Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Economic Impact Of The Great Recession - 851 Words

This paper will be defining the 2008 great recession and the economic impact which the United States wasn’t aware of. The great recession affected various businesses and others forced to increase prices or close doors immediately. Fiscal and monetary policies will also be discussed briefly in detail knowing the differences and determining the best course of action. Lastly will be implementing possible solutions to fix the economic problem and prevent any future recessions that could pose a devastating impact to economy. 2008 Great Recession Involvement The Great Recession was best known during the late President Bush into Obama era. Great Recession defined as; the economic slump began when the U.S. housing market went from boom to bust and large amounts of mortgage-backed securities and derivatives lost significant value (Investopedia.com). As the housing market was crashing, houses and business buildings have become vacant which the per capita rate for many cities dropped. The issue forced gas prices and goods to increase to make up for the loss per capita rate percentage. The economy doesn’t see the big picture when prices rise and interest decreases, hurting, value and profits within businesses throughout country continue bringing down markets. Take Johnstown Pennsylvania for example; the city was known for the leading steel manufacturing companies. With the market declining with facts from 2000-2010 census data, Johnstown Pennsylvania has lost over 5 % ofShow MoreRelatedThe contemporary G reat Recession and the global financial crisis1032 Words   |  5 Pagescommonly believed to have led to the Great recession and to the present global financial crisis, these issues have been subject to much research. In fact, no one can claim that the Great Recession and the global financial crisis have been under-researched. In fact, the new world recession has been analysed from different angles and perspectives. Historians, economists, financial experts, psychologists, anthropologists and other experts in academic, financial, economic and other fields of research areRead MoreThe Beginning Of The Great Recession1392 Words   |  6 Pagesa. The Beginning of the Great Recession The definition of a recession is this: a significant decline in general economic activity, typically involving two consecutive quarters of decline in gross domestic product (GDP). In December of 2007, the American economy experienced an event of this nature—the Great Recession. This global financial crisis stemmed from what seemed like an isolated disturbance within the subprime US housing market but transformed into a catastrophic event. The GR officiallyRead MoreEffects Of The Great Recession On The United Kingdom Essay1405 Words   |  6 PagesBackground The â€Å"Great Recession† is commonly used to explain the massive economic contraction that occurred in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2007. However, the actions of the United States spanned to other nations, leaving massive effect on the global economy. One nation that took on serious financial burden during this recession was the United Kingdom. This nation first faced the effects of the Great Recession beginning in the first quarter of 2008. Overall, the initial mass effectsRead MoreDemand Side Policies And The Great Recession1191 Words   |  5 Pages DEMAND-SIDE POLICIES AND THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2008 TIMOTHY W. AUSTIN AMU/APUS ECON102 MACROECONOMICS DR. FREDERIC BOUCHET MARCH 25, 2016 INTRODUCTION According to Investopedia, â€Å"a recession is a significant decline in activity across the economy, lasting longer than a few months.† Technically a recession is viewed and measured by evaluating and verifying negative growth in a nations’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two successive quarters. A recession can be seen when there is a declineRead MoreThe Great Depression Of The 1930 S1476 Words   |  6 Pagescontrast the great depression of the 1930’s and the great recession in the United State of America. First, I’ll make a general overview of each of these two different periods and then focus on certain specific aspects during these different times. This will include the causes to the economic recessions witnessed, impacts of the economic recessions and the solutions that were introduced. When talking about any topic regarding American history, it would be hard not to mention the 1930’s great depressionRead MoreThe Recession Of The United States1192 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The 2008-2010 recession is a period when an economic decline was witnessed in major world markets. The U.S. was among the worst hence pressuring the Federal Reserve to make efforts towards evading further damages. The recession was characterized by a rise in both economic demand and asset prices. Other features of the recession included high cases of unemployment, slumping commodity prices, and a drop of international trade. To avoid a further economic decline, the Federal ReserveRead MoreThe Reasons For The Debt917 Words   |  4 Pagesdepends on credit; the promise to pay later for goods and services used today; but along with consumer credit comes consumer debt. All these different types of consumer debts leads to many externalities all around the world which can create a large impact in our society and a problem to the consumer if they are not able to pay it off. Credit cards are one of the major types of consumer debt in which has increase over the years. It’s known to be the third largest source of household in obligation. PeopleRead MoreRunning Head: Great Recession 1. Great Recession5. . .884 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: GREAT RECESSION 1 GREAT RECESSION 5 Great Recession Name Institution Great Recession There are times when a nation undergoes economic hardship for a long or short period of time. The recession is the term used by economists to define this period, it is a time when the nation?s economic GDP is low for more than two quarters consecutively (Beckworth, 2012). Recession often results in plunges in the stock market, unemployment, housing market, and a decrease in the qualityRead MoreEssay on Analysing the Recent Economic Recession and Its Effects1122 Words   |  5 Pagesalternation between economic downturns and economic upturns (Investopedia n.d.). A recession is an economic downturn and happens in every country and some recessions are worse than others and the output of GDP and employment are falling farther and faster. The great depression lasted from 1929-1933 and was a deep prolonged downturn in the business cycle before a recovery/expansion of the business cycle occurred and GDP and employment started to rise (Krugman Wells. 2012). The next recession lasted fromRe ad MoreThe Cause And Effect Of Leaded Gasoline1544 Words   |  7 Pages Near the end of 1857, President James Buchanan was faced with increasing economic turmoil due to the Panic of 1857. According to â€Å"Panic of 1857† on The failure of several important businesses and the fall in grain prices led to an economic downturn that affected the entire United States, which Buchanan chose to ignore. This financial slump ended several years later, but the consequences exacerbated other issues in the U.S., especially the tensions between the North and the South. In 1965, Clair

Monday, December 16, 2019

Supply and Demand and Larger Societal Forces Free Essays

â€Å"The microenvironment consists of the actors close to the company that affect its ability to serve its customers – the company, suppliers, marketing intermediates, customer markets, competitors and publics. The macroenvironment consists of the larger societal forces that affect the microenvironment – demographic, economic, natural, technological, political and cultural forces. † (Kolter, 2008) We stated on this website that marketing was about meeting needs and providing benefits and the customer should be the central focus of the business. We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand and Larger Societal Forces or any similar topic only for you Order Now The companies marketing strategy should be focused around this concept, however, there are factors within the companies marketing environment which can constrain this activity. These factors are both controllable and uncontrollable and have to be carefully monitored by the organisation. The companies marketing environment can be defined as the ‘controllabe and uncontrollabe elements that influence the strategic direction of the company’. The companies marketing environment can be analysed in two broad levels. The macro environment involves looking at uncontrollabe variables that influence company strategy. This is is discussed further in PEST Analysis. Political Influences Relationships between coffee producing nations and US State Local government controls Economic Influences Constant demand for food and beverages Changes in disposable income could influence purchase levels There is an importance of economic indicators to the strategic planning process in any organization is the ability to benchmark economic conditions that contribute to improve profitability, business growth and market size. Starbucks have succeeded several economic factors as well as price elasticity of demand. Price elasticity of demand can be determined by the percentage change in the quantity demanded with the percentage change in price. They should consider household income that people are willing to spend more on food and beverages when household income increases. Starbucks innovation in joint ventures has opened new markets and opportunities increasing product use among different demographics. Starbucks has proven to be highly innovative in business culture that offers prepaid cards, priced from ?5 to ?500. Joint ventures with Pepsi Company, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc and inspiring entertainment with the launch of â€Å"Hear Music† have developed Starbucks with great success. Starbucks has shown their values, leveraging market power, resources, and capabilities to achieve returns higher than their competition (Investment Group, 2001). How to cite Supply and Demand and Larger Societal Forces, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Blacl on Black Crime free essay sample

When the FBI released its latest annual crime report showing that violent crime is on the upswing in many big cities, a bevy of law enforcement, officials, and criminologists prayed that the report was just an aberrant blip on the crime chart. There was good reason to hope that: murder rates have plunged in big cities during the past decade, and there was every expectation that things would stay that way. The recent slaughter of five teens in New Orleans and a desperate plea from Mayor Ray Nagin to send in the National Guard to help patrol the streets shattered that hope. While the murder rate in big cities is still lower than it was a decade ago, the terrifying reality is that in New Orleans and other big cities, the victims and their killers are almost always young black males. In the 25 years of homicide records from 1976 to 2002 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, blacks are six times more likely to be murdered than whites, and seven times more likely to kill than whites. We will write a custom essay sample on Blacl on Black Crime or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They are far more likely to be gunned down over gang or drug disputes. New Orleans police speculate that that was the reason the five teens were killed. President Bush recognized that big city violence was a crisis problem. In his State of the Union Address in 2005, he pledged to shell out $150 million to youth education and violence prevention programs. It was well intentioned, but it was still a far cry from what was needed to stem the gunplay on urban streets. And as has been the case with other Bush initiatives, unveiled with much public fanfare, the attack on urban violence has fizzled out due to lack of money and lack of will to push it through. But even if the money and will were there, that would not get at the cause of why so many young blacks kill each other. More police, prosecutors, three strikes and mandatory sentencing laws, the death penalty, and the nearly one million blacks behind bars have done little to curb this carnage. Despite the pet theories of liberals and conservatives, blacks arent killing each other because they are violent or crime-prone by nature, because they are poor and oppressed, or even because they are acting out the obscene violence they see and hear on TV, films, and in gangster-rap lyrics. The violence results from a combustible blend of cultural and racial baggage many blacks carry. In the past, crimes committed by blacks against other blacks were often ignored or lightly punished. The implicit message was that black lives were expendable. It would be no surprise if the killer or killers of the New Orleans teens had a long, violent rap sheet but continued to roam the streets. Many studies have confirmed that the punishment violent blacks receive when their victim is white is far more severe than if the victim is black. This perceived devaluation of black lives by racism has provoked disrespect for the law, and has forced many blacks to internalize anger and misplace aggression onto other blacks especially those that are perceived as weak or defenseless. Far too many young black males have become especially adept at acting out their frustrations at white societys denial of their manhood by adopting an exaggerated tough guy role. They swagger, boast, curse, fight and commit violent, self-destructive acts. When many black males indulge their murderous impulses on other black males, they are often taking out their pent-up frustrations on those whom they perceive as helpless and hapless. This is a warped response to racism and deprivation, blocked opportunities, powerlessness and alienation. The Bureau of Justice Statistics noted that the other powerful ingredient in the deadly mix of black-on-black violence is the gang and drug plague. The resurgence of the drug trade in recent years and the flood of felons from prisons have made black gangs even bigger and more dangerous. Drug trafficking not only provided illicit profits, but also made gun play more widespread. Gang members used their arsenals to fend off attacks, protect their profits from predators, and settle scores with rivals. Broken homes, miserably failing inner city schools, and a chronic unemployment rate among young blacks which is double and triple that of white males in urban areas havent helped matters. Other than comedian Bill Cosby and some outraged local black leaders, mainstream civil rights figures havent said or done much about the black carnage. The sight of the National Guard on New Orleans streets may be a temporary comfort to residents and city officials, but its only that: temporary comfort. An impassioned Mayor Nagin put it best: local residents and community groups must put their foot down, say enough is enough, and take back their streets. Thats still the best way to stop the violence.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Metaphors in The Monkeys Paw Essay Example

Metaphors in The Monkeys Paw Essay At the start of the story, the writer says, â€Å"blinds were drawn, and the fire burned brightly.† This gives the impression that the atmosphere is warm, cozy. It also shows that the house is full of fun, conversation, and laughter. We can see that the White family is enjoying each other’s company. Playing games; entertaining a guest; having dinner. The atmosphere reflects the love and affection between the household members. After Mr. White makes his wish the writer stated, â€Å"a silence unusual and depressing settled on all three, which lasted until the old couple rose to retire for the rest of the night.† Then the atmosphere in the house changes dramatically for the worse. It becomes very quiet, eerie and morbid in the house. The monkey’s paw has already started to have a dramatic influence on the happiness of the White family. The atmosphere in the house reflects the feelings of uncertainty and foreboding in the family members. After Herbert’s death, the writer says that â€Å"the darkness was oppressive† The house has become a place of despair and misery. Very dark and sinister atmosphere pervades the house. It is cold, depressing and full of grief. The atmosphere in the house reflects the anguish and pain of Mr. and Mrs. White. At the start of the story, the writer says, â€Å"blinds were drawn, and the fire burned brightly.† This gives the impression that the atmosphere is warm, cozy. It also shows that the house is full of fun, conversation, and laughter. We can see that the White family is enjoying each other’s company. Playing games; entertaining a guest; having dinner. The atmosphere reflects the love and affection between the family members. We will write a custom essay sample on Metaphors in The Monkeys Paw specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Metaphors in The Monkeys Paw specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Metaphors in The Monkeys Paw specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After Mr. White makes his wish the writer stated, â€Å"a silence unusual and depressing settled on all three, which lasted until the old couple rose to retire for the rest of the night.† Then the atmosphere in the house changes dramatically for the worse. It becomes very quiet,

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Islam and Western Europe Essay Example

Islam and Western Europe Essay Example Islam and Western Europe Essay Islam and Western Europe Essay WHAP CH. 9 10 Reading Instructions: Copy this exam into a word document answer the questions. Email me your document. Due by 11:59 on 12/10 (Tuesday Night). Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. C 1. Islam had roots in which set of religious or philosophical traditions? A) Hinduism, Buddhism, and Manichaeism B) Legalism, Daoism, and Confucianism C) Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism D) Sufism, Sikhism, and Greek rationalism D 2. In Western Europe from 1000 to 1300, power was divided among A) ords, vassals, and serfs. princes, warriors, and farmers. the pope, royal officials, and scholars. kings, nobles, and church leaders. D 3. What initiated the division within Islam between the Sunnis and Shias? A) Fear that Muslims in conquered lands were going native and abandoning Islamic teachings B) The imam Alis new revelation and elaboration of the teachings of Islam C) The belief that Husayn, the son of All, was the real messiah D) Disagreement over who should assume leadership in the Islamic world C 4. Which of the following statements expresses a view of women found in the Quran? A) Women were always to remain veiled and secluded. Women were solely to blame for the existence of evil in the world. C) Women were spiritually equal to men. Women were socially equal to men. B 5. Disagreement over which of the following contributed to the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church? A) A church hierarchy of patriarchs, bishops, and priests Veneration of icons The missionary impulse The religious authority of the Bible B 6. Which of the following is an example of the Byzantine Empires influence on Eurasia? A) Acceptance of Latin as the international language of diplomacy B) Transmission of ancient Greek learning to Western Europe and the Islamic world C) Control of the trade routes along the Silk Roads and across the Sahara D) Spread of Eastern Orthodox Christianity to North Africa and Central Asia D 7. In the eleventh century, the religious culture of the Byzantine Empire had a significant impact on A) the rulers of the Axum state in Ethiopia. the Nestorian church in China. e Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe. Slavic-speaking peoples in the Balkans and Russia. B 8. Which of the following characterizes the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe from 500 to 1000? A) Christian missionaries destroyed pagan temples and idols. Earlier cultural practices were absorbed into the Christian tradition. C) The Church focused on converting people in the countryside. Coercion was never used because th e Church did not condone the use of force. B 9. Which of the following was a long-term impact of the Crusades in Europe? A) I ne crusades weakened slgnlTlcantly tne Innuence 0T lurKlc-speaKlng peoples In Islamic world. B) Spain, Sicily, and the Baltic region permanently Joined the world of Western Christendom. C) Animosity from the Crusades ended the flow of Muslim learning into Europe. D) People from the Middle East migrated to Europe in large numbers. C 10. Which of the following is an example ofa role assumed by the ulama? A) Rulers Warriors Judges Doctors A 11. During the period from 1000 to 1300, the rulers in which region held the least power? A) Western Europe The Byzantine Empire China Russia B 12. What advantage did the Byzantine Empire have that enabled it to survive as a political entity for a thousand years longer than the western part of the Roman Empire? A) Assimilation to Germanic culture More territory under its control A longer frontier A stronger military C 13. Besides Islam, which of the following was also a target of Western European crusaders? A) Protestantism Roman catnollclsm Eastern Orthodox Christianity Buddhism D 14. Why was the city of Mecca important? A) Jews, Christians, and Muslims all regarded it as the Holy Land. B) It was the only city in pre-lslamic Arabia that enjoyed a high degree of social equality. It was a crossroad for all the major long-distance trade routes. D) It was the site of the Kaaba where pilgrims congregated. In contrast to the spread of Buddhism and Christianity, the early spread B 15. of Islam A) occurred at a much slower pace. gave rise to a large empire. was limited to the immediate vicinity of its birthplace. was checked by surrounding older civilizations. B 16. Which of the following describes the relationship between politics and eligion in Western Europe from 500 to 1300? A) Rulers were appointed by the pope of the Catholic Church. Rulers provided protection for the Church in return for religious legitimacy. C) The ruler was the head of both the state and the Church. The pope was the head of both the state and the Church. A 17. The Arab Empire that accompanied the spread of Islam stretched from A) Spain to India. Mesoamerica to Madagascar. the Andes to the Himalayas. the Gulf of Mexico to the Red Sea. wnlcn 0T tne Tollowlng was period from 600 to 1 500? A) Anatolia West Africa India Southeast Asia tne most tnorougnly Islamlzea region In B 19. Sufi practitioners facilitated the conversion to Islam of people living in Anatolia and India by A) promoting the enforcement of the sharia by local Islamic rulers. B) emphasizing personal experience of the divine, rather than the law. C) initiating campaigns to close Christian and Hindu schools. freeing large numbers of slaves who agreed to convert. C 20. Which of the following religious traditions blended elements of Hinduism and Islam? A) Sunni Islam Shia Islam Sikhism Sufism

Friday, November 22, 2019

Daltons Model of the Atom and Early Atomic Theory

Dalton's Model of the Atom and Early Atomic Theory You may take it for granted that matter is made up of atoms, but what we consider common knowledge was unknown until relatively recently in human history. Most science historians credit John Dalton, a British physicist, chemist, and meteorologist, with the development of modern atomic theory. Early Theories While the ancient Greeks believed atoms made matter, they disagreed on what atoms were. Democritus recorded that  Leucippus believed atoms to be small, indestructible bodies that could combine to change properties of matter.  Aristotle believed elements each had their own special essence, but he did not think the properties extended down to tiny, invisible particles. No one really questioned Aristotles theory, since tools did not exist to examine matter in detail. Along Comes Dalton So, it wasnt until the 19th century that scientists conducted experiments on the nature of matter. Daltons experiments focused on gases their properties, what happened when they were combined, and the similarities and differences between different types of gases. What he learned led him to propose several laws, which are known collectively as Daltons Atomic Theory or Daltons Laws: Atoms are small, chemically indestructible particles of matter. Elements consist of atoms.Atoms of an element share common properties.Atoms of different elements have different properties and different atomic weights.Atoms that interact with each other obey the Law of Conservation of Mass. Essentially, this law states the number and kinds of atoms that react are equal to the number and kinds of atoms in the products of a chemical reaction.Atoms that combine with each other obey the Law of Multiple Proportions. In other words, when elements combine, the ratio in which the atoms combine can be expressed as a ratio of whole numbers. Dalton is also known for proposing gas laws (Daltons Law of Partial Pressures) and explaining color blindness. Not all of his scientific experiments could be called successful. For example, some believe the stroke he suffered might have resulted from research using himself as a subject, in which he poked himself in the ear with a sharp stick to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"investigate the humours that move inside of my cranium.†

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Road to Perdition Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Road to Perdition - Movie Review Example The movie is based on a graphic novel of the same title by Max Allan Collins. Depression-era Chicago serves as the perfect period in which to set the story of Road to Perdition. The stark grittiness of the early 30's best illustrates and complements the troubled nature of Road to Perdition's story. It provides a backdrop where gangsters rule and where death is an everyday business. The story is set in 1931, which is considered an in-between era since it is a different world from three years before and three years after. Albert Wolsky, costume designer for the film even found it hard to find existing clothes to match the era Michael Sullivan lived in since the 1930's is sandwiched between the flamboyance of the 20's and the fashionable gangsterism of the mid 30's. The early 30's was a time of austerity and depression, and the spirit of this era snugly fits the film's premise. The film, through an excellent use of the era, imposes a heavy, dark cloud of depression on its viewers which only briefly diffuses during the scenes between Sullivans Sr. and Jr. near the end of the movie. Technically and aesthetically, Road to Perdition excels. The film is a wonderful tour de force of some of the most notable figures in directing, acting, scoring, and cinematography. Sam Mendes (American Beauty), in his interpretation of the film, added to the depth of the conflict by using ingenious presentation methods. For example, to emphasize the gap between Michael Sullivan's Jr. and Sr., he employed a method that had both characters talk through obstacles like mirrors and doorposts. This had the effect of alienating both characters from each other since they had to communicate with each other indirectly. Later on in the film, Mendes uses close crops of both characters to symbolize a new found openness towards each other. The way Mendes presents each scene is subtle yet meaningful - a truly subconscious treat. Unfortunately, this may have backfired on many of the viewers, as there has been the comment that the movie left many of the viewers alienated and cold too. It may be that Mendes' plan worked a little too well. The story of Michael Sullivan and his son takes place mainly during winter. The eerie frozen landscape has a telling effect on the movie's plot. Mendes says the snow "symbolizes a frozen world... frozen in the emotional sense. It's a paralyzed family until the father and oldest son are thrown together by tragedy, and they begin to have the relationship they never had before. So out of the bad comes good, and everything that was intended to be set in ice at the beginning begins to thaw."(qtd. in "Road to Perdition Synopsis") The first thing to catch one's attention upon watching this film is the gorgeous cinematography by Conrad Hall. Hall is a master of mood and lighting, and it shows in his work on Road to Perdition. He makes good use of snow and the broke-down alleyways to convey a sense of despair in the film. The viewer gets the impression that beneath the paleness of the snow lies tension that has to be let loose. The film also uses washed out colors to give an aged look. This, in a way, authenticates the period which the film is based on. In one scene, Hall makes clever use of light shining through rained-upon windows to give the impression that the room is weeping. It would be observed that he does not use sweeping views of the backdrop. Instead, he uses pensive shots that are starkly beautiful. The screenplay by David

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Jurisprudence and corporate Social Responsibility Essay - 1

Jurisprudence and corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example the â€Å"first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.† Therefore, justice can be distinguished from compassion, mercy, generosity, benevolence and charity. The understanding of the concept of justice varies between societies depending on their mythology, religion and shared history. However, the common feature about the notion of justice in every society is that it is influenced by values created by the society’s ethics. Generally, justice has been viewed by societies as either harmony, natural law, divine command, a human creation, a mutual agreement, a subordinate attribute and even as a trickery. The duty of the ensuring that justice is accorded to every member of the society is a corporate social responsibility. There are different approaches or theories that can be applied in defining what constitutes justice in a country. The three theories of justice that will be discussed in this paper are Justice as Fairness, Utilitarianism and Libertarianism. According to utilitarianism, a society can be said to be just if its institutions and laws promote the greatest total or average happiness of every of its member (Hare 1982). The question in this theory is â€Å"how we determine the overall happiness and/or satisfaction of each member of the society?† Therefore, this theory can be said to provide an indirect approach to the issue of justice because justice is not like weight or temperature that can directly measured. Traditionally, utilitarianism relied upon the account of forms of organization and social conditions necessary for the realisation of this good. It also relied on the theory of human good, that is, that which was though to be good for human beings or that which they needed for them to flourish (Mary 1973). The problem here is that it is not possible for all people to agree on what type of things or life is desirable. For example, financiers, ministers, intellectuals, artists, soldiers, salespersons or athletes have

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Investing in Futures and Options Essay Example for Free

Investing in Futures and Options Essay INTRODUCTION Of late, investors who are in the stock and commodity are focusing their attention towards risk management especially due to high volatility nature. Since these volatility movements are uncertain, it has become foremost cause of vagueness for such investors. Since the globalization of trade and free trade between major countries has become the order of the day, all most all the investors have to be under mercy of the exchange rate fluctuations which results in volatility   .The notion that exchange rates , profitability and other factors   influence a firm’s value and therefore the price of its stock is widely held by financial analyst ,economists and corporate managers . The liberalization of economic policies and investment policies due to world trade organization’s (WTO) free flow of investments and trade between member countries and bilateral free trade agreements between countries have augmented internationalization of economic activity and exceptional era of world wide currency and interest rates instability. To counter these financial risks, new pioneering concept commodity and stock market hedging techniques have nurtured at a rapid speed. The main feature of the using derivatives through hedging is to have control over the financial risk and minimizing the effect of uncertain cash flows. Financial institutions have come to rescue to these corporations who have exposure to financial risk with the range of products to assist in risk management. By far the most significant event in finance during the past decade has been the extraordinary development and expansion of financial derivatives. These instruments enhance the ability to differentiate risk and allocate it to the investors most able and   willing to take it – a process that has undoubtedly improved national productivity growth and standards of living .’ Allen Green Span, Chairman, Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System. The structural advantage of derivatives i.e. leverage or gearing   makes them suitable for managing risk can also result in the generation of leveraged profits or in the event of adverse market movement , a significant losses. The main advantage of gearing is that the buyer or seller need only to cough up a small proportion of total price at the time of deal is executed. It may be 1% and 8% depending upon the volatility of the underlying commodity or instrument. In the case of exchange traded transactions, this deposit is recognized as â€Å"initial margin† and is expected to reflect the amount by which the price of a contract may vary in one day’s trading. At the day end, all contracts will be valued and if the price has been found to move against the position, the losing party will have to pay further â€Å"variation margin† calls. In contrary, if the price movement is positive, credit will be given to the party .It is this element of gearing that provides the opportunity to make large gains or losses. Prudent handling of this leverage will result in considerable profit maximization and if it handled inexpertly, may generate losses .In some cases , these losses though high but they are few in number when measured against volume of business and number of participants in derivative business .The contributory factors for sustaining loss includes excessive position taking ( in relation to capital) , fraudulent activity , unexpected market moves, ineffective risk management, insufficient product understanding and inadequacies in corporate policy governing their use. What is a derivative? Derivative is a mathematical word which refers to a variable, which has been derived from another variable and they have no values of their own. Derivatives derive their value from the value of some other asset, which is referred as the underlying. For instance, a derivative of the shares of AT T Corporation (underlying), will derive its value from the share price (value) of AT T Corporation. Likewise, a derivative contract on wheat depends upon the price of wheat. An agreement or an option to buy or sell the underlying asset of the derivative up to a certain time in the future at a predetermined price i.e. the exercise price by way of special contract is known as derivative contract. The contract also has a flat expiry period mostly in the range of 3 to 12 months from the date of origination of the contract. The price of the underlying asset and the expiry period of the contract determine the value of the contract. Financial derivatives comprises of underlying financial asset like currency, debt instruments, equity shares, share price index etc.Exchange-traded derivatives are derivative contracts that has been standardized and traded on the stock exchanges. Over-the –counter derivatives is one which has been customized as per the requirements of the user by negotiating with the other party involved. Some of the common forms of derivatives are Futures, Forwards and Options. Futures: Futures are the derivative contracts that give the holder the chance to buy or sell the underlying asset at a pre-specified price some time in the near future and usually thy come with standardized form like contract size, fixed expiry time and price. The future market is one where continues auction market and exchanges presenting the recent information about the supply and demand as regards to individual commodities or financial instruments like stocks . In other words, future market is one where buyers and sellers of variety of commodities, financial instruments get together to trade. The main aim of the future market is to manage price risk. The future price risk is averted by buying or selling futures contract, with a price level arrived at now, for items to be delivered in future. This is achieved by hedging which helps to shield against the risk of an adverse price change in the near future or use of futures to lock in an acceptable margin between their purchase and their selling price. In futures, bankers, farmers, traders, manufacturers will arrange for the purchase or sale of a futures contract. In future market, commodities are broken down into five categories namely agriculture, metallurgical, interest bearingassets, jndexes and foreign currency. Agricultural futures market includes oats, corn , wheat , soybeans , soy meal ,soyoil,sunflower oil ,cattles , live hogs   and pork bellies, lumber , plywood ,cotton, coffee, cocoa, rice, orange juice and sugar. For every one of these commodities, different contract months are available and it depends upon the harvest cycle. More aggressively traded commodities usually have more contract months available and a new type of contract is available almost every month to meet the growing institutional and corporate market. Futures on Metallurgical Products: Petroleum products and metals is being covered under this group and it includes platinum, gold, silver, palladium, copper, gasoline, crude oil, propane and heating oil. Every month a new type of contract emerges to cater the needs of ever increasing institutional and corporate market. Assets which bears interest: This has its origin during 1975 and products in these categories include treasury bonds, Treasury Bills, Municipal Bonds, Treasury Notes and Eurodollar deposits. It is also possible to trade contracts with the same maturity but different expected interest rate differentials. Futures on Indexes: Now futures are available on most chief indexes such as New York Stock Exchange Composite, SP 500, New York Stock Exchange Utility index, Russell 2000, Commodity Research Bureau (CRB), SP 400 Midcap, FT-Se 100 Index (London) and Value line. These stock index features are settled in cash and there is no delivery of goods is involved in this method. A trader has to settle his positions by buying or selling an offsetting position or in cash at expiration. Foreign Currency Futures: During the post war period, the exchange rates and interest rates were stable and the mechanism of fixed exchange rates of the Bretton Woods era enabled the corporations to know in advance their foreign exchange liabilities for their imports. But the collapse of Bretton Woods’s system after the war resulted in the introduction of general floating exchange rates replacing the earlier fixed system. The introduction of floating exchange rates have resulted in large unexpected movements in exchange rates that too in unforeseen directions and magnitudes which affected interest rate movements as the monetary establishment tried to influence the exchange rates by movements in interest rates. It is to be noted that the forward market in currencies is much bigger than the foreign exchange futures market. Further, there are cross currency futures that are being traded and these includes Deutsch mark / yen, Deutsch mark / French franc. Forwards Options: Forward is another form of a derivative contract but tailored to the needs of the user in terms of expiry date, contract size, and price. These contracts confer the holder the option to buy or sell the under lying at a pre-determined price some time in the future .Call option is one where the buyer has given his option to buy the underlying at the near future .Where as an option to sell the underlying at a specified price in the future is called as Put Option. As regards to the option contract, the buyer is not obliged to exercise the option contract. Generally, options can be traded on the stock exchange or on the OTC. In option, the participants may assume a position in an underlying futures contract at a certain price which is known as exercise or strike price within a particular period of time. The price or premium of the option is determined through action market trading. Swaps: Swaps contract was introduced in 1981 and can be considered as one of the latest financial innovations to manage financial risks. The contracting parties are obliged to exchange specified cash flows at specified intervals under a swap contract. In a nutshell, a swap contract can be defined as a series of forward contracts put together. If the exchange of interest rate payments in one currency for payments in another currency is devised, then it amounts to a currency swap. If the exchange between two parties of interest obligations or receipts in the same currency on an agreed amount of notional principal for an agreed period of time is devised, then it is known as interest rate swap. An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange interest payments calculated on different bases over a period of time. Under interest rate swap, one party to the contract makes fixed –rate payments while the other party’s payments are based on a floating rate such as LIBOR. For instance, if a company which has borrowed from a bank at a floating rate (7 m LIBOR) may want to swap that for a fixed rate (7m LIBOR) so that they can cover the risk if the interest rates go up. On one side, they pay 7% (of the agreed notional principal) and receive 7m LIBOR and on the other side they pay 7m LIBOR straight out to repay their loan. Thus they have converted a floating rate loan into a fixed rate loan. The said bank may manages its own risk from the above swap transaction by backing it out with another swap , say by paying 6.95% for 7m LIBOR and thus they earn a profit of 0.5% difference thus avoiding the risk in the interest rate changes . The other different types of interest rate swap are: Basis swap: For instance, swapping 2m LIBOR for 4m LIBOR. Basic swaps are mostly used by mortgage companies because the get the mortgage payments on monthly basis. Both fixed Currency Swap : Both fixed and say fixed $ for fixed  £ Both floating currency swap: 2m $ LIBOR for 4 m Yen LIBOR. Cross Currency Swap: fixed  £ for 2m CHF LIBOR. Companies derive more flexibility to exploit their comparative advantage in their respective borrowing markets under currency swaps. Under interest rate swap, corporations try to focus on their comparative advantage in borrowing in a single currency in the short end of the maturity spectrum vs. the long –end of the maturity spectrum. USES OF DERIVATIVES: Derivatives are mainly used for speculation or hedging. For speculation, derivatives offer us leverage. For instance, instead of buying  £ 5Million bond in the anticipation that its price will rise up, one can buy an option on that bond, which might only cost  £ 2000. The profit chances or opportunities are the same less the price of the option but the risk is much less as the most we can loose in this deal is the option price ( £ 2000). For hedging, derivatives let you to seal the price now for a trade in future or at least limits the rise or fall of that price. An UK company holding a US bond which is on the verge of its maturity could buy an interest rate option to guarantee the dollar / sterling rate did not diminish the value of its bond. Volatility is regarded as the most precise measure of risk and its return. The greater the volatility, the greater the risk and the reward as it is evidenced in the transaction from bull to bear markets. It is to be observed in the bearish market, volatility and risk augment while returns disappear including short –selling returns. History: The very first exchange for trading derivatives started by Royal Exchange in London, which allowed forward contract. Likewise, the first future contract was introduced to Yodoya rice market in Osaka, Japan in 1650. Then in 1848, Chicago Board of Trade was started to handle futures market of US. Russell Sage, a famous New York financier introduced synthetic loans using the principle of put-call parity. Sage could able to create a synthetic loan by fixing the put, call and strike prices with interest rate poignantly higher than the US usury law permitted. Chicago Mercantile Exchange started International Monetary Market in 1972 which permitted trading in currency futures. The Chicago Board of Trade started first interest rate futures in 1975.Treasury bill futures contract was introduced in 1975 by Merc. The Chicago Board Options Exchange was started in 1973 and there were publications for the first time option pricing model of Fischer Black and Myron Scholes. Chicago Board Options Exchange created an option on an index of stocks which was originally known as CBOE 100 index which later known as SP 100. During 1980, Swaps and other over-the –counter derivatives were introduced. It was in 1994, the derivative trade witnessed a series of huge losses and this affected experienced trading firms like Metallgesellschaft and Procter and Gamble. Orange country, California which is the America’s wealthiest city was declared as bankruptcy due to derivative trading and use of leverage in a portfolio of short -term Treasury securities. DERIVATIVES OR DESTRUCTIVE? A CASE STUDY OF BARINGS, UK. Baring Brothers, a British merchant bank went to bankruptcy in 1995 after incurring a whooping loss of  £ 860 million occurred on the Singapore and Osaka derivative exchanges. Nick Leeson, the bank’s star trader and absence of management controls to monitor his activities were the main reasons for this debacle. During the period between 1992 and 1995, Lesson built up positions in futures and options contracts on the Nikkei 225 stock exchange index, which proved highly profitable in the early years. Futures positions were bought by Lesson on the Nikkei index and financed cash calls on them as they fell in value by selling put options on the contract, thereby producing a straddle and thus betting against volatility of the market. Simex derivative exchange in Singapore were used to book the contracts and he run a hedged position on Nikkei index futures and make money by arbitraging between Singapore and Osaka markets. However he ceased hedging on the purchases made in Singapore and took on risk. Due to unexpected volatility in the market, losses were incurred and these losses in fact exceeded the net worth of Baring Bank .Lesson was later imprisoned for the falsification of records in an attempt to cover up his activities. The rationale of this case law is to elucidate how a bank can face bankruptcy if there is no proper risk management system is in force. The case also establishes the concept of ‘value at risk ‘(VAR) which is a simple method to express the risk of a portfolio. Because of the recent derivatives disasters, end-users, regulators, financial institutions and central bankers are now resorting to VAR as a method to foster stability in financial markets .The case illustrates how VAR could have been utilized to Baring Bank case to warn its management of the risk they were facing in advance. VOLATILITY: Volatility has its effect on administered market and it is high when both supply and demand are inelastic and liable to random shocks. According to Rudiger Dornbusch, market always overshoots in reaction to unexpected changes in economic variables. Volatility is a type of market incompetence and it is a reaction to uncertainty and excessive volatility is unreasonable. Volatility in stock and commodity market is represented by sharp changes in prices and inventory levels and level of volatility itself has fluctuated over the time. Changes in future prices, spot prices and inventories are influenced by changes in volatility Volatility is a determinant of changes in price expressed in percentage terms without regard to direction especially in stock price and stock index levels , commodities and in financial intermediaries .For example , an increase from 200 to 201 in one index is as same as the volatility terms to an increase in 100 to 101 in another index , because both changes are 1% and as this 1% increase is equal to volatility terms to a 1 % price decline .There are four ways to explain the volatility or movement and they are historical volatility , future volatility , expected volatility and implied volatility . Historical volatility is an appraiser of actual price variation during a particular period in the past. Future volatility refers annualized standard deviation of daily returns during particular future period basically between current and an option expiration. Expected volatility is an investor’s forecast of volatility utilized in an option method to gauge the theoretical value of an option. Implied volatility is the volatility percentage that illustrates the current market price of an option and it is the indicator of an option’s price. Volatility is described as standard deviation of the yield of an asset and the value of an option always increases with volatility. The greater the volatility, the higher the option chance during its life and convertible to the underlying asset at a marginal profit and this methodology has been proved in the Black-Scholes formula. Black-scholes formula yield results during trends and unsuccessful when the market change sign. â€Å" The implied volatilities are efficient forecasts of future volatility since varying market conditions cause volatilities to change through time stochastically and traditional volatilities   can not correct itself to varying market conditions as ghastly .Stochastic volatility contradicts the assumption required by the Black-Scholes model –if volatilities do modify stochastically through moment in time, the Black-Scholes method is no longer the correct pricing method and an implied volatility derived from the Black-Scholes formula provides no fresh information. Black-Scholes formula is lacking on certain issues like the oblique volatilities of various options on the identical stock tend to differ disregarding the formulas hypothesize that a single stock can be correlated with only one value of implied volatility. The Black-Scholes formula mainly ignores the distribution of stock prices in US market.   Some studies have revealed severe deviation from the price process fundamental to Black-Scholes formula like excess kurtosis, skewness, time varying volatilities and serial correlation. Further Black –scholes deals with stochastic volatility poorly and it relies on impractical assumption that market dickers endlessly thereby ignoring institutional constraints and transaction costs. Stock Charting: Stock charting is the process of a graphical sequence record enables it easier to dapple the effect of cardinal happenings on authoritarian security’s price., its functioning over a period of time and whether it’s trading its higher or its lower or in between these. Traders are very particular in daily, intraday data to forecast short-term price movements.   Investors rely on weekly and monthly charts to mark long term trends and movements. Line chart, Bar chart, Candlestick Chart and point and figure chart are some of the examples of stock charting method.   Arithmetic and semi-log arithmetic scales are two methods of price scaling used in the stock charting method. When the price range is hemmed within a tight range and used in general for short-term charts and trading. Semi-log scales are useful for long term charts to estimate the percentage movements over a foresighted period of time including large movements. Stock and other securities are estimated in relative terms through tools lime PE, Price/Revenues and Price/Book and as such it will be more useful to analyse in percentage terms. Ocillator: This is an indicator which is calculated by taking 10 day moving average of the difference between the numbers of advancing and defining issues for authoritarian given index. An indicator will reflect whether an index is gaining or losing impetus, so the size of the moves is more significant than the level of the current reading. The level of the reading is influenced by how the oscillator changes each day thereby dropping a value ten days ago and adding today’s value. The scale in moves is also helpful when it is compared with the divergence from the index price. If the Dow climaxes at the same time, the oscillator peaks in overbought area and suggests a top. Divergence is said to be negative and momentum is declining when index makes a new high but the oscillator fails to make a higher .One can buy if the index declines at this point but oscillator moves into oversold territory. If the oscillator rises above a previous overbought level though the index rises but does not make new heights, it is said to be upside momentum exists to continue the rally. Support: A support level is the price at which buyers are anticipated to enter the market in considerable numbers to take control from sellers. As the market has its track record, when price falls to a new low and then soars, the buyers who ignored on the first low will be persuaded to buy if price returns to that level back .Fearing of missing out the opportunity for the second time, these traders may enter into market in adequate numbers to take control from sellers. As the result, there is a rally strengthening sensitivity that price is unlikely to fall further thereby creating a support level. Resistance: The price level at which the sellers are anticipated to enter the market in sizeable numbers to take control from buyers is known as resistance level. If price makes a new High and then move back, sellers who ignored the previous High will be predisposed to sell when price returns to that level back. Fearing of missing the opportunity for the second time, these sellers may enter the market in large numbers to overwhelm buyers. As the result, market perception will be reinforced that price is unlikely to increase higher and form a resistance level. CANDLE CHARTING: It is a price chart that shows the open, low, the high and close for a stock each day over a specified period of time .It is known as Japanese candles because they used to analyse the price of rice contracts. When the close is higher than the open , the same is represented by an white empty box in the candle charting .When the close is lower than the open , then it is represented by a solid black candle ,Colored candles are used to reflect the day’s volume. Investment strategies in stock and options Following is the most of common investment strategies for keeping investment objectives, financial means and risk tolerance. Despite of market crash in 1929, market break in 1987, market correction in 1989 and though the prices of all securities fell down drastically but broad movement of the market has seen their value steadily increased. One of the strategies is to buy and hold for long the high quality stocks or futures of stock or commodities .The buy –and-hold strategy offers one to profit from this long term forward trend of the stock market. Further, dividend investment plan offers small investors a painless method of building wealth. Dollar –Cost Averaging: This is also a long term strategy and one has to invest in a stock or mutual fund or futures at regular intervals monthly, quarterly or semiannually. The success of dollar-cost averaging relies on consistency of amount invested and the regularity of the payments so as to minimize pricing and timing risk. The success of the Dollar cost averaging depends upon the following factors. The plan for the investment should be for a long period i.e. from 7 years to 10 years .In the last 100 years, there were about 40 recessions or market corrections or a downturn about every 3 years and If one carry on to invest through about three of these corrections, the profits of dollar-cost averaging tend to be maximized. 2 .Investment at regular intervals is most preferred. Investment should be made regularly regardless of the price of the stock. Give preference to high quality of stocks or mutual funds and a company or fund with history of habitual dividend payments and possible for capital appreciation is a better choice. One has to make sure that he has enough strength so that he can adhere to the plan through highs and lows and sell out at the peak and thus the money allocated for dollar-cost averaging result in wealth-building funds, not committed funds.[i] Going Short: An investor who prefers short i.e. enters into futures contract by agreeing to sell and deliver the underlying at a price and wishes to make profit from declining price levels and thereby selling high now , the contract can be repurchased in the future at a lesser price thus creating a profit for the investor. 16.Spreads: It involve taking benefit of the price difference between two different contracts of the same commodity and spreading is believed to be the most conventional forms of trading in the futures market because it is much safer than the trading long / short futures contract. There are different types of spread namely calendar spread, inter-exchange spread and inter-market spread. Swing Trading: It denotes a technique of placing emphasis on playing the swings in the PPS, selling on the highs and buying on the lows rather than the swiftness of the trade. To complete the swing trade, it may need more than a day, a week or authoritarian month or longer period and channeling stock is pursued by the some swing traders. Flipping: It refers the process of trading a stock very quickly with in minutes or hours etc as past as possible may be on the same day. It is often used to explain a buy and sell with a share that is running and where the trader buys the stock as it is moving up and sells the same on even a higher point in a short period of time. A flipper aim is to maximize his profits by emphasizing on fast trades to earn quick profits. The risk is also less downside as the trader sits in a stock for a less time. [i] Hall, Alvin D., and Carolyn M. Brown. Investment Strategies Made Easy: Heres How to Overcome Your Fears of the Market and Invest like a Pro. Black Enterprise Mar. 1994: 66+. 2.Fisher, Black and Myron Scholes, â€Å"The pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities â€Å"The Journal of Political Economy, 81,637-654. 3.Mackay, Charles. Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds: New York, Harmony Books (1980). 4.Chance .Don M.† A Chronology of Derivatives† Derivative Quarterly, 2 (winter, 1955) 53-60. 5.Thomas L. Friedman ,The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century Stephen Leeb, Glen Strathy ,The Coming Economic Collapse: How You Can Thrive When Oil Costs $200 a Barrel 7.George A. Fontanills, Tom Gentile The Volatility Course 8.George Soros, Paul A. Volcker The Alchemy of Finance (Wiley Investment Classics) 9.John C. Hull Options, Futures and Other Derivatives (6th Edition) 10.Marc Allaire ,The Options Strategist 11. George Kleinman, Trading Commodities and Financial Future: A Step by Step Guide to Mastering the Markets (3rd Edition). 12. Sheldon Natenberg ,Option Volatility Pricing: Advanced Trading Strategies and Techniques Jeffrey M. Christian, Commodities Rising: The Reality Behind the Hype and How To Really Profit in the Commodities Market. John J. Murphy ,Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications (New York Institute of Finance John F. Carter, Mastering the Trade (McGraw-Hill Trader’s Edge) 16. Joseph Kellogg, Trading From the Inside 17. Thomas N. Bulkowski ,Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns (Wiley Trading) 18.Stephen W. Bigalow, Profitable Candlestick Trading: Pinpointing Market Opportunities to Maximize Profits

Thursday, November 14, 2019

An Abortion at 28 Days Would Be Harmless! :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

An Abortion at 28 Days Would Be Harmless! Let's examine the fetal development on a daily basis for the first 28 days of life - and then decide whether such an early abortion would be "harmless" or not. Day 1: Fertilization: One little boy begins the first day of his life within his mother's body. At this point, his father's sperm and his mother's egg combine to form a new human being who carries with him as much information as 50 sets of a 33-volume encyclopedia. This genetic information (DNA) will determine all of this little person's physical characteristics and much of his intelligence and personality. (Moore 25, Davis 39, Sadler 3, Gasser 19, Arey 55, Patten 43, Rugh 2-7, Flanagan 41) Day 2: Our little friend is now three cells big. His cells will continue to divide as he starts down his mother's Fallopian tube towards her uterus (womb), where he will get the food and shelter he needs to grow and develop. Day 6-7: Implantation into his mother's uterus begins and all the while he continues to grow. As his cells multiply, they differentiate to perform specific functions-circulatory, muscular, neural and skeletal. Day 14: Implantation is completed around this time and his mother misses her first menstrual period. Day 20: His heart, brain, spinal column, and nervous system are almost complete and his eyes begin to form. Day 22: His heart begins to beat. Day 28: This little boy is now approximately 1/4 inch long - 10,000 times larger than he was only three weeks ago! The blood flowing in his veins is completely different than his mother's. Whoops!! The fetal development stops at this point because the expectant mother has elected to have an abortion after 28 days. Has a human life been destroyed? Abortion actually terminates a human life. Physicians, biologists and scientists testified before Congress that human life begins at conception (fertilization). In Report, Subcommittee on Separation of Powers to Senate Judiciary Committee S-158, it states that "There is overwhelming agreement on this point in countless medical, biological and scientific writings." Every abortion involves, either surgicallly or chemically, the destruction of a human zygote or a human fetus, and the subsequent removal of same from his mother's womb. Therefore, every abortion ends a human life. ("US Congress") WORKS CITED Arey, Leslie B.   Developmental Anatomy. , Philadelphia: W.

Monday, November 11, 2019

New England vs. Chesapeake Paper Essay

The New England and Chesapeake regions varied in many ways. They varied economically, socially, and religiously. At first there were many small colonies but then they grew into two distinct regions, the New England and Chesapeake areas. The New England region was a more superior place to live in than the Chesapeake region because the people in New England developed swifter and better. The Chesapeake region suffered because it had social, climatic, and religious problems. Even though the southern area is known for their blossoming fields and enormous plantations, the climate is scorching and the area suffered from many diseases. (Jamestown Settlement: Primary Sources New Brittannia). As a result, a large part of the population actually ended up dying due to these harmful diseases like the disease of smallpox. Yes, the southern colonies had a thriving economy due to the growing of tobacco and rice, but they lacked diversity. In this area they mainly had only one type of religion, Anglican. They absolutely had no religious tolerance. The social structure was also way off during this time period. It consisted with the majority of the population being poor indentured servants and slaves and then a small portion being wealthy plantation owners. The plantation owners were white men and they held all the power to vote in the society. That is why this region was so underdeveloped. They had a moist and blistering climate, and they had no diversity religiously or socially. However, The New England colonies developed better than the Chesapeake region because they had a better climate, and were more diverse socially along with religiously. Firstly, it was colder in this region so the people there did not have any destructive illnesses lingering around. Secondly they had more of a mixture in religion like Quakers and Catholics. The people in these colonies focused on religion and they wanted close- knit families (Document A). They did not just have one sole religion but several. The area also had more of a diverse social system with many different levels. They had poor people, middle-class working people, and than the rich. The people in this region believed that they should struggle and win together as a team. (City upon a Hill). The main reason they had a diverse social class is because they did not need to only depend on farming for their economic income. They had a fishing industry and the New England colonies were placed in an urban area so the people had more choices for jobs, although some people still farmed. They also had many technological advances in the New England Colony with Benjamin Franklin making many machines and inventions during this era. That is why the New England area was more developed and had a better chance of surviving. In Conclusion, the New England area was a much better place to live. They were not as prone to diseases because of the colder climate, they were more diverse socially and religiously, and they had economic opportunities because they were an industry. This difference in development needed to occur because without it America wouldn’t be as diverse as it is today because everyone would just have conformed together.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Advantages & Disadvantages of Internet and Newspaper Advertising

Advantages & disadvantages of Internet and newspaper advertising The Internet and newspapers are considered two of the five traditional types of media used for advertising. The others are television, radio and magazines. Each medium has advantages and disadvantages that are considered when selection of the best media for advertising messages is made. The Internet and newspapers are both useful media for advertising when they effectively convey your message to the right audience. Internet Advertising Advantages The Internet is the newest of the traditional media.A main advantage of Internet advertising is its affordability as an advertising medium. Typically, you pay for your ad based on the number of people it reaches. Audience selectivity is another major benefit as you can pinpoint specific audiences by site. Tracking results of Internet ads is also a strength. Online sites have great tracking tools to track unique visitors, visits, page views and impressions on the pages your ads are on. Versatility is another advantage. You can place banner ads of various sizes, pop-up ads, text ads and streaming audio and video ads. Internet Advertising DisdvantagesLimited click-through rates are a burden with Internet advertising. People often ignore banner ads and avoid pop-up ads and other online ad types. Uncertainty with what works through online advertising is a significant disadvantage as well. As the newest of the traditional media types, Internet advertising is still evolving. Technology, such as pop-up ad blockers, helps web users avoid pop up ads. In some cases, the audience on the website controls their exposure to the ad, such as with streaming audio and video, and the need to click through an ad to see the full message.Newspaper Advertising Advantages Timeliness is a major advantage of newspaper advertising relative to many other media types. You can often drop a newspaper ad off a day or two before it runs in the paper. Newspapers are excellent for geographi c targeting as well. Local businesses make regular use of local newspapers to target a local geographic market. State, regional and national newspapers offer broader geographic opportunities. Credibility is another strength of newspapers relative to other media. People often perceive that since the ads are near fact or news-based content, they are more believable.Newspaper Advertising Disdvantages Newspapers have a short life. Relative to magazines, newspaper ads have limited potential for ongoing exposure as they are often recycled or thrown out after initial reading. Reproduction quality also affects the print quality, especially in the latter part of a production run. You also have limited ability to target segmented markets through newspapers. While geographic targeting is an advantage, you have to pay for the newspaper's audience regardless of who fits into your market segment.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Does the film The Battle Of The Somme provide us with a realistic picture of what it was like to be a British soldier in the trenches Essays

Does the film The Battle Of The Somme provide us with a realistic picture of what it was like to be a British soldier in the trenches Essays Does the film The Battle Of The Somme provide us with a realistic picture of what it was like to be a British soldier in the trenches Paper Does the film The Battle Of The Somme provide us with a realistic picture of what it was like to be a British soldier in the trenches Paper Essay Topic: Film During World War I the government and army officials constantly endeavoured to project a positive image of the war effort and any attempt to show negative aspects of the war were discouraged as it was felt that this would lower morale and discourage patriotism and recruitment to the army. Therefore it is always hard to know whether any source is reliable, especially those from official sources, and these should always be backed up by cross-referencing. One of these sources is the film The Battle Of The Somme which shows footage of soldiers recorded actually behind the lines of British fire. Now, you would assume as it was filmed in the trenches, and shows real soldiers, that it would al be true and there would be no need of cross-referencing to see if it is accurate. However, as it was filmed for the purpose of showing during war-time back at home and was obviously approved by officials, it was therefore intended to show war tactics, trench conditions and general life as a soldier in an extremely positive light, and can not always be taken at face value. For instance, the film portrays lots of soldiers with clean clothes, good food and in a generally happy environment, with no major hardships smiling and going about daily life. However, various sources challenge this view of trench life including Aftermath by Siegfried Sassoon which asks: Do you remember the rats, and the stench of corpses rotting on the front line trench? which is quite a contrast to the images put forward by the film. And a poem of Sidney Chaplain says: you stand in a trench of vile stinking mud, and the bitter cold wind freezes your blood. These poems, and many others show that the trenches in fact werent the comfortable place the film suggests. The diaries and memoirs of soldiers also express a different view of trench life. Seargeant S. V. Britten says: Left at 6. 30 for reserve trenches. Just rat holes! found Germans feet sticking up through the ground. The Gurkhas had actually used human bodies instead of sandbags. Beside the stream where we were working, stench something awful and dead all around. However, this is not to say that the film was lying, but maybe it was hard to show the discomfort the troops were put through and the directors and producers have decided to show the good times in the trenches as the audience wanted an action film about brave soldiers, and did not want to see the trivialities of daily life. Also, if the film had shown the soldiers in major discomfort this may have been upsetting for friends or relatives back home. This theory is also supported by the fact that while, in their own poems or diaries the soldiers may have been less positive about trench conditions, in letters home to loved ones they usually tried to convey a positive attitude and not discuss hardships, as in this extract a letter of Rifleman Bert Bailey to his wife shows: I am still in the trenches and in good health. Although all day and night on Monday it rained steadily, yesterday it broke fair and fine and we had a nice day except that underneath was a l mud and slosh which shows how he is downplaying the discomfort of the trenches. Although, the film does have one scene showing British soldiers scrambling over the trenches with most making it but one of two being shot down. This was, in fact just a replication of a battle, as due to the unwieldy nature of the cameras it would have been impossible to get this during actual warfare. But though this may seem to be contradicting the films earlier messages about the safety of the British soldiers it says that the Germans would be blown up with massive guns, and a few brave soldiers would die. Of course, the film shows none of the slow, painful deaths of soldiers from infected wounds or hypothermia and the like. Many soldiers going in to war also shared this romanticised view of death in the army, as the poem The Soldier by Rupert Brooke shows when he says if I should die, think only this of me: that theres some corner in a foreign field that is for ever England. He obviously had a fairly positive view of the army and was extremely patriotic. However, the films attempts at making it appear that the British tactics were so effective are not supported by the fact the first day of the battle was a complete disaster, the worst day in British military history with casualty figures over 60,000 and 21,000 killed. The Allies had been confident that nothing would survive the bombardment mentioned in the intertitles and sent an order for the British soldiers to go over the top, essentially to their deaths. One extract from the memoirs of George Coppard shows the blatant foolishness of the commanders: hundreds of dead were strung out like wreckage How did out planners imagine that the Tommies, having survived all the other hazards would get past the German wire? Any Tommy could have told them that shell fire lifts wire up and drops it down, often in a worse tangle than before. The film however fails to highlight these extremely important facts. This is the day of one of the worst leadership blunders in British military history. Another message that the film tries to convey to the audience is that the medical facilities were extremely good and that all wounded soldiers were quickly attended to. There are various sources supporting this, and some that oppose this view. Many poems tell of wounded being flung in to carts, which shows that they were at least cared for and not left to die. There is also a photo of two nurses tending to a wounded soldier, showing that care was so good there could be two nurses to a bed. However, this photograph was probably commissioned by the army, so could not have been expressing negative views about the care the soldiers received. Several paintings, such as Gassed by Singer Sargent, or The Harvest of Battle by C. R. W. Nevinson show wounded men being led back to the trenches by those who were able to help. So these are obviously supporting the evidence given in the film. However, an extract from the Diary of a Dead Officer, the memoirs of A. West reads: Doctors looked on every man as a skrim-shanker en wounded and minus an arm forced to have electric treatment. Knocked down and held on the bed people nearly crying with pain. Gloomy buildings meals never hot, worse than ordinary camp food. So this obviously shows the darker side to the armys medical service. Overall, I feel that this film, though a valuable piece of evidence from the point of view for technical reference, to see what kind of equipment the soldiers carried and so on and is a piece of World War I history, you have to bear in mind the situation under which it was created. The war office allowed a small group of camera men to cover the war on the Western front, all the footage of which was edited and produced by a team for the War Office. Indeed, the film was considered so important and expressive of the views the army wanted to promote, that at the first screening of the film a letter by David Lloyd George, Secretary of State for the War was read saying: You are invited here to witness by far the most important picture of the war our staff has yet procured I am convinced that when you have seen this wonderful picture, every heart will beat in sympathy with its purpose Now, gentlemen, be up and doing also! This letter clearly implies that the main point of the film is to increase patriotic feelings and rally civilian support for the war effort, and states very clearly that another aim is to encourage the signing up of other men. Therefore we have had to treat every area of this film with caution before stating the reliability. I have tried to do this and feel that while some of the basic facts are right, this is obviously an air-brushed view of the battle, and the government and army failed to inform of the massive losses incurred, which I feel was neglectful of their duty to keep the public informed with a realistic picture of events, and also ignores the duties carried out by the thousands of soldiers that gave their lives. This neglect of the facts also indicates the way other areas of the film, such as showing the comfort of the men, may have been skimmed over to give a better view of the army and I think that as this was the main purpose of the film from the beginning, it provides us with an extremely imprecise view of the lives the soldiers in the trenches actually experienced.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How To Perfect Social Listening With Joei Chan From Mention

How To Perfect Social Listening With Joei Chan From Mention Your customers use social media to talk about your industry, competitors, and brand. They provide valuable information that you can use to generate content ideas, understand why they go elsewhere, and prevent PR disasters. That’s why social listening is so important. Today, we’re talking to Joei Chan content marketing manager from Mention. She shares some examples, tips, and advice that will help you capitalize on social listening opportunities. Some of the highlights of the show include: Mention is a Web and social media listening tool for brands to track online conversations and listen to key topics and strategies for brand development. Joei leads content marketing partnerships to generate demands and leads for the sales and marketing team. Social listening is monitoring online conversations to understand what customers are saying and collect feedback about your brand and industry. Part of social listening involves understanding keywords and topics that your audience is talking about. Tracking when your company name or brand is mentioned. Also, track content marketing for keywords used in your industry. Identify keywords and topics that focus on your goals. Social listening is important for marketers to understand and care about because they need to know their target audience. Is what you have in mind when it comes to your audience, reality? Is your perception accurate? Social listening also helps you track campaign effectiveness. How far is the reach? Brand sentiment? Social listening can be used to improve campaigns and content by understanding what platforms your customers are using and what kind of content interests them. Also, utilize content directly from your customers to generate engagement. There are a lot of opportunities that you can discover by listening to what your customers are saying, and then tailor your content based on those conversations. User-Generated Content: For example, you can tie into users who like to show off your product after using it by asking them to use a specific hashtag or encourage them to generate specific types of content. It is a team effort between you and the customers. You can highlight and leverage user-generated content in various ways to promote your brand. Share entertaining and humorous content, even if it is your own expense and you need to welcome humility. Every brand messes up once in awhile. Embrace your failures and be authentic about it. Use social listening to find and build your audience. Understand your audience and give them content that interests and engages them. Listen and react to them in real-time. Competitive Analysis and Monitoring: Gather information on your competition. Your brand and products are never alone and always compared with others. What are your competitors doing that you can learn from? Inbound Marketing and Social Listening: Attract people to your brand through brand awareness and brand perception. What works in your favor? Your social media presence/reputation and positive reviews. If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud,  Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Joei: â€Å"I get to talk to a lot of other awesome marketersand work with a ton of different, great marketing companies and learn from them.† â€Å"Social listening is monitoring online conversations to understand what customers are saying about your brand and your industry.† â€Å"The only thing that defines your brand is what people think, what people are saying. This is why social listening is critical for marketers.† â€Å"There are a lot of opportunities that you can discover by listening closely to what your customers are saying.†

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Channel Tunnel (between UK and France) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Channel Tunnel (between UK and France) - Essay Example Apart from that it also has a significant role in both the International Union of Railways (UIC) and the Community of European Railways (CER). This channel is also popularly called as the â€Å"chunnel† because of its three-way tunnel encompassing rail connections. It connects at one end with Folkestone in England to Calais in France at the other one. After the treaty for the construction of rail link between France and England was signed in 1986, the consortium, which was responsible for carrying out the managerial tasks of this project, started to face severe problems. These problems were mostly based on fiscal (economic) matters. Apart from the money hurdle which was being faced with at the time, meeting the already set schedule and the most important of the lot, ensuring safety for the rails as well as the passengers traveling in them was a much bigger problem than the other ones. By 1990, many people started to have serious doubts whether this project would ever be completed. There was a do or die situation attached to this project and the authorities at the helm of affairs really had to do something solid to restore the confidence of people that was lost from them in this project. Channel Tunnel’s fire of 1986 is one classic example of the handling of fire regime within the tunnel and how the same should be tackled in the wake of another fire instance within the mega structure. When it became quite evident that this project was in serious jeopardy, Eurotunnel called upon the resources of Bechtel to play a bigger role in the accomplishment of what was left at that moment of time, a sheer dream. Bechtel’s involvement began in 1987.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Team and Group Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Team and Group Paper - Essay Example The word group refers to a collection or crowd of people who have something in common, for instance they know each other, they have a common interest or because of either gender, sex or other similarities. Furthermore, most groups are headed by a leader to whom everyone in the group is accountable to and the group’s goal is actually one furnished by the leader. On the other hand, a team is a collection of people who have specific roles in the team and who work together in order to achieve certain specific goals. The members of a team are accountable to each other and to the group (Parco, 2007). There are several differences between a team and a group. For instance, groups are easier to form than teams, because teams needed internal structures and the careful selection of members in order for goals to be achieved. Other differences include the fact that in teams everyone contributes in decision-making and problem-solving, while in a group the leader dictates everything, in a te am, there are shared responsibilities and decisions are made through a consensus, while in a group, the leader is in charge of everything and makes every decision, which have to be followed by the group members, in a team, every team member’s view point is considered, while in a group only the team leader’s view point is considered important.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT-2ND ASSIGNMENT Essay

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT-2ND ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example Given the dynamic nature of work that needed to be done, the organization demands high level knowledge and information from the employees. According to the studies made the company has incorporated training and motivational programs for the employees so that they can meet the demand effectively. Conclusion: Thus from the study we can make out that when the company was in danger of losing its market share, the company started focusing on its human resources, which ultimately enabled the company to get back on the track. The company realized the importance of incorporating such policies in their strategic decision making process. Self Evaluation: The presentation provides the highlights of the major aspects that a transport company might consider while designing their Human Resource policy. These policies are uniquely different than the human resource policies which are generally being adapted in manufacturing concerns. Skills along with values constitute the main plan of the entire process of employee development. The service companies specially should consider employees to be the one of the most critical asset component and they should value them accordingly. It should be remembered that with the level of competition present within the industry, the company cannot afford a very liberal payment structure. As with the amount of scope available, any skilled and experienced employee can shift to any other given organization. This would cause a great harm to the parent company not only in qualitative aspects but also in the profit making process. The services provided by all the airlines are similar in nature, so the main part of difference comes in the way the service is being offered to the passengers. The employees who have adequate knowledge and experience can do just that. But with the lack of proper payment structure, frequent shifting of employees may make the continuous process of value creation difficult. It will also dilute the

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Study of the book something to declare

Study of the book something to declare The purpose of analyzing the book of essays Something to Declare by Julia Alvarez is to establish the differences between Dominican and American culture. All along the book, she defines the two cultures within the 24 essays in which she relates her life in all aspects with fully-described details. Our criteria in selecting the topic of cultural contrast between the two countries, is in order to raise the differences and similarities of the cultures which have always had a good relationship in economic and business matters. We focused our interest on this issue because of the cultural shock and the process of acculturation experienced but the author when she was only a ten year-old girl, and as a result, that event has transformed her life into a creative and multidimensional writer. This interesting book is divided in two parts. The first part is regarding her customs; the family drama (when Julia and her family had to leave their native country), her arriving to the United States, her refusal to adopt another culture and language, her transitional identity, and how finally she became a bicultural woman and writer. The second part describes the passion that Julia feels towards Literature, especially, the writing aspect. She openly explained the deep desire she has ever had of writing, as well as the routine she has developed through the years to do what she loves the most. Julia also tells about the struggle she had to overcome during the beginning of her career as a writer. The selection of the Julia Alvarez as the center of our research is due to her great literary work throughout her career. Even though she has spent most of her life living in the United States, she has succeeded internationally writing about her Dominican roots and Dominican culture, which is very remarkable. Her wonderful work wrote on papers is more than enough reason to select her autobiography as the subject of our analysis. In the introductory part of this investigation, is the biography. It relates chronologically Julias life from a more abstract view; combining personal and literary aspects all at once. Following the bio are the literary activities, which focus the glance on the awards and the books she has published so far. The third part contains the historical background of the book. It describes the time and places when the story was developed, as well as the events that occurred at the time. Furthermore, it includes the presidents of the two countries as the author relates her experiences through the years. The characters and the summary are the next parts, which are an excerpt taken from the book to give an idea about the interesting content of the essays. On the other hand, the literary critics shows the point of view of important people, magazines and newspapers about Something to Declare. Finally, we analyzed the essays from a very particular perspective. We took Julias own words to show the contrast between the two cultures she belongs to. The examples displayed along the analysis demonstrate that the authors heart is divided in two nations: the Dominican Republic and the United States. 1.2 LITERARY ACTIVITIES. In 1997 Alvarez published I! All in reflections and criticism could itself Alvarezs literary success. In the Name of Salome (2000), this book has been widely acclaimed for her careful historical research. 1.3 LITERARY CRITICS Alvarez ´s new book embraces readers as if she were opening the door for unexpected guests. -The Orlando Sentinel. Spry, inviting writingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Alvarez has clearly made her second language her own. -Entertainment Weekly. A valuable collection of essaysà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦introduces writing as a craft full of awareness. And this awareness gives Alvarez a voice that promises to continue to declare itself. -Christian Science Monitor. Evocative, touching, often amusingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Alvarezs fluid style blends personal history with insight. Her book is a must-read for anyone who loves and struggles with writing, and it is a witness to the ability of the human soul to renew itself daily. -The Tampa Tribune. In this collection, Alvarez artfully reveals how and why she writes. -The Hartford Courant. JULIA ALVAREZ is the author of the critically acclaimed novels  ¡Yo!, In the Time of the Butterflies (a National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist), and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. Ms. Alvarez is also the author of collections of poetry, The Other Side/El OtroLado and Homecoming (all available in Plume editions). She lives with her husband in Vermont. Julia Alvarez is a writer on a different kind of edge. _The Nation. Vibrantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Something to Declare at the same time reveals and masks whats upsetting with an abundance of humor and a measure of self-denigration. Bloomsbury Review. Alvarez wields her legendary storytellers power to hold an audience spellbound while enlarging its vision through the deft use of empathy. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. To be read slowly and carefully, as a special gift from a writer whose skill and enthusiasm have enriched the country she now considers her home. Anniston Star (Alabama). Poignantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ironicà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The writing transcends itself and becomes a new consciousness, a new place on the map. The Virginian-Pilot. (Alvarez) paints with vibrant, earthy clarityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Open and lively. Publishers Weekly. A wonderful literary and biographical gift for both aspiring writers, teachers of literature, and fans of Julia Alvarez _Bookwatch. Simply wonderful. The novel becomes more powerful with each passing chapter. -Los Angeles Times In the Time of the Butterflies potent and luminousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ confirms Julia Alvarez as a Latin American storyteller whose voice we need to hear. _The Philadelphia Inquirer. An important book. Alvarez has given us a gift of rare generosity and courage. _The San Diego Union-Tribune. Wonderfulà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ richà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ skillfully weaves fact and fiction, building to a gut-wrenching climax. Newsweek Doubly blessed with a poets vision and a realists eye, Alvarez gives us lessons about the courage and vitality of the female spirit, the webs and tangles that bind families, piety and activism, loyalty and fear, faith and love. _The Miami Herald  ¡Yo! About the writer and her lies, her truths, her passions the way she uses, needs, loves, and takes, all at the same timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ She carries us along on waves of laughter and an undercurrent of pain. _Elle A novel of amazing richness and magnanimity, a sophisticated work of art that is also warmly accessible to the ordinary reader. San Francisco Chronicle. From the internationally acclaimed author of the bestselling novels in the Time of the Butterflies, and. The twenty-four personal essays that make up Something to Declare are like snapshots rendered in prose, capturing the life and mind of an artist as she meditates on the dual themes of coming to America and becoming a writer. Part One, Customs. Is a loving tribute to family and an examination of the specific effects of exile fleeing dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, the shock of arriving in New York City, training a Spanish tongue to speak English, and watching the Miss America pageant for clues to translate ones looks into made-in-the-U.S.A. beauty. Part Two, Declarations, celebrates Alvarezs enduring passion for words and the writing life. From First Muse, a valentine to Scheherazade, who proved the great power of storytelling, to So Much Depends, a reflection on the influence of fellow bicultural writers William Carlos Williams and Maxine Hong Kingston, to Ten of My Writing Commandments, an inspiring list for any aspiring writer, these essays are filled with humor and insight _a generous gift to readers and writer everywhere. A pleasure to readà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Alvarez speaks directly to her readers in these essays offering insight into the inspiration and craft that informs her workà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ a thoughtful self-analysis and a delightful primer on becoming a writer. _Denver Post. Julia Alvarez is a breathtaking writer. _St. Petersburg Times From the internationally acclaimed author of the bestselling novels in the Time of the Butterflies, and. The twenty-four personal essays that make up Something to Declare are like snapshots rendered in prose, capturing the life and mind of an artist as she meditates on the dual themes of coming to America and becoming a writer. 1.4 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND From 1930 to 1961 in the Dominican Republic lived an intense situation at all levels, especially literary level, since most of the poets, storytellers, artists, had to go into exile in order not to have the opinion Trujillista. Others stayed but did not develop their creative, and if they did it was in favor of President Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, no strange the spiritual manifestation that there was no space, and so exist in many Latin American countries. Dominican literature is marked by the influence of European literature in particular of French literature, but has its own identity and a force that politicians love to men Contemporary literature mostly originates in the Dominican diaspora in New York, the works focus on the difficulties of daily life in the Dominican Republic, among contemporary writers is Julia Alvarez. In the beginning of the eighteenth and nineteenth century American literature took most of it inspiration from Europe. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the American novelist extended to the social significance of his works of fiction to cover both the lives of wealthy people as those of marginalized groups. Political events between 1961 and 1965 served to youth so freely express whatever the Trujillo tyranny that had prevented them. Poetry was one of the main resources used by these young people to act out their political and social concerns; as well as, to combat corruption that broke into nearly every corner of the Dominican society. The Dominican Republic experienced a very difficult political situation between 1961 and 1978, during this period several historical events occurred that abruptly changed political and social thought and the course of literary and cultural activities in the country, among them are: The physical death of Trujillo, which in no way means the disappearance of the shadow of the tyrant, the rise of Juan Bosch to power in February 1963, and the unexpected military coup that ousted seven months later, the war in April 1965, which left the second disastrous U.S. military occupation in the Dominican Republic, the election of Joaquin Balaguer as president, who was intolerable to those who continued to fight for libertarian principles peaked by the makers of the revolution in April 1965. Some of the events occurred in United States in the 1960s, The popular literary genres, such as Oriental literature and mystery novels have had a great development in the United States, for its part, particularly in recent years is considered the Spanish literature in the United States as an expression of the growing cultural phenomenon the Hispanic population and the Spanish language in this country. United State Economy and Politics (1960) After World War II, the GNP increased from 200.000 million in 1940, 300.000 million in 1950 to more than 500.000 million in 1960. More and more Americans joined the middle class. There were many sources of growth. The automotriz industry, it became exclusively a creator of tanks and bombers, and the new industry of aviation and electronics grew. In addition to this expansion, the workforce also changed. Unions won contracts for employees working long quickly focused its price. Six of the eleven presidential elections since World War II have resulted in a change of political party in the White House. Three times, the Democrats were replaced for Republicans (1952, 1968 and 1980) and three others, the Democrats moved to the Republicans (1960, 1976 and 1992). During each of these campaigns, the winning candidate had promised a foreign policy completely different from what was the sitting president of another party. However, once invested with his office, followed the lines of his predecessors relations with other countries. Bipartisanship in foreign policy is deeply rooted in American political culture. The created climate change; and his endorsement of advancing free trade in the Americas. 2.1 CHARACTERS Julia Alvarez she is a fighter woman, who defies the traditional customs in which she was brought up, all to achieve her goal of becoming a famous writer. Alvarez is a wonderful woman, very intellectual, with a vision of progress. She wisely, faces obstacles, and does not see it as such, but, as life experiences, which they did not prevent her achieving her dream of becoming an artist of Literature. Daddy: Julias father, though a little introverted, is a man who is proud of his family. This character is attached to what are the traditional customs of the time, in which only men were enjoyed certain privileges. He was a man who liked economize, and sometimes did not say things directly, he liked speaking in parables. Mommy:Alvarezs mother is a woman who the contrary of her father tries to adopt and introduce their daughters to what is American culture, which is very different from the Dominican one, the latter being where are their true origins. An example of this is when being at home even longer, Julia speaking mixing the two languages (English and Spanish), what we commonly call Spanglish, her mother repeated the idea, but only in English, as a clever way to correct her. Julia ´s grandfatherThe grandfather was a fine and elegant man, very good manners, whom Julia received wise counsel. He was a United Nations diplomat. Due to his trips to countries like Spain and others, assimilated morality, which were taught to her grandchildren. He had a good sense of humor, and like Julia, is passionate with music and poetry, but put aside her passion for art, giving priority to what was taking care of his family, as cited: Very familial, Said everyone of my grandfather, a family man. Bill: Julia Alvarezs husband, a doctor and farmer from Nebraska. Aunt Tità ­: She was a simple woman; showing little regard for their physical attributes, but loving reading. Sister Maria Generosa: English teacher. This intelligent woman had a particular form to teach, which she attracted attention of her students. Misià ¡: was a Haitian maid of Alvarez ´s home, whom liked much the voodoo sections. Don Josà © de Jesà ºs: Julias uncle. a man who was rowdy with women, he had sired twenty-five children, was widowed once, kept a couple of mistresses who raised the figure to thirty-plus children. Utcho: a cousin of de writer, whom she called uncle, because he was so much older than he was. Dilita: who was a hybrid. She looked just like the other Dominican girls, with a teased hairdo, wore makeup, outfits and was a rebel girl. Manuel Gustavo (Mangu): Julia à lvarez firstboyfriend. He was a honey-young man with wonderful dimples and pot belly. Father Doby: a church lawyer and a member of La Crosse diocese. Father James: member of the shrine. Donna: Mary Anns youngest daughter 2.2 SUMMARY a) Grandfathers Blessing: Grandfathers Blessing is the first story that begins this interesting book of essays, in which Julia Alvarez talks about her family life and the messages she received at that time in relation to her womans condition. Although the author speaks of her experiences about her family and entertaining conversations with her grandfather, the author makes a small approach to the situation that existed in the country at that time, the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. The oppression was so great that people were persuaded and forced to leave their belongings, if so desired the chief, as she says: One evening the SIM, the military intelligence service, meat for my grandfather and put him in jail for two days. He was not torture, but persuaded to sell a part of historical land price for the minimum to the daughter of the dictator. Here J. Alvarez mentioned her aunt Titi, which was simple, showing little regard for her their physical attributes, but loving reading. She also mentions her widowed aunt, who has three very young children, although a bit mischievous, own of their age, each had an ideal about what they wanted to be in the future. Grandfathers Blessing is just the story that the author makes does about the great support she has always received with respect to their desire to be a writer by her grandfather, even where his career was still just a dream. b) Our Papers This essay takes place in the old house in Boca Chica, where stayed the whole family on vacation, but then, in 1960, and being at home in the capital, Alvarez say of the ability that took his father to take as a pretext studying heart surgery, in order to get a visa for his family (his wife and four daughters), and so escape the oppressive government of that time; as well as, the intelligence of her godmother to achieve persuading the chief, all to get their papers to travel outside the country. In addition, the author talks about the fear she felt to come to America and face a new culture, where the main change was the need to speak a language they did not dominated, English. Neither had she they liked to get away from her aunts and cousins. She tells that since being established in New York, she missed her life in her country of origin. J. Alvarez reflected whether in fact these papers meant freedom in a foreign country, or indeed, the privation of what they truly enjoyed, which made them happy in the Dominican Republic, as quoted: I wonder if those papers free us from September had everything we loved. c) My English J. Alvarez mentions Carol Morgan School as the first step to master English language, refers to the motivation that always received by her mother, who was the driving force for her and her sisters learn this important language, which the author talks how difficult it was for her master. She was so used to Spanish, so they went through the ridicule of their classmates. She makes mention of his uncle Gus, the youngest of the brothers of her mother, who was very intellectual. This essay refers to the shock that she was to arrive in New York, and how difficult it was, since she spoke Spanish and English, and she saw it as a very difficult language. She says she began to feel love for English, thanks to Sister Maria Generosa. This teacher attracted the interest of whiter in that language with her entertaining way to teach, which was puting to writing in a relaxing form, putting her your imagination, writing the topic of their preference, and not insisting on what she was boring: Grammar Rules, The teacher used to explain that students end with a great understanding of the language d) My Second Opera Alvarez in this essay, refers to her life already living in New York, and taking even ten years. Here the reader realizes the little motivation she felt at the beginning to attend the opera, which was an event that bored her enough, contrary to the voodoo ceremonies she so enjoyed of her Caribbean country, which she met by her maid Haitian Misià ¡. Alvarez agreed with her grandmother to go instead of her to accompany her grandfather to go to see Aida, the show, because she did not like to participate in these events, which were part of the social life of a diplomat like her grandfather. In this story, Julia also explains how she missed her culture in the Dominican Republic, and how difficult it was to assimilate her new life in America, even sharing these classic events. Then, with Aida, she began to feel attracted to the opera, : I Became an opera fan and also a wily intrigued,, the latter referring to how smart she had become, as learned to use this activity to get everything she wanted, with respect to her grandmother. Here, the author lets see again how she was attached to their Dominican roots, and still felt little adaptation in their new country. e) I Want to Be Miss America This story takes place in Queens, New York. J. Alvarez refers the interest of her and her sisters to enter in all what concerns with the culture of their new country of adoption and Miss America was a contest that called them enough attention since so they could see in each one of the contestants on American look, which they wanted to look, but really seeing the competition, they observed that although there were girls with looks simple, something that made them begin to feel comfortable and not as strangers were also others in which her beauty was so perfect that made her think that this beauty was not as natural, but rather girls were made. She did not think women were only created to be good mothers and wives but also capable of being successful professional, useful to society, something that could be said it was opposed to their native culture. But despite this enthusiasm, this successful writer always knew she could not be Miss America, not only for their physical appearance, which was very different from those girls, but also because she had to feel it. On the other hand, while they wanted to be as native, her classmates wanted to look like them, so this made them feel accepted in that country. Although she continues feeling foreign, she consider the United States as her homeland. f) I Want To Be Miss America The essays deals mainly with the change of identity in which they were involved, both the writer and his sisters, trying to be different, because they were in a country different from them, which ought to fit.* We Would Have to translate our looks Into Ingles, iron and tweeze them out; straighten Them, Them into mold Made-in-the-USA beauty (This referring to their hair.) Also refers to the beauty, showing in the contests, that most of the time is just edible. Their voices rang with false cheer. You could hear, not far off, years of high-school cheerleading, pom-poms, bleachers full of moon-eyed boys, and moms on phones, signing them up for all manner of lessons and making appointments dentist. It talks about the help of his parents, which had provided the needed, making mention of a family, although they are in foreign land, stuck together, which helped them cope with less trauma. g) El Doctor The main theme of this essay is the need to save, no matter even if they had enough to spend. But my rich father lived in the dark. Saving string, going the long way. Her dad turned off the lights all the time, though she was reading and it was dark. She mentioned the lifestyle of her father and refers to a possible infidelity, besides the good behavior of the mother; family union is noticed even in the difficulties that might exist. h) La Gringuita On Losing a Native Language Here, the author refers to the cultural changes that were involved, especially. Also, she recounts the difficulties of not accepting a new culture, what would prevent the adaptation to the new home. It refers to the first loving relationship of the author, who was in the land of origin, on a visit they made. In addition, it talks about her husband, who is American, born in a Nebraska farm and is also a doctor, like her father. It refers to the first loving relationship of the author, who was in the land of origin, on a visit they made. In addition, it talks about her husband, who is American, born in a Nebraska farm and is also a doctor, like her father. i) Picky Eater This essay talks about the eating habits of the writer and her husband, calling herself a picky eater. It refers to the needs of maintaining a healthy diet to keep a good fit and also save time for using it on more important things, specifically to writing. Also, it refers to the difficulties that existed in her native country to eat food prepared in the streets, which could make them sick; due to low hygiene they were prepared. The author speaks of some bad experience at mothers home, related to one food that she did not like and she was forced to eat: engrudo. This essay reveals the change in the lifestyle of both countries, mainly related to food, due to the difference in culture. Even as partners they had different food habits, they learned to understand each other, and they shared the table as well as the food preparation, always helping each other. That activity gave them a complete well being at home. j) Briefly, a Gardener The author shows the importance of helping each other between her and her husband tasks, regardless of whether they are different. Ive tried to share his passion with him, just as he has tried to share mine. Many a weekend morning, Ive had before a new manuscript sat with strict instructions to be critical,. This produces a positive effect on couples, resulting to a lasting marriage and an organized family. k) Imagining Motherhood The author, like all women, displayed the anxiety of not having children, almost being a 40 year-old woman. She justified herself in the profession as a writer, so she had no time to be a mother. Also, it refers to the difficulty to find a good father to her baby. She felt depressed when she saw someone in her family with children, or when someone made reference to the subject. A woman who does not care have a child is considered foolish at best. At worst, as I heard one lecturer proclaim, she is committing genetic suicide. The essay refers to the idea of adoption, but then she withdraws it, remaining childless. l) A Genetic of justice Julia Alvarez narrates the suffering of her family when she was 10 years. She says that her family lived under a big pressure due to the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina. She also tells about her mothers life and the way that she kept her children far away from the eye of the dictator because of his appetite for pretty and young girls. . When her mother married her father she knew all regarding the dictatorship, many lost their lives in unsuccessful attempts to return the country to democracy in that time. Her father was very lucky when he was young; he escaped to Canada where he live for a while, running away to save his life. A few months later, he came back to the country and after a time, her mother wondered why he had returned, if they knew that things were very bad in this country, but, the pressure of his friends in the north led him to come back to the land where Trujillo claimed to be the release of the regime. Her parents behaved as best they could because they had four daughters and could not take any risk with them. As a result, since he was a young doctor, when he saw that things got tough, he asked permission to go to make a specialty to another country. . Yet she thanked her parents for having installed in her through their suffering, a desire for freedom and justice. m) Family Matters She writes that since she became a public writer, her family tried to figure out where she got that talent, they determined that she probably acquired the genes from her father and uncles. One of her uncles was a poet, but she says her genes as a writer, in fact, come directly from her father. But when they migrated to the United States, her father had to get started again to practice medicine, her father abandoned the ambition of wanting to write books because he still