategy, and the degree to which the strategy allows to benefit from potential gains. Once a firm has decided on what strategy to follow it should choose among the existing alternatives of each strategy. For the hedging strategy, the company should take into consideration the particularity of each financial instrument. Indeed, forward sales for instance, are usually for relatively short delivery periods of under a few years. However, a continuous drop in gold prices might negatively affect the opportunity for the firm to sell at higher market prices. On the other hand, spot deferred contracts allow having multiple delivery dates. They enable the firm to profit from increases in the price and yet set a minimum price on its sales. For the insurance strategy, the main problem encountered by the firm is that of the cost. Indeed, the firm should use the premiums received from the sale of calls to purchase puts. That way the cash inflows and outflows cancel out. The firm can also reduce the cost of insurance by adjusting the exercise prices and rations of puts and calls to determine the degree at which it chose to participate in gold price rises. f. What is a ââ¬Å"spot deferred contractâ⬠? Explain the mechanics of the contract. Is it an option? A forward contract? Why has ABX chosen to rely on spot deferred contracts relative to other gold derivatives? As defined in the case, a spot deferred contract is a type of forward sale of gold. At the opposite of a forward where the delivery is set on specified day (maturity), SDCââ¬â¢s are characterized by multiple delivery dates. It is up to the seller to choose on which rollover date they would make the delivery. The seller has the choice to defer the delivery up until the end of the contract. In other words, the seller had flexibility as to when they would like to deliver the quantity of gold. ABX preferred SDCââ¬â¢s to other gold derivatives for the simple reason that they allowed it to profit from increases in the price of gold and yet set a minimum price on its sales of gold. Therefore, as years have gone by, ABX found itself using more and more SDCââ¬â¢s at the expense of other hedging vehicles.
Military Support Eases the Reality of War for Military Families
The military offers a lifetime of opportunities to young Americans and there families.à à Many young people see joining the military as a great escape to a better life, an education that is vital yet paid for, and security for their families.à The military offer great incentives and benefits, but there is also the risk of being sent to war.The immediate effects of war on family members of military personal are psychological including separation anxiety and the fear of losing a loved one.à Many people see the military as a tough system which sends people to work or war and does not offer any repercussions.à This is not the case.à Reviewing the effects of separation anxiety and the fear of losing a loved along with the programs the military has set up to help families through this transition will enable others to see this is not a one sided phenomenon.Separation anxiety occurs when families are separated effecting the spouse and children as well as the military persona l, causing heartache for all parties involved.à Spouses and children are often at the butt of separation anxiety especially during times of war.à Children often have many questions regarding war and the concept of terrorism. The military has great services available to help families cope during this difficult time including local support groups and psychological support.The military has also incorporated virtual help for deployed military personal.à The thinking behinds this being that a soldier knows ââ¬Å"that if his comrades see him talking with one of the shrinks on base, they would lose trust in him, label him a head case. A medical file soon would contain records of the visit. If he ever wanted a promotion, he'd have to explain the weakness of his mindâ⬠(Berton, 2004).à So with virtual therapy nothing is displayed on the soldierââ¬â¢s record and the soldier receives the emotional support and help he needs to cope with this difficult time.Fear of losing a l oved one can lead to many types of psychological distress.à This fear may cause anxiety or depression in family members. Beth Sneller gave some insight about military families ââ¬Å"In some ways, they almost feel guilty. When many military parents hear about the death of a local soldier they think at first how glad they are it isn't their child. But then, they say, that relief gives way to a deep feeling of sadness. ââ¬ËEvery time you hear of a death, you can't help but feel emotional for those poor parentsââ¬â¢ said Rod (A father whose son is an army captain)â⬠(Sneller, 2004, p. 13).There fear of losing a loved one has many military families seeking support from local facilities or internet groups.à The internet groups support those who have lost a loved one ââ¬Å"so almost weekly, they say, they're sending condolences to friends across the nation who have lost loved ones overseas. ââ¬ËEvery single time a picture gets flashed across in the evening news, it's deeply personal,ââ¬â¢ said Nancy Manzie of Naperville, whose son, Brent Lewis, is in the inactive Marine reserves. Even if they don't know the soldier (personally), they still feel a connection to his or her familyâ⬠(Sneller, 2004, p. 13).When considering the militaryââ¬â¢s effect on society during our current war and wars of the past there has been a negative outlook among the public.à There are rumors of injured soldiers not receiving proper medical care when they return home to the states.à The tough and rigorous lifestyle causes people to shy away from seeking psychological help because of the way the will be viewed by their friends and peers. ââ¬Å"Army Reserve Sgt. Mike Durant, 33, who fought in Al Doha, Iraq, about 20 miles south of Baghdad fromFebruary 2005 to January 2006, said the view toward therapy among the ranks was ââ¬Å"comparable to what it was in the 1940s.â⬠During his tour, Durant, who now lives in Sacramento, saw a friend blown up by an improvised explosive device. At the time, his wife at home was in the process of divorcing him. Durant admitted he had thought of killing himself. ââ¬Å"I wanted the waiting to be over,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"We'd do IED sweeps along the same roads, some days all day. You were just waiting for it to happen to you.You were waiting to get blown up.â⬠His officers ordered him to visit a field Combat Stress Center for a mandatory 72-hour evaluation. Even before he returned to his battalion, he knew his commanders had lost faith in him. Anyone who was shipped to the shrinks, or sought treatment, was a liability. ââ¬Å"In their eyes, I was no longer reliable,â⬠Durant said. ââ¬Å"I couldn't be trusted. I was unstable to them.â⬠Even though he had been a member of the unit for 10 years and had served as an infantry team leader who was responsible for three men, Durant said that, while he was not officially demoted on paper, his duties dropped from one of leadership to tha t of a rifleman. ââ¬Å"Before I was sent there, I was fairly respected and highly regarded,â⬠he said. After his time at the Combat Stress Center, Durant said, ââ¬Å"Peers and friends didn't want anything to do with me; it was like I had some sort of diseaseâ⬠(Burton, 2004).The military still has strict over the top views about many things.à It is important to keep in mind that the United States Military has been one of the strongest military forces in the world for hundreds of years.à We as a nation are kept safe, happy, and considerably wealthy, compared to other countries, because of the strength of our military.à The military is aware of the damage that can be done by separating a couple or a family and they take every step possible to ease the pain. There is compassion within the military, just not when it comes to warfare.Sneller, B. (2004, October 13). For Military Families, Every Death Hits Close to Home. Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), p. 13. Retr ieved March 19, 2007, from Questia database: https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-123950032/for-military-families-every-death-hits-close-to-home
Friday, September 13, 2019
Anthropology in the World Today Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Anthropology in the World Today - Research Paper Example This subject is not only restricted to understand these aspects but it also assists in major aspects of human life which include politics, business as well as social lives(Cultural Anthropology and Sociology). The use of cultural anthropology as a measure of assistance for governments dates from the period of the Second World War when Ruth Benedict, who was a renowned anthropology professor was employed by the government of the United States to enlighten them with the cultural perspectives of their main opponents that is Japan and Germany. This was meant to be of help not only for winning the war but also as a measure of help for rehabilitation of these states after their fall. This focus was mainly towards Japan and the cultural studies helped in the understanding of the beliefs and working of the Japanese society (Ferraro 2006). The role that cultural anthropology in todayââ¬â¢s world can be understood clearly in the words of Elizabeth Tunstall when she states, ââ¬Å"Contemporary anthropology is no longer primarily concerned with exotic peoples and dinosaurs. Anthropology is engaged with issues of the global flows of people and goods, human rights and social justice, global feminism, [design], technology adoption, the social effects of the environmental degradation, and local sustainability practices.â⬠Anthropology in todayââ¬â¢s world works towards connecting people. It assists the companies to satisfy their customers via understanding their needs which are known to them through anthropology. It also works towards explaining the stand of the society on issues like the rights of human beings and the role of women in society. This assists in molding decisions according to the particular society. Anthropology is also beneficial for the politicians and the government. It provides a clear picture o f the beliefs and the working of the society and
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Thiory and idiology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Thiory and idiology - Essay Example This paper will critically examine the specific changes that Anarchism and Marxism advocate for and in addition to this, the paper will also will also seek to contrast and compare what the resulting society might look like with respect to the application of the socio-economic and political characteristics that are advocated for by the Anarchism and Marxism. Marx argued that capitalism was essentially the most progressive economic system to have ever been developed and that it was an essential stage in the development of socialism. He is also noted to have attributed most of the ills that are prevalent in the contemporary society as having been brought about by capitalism1. According to Marx, capitalism had led to the development of an economic production mode that allows for the poor individuals to continue being poorer while the richer keep on getting even richer. He also believed that the profits of capitalism are taken from the amount that happens to be produced over and above the actual wage that is paid to the customer. In his book, Sargent point out that Marx was of the belief that the state was the tool that the dominant bourgeoisie class used in the suppression of any attempts by proletariat class to better themselves2. He also contended that as long as the bourgeoisie remained as the dominant class in society, the government w ould constantly remain as its tool and as such it could never be made responsive to the innate needs of other classes. Marxââ¬â¢s ultimate goal of full communism advocated for the development of a situation where there would be no state in a similar development to that promoted by anarchists3. Although its initial roots are traced back to classical Greece, of note is that anarchism emerged as a major modern ideology at about the same time as Marxism. The term anarchy is primarily used to denote a situation where there is no ruler or chief. Anarchists believe that classes
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Understanding Organisation Theory and Practice Essay
Understanding Organisation Theory and Practice - Essay Example This article stresses that contingency theory has been widely employed by companies such as those in the airline industry to streamline their operations and also respond to adversities that stem from the companiesââ¬â¢ in internal and external environment. Globalisation and evolution of technology has consequently led to the exposure of organisations inclusive of the airline companies to environments that are volatile since the environment has been significantly expanded. The airline industry in comparison to other industries has been exposed to impacts of the business environment such as the economic, political, technological, and socio-cultural factors which has increased due to multi-national exposure. This paper makes a conclusion that Qantas and Virgin airlines have often applied the contingency theory with the aim of not only dealing with the implications of their internal and external environment but also to gain competitive advantage over other companies in the same industry. â⬠¢ Due to the competitive nature of the airline industry in Australia and beyond the borders, the management of Qantas and Virgin should focus on other management approaches that can maximize their bottom line besides the contingency theory. Some of the management approaches that have proved significant in organisations are the system theory and chaos theory. The system theory will enable the management of the airlines to comprehend how the employees are affected by different systems and they also affect the system that surrounds them.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Assignment #1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Assignment #1 - Essay Example The other major concern shown in the article are the more nefarious interests of the Western powers that deliberately foster hatred and doubt amongst the people of poor countries like Rwanda so as to weaken their power and use them for their own vested interests. Waal has just shown the vicious side of the powerful countries who do not hesitate to become the root cause of genocide of people who may belong to different race, color, nation and ethnicity. Since anthropology primarily studies the evolving cultural values that influence the human behavior through the times, applying anthropology in understanding the changing societal paradigms would greatly facilitate in improving inter-personal relationship in the organization, leading to improved performance. The analysis of changing dynamics within the tribes of Rwanda and studying the psychology of the western culture, one would be better equipped to apply the anthropological paradigms and disseminate information regarding cross cultural values. People across the globe need to inculcate better understanding of cross cultural values. The article by Bourgois discusses the problems that have risen from the migration of people across borders. It is the most sensitive issue of the contemporary times. The changing dynamics of the societal norms across the globe has resulted in the huge migration of people from one country to another. The social problems arising from the new emerging social fabric are widespread. The most important are the employment opportunities, housing and medical facilities for the new migrant labor. The author asserts that the state has not been able to meet the challenges of the times and the marginalized population is often poorly paid which makes a mockery of so called social integration. This segment then becomes vulnerable and gets caught into the vicious cycle of drugs, prostitution and other
Monday, September 9, 2019
Native American Iconography and depictions in Art of 18th and early Research Paper
Native American Iconography and depictions in Art of 18th and early 19th century - Research Paper Example While not all such depictions were blatantly racist or derogatory (though of course some were), almost all contributed in some way to the dissolution of the Native American culture that is seen today. One of the most well-known artists and writers of the late 1800s is George Catlin. Catlin traveled extensively in North America, South America, and Europe, and wrote numerous illustrated books about his experiences (Reich 111). One of these was the ponderously titled ââ¬Å"Letters and notes on the manners, customs, and condition of the North American Indiansâ⬠, in which Catlin describes at length many of the tribes of North American native that existed while he was traveling (Catlin and Shippard). In both his words and his sketches, Catlin seems to have the utmost respect for the people about whom he is writing, at least relative to other writers of his time. For example, in Plate 11 of ââ¬Å"Letters and notesâ⬠, Catlin sketches a man named Stu-mick-o-sucks, who was at that time the chief of the Blackfoot Nation, and in Plate 13 sketches his wife Eeh-nis-kim. Catlin makes positive comments about their ceremonial dress that they were wearing when he drew them, and states that Eeh-nis-kim had a ââ¬Å"pleasing countenanceâ⬠. He also referred to Stu-mick-o-sucks as a ââ¬Å"dignityâ⬠, in the same way that he might refer to a foreign king of Europe (Catlin and Shippard). In addition to his sketches of Stu-mick-o-sucks, Catlin sketched other warriors and Native American tribesmen in their full ceremonial dress. These sketches made up Plates 29-31 in ââ¬Å"Letters and notesâ⬠. He referred to their clothing as ââ¬Å"handsomeâ⬠and in all ways indicated that he found their clothing to be interesting and even beautiful. This viewpoint differed from others of his time that found their manner of dress to be primitive and barbaric (Catlin and Shippard). Catlin expounds at length on the methods that the Native Americans used to soften the leather that
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Applied Logic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Applied Logic - Assignment Example This is because the individual who utilizes their free will do not necessary need constructed law for them to act responsible. In supporting this, we can argue that individual with free will are self-determined and accountability of their actions. This people also are capable of overcoming outside force hence enabling them to valid reasoning. For that reason, we can say free will is essential at helping us comprehend that we are in control of choice we made in life and thus our destiny. Hence, individual must be capable of thinking free and decide free without being constrained by certain external factors. Human beings have the capability of thinking free and decide free compared to other animal (Lynch pg. 132). Besides this, and individuals can claim accountability for their actions, and this makes human uniqueness. Hence, free will are much interrelated with applied logic as free will is the foundation of applied logic as it helps individuals to be self-determined and accountability of their actions. The concept of reality has been controversial since the times of great philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle particularly due to the continuous dominance of perceptions in the reasoning process as individuals strive to identify and understand what is real. Reality can be defined as the totality of all things including events, both observable and non-observable phenomena as well as actual and conceptual structures (Simon 01). In deliberating ontological matters, analytical philosophers circumvent the use of the term ââ¬Å"realâ⬠since there is an overall argument that reality is what one can get away with, and it is significantly influenced by our perception. Simply put, it is what the world vision endeavors to map, whether based on personal or communal human experience. In lieu of this, there is no objective reality; it is subject to personal interpretation since our cultural and
Saturday, September 7, 2019
BP Oil Marketing Plan(The Gulf of Mexico oil spill) Assignment
BP Oil Marketing Plan(The Gulf of Mexico oil spill) - Assignment Example The paper also suggests a marketing plan that can be adopted by the company to help recover from the ââ¬Ëmarketing disasterââ¬â¢ as well as try to regain its position in the markets. First it is crucial to gain a complete overview of the disaster ââ¬â ââ¬ËDeep Water Horizonââ¬â¢. Overview of Disaster One of the largest marine oil accidents was seen on 20th April 2010. The oil spill went on to flow for a total of three months in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion claimed eleven lives and injured seventeen people. The oils spill started from the sea floor oil gusher. Methane gas was found to be released from the well with high pressures and this went up into the drill column (Cleveland, 2011). The methane gas expanded on the platform and led to the explosion. The fire was intense and was not doused which led to the Deep Water Horizon to sink after 36 hours. The Deep Water was built in 2001, and was managed by BP in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill as a whole has caused exte nsive damage to the wildlife, as well as marine habitats and also damaged hundreds of miles of sea shore as well. The spill led to the close down of several small businesses in the fishing and tourism industry since tar balls were found to be present in the nets (Cleveland, 2011). ... This provides a date wise record of government and non government estimates. Estimates of Flow Rate of Oil in Spill (Cleveland, 2011) The overall impact of the spill has been intense, and the impact will be felt for years to come. Although in the current times, the main issue being faced is the spill on the sea shore and the dead marine and wildlife, this spill will have a major irreparable damage to the Gulf Stream and can cause global thermoregulation activities as well (Zangari, 2010). The damage has been caused to the environment as well as the company. BP has been faced with a major issue here as due to lack communication. A study concluded, ââ¬Å"Better management of decision-making processes within BP and other companies, better communication within and between BP and its contractors and effective training of key engineering and rig personnel would have prevented the Macondo incidentâ⬠(Belokas, 2011). Macro Environmental Factors Considering the major impact the spill ha s had on the company and the world as a whole, it is crucial to gain a detailed understanding of the environmental factors that can impact the strategic plans of the company. Here for the macro environmental factors, a SWOT and PESTLE analysis of the company has been developed. This helps gain a clearer idea of factors impacting the company and affecting the ability of the company to regain the position in the US of A markets. SWOT Analysis of BP Strengths: BP is one of the largest oil and Petroleum Company in the world The company has used a wide range of strategies pertaining the marketing of their refined products, trading gas, and also the liquefied natural gas and British Petroleum has grown to become a common household name. Wide spread operations and increasingly
Friday, September 6, 2019
Presidential Election of 1828 Essay Example for Free
Presidential Election of 1828 Essay A rematch between two bitter rivals, Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, the presidential election of 1828 was highlighted by the split of electoral votes in New York and Maryland. Andrew Jackson had swept through the west, gaining every single state, and even got Pennsylvania. The winner from the election of 1824 by the ââ¬Ëcorruptââ¬â¢ bargain, John Q. Adams, had gained the support of all the northeast states. However, the real surprise was the split electoral votes in Maryland and New York. The northern states loved Adams because he favored elites and their manufacturing industries. The south and west favored Jackson because he believed in equal opportunity for any citizen of the United States of America. Two states, Maryland and New York, did not give all their electoral votes to either Adams or Jackson, but were divided equally among the two. The reason for this split was both states were divided into districts that all had one vote. These districts could settle on who they wanted to give their electoral vote to. In every single other state, the electoral votes were decided upon by the state legislature, and once decided, all the electoral votes would be given to one candidate. However, in lone New York, the whole state could back Adams, but if one small self-sufficient farmer district wanted Jackson, then they could award their one electoral vote exclusively for him. So, if there was a dispute in states with a system like New York, the electoral vote could be split. The split between these two states showed how divided and diverse one state could be. If one little district went against the majority, it changes where the electoral votes are distributed, and can thus change the outcome of the election. New York and Maryland proved that one little group can make a large difference. These small changes made the election of 1828 unique, and actually exemplified how dissimilar one stateââ¬â¢s people could be.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Tuition Fees In England
Tuition Fees In England English universities are well-known throughout the world for their excellence. Yet, in less than twenty years, Higher Education was reformed. Before 1988, Local Education Authorities was in charge of Higher Education, its funding, its functioning, and of students grants of its area. The adoption of the 1988 Education Act under Margaret Thatchers government marked the beginning of long series of reforms. The last to date made the headline news because of the students manifestations which followed from the bill. Indeed from 1998 to nowadays, the issue deals with the tuition fees a fee paid for instruction its legitimacy and its price. This issue is largely controversial even within the Labour party. Why such shift for prestigious Higher Education system? How the Higher Education was reformed? Why did students manifestations follow from the bill? To figure it out, we are going to focus at first on the creation of a new system in order to then analyse the rising of tuitions fees and the students protest and finally we are going to analyse the new students hardships. The creation of a new system a cost sharing system 1998 : Turning point 1998 marked a turning point in the history of English education the Local Education Authorities no longer covered the student scholar fees (ten years before, in 1988) and the students were then involved in the payment of fees for their study. Indeed, in 1996 the government commissioned a report on the funding of the Higher Education that is to say, how Higher Education should develop to meet the needs of the UK over the next 20 years. The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education was chaired by Sir Ronald Dearing Chancellor of the University of Nottingham. The report was published in 1997 and it stated that more than à £2 billion would be needed to adapt the Higher Education to the new demands (increasing numbers of students) and needs. The solution proposed was made up with a hundred recommendations. The most important one was the participation of the student on the payment of their own study. The report praised the introduction of the means-tested tuition fees based on familys income. The 1998 Teaching and Higher Education Act was the governmental response to this report. It was enacted under Tony Blairs government. It introduced the means tested tuition fees as follows: Student whose family income was inferior to à £23,000 per year would not pay tuition fees. Student whose family income was situated between à £23,000 and à £35,000 would pay a percentage fees in function of their means. The tuition fees would be à £1,000 per academic year. By setting this mean testing system, 1/3 of students would not have to pay tuition fees. Yet, the maintenance grants (grants to help students with the living costs) would be replaced by maintenance loans. Students would begin to pay off their loans when they would work and earn at least à £10,000 per year. It met little active opposition from students. But this act created debate within the Labour party itself, some members of the party were strict opponent to the end of the Free Higher Education. Reason of introduction of tuition fees But why did the government need to implement such a system? The major reason was the lack of funding in Higher Education. In less than 20 years the Higher Education shifted from an elite system to a mass system. Indeed, the number of students going to university rose from 6% to around 33% between 1962 and 1996. So, universities have to adapt their infrastructures, equipment, and by consequence they needed money. Moreover, the aim of the government was to make it more accessible for all students from all backgrounds with the introduction of mean testing tuition fees. Creation of top up fees In 2004 another measure would be adopted by the Labour Party. Despite the former act which created the tuition fees up to à £1,000, Tony Blairs government concluded that the funding of Higher Education was not enough. In this sense, the Labour Party proposed another act in 2004, The Higher Education Act. It enabled universities to set their own tuition fees depending on their own needs of funding: it was called top up fees. It could go up to à £3,000 per academic year. These tuition fees could be pay at the end of the degree, it would take the form of a loan student would pay off this loan when he would have a job and earn more than à £15,000 per year. The debt would be written off after 25 years. Another feature was the reintroduction of the maintenance grants in order to help the poorest students (yet students could win private bursaries through the universities competitive). The main objections of the opponents were the expensive fees which created pressure upon students, and they estimated the variable fees as the form of privatisation of Higher Education. Those measures were a first step to higher education reform. The government was going to take further measures in the forthcoming years. Tuition fees rising and students protest The investigation By November 2009, Gordon Browns government launched a new investigation on Higher Education; it would be a review on fees and university funding. It was chaired by Lord Browne of Madingley and composed of some Vice-Chancellor of Universities such as David Eastwood and Julia King. The Independent Review of The Higher Education Funding and Finance was published on October 2010. It established few principles such as more investment for Higher Education, fair access to all, affordable payments, same treatment for part-time students as full-time students, and underlined that no one should have to pay loans until they start to work. In order to respect those principles, the major proposals were the following ones: Universities could charge any fees it seemed necessary, there would be no cap the up-front fees were removed and replaced by tuition fees loans No means testing maintenance loans and additional financial support for poorest families (under à £60,000) which would be paid back only when the graduate would have an income of at least à £21,000 per year. If the graduates work stops whatever the reason the repayment stops. The debts would be written off after 30 years. The government proposal Meanwhile, the government passed from a labour government to a coalition one with the election of David Cameron as Prime Minister and Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister in May 2010. The government proposal to the Browne Report responded on November 2010 and it included several features. The main one was the rejection of the Brownes proposal to remove the tuition fees cap, and government proposed to cap the tuition fees to à £9,000 per year. As for loans, government aligned itself with the Browne recommendations by declaring that students would begin to pay off once they would earn between à £15,000 and à £21,000. The MPs had to vote if they agreed or not on this proposal by December. The new elected Liberal Democrat had been pledged to the National Union of Students to not increase the tuition fees before being elected. Once the report was published, Nick Clegg, leader of Liberal Democrats, claimed that the Browne Report could be fair and sustainable. While the coalition government allowed the Liberal Democrats to abstain the vote on this issue, Nick Clegg wrote to his MPs I am painfully aware of the pledge we all made to voters on tuition fees ahead of the general election. Departing from that pledge will be one of the most difficult decisions of my political career. He was going to break his pledge. This bill sparked off some waves of demonstrations throughout the entire country. Students riots On November, 10th, students began to demonstrate against the government bill, and showed their anger towards the expensive rate of fees. It was organized by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU) prior to the government vote in order to convince MPs to not vote in favour of the bill. Those demonstrations took place in several cities such as Cambridge, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds etcà ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦ but the most important one set up in London. The march in London was composed of more than 50,000 persons, but was overshadowed by violence. Indeed, the demonstration turned into a violent riot when some demonstrators began to attack the headquarters of the Conservative Party breaking some windows and burning some Nick Cleggs and David Camerons effigies on the roof of the building. David Cameron answered to the media that he would not change his mind on this bill and denounced the extreme violence of this riot. Another march was organized on November 2010, 24th by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC). Taking into consideration the event of November, 10th the Metropolitan Police deployed more than 1,000 policemen throughout London. This time, this protest turned into a violent clash between policemen and protesters. On December, 9th, date of the governmental vote, another protest happened in Trafalgar Square. More than clashes between policemen and rioters, this time some protestors attacked a Royal car transporting Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. The couple was not injured by the attack. To understand why this protest turned into a violent riot, one has to understand the impact of such a measure on students lifestyle. New students hardships Students indebted All those changes in less than 20 years largely impacted students lifestyle. The tuitions fees are extremely expensive, and could be a curb on students choice to go or not at university. Students have to choose between being in debt or to abandon the idea of studying. This is an important feature to take into account especially for the poorest students. According to The push universities guide (a British organisation which informs students on higher education), the average student debts could hit à £53,000 for the students starting their course in 2012. For those who started courses in 2011, it was estimated at à £26,100. The largest students indebted are the Londoners. It is easily understandable considering the expensive cost of living in the city. For example, a student who wants to pass a degree will have to pay à £27,000 just to have access to universities (if the university charges à £9,000), then will be in debt of more than à £28,000 (the inflation has to be taken into account). If the graduate begins to work and has an income of à £19,000, it is estimated that the student will pay off during 30 years before the debt would be written off. So, the student would have paid back around 67% of his debt. If the graduate has an income of à £25,000, he will pay off his debt during 18 years. The internal government figures reveal that only one quarter of students will be able to pay off their debt. Therefore, the majority of indebted student will never be able to pay off their loans. If the estimation turns to be accurate, it would underline a huge issue in the created system (millions of pounds would be lost) as well as the inefficiency of the measure taken. Several difficulties Students have to cope with others difficulties such as the need for a job. The number of full-time students with jobs rose by 54% in the last 10 years stated the Trades Union Congress in 2006. Most of students have to take part time jobs in order to survive because their families cannot afford the cost of the student life and because the maintenance loans do not offer enough money. 61 % of the students who have a part time job come from family with poor background. The average hours of a part time job for a student are 14 hours per week. Such an amount of hours have clearly an impact on their studies: they often miss classes, lectures, which lead to poorer attainments than the others students. Furthermore, those students have less leisure time, less social life than the other students. This phenomenon is not very different from France but the majority of students do not have the financial pressure of beginning their life with such an amount of loans. Moreover, by creating such a financial pressure, the students choice about his job would depend on this income (in order to be able to repay his debt and to afford a high standard of living). Some jobs might be abandoned by the graduates because of their salaries, and could create a new societal problem. Another feature is that students could not give up after a year to reorientate towards another course of study an academic year can cost up to à £9,000 to choose a wrong course of study can be very expensive. To sum up, Higher Education underwent some mains shifts by the last decades, and the end is not yet in sight. Tuitions fees are still a burning issue. Indeed the reforms come into force only this year, in September 2012, that is the reason why we cannot analyse yet the real impact on the society and also there are only estimations. But some shortcomings already appear such as the inefficiency of the Student Loan system, which could lead to another social problem: if the majority of students would not be able to pay off their debts, who would reimburse it? Moreover, after the breaking pledge of Nick Clegg on the rising of tuition fees he recognized and apologized publicly in the media only on September 2012 the deputy prime minister went down in the opinion polls. Sources http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=409011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/10/student-protest-fees-violent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuition_fees_in_the_United_Kingdom http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/only-a-quarter-of-all-graduates-will-pay-off-loans-2158168.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/5302082.stm http://www.3s4.org.uk/drivers/changing-student-lifestyle http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/jan/27/tuitionfees.students http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8057871/Grants-loans-and-tuition-fees-a-timeline-of-how-university-funding-has-evolved.html http://www.ifs.org.uk/wps/wp1004.pdf http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/24/student-school-pupils-protests-walkout http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11877034
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