Midsummer Nights Dream Essays (2503 words) - Shakespearean Comedies

Midsummer Night's Dream As with every play we read this quarter, we started A Midsummer Night s Dream with only a text. Reading the script is the foundation of Shakespeare, and the least evolved of the ways that one can experience it. There is no one to interpret the words, no body movement or voice inflection to indicate meaning or intention. All meaning that a reader understands comes from the words alone. The simplicity of text provides a broad ground for imagination, in that every reader can come away from the text with a different conception of what went on. The words are merely the puzzle pieces individuals put together to bring coherence and logic to the play. Although we all read generally the same words, we can see that vastly different plays arise depending on who interprets them. By interpreting the word-clues that Shakespeare wrote into the script to direct the performance of the play, we were able to imagine gestures, expressions, and movements appropriate to the intention of the playwright. An example of this can be seen in the different Romeo and Juliets: Luhrman clearly had a more modern vision after reading the script than did Zeffirelli did only 18 years before. The live performance at the CalPoly theatre also carried !with it a very different feel less intense, more child-like and sweet with nearly the same words. Reading also affects our experience in that without the text, we would most likely not be able to enjoy Shakespeare at all; having the text makes Shakespeare widely accessible (available for free on the web) to all that desire it. Once the script is obtained, anyone can perform Shakespeare even everyday, non-actor citizens put on Shakespeare whether it be in parks, at school, or in a forest. My experience reading Shakepearean plays has shown me that reading is necessary and fundamental part of grasping the fullness of the works. I had wanted to read A Midsummer Night's Dream for quite some time. Besides being a play by Shakespeare, I believe my desire to do so came from seeing bits and pieces of it done in Hollywood movies like Dead Poet's Society. I didn't realize how much small exposures like! those could cause me to prejudge the actual text; after I had read the play for myself I was surprised at how much the text differed from my expectations. Not knowing the whole of the plot, but rather only bits and pieces, I expected a play filled with fairy dust and pixy-women toe-dancing, laughing, with flowers everywhere, or something like Hylas and the nymphs. What I did not expect was a group of rag-tag laborers putting on a play, young females cat fighting over their men, or Titania being "enamored of an ass." (Act IV, Scene i, MND) Even with surprises, though, the text by itself held little detail and richness in my mind. I thought it a decent play, but certainly nothing like I had hoped, and I didn't feel involved in it or connected to it in any way. One of the things that did impressed me, though, was finding out for myself how accessible Shakespeare actually is. When it came time for me to learn my lines for Philostrate (MND), I copied them from a site on the internet which posted the text in its entirety. I realized the!n how lucky we are that plays like these survived through the ages, sometimes probably making it from one hand to the next in a form no better than the paperback I carried in my bag. Through my reading, the importance of the text was impressed upon me, and I feel that I have gained a new appreciation for the lasting and foundational qualities of pure script. Viewing Viewing a play adds a kind of second dimension to a textual reading. While our primary impressions of a Shakespearean play are established with the initial reading, those impressions are challenged when we come into contact with a play performed. At this point we have a first hand contrast between how we felt and how someone else felt about the same play. Once we have sampled another's interpretations we necessarily question ourselves on what we would have done differently, had we directed the play. Perhaps something we expected to see on stage was omitted; perhaps! something unusual was added. We might even sample the same play dozens of times, all performed by different companies; it is common, it is even expected, that none of the twelve interpretations will be

Black Holes Essays (840 words) - Black Holes, Astrophysics, Galaxies

Black Holes Essays (840 words) - Black Holes, Astrophysics, Galaxies Black Holes On December 3, 1995, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope identified a black hole in the galaxy NGC 4621, located 100 million light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Virgo. This is the second super-massive black hole that astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have found. Astronomers believe that the mass of this black hole is about 1.2 billion times the mass of our sun, but it is concentrated in a space that is not any bigger than our solar system There are two puzzling questions that astronomers are trying to answer. The black hole is fueled by the galaxy and its 800 light-year-wide spiral disk of dust. Before the discovery of this black hole, astronomers did not think that there was any dust in elliptical galaxies like NGC 4261. Currently they believe that the disk of dust is the remnant of a smaller galaxy that fell into the core of NGC 4261. The black hole will swallow up the gas from the smaller galaxy over the next 100 million years. Researchers believe that while the gas is being swallowed by the black hole, the process will produce some amazing fireworks. The second puzzling question that astronomers are trying to answer is why isn?t the black hole at the center of the galaxy? According to images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the black hole is 20 light-years from the center of the galaxy, but since the black hole is so massive it is hard to explain how it could have been moved. One idea is that the black hole is moving itself. Some astronomers think that the disk of dust serves as a "fuel tank." The black hole sucks in the material which is absorbed by gravity, compressed, and heated to tens of millions of degrees. This theory would explain why radio telescopes have observed radio jets, or hot gas exhausts from the black hole?s area. The exhaust may be pushing the black hole across space, as a jet engine gives thrust to a plane. According to Ted Bunn, an astronomer at Berkley University, "A black hole is a region of space that has so much mass concentrated in it that there is no way for a nearby object to escape its gravitational pull, not even light." So, what does that mean? The following example will explain the nature of a black hole. A ball is thrown up into the air. It rises for a while, but it eventually falls. If the ball is thrown fast enough it is able to escape the gravitational field and continue rising. This is called the "escape velocity." The escape velocity depends on the mass of the planet, which affects the gravitational field. A object on Earth would have to travel at 25,000 m.p.h. to escape the gravitational pull of Earth. Now imagine an object with a gravitational pull so large and escape velocity so high that even visible light could not escape it. This is a black hole. How are black holes formed? To our best knowledge, black holes are created at the end of a very large star?s life cycle. The star collapses into a white dwarf, which is the smallest, dimmest, and hottest of all stars. Matter is packing continually tighter and tighter together and gravity is increasing. The white dwarf will collapse into itself when it runs out of fuel, thus creating a black hole. Therefore only very massive stars can form black holes because only large stars have enough mass and gravitational pull to collapse into itself. What are the parts of a black hole? There are two main parts to a black hole. The first one is the event horizon and the second is the singularity. The event horizon is the spherical surface that marks the boundary of the black hole. You can pass into the black hole through the horizon, but you cannot pass back out of it. Once you have crossed the horizon, you are doomed to "hit" singularity. The singularity is the center of the black hole and all that astronomers know about it is that the gravitational pull is so large that anything reaching it would be torn to pieces. Astronomers are continuing to

Finance for Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Finance for Managers - Essay Example This section of the act is one of the most significant in ensuring that the financial statements being published by the publically trading organizations are reliable and trustworthy. This is because this section empowers the auditors to work in an independent manner and they do not need to fear the higher level managers of the organization such as the director who used to psychologically coerce auditors into providing misleading and fraudulent financial statements and audit reports. Now auditors may no longer feel threatened to report any wrongdoings or misleading information that organizations provide in financial statements. Due to the failure of the directors to influence the auditors, the organization itself would be afraid that they might be held accountable for providing wrongful information. They may fear that their organization’s reputation may be at stake or they may be heavily fined for indulging in misconduct. Due to this, they themselves may be deterred from provid ing misleading information and influencing and coercing the

Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminal Justice - Essay Example Disparity and Discrimination Disparity and discrimination are two of the most commonly used terms in the criminal justice system. Both terms are often mixed together when they are used in the context of criminal justice system. However, disparity does not always involve the factor of discrimination when it comes to the decisions made by a court. Some people believe that the factor if discrimination does not exist in the criminal justice system. One must understand the difference between disparity and discrimination in order to know whether discrimination actually exists in the criminal justice system or not. The concept of disparity is based on some legal or lawful factors, such as, crime history and mental health of a criminal, whereas, discrimination is based on sex, race, social status, and religion of a criminal. By definition discrimination is an act of favoritism or unfairness based on the race or nationality of the criminals. There are three main forms of discrimination in the criminal justice system, which include institutionalized discrimination, systematic discrimination, and contextual discrimination.

Consumer perception between international and local brands - A western Dissertation

Consumer perception between international and local brands - A western vs asian perspective - Dissertation Example Managers face challenges because of lack of synthesis between managerial concepts of brand identity and socio-cultural conception of inter-group dynamics, which may result in ill-fitted brand identities is a given sociopolitical context. Singapore is one of the top shopping destinations in Asia and hence attracts numerous international brands. These brands operate in a highly competitive environment trying to attract the attention of consumers as well as gain recognition against other international brands. This is because Singapore is a multicultural city compromising of Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians, and with one in four resident being a non-Singaporean (SEDB, 2009). Consumer companies have been trying to tap into the opportunities presented by Singapore’s strengths and unique positioning. 1.2 Rationale for Research Studies have been conducted by different researchers on the subject such on attitude towards foreign and local brands – uniqueness theory to diffe rentiate themselves from others (Kashi, 2013), consumer ethnocentrism (Rice & Wongtada, 2007) and on the influence of animosity (Fullerton et al, 2007). Researches on this subject have been conducted but most of the researches have been conducted in developed countries. No such study has been found that focuses on the Asian countries. This research aims to go deeper and compare local and international brands in Singapore to identify local consumers brand perception. Singapore has been chosen as the focus of this study because of her ability to attract a wide range of international brands. Besides, Singapore is a useful setting because it is strongly influenced by both eastern and western traditions. In fact this can serve as a guideline for other Asian nations as they adopt western habits and consumption patterns. However, there is a tendency in Singapore to support the home grown design talents to the extent that domestic fashion brands have been gaining international exposure with government support (The Straits Times, 2012). Renowned local brands that originated in Singapore include Raoul and TWG. This significantly shows that Singapore brands do have the ability to compete with international brands such as T.M. Lewin. Therefore, this research expands into Singaporean’s reaction and attitude towards branding and how they perceive the established international brands against renowned local brands in various sectors. This research emphasizes on how Singaporeans come about having a particular opinion towards brands and what factors may influence consumer’s choice of brand. Customers globally have developed enhanced ability to select local and foreign brands even in developing countries. Business environments being competitive, it has become imperative for sellers of both domestic and foreign goods to explore customer purchase behavior. 1.3 Research Aims and Objectives With the aim to explore Singaporean consumers’ attitude and perception t owards brands, the objectives of the research are: To identify what factors can affect consumer’s attitude to brands Identifying models to assess consumers attitude towards branding To find out the different perceptions between international and local brands Comparing the attitude towards

Harmonisation of International Accounting Standards | Essay

Harmonisation of International Accounting Standards | Essay In an increasingly global business environment, issues such as how companies account for their relevant financial positions in different jurisdictions gain greater importance. Many companies are international in their scope with several different subsidiaries in multiple jurisdictions making the interpretation of accounts particularly difficult. Accounting standards in every country are developed with the background of that country’s individual social and economic circumstances, which results in a range of differing standards being developed across the globe[1]. As a result, it is very difficult for accounts to be read accurately and to make suitable financial decisions on investment by entities from other jurisdictions. Comparing performances and consolidating accounts without at least a degree of international harmonisation would prove very difficult, if not impossible. The Importance of Harmonisation As a result of the problems mentioned above, a uniform set of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have been developed with the view to mitigating or, in some cases, eliminating divergences in the way that accounts are reported in different jurisdictions. It is recognised that a blanket standardisation is simply impossible; countries need the flexibility and freedom to allow influences from their own social and economic backgrounds to come into play. For this reason, a process of harmonisation has been established. By having a guideline for the ways in which companies from different countries must deal with certain corporate issues, it makes the position of managers and investors much easier. Having a foundation of standards allows allocation choices in terms of resources and time to be made across jurisdictions. In order to do this, a like for like comparison must be possible and this can only be achieved with a degree of harmonisation. In particular, the area of taxation has gained a great deal of attention from international accounting standard setters. For example, Financial Reporting Standard 19 states how a company should deal with deferred taxation situations, i.e. where the point of realising the asset and the corresponding liability are different and how this can be accounted for in the company accounts. By ensuring companies across the globe are broadly following the same principles, it is much easier to ascertain the true financial position of the company in question. The International Accounting Standards Board The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is a wide group of people who are independent and are involved in the development and management of the International Financial Reporting Standards. The work of the IASB is supervised by the International Accounting Standards Committee and has additional support from external advisory committees. In total, there are fourteen board members, representing nine different countries, thus ensuring geographical diversity and representation during the standard setting process. The main work of the IASB is to work with the various different national accounting standard setters in a bid to ensure that there is a worldwide convergence of accounting standards being put in place. As mentioned previously, the aim is not to force nations into following one set of distinct rules, but rather to encourage a union of standards. The work of the IASB has been widely recognised, with more than 100 countries across the world either requiring or at least allowing the use of international accounting standards. This substantially increases the freedom of trade and investment on an international scale. International companies are able to ensure that consolidated accounts are prepared to produce useful and accurate accounts of the way in which the company is performing. This ability to draw accurate comparison is vital for the truly international scope of modern business[2]. Structure and Processes of the IASB Gaining harmonisation and convergence of accounting standards is clearly an important and useful element of international business. Achieving this is, however, a particularly difficult task. No international financial reporting standard can be passed and agreed on without the due process being followed. International agreement is vital, if such convergence is going to be efficiently attained across the globe. The process is carried out in six stages, each of which is open to debate and is overseen by the executive committees. Firstly, the agenda is set. During this process, the IASB will look at the issue being raised, the current approaches being taken by the various different countries and the realistic possibility of achieving greater harmonisation. On the assumption that further harmonisation is thought possible, the IASB will then consider and set out the scope of the international standard that is envisaged. Secondly, the project of establishing the accounting standard is planned fully to ensure the maximum possible buy-in from the various countries. Crucially, at this point, the IASB will decide if it is going to act alone in establishing the standard or whether it requires the assistance of other standard setting bodies[3]. Thirdly, once the project is fully understood, a discussion paper is published. This will state the issues as the IASB sees it and the possible solutions that exist for the problem. This is absolutely crucial. The work of the IASB relies almost entirely upon the agreement of the participating countries and, therefore, opening the discussion up to these countries is vital. Fourthly, once the discussion stage has been duly undertaken, an exposure draft is issued with details of the proposed solution. This is essential as it will be at this point that many countries will raise objections or make further suggestions. Fifthly, all of these processes are put together and the standard itself is drafted and published. It takes into account all comments and issues raised during the discussion paper and exposure draft. Finally, after the standard has been issued, the IASB will review the uptake and the way it has been applied by the various countries. It may be that further amendments or new standards are needed and the process will then restart. The entire process is based on discussion and co-operation, which is vital if any form of harmonisation can be truly efficient[4]. Challenges to Harmonisation Harmonisation is clearly beneficial for international trade and businesses. However, such large scale convergence is going to be difficult to manage and achieve; firstly, as the standards have to be incorporated into the national standards set by every individual country. This requires the relevant countries to be on board and prepared to support the various international standards being developed. Naturally, the support that is being shown for this is different between the various countries, with the more affluent countries being able to comply more readily because of their advanced accounting structure[5]. Secondly, the changing of the way in which accounts are presented is not always a quick or cheap process, which can cause difficulties for some smaller companies. In some cases, the adoption of certain international standards will result in the reported profits of the company falsely appearing substantially lower than the previous year. For this reason, some companies will naturally be slower or more hesitant to adopt the new standards. Where there is resistance, the IASB does not have the power or teeth to enforce the standards. This lack of ability to enforce can ultimately make the process of ensuring total international harmonisation extremely difficult and potentially impossible. Conclusions The IASB plays an absolutely vital role in the move towards gaining an internationally harmonised set of accounting standards. All of the work undertaken by the IASB is mindful of the need to achieve co-operation between all countries and, as such, has been structured in the way that it establishes standards through the process of discussion and explanatory documents, encouraging the accession of all relevant parties, at every step of the way. In doing so, the chances of international harmonisation are much greater and this will bring with it all of the benefits of internationally usable accounts. Bibliography Bazaz, Mohammed S., International Accounting: A Global Perspective, Issues in Accounting Education, Vol. 20, 2005 Collins, Katherine, International Accounting Rate Reform: The Role of International Organizations and Implications for Developing Countries, Law and Policy in International Business, Vol. 31, 2000 Fleming, Peter D., The Growing Importance of International Accounting Standards; Arthur R. Wyatt, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee, Heralds International Harmonization, Journal of Accountancy, Vol. 172, 1991 Gornik-Tomaszewski, Sylwia, Mccarthy, Irene N., Cooperation between FASB and IASB to Achieve Convergence of Accounting Standards, Review of Business, Vol. 24, 2003 Heely, James A., Nersesian, Roy L. Global Management Accounting: A Guide for Executives of International Corporations, Quorum Books, 1993 Holmes, Geoffrey Andrew, Sugden, Alan, Holmes, Geoffrey, Gee, Paul, Interpreting Company Reports and Accounts, Pearson Education, 2004 Larson, Robert K., An Empirical Investigation of the Relationships between International Accounting Standards, Equity Markets and Economic Growth in Developing Countries, Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 25, 1994 Nobes, Christopher, Parker, Robert, Comparative International Accounting, Pearson Education, 2006 Rider, Barry, in Villiers, Charlotte (ed.), Corporate Reporting and Company Law, Cambridge University Press, 2006 Rodgers, Paul, International Accounting Standards: From UK Standards to IAS, an Accelerated Route to Understanding the Key Principles of International Accounting Rules, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007 Sale, J. Timothy, Salter, Stephen B, Sharp, David J., Advances in International Accounting, Elsevier, 2004 Schipper, Katherine, Principles-Based Accounting Standards, Accounting Horizons, Vol. 17, 2003 Schwartz, Donald, The Future of Financial Accounting: Universal Standards, Journal of Accountancy, Vol. 181, 1996 van Greuning, Hennie, Koen, Marius, International Accounting Standards: A Practical Guide, World Bank Publications, 2001 Footnotes [1] Holmes, Geoffrey Andrew, Sugden, Alan, Holmes, Geoffrey, Gee, Paul, Interpreting Company Reports and Accounts, Pearson Education, 2004 [2] van Greuning, Hennie, Koen, Marius, International Accounting Standards: A Practical Guide, World Bank Publications, 2001 [3] Collins, Katherine, International Accounting Rate Reform: The Role of International Organizations and Implications for Developing Countries, Law and Policy in International Business, Vol. 31, 2000 [4] Rider, Barry in, Villiers, Charlotte (ed.), Corporate Reporting and Company Law, Cambridge University Press, 2006 [5] Rodgers, Paul, International Accounting Standards: From UK Standards to IAS, an Accelerated Route to Understanding the Key Principles of International Accounting Rules, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007

Is Digital Cash Something To Fear? Essay -- Digital Cash Money Essays

Is Digital Cash Something To Fear? I. INTRODUCTION In today's society, cash is quickly becoming obsolete. The vast majority of transactions can now be completed without cash. If a person has direct deposit, they can directly deposit their paycheck into their bank account. Using their home computer, that person can pay their monthly bills electronically by using a third-party bill paying system authorized by their bank. Credit cards, once reserved for major purchases, are now accepted at grocery stores, fast food restaurants, pay phones, and coffee shops. Debit cards are quickly replacing checks for many of our day-to-day purchases. There are quite a few transactions that cannot be completed with cash, including renting cars, many mail order purchases, and subscribing to an Internet service provider. In a typical day, cash is really only necessary for very small transactions, such as purchasing a morning paper, or buying a candy bar out of a vending machine. These "micro-transactions"{1} do not represent a significant enough exchange of value to cover the transactional costs of accepting credit or debit cards. A person still needs to carry enough cash for these micro-transactions. Currently, the way to get cash is to personally go to an automatic teller machine (ATM) for a withdrawal. "Digital cash,"{2} stored on "smart cards"{3} or personal computers, promises to make micro-transactions possible in both the everyday world and in cyberspace. II. IS DIGITAL CASH NECESSARY? The need for digital cash closely parallels the need for regular cash. Most people do not use regular cash to make major purchases. Carrying large amounts of cash can be very insecure. Carrying credit cards is more secure because, at least in th... ...urden on the bank to prove that a transaction was by the consumer. See Sandberg, supra note 3. {8} Compare the use of encryption technology in making a credit card purchase (see CyberCash, Six Steps of a Secure Internet Credit Card Payment (visited Oct. 5, 1977) <http://a.dn.cybercash.com/cybercash/shoppers/ stopsteps.html>), with the use of encryption in making a digital cash purchase, (see DigiCash, An Introduction to Ecash (visited Oct. 5, 1977) <http://www.digicash.com/ecash/docs/ease/ease(g).html>). {9} Of course, the consumer protection laws will limit the consumer's losses to $50. If the digital cash transmission was for a micro-transaction, a consumer would still prefer to lose 1Â ¢ to $50. {10} Jim Miller, E-money mini-FAQ (release 2.0) (visited Oct. 5, 1977) <http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/ emoneyfaq.html>. {11} Id. {12} Id.

Demand and Supply

Medical advances can range from witching over to Electronic Record keeping, to the use of Tell-health. The need for this is as diverse as the products and services themselves. One of the options that are currently available is home care. As the baby boomer population ages, the elderly population will increase the demand for home health services due to financial and emotional factors. The continuum or availability of home care programs will be greatly needed in the present years to come. Supply & Demand Factors Many factors contribute to the demand and supply of healthcare products and services.The concept of demand versus supply In home health care can never be testified. No one health care facility can meet all the demands of medical services. As individuals are living longer and hospital admittance costs seems to increase while providing quality care seems to decrease, consumers are seeking to manage chronic illnesses within the comfort of their own home. As the population ages we are seeing many Individuals coming down with diseases that are either not curable or that has ran Its' course In the body and there Is nothing that can be done to prolong life.Hospice care Is palliative care given to Individuals who are terminally Ill, with an expected survival of six months or less. This is when this type of service is needed and many of individuals, especially the minorities do not know that these services exist either because they contribute this to high cost service or think that it is not covered by their insurance. Another factor contributing to an increase in demand for home healthcare services are advances in medical technology which make it possible to manage conditions in a home setting that would previously have required hospitalizing or the services of a skilled nursing facility.Consumers have easy access to home care services, they have a choice among providers, and consumers are currently selecting he best service based upon a variety of options. The r ange of those Interested In from moderate to severe. The many options available range from skilled nursing, Occupational [physical therapy, rehabilitative [social services and personal ODL assistance can be provided at within the confines on one's home. Home health care helps prevent the need for higher-cost care. Home health care helps prevent the need for higher-cost care.Hospitals can reduce the cost and save on providing medical treatment and equipment items such as; medical professionals' time, disposable syringes, catheters, and dressing changes and other supplies to treat the attain. â€Å"The problem in healthcare is that the consumer often pays little or nothing for services, despite the current reality of deductibles and co-payments. When this is the case, price stops being a factor in demand and demand increases to virtually unlimited levels† (Salesman, 2009, p. L).Economic Cost Nationally, the median hourly cost for homemaker services and home health aide services is $18 and $19, skilled nursing $40, TO & APT $65-$75; administrators, $32, directors $38. Nationally the median annual cost for care in an assisted living facility by comparison, is $39,600. Nationally, Private nursing homes medium annual sectional cost, over the past five years, rose 4. 3 percent annually to $81 ,030. While the average home-care visit costs Medicare $150 per visit. The average hospital stay costs Medicare $1500.Medicare expenditures in 2008 totaled $324 billion, slightly more than 2. 2% of gross domestic product (GAP). Medicare home health covers about 3. 3 million beneficiaries resulting in $16. 5 billion in total Medicare payments in 2008 (SMS, Data Compendium, 2009). Access and Supply Consumers have easy access to home care services, they have a choice among providers, and consumers are currently selecting the best service based upon a rarity of options. The range of those interested in home care is vast. Depending upon the situation, the need for services can range from moderate to severe.The many services that are available range from skilled nursing, Occupational [physical therapy, rehabilitative [social services and personal ODL assistance. Other services consist of transportation, medical equipment such as diagnostic and incontinence supplies, diapers, gloves, bed covers, commodes, wheel chairs, lifts, meal programs, etc. , can be provided all within the confines on one's home. Home health care helps prevent the need for higher-cost care. Most insurance's, such as Medicare and Medicaid, cover the costs of many home care services.Consumers can seek out services through the referral of a Physicians approval. Once approved, consumers can begin to enjoy the many services available to help themselves regain independence of their physical abilities. Services will last until consumer is able to remain in a residence with assistance of primary caregiver/support from community agencies. Conclusion The United States aging population will requ ire a lot more out of health care services than ever before, this is mainly due to the longer life span of the elderly with heroic illnesses. According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, by 2030 the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million, that's roughly 20 percent of the U. S. Population. In some states, as much as a quarter of the population will be aged 65 and older. Being that health care is on the verge of change, the certainty that these services will still exist in the near future remains order to fulfill the demand of elderly services the supply of home care organizations needs to expand to accommodate physical emotional and financial factors of these nonusers.

The theme of responsibility in An Inspector Calls Essays

The theme of responsibility in An Inspector Calls Essays The theme of responsibility in An Inspector Calls Paper The theme of responsibility in An Inspector Calls Paper Essay Topic: Literature Every member of our society should be equivalent and adjusted to each other. Other peoples actions, suggestions and reactions make a considerable difference to our lives. This has great significance and concludes that we need to care about each other. The playwright of An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley, wrote this play for several essential and specific reasons. One of the key ideas was based on the theme of responsibility. In this essay, I have focused on the same ideas. Furthermore, I will carefully analyse and compare two very contrasting character in the play. I have chosen to do my research and comparison on Mrs Birling and Sheila Birling. And to help me analyse them I will use quotes from the play. An Inspector Calls is a play, which was written by John Boynton Priestley in 1945 (set in 1912), and was staged in the theatre on the 1st of October 1946. Priestley uses the play as an example of what can happen if we ignore the feelings of others. Priestley believed a great deal in socialism and used the play to influence people to be socialists. An Inspector Calls is a play about a family called the Birlings. One day, they were celebrating the engagement of their only daughter, Sheila, while they were enjoying themselves; an inspector approaches their house and turns the joyful and thrilling night into misery. Every character gives a first impression, and Sheila is one of them. Sheila is a pretty girl in her twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited. My fist impressions about Sheila was that she is an immature, naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve girl but as the play advanced I was proved very wrong. The latter parts of this essay will provide evidence so. In 1912, Britain was at the height of the Edwardian society, known as the Golden age. A quarter of the world belonged to Britain meaning that it was coloured red on the globe of the world. The British Empire was the most vast and powerful since the Romans-the best nation in the world. Theatres, musicals, prom concerts and film were making a vital impact as it entertained the Edwardian population. The upper classes (such as the Birlings) led such a lavish life that the Edwardian era is now infamous for. However, despite the illusions of these secure times, many of the cities were overflowing with prejudice and crooks. There was a huge division between the upper and lower classes. The higher classes barely knew the existence of the underprivileged. I personally thought that this play was very effective as J.B. Priestley wrote it at a significant time. In 1947 Britain had just come to end of a devastating world war, where families suffered from immense losses and society was desperate for a fairer, more equal lifestyle. Priestley realised that socialism was becoming increasingly popular and he was rewarded by the play. He effectively used crucial hints in this play to ensure that discrimination in Edwardian time was not repeated. The inspector is the most thought-provoking and mysterious character in the entire play. The mysterious element contributes greatly to making him a very interesting character. I did not find a great deal out about the Inspector but we are given hints and clues from the way he speaks and we are forced to piece together our own ideas about his identity and intentions. The role of the Inspector is very noteworthy for the play. He uses very simple techniques and he moves the play along. By moving the play along he encourages the characters to tell their stories. The Inspector could be considered as a narrator for the vast variety of contributions he makes. I transpired this point because he was accused of being an impostor in the play. J.B. Priestley has made the Inspector an old mysterious and thought-provoking person. In this way, the audience are forced into judging and reaching personal conclusions about him. So, the main role of the Inspector was to promote and change the thoughts of the Birling family. There are many connotations within the name Inspector Goole. As an Inspector, he has come to investigate or inspect the family members and their actions. Goole is a similar sounding to the word Ghoul, a ghost or phantom. It introduces a very eerie spirit-like feeling to the play as if the Inspector is not real. The inspectors final speech dramatically contrasts his use of language throughout the play. He uses simple language, which allows the members of the family to relay their versions of events. He moves from commenting on one particular person to all of those people who are cruelly and unnecessarily exploited in society, millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths. This is Priestleys main message: we are all responsible for each other. Before the Inspector disembarked, Sheila acts arrogantly towards Eric and Gerald. But she demonstrates respect for her mother and father but with a tone of undermining. Sheila is very happy about her engagement to Gerald but with this of tone towards her family, I feel that she is trying to remind them that this is her special day and that they should not fail to remember it. I fell this because she tries to change the subject of the talk to herself. Arthur (Mr Birling) says I do not think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this and Sheila states Neither to I. All wrong. When the Inspector arrives he uses different interrogation approaches to get his answers from his suspects. Sheila responds to the Inspector in a very honest way. After coming back into the room, she is very sincere with everybody. Sheila answers her questions and queries as honestly as she can, she is genuinely sorry for what she did to Eva Smith and contributing to her death, Yes but it didnt seem to be anything very terrible at the time. Dont you understand? And if I could help her now I would. After her confession, Sheila is eager for everybody to confess to what they supposedly did to Eva Smith. When questioned, Sheila breaks into tears. When questioned, Sheila and Eric have broken down and confessed for their indecency after being just asked a few questions. Sheila was shown a picture of the girl, which she had fired, from Millwards. She recognizes the picture and runs out of the room sobbing. She comes back in and says, You knew it was me all the time, didnt you? This clearly shows that Sheila is an honest girl. Sybil on the other hand answers the Inspectors questions with very short and few word answers. The inspector shows her a photo and says, Do you recognize her? Sybil then says, No. Why should I? Which is a blatant lie because she may think that the inspector knows nothing about this case but really he does or hes very clever and bluffing. The younger characters feel remorse for what they have done; Sybil does not even pity the poor girl. I am very sorry, but I think she has only herself to blame. But then Mrs Birlings opinion is hat Eva should not have used the respectable Birling name, lied about where she came from and why she wanted help from her charity. The difference between classes at that particular time was very clear. The Birlings are obviously a rich family and their name is highly respectable. For Eva to use the name was a big insult to Sybil. However, towards Sheilas engagement. Sybil acts normal because it is the engagement of her daughter. She says that she is happy for her daughter and her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ but does not use emotion, tone of voice or body language to convey this. Sybil seems very cold towards her family; she does not show affection at all, not even through speech. I suppose that this is how typical high-class women were expected to act. Sybil having had much more life experience knows how people of different classes should speak to her. Lower-class people should speak to her with respect because without people like her husband and their factories a lot of people would be without work. As soon as the Inspector comes and speaks to her normally, she is shocked. I think you can tell this by her short answers that go straight to the point. I meant what I said. Most of what she says is never more than a line long. I think that the Inspector realised this and plays on it, but this back fires because Sybil does not like being spoken to like this, so she is very short and avoids the main point that the Inspector is trying to achieve from her. This is very clever, meaning the Inspector actually has to know everything. With the other characters he just mentions a name and asks a few questions and he will have the whole story. Sybil believes that an unfamiliar person cannot embarrass her. Sybil however stays calm and again does not show any emotions. She doesnt let this stranger intimidate her because she feels she did the right thing by her charity of which she is the chairperson and is a great influence on the overall decision of who they should help. Every other character except Sybil feels remorse for what they have done. To conclude I have to say that I found that age does affect the way the Edwardian family act. If Sheila was older and more grown up then she would have known that someone not of her class, can not intimidate her if she knows how to react. Sybil however, obviously knows how to respond but she is certainly arrogant. Also, if Sheila was older she would have known that she does not have to be ashamed of her actions to justify them. I f your actions cannot be justified then they cannot be wrong. Sheilas actions were not justified enough. Mrs Birling remains pompous and proper throughout the whole episode. In the play, I have learnt many fundamental things. The ending is a mystery and leaves the audience thinking. This ending takes the audience back to the beginning when the inspector arrives. It leaves us pondering whether the Inspector was some kind of spirit warning towards the Birlings. This adds to the dramatic tension of the play. I think the play was a success in making it dramatic and that issues such as homelessness and refugees have changed since the play was written but still has the same effect on the audience. I think the moral of the play has contributed greatly. Think of the least unfortunate and the Birlings, and carefully analyse how both were treated. This play would challenge the audience with their moral beliefs of right and wrong. If you have done something wrong then the play makes you think about it and what you should do if you are in this situation again. The important thing is to try and correct it because it might just blow out of portion. This is shown well in the play when Sheila realises that she should have said something about Erics drinking problem as it is the main reason that he got involved in this situation. The main purpose of the play is that it wants people to improve on, to have more consideration for everybody and life does not revolve around money but compassion for others. Another message is underlined throughout the play is that all classes have different wealth but when it comes to feelings and sensitivities, we are all equal. The final message of the play is a plea for changes, a change in human nature first, then society. People have to learn that private behaviour has public outcomes. The play was correct.

Sustained organisational performance

Sustained organisational performance Introduction Talent management has been cited by a number of firms as the key reason behind their continual success even during tough business times. Prioritising this area cushions organisation against externalities and better prepares them to take on challenges that they will face in the future.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Sustained organisational performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Talent development and sustained organisational performance CIPD (2009) claims that the relevance of training to organisational performance has taken on a totally different meaning; nowadays certain unconventional skills have found relevance in the work environment. For example, an engineer taking a coaching course may learn new skills concerning performance and productivity. Although this may be difficult to understand at the onset, it does not imply that employees should be undermined in any way for making such choices. In the end, sustained business performance can be achieved if talent development takes on a different and unconventional meaning in a firm. Today’s business environment is rapidly changing. It has become less skill based and more service or knowledge based. To this end, work has become dynamic and in order to keep up, companies must be ready to engage in continuous learning. In response to this dynamism, firms may ask their employees to think of certain creative courses that they may engage in order to promote creativity. Therefore, continual redefinitions of what learning involves in education will be crucial in ensuring sustainability in performance. One critical issue that is emerging in the area of talent development is the problem of economic conditions. Given the tough business conditions, companies have started reducing budgets allocated to talent management while others have left out the strategy altogether. In fact it has been shown that the thirty eight point five b illion pounds allocated to training in the United Kingdom will reduce in tough times. However, these organisations need to realise that for economic recovery to occur then there must be a firm commitment to talent development. Furthermore, continual learning will place them at a good position when an upturn occurs. Training organisations are also better equipped in tough times because they have a chance to retain their talent and hence be sustainable in production. Studies show that the ratio of firms that go bankrupt is 2.5 times more in firms that abandon training than those that do not so it should never be ignored. Companies cannot do without training because this essentially facilitates differentiation from other organisations and provides them with a source of competitive advantage. Some HR professionals are taking the tough times in their stride by now looking for ways of increasing value within the talent development area.Advertising Looking for report on business e conomics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They are employing creative ways of doing so. First, some of them are substituting external coaching providers with internal ones and they are also looking for cost effectiveness in present talent development system. What this illustrates is that a high number of well performing firms are placing talent management at the top of their agenda and this translates to high return on investment thus high effectiveness (CIPD, 2008) Learning and development is critical at the workplace because it allows the utilisation of skills. In essence, this means that a large number of employees will be more productive and this will translate to high performance. For instance, during tough economic times when budgets are running low, skills utilisation is often done by offering people within the organisation opportunities to grow even though they may not necessarily be the ideal candidates for those po sitions. These persons may get an opportunity to transfer their skills so that they can do well in their new positions. Talent management allows companies a chance of building the employees in their organisation. This means that firms need not invest too much time in focusing on recruiting talent from outside. Additionally, companies will get the opportunity to work with what they have but still focus on their business objectives if they prioritise learning and development (Pearson, 2010). It implies that efficiency in talent management translates to efficiency in business processes and hence high productivity. For example, if a company has been endowed by well performing employees, then talent development will ensure that these individuals are retained and that they continue to contribute towards their organisation’s sustainability. On the other hand, some companies create high performers through talent management. By reviewing how individuals are performing, these organisat ions can ensure that they get a return on their investments and hence be profitable in tough times as well as simpler times. Talent management often encourages employees to engage in the right behaviours. Organisations have various approaches to this. Some may carry it out by ensuring that they instate reward based pay such that pay is linked to outcome. Alternatively, some may look for better ways of doing so such as through the use of rewards provided to the stated individuals. Conclusion Talent management is crucial for survival of companies. By taking training and development needs seriously, firms will build the structures needed in order to get past business obstacles and compete effectively.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Sustained organisational performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References CIPD. (2009). The war on talent? Talent management under threat in uncertain times. Febrary issue, 4685 CIP D. (2008). Time to train: consulting on a new right to request time off to train employees in England. Response to Department for innovation, universities and skills Pearson Compilation (2010). Perspectives on People at Work. Essex: Custom Publishing

How has Massachusetts differed from other states in dealing with Essay

How has Massachusetts differed from other states in dealing with fiscal problems in the last couple of years - Essay Example Since the recession started, most states have closed more than $425 billion in shortfalls. All states have to balance operating budgets at least biennially unlike the federal government, which can go on providing services even with a financial downturn. Since federal economic assistance is to expire before the recovery of most state budgets, the states must address these shortfalls by a combination of tax increases and spending cuts. This paper aims to discuss how the state of Massachusetts has differed from other states in dealing with their fiscal problems. An annual update released by the US Census Bureau for local and state government finances provided national data for the year 2010. The amount of local and state taxes in Massachusetts as total personal income share was 10.2% in the fiscal year 2010. Using this measure, the state of Massachusetts, recorded lower taxation when compared to twenty-four other states (Ellwood 23). Measuring of taxes as a personal income share allows financial experts a meaningful comparison tool to compare states. Taxes act as the primary funding source for people living in various states that are provided to government for the provision of such functions as public education, safety nets, libraries, playgrounds and parks. The new data from the census shows that Massachusetts has a level of taxation ranging at 10.42%, below the average nationally that came at 10.59% in 2010 (Ellwood 23). If the state of Massachusetts had a taxation level at the average nationally, then local and state government would have had an extra $1.1 billion to spend during the fiscal year. Most states across the United States started implementing budget cuts in spring 2008 with the recession bringing weakened revenues sharply into focus. These cuts have increased given the persistently high unemployment. Most states cut funding by 4.2% in 2009 and a further 6.8% in 2010 despite the continued need for services that are funded by the state (Ellwood 25). Ho wever, in Massachusetts, a few diversions were noted, especially with budget cuts. Massachusetts has four major categories in their budget where they spent much more than other states despite/ instead of effecting cuts. These were public welfare, transit, veteran services and unemployment compensation. Public welfare, behind education, is the second largest category in the census encompassing temporary assistance for needy families, food stamp program and Medicaid. Unlike other states, Massachusetts has seen overspending in this category, indicated by the low ratings for welfare reform. TANF afforded flexibility to most states for the administration of benefits provided the goals set out by TANF were satisfied. A comprehensive study gave Massachusetts a low grade for the satisfaction of these goals, with a score of 34.9% and a ranking of forty-sixth out of fifty states (Ellwood 28). Unemployment compensation includes benefits that are funded by the federal government such as basic u nemployment benefits and cash benefits for military and civilian employees. This includes shared expenditure, for example, extended employment for those states with high rates of unemployment. One significant indicator that Massachusetts overspends in this category compared to other states in this category is the fact that, in 2008s second quarter, Massachusetts recorded the second highest rate of weekly payment at $391.91 in comparison to the national average at $285.28 (Gold 250). Massachusetts’

EU Law assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EU Law assignment - Essay Example had reviewed the role of the national courts and maintained that the spirit of the EC law would be harmed if individuals were deprived of availing themselves of redressal for damages suffered due to the infringement of EC law by national highest courts of last instance of the respective member states. The ECJ specified that the national courts that constitute the very last forum were truly the last judicial entities available to individuals. At that stage individuals attempt to assert the rights provided by Community law. Thus the judicial bodies that are in effect the last resort of individuals at the national level should invariably follow the provisions of Community law. The ECJ also pointed out that Article 234 EC is an indicator of the spirit of the Community and the Treaty Scheme that protects individual rights conferred by the Community law. Therefore, the national courts of last instance should not infringe Community law3. The ECJ’s ruling in Kobler paved the way to initiate elaborate discussions on several legislative issues concerning state liability. The Advocate General asserted that judges of national courts should not confine themselves to the national law alone, but that they have to act within the purview of the EC law, in order to maintain the spirit of the EC Treaty. This requires national judges to critically assess the scope of national law and the application of the EC law over national law, since EC law has supremacy over national law. Moreover, they have to ensure that their national law is in conformity with the Community law. This would result in the judges of the domestic courts, ignoring pieces of national legislation that were enacted lawfully under the national procedure for enacting laws, in order to give preference to EC law. In such situations the fundamental doctrine of separation of powers would have to be infringed. This role allotted to the judiciary is akin to the r ole allotted to the higher courts that have to uphold the