Impact and Research Findings Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Impact and Research Findings - Assignment Example Automated processes would also eliminate or reduce product defects, which would save the company money and improve the production process. Automation would ensure that all processes are conducted effortlessly and that they would run the same way each time they are conducted. No human errors would be allowed. As a result, there would be fewer errors made and errors may not just be defects, but can be about erring that can affect the production process as a whole (Benhabib, 2003). Automation would eliminate or reduce monotony. As humans, it is normal to get bored, especially where repetitive tasks are involved. Monotony slows down performance and increases the chances of defects occurring. There is no monotony in automated processes, no matter the frequency, so productivity is not affected. Processes are conducted at the same speed each time. Automation would help the company comply with internal or external requirements, e.g. statutory requirements, and facilitate cost savings by redu cing the training of required staff. Without automation a lot of time would have been required to train staff to perform even the most repetitive of duties, especially if the duties required a high degree of precision/accuracy. With automation, however, far less training would be required, so overheads would be significantly reduced. Automation would make auditing the company a simple task in itself, so less time would be required to analyze and evaluate processes and the production process as a whole. Due to their high degree of flexibility, automated processes would make the company flexible as well. It would be easier to make changes, or at least much easier than it would be to revise tasks that involve only humans. This level of flexibility would be vital if changes are needed at short notice. The fact that defects would be reduced would mean that customer satisfaction is ensured to a high degree. Therefore, while

Las Adelitas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Las Adelitas - Essay Example They lives were controlled largely by either their fathers or husbands and other caretaker. The Mexican Revolution which began in the year 1911 and lasted up to 1920 was primarily against the presidency led by the governor of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, as his rule was marked by violence and corruption while the common man and peasants lost their lands and were left with no means to support themselves. It was during this revolution the women folk also emerged from the confines of their homes and participated in the revolution to fight for their own causes (Jandura; Fernandez). Women shed their traditional image and dependency on men by becoming soldiers during the revolution. The various groups who opposed the rule of Diaz enrolled women in to their army. While some of the women soldiers fought for various reforms such as agrarian in order to provide better relief for the peasants, some others enrolled in the army to support their men or in other cases women entered the revolution in order to avenge the death of their dear ones and to improve their economic status. Women who worked as soldiers supported the men in their daily routine tasks in addition to supporting them in the battlefield. The men were in fact able to perform better with the support from the women as they were able to pursue their military responsibilities without any hindrance. In return for their participation women were rewarded with equality and freedom from attachment to their homes. They also gained economic freedom and were no longer bound by any societal or cultural norms that exi sted prior to the revolution. They also enjoyed their sexual freedom and engaged in sexual relations with men irrespective of their marital status. However, despite their abilities to work on par with men in the battlefield this transformation was not tolerated by men who wanted to remain the stronger force among the two genders. Thus these women soldiers were largely portrayed

Marketing Report on Cadbury India ltd

Marketing Report on Cadbury India ltd Cadbury India ltd. began its operations in India 1948 by importing chocolates. After 62 years of existence in India Cadbury enjoys a value market share of over 70 %- the highest Cadbury brand share in the world. The research looks after the various types of analysis such as PEST analysis and SWOT analysis and also contains the Marketing mix of various aspects of the organization. A strategic recommendation is also recommended to the company to increase its sales and to increase its profits and the conclusion it concludes the result of the analysis and its result as recommendation. Cadbury India Limited is a fully owned subsidy of Kraft Foods Inc. with approximately $50 billion, on 2nd February 2010 Kraft foods has sealed its takeover over Cadbury, the combined company is the worlds second largest food company making delicious food products for billions of its consumers in more than 160 countries and employ approximately 140,000 and have operations in more than 70 countries.(bbc,2010) In India, it began its operation in the year 1948 by importing chocolates initially. Today the company has five company owned manufacturing facilities at Thane, Induri(Pune) and Malanpur (Gwalior), Bangalore and Baddi(Himachal Pradesh) and four sales units spread across the country. Presently the company operates in four categories namely Chocolate confectionary, Milk Food Drinks, Candy and Gum category. In the chocolate confectionary business, Cadbury has been the undisputed leader over the years because of its popular key brands like Dairy milk, Perk, 5 star, etc. In the Milk fo od drinks business the companys main product is Bournvita. In the candy segment Halls is the companys product and in the gum segment the product is Bubbaloo. Today with an unmatched portfolio in confectionary, snacking and quick meals it is worlds no.1 Confectionary company (Cadbury India Limited n.d., 2010). The Indian Confectionary Market: The Indian Confectionary Market is estimated at around 223500 tons which is valued approximately at Rs. 41 billion. This market sees a steady growth of 11.5% annually. The market can be segmented into chocolates, sugar boiled confectionary, chewing gums and mints. Cadbury is the undisputed market leader and has a market share of 68% and Nestle being its immediate competition has a market share of 22%. Cadbury Indias market share in cocoa based products is 35% with Dairy milk solely accounting for 30% (Pandey 2006, p.212). The other competitors apart from Nestle are confectionary companies like Amul, Wrigleys, Lotte, etc; however these companies have a comparatively small market share. Industry Trends: Since Chocolate and Confectionary are mainly consumed in the urban areas, hence the industry witnesses a 73% skew towards the urban market, 27% towards the rural market. Overall industry growth is estimated at 23% in the chocolate segment and a decline of 19% in the sugar confectionary segment (Cadbury India Limited n.d.). With emerging trends and lifestyle changes, chocolate and confectionary nowadays arent only consumed by children. All confectionary companies have shifted their focuses to Adults as well; this shift explains the reason to the large variety of flavor variants, pack and size variants. According to a consumer research, 42% of adults stated they purchased confectionery to eat straightaway when on the move, 57% of those working full time eat chocolate bars while at work and 49% of people having nuclear families said that they prefer to munch on a chocolate bar when relaxing at home (Keynote 1999). Hence due to lifestyle changes the chocolate/ confectionary market has ex perienced a steady growth over the recent years.(confectionary, 2009) PEST Analysis: PEST analysis involves assessment of the Political, Economic, Social, and Technological. (Kitchen Proctor 2001). Political: According to the Safe Food Guide released by Greenpeace, the food products of Cadbury contained certain genetically modified crops which proved to be hazardous to health (Press Trust of India 2007). However, the company escaped out of these political implications when CRISIL gave an AAA rating to the company (Cadbury India Limited 2009), the company also got a clean chit from the FDA after the worm controversy. Economic: Many MNCs and Companies had to bear the wrath of the global recession. Surprisingly, at the time of global recession the sale of Cadbury chocolates had gone up by 7% in countries like India, Britain and South Africa. Cadburys CEO Todd Stitzer was confident that he would be able to achieve the 2009 sales target and he also quoted that since the recession has given rise to the stay-at-home culture, people prefer to buy chocolates and confectionary as these are affordable luxuries and act as a mood enhancers in bad times (Press Trust of India 2009) (Appendix 1). Social: Cadbury India set up non-formal schools for the children of migrant workers in Baddi, the company also tied up with Bharti and Walmart to support education needs of underprivileged children. The Sarvam programme catered to the victims of the Asian Tsunami in 2004 (Cadbury India Limited 2005b). These are just a few ways in which the company proves itself to be a socially ethical organization. Technological: The pappu pass ho gaya ad campaign proved to be an instant hit with the masses, however in 2005; the companys task was to increase Dairy Milks customer franchise. The main idea was that children should celebrate the joy of passing their exams with a Cadbury Dairy Milk, this eventually led to the tie -up with Reliance web world, wherein students across 66 examination boards in the country could access their results on R-world through Reliance mobiles. If they passed a message congratulating them on their moment of delight from Dairy Milk was displayed. This was an extremely innovative way of using technology and various marketing communications. This effort was awarded the Bronze Lion at the Cannes Media awards in 2005 (Cadbury India Limited 2006) Table: SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Strong market position Wide geographic presence Robust revenue growth Declining profitability Product recall Opportunities Threats Inorganic growth Demerger of Americas beverages business Increasing health consciousness Industry consolidation Increased competition from private labels Increasing distributor costs Source:( Datamonitor,2009) Strengths :- 1. Strong brand equity in India 2. due to 54 years of presence in India has deep penetration- 2100 distributors; 450,000 retailers, 60 mid urban (22%) customers . 3. low cost of production due to economic of scale. That means higher profits, better market penetration. 4. Second best manufacturing location throughout Cadbury Schweppes. 5. Strong global market position The companys Indian business has a leading presence in chocolate with 71% market share. The company acquires leading market share in Thailand in gum and candy, at 63% and 31% respectively. In Malaysia, it has a number one market share in chocolate at 29%, and in gum it has a number two position with a 19% market share. In Australia as well the company has a number one position in chocolate (53% market share) 6. Wide geographic presence The company operates along with its subsidiaries in the UK, the eurozone, the US, central and southern America, Australia and other parts of Asia pacific. Wide geographical presence enables the company to cater to diversified markets and thus reduce its business risk.(anonymous, 2010 ) Weakness :- 1. Poor technology in India compared to current international technologies (Godiva, Mozart, fazer,dint,naushans,etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..) 2. ltd. Key products, only one central brand (CDM). Pralines range totally wising in india 3.Make in India tag once the economy opens up wore and imports rush in 4. Declining Profitability The operating profit of the company declined at a rate of 13.3% compared with 2006 to reach 788 million pounds during FY2007. Declining profitability will adversely affect the operations of the company. (Anonymous, 2010) Opportunities :- 1. Tremendous scope for per capita consumption (160gms of 8-10kg) 2. Increasing per capita national income resulting in higher disposable income. 3. Growing middle class and growing urban population 4. Increasing gifts cultures 5. Increasing health consciousness Consumers are increasingly aware of the risks associated with obesity and poor dietary habits. The companys wellness (including products like sugar-free and fat-free products, and medicated candy) sub- category, accounted for around 30% of confectionary revenue in 2007. The company thus is well positioned to benefit from the rising demand for healthy foods worldwide. (Anonymous, 2010 ) Threats:- 1. Industry consolidation 2. Increasing distribution costs Higher fuel prices are likely to have a direct impact on the companys distribution cost and may directly affect its margins. 3. Increased competition from private labels Private-label goods generally lower priced products sold under a stores own name, are a constant threat to other brands goods, especially during times of economic weakness with increasing popularity of these private labels combined with the depth of their penetration in local markets, Cadbury may see the erosion of its market share in certain geographies and is likely to face a bigger challenge from these private labels in future. (Anonymous, 2010 ) Marketing Mix 4 PS of Marketing 1- PRODUCT The average company will compete for customer by conforming to his expectation consistently, but the winner will surpass them by constantly exceeding his expectation, delivering to his door step additional benefits which he would never have imagined. Cadburys offer such product. The wide variety products offered by the company include:- Chocolate Confectionary Dairy Milk Fruit Nut 5 Star Break Perk Gems Éclairs Nutties Temptation Milk Treat Food Drinks Bourn vita Drinking chocolate Cocoa 2. Price:- Second P of marketing is not another name for blindly lowering prices and relying on this strategy alone to increase sales dramatically. The strategy used by Cadbury is for matching the value that customer pays to buy the product with the expectation they have about what the production is worth to them . Cadburys has launched various products which cater to all customer segments. So every customer segment has different price expectation from the product. Therefore maximizing the returns involves identifying right price level for each segment and then progressively moving through them. Dairy milk Rs. 15 Perk Rs.10 5 Star Rs.10 Fruit and Nut Rs.22 Gems Rs.10 Break Rs.5 Nutties Rs.18 Bournvita(500gm) Rs.104 Drinking chocolate Rs.50 PLACE:- Distribution Equity: It takes much more time and effort to build, but once built, distribution equity is hard to erode. The fundamental axiom of Indian consumer market is this; You can set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, hire the hottest strategies on the block, swamp prime television with best Ads, but the end of it all, you should know how to sell your products. The cardinal task before the Indian market in managing is to shoe-horn its product on retail shelves. Buyers are paying for distribution equity not brand equity and market shares. Why does the company need distribution equity more in India? In a product and price parity situation, the brand that sells more is the one that reaches the highest number of customers. India 1 billion people, 155 million household has over 4 million retail outlets in 5351 urban markets and 552725 villages, spread cross 3.28 million sq. km. television has already primed and population for consumption, and the marketer who can get to the consumer ahead of competition will give a hard-to-overtake lead. But getting their means managing wildly different terrains-climate, language, value system, life style, transport and communication network and your brand equity isnt going to help when it comes to tackling these issues. Own distribution network consist of clearing and forwarding (cf) agents distribution stockiest. This network of distribution can either contact to the retailers directly. Once the stock product reaches retailers, the prospective customers can have access to the product. Cadburys distributes the product in the manner stated above. Cadburys distribution network has expanded from 1990 distributors last year to 2100 distributors and 4,50,000 retailers. Beside use of TI to improve logistics, Cadbury is also attempting to improve the distribution quality. To address the issue of product stability, it has installed visi colors at several outlets. This helps in maintaining consumption in summer when sales usually drops due to the fact that the heat affects product quality and thereby off takes. The increase in distribution is going to be accompanied by reduction in channel costs. (Anonymous, 2010 ) Promotion:- Effective advertising is rarely hectoring or loudly explicit..,it often both attracts and generates arm feelings. More often than not, a successful campaign has a stronger element of the unexpected a quality that good advertising shares with much worthwhile literature. To penetrate into the inner recesses of customer memory, communication must first ensure exposure, grab his acceptance and then extract retension competing with thousands of other units of communication trying to do the same. Thereafter it was the job of the advertising to communicate customer the wonderful feeling that he could experience by re-discoursing the careful, unselfish conscious, pleasure- seeking child within him and graft these feeling into Ad campaign like Khane Walon Ko Khane Ka Bahana Chahiye for CMD and Thodi Si Pet Pooja Kabhi Bhi Kahin Bhi for perk have been sure shot winner with the audience. The next round of activity will include the wafer-chocolate Perk and the Picnic bar, which has faced problems with its taste, because of the peanut it contains. Milk treat has also been launched in a module bar form, just in time of Diwali gifting market. Éclairs has got potential for much wide distribution, in a small sweets that airlines, hostels, and up market retail outlet offer to guest and customers. Ad spend in 2000 was about 14% of sales and the management said that plans to maintain as spend at this level in the current year also. Its a combination of spiffing up its key brands, researching and improving the newer products that havent taken off, supported with high ad-spends that Cadbury hopes will see it emerges stronger after the current slowdown, as well as expand the market. (Anonymous, 2010 ) Critical analysis of Marketing mix:- Product is a output of the company, Being a market leader the level of expectation from the company is at a very high level and thus it is important for the company to maintain its Products quality, shelf life and freshness of the product are the most important factors for the company. Product is the life of the company and is the most important factor. In 2003 Cadbury India had to face the plight of the worms controversy. After receiving complaints from various states across the nation, the Food and Drug Administration of India took action against the firm, confirmed reports of worms being found in Dairy Milk chocolates. The FDA officials werent certain if the manufacturing was to be blamed for the infestation but they were sure that there was some problem in the packaging, meanwhile the company assured the FDA that it will change the packaging and come up with a tamper-proof seal packing (Kamdar 2003). Shortly after, the company came up with the purity sealed packaging and stored the chocolates in cool dispenser units to prevent melting of chocolates. The companys GM for marketing Mr. Sanjay Purohit in a press conference stated that We have regained 90 percent of the sales levels (Mathur 2004). Pricing is also an important factor, Factors like competition, internal costs, and the positioning and corporate objective of the company need to be taken into consideration by a company before pricing a product. Premium pricing(relative to the competing brands) with special emphasis on taste and quality is recommended. The premium pricing does not suggest that the offering is made unaffordable to the target consumer. A high price would accompany a promise for a better taste and quality. Therefore, the brands, taste quality needs to justify the high price. As seen in the table below nestle and Cadburys are pitted against each other and Amul is the cheapest brand in the market Considering the above, a premium pricing strategy, with the assurance of good quality and better taste, in a market that is not high on price sensitivity may prove to be a success. Cadbury dairy milk is priced at Rs.15/- for 40 gms Nestlà ©s Milk chocolate at Rs.13/- for 40 gms Amul is priced at Rs.10/- for 40 gms(Kevin jacob,2007) Place Positioning is simply concentrating on an idea or- even a word defines that company in the mind of the consumer. It is more efficient to market one successful concept to one large group of people than 50 product or service ideas to 50 separate groupà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ repositioning is a must when customer attitude have changed and product have strayed away from the consumers long standing perception of themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Cadburys is an anchor in sea of confectionary products. as a variety of competitive claims assails her senses, today customer uses complicated decision making process to assess the alternative before making a purchase. Since cadburys is more clearly associated with a particular set of attributes in terms of benefits and prices, the quicker becomes its search process. Promotional activities like Dil ko jab khushi choo jaaye, kuch meetha ho jaaye In the early 90s, chocolates were perceived as being meant for kids. However in the mid 90s, Cadbury repositioned itself, and shifted its focus, became a chocolate for the kid in all of us. This communication is aimed at all age groups from Children to the Youth and even Adults. The main objective behind this commercial was to make people realize that every little or big happy moment was to be celebrated with a Dairy milk. The communication also aimed at making chocolate consumption a habit (Pandey 2006, p.215). The audiences were expected to make Dairy milk a part of their lives. Every moment of happiness like passing the exams, meeting a celebrity, winning a game of cards, etc was meant to be cherished and celebrated by eating Dairy milk. This chocolate was meant to be a Celebration of Life and its happiness. The commercial was a simple, sweet and effective piece of communication. It had a very simple approach of celebrating joyous moments of life with Cadbury. The feelings, expressions, emotions portrayed by the actors in the commercial were enough to hit the emotional chord of the audiences. The ad was simple and direct in its content and visual presentation. The emotions displayed brought out the life and depth of the commercial. The brand also shifted its image from being only for kids to being a chocolate for all age groups. The punch line became extremely popular with the masses and people began to associate the chocolate to every happy moment. Strategic recommendation:- Cadbury India is a very experienced player in its field and is going well on its business in India but a bit of concern is its pricing of the confectionary products which is a bit high as compared to its competitors this is a place where the company is facing challenges from its competitors, The company also vouched this problem and in 2008 started a programme home grown supply where it started the production of cocoa in India. (Business India intelligence,2009) Cadbury is also hoping to change its dependence on imported cocoa. A 30% import duty on cocoa beans, which are mostly grown in Ghana and the Ivory coast markets that are also less politically stable than India- has led Cadbury seek to source more beans domestically. In a venture called the Cadbury cocoa partnership (which also operates in Ghana, Indonesia and the Caribbean), it hopes to persuade 20% of Indian coconut farmers to include cocoa trees in their plantations. It is pursuing this goal by giving farmers saplings and providing technical expertise. Last year 5m cocoa saplings were planted another 7.5m in 2009, ultimately making India self-sufficient in cocoa production by 2015. Thus, it is hoped, can be achieved with a little disruption as possible. One of the advantages of cocoa seedlings is that they can grow alongside coconut palms in southern India and do not require the clearing of forests for plantation. Although this programme is not being exposed as it could have been used.(Business india intelligence,2009) Recommendation:- The recommendation for the company is to work on the cocoa production in India as in India major group is farmers but they are not aware of the benefits of this cultivation, if the company promotes the cultivation and get good production from India then this can result in resuming the issue of high price of the products like chocolates, snacks etc. the company then can control its prices and could be competitive with its competitors which is its biggest problem in the market and also the company can Increase its profits by the use of this practice as the company has to pay 30% duty on imports of the cocoa from other countries like Ghana and Ivory coast and if they can get the same crop from the domestic region than they can get a good return on their Profit sharing ratio. (Business india intelligence,2009) To meet the increasing demand of cocoa seeds increasing number of farmers are taking cocoa cultivation as an inter crop along with the coconut to double their incomes .The industrys graph is slated to shoot up as the demand for cocoa seeds has sharply rised in India and in foreign markets as well for exports. Tamil nadu and the southern regions of India have the most favorable environment for the cultivation of cocoa. The present production of India is around 10,000 tons meeting only half of the total demand of around 20,000 tons. (jaya kumar,2008) Indias Cocoa Development board is also understood to have undertaken a similar initiative to increase the production to 16,000 tons in two years time. Indias annual consumption of the beans is about 20,000 tons and more than 40 percent of its total requirement is still met through imports .(jose roy,2009) According to Cadburys India forecast, cocoa demand is growing around 15 percent annually and will reach about 30,000 tons in the next 5 years. Industry observers said India through public- private partnership was attempting a cocoa revolution once again in the country to become a bellwether state of the beans in the region. (jose roy,2009) Conclusion:- This Report demonstrates Cadbury Indias hold in the Indian market and shows its position in the Indian market it also describes the various analysis like SWOT and PEST which describes various features about the company and the marketing mix which shows its marketing abilities and its strategies, the recommendations are also given to improve its position in the Indian market and to increase its profits. The Chocolate industry remained unaffected by the recent economic changes in the world and since Cadbury is the market leader its growth rate, marketing strategies are ever changing keeping the current industry trends in mind. All Cadbury commercials also have been extremely effective and popular with the masses. This report Clearly states the companys hold and experience in the target industry and gives suggestions though which it can indorse its strong potential to continue to do well.

The Jungle :: essays research papers

Sinclair's book ,The Jungle probably had to do the most with the fact that he himself was a Socialist. He was brought up in Baltimore, and his family was considerately poor. His father was not very successful at his job and for this reason it seems good to believe he became a Socialist because in communist countries it is said that all people are treated equal. An opposite of this book would be "‚Animal Farm", which Sinclair has probably never read. This other novel shows the bad sides of Socialism and it ends with the rules saying, "All animals are considered equal, but some are more equal than others". In this book it shows that a hard worker is not rewarded and is only disposed of once he becomes a burden. The life of Sinclair and his book is reflected upon only because he uses his opinions in the book. In his book, he made a financial breakthrough and had his first successful novel. Sinclair has written many books dealing with the problems of capitalism and the solutions of communism which is not fair because he writes nothing good of capitalism and it's benefits. He also wrote other books on his wisdom he had gained and relegion. He frequently tried for office but never succeeded. His publications were originally made mostly by publishing them himself. The story itself takes place in Chicago with a group of immigrants. They come to the U.S. and discover it's a cruel, harsh world. First, though, this group goes through a series of trials. The first is a marr iage which costs much money, and the second is a death. After this, comes a house which is sold to the one couple for three times the value of the house. It's at this time that the parents and other groups move into this house. One character goes into a meat packing business where he learns of unsanitary conditions. The second is a musician which is currently down on his luck and his wife goes out to work. After a while the first character breaks his arm and loses time at work and is then

Macbeth’s Strengths and Weaknesses Essay

Macbeth by William Shakespeare portrays the major characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. They are both ambitious and are yearning for power. In the beginning of Act One, Shakespeare portrayed Macbeth as a brave and honorable general who received admiration from everyone around him including the king of Scotland, Duncan when he triumphantly defeated the rebel MacDonwald. Macbeth is a good friend and loyal confidant to Duncan. Macbeth is at tragic hero because unlike Shakespeare’s other works Macbeth is not all evil. He is consumed by his evil ambition and guilt for the throne of Scotland that he will go to any measures necessary to achieve it. Macbeth’s character is very cunning and witty. He is smart enough to understand that Duncan is very kind and naà ¯ve and he takes advantage of the fact that he could easily overthrow him. The pressures from his wife Lady Macbeth and the witches make him eager to kill Duncan, but most importantly it is his overwhelming ambition fo r power that makes him a weak character. Throughout the first act the character of Macbeth is developed, in which Macbeth’s strengths were ambition, courage, and honor. His use of these strengths and loyalty to King Duncan earned him the title of â€Å"Thane of Cawdor.† After the murder of Banquo, however, his large amount of pride and ambition disrupted his morals and faltered his heroic image, leading to the backfiring of the strengths that he once had, which later became his weaknesses. When Macbeth was visited by the three witches, his superstitious nature was brought out, causing him to trust them and their prediction that he will rise to the throne if he kills Duncan. He wasn’t satisfied with his position as the Thane of Cawdor. This is one of Macbeth’s weaknesses because he has no sense of self and is controlled and easily convinced to do things that he knows are wrong. We can see that Macbeth is not all evil and that the person who is behind all this chaos is Lady Macbeth. When it was time to kill Duncan and the plan was set he felt guilty because he understood how good Duncan was to him, however in the back of his mind he had an evil ambition and desire to obtain the throne. When he mentions this to his wife she doesn’t pity him and tells him  that he must go on with the plan. â€Å"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambitions, which o’er leap itself and falls on the other.†(Act 1, Scene 7, Lines 25-27) In this quote Macbeth admitted that it was only ambition that motivated him to become disloyal to Duncan. This is one of Macbeth’s biggest weaknesses in which he gives in to his evil temptations, even though he knows that his actions are immoral. He realizes that what he did was wrong and that he did it through illegal actions. It seems as though Lady Macbeth conspired this plan and had n o feeling about what bad action she committed. In general, Lady Macbeth, and well as the witches, were responsible for turning Macbeth’s strong ambitions into his most major flaw. Lady Macbeth contributed to the deterioration of his character by challenging his courage and testing his manhood if he didn’t take the shortest way of obtaining the throne, which was by killing Duncan. When Macbeth tells his wife that he does not want to kill Duncan, she convinces him that he is weaker than a women, manipulating his kind and sensitive nature. The witches brought out another one of Macbeth’s major weaknesses, his superstitious nature. They suggest to the reader that his superstitious nature will lead to something fatal. After meeting the witches, Macbeth begins to worry, leading to hallucinations that he thinks tell him to murder Duncan, like his vision of the dagger. When Macbeth â€Å"sees† the dagger, he states, â€Å"Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee: I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal  vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?† (Act 2, Scene 1, lines 33-39). Macbeth’s strengths fail, turning out to be his weaknesses, which makes him a tragic hero because he was once honorable and highly respected; his downfall caused by his own mistakes. After he starts committing murders, his guilty conscience comes out and leads to the deterioration of his character,  leaving him unhappy and remorseful. In Macbeth’s case, his negative traits such as his gullibility, lack of control and willpower overcome the strengths and advantages that he once had; his pride, honor, and strong, ambitious nature.

Atomic Bomb vs. Invasion

On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. The unconditional surrender of Japan was announced on August 10. The atomic bomb ended the war swiftly and quickly, and resulted in no Allied casualties. Others supported Operation Downfall, an invasion of Japan. However, this may not have resulted in an unconditional surrender. U. S. President Truman was advised that 250,000 to one million U. S. soldiers could have died in Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of mainland Japan. In a study done by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in April 1945, the figures of 7. 45 casualties per 1,000 man-days and 1. 78 fatalities per 1,000 man-days were developed. This implied that the two planned campaigns to conquer Japan would cost 1. 6 million U. S. casualties, including 380,000 dead. On August 1, 1944, the Japanese War Ministry ordered the execution of all Allied war prisoners if an invasion of Japan happened. This means that over 100,000 allied soldiers that would have been executed. Some may argue that innocent Japanese civilians and military soldiers lost their lives to the bomb. The Japanese were dangerous and were raised to fight, starting from a young age. An Air Force Association history of the 21st century says, â€Å"Millions of women, old men, and boys and girls had been trained to resist by such means as attacking with bamboo spears and strapping explosives to their bodies and throwing themselves under advancing tanks. † The AFA noted that, â€Å"The Japanese cabinet had approved a measure extending the draft to include men from ages fifteen to sixty and women from seventeen to forty-five. As a result of the increase in draft range, 28 million more people were drafted. The result of the atomic bombs was the unconditional surrender of Japan. If an invasion took place, the surrender may not have been unconditional. According to historian Richard B. Frank, â€Å"The intercepts of Japanese Imperial Army and Navy messages disclosed without exception that Japan's armed forces were determined to fight a final Armageddon battle in the homeland agains t an Allied invasion. The Japanese called this strategy Ketsu Go. It was founded on the premise that American morale was brittle and could be shattered by heavy losses in the initial invasion. American politicians would then gladly negotiate an end to the war far more generous than unconditional surrender. † The U. S. Department of Energy's history of the Manhattan Project agrees, saying that military leaders in Japan, â€Å"†¦. also hoped that if they could hold out until the ground invasion of Japan began, they would be able to inflict so many casualties on the Allies that Japan still might win some sort of negotiated settlement. The Japanese most likely would have been able to inflict enough casualties so that they would be able to negotiate. The Japanese followed the code of bushido, which is why the resistance is so strong in the Japanese military. According to one Air Force account, â€Å"The Japanese code of bushido—†the way of the warrior†Ã¢â‚¬â€was deeply ingrained. The concept of Yamato-damashii equipped e ach soldier with a strict code: never be captured, never break down, and never surrender. Surrender was dishonorable. Each soldier was trained to fight to the death and was expected to die before suffering dishonor. Defeated Japanese leaders preferred to take their own lives in the painful samurai ritual of seppuku. Warriors who surrendered were not deemed worthy of regard or respect. † Operation Downfall would have taken more lives, compared to the atomic bombings. The atomic bomb quickly ended the war and was necessary. It eliminated the threat of the Japanese empire. It also eliminated many dangerous Japanese soldiers and civilians. President Truman made the right choice in authorizing the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Dreams as Narrative Structure in Wide Sargasso Sea

Dreams as Narrative Structure in Wide Sargasso Sea â€Å"I waited a long time after I heard her snore, then I got up, took the keys and unlocked the door. I was outside holding my candle. Now at last I know why I was brought here and what I have to do† (190). Jean Rhys’s novel, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966),  is a post-colonial response to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre (1847). The novel  has become a contemporary classic in its own right. In the narrative, the main character, Antoinette, has a series of dreams which serve as a skeletal structure for the book and also as a means of empowerment for Antoinette. The dreams serve as an outlet for Antoinette’s true emotions, which she cannot express in a normal fashion. The dreams also become a guide for how she will take back her own life. While the dreams foreshadow events for the reader, they also illustrate the maturity of the character, each dream becoming more complicated than the previous. Each of the three dreams surface in Antoinette’s mind at a crucial point in the character’s waking life and the development of each dream represents the development of the character throughout the story.   The first dream takes place when Antoinette is a young girl. She had tried to befriend a black Jamaican girl, Tia, who ended up betraying her friendship by stealing her money and her dress, and by calling her â€Å"white nigger† (26). This first dream clearly outlines Antoinette’s fear about what happened earlier in the day and her youthful naivety: I dreamed that I was walking in the forest. Not alone. Someone who hated me was with me, out of sight. I could hear heavy footsteps coming closer and though I struggled and screamed I could not move  (26-27). The dream not only points out her new fears, which have stemmed from the abuse received by her â€Å"friend,† Tia, but also the detachment of her dream world from reality. The dream points out her confusion about what is happening in the world around her. She does not know, in the dream, who is following her, which underlines the fact that she does not realize how many people in Jamaica wish her and her family harm. The fact that, in this dream, she uses only the  past tense, suggests that Antoinette is not yet developed enough to know that the dreams are representational of her life.                                                   Ã‚   Antoinette gains empowerment from this dream, in that it is her first warning of danger.   She wakes up and recognizes that â€Å"nothing would be the same. It would change and go on changing† (27). These words foreshadow future events: the burning of Coulibri, the second betrayal of Tia (when she throws the rock at Antoinette), and her eventual departure from Jamaica. The first dream has matured her mind a bit to the possibility that all things may not be well. Antoinette’s second dream occurs while she is at the convent. Her step-father comes to visit and give her news that a suitor will be coming for her. Antoinette is mortified by this news, saying â€Å"[i]t was like that morning when I found the dead horse. Say nothing and it may not be true† (59). The dream she has that night is, again, frightening but important: Again I have left the house at Coulibri. It is still night and I am walking towards the forest. I am wearing a long dress and thin slippers, so I walk with difficulty, following the man who is with me and holding up the skirt of my dress. It is white and beautiful and I don’t wish to get it soiled. I follow him, sick with fear but I make no effort to save myself; if anyone were to try to save me, I would refuse. This must happen. Now we have reached the forest. We are under the tall dark trees and there is no wind.‘Here?’ He turns and looks at me, his face black with hatred, and when I see this I begin to cry. He smiles slyly.   ‘Not here, not yet,’ he says, and I follow him, weeping. Now I do not try to hold up my dress, it trails in the dirt, my beautiful dress. We are no longer in the forest but in an enclosed garden surrounded by a stone wall and the trees are different trees. I do not know them. There are steps leading upwards. It is too dark t o see the wall or the steps, but I know they are there and I think, ‘It will be when I go up these steps. At the top.’ I stumble over my dress and cannot get up. I touch a tree and my arms hold on to it.   ‘Here, here.’ But I think I will not go any further. The tree sways and jerks as if it is trying to throw me off. Still I cling and the seconds pass and each one is a thousand years. ‘Here, in here,’ a strange voice said, and the tree stopped swaying and jerking. (60) The first observation that can be made by studying this dream is that Antoinette’s character is maturing and becoming more complex. The dream is darker than the first, filled with much more detail and imagery. This suggests that Antoinette is more aware of the world around her, but the confusion of where she is going and who the man guiding her is, makes it clear that Antoinette is still unsure of herself, simply following along because she does not know what else to do.   Secondly, one must note that, unlike the first dream, this is told in the present tense, as if it is happening at the moment and the reader is meant to listen in. Why does she narrate the dream like a story, rather than a memory, as she told it after the first? The answer to this question must be that this dream is a part of her rather than simply something she vaguely experienced. In the first dream, Antoinette does not recognize at all where she is walking or who is chasing her; however, in this dream, while there is still some confusion, she does know that she is in the forest outside Coulibri and that it is a man, rather than â€Å"someone.† Also, the second dream alludes to future events. It is known that her step-father plans to marry Antoinette to an available suitor. The white dress, which she tries to keep from getting â€Å"soiled† represents her being forced into a sexual and emotional relationship. One can assume, then, that the white dress represents a wedding dress and that the â€Å"dark man† would represent Rochester, who she eventually marries and who does eventually grow to hate her.   Thus, if the man represents Rochester, then it is also certain that the changing of the forest at Coulibri into a garden with â€Å"different trees† must represent Antoinette’s leaving the wild Caribbean for â€Å"proper† England. The eventual ending of Antoinette’s physical journey is Rochester’s attic in England and this, also, is foreshadowed in her dream: â€Å"[i]t will be when I go up these steps. At the top.† The third dream takes place in the attic at Thornfield. Again, it takes place after a significant moment; Antoinette had been told by Grace Poole, her caretaker, that she had attacked Richard Mason when he came to visit. At this point, Antoinette has lost all sense of reality or geography. Poole tells her that they are in England and Antoinette responds, â€Å"‘I don’t believe it . . . and I never will believe it’† (183). This confusion of identity and placement carries on into her dream, where it is unclear whether or not Antoinette is awake and relating from memory, or dreaming. The reader is led into the dream, first, by Antoinette’s episode with the red dress. The dream becomes a continuation of the foreshadowing set forth by this dress: â€Å"I let the dress fall on the floor, and looked from the fire to the dress and from the dress to the fire† (186). She continues, â€Å"I looked at the dress on the floor and it was as if the fire had spread across the room. It was beautiful and it reminded me of something I must do. I will remember I thought. I will remember quite soon now† (187). From here, the dream immediately begins. This dream is much longer than both previous and is explained as if not a dream, but reality. This time, the dream is not singularly past tense or present tense, but a combination of both because Antoinette seems to be telling it from memory, as if the events actually happened. She incorporates her dream events with events that had actually taken place: â€Å"At last I was in the hall where a lamp was burning. I remember that when I came. A lamp and the dark staircase and the veil over my face. They think I don’t remember but I do† (188). As her dream progresses, she begins entertaining even more distant memories. She sees Christophine, even asking her for help, which is provided by â€Å"a wall of fire† (189). Antoinette ends up outside, on the battlements, where she remembers many things from her childhood, which flow seamlessly between past and present: I saw the grandfather clock and Aunt Coras patchwork, all colours, I saw the orchids and the stephanotis and the jasmine and the tree of life in flames. I saw the chandelier and the red carpet downstairs and the bamboos and the tree ferns, the gold ferns and the silver . . . and the picture of the Millers Daughter. I heard the parrot call as he did when he saw a stranger, Qui est la? Qui est la? and the man who hated me was calling too, Bertha! Bertha! The wind caught my hair and it streamed out like wings. It might bear me up, I thought, if I jumped to those hard stones. But when I looked over the edge I saw the pool at Coulibri. Tia was there. She beckoned to me and when I hesitated, she laughed. I heard her say, You frightened? And I heard the mans voice, Bertha! Bertha! All this I saw and heard in a fraction of a second. And the sky so red. Someone screamed and I thought Why did I scream? I called Tia! and jumped and woke. (189-90) This dream is filled with symbolism which are important to the reader’s understanding of what has happened and what will happen. They are also a guide to Antoinette. The grandfather clock and flowers, for example, bring Antoinette back to her childhood where she was not always safe but, for a time, felt like she belonged. The fire, which is warm and colorfully red represents the Caribbean, which was Antoinette’s home. She realizes, when Tia calls to her, that her place was in Jamaica all along. Many people wanted Antoinette’s family gone, Coulibri was burned, and yet, in Jamaica, Antoinette had a home. Her identity was ripped away from her by the move to England and especially by Rochester, who, for a time, has been calling her â€Å"Bertha,† a made up name. Each of the dreams in Wide Sargasso Sea has an important significance to the development of the book and the development of Antoinette as a character. The first dream displays her innocence to the reader while awakening Antoinette to the fact that there is real danger ahead. In the second dream, Antoinette foreshadows her own marriage to Rochester and her removal from the Caribbean, where she is no longer sure she belongs. Finally, in the third dream, Antoinette is given back her sense of identity. This last dream provides Antoinette with a course of action for breaking free of her subjugation as Bertha Mason while also foreshadowing to the reader events to come in Jane Eyre.

5 Top Tips for NaNoWriMo Blog

5 Top Tips for NaNoWriMo Blog 5 Top Tips for NaNoWriMo It’s November! And for aspiring authors, that means one thing: National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short). The aim is to write a novel at least 50,000 words long in thirty days. And while that might sound ambitious, we have a few tips to help you get there. 1. Sign Up at the NaNoWriMo Website The official NaNoWriMo website provides lots of resources for writers. It also has a system where you can earn badges and track your progress, offering handy targets to keep you motivated. So before you begin writing, sign up and take a look at the tools available. 2. Write Every Day (And Plan for When You Don’t) You have thirty days to write 50,000 words, which works out at roughly 1,666 words per day. This is easily achievable if you put aside time each day to do a bit of writing. Don’t worry if you miss a day, though. The solution is to schedule â€Å"catch up† days when you know you’ll have more time to spare. This will ensure you can make up for days off, or even just boost your word count. Time to get typing!(Image: Kishore D R/YouTube) 3. Connect with Other NaNoWriMo Writers The best thing about NaNoWriMo is that you’re never alone. All around the world, thousands of writers are taking on the same task as you, so why not use this to your advantage? Whether on social media or via the NaNoWriMo forums, you’ll have plenty of chances to discuss the NaNoWriMo experience, as well as sharing tips for hitting that target word count. You can even look for other writers in the same part of the world as you. 4. Take Care of Yourself Just as with The Tortoise and the Hare, slow and steady wins the race when it comes to novel writing. So no matter how jazzed you feel about your novel-in-progress, remember that too many late-night sessions and skipped meals will lead to burnout. The hare stayed up too late writing and cant do anything useful today. Dont be the hare. Instead, make sure to eat healthily, get plenty of rest, and generally take care of yourself.   This will ensure you have enough energy to keep going and hit your target by November 30. 5. Avoid Perfectionism (For Now) It doesn’t matter if what you write isn’t perfect at first. The editing and proofreading comes later. And this is when you can turn your first draft into a polished manuscript ready for publishing. For now, concentrate on getting a first draft finished! Everything else can wait. Summary: 5 Top Tips for NaNoWriMo If you are doing NaNoWriMo this month, keep these tips in mind: Sign up to nanowrimo.org to access handy tools and resources. Try to set aside a time to write every day (and set aside days when you have more time to write in case you miss a day and need to catch up). Get in touch with other NaNoWriMo writers to share ideas and support. Make sure to eat healthily and get plenty of rest to keep your energy up. Don’t worry if what you write isn’t perfect; you can edit it all later! Good luck! And don’t forget to let us know if you need a proofreader.

Benefits of promoting Stem and liberal arts education

Benefits of promoting Stem and liberal arts education In many modern societies, there has been a push in schools to emphasize the STEM fields (Science, technology, engineering and math). While there are many societal benefits such as to this educational trend, such as new technologies and scientific advancements. However, there are just as many flaws. While test scores in the sciences may look attractive, they don’t tell the whole story. To combat this growing problem, a more well-rounded style of education, such as the Liberal Arts, should be adopted. As more and more countries push the sciences, there should be an equally large push for the Liberal Arts. A more whole education is important for not only those in the STEM fields, but society a well. Today’s society is becoming more and more reliant on technology. In turn, many countries have felt the need to educate more people capable of working in these fields. For example, the Wall Street Journal recently published an article about Japan and their recent education reforms. Japan’s â€Å"goal is to transform Japans government-funded universities into either global leaders in scientific research or schools focused on vocational training† and consequently, limit the study of the humanities and Liberal Arts (Obe 2). The Japanese hope to model school’s like the California Institute of Technology and maximize their tech-ready personnel. However, in doing so, the effect on the humanities and social sciences would be immense. Culture and history would no longer be taught, and it could be lost forever. Simply studying and creating technology for the sake of doing so is not beneficial to society as a whole nor the person. Is it really necessary to put TV sc reens in our cars? What consequences would this have on society? Questions like these are why the humanities and social sciences are a necessary part of any school, college or university. A school system lacking the human aspect of life is flawed and not complete. Furthermore, countries that contain a high percentage of technologically based companies are not necessarily doing the best economically. In Fareed Zakaria’s Washington Post article, he illustrates the economical and educational differences from a nationwide view. Zakaria recognizes Sweden and Israel as countries with a large number of high tech companies who have also pushed the STEM fields. He also relates this to an internationally based study of foreign economics and technological advancements. Israel ranked first, the US second, and Sweden sixth in providing the world with technological advancements. Contrary to popular belief, this did not lead to them having high economic position. In the study, â€Å"all three countries fare surprisingly poorly in the OECD rankings. Sweden and Israel performed even worse than the United States on the 2012 assessment, landing overall at 28th and 29th, respectively, among the 34 most-developed economies† (Zakaria 7). Both Israel and Sweden have made leaps and bounds in regards to their STEM programs. Due to their focus on the sciences, their children score very well on standardized tests. While test scores and their technological production seems to look good on paper, it does not have the true desired effect on their respective societies. To effectively engage and change kids into well rounded adults, we must adopt a more liberal education. All-encompassing styles of education have been highly regarded for centuries. From the days of Plato to modern philosophers like William Cronon, the benefits of Liberal Arts have transgressed time. Cronon especially notes the benefits and helpfulness the Liberal Arts endows upon its students. His list of ten benefits are extremely relevant to modern society and the workforce. His ideas are echoed by Zakaria. Zakaria makes note that simply teaching math and science is not enough. It will not matter â€Å"how strong your math and science skills are, you still need to know how to learn, think and even write† (Zakaria 11). This speaks volumes to the Liberal Arts. It is not necessarily what you learn in college, but how you think and grow as a person by seeing more than one perspective. That is one thing STEM education may not teach you. As many countries begin to advance towards STEM, there needs to be an equally large look at the Liberal Arts. It is possible to learn a lot in a STEM field, yet it being a part of a Liberal Arts school or higher education. However, there is a difference between learning only your field, and learning about your field relative to the world around you. The real value of the Liberal Arts lies with the beholder, and what it truly means to be a complete human being.

Health Care System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health Care System - Essay Example Even as the range of benefits has broadened, the program still contains what some see as gaps and others regard as areas in which private and state programs need to be strengthened. Either way, most people agree that long-term care represents a contingency for which most are psychologically and financially unprepared. Some suggest that the list of Medicare benefits should be expanded to include payments for nursing homes and other long-term care services. Social Security consisted of two sets of rules. One set governed the payroll taxes, and the other set described the benefits to which workers were entitled. Both the level of taxes and the amount and types of benefits changed over the years. In 1965, legislators raised the tax level and established a major new type of benefit. By adding hospital insurance to the array of Social Security benefits, they launched Medicare. In addition to the original retirement benefits for workers over 65, the new benefits included payments to the wives and children of retired workers and to the widows and children of workers who died before age 65. After 1939, therefore, Social Security included benefits to a worker's survivors (Ruskinm 2009). The second milestone occurred in 1950 when Congress decided to raise the tax rate, and, updating benefit levels for price changes in the 1940s, to increase substantially the level of payments to retired workers and the survivors of workers. Social Security--tha t is, the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program--is by far the largest American social insurance program, with the greatest impact on individuals and families. In 1992, for example, 132 million American workers and their employers paid Social Security taxes and about 41 million Americans received Social Security benefits each month (Peltz, 2008). As living standards improved, more Americans expected to retire, and retirement became widely perceived as a period of earned leisure. State welfare programs for the elderly provided real competition to the Social Security program in the 1930s and 1940s but declined as a threat to Social Security in the 1950s. Medical care became increasingly desirable as a good to consume in the 1940s and 1950s, and the supply of private health insurance increased exponentially in these decades (Ruskinm 2009). Modern Health Care System Medicare and Medicaid programs are based on early insurance programs and plans improved and redesigned by the government. Even so, many indirect infusions of general revenues are made into the program, including the revenue produced from treating a portion of Social Security benefits as taxable income. The second proposal would put Social Security financing on a pay-as-you-go basis. In this approach, Congress collects, through payroll taxes or some other means, only the amount of money necessary to sustain the program on a current basis. This approach, however, has the benefit of keeping taxes low, avoiding the difficult problem of how to preserve the supposed surpluses in the program (Staff 2009). This approach has the disadvantage of leaving the future to take care of itself, arguably bequeathing large burdens to future generations (Staff 2009). The government does not permit this activity to occur in

Saigon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Saigon - Essay Example Buddhism is Saigon’s predominant religion that was introduced to the city during its domination by the Chinese, as well as by Indian preachers (Grey 34). Confucianism was also introduced by the Chinese but, interestingly, it became important after Chinese domination ended because the resulting monarchy viewed its political philosophy as more favorable. Finally, Taoism was also introduced by the Chinese and especially appealed to the local Saigon residents because of its polytheism and mysticism (Grey 38). Saigon’s history is mostly associated with war and destruction by most in the West, and for good reason. After being at the epicenter of Vietnam’s struggle for independence against the French, it again became the focus of attention in the US’ anti-Communism war in Asia during the 60s and 70s (Vo 51). The fall of Saigon in 1975 marked one of the biggest military defeats for the US and, soon after, its name was changed to Ho Chi Minh City. There is more about Saigon than its position in the War for Vietnam. The City is well known for its independence from outsiders despite its occupation by Khmer settlers, the Chinese, the French, and the US (Kent 41). The fall of Saigon to Communist forces also marked the end of direct military interventions in South East Asia. Moreover, Saigon’s contribution to popular culture cannot be overlooked with numerous movies and books about what its fall meant to the free

Need law specialised to write personal statements Essay

Need law specialised to write personal statements - Essay Example Most importantly, I believe in the Latin maxim fiat justitia et pereat mundus or let justice be done, though the world may perish. The study of law exists to educate people and their solicitors about the law and their rights and obligations. He who sleeps on or is ignorant of his rights risks being taken advantage of others.I wish to pursue a doctorate in the law that I may receive the best and most up to date and most advanced legal knowledge possible. I wish to achieve this so that I can be of greater service to my clients, my country and myself. Personal Statement (800 words) I have always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Even when I was in the science section of the Al-Marefah Alahlyah school, I was already fascinated with the law. Our concentration in the natural sciences and the laws of science opened my mind to the belief that a higher learning of the real world can be achieved. Specifically, that a man can aspire to a greater understanding of human laws and how they govern our l ives, much in the same way that natural laws organize and govern the natural world. In both spheres, knowledge and insight is what enables leaders to gain predictable results and hence, harness natural and legal phenomena to our advantage. After secondary school, I went to the King Abdul-Aziz University to study law and it was there that I began to quench my thirst for legal knowledge. As a result of my earnest efforts in that school, I completed my Bachelor of Laws and became a lawyer. It was not long, however, before I aspired to expand my legal horizons. To do this, I went to England to obtain a Master’s degree in International Law and Financial markets at the prestigious University of East London. Having completed my Masters, I now wish to gain a Juris Doctor from your fine institution. One may well wonder why I desire to obtain a Doctorate so soon after I received my Masteral degree. My answer to this is that I want to become a successful lawyer in an ever-changing world . I believe that, in order to accomplish this, I must constantly educate myself in the best institutions. I believe that complacency is the root of decay and that my hard-won knowledge of the law must be constantly enhanced with new learning and further study. Otherwise, my legal skills may become obsolete or outdated to the great detriment of my practice. Besides, I am still hungry for more knowledge of the law and greater expertise thereat. I believe that a Doctorate from the nation that gave mankind the rule of law is the proper avenue to expand my mastery of certain topics in the law. After all the study of law is a continuing process and one should never be fully satisfied with his level of mastery in any subject in the law. The desire to have greater knowledge of the law also has a practical aspect in my duty as a member of the bar and a Solicitor striving for the benefit of my clients. Bad legal advice is worse than no legal advice at all because the client would have been le d to think that he had received good advice and will follow it only to find out later that it was wrong. I do not want to someday hand out bad advice because of a deficiency in my mastery of the law. After all, ignorance of the law excuses no one and it would certainly look very bad if I was to lose a case or file an improper case simply because I lacked knowledge about a particular topic. A Doctorate from your institution will allow me to impart what I have learned to peers and

Strategic Planning for International Travel Essay

Strategic Planning for International Travel - Essay Example In the "Strategic planning for international travel" essay, the author describes the prevailing situation in the travel industry in the United Kingdom. The importance of International travel, infrastructure and public-private partnership for UK International Travel are described. Most of the European countries belong to the category of developed nation, and the countries like United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, Italy etc are the major economic powers. As this paper deals with the international travel of UK, the focus will be on this country. European nations are economically and technically developed and hence, their transportation and travel system are quite advanced. UK is one of the leading financial powers of Europe. Its GDP as per purchasing power is nearly $2.189 trillion and per capita GDP is recorded $35,100 during 2010 (CIA, 2011). After the financial crisis of 2007-2008, its economic growth has experienced a steep downfall. However, UK’s economy is now at its recov ering stage and government is trying to bring further developments by encouraging trade and business. Tours and travels is an important aspect for the growth of trade and business and hence, the government is trying to improve its infrastructure and technology for availing better transportation system. The services industries are playing very crucial role in UK as 75% of its GDP is contributed by these services sectors. UK’s services industries include a number of sectors like transport, communication, financial, distribution, distribution, tourism etc. (U.S. Department of State, 2010). Increases trade and business activities in UK have necessitated major infrastructural and

Spiritual Assessment of Mentally Retarded Patient Essay

Spiritual Assessment of Mentally Retarded Patient - Essay Example This discussion stresses that FICA serves as an imperative tool for the spiritual assessment of the patients in order to cure them from spiritual and psychological disorder. The medical advisor concentrates upon the nature, influence, community and application of the patient’s faith in order to pacify and soothe him in the light of his religious and spiritual beliefs. â€Å"The connection between spirituality and medicine†, Puchalski observes, â€Å"has been receiving a lot of attention in both the scientific and lay presses recently, but research and anecdotal evidence all indicate that spirituality is central to the care of the chronically ill and dying.† Consequently, almost all therapeutic and healthcare centers take spiritual needs of the patients into serious consideration in order to rescue them from emotional trauma on the basis of their spiritual needs.This paper discusses that  Mrs. Wilson claimed to be a spiritual person, as she aptly heard the call of conscience and virtue deep in her heart; consequently, she used to offer charity and donation to the disabled persons and orphans through non-governmental and charity organizations. She endorsed the very reality that religion maintained imperative significance in her life. Since the noble teachings of St. Perpetua had left indelible imprints upon her mind, she felt great relief by studying the marvelous sacrifices made by her. She also sought support from Heavens to get cured immediately, which revealed her strong belief in her Creator.

ABSTRACT AND CONCLUSION for my critical communication event in recent Essay

ABSTRACT AND CONCLUSION for my critical communication event in recent history - Essay Example Critical communication encompasses several avenues, taking the simplest avenue at one point, and a complex one at another. These avenues include: the press, film, radio, television, internet and wireless communication. This paper will focus on individual critical communication avenues, and further define the interrelationship between and among these avenues in the context of an event in recent history. Emery Orto, a 6-foot 350-pounds suburban Chicago man, was denied flying with Southwest Airlines from Las Vegas to Midway because of his size (Netter, 2009; eTurboNews Inc., 2010). He was not ready to buy a second ticket nor did he communicate with the Airlines personnel properly so that they could see he was right by letting him board the plane and seeing for themselves (Monson, 2011). After the incident happened, there were a lot of people who were of the point of view that Orto should have been allowed to fly (Texas, 2009). But critically analyzing the situation, one comes to know that the Airlines personnel was only doing its duty by questioning Orto as by boarding him with only one seat booked would not only have made him uncomfortable but the comfort of other passengers sitting next to him was also at stake. The customer of size policy of South West Airlines (2011) states that, â€Å"Customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed prior to travel†. This incident got media’s attention and became a hot topic just because of Orto’s ego and unwillingness to communicate with the Airlines personnel. I believe that Orto should have kept his ego aside. The personnel reports that Orto was offered to board the plane to show that he could fit in one seat without disturbing his seatmates, but he refused which shows irrational behavior and reluctance to

Spiritual Assessment of Mentally Retarded Patient Essay

Spiritual Assessment of Mentally Retarded Patient - Essay Example This discussion stresses that FICA serves as an imperative tool for the spiritual assessment of the patients in order to cure them from spiritual and psychological disorder. The medical advisor concentrates upon the nature, influence, community and application of the patient’s faith in order to pacify and soothe him in the light of his religious and spiritual beliefs. â€Å"The connection between spirituality and medicine†, Puchalski observes, â€Å"has been receiving a lot of attention in both the scientific and lay presses recently, but research and anecdotal evidence all indicate that spirituality is central to the care of the chronically ill and dying.† Consequently, almost all therapeutic and healthcare centers take spiritual needs of the patients into serious consideration in order to rescue them from emotional trauma on the basis of their spiritual needs.This paper discusses that  Mrs. Wilson claimed to be a spiritual person, as she aptly heard the call of conscience and virtue deep in her heart; consequently, she used to offer charity and donation to the disabled persons and orphans through non-governmental and charity organizations. She endorsed the very reality that religion maintained imperative significance in her life. Since the noble teachings of St. Perpetua had left indelible imprints upon her mind, she felt great relief by studying the marvelous sacrifices made by her. She also sought support from Heavens to get cured immediately, which revealed her strong belief in her Creator.

Teacher Education Essay Example for Free

Teacher Education Essay A teacher is someone whose job is to teach especially in a school whether it is a secondary school, primary school or even kindergarten. Every teacher should have their qualification in order to be a teacher in a school. So, I think that a kindergarten teacher should have at least a basic degree to qualify them to be a good kindergarten teacher. Why kindergarten teacher should have a basic degree? There are several reasons why kindergarten teachers need a basic degree which is to ensure the children get a good early education, the teachers can provide good teaching skills and to increase the competition among the university students nowadays. Teachers with a basic degree will ensure the children get a good early education. As we all know, world nowadays needs people with high level of education and to fulfill this mission, we need a teachers with wide knowledges and experiences which is a graduated students with basic degree can provide. . Besides, the children are like a white and blank cloth so it is teachers and parents who will colour them. The teachers with a basic degree have good enough knowledge to teach their students and they can provide correct and good education for the kids thus producing good generation for the future. The kindergarten teachers with a basic degree also can provide a good teaching skill for the students. At the university, the students are well teached with the ways to provide good study environment, good teaching skills and various styles to comfort the students. So, the teachers can teach the kids in a proper way ensuring they get a good education and the teachers can provide a good and enjoyful environment for the children to study well thus producing excellent and intelligent students. As we know, the children are very active so we need an enjoyful and bright environment to comfort them. The needs for kindergarten teachers to have at least a basic degree can increase the competition among the university students nowadays. The rate of failure rate among the students in the university nowadays is increasing so the increase of qualification in order to get a job will ensure the students to study hard to achieve good results when they graduated. This will  increase the level of education in our country thus producing good image for the country. In conclusion, the kindergarten teachers should have at least a basic degree to make sure the children get a well early educat

Dissertation Exploring The Impacts Of Recession

Dissertation Exploring The Impacts Of Recession The purpose of this study is to explore the repercussions of recession on the British Stock Market particularly expounding its impact on Alternative Investment Market. The study aims to utilise qualitative approach to examine and constitute the relative repercussions of recession upon AIM. For this, an exhaustive literature review of the London Stock Exchange is essential to gain indicative factors relevant to account for the associated risks of recession to AIM. According to research on UK firms, uncertainty shocks typically reduce the responsiveness of firms by more than half, leaving monetary and fiscal policy-makers relatively powerless (Bloom et al, 2007). 1.1 LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE LSE is amongst the oldest stock exchanges in Europe and also the most promising out of the 22 active stock exchanges functioning in Great Britain. It was established in 1801 and has emerged as the largest stock exchanges of the world comprising of number of overseas as well as British companies (London Stock Exchange, 2005). The positioning of London city is beneficial as it let the London Stock Exchange to function during American and Asian sessions. Being a public company its shares are traded on stock exchanges and is considered to be the most international trading floor and about 50% of international transactions with shares are concluded on LSE (London Stock Exchange, 2005). The London Stock Exchange has four main quarters that include equity markets which facilitates companies from across the globe to raise capital (London Stock Exchange, 2005). There are the four primary markets that include: The Main Market, Alternative Investment Market (AIM), Professional Securities Market (PSM) and Specialist Fund Market (SFM). London Stock Exchange is a highly active market that provides range of trading services including trading in a range of securities as for example, UK and international equities, debt, covered warrants, exchange traded funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs), REITs, fixed interest, contracts for difference (CFDs) and depositary receipts (London Stock Exchange, 2005). It provides market data information with clarity offering real-time prices, news and other financial information to the global financial community. EDX London, established in 2003serves as a major contributor to derivatives business in order to bring the cash equity and derivatives markets closer together the London Stock Exchange. 1.2 AIM: AN OVERVIEW London Stock Exchange reviewed the unlisted securities market in1993 during the middle of a recession and decided to close it. Quoted Companies Alliance now referred as CISCO was then born and which lead to the establishment of Alternative Investment Market in June 1995 by London Stock Exchange. With its noticeable endurance for several years; AIM has been a considerable success. Rapid growth has been observed in AIM market, commencing its operation in 1995, it has rose over  £24 billion and listed over 2,200 companies, including 276 foreign companies by January 2006 listing1,408 companies from 33 industrial sectors out of which 220 were from overseas countries. Instead of offering shares to the public AIMs 90% of flotations depends on placing the shares with institutions, venture capital trusts and private investors reinforced by European 191 Prospectus Directive (Thronton, 2009). In order to reduce the pool of capital available to buy new AIM shares, the European 191 Prospectus D irective requires that, a full prospectus must be issued in both conditions where; the company offers shares to more than 100 persons, other than qualified investors or if a private client broker proffer such shares to more than 100 of their clients (Thronton, 2009).. Based in the city of London, AIM benefits from competitive supply of leading financial services and decently offers direct access to outsized and sophisticated shareholders. AIM has the potential to provide with all the significant financial services as required by the firm for listing, floating, reporting, auditing, broking, public relations, security analysis, printing, legalities, registering shareholders, etc. Rising higher from a percentage of 35.2% in September 2003, the institutional investors owned 40.9% by value of the shares listed on AIM in September 2005(Growth Company Investor, 2005), that consequently accounts for a very substantial institutional contribution of AIM, in small-capitalization market. 1.2.1 MARKET SIZE The multitude of companies traded on AIM come from different parts of the world and signify huge number of industries. At present there are approximately 1500 companies from more than 26 countries that are quoted on the AIM (London Stock Exchange, 2005). There is one common trait shared by all traded companies on AIM and i.e. a dynamic corporate attitude and a strong ambition for business expansion. AIM welcomes companies of varying sizes to become part of even though it was primarily designed for smaller firms, but companies of varying sizes if possessing a desire for growth and profitability, are equally encouraged to join the Alternative Investment Market. 1.2.2 OPERATIONS The operations of AIM are controlled by the London Stock Exchange, having a tendency to work ideal for companies with a capitalization and valuation from $20 million to $300 million. The costs for filings and entry are approximately $600,000, with ongoing annual costs of around $100,000. The range of capital-raising activities tends to be in between $4 million to $40 million with approximately 9 percent average cost of capital. The percentage of retail investment is higher than on the official list and the investors are largely institutional. 1.2.3 KEY STATISTICS Table: 01 AIM 1,635 UK 1,331 International 304 AIM Market Capitalisation  £94.4 Billion AIM IPOs in 2006 278 UK 201 International 77 Capital raised since 1995*  £40.1 Billion Capital raised in 2006*  £15.7 Billion UK  £10.3 Billion International  £5.4 Billion * New listings and further capital raises 1.2.4 DIVERSITY AND INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION AIM has a diverse market spanning (Figure, 02) in approximately 39 sectors having a number of international companies and investors. The AIM is comprised of key sectors in which there is resource sector that include mining and oil gas, financial sector includes real estate, equity investment instruments and general financial. The industrial sector of AIM is comprise of construction materials, electronic electrical equipment and support services whereas, the consumer services includes media and travel leisure. Apart from US the growth in international companies on AIM is also being driven through Canada, China, India and mainland Europe. 1.2.5 MARKET CAPITALISATION According to LSE statistics the international companies listed as UK Top Co are counted as domestic. The US investors 330 international companies are listed with a value of  £36.6bn equivalent to $73.5bn and over 70 US companies listed on AIM has a value of  £2.9bn that is equivalent to $5.8bn (London Stock Exchange, 2005). It is interesting to note that the international companies on AIM are larger than UK companies, with an average market capitalisation at 31 December 2007 of  £99.2 million compared with  £46.9 million for UK registered companies. The market capitalisation on Alternative Investment Market is expressed in the Figure, 03. It is important to signify that AIM is not subject to more extensive regulation and therefore, it offers a wider pool of investors, and this may result in some decline in the cost of capital (Errunza and Miller, 2000). CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 INTRODUCTION Establishing itself as the worlds most successful growth market after being launched by the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in 1995, AIM provides opportunity to raise capital and a liquid market place to trade shares for small and medium sized growing companies. Over 3000 small growth companies have listed on AIM and these companies have raised a total of over  £60 billion, since the commencement of AIM. Global recession has caused complicated market conditions however; there are still some signs of recovery, such as the first major IPO of the year and on the other hand improvement can be observed in trading volumes and average; meanwhile, an improvement in fund raising conditions towards the end of 2009 and through 2010 is also predicted by the brokers and other market commentators (Thronton, 2009). In order to conserve its position in the market AIM has to become accustomed with current market conditions, while not losing sight of its roots and emerge as a market focused on providing growing companies with direct access to capital (Thronton, 2009). The main objective of the literature review is to summarise the existing research work to gain insights on the subject area and also to assess and explain the impacts of recession. The core element of the research is to conduct an empirical study of the relative volatility, analysis of market size, allowance and liquidity ratios of AIM and determining its rate of progression during economic commotion. 2.2 AIM- FACTS AND FIGURES The AIMs trading began on 19 June 1995 and there were only 10 companies listed on the first day of trading. Since the opening of the Third Market in 1987, AIM was Londons first new market and it is split into two indices, the AIM 50 and AIM 100 Index where AIM 50 includes the biggest names on the junior market by attracting fresh, budding and newly expanding firms which were incapable for admittance to the main FTSE lists (London Stock Exchange, 2005). Even after facing criticism for the costs by some experts the market succeeded in making it easier for smaller businesses to raise capital. In accordance with the rules by AIM, the companys costs rose up to 20 times higher in comparison to the earlier system. Notwithstanding the cost of raising capital was approximated to be an average of about  £100,000 for an AIM company, as compared to  £1m for a company on the main market (London Stock Exchange, 2005). There are now 1,276 AIM-listed companies. Liquidity among AIM stocks widely varies and the stocks having highest capitalisation and the largest free float represent comparable liquidity levels to the main market. There are a large number of illiquid stocks on the lower end of the market. AIM provides different trading platforms for different types of stock in order to improve the liquidity of the market but its volatility is not significantly diverse than other markets. 2.2.1 STOCK TRADING Large and frequently traded stocks are listed on AIM and there are small, infrequently traded stocks also listed with it therefore; no single trading mechanism is applicable to AIM stocks. Considering the time from the institution of AIM, it has exhibited very rapid growth in trading volumes (London Stock Exchange, 2005) as represented in Table, 02. The average annual growth rates over the period of a decade starting from1996 to the year 2005 are as follows; the turnover was around 36%; number of trades was 28%; and the number of shares traded were 35% approximately. The average number of shares per trade grew by 5% per year, whereas the average value per trade grew by 6% per year, over this period. The growth of trading on AIM occurred in two phases. There was a substantial drop in stock market prices observed during 2001- 2002 where there was negative volume growth which gradually recovered in the year 2003 followed by rapid growth of trading. 2.2.2 UNDERSIZED REGULATORY LOAD AIM regulations are designed to reduce burden for companies listing on this exchange. The admission process for AIM takes about three months, depending on circumstances (Audley, 2005) and in order to list on AIM; There is no need for trading record and on the spot listing of start-ups and cash shells; Smaller companies can also list as there is no minimum market capitalization; Reduced costs and time for listing as the admission documents are not pre-vetted by AIM or the U.K. Listing Authority; The lack of a minimum free float for preventing firms to sell off a substantial part of the business to list in AIM; Approval from prior shareholder is not required for acquisitions that also reduces the time and cost of acquisitions. There is an obligation to employ a Nomad at all times for each AIM-listed company. The Nomads carry out three main functions; To make a decision that if a company should be admitted to AIM or not; Managing the floatation process; and Advice the company regarding rules, before and after it has been listed. 2.2.3 COSTS FOR LISTINGS The admission fee of AIM is  £4,180 with a listing fee of  £4,180 per year and a value-added tax to these admission and annual fees is applied to UK companies. The total costs of admission to AIM are about  £350,000 to  £450,000 and a brokers fees of 3% 6% of any funds raised (Audley, 2005). Nomads are liable to undertake most of this process followed by any subsequent capital-raising and this keeps admission and listing costs under control. The costs to the firm of listing on AIM include: The initial costs to obtain the listing; Followed by initial floatations costs of any subsequent capital raising; and The annual costs of maintaining the listing. 2.2.4 THE MAIN MARKET London Stock Exchange is one of the worlds leading stock exchanges and AIM offers a great deal of progression to it and vice versa. During a period of January 2000 to December 2004, a total of 160 companies switched between AIM and the main market. About 81% went from the main market to AIM and almost 19% went from AIM to the main market concluding that out of every company graduated from AIM to the main market, four moved in reverse course (Dufour, Sutcliffe and Wells 2005). In accordance with a survey (Baker Tilly, 2005b) 17 firms moved from the main market to AIM and their reason (Table, 03) for moving as constituted by the survey were; Less regulation 53% More Flexibility 41% Less Expensive 24% Tax Benefits 12% Suitability 12%Table: 03 Furthermore, the survey (Baker Tilly 2005b) reveals that 64% of the main market companies considered moving in and back to AIM, out of which 26% actually planned to move whereas the rest of 34% companies considered it beneficial due to lack of provisional parameters, trouble-free acquisitions, greater flexibility and tax advantages. 2.2.5 TAXATION The following areas of tax relief are available for individual investors in U.K. companies listed on AIM (Baker Tilly, 2005a): The business asset taper relief tends to minimise the effective tax rate of capital gains tax up to 40% 10%. In gift relief a capital gains tax is overdue until a subsequent disposal by the recipient. Investment in AIM trading companies leads to indemnity from inheritance tax. Enterprise investment scheme offers relief from both income tax and capital gains tax. From the initial investment in new AIM shares about one fifth of the cost can be counterbalanced against income tax. In addition any capital gain is exempt from capital gains tax, while any capital loss (less the 20% income tax relief) can be offset against capital gains elsewhere. Investors are exempt from tax on dividends from the Venture Capital Trusts, and capital gains on their shares in the VCT. Investors also receive an initial income tax relief equal to 40% of their investment in new VCT shares. 2.2.6 REQUIREMENTS AND LISTING PROCEDURE Companies listed on AIM have to assign a nominated adviser to serve as their sponsor or representative and is responsible to prepare the prospectus in order to admit the issuer for trading on AIM. The function of a nomad is to assists the company in raising its initial capital provide market making and research for the issuers stock with the help of its brokerage and research departments. The contractual activities and correlation between the issuer and its nomad extends well beyond the initial public offering. Nomad remain active even after the initial listing on AIM so that a small issuer does not end up being left alone in a stock market crisis. New rules and regulations were instituted both for nomads and companies listed on the AIM exchange, in Feb, 2007. To provide further guidance and to illuminate the regulatory issues concerning disclosure requirements the rules for nomads and companies were put into practice. Although the changes to AIM rules are evolutionary rather than re volutionary, Nomads should not under-estimate the Exchanges emphasis on the responsibility of nomads for preserving the reputation and integrity of AIM (Audley, 2005). 2.3 ASSOCIATED RISKS AND BENEFITS The listing procedure is much more simplified in London Stock Exchange as there is no regulatory authority in the UK so it becomes the responsibility of the sponsoring nomad as a result of which the complete process becomes substantially quicker and inexpensive. The prospectus discloses all information that an investor needs for making an informed investment decision and its less comprehensive in most cases where the SEC-filed registration statement and the review process, for the most part, is absent (Audley, 2005). Therefore, the SEC governmental review process of the prospectus, the massive amount of periodic regulatory filings and compulsory financial reporting needs are eradicated by listing on AIM. The emerging growth companies are offered with very greater options by eliminating the need for underwriters that are only interested large deals so a great number of foreign companies are flocking to AIM (London Stock Exchange, 2006). Listing on AIM gives an emerging growth company the opportunity to go public and raise capital for reasonable fees and under reasonable terms and conditions. AIM rules require not only a nominated broker but also a nominated adviser. There were companies on AIM which caused regulatory nervousness and the big guns at the DTI, Treasury and Stock Exchange focused their canon on nominated advisers. This had a knock-on effect on costs. Nominated advisers lay off their responsibilities on solicitors and accountants who duly reproduce and costs shoot up (London Stock Exchange, 2006). Professional advisers, anxious to minimise the risk of adverse criticism by the regulatory authorities, are now applying Official List standards. This has driven costs up and has damaged the purpose of AIM (London Stock Exchange, 2006). 2.4 FISCAL AGITATION AND AIM Economic recovery is gradual but consistent followed by the recession that hit the stock markets worldwide and for London Stock Exchange, particularly AIM market; there is a need for investment by small companies. The number of companies quoted on AIM, which is the London Stock Exchanges Alternative Investment Market, is now just 1,276 compared with more than 1,600 in the year 2007, which constitutes that, more than one company a day delists from AIM throughout last year (Northedge, 2010). It is also noticeable that notwithstanding the soaring share prices up to 66 per cent in the year 2009, outperforming the main stock market, only 36 new companies joined AIM. It is the lowest annual total since the launch of AIM in1995 and a tiny fraction as compared to the joining of 462 companies that in 2006 (Northedge, 2010). About 290 companies delisted compared with 218 in the year 2008, and others have been liquidating their assets and returning the proceeds to shareholders. Reported by (Wac hman, 2009) in Guardian, The number of companies having a capital under  £5m or  £10m has halved within two years and approximately two-thirds of AIMs companies are capitalised at less than  £25m and almost10 per cent are valued at below  £2m. Despite share prices falling, the delisting of the small firms has become a basis for the average AIM Companys estimation twofold to  £43m since the year 2006. The continued loss of small firms from AIM and some Britains top 200 companies remain there give rise to a fear that AIM will become another version of the main market leaving no alternative for smaller businesses to be quoted. That is already making it harder for small firms to raise capital to invest in Britains economic recovery (Northedge, 2010).

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Essay examples -- essays research

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe By C.S. Lewis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My favorite character in this book would have to be Peter. He was a little bit of a tough guy yet timid, but wasn’t afraid to fight for his siblings lives. Peter was the oldest amongst his brother and two sisters and was most likely the brains and brawn of the bunch. In this story, Peter has to fight off a wolf to test his courage or, in Aslan’s words, win his spurs. He returns victorious and is knighted by the lion called Aslan. His brother Edmund, a very mischievous boy and a bother to his sisters Lucy and Susan, looks up to Him though he never admits to it. Peter was definitely the highlight of this book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Four children, two girls and two boys, are in for an adventure of a lifetime their names were, starting with the oldest, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. The story starts off with the children leaving London by train because of war. The place the children took refuge in was a mansion deep in the country where they would be out of harms way. In this mansion there were thousands of rooms, hideaways, secret passageways, many floors and much, much more. Of Course there was nothing more boring than to sit around all day when it did nothing but rain outside. So what do they do? They explore the house of course! And they did. In the process of doing so, they came to a room on the highest floor of the mansion, but all that was in there was a hand-carved wardrobe with not...

Golden Ass Essay -- Apuleius Roman Literature Mythology Papers

Golden Ass Apuleius' Golden Ass, the only surviving novel of the Roman Empire, is a tale of a Greek nobleman devoting his life to the goddess Isis following his transformation to an ass and back. Although a work of fiction, the novel reveals a great deal about religion in Apuleius' society. This information, however, must be viewed with a critical eye. He incorporates stories from Greco-Roman mythology not to affirm their validity, but to reveal their commonness to society. Apuleius insults other religions that are not of the Pantheon with severe viciousness, while the general public may have been more open to them. In the end, he praises Isis and Osiris as the supreme gods while giving first hand account of their righteousness. Overall, Apuleius' view of religion cannot be trusted. From the very start we see Apuleius using references to Roman myths as similes to everyday occurrences. When Fotis, the slave, enters his bedroom to make love to him, he remarks that "she stood, transformed into a living statue: the Love-goddess rising from the sea. The flushed hand with which she pretended to screen her mount of Venus showed that she was well aware of the resemblance; certainly it was not held there from modesty." He describes a slave girl trying to seduce him as Venus rising out of the sea. Some of this description may be a hyperbole for Lucius' love of Fotis. However, Apuleius goes beyond this by linking Fotis directly to Venus. Thus, the most beautiful goddess in the Pantheon is easily seen in a slave girl. Similarly, Thelyphron, when telling the story how members of a household attacked him, describes himself as feeling "like Adonis mauled by the wild boar, or Orpheus torn in pieces by the Thracian women." This... ...ddess. To prove his point, Apuleius first discounts all other worships. Throughout the novel he describes things that happen to individuals in terms of the traditional Greco-Roman myths. He subtly chips away at the traditional Roman gods, avoiding a direct attack on the Pantheon because the vast majority of his audience believed in it. If he attacked them directly, he would surely not be considered credible. With the other religions, however, Apuleius reserves nothing. He declares religions of Asia Minor to be fraudulent and calls monotheistic religions "blasphemous." After questioning the other religions, Apuleius goes on to praise the worship of Isis. As a result, we the contemporary reader cannot infer too much about Roman religion from The Golden Ass. Works Cited Apuleius. The Golden Ass. Trans. Robert Graves. Noonday Press, 1998. ISBN 0-374-50532-2.