Saturday, August 31, 2019

In Memoriam (Tennyson) Essay

The poem is not, nonetheless, merely a way to express personal grief. Even though the â€Å"I† of In Memoriam is at times totally linked with the poet. Tennyson, the poet himself alleged that it is recurrently proposed to symbolize how the human race expresses and communicates through him. The individual sorrow and uncertainty became a microcosm for the distress being beared by the men and women of the 19th century who had been moving away from faith in traditional religion, as the evolvements in science were getting on to the ending that as such there was no divine hand which existed to guide. The speaker actually gets troubled through the loss he has beared but he gradually consents to the notion that, regardless of the external signs of confusion, and disorder the world actually becoming a better place to live in; his friend Hallam enters in to be seen as a messenger of a superior reace which will show way to humankind to lead them to God. Tennyson shifts alternately from insensitive misery to self-awareness and gets too see that writing poetry is an antidote for pain. Poems 9 through 17 make up a cluster amalgamated by the poet’s thought on the arrival of Hallam’s body through the ship from Italy. A calmer anguish now encompasses his heart. This anguish due to grief gradually make the mind even firmer, but the more deeper the sorrows are than words keep closed within in his heart. He commences on not to display his emotions openly but as he should (Richard, 2004). As a consequence, In Memoriam portrays the chief Victorian clash of science and faith to be the true work of its era; Tennyson’s effort to settle any sort of doubts that are based on religion which take birth from his not public sorrow and the outcomes of pre-Darwinian theories which are associated to succession were cut down by thinkers of his time as a reasonable landmark. The cyclic modification in the turn from personal anguish and desolation to the bigger vision of the public and apprehension for wider, social problems that can be seen in this poem reveal Tennyson’s mounting reception of and settlement with the issues of his age. As the elegy gets to its ending, the poet becomes more strongly influenced. His love, even though was seen on their preceding earthly association, is â€Å"vaster passion† which is now that Hallam’s incidence is spiritual and subtle through God and nature. The elegy ends up with the self-assured statement of the poet which shows that the living are real and will supplementarily move humanity’s measures and of the faith in its real sense that will not be highlighted only after death. Form The poem is not, nonetheless, merely a way to express personal grief. Even though the â€Å"I† of In Memoriam is at times totally linked with the poet. Tennyson, the poet himself alleged that it is recurrently proposed to symbolize how the human race expresses and communicates through him. The individual sorrow and uncertainty became a microcosm for the distress being beared by the men and women of the 19th century who had been moving away from faith in traditional religion, as the evolvements in science were getting on to the ending that as such there was no divine hand which existed to guide. The speaker actually gets troubled through the loss he has beared but he gradually consents to the notion that, regardless of the external signs of confusion, and disorder the world actually becoming a better place to live in; his friend Hallam enters in to be seen as a messenger of a superior reace which will show way to humankind to lead them to God. As a consequence, In Memoriam portrays the chief Victorian clash of science and faith to be the true work of its era; Tennyson’s effort to settle any sort of doubts that are based on religion which take birth from his not public sorrow and the outcomes of pre-Darwinian theories which are associated to succession were cut down by thinkers of his time as a reasonable landmark. The cyclic modification in the turn from personal anguish and desolation to the bigger vision of the public and apprehension for wider, social problems that can be seen in this poem reveal Tennyson’s mounting reception of and settlement with the issues of his age (Matthew, 2002). Style Tennyson shifts alternately from insensitive misery to self-awareness and gets too see that writing poetry is an antidote for pain. Poems 9 through 17 make up a cluster amalgamated by the poet’s thought on the arrival of Hallam’s body through the ship from Italy. A calmer anguish now encompasses his heart. This anguish due to grief gradually make the mind even firmer, but the more deeper the sorrows are than words keep closed within in his heart. He commences on not to display his emotions openly but as he should. As the elegy gets to its ending, the poet becomes more strongly influenced. His love, even though was seen on their preceding earthly association, is â€Å"vaster passion† which is now that Hallam’s incidence is spiritual and subtle through God and nature. The elegy ends up with the self-assured statement of the poet which shows that the living are real and will supplementarily move humanity’s measures and of the faith in its real sense that will not be highlighted only after death. Because I Could Not Stop for Death Form The tone, or the emotional position of the speaker in this particular poem, is highly significant and the deception in â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death.† Although the theme is related to death, it is not a serious sad thing to talk over. In disagreement, Death is shown to be equal to a wooer in which emerges as fundamentally a fable, with abstractions constantly incarnate. overwhelmed by Death’s consideration and patience, the speaker responds by adding to her aside her work and free time (Vendler, 2004). One sees many of Dickinson’s typical devices at work: the tightly patterned form, based on an undefined subject, the riddle-like puzzle of defining that subject, the shifting of mood from apparent observation to horror, the grotesque images couched in emotionally distant language. All this delineates that experience, that confrontation with God, with nature, with the self, with one’s own mind which is the center of Dickinson’s best poetry. Whether her work looks inward or outward, the subject matter is a confrontation leading to awareness, and part of the terror is that for Dickinson there is never any mediating middle ground; she confronts herself in relation to an abyss beyond. There is no society, no community to make that experience palatable in any but the most grotesque sense of the word, the awful tasting of uncontrollable fear. The second third of the poem changes the proportions. Although the experience is not actually any of the four things she has mentioned above, it is like them all; but now death, the first, is given seven lines, night three, frost only two, and fire is squeezed out altogether. It is like death because she has, after all, seen figures arranged like her own; now her life is â€Å"shaven,/ And fitted to a frame.† It is like night when everything that â€Å"ticked† — again mechanical imagery for a natural phenomenon — has stopped, and like frosts, which in early autumn morns â€Å"Repeal the Beating Ground.† Her vocabulary startles once more: The ground beats with life, but the frost can void it; â€Å"repeal† suggests the law, but nature’s laws are here completely nullified. Finally, in the last stanza, the metaphor shifts completely, and the experience is compared to something new: drowning at sea. It is â€Å"stopless† but â€Å"cool†; the agony that so often marks Dickinson’s poetry may be appropriate to the persona, but nothing around her, neither people nor nature, seems to note it. Most important, there is neither chance nor means of rescue; there is no report of land. Any of these conditions would justify despair, but for the poet, this climatic experience is so chaotic that even despair is not justified, for there is no word of land to despair of reaching. Style Death is a mostly a concern of Dickinson’s poetry. Usually in order to make means of exploration, she will surely check that its objectification all the way through a persona who has already died. The truth is that life is short and death is long. Perhaps in this sobering truth one may find that Dickinson’s poem is as much about life about how one ought to redeem it from the banal as it is about death(Laurence, 2004). One sees many of Dickinson’s typical devices at work: the tightly patterned form, based on an undefined subject, the riddle-like puzzle of defining that subject, the shifting of mood from apparent observation to horror, the grotesque images couched in emotionally distant language. All this delineates that experience, that confrontation with God, with nature, with the self, with one’s own mind which is the center of Dickinson’s best poetry. Whether her work looks inward or outward, the subject matter is a confrontation leading to awareness, and part of the terror is that for Dickinson there is never any mediating middle ground; she confronts herself in relation to an abyss beyond. There is no society, no community to make that experience palatable in any but the most grotesque sense of the word, the awful tasting of uncontrollable fear. The second third of the poem changes the proportions. Although the experience is not actually any of the four things she has mentioned above, it is like them all; but now death, the first, is given seven lines, night three, frost only two, and fire is squeezed out altogether. It is like death because she has, after all, seen figures arranged like her own; now her life is â€Å"shaven,/ And fitted to a frame.† It is like night when everything that â€Å"ticked† — again mechanical imagery for a natural phenomenon — has stopped, and like frosts, which in early autumn morns â€Å"Repeal the Beating Ground.† Her vocabulary startles once more: The ground beats with life, but the frost can void it; â€Å"repeal† suggests the law, but nature’s laws are here completely nullified. Finally, in the last stanza, the metaphor shifts completely, and the experience is compared to something new: drowning at sea. It is â€Å"stopless† but â€Å"cool†; the agony that so often marks Dickinson’s poetry may be appropriate to the persona, but nothing around her, neither people nor nature, seems to note it. Most important, there is neither chance nor means of rescue; there is no report of land. Any of these conditions would justify despair, but for the poet, this climatic experience is so chaotic that even despair is not justified, for there is no word of land to despair of reaching. Content Death appears personified in this poem as a courtly beau who gently insists that the speaker put aside both â€Å"labor† and â€Å"leisure.† He arrives in his carriage, having stopped for her because she could not have stopped for him, and he even submits to a chaperone, â€Å"Immortality,† for the length of their outing together. It was not Death, for I stood up† Riddling becomes less straightforward, but no less central, in such a representative Dickinson poem as â€Å"It was not Death, for I stood up† (#510), in which many of her themes and techniques appear. The first third of the poem, two stanzas of the six, suggest what the â€Å"it† is not: death, night, frost, or fire. Each is presented in a couplet, but even in those pairs of lines, Dickinson manages to disconcert her reader. It is not death, for the persona is standing upright, the difference between life and death reduced to one of posture. Nor is it night, for the bells are chimin g noon — but Dickinson’s image for that fact is also unnatural. The bells are mouths, their clappers tongues, which are â€Å"Put out†; personification here does not have the effect of making the bells more human, but of making them grotesque, breaking down as it does the barriers between such normally discrete worlds as the mechanical and the human, a distinction that Dickinson often dissolves. Moreover, the notion of the bells sticking out their tongues suggests their contemptuous attitude toward man. In stanza two, it is not frost because hot winds are crawling on the persona’s flesh. The hackneyed phrase is reversed, so it is not coolness, but heat that makes flesh crawl, and not the flesh itself that crawls, but the winds upon it; nor is it fire, for the persona’s marble feet â€Å"Could keep a Chancel, cool.† Again, the persona is dehumanized, now grotesquely marble. While accomplishing this, Dickinson has also begun her inclusion of sense data, pervasive in the first part of the poem, so that the confrontation is not only intellectual and emotional but physical as well (Hood, 2000). The second third of the poem changes the proportions. Although the experience is not actually any of the four things she has mentioned above, it is like them all; but now death, the first, is given seven lines, night three, frost only two, and fire is squeezed out altogether. It is like death because she has, after all, seen figures arranged like her own; now her life is â€Å"shaven,/ And fitted to a frame.† It is like night when everything that â€Å"ticked† — again mechanical imagery for a natural phenomenon — has stopped, and like frosts, which in early autumn morns â€Å"Repeal the Beating Ground.† Her vocabulary startles once more: The ground beats with life, but the frost can void it; â€Å"repeal† suggests the law, but nature’s laws are here completely nullified. Finally, in the last stanza, the metaphor shifts completely, and the experience is compared to something new: drowning at sea. It is â€Å"stopless† but â€Å"cool†; the agony that so often marks Dickinson’s poetry may be appropriate to the persona, but nothing around her, neither people nor nature, seems to note it. Most important, there is neither chance nor means of rescue; there is no report of land. Any of these conditions would justify despair, but for the poet, this climatic experience is so chaotic that even despair is not justified, for there is no word of land to despair of reaching. Thus, one sees many of Dickinson’s typical devices at work: the tightly patterned form, based on an undefined subject, the riddle-like puzzle of defining that subject, the shifting of mood from apparent observation to horror, the grotesque images couched in emotionally distant language. All this delineates that experience, that confrontation with God, with nature, with the self, with one’s own mind which is the center of Dickinson’s best poetry. Whether her work looks inward or outward, the subject matter is a confrontation leading to awareness, and part of the terror is that for Dickinson there is never any mediating middle ground; she confronts herself in relation to an abyss beyond. There is no society, no community to make that experience palatable in any but the most grotesque sense of the word, the awful tasting of uncontrollable fear (Barton ,2008) Conclusion In this paper we have analysed two brilliant works of poetry, one In Memoriam by Tennyson as compared to Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Dickinson. We have analysed both the works in terms of their content, form and style and evaluate how they have been done by their respective writers. References Barton, A. (2008). Tennyson’s Name: Identity and Responsibility in the Poetry of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate,. Hood, J. (2000). Divining Desire: Tennyson and the Poetics of Transcendence. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, Laurence. M. (2004). W. Alfred Tennyson: The Critical Legacy. Rochester, N.Y.: Camden House, Matthew, C.( 2002). The Consolation of Otherness: The Male Love Elegy in Milton, Gray, and Tennyson. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland,. Richard,B. (2004). Experience and Faith: The Late-Romantic Imagination of Emily Dickinson. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, Lundin, Roger. Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 2004. Vendler, H. (2004). Hennessey. Poets Thinking: Pope, Whitman, Dickinson, Yeats. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Computer Networks And Internet Protocol Television Essay

The advent of computer has changed the way the world moves. Distance factor is no longer a problem. The physical might appear a big place with things at far off places but the world in virtual form doesn’t believe in distance. Everything can be achieved within minutes if not seconds. The whole technology behind this mega change is based on computer and is termed as Information Technology. This technology has led to the creation of a cyber world or electronically generated world with the help of computers connected to each other through suitable wires. Now words like cybercafe, cyber chat, cyberspace, cyber shopping, etc. have started making rounds. People can send electronic mails to far off places within seconds. Details and information are getting transferred within few seconds. People in Shanghai and New York are just seconds away. Transferring data in electronic form is actually the fastest way to transfer things. It’s not only the message transfer that has been revolutionized but also the business world. There are virtual shopping malls with website offering you a range of products ranging from computer peripherals to groceries. Companies are now providing details of their product through their website and are accepting customers’ requests of information and now even orders for products are being accepted. Everything is available. Money transfer can easily be done through wire transfer techniques. People do not wait. This world is not ruled by armed soldiers or any nuclear weapon. It’s the information which rules. The physical world just has to react on the outcome. Its role is just for receiving and sending. This high performing virtual world has made significant change in the performance of the actual world (Tanenbaum, 2003). Things in real world are now easier to comprehend. Outsourcing has helped in accessing low cost labor in far off Asian nations like India and China. Multinational companies like Microsoft, IBM, GM. , GE etc. have offices in almost in each part of the world with performance of each of these units can be monitored from any of its offices. Their offices have been networked though LANs i. e. , Local Area Network and WANs i. e. , Wide Area Network. They have virtually made themselves available to their customers any time anywhere and just a click away (Tanenbaum, 2003). 2. Computer System & Network of computers A computer system and network of computers are actually two different but interrelated things. A computer system is just a normal computer including peripherals and software necessary for the functioning of the device (Webopedia). But if we talk of Computer Network, it can be defined in a very simple way as a network of computers (Princeton). But giving full importance to all factors getting into act when we talk about network, the definition which actually makes complete sense is none other than the two or more computers connected together to share hardware, software and data and has been implemented according to some topology (Tanenbaum, 2003). The network can have all peripherals located within an office or building. This arrangement is often termed as Local Area Network or LAN (Tech, 2006). If the same is achieved in a wide area i. e. , computers connected to the network are located at places as diverse as countries in different continents, we can call the same as Wide Area Network or WAN (Cisco, 2006). Calling all computers and other intelligent parts of it as nodes, the term network topology can be defined as patterns of links connecting a pair of nodes of a network. 3. Internet Protocol & IPTV Technology related television services which include uplink and transmission has seen some of very revolutionary inventions of modern science. The television delivery system has now moved from terrestrial transmission through analog signals to encrypted digital signals through internet as well as IPTV (Anderson, 2006). The entertainment world through television is now very much eager to move from TV being delivered through cable to Internet Protocol Television with content being viewed through technologies used for computer networks (Lu, 2006). The last decade of the 20th century witnessed the massive growth in Internet Protocol based services. Now with the fast development of hardware and software technologies, this internet world has now developed to accommodate services like VoIP and many other telecom products (Wikipedia, 2007). It is a system which delivers digital television services to registered subscribers in a managed network with address based technology. The unique IP address of a subscriber provides him a virtual address over a network and creates a connection between the service provider and the television (Wikipedia, 2007). 4. Television through IPTV: a new experience IPTV is going to give the most electrifying experience to its subscribers. It’s not just seamless TV viewing but also more interactive and personalized. Things like participation in a game show or any discussion board will only require the use of the remote while sitting on the couch. Now the user will not feel being bombarded with a long list of channels rather get a very creative option to receive them with a much richer experience (International Engineering Consortium, 2007). The two-way signal broadcasting system through the network over which IPTV depends, allows the viewers to make selection that too on demand with time shift option. The additional services which can also be incorporated with IPTV are the Web Browsing i. e. surfing the internet, gaming with a game console with the current system and finally the communication applications which can enable email, MMS, Chat, etc (Telecom Italia, 2006). Figure 1 (IPTV delivery Infrastructure) The Set-Top Box which has made this IPTV happen which at one end is connected to the TV set while the other end to an ADSL connection can easily be made to supply Broadcast TV services (BTV) as well as Video On Demand (VOD) services. This BTV facilitates the simultaneous reception by the users of a traditional TV channel. And using multicasting protocols IPTV can make available services which are similar to experiences of a traditional TV like Free-to-air or Pay TV or a Pay-Per-view service (Luarel Networks). The same IPTV can be used by service providers to provide the VOD service which is made available on request. The VOD service requires implementation through IP unicast protocols (Ericsson, 2006). The enhanced IPTV can also make Personal Video Recorder (PVR) services available. The local PVR makes way for video-recording on the STB hard-disk with another set of functions for live, pause and replay. Similarly the Network-based PVR stores the data on the operator’s server which is generally used for VOD (International Engineering Consortium, 2007). On technological point, the IPTV makes way for better utilization of available infrastructure like the bandwidth. Traditional transmission technology actually sends more than hundred channels simultaneously while the IPTV requires just one channel to be sent to the subscriber at a time. Every time the user selects a channel or a program, a new streaming takes place with data related to the newly selected channel (Anderson, 2006). 5. IPTV: More Advantages, More services & More Business The IPTV will lead to a very new level of interactivity among Internet and data mainly as voice and video. A cable based TV network beams data in form of video mostly in MPEG format through an explicit bandwidth portion while the internet which enables high speed data transfer works on an IP based network and the data transfer is based on packets rather than streams. Both the technologies are technically very different. This IPTV is an amalgam of both the successful technologies. Being a data-centric application, the packets over this network can deliver both video as well as data (International Engineering Consortium, 2007). Figure 2: Telecommunications IPTV system solution The traditional cable network is often overloaded with more than 100 channels being transmitted simultaneously. So there is a limitation of maximum number of channels that can be made available to the subscriber. IPTV has a very clear advantage (Times News Network, 2006). Theoretically this technology can make almost infinite number of channels at the customer’s disposal. The transmission line actually transmitted a single channel which has been demanded by the customer. So the infrastructure usage per customer is negligible while opening a new era of almost every channel on the planet being made available to the user. The IP technology being a packet based product requires an acknowledgement to be sent to the source for every packet. This ensures that every packet sent by the source should remain intact and any loss of data will require resending of the same packet. This feature ensures very high quality of the product which the subscriber will receive (Anderson, 2006). The advantages associated to IPTV is not just conventional entertainment and advertisement based business but the technology can have its usage in developing new products which can make way to many other forms of businesses. The web based training is one of the many other possibilities. The IPTV network can be used to run different courses by making the videos of the classes available to the registered students (International Engineering Consortium, 2007). IPTV is the next big thing after telecom and internet. The business possibilities associated with this technology is almost as broad as the human thought. Almost all telecom companies are putting big money in exploration and marketing of this product (Blau, 2005). The business network and the corporate LAN’s may be greatest beneficiary with the delivery of videos and television content. The customized content delivery and the extremely secure network will reduce the theft cases to negligible. Customization facility will help the advertisers to understand the behavior of consumers and then will go for personalized ads that will translate into significant business returns (Iyer, 2005). 6. Conclusion The IPTV is going to be the next big thing in communication and media industry. With money pouring inform all big telecom companies IPTV is going to be a very serious business with entertainment becoming more and more customizable. The subscriber will experience a very different medium of entertainment with highest level of interactivity and almost innumerable possible services that too very much on his own wishes. 7. Bibliography Anderson, N. (2006) An introduction to IPTV. Available from http://arstechnica. com/guides/other/iptv. ars [Accessed 10 October 2007] Blau, J. (2005) Internet TV: Still Fuzzy, but Promising. IDG News ServiceAvailable from http://www. pcworld. com/news/article/0,aid,122138,00. asp [Accessed 10 October 2007] Cisco Systems, 2006. Wide Area Network. http://www. cisco. com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/introwan. htm [Accessed 10 October 2007]

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Media Literacy and the Critical Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media Literacy and the Critical Process - Essay Example In the first episode, Nicole and Paris decided to leave their lifestyles and adapted to humble beginnings. In the next episode, the two characters travelled across the states in a pickup truck which was pink in colour. They engaged themselves in several activities such as working as house helps and catching crayfish. In the next setting, Paris and Nicole participate in several internships with different companies all over the United States. In this particular season, various episodes were not paid at all. Their internships were shortened because they could sometimes display unprofessionalism at the work places. In the fourth season, Nicole and Paris were leaving with different families. Their personal lives were the main focus since the setting of this season took place at their hometowns. The final straw ended when the two friends were not in good terms. Rescue me is a type of drama show which is very interesting to watch. The setting of this drama show is around Ladder 62 located in the New York City Fire subdivision. Rescue me tells the stories of the courageous individuals and the effort of their day-to-day lives. Denis Leary is the main character. He plays Tommy Gavin, a newly divorced father of two. One of his sons dies in season two. Tommy moves across the street from his ex-wife with an intention of staying near his children. Tommy could not stand seeing his wife move on with her life. Tommy takes his dissatisfactions out his friends and his job. For comparisons at a general level, the drama show reveals that several conflicts exist between men and women. These conflicts could lead to separations and divorces. Both the reality show and the drama show portray that relationship is a very important factor. Between the two programmes I would judge the drama show of rescue me as better. Rescue me is a drama that is worth taking a try. It has several life lessons attached to it. Furthermore, how the drama unfolds, makes it more

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Debt Crises in the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and the Impact of Essay

Debt Crises in the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and the Impact of the Debt Reforms in LDC - Essay Example This paper dedicated to the problem of the unsustainable external debt and its repayment in in the least developed countries (LDU), which is considered an impediment to their economic growth and development. The report by the UN found out that there is a high probability that any LDC that exports primary commodities has an unsustainable external debt and that there is a close association between falling and volatile commodity prices and unsustainable external debt. The debt problem of commodity-exporting LDCs is rooted in the low level of domestic resource mobilization, low rates of return on investment, the vulnerability to external shocks and slow export growth. For debt sustainability to be achieved, the rate of growth of exports must be greater than the rate of interest on outstanding debt. Although high levels of debt can depress economic growth in low-income countries, external debt slows growth only after its face value reaches a threshold level estimated to be about 50 percent of GDP. A major challenge LDCs face is ensuring that a reasonable resource level is allocated for debt servicing to avoid the risk of default and to maintain conducive relations for debt relief negotiations with its debtors Governments must make efforts to stabilize commodity prices, perk up their levels of domestic resource mobilization, increase rates of return on investments and raise export growth, and finally protect themselves from external shocks. Debt reform not only includes maintaining a manageable level of debt but also decreasing corruption incidence in LDCs, allocating a reasonable resource level for debt servicing to avoid the risk of default, without sacrificing than they can afford to invest in basic health care or education.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Case Study - 1

Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility - Case Study Example The study also aims to assess the impact of these strategies on stakeholders of the company, namely customers, employees and promoters of the brand. The paper tries to establish that the strategy of sustainable development has led to growth of customer base, increased customer retention and has been an overall benefitting investment for the company. Best Buy, through low prices and big discounts, has been attracting several customers, but its policies on sustainable development has also garnered goodwill and increased brand equity. The company uses the policy of recycling of e-waste to increase chances of return sales as well as helps in conserving the environment through sustainable strategies (Luo and Bhattacharya, 2006). Hence, in the study, the effort of Best Buy to implement its sustainable development policies and their impact on the brand has been critically examined. In 1966, Richard Shulze had opened a very  small business  at St. Paul in Minnesota, called  Sound of Music. In the next 17 years, the small store of Shulze had gradually grown into a multi-million dollar firm. By 1983, Sound of Music had changed its name to Best Buy Corporation, Inc. The first superstore opened up in Burnsville, Minnesota, under the new name. The store began selling more brands and appliances. It also started offering central service as well as warehouse distribution. In the nineties, Best Buy was the pioneers to offer newest technology such as, DVDs and HD TVs. By 1999, Best Buy and Microsoft had collaborated for mutual promotion. This has also led them to offer a two for one stock split. Best Buy operates through two business segments, Domestic and International. The  financial security  of Best Buy relies on its stores, Magnolia Audio Visual Stores and the Geek Squad. Between the year 2005 and 2008, Best Buy wanted to achieve a higher income rate than earlier. Four strategies that

Monday, August 26, 2019

- Concept Mapping Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

- Concept Mapping - Coursework Example Students can be given one particular topic to brainstorm on a group. They would be given one topic such as comparing and contrasting travel by air and travel by car. Air travel would come on one side and car travel on the other. In the centre would be the common benefits of both. On the extreme sides would the dissimilar characters of each. Students can be taught or evaluated using a concept map, and the teacher would be able to assess whether the student has understood the intricacies of a topic. A student could be given a drawn concept map and the student would have to place each concept under the respective heading and link them up together so that they make a logical sense. This is a process by which the student can associate various ideas and link various concepts to prior knowledge. Educational theory and cognitive psychology strong prescribe visual learning for teaching students of various age groups During a classroom presentation for a presentation in global warming, the various effects of global warming can be placed as individual icons and all the subsequent effect of each of these effects can be further linked. For example a student, can study the link between global warming and how it causes a rise in volcanoes and earthquakes. It can be used to outline a work and break the topic into headings, subheadings and generating a report. In this way the thinking process of the student can be framed, and the student can be more structured and organized and presenting an analysis or information Before students conduct a critical analysis on any topic, they have to plan how the topic should be written. This could also be useful during an evaluation or exam, where the student does not have time to write a lot but has to plan how to outline the topic into a hierarchy of headings and subheadings. Before any assignment is given to each student in a classroom, the student could be asked to use this tool and come out with an

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Comparing two story( A small good thing & The girl with the pimply Essay

Comparing two story( A small good thing & The girl with the pimply face) - Essay Example The two doctors’ communication with their patients demonstrates how different the two doctors approach their jobs. The central tenet of Williams’ â€Å"The Girl with the Pimply Face† is that doctors are human and are subjected to human emotions. Carver approaches the topic from the other side by displaying the harmful effects of a doctor who is professional, but patronizing in â€Å"A Small, Good Thing†. The primary theme of Williams’ story is the sensitivity of the doctor toward a patient. Williams’ doctor is compassionate with his patients. He speaks with his patient’s family using informal everyday language. This shows the doctor’s humanity, his caring response to a family facing several problems. In this case, he has the desire to help, gives his work freely, and possesses a genuine interest in the family. The doctor does not criticise his patients when they are not able to pay. Even after promises of payment are not realized, the doctor continues to come back. The doctor returns after diagnosing the baby of the family with a bad heart. Even though he knows that the baby’s health will decline, with or without his help, the doctor tries to ease the family’s pain with his visits. The doctor also takes it upon himself to help his infant patient’s sister with her acne and the blemishes on her legs even though he was only responsible for the baby. Williams’ story emphasises the willingness of this doctor to step over professional boundaries and help the girl with advice and money even though she was not his patient. â€Å"The Girl with the Pimply Face† also shows that the doctor’s motives are not entirely unselfish. He is attracted to his patient’s sister. Although the doctor would never compromise his position by ever making inappropriate gestures towards the girl, but his attractions is a strong motive for his interest in the family. Even after finding out that the mother is a

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The global service sector enterprise Assignment

The global service sector enterprise - Assignment Example The first and second world wars resulted from these two forces leading to a collapse of the British Empire. In the meantime the United States managed to firmly establish itself as the leading economic power in the world Other countries especially the United States began catching up with the United Kingdom in terms of technological advancement. Its global influence was also almost at a collapse with most British colonies anticipating independence. The greatest prosperity in Britain came about in the nineteenth century from colonial expansion, industrialization, social reforms and improved transport. By 1914 Britain was no longer the dominant economic power in Europe, though it still had the worlds largest shipbuilding industry but in other areas such as coal, iron, chemicals and light engineering, it was out-performed by Germany (Spartacus Educational, 2012). The Second World War brought about a shift in the influences and statuses of the then major powers in the world. A new error of superpower conflict was ushered in between the United States and the Soviet Union, an expedited decline of the British and French Empires. It also triggered the appearance of new democratic governments in Japan and Germany and beheld the emergence of communist China (Foster, 1). The two world wars led to a breakup of the British Empire, this changed the position of the United Kingdom economy from top as other countries began advancing technologically and the nation has not been able to recover its position as the highest economic power worldwide. The UK economy is the fifth largest country economy in the world by real or nominal GDP, and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity. In 2010, the United Kingdom was rated the sixth largest economy in the world with a Gross Domestic Product of 2.172 trillion United States dollars which was 2.982 percent of the entire world Gross Domestic Product. Being a member of the European Union and part of a single market,

What Is Electrical Engineering Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What Is Electrical Engineering - Research Paper Example Electrical engineers are continuously putting their efforts to improve communication between people by designing easy to use communication technologies, such as, cell phones and notebooks. Electrical engineering not only facilitates long distance communication but also serves the world in many other areas related to technology. Therefore, we can say that electrical engineering is one of the major fields of engineering which is playing a considerable role in technological progress all over the world. What Do Electrical Engineers Do? In the present world, electrical engineers are putting their efforts in solving electricity shortage problems by identifying and designing new electricity generating systems. â€Å"Electrical engineering mainly deals with the generation and distribution of power and maintenance of large power systems† (Dhulipala). Some of the major fields related to renewable energy systems in which electrical engineers have really shown their potential, knowledge, and skills include generation of hydropower energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy.Electrical engineers design new electronics, which they also test for quality and reliability. â€Å"The engineer is often responsible for overseeing the installation of the product to ensure it is installed properly and safely† (Partington). ... Electrical engineers mainly deal with the production of electricity by designing circuits. â€Å"An electrical engineer has many potential job functions but most work on designing products that are powered by or produce electricity† (Partington). â€Å"One of the tasks of an electrical engineer would be to develop electrical system products for household uses or for business uses† (Shipway). Electrical engineers design different electricity-based products, which serve people as well as countries. Electric products, such as, televisions, radios, computer systems, mobile phones, laptops, audio and video systems all involve the input of electrical engineers. Let us now get an overview of some of the major technological developments, which could have been impossible without input of the efforts electrical engineers. Electric Cars Electric car is one of the major developments related to the field of electrical engineering. An electric car is a vehicle that makes use of batte ries and electric motors instead of gasoline engines. The batteries are rechargeable and control the main parts of the cars. Some of the most considerable features of electric cars include more reliability, convenience, less noise, up to 500 hundred percent more efficiency as compared to internal combustion engines, regenerative breaking system, and no emission production. There is no emission of fuels from electric cars because they do not use gas for any purpose. Compared to the internal combustion engines, electric cars provide up to three times more stored energy to the wheels. It is due to these benefits that today electric cars are becoming more and more popular in

Friday, August 23, 2019

Public Relations Consultancies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Public Relations Consultancies - Essay Example This report discusses the Gulf Region PR consultancy. With this regard, it focuses on Bahrain as a country. Regarding the PR Consultancy, five major areas/issues are considered; Self-Regulation of businesses in the execution of their mandate within the economy and society, increased competition from Global Agencies, Corporate social responsibility, Social Media, as well as Communications (Golob, 2006). These issues are critical because they affect businesses and corporations significantly. Increased competition puts pressure to corporations, social media could influence the corporation’s public image, while self regulation is based on the existing regulations from both the government and local authorities. At any given time, the consultancy need to be socially responsible and it should maintain a good communication system (Golob, 2006). Different theorists arguing these issues are incorporated. Typically, the practitioners are found to agree or disagree with some of the theori sts incorporated in the discussion. For convenience whereby if the organization has a number of offices, then consultancy can be able to deliver services that are centrally based for functions that need be organized such as press launches, conferences and receptions. Histories and textbooks on public relations mark both the PR consultancy as well as the subsequent developments of the sector. Research and theorists in public relations have ignored both consultants and the consultancy bit of the sector despite being distinct and meaningful. This aspect has been exemplified roles through research. The long-established research stream in PR consultancy literature has offered some significant engagement with the work of practitioners. Mostly, two roles are theorized in public relations (Tharp and Jeong, 2001). The roles include managers’ roles and technician roles. In

Thursday, August 22, 2019

ICT Report 3C Essay Example for Free

ICT Report 3C Essay The impact if ICT on a person with special / particular needs. For this report I have researched Yukomi Lee Chong. Yukomi Lee Chong is the personal assistant for the director of education in Brent council. Two years ago he had a stroke which had a huge impact on his life as he had to take some time of work. The stroke resulted in a loss of control with his fingers and a slight loss of control in his wrist. The effects of this was bad and meant that he couldnt actually clench his fingers together could move his hand about. Not only did this have a huge impact on his on his work but it also had a huge impact on his home and social life. When Yukomi Lee Chong first became disabled it took him a while to get used to ways of coping with this. The work he did at the council required him to use a computer very often in typing up letters minutes for meting and also I take minutes during the meeting after his stroke his employer and himself had to work out ways of performing his duties so that he could continue with his work as effectively as possible. Unfortunately the stroke left him with little control over my right hand and because he was right handed he had to learn to use my left hand for simple thing like opening doors or switching on, lights. Another main problem his disability causes was when he had to use the telephone and especially difficult to use mobile phones this meant that he had to learn to use his left hand much more effectively. His personal life involves the use of the computer to chat to friends abroad and to join in on chat room s about things hes interested in like computers and politics. He generally stays in touch with my friends using the mobile phone and also by using email so they can arrange night out. Despite having a stoke he still has a very active role in the family. Trackball A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball housed in a socket containing sensors to detect rotation of the ball about two axes similar to an upside-down mouse, but with a bigger ball sticking out more. The user rolls the ball with their thumb, fingers, or the palm of their hand to move a cursor. Tracker balls are commonly used with disabled people but are also used on CAD workstations. Some clip onto the side of the keyboard and have integral buttons which have the same function as mouse buttons. Trackballs are sometimes seen on computerised special-purpose workstations, such in an air-traffic control room. Military mobile anti-aircraft radars and submarine also use trackballs. The advantages of tracker balls are that: Ball movement depends entirely on the thumb. Therefore the user has no stress or constraint on movement of the rest of their hand, arms, or shoulder. The thumb provides excellent control over the ball and this is entirely independent from the action of the fingers which control the switches. Ball movement is sensed optically so dust does not upset movement detection. After perhaps a lot of use (a month or two of my several hours a day computer use), it is necessary to pull the ball out and use a cotton-bud to remove dust which collects around the three support spheres. You will know to do this when the ball does not move perfectly freely, as it should. The right hand rests naturally on the device. There is no need for a mouse mat or desk room for mouse movement so less desk space is required. There is no need for a flat surface. If used with a laptop, you could rest it on your knee. The disadvantages of trackball: The trackball costs significantly more than a mouse. A mouse may be better for drawing actions in a graphic program. The right hand must be used. Trackballs have had some limited use in computer and video games, particularly early arcade games. Console trackballs, meanwhile, are fairly uncommon. His work at the council requires me to use a computer very often in typing up letters minutes for meting and also he also takes minutes during the meeting after his stroke he had to work out ways of performing his roles and his employer particularly had to work out ways of performing my duties so that he could continue with my work as effectively as possible. This is why he has a tracker ball to allow him to continue with work efficiently without the tracker ball he would suffer lots as it is very hard to use a normal mouse for some one with a mobility problem. I had an interview with the occupational health adviser which was very help full in advising of various technologies which could help me to continue my work social and personal life as best as possible one of the technologies she introduced me to was the tracker ball mouse this mouse way very use to me in allowing me to control the devises and to control the mouse around the screen it was called the able track mouse and it also has to external hand switches because I cant actually use the buttons on the tracker ball mouse I use the external hand switches to do left hand and right hand clicks which is very useful to me my employer bought this for me so I can continue my work and I have now bought one at home so I can use the computer at home in the same away. The able track mouse has been amazing in allowing me to control the computer its not to sensitive so that any wild movements dont move the mouse to much the only problem is that maybe I have to move my wrist quite far to click on the buttons on the left and right of the mouse and it would be nice to be able to maybe press down on the tracker ball to have a left hand click that would be quite useful but apart from that it really is very helpful in allowing me to navigate through the computer and I can use it just like a normal mouse in every way. I need to keep in touch with my family abroad using msn instant messenger and email without the tracer ball mouse I wouldnt be able to use the computer to access the software a normal mouse would be to difficult for me to use and I would not be able to hold it properly and I would be able to click on the buttons and it has been a life saver. I have a sister in Jamaica who I try and contact as often as possible and again the internet allows me to do this effectively without having to use effective telephone calls. I like many people that feel the need to go out on Friday night and I usually arrange this using instant messenger or emails as I can email lots of people at the same time or group of friend that meet on a Friday night and we can line up on a white brooder note when I use ICT outside of work and home I do get upset about the lack of access to mice that are appropriate for me its very rare like in a internet cafi particularly of there to be any devises that are useful to me and even in local libraries I have difficulties. At work I need to produce word documents I need to handle email produce emails receive and transfer forward on emails I need to take minutes at meeting produce agendas and handle a number of spreadsheets and databases to do this I need some form of input devise to control the mouse pointer and I find that the track ball mousse I perfect for this although maybe these is another technology out there that may bee a little quicker for me I dont know. The other day I was very bust I had to produce the minutes for the directors meeting and give them out on the same afternoon and I was very aware that the control over the computer that I have is not as good as it use be maybe before I could have produced this document in half the time using word but now its taking longer because the lesser control I have over the mouse pointer particularly navigating around the window in word dragging and editing text is quite difficult.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Importance of Information System Auditing

Importance of Information System Auditing Evaluation of Effectiveness of Auditing of Information System within Corporate Governance Structure in the UK business organizations. Abstract This dissertation will research and review the conceptual framework of effectiveness of auditing (internal audit) of information system within the Corporate Governance structure, where information technology is deemed a key to system success or failure. The paper will then aim to focus on case study approach on two industry sectors in UK to explore a within correlation within effectiveness of Audit function and Corporate Governance structure through a lens of clear transparent information flow and system by means of technology innovation through accountability. Introduction The overall focus of this dissertation is around the critically analyzing and evaluation of auditing of information system in corporate governance structure with strategic significance of information and technology. Auditing of information system is sometimes referred as IT auditing that in modern language that states flow of information processes throughout the organization that is integral part of strong and affective corporate governance. Information integrity and disclosure is the key to successful governance. Corporate Governance has accomplished developing acknowledgment in recent years in light of financial reporting scandals, for example, Enron, WorldCom and Parmalat, which lessened trust in the freedom and unwavering quality of the auditing profession involved, as well as the accounting profession and financial markets all in all (Ibrahim El-Sayed Ebaid, 2011). Inside this structure of present day business world, the part of an inner control framework is synergist since it is viewed as a source from which center capacities are given or drawn and are in this way changed into upper hands. Be that as it may, the pivotal part of internal auditing for the business accomplishment, there is no such a review examining the collaboration between internal auditing and corporate governance (Karagiorgos et al., 2010). For the above reasons the motivation behind this research is to focus on the evaluation of effectiveness of Auditing of Information System within Corporate Governance Structure in th e UK business organizations. Auditing is one of the fundamental components for the effective working of the business and makes a difference an association to confront the outer world with exact data on its business and issues identified related to accountability. Initially auditing function was essentially concerned with just the money and finance related issues inside the business that is accounts for the business. Evidently, the income created by the organization and the costs related are the major contributing variables for decision making on the tax and shareholder benefits. Close by, the development of data innovation (IT) and the expansion in people in general awareness has assist heightened the requirement for directing a proficient auditing procedure to give accountability to their business exercises. It is also vital that the corporate governance of an organization is fundamental for the advantage of the partners as well as for the financial dependability in the business showcase and in addition the whole country. This research is aimed to display a critical research and evaluation of effectiveness of Auditing of Information System within Corporate Governance Structure in the UK business organizations. The research will toss light on the different perspectives identify with accomplishing adequacy in through evaluating information system as one of the component of corporate administration and basically investigations of the innovation and technology on information transparency. Aim and Objectives The focal point of this thesis will be to analyze the productivity of auditing of information system framework in the corporate administration among the UK business associations. This will be accomplished by the research on the following aim and objectives. To appraise the phenomenon of corporate governance and its effectiveness for an organization both inside and outside to the business. Critically analyse the role of information and development of information system frameworks within the scope of corporate governance. Research Definition The research will be refined and focused utilizing using secondary information resources only. This is mainly due to the fact that a general public opinion on the auditing of information system may be inappropriate and deficient as the business organizations may not disclose their corporates sensitive information apart from that is published in the annual submissions/report due to data protection and privacy (Leung, P.et al 2004).Thus the investigation through case study will be completely subjective in nature (i.e.) the exploration is based upon the journals and published white papers as opposed to utilizing primary information for measuring the analysis. The contextual critical examination will be led upon the vital energy and banking domains of the UK economy. While a basic investigation on HSBC bank Plc will be displayed under the banking area, National Grid Transco, Plc is the organization in question for the Energy segment of the UK. The contextual investigation on these organizations will give critical insight on the utilization information technology and the organizations endeavor to fulfill viability of effectiveness of auditing of information system related outcomes for corporate governance. Corporate governance context There had been much written and researched about corporate governance, IT audit, and Information system in literatures recently, but most research has been done considering one or two variables from different angles, such as Corporate Governance and Auditing, IT audit and Corporate Governance, Information System and Corporate Governance etc. Less been written from information perspective to explore Information System Audit and Corporate Governance viability specifically by use of technology in modern era of corporate world, that is the fundamental aim of this research. Following literature research explain and explore more about the individual concepts that prove essential ingredients to successful stewardship of the business. According toToffel, M.W. (2006), states that investors expression of need for information relevant to companys economical information is not just raw accounting data but interpretation lying within. He further states that asymmetric information and potentially adverse disclosure prompts a question mark to capabilities of corporate governance structure of companies.Baek et al. (2008) argues further that directors consider that they have disclosed full information that is required, yet most experts and financial specialists assert that they ought to try to do as such. Another aspect of delivery of information through the use of information system is e-commerce that is very popular and proved to be effective communication channel without side world, i.e. stakeholders. Yabing et al., 2010 concluded in his study that there are considerable number of organizations which dont utilize their websites to convey significant financial data to the external stakeholders users. A current review that has an example with 30 traded organizations disclosed that a great deal of organizations utilize their website in inappropriate way, particularly to communicate information considering corporate governance that pose a question to the stewardship of organization as a whole. To overcome this weakness and to mitigate potential risk to corporate governance auditing plays vital role by assessing overall information system of the organization. A vital clarification between governance and administration is made by Bird, F. (2001), states that while managers and officials control, create, monitor and execute business objectives on an everyday basis, directors and other board structures manage overall business strategy, culture and course. He further states that Executives manages organizations by morality of the authority commissioned to them by owners of the organization, hence making a strong contrast between the assorted components of corporate governance and management. Auditing Information System In modern IT era, the audit process quality within the organization have become an integral and fundamental part of corporate governance quality and transparency. As respects to this, the nature of information systems auditing has likewise accepted a parallel to that. The inherent feature of information systems auditing, and the abilities fundamental to do such reviews, ideally require all around substantial norms standards that execute particularly to information systems examination scrutiny. The amalgamation of Information Technology audit, arranging and methodology with corporate governance and the key utilization of data frameworks (IS) have been of topical subject to administration management experts and IT scholars for quite a while. The move of accentuation can be connected to changes in availability and cost execution proportions in innovation/technology. It can likewise be identified with subsequent changes in potential applications. The converging of hardware and interchanges innovations, and the more far reaching utilization of databases, systems, and coordinated frameworks requiring long-term audit and planning viewpoints, addit ionally fortified for powerful arrangement from corporate governance perspective in UK. IT Governance Kingsford, R., Dunn, L. furthermore, Cooper, J. (2003) states that Information Technology governance is referred to as a sub-set of corporate governance. It appears to be logical then that the meaning of corporate governance will give a helpful start off to an investigation of the definition and proper utilization of the term IT governance. One domain is the relatively recent focal point on corporate governance and the other is strategic information systems within the organization. Web, P. Pollard, C., Ridley, G. (2006),  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Attempting to Define IT Governance:   Wisdom or Folly? Strong governance has for some time been viewed as urgent for improving the long-term value of stakeholders in the organizational domain. In the new innovation driven information age, strengthen corporate governance is considered exceptional best practice and a key segment of market train. Recent demand from stakeholders, shareholders and others owners of business, for more prominent responsibility from corporate board and audit committees that will probably upgrade the nature of corporate stewardship and in the end prompt to more productive capital markets. However, Sarbanes Oxley report in US and the Cadbury Code in the United Kingdom that requires that audit committees adhere to certain professional guidelines rules (e.g., internal controls risk reporting requirements and disclosures), there are few generally acknowledged standards for good governance within the organization. Role of Information in Information System Audit Corporate Governance Ward, J. Peppard, J. (2002) argued that the information systems in a business enterprise not just incorporates the innovation and technology related items additionally those segments of the business that infect process and create yield from the information like the costs, income and purchases. Moreover, they emphasized that the vital utilization of information to encourage effective decision making by the senior administration of the organization, that certainly build the need to distinguish critical information and in addition keep up transparency of the information to furnish independence and accuracy with quality. Information system has seen vital development in each circle of business with the expansion in the competition and innovation technology (IIA, 2004) Christopher Barnatt (2000) contends that the corporate governance in a business organization despite the fact that grasps the reviewing of the fund and income building up a responsibility, predominantly relies on the information that is underlying the income streams or the cost brought about since the financial related measurement by the organization is construct upon the real information with respect to their everyday business. This further makes it clear that information is not just assumes a critical part in dealing with the review auditing information but also a key part in approving the crucial information that is really used to represent the income inside the organization. The above proclamation obviously clarifies that the data innovation (technology) in stepping stone for the business processes and income apart from just the element of client relationship etc. John Ward (2000) argued that the information system in a business domain with reference to corporate governance of the organization gives the underlying contributing milestone to the accountability of income transparency of the overall business. Furthermore, he poses the fact that the likelihood to give false information to cover any major issues inside the business will at the end may influence the corporate governance of the business. It is evident from the argument above that the innovation technology underlying information processing itself required to be formulated and validated in order to approve privacy and to counteract unapproved access to the data. References: Bird, F. (2001), Good governance: A Philosophical discussion of the responsibilities and practices of organizational governors, Canadian Journal of Administrative Studies, No. December,   298-312 Baek, Y.H., Kim, D., Kim, J.W. (2008) Management Earnings Forecasts and Adverse Selection Cost: Good vs Bad News Forecast, International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, Vol. 16, Issue 1, pp. 62-73. Christopher Barnatt, (2000), Management Strategy and Information Technology, Text and Readings, Thomson Business Press Ibrahim El-Sayed Ebaid, (2011) Corporate governance practices and auditors client acceptance decision: empirical evidence from Egypt, Corporate governance, 11(2), pp. 171-183. Institute of Internal Auditors UK, (2004), IT Audit, UK John Ward and Joe Peppard, (2002), Strategic Planning and information Systems, 3rd edition, John Wiley and Sons Karagiorgos, T., Drogalas, G., Tampakoudis, I. and Gotzamanis, Ά¢. (2010) Internal Auditing as an effective tool For Corporate Governance, Journal of Business Mgt, 2(1), International Science Press. Kingsford, R., Dunn, L. and Cooper, J. (2003), Information Systems, Information Technology Governance and Organizational Culture, in 14th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Perth, Australia. Leung, P., Cooper, B.J. and Robertson, P. (2004) The role of Internal Audit in Corporate Governance and Management, RMIT Publishing, Melbourne. Toffel, M.W. (2006) Resolving Information Asymmetries in Markets: The Role of Certified Management Programs, Working paper, Division of Research, Harvard Business School, Vol. 7. Web, P., Ridley, G., Pollard, C. (2006), Attempting to Define Information Technology Governance:   Wisdom or Folly? 39th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2006, Australia Yabing J, Viju R. and Wullianallur R. (2009), Web-Based Corporate Governance Information Disclosure: An Empirical Investigation Volume 22, Issue 2. 19 pages

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

All About My Mother, 1999 | Analysis

All About My Mother, 1999 | Analysis This is essay will attempt to examine the film All About My Mother using different interpretations and theories about gender roles in society to create a view of Almadovars work. I shall explore Almadovars work in terms of his difficulty to show female identification and how he uses social interactions as a short cut to portraying women and men as one. The film was released in 1999 at a time when homosexuality was still politically oppressed especially in relation to gay marriage. Almadovar uses his film to show a more politically accepted view towards homosexuality between both men and women in a radical way than at the time of release were accepted. As Stephen Maddison suggests Almadovar is believed and been labelled as a Womens director in as much as he, as well as others (typically Tennessee Williams), signify a standard for the identification of women and/or homosexuality. All About My Mother, predominately uses scenes from Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire and it can instantly be seen that this is a benchmark for Almadovars concerns in relation to the characters and their backgrounds, especially that of the films female protagonist, Manuela. We also repeatedly see the same scene from Streetcar which is never the less done on purpose. The scene is that of the end of the play where Stella supposedly leaves her husband, Stanley. The director obviously wanted us to see this scene for what it was as he shows this scene in relation to women and their strength. The fact that this scene is shown repeatedly throughout the film (Manuela and her son watch it together and we see the scene and again after he dies) shows us how varied productions of the same play have changed Williams ending, most notably from the original where Stella is left sobbing on a step while Stanley kneels beside her and puts his hand across her blouse therefore regaining hi s control over her. In Almadovars film however, Stella leaves stage right just after calling Stanley a bastard. In Almadovars case, he is trying to show how heterosexuality seems insufferable today as it appeared in Williams play. It also denotes that women have choices in life and are not controlled by men. As Mulvey suggests in Performance analysis with the relation of women to men women are [simultaneously] looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness. All about my mother seems to take this assumption and turn it on its head and throughout the entire film there seems to be this allure towards creating a performance that is different from the way established performances are held. Mulvey goes on to explain that Budd Boetticher says What counts is what the heroine provokes, or rather what she represents. She is the one, or rather the love or fear she inspires in the hero, or else the concern feels for her, who makes him act the way he does. In herself the women has not the slightest importance. Almadovar uses this as a reason to show the opposite of such belief. It becomes quite clear that in All about my mother the focus is concentrated on the relationships that Manuela holds and creates with the other women in the film. She is the heroine; the main objective of the film is for Manuela to find Estabans father which takes the focal point at the start but this is pushed aside quite quickly and the film becomes Manuelas journey through the past. Finding Estabans father resurfaces later on in the film but does not arrange the narrative. Of course theorists including Mulvey suggest that Man is the bearer of the look of the spectator whereas Almadovar shows us in Mother it is the women that controls the look. The focal point of the film if on Women. Almadovars film makes obvious note and reference to the film All about Eve (1950). The actress in the film Margo seems to disprove the idea that she could be seen as just a body and a voice but at the same time we are taken through the story by a man watching from a nearby stall. The man is still the bearer of the look and with this in mind we are in some ways forced to side with the male protagonist in the piece. In Mother, we can see that Manuela does not compare with Mulveys views on the act of the female in cinema. While Mulvey suggests that women are looked at for erotic pleasure which in direct correlation to the leitmotif of erotic spectacle: from pin ups to strip-tease, Manuela becomes a mother, not only to her son but to the other women in the film and shows professional mothering skills. We must not forget that in the film she displays her skill for cooking and nursing and she is also an actress whom can improvise and lie convincingly. Predominantly the film is about mothering. And this is seen throughout the film and coincidentally the film lacks all fathering. The only father in the film is that of Sister Rosas father whom suffering from Alzheimers has become child like, dependant on a women. The consensus that is the men that are the heroes of the film and also the bearer of the look does find its way back into the picture by the end of the film. It is Esteban the second who creates the miracle at the end of the film, when his HIV passed on by sister Rosa, is neutralized. However we must realise that this comes from a child dependant on the other the women in the film and that his HIV miracle is from the utopian of his gender dissident mothers. A key character in this film which we can interpret in many different ways and use to look at Almodovars work as a whole is that of Agrado. She is the lead transvestite character in the film and still bears the male hood of a penis. Almodovar uses Agrado to go against the convention of traditional cinema. Like so many other lead transvestites in film Agrado does not seek camouflage or the suppression of herself. She does not pretend to be anything else but what she is and this is how she gains her affirmation. The topic of Transgender is one which falls under harsh debate and with relation to drag has its place in films. Topics about the body and gender in relation to transgender and drag will help us to reconsider such concepts which, in this film, are overlaid throughout the whole film. Transgender is. as expected, one factor that has led to a reconstruction of views and theories in relation to gender. As Butler says in Gender Trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identify (1990) imitating gender, a drag queen reveals the imitative structure of gender as well as its contingency. It is hard to pick up on or read Almodovars transgender characters especially in relation to Agrado. Butler goes on to cite that of Esther Newton where Newton describes the drag as a double inversion where by the appearance is an illusion. The external appearance is feminine to the eye but the interior is very much masculine but the same can be said vice versa. With this is mind we cannot take Agrado as either a man or a women; in fact her position between the two provides the dramatic escape from the male gaze that is intended. Agrado, however, still portrays the characteristics of a man especially with her speech when the play is cancelled. She is unashamed with her body and explains that her authenticity comes from the production of herself that she has created. Even though Agrado is not your conventional drag cabaret esque, she is a type of gender parody as Butler explains. Agr ado becomes this parody of the original; that of the normal gender identification. Butler explains that it is a production which, in effect that is, in its effect postures as an imitation. Agrado is merely an imitation of a women and an imitation of a man. We somewhat feel sided with Agrado though with her openness and he disregard for peoples approval. Although this is somewhat because of the comical portrayal given by the actor. However, even though Agrado is somewhat a parody and an imitation, Butler argues still that maybe all gender is just an act. in other ritual social dramas, the action of gender requires a performance that is repeated. which leads her on to This repetition is at once a re-enactment and re-experiencing of a set of meanings already socially established. With this in mind we can take Agrados representation in the film as one for both men and women. The male still receives some of the male gaze as it were but it is mimicked by the act of the drag.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Financial Statements Essay -- Economy, Financial Distress

Financial Statements basically show the historical performance or record of the company at some previous point of time. By the time when financial statements are made public, changes are many economical areas such as market conditions, currency exchange rate and inflations can change the values of assets and liabilities. In this case there often exist discrepancies between book value of assets and their market values. In above case there might be companies that are healthy and many go through period of financial distress. In particular is the threat of not being able to meet debt obligations. The first Indication of financial distress is when firm does not have enough liquid assets (short-term assets) to cover (pay for) current liabilities (short-term liabilities) when this happen than firm ability to covering long-term liabilities is reduced resulting in creditors taking on more risk than the investment of loaning money to the firm is worth. When company is facing financial distress, book value of company liabilities can become worth more than the market value of the same liabilities. If this happen, than firm is in danger of not meeting its obligations to creditors. In this case creditors may not be paid and in worst of financial distressed time, the creditors may receive nothing in interest or principal, if the firm files for bankruptcy. The importance of financial-decision making goals is to increase shareholders’ value and to keep them away from financial distress. The Predicting of financial distress is an early warning signal to keep investors from being loss. It has been more than 70 years, since Ramser & Foster, and Fitzpatrich in 1931-1932, and 44 years, since Beaver (1966) but still they have not found the theory... ...earches this paper extends the previous research work done on financial distress. We have used modified Altman Z Score as a proxy for the financial distress. After including the financially distressed and financially healthy firms in our sample, we have seen the effect of financial distress on corporate cash flows. Prior to this work hardly any paper can be seen which studies the impact of financial distress on corporate cash flows, especially in Asian context. Our work adds to the literature in a sense that it not only identifies the financially distressed firms but also measures the effect of financial distress on operating cash flows of the firms listed on Karachi Stock Exchange. Our work also contributes to the literature in establishing a fact that whether the model of financial distress developed by Altman is relevant in Pakistan’s Corporate Environment. Financial Statements Essay -- Economy, Financial Distress Financial Statements basically show the historical performance or record of the company at some previous point of time. By the time when financial statements are made public, changes are many economical areas such as market conditions, currency exchange rate and inflations can change the values of assets and liabilities. In this case there often exist discrepancies between book value of assets and their market values. In above case there might be companies that are healthy and many go through period of financial distress. In particular is the threat of not being able to meet debt obligations. The first Indication of financial distress is when firm does not have enough liquid assets (short-term assets) to cover (pay for) current liabilities (short-term liabilities) when this happen than firm ability to covering long-term liabilities is reduced resulting in creditors taking on more risk than the investment of loaning money to the firm is worth. When company is facing financial distress, book value of company liabilities can become worth more than the market value of the same liabilities. If this happen, than firm is in danger of not meeting its obligations to creditors. In this case creditors may not be paid and in worst of financial distressed time, the creditors may receive nothing in interest or principal, if the firm files for bankruptcy. The importance of financial-decision making goals is to increase shareholders’ value and to keep them away from financial distress. The Predicting of financial distress is an early warning signal to keep investors from being loss. It has been more than 70 years, since Ramser & Foster, and Fitzpatrich in 1931-1932, and 44 years, since Beaver (1966) but still they have not found the theory... ...earches this paper extends the previous research work done on financial distress. We have used modified Altman Z Score as a proxy for the financial distress. After including the financially distressed and financially healthy firms in our sample, we have seen the effect of financial distress on corporate cash flows. Prior to this work hardly any paper can be seen which studies the impact of financial distress on corporate cash flows, especially in Asian context. Our work adds to the literature in a sense that it not only identifies the financially distressed firms but also measures the effect of financial distress on operating cash flows of the firms listed on Karachi Stock Exchange. Our work also contributes to the literature in establishing a fact that whether the model of financial distress developed by Altman is relevant in Pakistan’s Corporate Environment.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Drugs: How Danagerous Is It? Essay -- essays research papers

Drugs: How Danagerous Is It? Drugs have infiltrated our cities, our towns and our lives. Though a small percentage of people use drugs, they do attempt to spread their plague among others. But, how dangerous are these mind suppressors? Do they kill like the statistics show, or is it a coverup to stop people from having a good time? Even in Franklin County, there are drugs. How bad is the problem? It is worse then most people think, but what can we do about it? Can we do anything about it? Marijuana is the drug of choice among most addicts. It is provided cheap and is easily available. Overdosing it on this drug is not possible, or at least dying of an overdose, thus making it seem safe. The high is described as a rush of calmness and relaxation. People under the influence feel relaxed and as if their problems are gone. The most common method of doing this drug is smoking it. The leafy plant is dried and smoked in a joint, or a rolled cigarette with a paper mouth piece. It can also be smoked in a bong, or pipe. Another method is eating the leaves of the plant. They must be cooked in some sort of fat. Marijuana is fat soluble, and for the reason, must be cooked in butter, lard, milk, or other substance. A new method is being tested. It includes "baking" the marijuana under a flame without burning it. It is nearly the same as smoking it, but there is no smoke, which may limit the chance of lung cancer. Yet is this drug safe? No. The short term effects, besides the calmness are the following: temporary memory loss, rapid heart beat, and dizziness. The long term effects include the following: Lung cancer, heart problems, and immune system disorders. The equivalent of one joint is four cigarettes, or ten seconds of car exhaust. No one sees the dangers of this drug, and they usually do not care about them, making it even more dangerous. LSD, or acid, is a synthetic drug that was originally found on the skin of a mushroom. This is considered a psychedelic drug. It is very cheap, usually $4 - $5 a trip. A trip usually consists of 500-600 "mics" of acid. It can be made from morning glory, wood petroleum and other chemicals. The high is very interesting. It is described as non-real. It brings reality and imagination together in a utopia of relaxation. This may sound good, but people tripping on acid do not realized what they are doing and could j... .... This drug is by far the most dangerous of the popular drugs. They often link it to violence and gangs. The drug problem in Franklin County isn't as large as in cities, but is existent. People use drugs, mainly because of peer pressure. Most people would not agree with this, but it is true. Ignorance is a major player in the drug problem. People don't realize HOW dangerous it is. If all people understood the information in this report, the problem could go decrease. It was stated that if marijuana was legalized, the drug problem would cease. This does have some truth to it, but most people say that marijuana leads to other drugs, but studies show that approximately 5% of people who try marijuana try other drugs. Marijuana does not lead to other drugs. However, this does not nullify the fact that marijuana kills people. It does it with the same potency of cigarettes. This is due to the fact that people do not smoke 40 joints a day, like some cigarette smokers, they smoke about two joints a week. But, there is not excuse for other "hard drugs" like LSD, heroin and cocaine. People need to learn what they are doing to themselves; that is the key to solving the drug problem.

The Inside Perspective Of An Outsider Essay -- China Anthropology Stud

The Inside Perspective Of An Outsider I read everything I could find. I spoke with natives who were visiting the United States. I studied the language diligently. I scrutinized pictures, noting each detail. Nothing prepared me for that first long walk along a Beijing street. I smelled for the first time, the smells that were to become a familiar component of my three-month stay in The People's Republic of China. I made eye contact with people who had formerly just been captured still-lifes on a reference book's glossy page. I attempted to speak my broken Chinese with people who did not care that my book at home had taught me the words for "ambassador" and "diplomat." I took my first tentative step towards cultural understanding. The China surrounding me collided with the China I ignorantly thought I had prepared myself for. I. Anthropology Allyn Maclean Stearman graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1964 with a degree in Spanish. In conjunction with her foreign language major, she spent her junior year studying abroad. Her travels in Columbia certainly influenced her decision to join the Peace Corps immediately following commencement. Peace Corps placed her in Bolivia where she ended up staying for four years. Her community development work in Bolivia not only made her fall in love with the Bolivian Amazon, but also inspired in her that first recognized interest in the study of anthropology. According to James P. Spradley, the goal of anthropology is "to describe and explain the regularities and variations in social behavior" (p.10). John H. Bodley (1997) takes the purpose of anthropology one step further. He makes the claim that the acquisition of some basic anthropological tools will prep... ...etite. The long periods of loneliness and alienation alerted me to the daily struggles of an outsider attempting to be an insider. Works Cited: Bodley, J. H. (1997). Cultural Anthropology: Tribes, States, and the Global System. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company. Grindal, B. & Salamona, F. (1995). Bridges to Humanity: Narratives on Anthropology and Friendship. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. Spradley, J. P. (1979). The Ethnographic Interview. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Spradley, J. P. & McCurdy, D. W. (1972). The Cultural Experience: Ethnography in Complex Society. Kingsport, TN: Kingsport Press. Stearman, A. M. (1989). Yuqui: Forest Nomads in a Changing World. Chicago, IL: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. Stearman, A. M. (n.d.) "Fighting the Odds for Cultural Survival: The Story of a Yuqui Development Project".

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Cinema Paradiso Analytical Paper

These also gave him hope in real life. But, movies were more detrimental to Toto. It made him blind to what reality is. He had less focus on life because of the movies. Movies became blurred between reality and fantasy. One example was when his mother told him his father died. It is expected when a loved one dies, people mourn. However, Toto even smiled when he saw a particular film poster. 2. The rusty anchors by the seashore symbolized Tot's views on life and love that were greatly influenced by films, and his loyalty and commitment to films.He was severely attached to his love or Elena, being and his village life, even when clearly there were a lot of other opportunities to pursue his passion. Alfred tried to explain that like the deep blue sea beyond there is a bigger world for Toto to explore, a world which will develop his passion and talents fully, and reach his potential. The unwinding yarn that was knitted by Salvatore mom symbolized Tot's life unwinding itself as he was bac k where he came from. It hinted that he came back to search himself for unsettled questions.He looked back to his life that was once a dream. Finally, fortunately he got answers and remembered where e came from. The demolition of Cinema Paradise symbolized a new beginning for the townspeople of Canonical, and new advancement in technology which was the television. Let symbolized the destruction of the old way of living of the Canonical community. Because this structure served as the heart of the tofu wherein people gathered and bonded with each other, the demolition symbolized the end of Alfalfa's life and the increased distance among the townspeople like Tot's life.But, even though the building was destroyed, the townspeople gathered one last time to mourn, heirs and relive the memories of Cinema Paradise. Their tradition may be lost, but it has opened new opportunities to build a new tradition. 3. Think his act of breaking up Salvatore and Elena was wrong though he was filled with good intentions. He thought this was the right thing to do for Toto to have a good life. With this act, it seemed like he truly cared for Tot's future, like a father would care for his children. But, he did not give Toto to freely decide for his destiny He forced him to choose only one option.Their relationship was not even hurting anyone. If he purely and truly loved Toto, he would have guided him better, let him learn, grow, decide for himself and with the risk of mistakes. Even though what he did was wrong, somehow viewers can sympathize to Alfalfa's good intentions and as to why he did this: he lived a life of regret because he did not have the good life he aspired for. Yet, I think he was a possessive selfish father that caused more harm than good to Toto. 4. I think the scene where teary-eyed Salvatore was watching the montage of kissing scenes gave us a look at his relationship with Alfred and Elena.Movies were an essential part of his life. The kissing scenes in movies were censored so it led him to be fascinated and curious. When he finally watched the kissing scenes, it made him wistful, happy, and teary-eyed because he felt Alfalfa's love for Toto, and his overwhelming praise to Tot's achievements. Let served as a gift, a prize and a reward to Toto. Also, the scene interpreted the ephemeral passionate and glorious past and unfortunate future with Elena. Elena was his one and only true love. It stirred up his emotions and his passionate memories of youth and love with Elena.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Care Plan Essay

Impaired Comfort related to sickle cell anemia as evidenced by acute vaso-occlusive crisis. The patient’s pain should take precedence as the nursing diagnosis, because it is in all-encompassing factor that affects the client’s ability to function within the other areas of Maslow’s hierarchy of physiological needs, such as breathing and sleeping. The pain from the vaso-occlusion makes it difficult for the client to become comfortable enough to rest in addition to other factors that affect sleep patterns. The pain caused by the client’s chest pain also makes it difficult to for her to take deep, adequate breathes and to assess her lung sounds. 2. Ineffective Breathing Pattern related to acute chest syndrome secondary to sickle cell anemia as evidenced by alterations in depth of breathing. Breathing should be prioritized as the secondary nursing diagnosis, because the patient’s sickle cell anemia is presenting her with diminished lung sounds in the lower right lung. Since the primary nursing diagnosis is associated with vaso-occlusion, the client is not getting proper oxygenation to parts of their body, and interventions may include administering analgesics to treat the discomfort, of which an adverse effect may include an altered breathing pattern, it is especially important to pay attention to and assess respiratory functioning in order to treat the effects of smoking and administration of analgesics on respiratory function and assure adequate oxygenation. 3. Disturbed Sleep Pattern related to excessive noise as evidenced by reports of being awakened all night. Disturbed sleep pattern should be prioritized third, because lack of adequate rest can cause fatigue, further discomfort, and decreased ability to function and perform ADL’s which is important to a client’s self-esteem and independence. Nursing Care Plan Nursing Diagnosis: Acute Pain related to vaso-occlusive crisis secondary to sickle cell anemia as manifested by grimacing and verbalization of pain Outcome/Short Term Patient Centered GoalsPlanning/Interventions ImplementationRationale for interventionsEvaluation Short-Term Desired Outcomes The client will â€Å"perform appropriate interventions, with or without significant others, to improve and/or maintain acceptable comfort level,† a 5 or less on a 0-10 pain scale, by the end of the day (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). Long-Term Desired Outcomes The client will â€Å"identify strategies, with or without significant others, to improve and/or maintain comfort level† by the time of discharge (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). 1. â€Å"Assess pain intensity level in a client† every hour utilizing a 0-10 pain scale (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). 2. Describe the adverse effects of unrelieved pain† every hour along with each pain assessment until patient verbalizes understanding (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). Teach the client about prescribed medications (oxycodone, for pain), such as how to use it, how often to take it, how much at once, and the desired and adverse effects of it. 4. â€Å"Ask the client to report side effects, such as nausea and pruritus, and to describe appetite, bowel elimination, and ability to rest and sleep† by performing an interview every hour while assessing pain level (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). 1. The first step in pain assessment is to determine if the client can provide self-report† (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). 2. â€Å"Ineffective management of acute pain has the potential for†¦neuronal remodelin, an impact on immune function, and long-lasting physiological, psychological, and emotional distress†¦ † (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). 3. â€Å"Instruct the client and family on prescribed medications and therapies that improve comfort† (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). 4. â€Å"Constipation is one of the most common side effects of opioid therapy a nd can become a significant problem in pain management† (Ackley & Ladwig, 2013). Short-Term Desired Outcomes The client is able to properly utilize the prescribed oxycodone in their therapy to achieve a comfort level of 5 by the end of the day. Verbalizing an understanding of adverse effects of unrelieved pain helped patient understand the importance of reporting an accurate pain score whenever experiencing discomfort. Goal Met. Nursing interventions for this goal were effective to help the patient achieve a more comfortable state. Long-Term Desired Outcomes The client is able to identify and report the side effects of the oxycodone, so that they can report any nausea, constipation, or abnormal sleep patterns to a nurse or physician. Goal met.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Dubai Crisis

http://hubpages. com/hub/FINANCIAL-CRISIS-IN-DUBAI-REASINS-AND-EFFECTS FINANCIAL CRISIS IN DUBAI-REASONS AND EFFECTS Dubai-economic position That is Dubai-sky piercing towers, rotating buildings, spectacular architectural designs,flow of petro-dollers,broad and clean road notworks, etc,etc. Businessmen, investers, and lusury-seekers, used to visit Dubai with all zeal. Some weeks ago, Dubai had issued to international investers, bonds worth $1. 9trillion,whiched sent the message that its economic position is unshakable! But now that foundation has shaken! inability to rapay loan instalments All these indicate that Dubai's financial foundation is †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ SHAKING! Reasons Dubai, unlike other six emirates of UAE is not a country rich with oil resources. This city state is purely a business city wholly depending upon tourism and other businesses. Dubai World, in a haste to attract world enterprenuers started spending more and more on building fine roads, star hotels,etc. Foreign institutional investers also invested much here, especially during the last four years. But, for some reason, may be due to economic crisis mainly, FIIs didnot turn to Dubai for investment.. AS a result, real-estate businessin Dubai suddenly collapsed. This made an impact on other businesses also. Effects Dubai world, has business tie-ups in different countries including India. Thes projects, may be delayed( resulting in cost increase), or dropped, or prolonged. Unemployment problem may arise in Dubai. Enterprises may have to retrench a portion of their employees.! 0 lakh Indians are working in Dubai and other UAE countries. Foreign Institutional investers, who have business ties with Dubai World, may face loss. 70 financial institutions have lent credits to Dubai world. Banks in Duabi may face crisis. When the world is recovering from last year's economic recession, this may push it back to same position. Ray of hope. Inspite of all these, experts hope that it is possible to recover. It comes out of past experience. Dubai had faced similar economic crisis in 1999. Then Abudhabhi, another emirette in UAE, had helped Dubai by lending a loan of $1,00,000. Abudhabhi is a financially stable country.. It can help. But the quantum of need this time is muchmore than it was in 1999. Just on 29th,November,Abudhabhi has announced that it would concider the financing aspect,item wise, taking each main transaction on merits. It has also clarified,it is not going to take full responsibility of all loans. †¢ Top ten financial institutions of the world By greater optimism and assurances by America, major part of the world succumbed to globalization and WTC agreements. American companies, for their profit, encouraged the buying habits of people in the globe,†¦ †¢ Finance and gold stock The economic powers in the world were amazed last week when India purchased 200 tonnes of gold from International monetary fund(IMF). This purchase needed an investment of Rs. 35,000 crores. India also announced†¦ ABU DHABI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) — The financial crisis sweeping the world that emerged from Wall Street has taken its toll on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), sending the Gulf oil producing country's economy into an uncertain path. In the first half of 2008, the world saw a steady rise in oil prices, which climbed to a record high of 147. 27 U. S. dollars a barrel on July 11. However, the soaring oil prices did not get a firm footing since then, with the supply and demand factors remained in a balance, as top officials of the oil cartel Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had said repeatedly. After the speculative factors gave way to the fundamentals in the market, oil prices began a journey of correction, declining below 60 dollars a barrel, which represented a drop of more than 60 percent compared with the peak in July. The decline of oil prices was no good news for the UAE, for the oil sector accounted for about 35. 9 percent of the country's GDP in 2007. Local newspaper Gulf News estimated in July that the oil revenue of Abu Dhabi whose production accounts for nearly 94 percent of the UAE's crude oil output, would reach 100 billion dollars if the price remained on high level. But the figure seems impossible now. In addition to oil prices, the UAE is facing a reverse in its property market which has been booming since the government allowed foreign investors to buy property on a freehold basis in 2002. A report released by Morgan Stanley in August predicted a decline of 10 percent by 2010 in the property market of Dubai, the UAE's commercial and financial hub. But the correction of prices in the UAE's property market came earlier than Morgan Stanley predicted. In November, HSBC said in are port that property prices fell in October by four percent in Dubai and five percent in Abu Dhabi, which is the first ever since2002 and may be a turning point of the six-year bull market. In the stock markets, the UAE has been suffering a free fall this year, a similar experience that some emerging markets had during the same period. On Nov. 16, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) index closed at 1,981. 4 points, falling by 68. 51 percent from the year's peak of 6,291. 87 points on Jan. 15 with a loss of 4. 67 billion dirhams (1. 27billion dollars) in market value. On the same day, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) also fell to its lowest point this year, with its general index hitting2,755. 62, down 46. 48 percent from 5,148. 49 points on June 11 with a loss of 1. 52 billion dirhams. BANKS' TIGHTENING PURSE STRINGS The UAE Central Bank held a meeting with representatives from all banks operating in the country on Sept. 8, three days after the U. S. investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, to assess the status of the UAE banking system. A statement released by the Central Bank after the meeting said that the UAE banks had no exposure to Lehman Brothers and there was no systemic risk in the UAE. But the statement also revealed that the country's banking system was also facing a lack of liquidity by saying that â€Å"various suggestions for boosting liquidity of banks were also discussed. † On Sept. 2, the Central Bank announced the establishment of an emergency lending facility worth 50 billion dirhams for banks operating in the country, marking the first move to inject liquidity since the Wall Street meltdown emerged. After that, the UAE government took more steps to shore up the banking system. The Central Bank announced on Oct. 8 a two-percentage-point cut in its lending rate to 3 percent in a bid to boost liquidity of local banks. It also lowered the rate on its repurchase of certificate of deposit (REPO) from 2 percent to 1. percent with effect from Oct. 8. In mid-October, the UAE cabinet said that it decided to take preventive measures to support the banking system. Under the measures, the government will provide a three-year guarantee to deposits and savings in all national banks and foreign banks with â€Å"significant operations† in the country. In addition, the government will also guarantee all inter-bank lending operations between banks operating in the country and inject sufficient liquidity in the financial system if and when necessary. The government also decided to inject another 70 billion dirhams into the banking system. Despite the measures taken by the government, the lack of liquidity has made banks operating in the UAE tighten their purse strings. HSBC raised its minimum salary requirement for a personal loan from 5,000 dirhams to 10,000 dirhams in October and doubled it again in November to 20,000 dirhams. Another major foreign bank operating in the UAE Lloyds TSB decided in November to stop lending to customers who wanted to buy apartments. In the meantime, the bank lowered its loan to value ratio on villas to 50 percent from 80 percent in October. The UAE's national banks, including the country's largest bank Emirates NBD, were also reportedly tightening their credit. UNCERTAIN PROSPECT OF MEGA PROJECTS In the past few years, the UAE has witnessed a boom in its property market, with prices quadrupled. The property sector became an important contributor to the country's efforts to diversify its economy so as to reduce the dependence on the oil industry. Property developers in the UAE launched a series of iconic projects during the boom, including the three Palm Islands and Burj Dubai, the highest architecture to date in the world. The success of those iconic projects in promoting themselves and their developers and the continuous upturn in the property market have encouraged developers float more mega projects. In October, Nakheel, the developer of the Palm Islands, announced a new project named â€Å"Nakheel Harbor & Tower. † The project, which will cover an area of more than 270 hectares and accommodate over 55,000 people, will include a tower more than 1,000 meters high. If completed, the Nakheel Tower will take Burj Dubai's title of the world's highest building, whose current height stands at 688 meters. According to Nakheel, the Nakheel Harbor & Tower will take more than 10 years to complete. Now, with the credit squeeze and a possible bear market for the property sector, the project's fate seems uncertain. In fact, Nakheel said in mid-November that it will reassess its â€Å"immediate business objectives to accommodate the current economic climate. †¦ The next few months will see a scaling back of activity around some of our projects. â€Å"