Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Niccolo Machiavelli Essay - 1536 Words

Niccolo Machiavelli Around 1513 Niccolo Machiavelli while writing The Prince would not be considered a theologian. When thinking of Machiavelli many people confuse him together with the names of rulers who have abused his writings. It also seems other people confuse Machiavelli with the rapper who took his name. Either way people confuse Machiavelli it seems they fail to look at his true message, bettering the state and the greater good. Machiavelli may seem evil to some but his political theory properly applied is optimal for founding a state, establishing and then maintaining order. Machiavelli being a consequentialist believed actions should be judged by their consequences. Machiavelli because of the way he thought believed†¦show more content†¦When thinking of right and wrong would it not be right to save more even though you have to hurt some? Machiavelli is not against all that is good. Machiavelli, although thought to be, is not against religion. Machiavelli believes religion is a great unifier. A fact many have overlooked in his philosophy. Also it seems there is a hint of belief or acknowledgement in God in his passage Although one should not reason about Moses, since he merely executed what God Commanded, yet he must be praised for the grace that made him worthy of speaking with God. But let us consider Cyrus and the others who acquired great kingdoms: they were all praiseworthy, and their actions and institutions, when examined, do not seem to differ from Moses, who had such a mighty teacher. This quote too could be Machiavelli simply covering his tracks so he does not seem blasphemous and the punishment that would come with being blasphemous. It is interesting though why he would even mention Moses when he could have been as easily left out? Machiavelli believed for a prince to be successful he must found a state that will not need a prince once he dies. This belief was stretched over The Prince and The Discourses. The question though is how can a prince make himself obsolete or should he make himself completely obsolete? The answer is no he can not make himself completely obsolete. A Prince should establish a republic but stillShow MoreRelatedNiccolo Machiavelli Essay940 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli is a great influence on many poloticians, philosophers, and leaders alike. His name has also come into our grammer as Machiavellian or Machiavellism meaning a brutal or realist view of something perhaps not the most moral of methods but it is effective. In Niccolo Machiavellis day and age he was one of the few that could read and write literacy was left primarily to preists and poloticians. He was oviously a very skilled politician and had a knowledge for the art of war. Read MoreThe Prince by Niccolo Mach iavelli885 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli was born in Italy in 1469 and began his political career in 1498. At that time, Italy was struggling politically. The government was so corrupt and was comprised of several independently operated city-states. What further complicated matters was that this is where the pope lived. He was leader of the Catholic Church, controlled his own territory, and had more influence than any prince of any of the other city-states in Italy. Machiavelli was suspected of being an enemy ofRead MoreEssay on The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli700 Words   |  3 PagesThe Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince by Niccolà ² Machiavelli was written in the year 1513 A.C.E. in Italy during a time in which his views were greatly detested by others. They were so hated that he was exiled from his own country for writing them. When hearing this, one must ask oneself, what kinds of views did Machiavelli have so that his own country would cast him out? His ideas, though written very complexly, were very simple. One must gain success and to do so, any means were justifiableRead MoreEssay about Niccolo Machiavelli1653 Words   |  7 Pages According to legend, just before his death, Niccolo Machiavelli told his friends that had remained faithful to him up until the very end about a dream he had had. In his dream, he had seen a group of peasants, wretched and decrepit in appearance. He asked them who they were. They replied, ‘We are the saintly and the blessed; we are on our way to heaven.’ Then he saw a crowd of formally attired men, aristocratic and grim in appearance, spea king solemnly of important political matters. Again, heRead MoreNiccolà ³ Machiavelli: Fear or Love540 Words   |  2 PagesMachiavelli: Fear or Love? Niccolà ³ Machiavelli’s The Prince is a book of political philosophy that describes the perfect leader in a republican fourm of government, the very form used in American society today. Machiavelli explains what qualities the ideal â€Å"prince† should have as well as how he should go about conducting his business. Although both qualtites would be desirable, he argues that if the prince were to choose between being feared or loved by his people, the prince should choose fearRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli517 Words   |  3 Pages The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is about the origination of a prince. More or less how a prince can start from the bottom and become a great king or die at the feet of his people before reaching his prime. To become a prince there are many different ways which is explain in this book for example To arrive at this position depends not entirely on worth. Stating that there are a number of way you can become a prince by Favor of the people, but must maintain a healthy friendship and offer protectionRead More Changing Interpretations of The Prince and Niccolo Machiavelli2638 Words   |  11 PagesChanging Interpretations of The Prince and Niccolo Machiavelli After five hundred years, Niccolo Machiavelli the man has ceased to exist. In his place is merely an entity, one that is human, but also something that is far above one. The debate over his political ideologies and theories has elevated him to a mythical status summed up in one word: Machiavelli. His family name has evolved into an adjective in the English language in its various forms. Writers and pundit’s bandy about this newRead MoreThe Prince and The Discourses by Niccolo Machiavelli1753 Words   |  7 Pagesputs Florence in an even worse situation. As a person working at the office of the second chancellery of Florence with great interest in politics, Machiavelli tries to come up with some possible solutions that could get Florence into a better situation. Through his political career as a diplomat and secretary under the regime of Piero Soderini, Machiavelli realizes how important the role of the populace is in order for the Florentine government to get close to wh at he thinks of as the ideal model ofRead MoreThree Points that Niccolo Machiavelli Illustrates in The Prince743 Words   |  3 PagesThree Points that Niccolo Machiavelli Illustrates in The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli is a very pragmatic political theorist. His political theories are directly related to the current bad state of affairs in Italy that is in dire need of a new ruler to help bring order to the country. Some of his philosophies may sound extreme and many people may call him evil, but the truth is that Niccolo Machiavelli’s writings are only aimed at fixing the current corruptions and cruelties that filled theRead MoreBiography of and Principles Taught By Niccolo Machiavelli Essay1047 Words   |  5 PagesMachiavelli Essay: Question 1 Born in the 15th century, Niccolà ² Machiavelli was an Italian historian, politician, philosopher, diplomat and humanist. Following his career as an official in the Florentine Republic, Machiavelli was a founder of modern political science and political ethics. In the political treatise The Prince, written in 1532, Machiavelli outlines several key traits of a successful princedom such as; how to incorporate newly acquired provinces, the most successful way to conquer territories

Monday, December 16, 2019

Schooling the Smash Street Kids Book Review Free Essays

Paul Corrigan’s ‘Schooling the smash street kids’ takes the ever problematic issues of education and youth and provides a glimpse into it from the other side of the street. Impulsive, informal and unorthodox in writing style, Corrigan talks as if you were an old friend, pulling you in and gently nudging your opinions with personal memories. His work was based in the gritty north-east city of Sunderland, studying 14-15 year old boys in two schools with very different levels of facilities but both with undoubtedly working class pupils. We will write a custom essay sample on Schooling the Smash Street Kids Book Review or any similar topic only for you Order Now This book does not start with a hypothesis and then test it but arranges each chapter around a relevant question, i. e. why do kids muck about in class, and answers that question at the beginning of the chapter using existing theories and another way at the end showing the process of the sociological research that had been completed. The nature of the book is to discuss youths and the system of education in 1970s Britain and to highlight problems faced everyday in the classroom by teachers and pupils alike. The book is aimed at giving a voice to those in similar situations, teachers that are struggling to engage the tough to handle children that they teach and those in government that can change it so they can ‘see some point in education itself’ (page 153). Schooling the smash street kids provides real insight to problems that need solutions drawn from actual research that was carried out in schools by the author. Paul Corrigan was able to do this in an effective way as he did not project himself to the pupils as a teacher or an authority figure, but as an author who was writing a book about the students and they were his only reason for being there. This in turn created trust between them and he was therefore able to conduct much more meaningful research that may have not been obtained had he taken on a more authoritative persona. Although the style of the book is written in a way that can be understood and interpreted by people of different abilities and from different backgrounds, holds the readers attention and gets its information across in a succinct and interesting way, the chatty and informal nature of the writing could be a flaw. It may not be taken as a serious piece of research due to this and could lose some credibility among academics, when in fact it could provide significant findings to the field of research. Overall, this book is an easy and interesting read and may be useful to students starting out in the field of criminology, to grasp basic understandings. The book is well organised in structure and incorporates personal experiences and statistics which helps drives home its purpose, to change and improve the schooling system and give a, albeit a small, platform to those and others in a similar position, that Corrigan encounters. How to cite Schooling the Smash Street Kids Book Review, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Managerial Finance Capital Markets

Question: Discuss about the Managerial Finance for Capital Markets? Answer: Equity = Total liabilities and equity Debt Total liabilities and equity = 9,500 + 8% (9500) = 10,260. Debt = 4500 + 8% (4500) = 4,860. Equity = 10,260 4,860 = 5,400 Increase in equity = 5,400 -5,000 = 400 Net income = 5,600 + 8% (5600) = 6,048 Net income is 6,048 but equity increased only by 400, so dividend of 5,648 (6048-400) has been paid. An increase of sales to $28,800 is an increase of: % increase in sales = ($28,800 23,100) / $23,100 = 0.25 or 25% Assuming costs and assets increase proportionally Pro formaincome statement Pro forma Balance sheet Sales $ 28,800 Assets $ 151,250 Debt $ 37,600 Costs 19,875 Equity $87,193 EBIT $ 8925 Total $ 151,250 Total $ 124,793 Taxes (35%) 3124 Net income $ 5,801 The payout ratio is constant: Dividends = ($1,620 / $4,680)($5,801) Dividends = $2,008 The addition to retained earnings is: 5801 2008 = $3,793 New equity balance = 83400 + 3793 = $87,193 External financing need = Total assets Total liabilities and equity = 151250-124793 = $26,457 3: Full capacity sales = $520,000/0.83 = $626,506 Capital intensity ratio = $421,200/$626,506 = 0.6723 Fixed asset need = ($701,687 x 0.6723) - $421,200 = $50,544 A) Retention ratio: b= 1 $9,300 / $14,800 b= 0.3716 ROE (Return on Equity) ROE= $14,800 / $51,000 ROE= 0.2902, or 29.02% Sustainable growth rate= (ROE b) / [1 (ROE b)] Sustainable growth rate=[0.2902(0.3716)] / [1 0.2902(0.3716)] Sustainable growth rate= 0.1209, or 12.09% B) New Total Assets = 1.1209($68,000 + 51,000) = $133,384.62 New Total Debts = [Debts / (Debts + Equity)](Total assets) = [$68,000 / ($68,000 + 51,000)]($133,384.62) = $76,219.78 Additional borrowing = $76,219.78 68,000 = $8,219.78 C) (Return on Assets) ROA = $14,800 / ($68,000 + 51,000) ROA = .1244, or 12.44% The growth rate that can be supported with no outside financing = (ROA b) / [1 (ROA b)] = [.1244(.3716)] / [1 .1244(.3716)] = .0485, or 4.85% If you retire in 25 years, the account will have an ending value of 1500 * (1 + 0.087)25 = $12,073. If you wait 5 years to contribute, it will remain in the account for 20 years; the ending value of the account will be: 1500 * (1 + 0.087)20 = $5,242 A) The APR is the interest rate per week times 52 weeks in a year, so: APR = 52(8%) = 416%, EAR = (1 + 0.08)52 1 = 53.7 or 5,370% B) Calculation of APR 416 % / (1-0.08) = 452.1739 % Now rate per week = 452.1739 / 52 = 8.6956 % per week EAR = (1+0.0869)52- 1 = 75.38 or 7,538% C) PVA = $63.95 = $25[{1 [1 / (1 + r)]4}/ r ]; using trial and error or a financial calculator gives r = 20.63% per week APR = 52(20.63%) = 1,072.90%; EAR = 1.206352 1 = 1,722,530.00% We need to find the lump-sum payment into the retirement account. The present value of the desired amount of retirement is PV = FV (1+r)n PV = 5000000 / (1+0.10)40 PV = $110474.64 This is the value today. Since the savings are in the form of a growing annuity, we can use the growing annuity equation solve for the payments, doing so we get PV= C {1-[(1+g)/(1+r)]40} / (r-g) 110474.64 = C {1-[(1+0.03)/(1+0.10)]40} / (0.10 0.03) 110474.64 = C {1-[(1.03/1.10)]40} / (0.07) 110474.64 = C {1- 0.072074} / 0.07 110474.64 = C x 0.927926 / 0.07 C = $ 8333.89 This is the amount you need to save next year, so the % of your salary is = $ 8333.89 / 50000 = 0.1667 or 16.67 % The PV of the two options is equal to each other to be indifferent, PV = $25,000/r And the PV of the annuity is: PVA = $35,000 [{1 [1/(1 +r)15]}/r] Setting them equal and solving for, we get: $25,000/r=$35,000[{1[1/(1+r)15]}/r] $25,000/$35,000=1[1/(1+r)15] 0.92 = 1/1+r R = 0.087 or 8.7% A) Annual payments (A): PV (withdrawals) = PV (savings) 1/(1.07)30[125,000/0.07(1/{1-1/1.0720})] = A/0.07(1-1/1.0730) 0.13[1,785,714(1.35)]=12.43A A = $25,213 B) The present value of 20 instalments of 125,000 at 7% = 125,000 * 10.594 = $1,324,250 The lump sum payment needed is the present value of $1,324,250 discounted back 31 years at 7%: 0.1228 * $1,324,250 = $162,618 C) Present value of fund required on 65 th birthday (as calculated in b) = $ 1,324,250 Future Value of the employer's contribution, on 65th birthday = (3500/7 %) x [(1.07)30-1] = $ 330,613 Future Value of the distribution, on 65th birthday = 175000 x (1.07)10= $344251 Net fund required on 65th birthday= 330613+ 344251 = $ 649,386 Deposits to be made annually = (649386 x 7 %) / [(1.07)30 -1] = $ 6875 Dividends for the first 4 years is Year 1 = 2.50 + 18% (2.50) = $2.95, Year 2 = 2.95 + 18% (2.95) = $3.481 Year 3 = 3.481 + 18% (3.481) = $4.108 Year 4 = 4.801 + 18% (4.801) = $4.847 P4 = 4.847 (1 + 0.03)/ (0.08 0.03) = $98.9 P0 = 2.95/1.08 + 3.481/1.082 + 4.108/1.083 + 4.847/1.084 + 98.9/1.084 = 2.73 + 2.98 + 3.8 + 3.56 + 72.69 = $85.76 Po = 1.45 * 1.06 /.11-.06 = $30.74 PV3= 30.74 N= 3 r = 6%, FVIF = 1.191, FV = 30.74(1.191) = $36.61 PV15= 30.74 N= 15 r = 6%, FVIF = 1.558, FV = 30.74(1.558) = $47.89 Let the face value of both the bonds X and Y be $1000 P = C(PVIFAR%,t) + $1,000(PVIFR%,t) X: P0 = $90(PVIFA7%,13) + $1,000(PVIF7%,13) = $1,167.15 P1 = $90(PVIFA7%,12) + $1,000(PVIF7%,12) = $1,158.85 P3 = $90(PVIFA7%,10) + $1,000(PVIF7%,10) = $1,140.47 P8 = $90(PVIFA7%,5) + $1,000(PVIF7%,5) = $1,082.00 P12 = $90(PVIFA7%,1) + $1,000(PVIF7%,1) = $1,018.69 P13 = $1,000 Y: P0 = $70(PVIFA9%,13) + $1,000(PVIF9%,13) = $850.26 P1 = $70(PVIFA9%,12) + $1,000(PVIF9%,12) = $856.79 P3 = $70(PVIFA9%,10) + $1,000(PVIF9%,10) = $871.65 P8 = $70(PVIFA9%,5) + $1,000(PVIF9%,5) = $922.21 P12 = $70(PVIFA9%,1) + $1,000(PVIF9%,1) = $981.65 P13 = $1,000 All else held equal, the premium over par value for a premium bond declines as maturity approaches, and the discount from par value for a discount bond declines as maturity approaches. This is called pull to par. In both cases, the largest percentage price changes occur at the shortest maturity lengths. Also, notice that the price of each bond when no time is left to maturity is the par value, even though the purchaser would receive the par value plus the coupon payment immediately. This is because we calculate the clean price of the bond. References Frank J. Fabozzi, Pamela Peterson Drake. (2009). Capital Markets, Financial Management and Investment Management. New Jersey. John Wiley Sons. Fanck Leonard, Basiliki Loli, Blaz Kralj, Vasileios Vlachos. (2012). Investment and Valuation of firms. Kristina Levisauskaite. (2010). Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. Frank K. Reilly, Keith C Brown. (2012). Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. Texas. Reilly Brown. V Pattabhi Ram, S D Bala. (2012). Strategic Financial Management. Chennai, India: Snow white prime knowledge series. Eugene F. Brigham. (2005). Financial Management: Theory and Practice. Thomsan South-western.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Working Mothers an Example by

Working Mothers Working mothers are a widespread social phenomenon that reflects both economic necessity and new-found freedom for women to go beyond their traditional role in society. Just as mothers have responded to this dual challenge and responsibility, so too should the rest of society. One of the toughest choices of a woman's life comes with motherhood. The question is whether to stay at home or pursue a career? Both types of mothers deserve recognition, but the question remains, "What is best for the children?" Many mothers have special reasons and feelings about working outside of home. Need essay sample on "Working Mothers" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Some mothers want the self-fulfillment of having a career; they suppose their children will be more self-sufficient and more mature than children with full-time mothers. They work for their own emotional well-being, and deal with dual duty by balancing work and family. Unlike stay at home moms, working mothers have high self value as they are working in the same way as men, and their lives are not restricted to just children and husband. In present society if you ask a woman what her occupation is, and she is known as a stay-at-home mom, people have the tendency to look down on her. However, if she is a working mom, they might ask, "how does she manage it all?" This problem with many women makes it harder for them to decide between their children and work. One cannot be the best career woman and the best mother at the same time; a woman has to decide one over the other. (Goldman, 47-54) There are some married women who are economically strong and their husbands work, these women must make a decision whether they should work or stay home. Family life would be better if mothers decide to stay at home. Of course, these assumptions did not apply to millions of women who had to work to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads--women abandoned by their husbands (or who never had husbands), for example, or women who filled a whole variety of jobs ranging from maid to laundry worker to factory worker.(Hirshman, 112-115) It is important throughout this discussion of the pressures of jobs and families to bear in mind that to a large degree this applies to middle- and upper-middle class families in which women once stayed at home and now are most often found holding daytime jobs. When thinking of working women, two models come to mind. One of which is paid employment that has a protective and positive mediating effect. Employment protects women against certain negative aspects of being full-time homemakers and mothers, such as monotonous housework, reliance on the male partner for financial and emotional support, increases self-respect because they are causal to the world they live in. These women receive a transformed interest in life because they are in the thick of it. They are living life to the fullest. This model is the one that is regularly referred to as "bad" because it portrays the woman as someone who does not actually care about the consequences of working will have on the baby. (Goldman, 47-54) In fact, most of these mothers have made this choice with thorough care. They are continually feeling what everyone is thinking, and this in turn causes unnecessary stress on these mothers. The other model of the working mom is the one most people think of when talking about working mothers. This model is one of a woman having too many demands of her --housewife, mother and paid employee - which may lead to responsibility strain due to tiredness and role excess. The contending demands of such roles may also lead to clashes and mental stress. Both of these models can be seen in the working mother at any given time. They are simply a fact of life, an outcome of the world in which we live. Mothers are continually jumping back and forth in these roles, determined to find a sense of balance. If the scales were balanced, it would seem that they would either be cruel heartless women, simply worried with their jobs, and caring less about their children. (Hirshman, 112-115) This is simply not the case. It seems that the perfect circumstances is when the father helps around the house, as to ease some of the stress the mother feels from working and the aptitude for the mother to h ave a supple schedule. American society was willing to grant part of this wish--a greater percentage of women now attend college than do men--but not both parts. Today, a majority of women hold jobs outside the home, but when they get home, things haven't changed much. Its still Mom who is expected to cook dinner, make sure the children have clothes for school, oversee arrangements for birthday parties, and so forth. As a general rule--one that is difficult to measure with precise statistics--men have been willing to take advantage of having a second income stream without stepping up to relieve their wives of a myriad of household tasks traditionally assigned to full-time mothers. It cannot be over-emphasized that this last statement, like many in this essay, applies to a broad range of "average" families. It's not hard to find instances where the male has become a full-time stay-at-home Dad while the mother works outside the home, or instances in which males share equally in family care. But it's a lot easier to find instances where mothers take on a job while not giving up their role at home. (Jacobs, 92-97) Ironically, women's new-found freedom to pursue careers has introduced a new element in the "economics" of family life--freeing women from the "economic bondage" of marriage. Before women regularly earned salaries, the fact that their husbands were the sole source of income served as a disincentive to divorce--the cost was too great and there was no effective guarantee that the ex-husband would contribute alimony. (Goldman, 47-54) Today, women find it much easier to exit from unhappy or unsatisfying marriages; indeed, the majority of divorces are instigated by women. Many working mothers today are facing the reality of the "second shift". This is where they put in a full day of work at the office only to come home to start their "second shift", the one that entails all the housework and the raising of the family. Mothers feel that they have no choice in the matter, in order to be the "perfect" mother; they need to put in this shift, because it is their responsibility. But why is it their responsibility? Why does the father feel it is his right to come home and relax, when the mother is busy fixing dinner, and disciplining children? In order for the working mother to keep her understanding, the father needs to jump in and help with the household tasks that were formerly held by the homemaker. (Hirshman, 112-115) Many women today want and desire careers and a place in this world. They want to become a self-sufficient individual, free of reliance on another individual. Most importantly, the money earned by working mothers is advantageous to both their children and families, and they can afford sending their infants to day care centers or having a governess for them. Many working parents commit that they both work because they need money, but, they should also concern on an old truth - children need love and attention that money can not buy. On the other hand, stay-at-home moms have different viewpoint towards family relationship. One perception is the relationship among the spouses and the other outlook is the relationship between the parents and the children. Early infancy is a very vital stage in the raising of a child, and the mother's role at that stage is better than that of anyone else. For a great purpose that God has determined, the only nourishment of the baby at this stage is by nursing from its mother. This does not only medically affected the health of the child, but also has psychological effects. For these reasons, doctors always advise mothers to nurse their babies themselves, and if for some account a mother could not, she is advised to keep it close to her and take care of it all the time.(Jacobs,: 92-97) Therefore, one can understand the mistake a mother makes when she leaves her child at this stage to a day care or to a governess who takes care of it. It is also very tender for a mother to leave a crying child, giving out the role of motherhood with a stranger, and neglecting the child's emotional needs. In such a situation, a baby misses a lot of the psychological care it needs. This suggests that a mother can leave matters of cooking, house cleaning, and similar chores to the maid, because a baby will not receive as much tenderness and care from a maid as from its own mother. According to the psychological perspective, infants without a bond are likely to grow up with some serious character disorders as well as become depressed and neurotic. On the other hand, infants who receive enough attention and admiration from parents from the beginning are most likely to succeed socially and emotionally. Not only infants, children also need special care in their teen years as this is an important stage in their life. (Goldman, 47-54) As fathers are usually busy, a mother therefore should spend most of her time with them. A mother can be more aware of the affairs and activities of her children. Thus, in this way the children would be able to get enough affection and mother would be more likely to discover problems that her children suffer from. Their values and morals can be guided and the children can be disciplined more consistently. Conclusion There is no doubt that it is extremely difficult for a woman to work outside and take care of the child at the same time as raising a child is also a full time career with its own ample rewards. Because every person has the limited amount of time and energy so the women with competing demands suffer from overload and inter-role conflict, which make their life stressful and less satisfied. On the other hand, stay at home moms receive gratification and inner satisfaction from knowing they are giving their children a strong moral foundation and are being able to watch them grow. When mom does not work children develop tremendous feeling of fulfillment and thought of being important that makes them feel more secure and more confident. There an issue arises, which is why can't father stay home with children? A woman is born with the nature of making her house and children her first priority whereas men are expected to be protectors and caretakers of the family. Also, children do not feel comfortable when their father stay home instead of mother. The above information on this subject is controversial, but it also demonstrates that majority of married women have a lifestyle choice instead of an economic choice. It all comes down to women's satisfaction, if they are happier working or staying at home with their children. It is an important decision that all mothers must make, but how it influences their children is still debatable. In short, both the quantity and quality of time spent with children are better when mom is at home. There is not any job as challenging as raising a perfect child, which is a full time career. Works Cited Goldman, Paula (Ed). Imagining Ourselves: Global Voices from a New Generation of Women. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2006: 47-54 Hirshman, Linda R. Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World. New York: Viking, 2006: 112-115 Jacobs, Jerry A, and Kathleen Gerson. "The Time Divide: Work, Family and Gender Inequality." Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2005: 92-97.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Psychology of Attitudes essays

The Psychology of Attitudes essays Attitudes in a psychological context are defined as "the tendency to respond in a certain way toward certain issues, products, objects, or events" (Seamon attitudes impact on how people think. However, as Seamon psychologists studying attitudes are also particularly interested in how The first interest in attitudes occurred in the 1920s. At this point, the interest in psychology was largely confined to experimental techniques, where aspects of psychology were tested and measured. Thurstone used this approach to test people's attitude toward different ethnic groups, with people asked to rate various statements about the Chinese (Jones). This method was essential a survey, with the survey a rating tool for recognizing people's attitudes. While this method identified attitudes, it did nothing to try and explain how attitudes were This focus on how attitudes are formed came later. Zimbardo and Leippe described what they termed an attitude system. This system describes four components that make up an attitude. The first component is cognition, which refers to beliefs, thoughts, or ideas. The second component is affect, which refers to feelings and emotions. The third component is behavioral intentions, which refers to decisions to act in certain ways. The fourth component is the behavior, which refers to the actual actions taken. To explain how these components combine, it is useful to offer an example. Consider the case of a person who has an attitude about saving the rainforests. This attitude would be based on some kind of cognition. For example, the person might think that the rainforests are being destroyed and that future generations will suffer because of this. This attitude would also be likely to involve emotions, such as the person feeling sad about the destruction, or ang...

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Graduate With a Bachelors Degree Faster

How to Graduate With a Bachelor's Degree Faster Many people choose distance learning for its convenience and speed. Online students are able to work at their own pace and often finish faster than traditional students. But, with all the demands of daily life, many students  search for ways to complete their degrees in even less time. Having a degree sooner may mean making a larger salary, finding new career opportunities, and having more time to do what you want. If speed is what you’re looking for, check out these six tips to earning your degree as quickly as possible. Plan Your Work. Work Your Plan Most students take at least one class that they don’t need for graduation. Taking classes unrelated to your major field of study can be an excellent way to expand your horizons. But, if you’re looking for speed, avoid taking classes that aren’t required for graduation. Double-check your required classes and put together a personalized study plan. Staying in contact with your academic advisor each semester can help you stick to your plan and stay on track. Insist on Transfer Equivalencies Don’t let work you’ve done at other colleges go to waste; ask your current college to give you transfer equivalencies. Even after your college has decided what classes to give you credit for, check to see if any of the classes you have already completed could be counted to fill another graduation requirement. Your school will probably have an office that reviews transfer credit petitions on a weekly basis. Ask for that department’s policies on transfer credits and put together a petition. Include a thorough explanation of the class you have completed and why it should be counted as an equivalency. If you include course descriptions from your previous and current schools’ course handbooks as evidence, chances are you’ll get the credits. Test, Test, Test You can earn instant credits and reduce your schedule by proving your knowledge through testing. Many colleges offer students the opportunity to take the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams in various subject matters for college credit. Additionally, schools often offer their own exams in subjects such as foreign language. Testing fees can be pricey  but are almost always significantly lower than tuition for the courses they replace. Skip the Minor Not all schools require students to declare a minor and, truth be told, most people won’t make too much of a mention of their minor during the life of their career. Dropping all minor classes could save you an entire semester (or more) of work. So, unless your minor is critical to your field of study or would bring you foreseeable benefits, consider eliminating these classes from your plan of action. Put Together a Portfolio Depending on your school, you may be able to get credit for your life experience. Some schools will give students limited credit based on the presentation of a portfolio that proves specific knowledge and skills. Possible sources of life experience include  previous jobs, volunteerism, leadership activities, community participation, accomplishments, etc. Do Double Duty If you have to work anyway, why not get credit for it? Many schools offer students college credits for participating in an internship or work-study experience that relates to their major – even if it’s a paid job. You may be able to get your degree faster by earning credits for what you already do. Check with your school counselor to see what opportunities are available to you.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Currency Trading Restrictions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Currency Trading Restrictions - Assignment Example Trade restrictions are widely known to impact negatively on a country’s import and export activities. The establishment of foreign exchange restrictions is often associated with high forex rates to the extent that goods become extremely expensive to export (Dothan, Ramamurti & Ulman, 1996). This in turn implies that fewer goods can be exported and the country’s domestic residence end up with little foreign currency with which to import goods. In this sense, forex restrictions negatively affect import and export trade in many cases. The move by the National Bank of Belarus to lift the forex restriction will benefit multinationals to a great extent. For one, multinationals will have the confidence to make investments in the country knowing that the forex market of the country is transport (Dothan, Ramamurti & Ulman, 1996). The move will also see multinationals that have already invested in the country produce and sell more to foreign markets and remit their earnings to their mother countries. In essence, the change adopted by NBB will encourage foreign direct investment and will boost their exports. Office for a Democratic Belarus (2011). Exchange Rate Restrictions Lifted in Interbank Market. Retrieved March 14, 2014 from

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Contemporary Issues in Financial Services Essay - 3

Contemporary Issues in Financial Services - Essay Example Nonetheless, from this essay, one will understand that financial intermediaries are here to stay, considering their positive influence in the economy, which supersedes their negative influence in the economy. Financial markets exist in almost all countries in the world, as these play an important role in the economy of a country. A financial market can be defined as a type of market where there is the trade of money and other assets, which are in the form of finances. In this kind of market, financial assets are traded in different manners. For instance, this includes the exchange of previously traded financial assets, as well as the trade of new financial assets. Besley and Brigham (2011) note that, financial markets are different from asset markets, and that this is a conceptual term, since financial markets lack a specific location, as in the case of asset markets. In the financial markets, borrowers and lenders interact at different levels. Therefore, there is also borrowing and lending activities in financial markets. ... Financial markets are significant to an economy, because of the roles they play in a country. First, financial markets enable lending and borrowing to take place. This is through the granting of purchasing power to various agents, to transfer funds for different purposes, including investments and consumption (Burton, Nesiba & Brown 2009). Financial markets also play a significant role in determining prices for new financial assets and the existing ones. These also allow for the risk sharing between providers of funds and the investors. In addition, the stockholder in a financial market is given an opportunity to resell their financial assets, a process known as liquidity. Finally, financial markets help in the reduction of both the costs incurred in transaction and information, thus increasing the level of efficiency. Besley and Brigham emphasize the importance of financial markets, as enabling the flow of cash in the economy, since these avail different ways for lenders and borrowe rs to transact financially (2011). In the financial markets, there are different types of players, just as the case of any ordinary market dealing with goods and services. These various players in financial markets are what are referred to as ‘financial institutions.’ These mainly make their profits from the transactions between the borrowers and lenders in the financial markets. These financial institutions in the United States of America are classified into four major broad categories. These include brokers, financial intermediaries, dealers, and investment bankers. All these have their specific functions in financial markets, and therefore, are of high value. Sometimes, the financial markets

Saturday, November 16, 2019

U.S. and Educational Empowerment Essay Example for Free

U.S. and Educational Empowerment Essay With the increasing challenges and complexities the world universities are faced with a number of issues. However, the universities of the U. S. confront these issues in a graver manner. With globalization has come the ease of movement across nations of students, intellectual property, faculty members, and educational services; as such, according to Ruby (2005) , universities and especially of U. S. face major challenges which are as follows: 6. 1. 3. 1) Growing Global Demand The demand for higher education internationally will grow dramatically. It is estimated that in 2025 the number of students would reach to 263 million students as compared to 97 million in 2000. 400% more students will leave for abroad for higher education. Here the U. S. universities will see great competition on the international front and need to work in the smooth lines so that empowerment of future talent in globalized environment becomes a reality because such areas as culture of universities, size, teaching excellence, quality and so on would be at critical ends. 6. 1. 3. 2) Diverse Students The number of students would grow not only in quantity but also in diversity which would itself be a critical area in need of tactical handling for the U. S. to tackle. 6. 1. 3. 3) Private Sector’s Involvement In provision of education, the governments of many industrialized countries are now joining hands with the private sector so that expansion of educational institutions can be rightly observed; however, this is another area of debate which seems to rise globally in the coming times. For instance, research, quality of education, elasticity in the market, government monitoring, students finance, etc. are some issues being debated now. But these will appear to be complex in the more globalized times of the future. 6. 1. 3. 4) Delivery with Diversification Today, new technologies like tapes, video streaming, Internet provide students with ample liberty of where to learn. Distance learning is becoming more and more common. However, the handling of this area is critical as the number of students rises. Moreover, the delivery with diversification will need to be incorporated in education to empower the growing demands of global youth. 6. 1. 3. 5) Learning and Research There are a wide spectrum of question in relation to research, learning and globalization both in private and public sectors universities. For instance, rapidly changing social scenario has generated a lot of content that needs to be investigated for future incorporation in order to enhance learning. Moreover, changing demands for careers, new areas of knowledge and so on, raise thorny question as how research and learning will be incorporated in the complex air of globalization . With these issues at hand, the need to expand expertise, both technical and social, is the current area that can assure better empowerment of present and current generation. By meeting these challenges not only the U. S. universities but universities all over the world can make it a possibility to quip youth with required tools so the complexities of globalization are changed into fruitful gains for humanity on the whole. I would like to raise one point that the developing world seems to be struggling in the area of educational change in globalization. I have strong conviction, after going through all the discourse, that unless the developing world realizes the importance of education diversity and works for the empowerment of its youth, the brain drain, and hunt for talent would still be there. 7- Corporate Sector and Empowerment of Talent Now coming to the corporate world, the situation is all the more complex and great activity is being observed in the whole corporate world relative of globalization. Corporate world is an area where demands and requirements are different from governments because it has different ends to meet: generation of profit, to sum up. However, the concept of globalization has been welcomed by this fraction of the world internationally, yet the challenges are far and varied. According to Terry (2002), in the corporate world the meaning of globalization is crossing of technical, cultural, and financial boundaries causing international flow of goods, services, and information becomes possible. Henceforth, the corporate world also foresees the challenges and opportunities being carried by this wave. The biggest challenge present now and would continue to linger in the future is the lack of managerial staff and adapted training of managerial staff and professionals in other areas. As such training and development of human capital is something the entire corporate world is focusing on. In this context, needs of companies are changing. Today, companies are expanding worldwide and the customer is global customer. Additionally, competition of customization of product to meet individual consumers’ needs is another added complexity. All this needs staff that is sufficient in number and is equipped with enough capacity and skill to join in the production line. Education, in-house training, use of technologies, and development of human capital is all the companies regard as empowerment of their present and future talent. There is another concept that has taken roots in at the managerial level. This is the fresh concept of global leadership. This, according to Bill Gardner, director of corporate expansion and elevation for Advanced Micro Devices, is when managers can work in any unit of their parent company, anywhere in the world. This concept has sparked new lights of innovation and diversity in the corporate world. However, one point is also clear that this need is natural because according to a VP of a pharmaceutical company there are only a few people who are capable of dealing with our biggest problems which have been born out of the complexities of globalization. Hence, hunt for these people is not easy. What is required is the availability of these people at any cost and at any terms and condition. For this purpose any measures that are necessary would be taken. Moreover, it is highly imperative that through extensive training and development such talent is produced locally to meet the upcoming challenges. In a nutshell, then, empowerment of talent is possible via the road of development which must be up to the standards of present and future trends of international market . Moreover, intellectuals, the finest talent of the world, are now seen as one social group who are considered responsible for the solution of the entire world on the whole. As such empowerment of talent is now the issue of the whole globe as a community rather as fragments of countries and groups.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Huck Finn Morality :: essays research papers

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, author Mark Twain uses Huck to demonstrate how one’s conscience is an aspect of everyday life. The decisions we make are based on what our conscience tells us which can lead us the right way or the wrong way. Huck’s deformed conscience leads him the wrong way early on in the chapters, but eventually in later chapters his sound mind sets in to guild him the rest of the way until his friend Tom Sawyer shows up. Society believes that slaves should be treated as property; Huck’s sound mind tells him that Jim is a person, a friend, and not property. Society does not agree with that thought, which also tampers with Huck’s mind telling him that he is wrong. Though Huck does not realize that his own instinct are more moral than those of society, Huck chooses to follow his innate sense of right instead of following society’s rules. In chapter 16, Huck goes through a moral conflict of whether he should turn Jim in or not. “I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me (89).'; Right off from the beginning, Huck wanted to turn Jim in because it was against society’s rules to help a slave escape and Huck knew it. But when Jim said that “Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now (89),'; made helped Huck to grasp the concept that there is a friendship in the making. Even though Huck didn’t turn Jim in, he is till troubled by his conscience when the slave catchers were leaving because he knows it is wrong to help a slave. Still Huck cannot bring himself forward to tell on Jim, thus showing that his innate sense of right exceeds that of society. Huck finds out that all of the bad things he did are coming back to haunt him. In chapter 31 when Jim gets sold for forty dollars, Huck realizes that “here was the plain hand of Providence slapping me in the face and letting me know my wickedness was being watched all the time whilst from up there in heaven.'; It also scared Huck because all this karma, what comes around goes around, was happening to him.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 37~38

37 Bombs and Bribes The itching started a week after the first flight. It began on his scalp and a few days later, as the wounds on his arms, legs, and genitals healed, Tucker would have stripped off his skin to escape it. If there had been some other distraction, something to do besides sit in his bungalow waiting to be called for a flight, it might have been bearable, but now the doctor came only once a day to check on him, and he hadn't seen Beth Curtis since they landed. He read spy novels, listened to the country western radio station out of Guam until he thought that if he heard one more wailing steel guitar, he'd rip the rest of his hair out. Sometimes he lay under the mosquito net-ting, acutely aware of his comatose member, and tried to think of all the women he had had, one by one, then all the women he had ever wanted, including actresses, models, and famous figures from history (the Marilyn Monroe/Cleopatra double-team-in-warm-pudding scenario kept him dis-tracted for almost an hour). Twice a day he cooked himself a meal. The doctor had set him up with a double hot plate and a pantry full of canned goods, and occasionally one of the guards dropped off a parcel of fruit or fresh fish. Mostly, though, he itched. Tuck tried to engage Sebastian Curtis in conversation, but there were few subjects about which the missionary was not evasive, and most re-minded him that he had left some pressing task at the clinic. Questions about Kimi, the guards, the lack of cargo, his personal history, his wife, the natives of the island, or communication with the outside world evoked half-answers and downright silence. He asked the doctor for some cortisone, for a television, for access to a computer so he could send a message back to Jake Skye, and while the doctor didn't say no outright, Tuck was left empty-handed except for a suggestion that he ought to go swimming and a reminder of how much money he was making for reading spy novels and scratching at scabs. Tuck wanted a steak, a woman (although he still wasn't sure he could do anything but talk to her), and a chilled bottle of vodka. The doctor gave him some fins, a mask and snorkel, and a bottle of waterproof sunscreen. When, one morning, Tuck spent an empty hour trying to will his member to life by mentally wrapping his fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Nelson, in Saran Wrap, only to find his fantasy foiled by her insistence that he had no lead in his Number 2 pencil, he grabbed the snorkeling gear and made his way to the beach. Two of the guards followed at a distance. They were always there. When he looked out the window, if he tried to take a walk, if he wanted to check on the Lear, they clung to him like stereo shadows. They stood over him as he sat in the sand, pulling the fins on. â€Å"Why don't you guys go put on some trunks and join me? Those jumpsuits have to be pretty uncomfortable.† It wasn't the first time he'd tried to talk to them, and it wasn't the first time he'd been ignored. They just stood there, as silent as meditating monks. Tuck hadn't been able to discern if they understood a word of English. â€Å"Okay, then, I'm going to do the Cousteau thing, but later let's get together for some raw fish and karaoke?† He gave them a wink. No reaction. â€Å"Then let's play some cards and talk about how you guys recite haiku while blowing each other every night?† Tuck thought that might do it, but still there was no reaction. As he started toward the water, Tuck said, â€Å"I heard the Japanese flag was modeled after a used sanitary napkin. Is that true?† He looked over his shoulder for a response and his fin caught and bent double on a rock. An instant later he was facedown on the beach, sputtering to get the sand out of his mouth, and the guards were laughing. â€Å"Asshole,† he heard one say, and he was on his feet and looming over the Japanese like a giant rabid duck. â€Å"Just back off, Odd Job!† The guard who had spoken stood his ground, but his companion backed away looking lost without his Uzi. â€Å"What's the matter, no submachine gun? You chickenshits so busy crawling up my back that you forgot your toys?† Tuck poked the guard in the chest to punctuate his point. The guard grabbed Tuck's finger and bent it back, then swept the pilot's feet out from under him and drew a Glock nine-millimeter pistol from a holster at the small of his back and pressed the barrel to Tucker's forehead hard enough to dent the skin. The other guard barked something in Japanese, then stepped forward and kicked Tuck in the stomach. Tucker rolled into a ball in the sand, instinctively throwing one arm over his face and clenching the other at his side to protect his kidneys as he waited for the next blow. It didn't come. When he looked up, the guards were walking back to the compound. Getting them to leave him alone had been the desired result, but the process was a little rougher than he'd expected. Tuck wiggled his finger to make sure it wasn't broken and examined the boot toe print under his rib cage. Then the anger unlocked his imagination and plans for revenge began. The easiest thing to do would be to tell the doctor, but Tuck, like all men, had been conditioned against two responses: You don't cry and you don't rat. No, it would have to be something subtle, elegant, painful, and most of all, humiliating. Tuck almost skipped into the water, running on his newfound energy: adrenalized vengeance. He paddled around at the inside edge of the reef, watching anemones pulse in the current while small fish in improbable neon colors darted in and out of the coral. The ocean was as warm as bathwater, and after a few minutes with his face in the water, he felt de-tached from his body and the color and movement below became as meaningless as the patterns in a campfire. The only reminder that he was human was the sound of his breath rushing through the snorkel and the images of cold revenge in his mind. He looked down the ragged curve of the reef and saw a large shadow moving across the bottom, but before fight-or-flight panic could even set in, he saw it was the shadow of a loggerhead turtle flying through the water like a saurian angel. The turtle circled him and cruised by close enough for Tuck to see the movement in the creature's silver-dollar-sized eye as it studied him, and a message there: â€Å"You don't belong here,† it said. And that part of Tuck that had recognized the saltwater as its mother re-belled and he felt alien and vulnerable and cold, and a little rude, as if he had been attending a black-tie dinner only to realize as dessert was served that he was wearing pajamas. It was time to go. He lifted his head, took a bearing on the chain-link fence that ran to the edge of the beach, and started a slow crawl toward shore. As the water went shallow, he banged his knee on a submerged rock, then stood and slogged through the lapping surf as his fins tried to drag him back off the beach. Once clear of the water, he fell in the sand and tore the fins off his feet. He threw them up the shore without looking and a half a breath later a deafening explosion lifted him up and he landed ten feet away, stunned and breathless, as damp sand and pieces of swim fin rained down upon him. Tucker stormed through the clinic door trailing sand and water across the concrete floor. â€Å"Mines! You have fucking land mines on the fucking beach?† Sebastian Curtis was seated at a computer terminal. He quickly clicked off the screen and swiveled in his chair. â€Å"I heard the explosion, but birds and turtles have set them off before. Was anyone hurt?† â€Å"Other than I'm going to hear a high-pitched wail for the rest of my life and my sphincter won't relax until I'm dead a couple of years, no, no one was hurt. What I want to know is why you have mines on the beach.† â€Å"Calm down, Mr. Case. Please sit down.† The doctor gestured to a folding metal chair. â€Å"Please.† He looked sad, not at all confrontational, not like the kind of man who would mine a tropical beach. â€Å"I suppose there are some things you need to know. First, I have something for you.† He opened a drawer under the keyboard, withdrew a check, and handed it to Tuck. Tucker's rage dropped a level when he looked at the amount. â€Å"Ten grand? What's this for?† â€Å"Call it a first-flight bonus. Beth said you did very well.† Tucker fingered the check, then brushed the sand off it and read it again. If he had any self-respect, he'd throw it in the doctor's face. He didn't, of course. â€Å"This is great, Doc. Ten grand for picking up a case of wine. I'm not even going to ask you what was in the cooler she gave that guy, but I was almost killed on the beach a few minutes ago.† â€Å"I'm very sorry about that. There's a lot of Japanese ordnance scattered around the island. The area at the edge of the fence used to be a minefield. The staff and the natives all know not to go there.† â€Å"Well, you might have mentioned it to me.† â€Å"I didn't want to alarm you. I told a couple of members of the staff to keep an eye on you and steer you away from there. I'll speak to them.† â€Å"They've been spoken to. I spoke to them myself. And I'm a little tired of being watched by them.† â€Å"It's for your own safety, as I'm sure you can see now.† â€Å"I'm not a child and I don't expect to be treated like one. I want to go where I want, when I want, and I don't want to be watched by a bunch of ninjas.† The doctor sat bolt-upright in his chair. â€Å"Why do you refer to them as ninjas? Who told you to call the staff that?† â€Å"Look at them. They're Japanese, they wear all black, they know martial arts – hell, the only thing they're missing are T-shirts that say, ‘Ask me about being a ninja.' I call them that because that's what they look like. They sure as hell aren't medical staff.† â€Å"No, they're not,† Sebastian said, â€Å"but I'm afraid they are a necessary evil, and one that I can't do much about.† â€Å"Why not? It's your island.† â€Å"This island belongs to the Shark People. And even this clinic isn't mine, Mr. Case. As I'm sure you've guessed, we are not financed by the Methodist Mission Fund.† â€Å"Yeah, I kinda figured that.† â€Å"We do have some very powerful corporate sponsors in Japan, and they have insisted that we keep a small contingent of security men on the island if we want to keep our funding.† â€Å"Funding for what, Doc?† â€Å"Research.† Tuck laughed. â€Å"Right. This is the perfect environment for research. No sense using some sterile high-tech facility in Tokyo. Do your R and D out on the asshole of the Pacific. Come clean. What's really going on?† The doctor pointed to the check Tucker was holding. â€Å"If I tell you, Mr. Case, that's the last one of those you will see. You make the choice. If you want to work here, you have to work in the dark. There is no compromise. It's research, it's secret, and the people who are paying for it want it to stay that way or they wouldn't have hired the guards and they wouldn't allow me to pay you so well.† He pushed back his gray hair and stared into Tucker's eyes, not threatening, not challenging, but with the compassion of a physician concerned about the welfare of a patient. â€Å"Now, do you really want to know what we're doing here?† Tuck looked at the check, looked back at the doctor, then looked at the check. If it was good, it was the largest amount of money he'd ever possessed at one time. He said, â€Å"I just want the guards to lighten up, give me some room to breathe.† The doctor smiled. â€Å"I think we can do that. But I need your word that you won't try to leave the compound.† â€Å"To go where? I've seen this island from the air, remember? I can't be missing much.† â€Å"I'm only interested in your safety.† â€Å"Right,† Tucker said, as sincerely as he could muster. â€Å"But I want a TV. I'm going nuts sitting around in that room. If I read one more spy novel, I'll qualify for a Double-O number. You guys have a TV, so I know you have one of those satellite dishes hooked up. I want a TV.† Again the doctor smiled. â€Å"You can have ours. I'm sure Beth won't mind.† â€Å"You gave him what?† The Sky Priestess looked up from a copy of Us magazine. She was draped in a white silk kimono that was untied and cascaded around her into a shimmering pool at the foot of her chair. Her hair was pinned up with ivory chopsticks inlaid with ebony dragons. The Sorcerer stood in the door of her chambers. He'd felt rather proud of himself until the tone in her voice struck him like an ice pick in the neck. â€Å"Your television. But it's only temporary. I'll have another one waiting for you at the airstrip on the next flight.† â€Å"Which is when?† â€Å"As soon as I can set up an order. I promise, Beth.† â€Å"Which means that I also have to do a performance without my soaps. I depend on my soaps to practice my sense memories, Sebastian. How do you expect me to play a goddess if I can't find my emotional moment?† â€Å"Maybe, just this once, you could try emotions that don't come by satellite feed.† She dropped her magazine and bit her lip, looking off to the corner of the room as if considering it. â€Å"Fine. Give him the TV.† â€Å"I gave him ten thousand dollars, as well.† Her eyes narrowed. â€Å"What does he get if he blows himself up again, a night with the Sky Priestess?† â€Å"If I can bargain him down to that,† the Sorcerer said. He turned and walked out of the room smiling to himself. 38 Native Customs Tucker Case spent the next week watching the compound, trying to get a clue to what was going on. The doctor had brought the TV as he promised, and even loaned Tucker a seven iron, but since then Tuck had only seen him from a distance, making his way back and forth from the clinic to one of the small bungalows at the other side of the beach. The guards still watched him, following him at a distance when he went for a swim or a search-and-destroy mission for roosters, but there had been no sign of Beth Curtis. If indeed the doctor was doing some sort of research, there was no hint as to what it involved. Tuck tried stopping by the clinic several times, only to find the door locked and no response when he knocked. Boredom worked on Tuck, pressed down on him like a pile of wet blankets until he felt as if he would suffocate under the weight. In the past he had always fought boredom with alcohol and women, and the trouble that ensued from that combination filled the days. Here there was nothing but spy novels and bad Asian cooking shows (the doctor had refused to let him hook up to the satellite dish) and although he was pleased that he now knew nine different ways to prepare beagle, it wasn't enough. He needed to get out of the compound, if for no other reason than because they told him he couldn't. Fortunately, over the years, Tuck had acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of women-in-prison movies, so he had at his disposal a plethora of escape strategies. Of course, many of them weren't applicable. He immediately rejected the idea of seducing and shiving the large lesbian matron, and faking menstrual cramps would only get him sent to the clinic with a Mydol IV, but strangely enough, as he was acting out the gratuitous shower scene, his plan burst forth: soap-slathered, silicone-enhanced, and in total defiance of time, gravity, and natural proportion†¦ The shower drain opened directly onto the coral gravel below. He could see it down there, the ground, and a small hermit crab scuttling to escape the soapy water. He'd lost weight, but not enough to slide down the drain. The entire bottom of the shower was no more than a tray of gal-vanized metal. He bent, grasped the edge, and lifted. It didn't come free, but it moved. A little time, a little patience, and he'd have it free. Planning and patience. Those were the keys to a successful escape. So he could get out of the bungalow without being seen. The next obstacle would be the fence. Tuck found out early on that the fence around the compound was electrified. He'd found a rooster stuck to the wires, doing a convulsive imitation of the funky chicken while its feathers smoldered and sparks shot from its grounded foot. Satisfying as the discovery was, Tuck realized that there would be no going over the fence, and the gate to the airfield was locked with a massive chain and padlock. The only way past the fence was around it, and the only place to get around it was at the beach. Sure, he could swim out and come in farther down the beach, but how far did the minefield extend? He began testing it by hitting rocks into the minefield with his seven iron under the auspices of practicing his swing. He managed to produce several impressive craters and scare the guards with the explosion before finding the edge of the minefield some fifty yards down the beach. He decided to risk it. He picked up a coconut on his way back to the bungalow, then climbed into bed and waited for darkness to fall. After the sun set and the three-quarter moon rose, Tuck waited for the guard to peek through the window, then as he heard him crunch away, began building the decoy (a trick he learned from Falling Fingers: Leper Bimbos Behind Bars II). Two pillows and a coconut head made for a reason-able likeness, especially when viewed by moonlight through mosquito netting. He slipped out of bed and crawled below window level to the bathroom, where he had left his mask, fins, and a candle. He shoved a towel under the door to keep the light from leaking out, then lit the candle and began working the metal shower tray out of its frame. After five minutes of tugging, stopping for a moment when he heard the guard's boots crunching outside, he released the shower tray and leaned it up on its side. Tuck blew out the candle and dropped to gravel four feet below, then reached back and pulled his fins and mask through the opening. The coral gravel felt like broken glass on his tender feet, but he decided to endure the pain rather than risk the noise of shoes. Tuck heard the guard coming again and dropped to the ground where he could look out under the bungalow into the courtyard. The guard thumped up the steps, paused as he looked through the window, then, satisfied that Tucker was asleep, walked across the compound to the guards' quarters and sat in a folding chair outside the door. Tuck checked behind him, then scrambled out of the crawl space into the grove of coconut palms. He paused and caught his breath, then planned his path to the beach. He would have to cover fifty yards between his bungalow and the clinic, fifty yards that weren't completely open but visible from where the guard sat. He could hop from tree to tree, but if the guard happened to be looking that way, he was done. A lizard scampered up the tree he was leaning on and Tuck felt his heart stop. What was he thinking? There could be scorpions out here, sharks and barracudas and other creepy stuff in the dark ocean. And what happened when he got to the other side of the fence? More sand and scorpions and possibly hostile natives. He was waiting, thinking about how easy it would be to crawl back through the shower and go to bed, when a lighter flared across the compound and he saw the guard's face illuminated orange, and Tuck bolted for the rear of the clinic building, hoping the lighter would blind the guard long enough for him to cover the fifty yards. Halfway across, he dropped a fin, then fell to the ground beside it and looked up. The guard was smoking peacefully, watching blue streams of smoke rise in the moonlight. Tuck grabbed the fin and crawled on his belly the final ten yards to the clinic, fighting the urge to cry out as the gravel dug into his elbows. A hermit crab scuttled over his back sending a bolt of the electric willies shooting up his spine to speed him to cover. The guard didn't look up. Tuck climbed to his feet, dusted himself off, and made his way to the beach. A light breeze rattled the palm leaves and Tuck could hear the surf crashing out on the reef, but at the shore the waves lapped only shin high. Tuck waded into the warm water carrying his fins. When he was waist deep, he crouched and slipped them on, then paddled out on his back, looking back toward shore. There were lights on in both of the Curtises' bungalows. He could see Beth Curtis moving past the windows. She appeared to be naked, but from this distance he couldn't tell for sure. He tore himself away and swam out past the surf line to make his way down the beach. It was an easy swim to the fence, the biggest challenge being to keep his mind off what might be lurking under the dark water. He swam another hundred yards down the beach, then started toward shore. When his hand brushed a rock, he reached down and pulled off his fins. He gritted his teeth as he put his feet down to stand, expecting the shooting pain of an urchin or a ray. He cursed himself for not bringing his sneakers. As he slogged up the beach, Tuck heard a rustling in the trees and looked up to see a flash of color in the moonlight. He ran up the beach, dove behind a log at the high-tide line, and lay there watching as tiny crabs clicked and crawled around him. She emerged from the trees only ten yards from where Tucker lay. She was wearing a purple lavalava, which she unwrapped and dropped on the sand. Tuck stopped breathing. She walked by him, only a few feet away, her body oiled and shining in the moonlight, her long black hair playing behind her in the breeze. He risked lifting his head and watched her walk into the water up to her knees and begin washing, splashing water on her thighs and bottom. From the time he had left Houston he had carried images in his head of what it would be like to live on a tropical island. Those images had been buried by cuts and scrapes, typhoons and humidity, sharks and ninjas and enigmatic missionaries. This was why he had come: a naked island girl washing her mocha thighs on a warm moonlit beach. He felt a stirring under him and almost leaped to his feet, thinking he was lying on some sea creature. Then he realized that the stirring came from within. It had been so long since he'd felt signs of an erection that he didn't recognize it at first. He almost burst out laughing. It still worked. He was still a man. Hell, he was more than just a man, he was Tucker Case, secret agent, and for the first time in months, he was packing wood. The girl walked out of the water and Tuck ducked his head as she passed. He watched her wrap the lavalava around her hips and disappear into the trees. He waited until she was gone, then followed her, enjoying the tension in his trunks as he crept into the trees. Malink looked up from pouring tuba for the men at the drinking circle to see Sepie coming down from the village. This was an outrage and an em-barrassment. No women were allowed near the drinking circle. It was a place for men. â€Å"Go home, Sepie!† Malink barked. â€Å"You are not to be here.† Sepie ignored him and kept coming, her hips swaying. Several of the young married men looked away, feeling regret that they wouldn't be bedding down in the bachelors' house tonight. â€Å"There's a white man following me.† Malink stood. â€Å"You talk nonsense. Now go home or you'll have another week away from the ocean.† He noticed that the ends of her hair were wet and drops ran off her legs. She'd already broken her punishment for talking with the Japanese guards. â€Å"Fine,† Sepie said. â€Å"I don't care if a white man is sneaking around in the bushes. I just though you would want to know.† She flipped her hair as she turned and made her way back up the beach. As she passed the tree that Tuck had ducked behind, she said in English, â€Å"The fat loud one is chief. You go talk to him. He tell you who I am.† And she walked on, head high, without looking back. Tuck felt his face flush and his ego deflate along with the swelling in his pants. Busted. She'd known he was there all along. Some secret agent. He'd be lucky to get back into the compound without getting caught. He watched the men on the beach passing around the communal cup. From the way they moved he could see that some of them were pretty drunk. He remembered the warning of Jefferson Pardee about not drinking with these latent warriors, but they looked harmless, even a little silly with their loincloths and shark tattoos. One young man reached to take the cup from the old guy who was pouring and fell on his face in the sand. That did it. Tuck stepped out from behind his tree and started toward the circle. Whatever was being poured from those jugs was probably not gin and tonic, but it would definitely get you fucked up, and getting fucked up sounded pretty good right now. â€Å"Jambo,† Tuck said, using a greeting he'd heard in a Tarzan movie. The whole group looked up. One man actually let out an abbreviated scream. The fat old guy stood up, a fire in his eyes that cooled as Tuck moved out of the shadows. Mary Jean had always said, â€Å"Doesn't matter if it's a senator or a doorman. No one is immune to a warm smile and a firm handshake.† Tuck held out his hand and smiled. â€Å"Tucker Case. Pleased to meet you.† Malink allowed the white man to shake his hand. As the others looked on, still stunned, Malink said, â€Å"You are looking better than the last time I saw you. The Sorcerer made you well.† Tuck's eyes were trained on the three-gallon jugs of milky liquid at the center of the circle. â€Å"Yeah, I'm feeling on top of the world. You guys think you could spare a sip of that jungle juice?† â€Å"Sit,† Malink said, and he waved the young men aside to make space for Tuck on one of the sitting logs. Tuck stepped in and sat as Favo handed him the coconut shell cup. Tuck downed the contents in one gulp and fought to keep from gagging. It tasted of sulfur, sugar, and a tint of ammo-nia, but the alcohol was there, and the familiar warmth was coursing through him before he'd even stopped shuddering from the taste. â€Å"Good. Very good.† Tuck smiled and nodded around the circle. The Shark men smiled and nodded back. Malink sat beside him. â€Å"We thought you died.† â€Å"So did I. How about another belt?† Malink looked embarrassed. â€Å"The cup must come around again.† â€Å"Fine, fine. Drink up, boys,† Tuck said, smiling and nodding like a madman. â€Å"How you come here?† Malink asked. â€Å"A little stroll, a little swim. I wanted to get out and meet some people. You know, get to know the local customs. Gets pretty boring up at the clinic.† Malink frowned. â€Å"You are the pilot. We see you fly the plane.† â€Å"That's me.† â€Å"Vincent said you would come.† â€Å"Who's Vincent?† The men, who had been whispering among themselves, fell si lent. The pouring and drinking stopped as they waited for Malink's reply. â€Å"Vincent is pilot too. He come long time ago, bringing cargo. He send the Sky Priestess until he come back. You see her with the Sorcerer. At hospital. She have yellow hair like yours.† Tuck nodded, as if he had any idea what the chief was talking about. Right now he just wanted to see the cup finish its lap and get back to him. â€Å"Yeah, right. I've seen her. She's the doctor's wife.† Abo, who was drunk and for once not angry, laughed and said, â€Å"She is nobody's wife, you fuckin' mook. She's the Sky Priestess.† Tuck froze. A plane crash and a talking bat rose like demons, ruining his oncoming buzz. Malink looked apologetic. â€Å"He is young and drunk and stupid. You not fuckin' mook.† â€Å"Where'd you hear that?† Tuck asked. â€Å"Where'd you hear ‘fuckin' mook'?† â€Å"Vincent say that. We all say that.† â€Å"Vincent? What's Vincent look like?† The young men looked to Favo and Malink. Favo spoke. â€Å"He is American. Have dark hair like us, but his nose point. Young. Maybe as old as you.† â€Å"And he's a pilot? What's he wear?† â€Å"He wear gray suit, sometimes a jacket with fur here.† Favo mimed a collar and lapels. â€Å"A bomber jacket.† Malink smiled. â€Å"Yes, Sky Priestess is bomber.† Tuck snatched the cup from one of the Johns and drained it, then handed it back. â€Å"Sorry. Emergency.† He looked at Malink. â€Å"And this Vincent said I was coming?† Malink nodded. â€Å"He tell me in a dream. Then Sarapul find you and your friend on the reef.† â€Å"My friend? Is he around?† â€Å"We no see him now. He go to live with Sarapul on other side of island.† â€Å"Take me to him.† â€Å"We drink tuba now. Go in morning?† â€Å"I have to be back before morning. And you can't tell anyone that I was here.† â€Å"One more,† Malink said. â€Å"The tuba is good tonight.† â€Å"Okay, one more,† Tuck said.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Grape Farms in Jaffna (Sri Lanka)

The dying art of Jaffna â€Å"The next generation is not keen on getting their hands dirty and they dislike hard work. They do not want to take up the field of farming. They prefer being in air conditioned offices or being doctors and lawyers. They have dreams of their own and being a grape farmer is hardly one of them† For thirty long years Sri Lanka was torn apart by a malevolent war between the country’s majority and minority; a war that not only claimed the lives of many, soldiers and civilians alike, but also destroyed much property and dammed the country’s growth in uncountable ways.The whole of Sri Lanka grieved as one at all that was lost but it would not be incorrect to say that it was the north that suffered the most; it affected the education, economy, health, security, agriculture and overall the lives of the people of that part of the island. One trade that was deeply affected in the field of agriculture is grape farming, an industry that was and is carried out at a commercial basis only in the district of Jaffna. It was stated by Mr. Sivakumar, Provincial Director of Agriculture Northern Province, that before the war the district of Jaffna had over 250 acres of grape cultivation.The war brought upon difficulties in marketing the crops which resulted in gradually increasing numbers of farmers leaving the trade as it was no longer profitable. However since the ending of the war and the opening of the A9 road, new marketing prospects have been found and the trade has yet again been taken up and currently is spread over 110 acres in Jaffna. While cultivators who lost their farms during the war have been given the opportunity to revive their lost businesses, new cultivators too are being encouraged to take up the trade by the government said Mr.Sivakumar. The Ministry of Agriculture Northern Province is currently focusing on introducing new varieties of grape fruit to Jaffna farmers in order to harvest better crops. These new varie ties Sonaka and Sharad have been imported from India and are said to produce grape fruit that is larger in size and sweeter than the local grapes. This idea of importing new varieties has been supported by the Central Department of Agriculture which is the agency that gives permission for importing any sort of planting material, and also by the Ministry of Agriculture.The financial support has been given by Cargills food city as it is them who invested in the project. The total project investment has been Rs 222 million and 92. 2 million of this investment has been shared by the USAID. The imported seedlings have already been introduced, distributed and promoted among Jaffna farmers and is currently being cultivated and within another two years the peninsula will have a greater variety of quality grape fruit, noted Mr. U. L. M Haldeen, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Northern Province.Grape crops are harvested twice a year; during the season of March- April and August- Sept ember. These are considered peak periods as it is the dry season during these months and for grape fruit the dry season is considered very important as this is the time that produces the best crops. However certain farmers prune in such a way that they can produce crops even off season. Grape cultivation, compared to other farming industries needs a fair amount of investment and effort to inaugurate and to maintain. To grow a quarter acre farm it costs approximately 150 thousand Rs just to install the pandal system.For the maintaining of such a farm it costs about another 150 thousand Rs stated Mr. Sivakumar. Even though it is a costly trade it brings in enough money to be called a profitable trade. Farmers have reported that a quarter acre farm brings in nearly 200 thousand Rs per season. This good income is one of the main encouraging forces for other cultivators to begin grape farms of their own which in return will increase the overall crops produced by Jaffna which would prove to be healthy for the economy of the district.On a positive note, locally grown grapes are cheaper than the imported ones as a kg of Jaffna grape fruit costs 200 to 300 Rs while the Australian imported grapes cost 600 to 700 Rs. However on the contrary the imported grapes are much larger in size and taste sweeter than the locally grown Israel Blue. Therefore, even now, customers who look for quality are willing to pay more to purchase the imported fruits, which pose a threat to the growth of the local grape fruit farming trade. This is the reason as to why he ministry is trying all possible options to grow grape crops that can compete with the imported ones. As there is already a fairly good market for Jaffna grapes in the southern part of the country it is their hope to widen this market by dominating the imported grape fruit market. As earlier mentioned maintaining a grape farm is both an expensive and difficult venture. Especially to the farmers of the north it is something much more than just a trade, it is a significant part of their lives. They have many beliefs and traditions entwined with the grapevines.It is said by these farmers that growing grapes is in many ways much like raising a child; it requires constant nurturing, caring and attention. There is a manner in which every move should be made: choosing the soil, installing the pandal system, preparing the drainage, watering the farm, fertilizing, and last but not least pruning should all be done in a proper manner to ensure the well being of the grapevines says Mr. Inuvil, a successful grape farmer. The preciseness of this trade makes it appear that grape farming in actuality is more or less an art than just an agricultural trade.Even though the number of farmers stepping into this field is on an increase, according to farmers the future of the industry remains uncertain. It is because of the lack of young farmers who are willing to follow in the footsteps of their precursors. According to Mr. Inu vil â€Å"The next generation is not keen on getting their hands dirty and they dislike hard work. They do not want to take up the field of farming. They prefer being in air conditioned offices or being doctors and lawyers. They have dreams of their own and being a grape farmer is hardly one of them†, and so it seems that the â€Å"like father like son† days are long gone.It is evident that times have changed and that even in a country like Sri Lanka where traditions and culture are a main part of its people’s day to day lives, the younger generation is hardly found being limited by said traditions or cultures. Today’s youth is much more commercialized and they crave ways of earning riches in much easier ways than laboring away in farms and fields under a scorching sun. Another reason for the possible declining of future farmers is the perception that agriculture is an unprofitable or oor industry to be in as this is often the image that is projected by t he media and otherwise, however many successful farmers like Mr. Inuwil would strongly disagree. According to him, it is a matter of willing to be hard working, committed, sacrificial and patient; all traits that he says most of the younger generation lack. Here arouses the question; even though grape farming in the north is at present in a very good state, after the existing generation of farmers is long gone will the industry still survive or will it simply turn into yet another dying art? -Sandarangi Perera

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Masaccio compared to Fillipo Lippi essays

Masaccio compared to Fillipo Lippi essays Fra Filippo Lippi was born in Florence in 1406. His parents were Antonia and Tommaso Lippi. He had a family of his own. His wife named Lucrezia who was born 1433 and was a nun for the church before she met Fra Lilippo Lippi. And he had a son and daughter. His son Fillipino was born in 1457. And he too later in his life began to paint and was known as a great painter like his father. And his daughter named Alessandra who was born in 1465. She was the youngest of Filippo. Masaccio was born in San Giovanni Altura which is now San Giovanni Valdarno, near Florence on December 21, 1401 which was the very beginning of the fourteenth century. He was the first great painter of the Italian Renaissance. Masaccio was called Clumsy Thomas because of his clumsiness. He owes his Christian name to St. Thomas on whose saints day he was baptized. He was an absent minded and careless person. Which was probably the reason he never had a family of his own. His father was Giovanni di Mone Cassai a nott ary by profession. Cassai comes from the trade of his fathers family who were carpenters who build chests. Masaccios father died in 1406 when he was only five years old, and in the same year his brother Giovanni was born. And his mother was Monna Jacopa di Martinozzo. Later Masaccios mother remarried to Tedesco del Maestro Feo, widower like herself and much older than she was. The stepfather, a well-to-do spice merchant, guaranteed Masaccio and his family a very comfortable childhood. ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Advertising media industry Essay Example for Free

Advertising media industry Essay ? I am student in a work placement agency called STG Media Corporation, a company which dedicates their mission and vision in providing accountable advertising solutions. In my 7 week placement here in the corporation, I learned a lot and discovered that nothing beats on-hand experience in working. Week One (provide date) It was a week of anticipation, stress and learning. How does one person deal with work placement? The first day was dedicated with meeting the executive staff, the working staff, and introduction to what the company is. STG Media Corp. is an interesting work placement agency. I learned about the company through one of my friends and I thought that working for a media company will be so great; little did I know that it is a lot difficult. The first thing that came up in my mind when STG Media Corp. was mentioned is that it is just an advertising company. But it is different. The company details their service in the concept of accountable advertising, in which they refine print advertising media in context of the 21st century need. As a communication student, this was beginning to worry me. After the primary day of introduction, I get to know more about the company and the thought that it is not the conventional type of advertising agency made me overwhelmed with the job and the condition in the work place. This week, I was designated to the Print Media Research, print Media Planning and Market Analysis of one of the company’s client. The company of a branded sports drink is asking STG Media Corp. to help them with the advertising promotion in one of the new products they will launch in about 5 months time. The first thing I did was to interview the sports drink company representative about the nature of their company. I went to their office was so anxious to do the interview that I forgot to bring my recorder, which is considered as one of the great mistakes before doing an interview, coming unprepared. But the good thing is, I did the interview well. I was given the set questions of STG Media Corp., questions that are required to be asked to the client, and throughout the interview, I inserted some of the questions I thought myself to be able to get a good amount of fact for the company. As inexperienced as I am in working for the company, one of the greatest skill I learned is to communicate effectively and luckily I am able to do that with this interview. During the week, one of the great challenges I faced was inputting the vital information of the company’s client to their database called the Print Media Buying System. The PMBS which is the company’s own database generates detailed market research, analysis reports accounting for all aspects such as demographic information, buying trends and other print media recommendations. I really asked for help this time as since I was not acquainted with the kind of technology they used in the particular system. But later I got the hang of it and was commended for a job well done in collecting information from the client. Week 2 (provide date) Before the work placement began, I was told that I will be working full time in one of the company’s venture with a famous sports drink brand. I thought that would be easy since I don’t have to do all the other work, but the challenged I soon found out during the second week is that the process of STG Media Corp. as an advertising consultant is a process to which many steps are taken. This week I am part of the Creative Team designated by the company to help the sports drink brand. Although I must be clear that I was just a part of the team, doing menial job that the professionals are tasked to do. I learned one great thing about the print media industry, 75% of advertisement fail because of weak creative and non-compelling ad copy. It’s true that one of the strengths of a great brand is not just with its quality, but through rigorous and effective advertising that they create. Before working here, I thought that companies only advertise for the sake of advertising, but companies do take this strategy very seriously. On the third day of this week, I was asked to look at one print ad for five seconds during one of the meetings of the Creative Team. They asked me questions rigorously, whether it be based on the appearance or the content. I answered them frankly and mention the things that I would personally think about the ad if I was just a normal consumer looking at the advertisement. Several times, the Team will press and argue their points with me, but all was attributed to presenting a better advertisement for the client. During this week, as unprofessional to assume the role of being a advertiser consultant, I was placed in the position of the consumer, the Team’s viewpoint on the things they realize about the brand and how they can effectively approach working for the client. I really felt like my ideas were respected and included to the Creative Team’s analysis of the product. This week, I also was comfortable with the workplace. I am familiar with the different employees and get to have small talks with them through several breaks. Its interesting how some of them had assumed I am part of the Creative Team when in fact; I am just a student on work placement. Advertising media industry. (2017, May 26).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Why M&A's failure is a topic of key strategic relevance Dissertation

Why M&A's failure is a topic of key strategic relevance - Dissertation Example On the other hand, external factors include the actual market condition where the cross border mergers and acquisition took place, the actual market competition that happens within the industry level, and the role of government intervention through policies and regulations. Specifically the case of SAIC was unique as compared to the British Aerospace (BAe), BMW and Phoenix Consortium is because the company decided to create business alliance with MG Rover through joint-venture method rather than acquisition method. Since SAIC agreed to enter into joint-venture arrangement with MG Rover, the company (SAIC) was able to free itself from the risk of having to share MG Rover’s debt obligations. Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................ 2 Table of Contents .................................................................... 3 I. Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 a. Case Study Overview ............................................... 6 a.1 Historical Background of MG Rover †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 a.... .................................................. 14 III. Research Methodology †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 17 a. Primary Research Method †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....†¦.. 17 a.1 Target Interviewees ........................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20 a.2 Site of the Research Study †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 21 b. Secondary Research Method †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦......... 21 IV. Research Findings and Analysis †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 22 a. Internal Factors that Promotes a Failed Merger and Acquisition ............................................ 23 a.1 Unclear or Undefined Organizational Vision and Mission ..................................... 23 a.2 The Presence of Cultural Clashes Resulting to Organizational Miscommunication ..................................... 24 a.4 Lack of Business Integration ...................... 26 b. External Factors that Promotes a Failed Merger and Acquisition ............................................ 29 b.1 Market Condition ........................................ 30 b.2 Market Competition within the Industry ...... 31 b.3 Government Policies and Regulations ....... 33 V. Conclusion and Recommendations †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 36 a. Conclusion .............................................................. 36 a.1 MG Rover and the British Aerospace (BAe) . 36 a.2 MG Rover and BMW ................................... 38 a.3 MG Rover and Phoenix .............................. 41 a.4 MG Rover and SAIC ................................... 44 b. Recommendations ............................................. 44 Appendix I – Historical Timeline of MG Rover †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 47 Appendix II – Semi-Structured Interview Questionnaire †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 48 Appendix III – Reasons why BAe, BMW,