Saturday, November 30, 2019

The United States

Introduction The cold war emerges as significantly distinctive in U.S. relations with Latin America because ideological considerations acquired a primacy over U.S. policy in the region that they had lacked in earlier moments. From the late 1940s until about 1960, ideology was just one of the important factors in the design of U.S. policy towards Latin America. In its subsequent conduct of the key aspect of its policy towards Latin America, the U.S. government often behaved as if it were under the spell of ideological demons.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The United States-Latin America Relations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since the end of the cold war, U.S. presidents have all placed Latin America at the center of their foreign policies arguing that the region is integral to the role of the U.S. interests (Smith 2). However, the truth of the matter is that the U.S. gestures towards Latin America have been a continuity of its Cold War ideologies in the region (Stokes 2). In order to understand the nature of U.S. relations with Latin America in a better way, it is important to first understand what really caused the Cold War. In his book titled Talons of the Eagle, Peter Smith observes that the Cold War was an ideological struggle and not just a contest between superpowers. To that end, the U.S. was prepared to pay any price and bear any burden to deal with what it perceived to be an evil empire. Actually, most U.S. elites and much of the public believed profoundly in the righteousness of their cause and deeply feared and loathed what they understood as communism. This ideology explains U.S. military intervention, direct and indirect, and other belligerent U.S. actions during the Cold war. Actually, the Cold War as Smith (8) explains did not give birth to the significance of ideological themes either in U.S. foreign policy generally or in U.S. relations with Latin America specifically . Smith says that this was all a part of the Monroe Doctrine, which had sought to quash any attempt by the surrounding powers to â€Å"extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere† thus posing danger to the peace and safety of the U.S (Smith 8). Actually, Smith notes that it was not just their power but also their system, which was essentially different that Monroe sought to keep in check (Smith 9). From these facts, it now becomes easy to see how the U.S. has continued its policies in the Latin region. After the Cold War, Latin American politics quickly became ideological as dictators wrapped themselves in the cloak of anti-communism to be accepted by a Washington, which was at that time more concerned with carrying out its ideologies than promoting democracy.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This conflicted expediency is crystallized in John F. Kennedyâ €™s assessment of the situation of the Dominican Republic in 1961. In trying to access the situation, President Kennedy observed that â€Å"there are three possibilities in descending order of preference: a descent democratic regime, a continuation of the Trujillo regime, or a Castro regime. We ought to aim at the first but we cannot renounce the second until we are sure we can avoid the third† (Smith 142). What this means is that no matter the actions taken by the Dominican State, America was willing to do anything within its power to restore what it believed to be a functional government. Indeed, the range of dynamic interaction between the United States and what Smith would call collaborationist regimes is as broad as between the United States and regimes of resistance. According to Smith (194), President Kennedy approved the Bay of Pigs operation in 1961 even before Castro had declared his revolution to be Socialist and admitted his own Marxism. In fact, Smith is not alone in his claim that the U.S. is continuing its Cold War ideologies in the Latin American region. In her book titled Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America, American author Patrice McSherry argues that the invasion on Condor was an organization of â€Å"paramilitary and parapolice groups operating in the nebulous zone between military command and partial autonomy, creating terror, eliminating democratic rights, and keeping the population fearful and politically inert† (McSherry 243). McSherry’s story compellingly relates how the Latin American paramilitary operations of the mid-to-late-1970s represented a shadowy covert war, significantly aided by U.S. military assistance to fight individuals or groups deemed to be a threat to the United States (McSherry 18). As the global realities around the globe have been changing, America has also changed its mode of operation in dealing with Latin American countries (McSherry 2). In December 1989, P resident Bush ordered a military invasion of Panama to overthrow its government accused of participating in drug trafficking. The ‘restoration’ of democracy to Panama was also cited as a goal of the U.S. invasion. In the years that followed, not much progress was made towards ending Panama’s role in international money laundering-the main role Panama had long had in this international trade.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The United States-Latin America Relations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the U.S. destruction of the Panamanian military did make a direct and powerful contribution to setting a sounder basis for democracy in Panama. The same scenario was replicated in September 1994 when President Clinton ordered the U.S. invasion to occupy Haiti and overthrow its government (Smith 130). Apart from using direct military invasions, America has also been trying other means to ensu re that it keeps the Latin American region under subordination. In his book titled America’s Other War, author Doug Stokes notes the case of Colombia, which is used by the U.S. to carry out its foreign policies in the region. Over the years, Colombia has been receiving financial assistance and military assistance from the U.S. Although this might be a welcome move, the motivation behind it has not been lost to critics like Stoke. Currently, Colombia finds itself in the precipice of civil war entrenched in a model of neoliberal economics and general subordination to the United States. According to Stoke, 3% of the wealthiest Colombians own over 70% of the farming land, while 57% subsist on less than 3% of the same land (129). Stoke notes that the ratio of income between the wealthiest and poorest 10% was 40:1 in 1990 and rose to 80:1 a decade later. In this manner, Stoke (130) concludes that America has succeeded in shelving all political and legal events in Colombia and all t hat the people now think of is the economy. Conclusion U.S. relations with Latin America during the Cold War exhibited important continuities with preceding U.S. policies. The Cold War years proved distinctive, however, because anti-communist ideological objectives overwhelmed other U.S. foreign policy goals towards Latin America in each case when the United States chose to deploy its military or chose to overthrow a Latin American government through some other means. When the ideological fear of communism was absent, the United States did not deploy its military forces but used other covert means to destabilize Latin American governments with a view of ensuring that they have the upper hand in the region, as it is currently the case in Colombia. Indeed, America took the Cold War so seriously such that its gestures towards Latin America are a continuity of its Cold War ideologies in the region. The only difference in these ideologies is that the latter is currently being turned int o constructive ways due to the changing global realities. As McSherry rightly puts it in her book, if the American government is not in the battle front line, then it is behind the scenes with the Latin American military and intelligence forces providing resources, administrative assistance, intelligence and financing.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited McSherry, Patrice. Predatory  States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America. Roman and Littlefield, 2005. 18-243. Print. Smith, Peter. Talons of the Eagle: Latin America, the United States, and the World. Oxford University Press, 2007. 2-194. Print. Stokes, Doug. America’s Other War: Terrorizing Colombia. Zed Books, 2005. 2-130. Print. This essay on The United States-Latin America Relations was written and submitted by user Trystan Bright to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Theres More to Lulu.com Than You Realize

Theres More to Lulu.com Than You Realize Publishing has become a difficult business of late, with self-publishing horror stories and abundant free content discouraging even the most determined of writers. Enter lulu.com, a one-stop shop for writers wanting to take their publishing dreams into their own hands. Lulu offers a wealth of resources for writers, and some of the most useful are not readily apparent from the homepage. This article will whet your appetite with a few of the highlights that this website offers, but there is certainly more of use than what you will read here.AudienceLulu is a very specific writers resource and focuses mainly on the tasks of publishing and marketing completed works, more than how or what to write. Although there is some information available on more general writing skills and topics, this is first and foremost a site about publication, and all of the fun and frustrating aspects of it; from personal ISBN numbers, to spine width calculators for hardcover books (available in the Lulu Self-P ublishing Toolkit). That said, if you are looking to improve your skills as a writer, or bone up on a new genre or style, this may not be the most useful site that you can visit, despite its breadth of topics.Some of you may be asking, what if I dont know whether or not I want to self-publish? Well, there are guides which outline the demographics and pros/cons of different vendors and formats that might help you make that decision. Honestly, I had never considered self-publishing a viable option for writers who want to, to put it bluntly, be paid for their work, but this site makes a compelling case, with alluring profit margins helpfully displayed for each type of product and vending outlet, and an entire section dedicated to selling your work. It is definitely worth a look.This site makes a compelling case, with alluring profit margins helpfully displayed for each type of product and vending outlet, and an entire section dedicated to selling your work. It is definitely worth a loo k.Tried and tested publishers rarely give writers, especially new ones, this much control over content and format, either. With Lulu, you choose what goes into your book, what gets cut, what color the cover is, whether you want a certain image on a dust jacket, and even the always contentious title; all up to you. It is a very well-done, and enticing option that Lulu presents. While I cant attest to how well these methods work in real world sales scenarios, there are a seemingly endless stream of reviews scrolling across a green banner which can; most of them very positive.Lulu Self-Publishing ToolkitThe Lulu Self-Publishing Toolkit provides a wealth of tools and resources for writers looking to end the rejection letter cycle, and get their work out themselves. The thorough nature of the websites creators makes it a user-friendly interface, which even the most inept of computer users among us can navigate with ease. With creation and conversion guides that walk users through a seque ntial, step-by-step process of creating a finished piece, decisions are broken down into manageable bits, which make the process seem simple and fun. Choices such as print versus electronic, paper size, and text/paper color combinations are displayed with straightforward instructions, and amusing graphics. Just reading about it makes you want to click on over, doesnt it?Here are just a few of the immensely helpful resources in the Lulu Self-Publishing Toolkit:TipsInfographicsPublishing GuidesSelf-Publishing ChecklisteBook Conversion GuideCover TemplateThat covers the nitty gritty of producing a book, but what does Lulu offer by way of all the other tasks that go into publishing? So glad that you asked, as the author services section is one of my favorite parts of this website.Publishing Marketing ServicesThe Publishing Marketing Services section of Lulu is just that; a compilation of some of the most useful services that a writer could need. Yes, before you ask, many of these serv ices have fees, which seem reasonable for what is being provided. Just like authors wanting to receive adequate compensation for their work, illustrators, editors, and others have honed their respective crafts in order to provide you with the best service possible, and thus deserve to receive some remuneration. The most impressive service available, in my opinion, is the toll-free phone number, which allows you to talk to an actual human being, who will aid you in choosing the services and providers that are right for your project and budget; invaluable. I should note that this service is available via email, as well, for the more reclusive among us. Among the impressive list of services offered via the user interface, are:Publishing Cover DesignsPersonal ISBN (International Standard Book Number)Color Illustrations; monochrome, tooDevelopmental Editing (one of five editing services offered)Social Media Coach; marketingHollywood Screenplay assistanceHonestly, they had me at personal ISBN; they clearly know writers.Within this web of online service providers, lies the editing services section, and your new best friend, if you are big on ideas, but not the most experienced when it comes to literary format. The Developmental Editing package offers all of the normal editing services that one might commonly expect, like punctuation and grammar, plus book level plot and flow analysis; all in one easy to hire service. Here is an excerpt from the service description:For works of fiction, the editor will analyze the readership and genre to determine whether the content is appropriate. He will then examine essential considerations such as plot, pace, characterization and dialog. For nonfiction titles, the editor will analyze the readership, purpose, and possible uses of the work to determine whether the content is complete and appropriate†¦Once big-picture changes have been made, the second step, a Content Edit, begins; the content editor will check the manuscript f or errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. And third, the manuscript will receive a quality review to ensure the manuscript is editorially sound before it goes into production.Lulu.comOf course, line editing and content editing are available as stand-alone services, as well, for those who only need a second set of eyes in a more limited capacity. However, for the first-time writer, or those branching out to a new genre, the full-service package is an invaluable way to get a thorough, in-depth analysis of their work, with constructive feedback. And instead of having to personally research and vet a variety of editors, you can simply contact the helpful folks at Lulu, who will match your project with the most appropriate editor.For the first-time writer, or those branching out to a new genre, the full-service package is an invaluable way to get a thorough, in-depth analysis of their work, with constructive feedback.Non-writersIn addition to services for authors, Lulu highlights their benefits for Artists, Educators, and Nonprofits on their homepage, showcasing various book types and formats (photo book, calendar, etc.) available, which might better suit these groups. To be fair, these are not additional or separate services being offered, but more a quick reference to which of Lulus extensive services might best suit each type of creator. Still, the option is there, and the ability to specifically format a photo or cooking book might get even experienced authors thoughts going in a new and creative direction.Print eBookThe Create page is where the fun, magical part of self-publishing begins, as clients are first faced with that often difficult, but crucial, question; Print or eBook? This section is the one that I could see becoming a real rabbits hole, with extensive color and font options- not to mention graphics that could keep me happily planning book designs for hours. This section is also one that is empowering to creators and writers, though, with e ach and every decision resting solely in your hands; both a heady and slightly nerve wracking prospect.Should the paper versus pdf dilemma still confuse you, never fear. In addition to guides explaining option outcomes and likely demographics, there is a Knowledge Base page, with articles, questions, and responses from members of the Lulu Community. Fellow writers, illustrators, and creators have contributed useful knowledge and hard-won tips that can help guide you in your quest to make your personal labor of love as perfect as possible.Sum it upLulu.com is truly a remarkable website for authors, and might just be the resource that you are looking for to jumpstart your fledgling publication list, or mix things up with a new genre. Even if you would never considered self-publication, there is a shop area full of works by independent authors that is worth a look- both for research and personal enjoyment purposes- and a wealth of useful information about genres, vendors, and demograph ics that can enhance the industry knowledge base of any author.The publishing world is rapidly changing, and many authors feel overwhelmed by the new realities of Ebooks and downloadable content. Whether you feel perfectly comfortable pounding out Ebooks, or are just dipping your toe into electronic formatting, Lulu can help you to be more successful in your writing career, and we all need that kind of resource.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Tropic of Cancer - Overview and Geography

Tropic of Cancer - Overview and Geography The Tropic of Cancer is a line of latitude circling the Earth at approximately 23.5Â ° north of the equator. It is the northernmost point on Earth where the suns rays can appear directly overhead at local noon. It is also one of the five major degree measures or circles of latitude dividing the Earth (the others are the Tropic of Capricorn, the equator, the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle). The Tropic of Cancer is significant to Earths geography because, in addition to being the northernmost point where the suns rays are directly overhead, it also marks the northern boundary of tropics, which is the region that extends from the equator north to the Tropic of Cancer and south to the Tropic of Capricorn. Some of the Earths largest countries and/or cities are at or near the Tropic of Cancer. For example, the line passes through United States state of Hawaii, portions of Central America, northern Africa, and the Sahara Desert and is near Kolkata, India. It should also be noted that because of the greater amount of land in the Northern Hemisphere, the Tropic of Cancer passes through more cities than the equivalent Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere. Naming of the Tropic of Cancer At the June or summer solstice (around June 21) when the Tropic of Cancer was named, the sun was pointed in the direction of the constellation Cancer, thus giving the new line of latitude the name the Tropic of Cancer. However, because this name was assigned over 2,000 years ago, the sun is no longer in the constellation Cancer. It is instead located in the constellation Taurus today. For most references though, it is easiest to understand the Tropic of Cancer with its latitudinal location of 23.5Â °N. Significance of the Tropic of Cancer In addition to being used to divide the Earth into different parts for navigation and marking the northern boundary of the tropics, the Tropic of Cancer is also significant to the Earths amount of solar insolation and the creation of seasons. Solar insolation is the amount of incoming solar radiation on the Earth. It varies over the Earths surface based on the amount of direct sunlight hitting the equator and tropics and spreads north or south from there. Solar insolation is most at the subsolar point (the point on Earth that is directly beneath the Sun and where the rays hit at 90 degrees to the surface) which migrates annually between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn because of the Earths axial tilt. When the subsolar point is at the Tropic of Cancer, it is during the June solstice and this is when the northern hemisphere receives the most solar insolation. During the June solstice, because the amount of solar insolation is greatest at the Tropic of Cancer, the areas north of the tropic in the northern hemisphere also receive the most solar energy which keeps it warmest and creates summer. In addition, this is also when the areas at latitudes higher than the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of daylight and no darkness. By contrast, the Antarctic Circle receives 24 hours of darkness and lower latitudes have their winter season because of low solar insolation, less solar energy and lower temperatures. Click here to see a simple map showing the location of the Tropic of Cancer. Reference Wikipedia. (13 June 2010). Tropic of Cancer - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropic_of_Cancer

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Soft Drink Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Soft Drink Industry Analysis - Essay Example The important factors which we need to consider are rival competitors, threats to the present players from the new entrants and finally the suppliers and consumers in general as a whole market share competition. The reason we are considering Industry analysis for the soft drink industry is that we can understand the overall landscape of the industry and thus can identify the growing trends, opportunities and possible threats. Whenever we consider the industry, one thing to be noted is that supplier and buyer are powerful entities in the whole process schema. Now that we have realized the need and importance of industry analysis in any industry, let's go further by listing the main features to be included while reasoning the industry analysis. The first step in industry analysis is to define the industry or the sector which will be analyzed. In our case this will be soft drink industry or we can say the market of non alcoholic beverages. The second step in the process is to identify t he key players and competitors in the market and also identify the customer target base. After identifying the players we need to judge the strengths, weakness and other factors. We also need to understand and identify the market trends in the industry. The main purpose of industry analysis is to identify the threats and counter them so as to improve the whole structure of the industryExternal Analysis This is done by using the more successful analysis procedures of SWOT and PEST It is also to be noted that Soft drink industry is affected socio-economic environmental factors firstly the concept of globalization. With the growing use of the internet and other electronic technologies, global communication is rapidly increasing. This is allowing firms to collaborate within the country market and expand into world markets. It has driven competition greatly as companies strive to be first-movers. The second change factor is innovation. In today's globalizing society, being ordinary or plain is not good enough. Differentiation from other rivals has become a norm to make a niche in the market. Thus these all analysis gives us a broader outlook of the whole industry and gives us a perspective of the how the industry is shaping up. We conclude by list out the SWOT and PESTLE Analysis of the whole industry. SWOT Analysis Strengths 1. Competitive Industry among the beverage section 2. Spread around the globe- market share 3. Global Brand of the players Weakness 1. Too many big players. 2. Difficult for small players to make an impact 3. Emergence of Substitute product Opportunities 1. Emerging markets 2. Innovation in products 3. Globalization .Better chances to increase customers Threats 1. Substitute products 2. Alcoholic beverages 3. Stagnant economy in big economic sections PEST Political 1. Stable Political Situation in big share places 2. Administration showing importance to business value Economic 1. Stable and emerging economies in countries like Europe and Asia 2. Large number of Buyers available in countries 3. Prominent presence of giants in economic areas Social 1. Brand value among consumers 2. Competitive industry among all others 3. Maximum in Europe and emerging in Asia Technological 1. Product innovation using technology 2. Usage of modern techniques to produce better quality drinks Internal Analysis (including

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Globalization and Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Globalization and Education - Essay Example The modernization theory finds main effect of globalization on societies which converge as a result of spread of markets and technology. However, complete loss of identity of various societies the world over is highly unlikely. Sociologist Giddens further adds a noteworthy point to the definition of globalization. He states that it fragments a society by giving benefits unevenly; advantages to some strata of society while others remain deprived, thus the effect of globalization can not be seen as generalized change occurring uniformly, a statement that applies well to the current state of Asian nations. The thought of convergence of societies seems somewhat superficial as the main impact of globalization. Guellin (2001) takes Giddens' definition further stating that there is more inequality between countries than it was ten or even hundred years ago while the wage inequality has taken the form of a problem in the highly developed nations also. Levitt (as cited in Guellin, 2001, p252) probably based his studies on consumption of goods across world when he stated that the consumer of the world has become cosmopolitan. But the sociologist Sklair, though accepts some homogenization of culture across nations bu t terms it only a temporary effect on account of similar lifestyles, tastes and desires (as cited in Guellin, 2001, p252). Nevertheless, it is clear from every point of view that Globalization has affected lifestyles and brought people together though the extent and future impact of it may be topics of discussion. The impact of globalization is considerable on education but are we heading for virtual class rooms The article pays attention to four dimensions of globalization and then particularly elaborates the influence of globalization on education around the world. 2.0 Four dimensions of globalization: 2.1 Political dimension: Globalization is often referred in terms of market and a general view perceived is that market has become global while governments remained national. It is not only a contradiction; it also neglects a very important impact of globalization. The governments seek international cooperation since they have problems that can not be solved alone. Generally the global governance is perceived as dominance of multinationals in world market and USA in world politics. Jones (144) refers Hirst & Thompson (1996) who saw in globalization the attainment of century-old ideals of the free-trade liberals and who looked to "a demilitarized world in which business activity is primary and political power has no other tasks than the protection of the world free trading system". Held (397) though feels that autonomy and sovereignty of national governments are changing but these in no way have collapsed in the era of globalization. The changes, however, are manifolds such as: The center of effective power is no longer the national government. It is shared by various forces at national regional and international levels. Secondly, the much political self-determination have crossed the boundaries of nation and states for e. g. environmental issues or human rights

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Comparison Piece Essay Example for Free

Comparison Piece Essay The discussion herein compares two stories which are The Odyssey and Much Ado About Nothing. The comparison shall take a look at one theme that is similar in both stories and will explain how the theme has been brought out in both stories. The theme selected is that Women are Powerful. In both stories, it is very clear that women are powerful. The power that is referred to herein is not physical but rather emotional. The power that women have over men makes them make mistakes some of which turn out to be costly. In Much Ado About Nothing, the main female character Hero seems to be at the center of all the controversy that goes on throughout the story. Claudio who had earned recognition by his army leader Don Pedro in the last couple of battles has his eyes on the daughter of the Governor of Messina, Leonato. Don Pedro, however, offered to woo Hero on behalf of Claudio (Shakespeare, p. 32). One cannot help the great efforts that the men in this story have put for the sake of women. Don John, the bastard brother Don Pedro makes Claudio believe that Don Pedro is in fact wooing Hero form himself and not for Claudio as agreed (Shakespeare, p. 24) In The Odyssey, Odyssey is believed to be dead after he failed to return from war. His wife Penelope has attracted many suitors all of who are interested. They all hope to get a chance to court even if she has made it clear that she does not want to remarry (Parks, p. 28). They are all patient and they are hoping that Penelope is going to change her and consider one of them. When Penelope is asked by the many suitors why she will not give them consideration and yet her husband is already, she argues that she needs to complete funeral arrangements (Lister, p. 14). They still wait even if the funeral arrangements do not seem to come to an end.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Battle for Political Power in The Tempest Essay -- The Tempest Ess

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." -- Abraham Lincoln Shakespeare's "The Tempest" forms a world within itself. Within this world, many topics regarding government, power and colonization are addressed. Shakespeare tackles the discovery of new places and races, the relationship between the colonized and the colonist, old world ideologies on new soil, as well as theories on civilization and government. These aspects at the core reveal a very clear struggle for political power. Prospero's first major monologue creates the foundation of such a theme. In 1.2 lines 30-175 Prospero tell his story recounting the usurpation of the power he had as Duke of Milan, then quickly renews his power on the island. Prospero beings his story with an authoritative tone stating: "Obey and be attentive" (1.2 48). Desiring political power and authority becomes the core from which other themes derive. Power as the Central Theme: Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, so enthralled â€Å"In dignity, and for the liberal arts† (1.2 73), twelve years prior lost his dukedom to his brother Antonio. Antonio, in turn, betrayed Prospero’s trust by forming an alliance with the enemy, the King of Naples Alonso. This treaty gave Alonso â€Å"annual tribute, [to] do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbowed—alas, poor Milan—To most ignoble stooping† (1.2 113-116). Ultimately, Milan gave up its freedom and became subject to Naples. Prospero, whose â€Å"library/ Was dukedom large enough† (1.2 109-110), lost his position as the Duke of Milan and he and his three year old daughter Miranda were sent â€Å"abroad a barque bore†¦to sea† (1.2 144-145). Eventual... ...cance to be defined. Works Cited: Brown, Paul. â€Å"This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.† Political Shakespeare. Dollimore, Jonathan, and Alan Sinfield eds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1985. Cohen, Walter., et al. The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. Frank, Mike. â€Å"Shakespeare’s Existential Comedy.† Essays—Shakespeare: Late Plays. Tobias, Richard eds. Ohio University Press, 1974. Hirst, David. The Tempest. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1984. James, D.G. The Dream of Prospero. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967. Madison, James., et al The Federalist Papers. New York: Penguin Books, 1987. Mannoni, O. Prospero and Caliban: The Psychology of Colonization. Great Britain: Richard Clay and Company, 1956. Traversi, Derek. Shakespeare: The Last Phase. California: Stanford University Press, 1965. The Battle for Political Power in The Tempest Essay -- The Tempest Ess "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." -- Abraham Lincoln Shakespeare's "The Tempest" forms a world within itself. Within this world, many topics regarding government, power and colonization are addressed. Shakespeare tackles the discovery of new places and races, the relationship between the colonized and the colonist, old world ideologies on new soil, as well as theories on civilization and government. These aspects at the core reveal a very clear struggle for political power. Prospero's first major monologue creates the foundation of such a theme. In 1.2 lines 30-175 Prospero tell his story recounting the usurpation of the power he had as Duke of Milan, then quickly renews his power on the island. Prospero beings his story with an authoritative tone stating: "Obey and be attentive" (1.2 48). Desiring political power and authority becomes the core from which other themes derive. Power as the Central Theme: Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, so enthralled â€Å"In dignity, and for the liberal arts† (1.2 73), twelve years prior lost his dukedom to his brother Antonio. Antonio, in turn, betrayed Prospero’s trust by forming an alliance with the enemy, the King of Naples Alonso. This treaty gave Alonso â€Å"annual tribute, [to] do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbowed—alas, poor Milan—To most ignoble stooping† (1.2 113-116). Ultimately, Milan gave up its freedom and became subject to Naples. Prospero, whose â€Å"library/ Was dukedom large enough† (1.2 109-110), lost his position as the Duke of Milan and he and his three year old daughter Miranda were sent â€Å"abroad a barque bore†¦to sea† (1.2 144-145). Eventual... ...cance to be defined. Works Cited: Brown, Paul. â€Å"This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.† Political Shakespeare. Dollimore, Jonathan, and Alan Sinfield eds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1985. Cohen, Walter., et al. The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. Frank, Mike. â€Å"Shakespeare’s Existential Comedy.† Essays—Shakespeare: Late Plays. Tobias, Richard eds. Ohio University Press, 1974. Hirst, David. The Tempest. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1984. James, D.G. The Dream of Prospero. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967. Madison, James., et al The Federalist Papers. New York: Penguin Books, 1987. Mannoni, O. Prospero and Caliban: The Psychology of Colonization. Great Britain: Richard Clay and Company, 1956. Traversi, Derek. Shakespeare: The Last Phase. California: Stanford University Press, 1965.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Invisible Man Satire Essay

Nov 12, 2012 – Invisible Man Satire Many of the characters and places in Invisible Man have satirical names that represent the place or character’s importance †¦ Satirical Intent of Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison by Jessica Davis on †¦ prezi.com/†¦/satirical-intent-of-invisible-man-by-ralph-ellison/‎ Mar 4, 2013 – Presented by: Jessica Davis Rachel Wolf Dylan Hoover Kameron Smith Satirical Intent Greenwood The Golden Day Liberty Paints Dr. A. NOVELS: The Invisible Man – Library library.thinkquest.org/23846/library/novels/theinvis_01_nov.html‎ Aug 31, 1998 – The Invisible Man begins with the narrator recalling his grandfather’s last †¦ This book is written as a satire of the myth of American success. Things Left Unseen — Humour in Invisible Man | Authentically Satirical lamorea.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/things-left-unseen-invisible-man/‎ Mar 29, 2012 – I urge you to listen to this song in the background when reading this post, as the song is very famously listened to by the Narrator in the novel. Modern Day Satire – The Invisible Man – Listen and discover music †¦ www.last.fm/music/Modern+Day+Satire/_/The+Invisible+Man‎ Dec 17, 2009 – Listen to Modern Day Satire – The Invisible Man for free. The Invisible Man appears on the album Astrum Mos Veho Vos Domum. Rock. People †¦ [PDF] Invisible Man Study Guide The Picture Frame The Satire Begins www.olearyweb.com/classes/amlit010/assignments/IMStudyguide(ed).pdf‎ Invisible Man Study Guide. The Picture Frame. Directions: Read the following information before answering the questions. Be prepared to discuss your. SparkNotes: Invisible Man: Analysis of Major Characters www.sparknotes.com †º †¦ †º Literature Study Guides †º Invisible Man‎ Analysis of the major characters in Invisible Man, focusing on their personalities, motivations, relationships, and their roles in the themes of Invisible Man. Tools of Characterization in Invisible Man – Shmoop www.shmoop.com †º Literature †º Invisible Man‎ Shmoop guide to Tools of Characterization in Invisible Man. Tools of Characterization analysis by Ph.D. and Masters students from Stanford, Harvard, and †¦ What kind of ironic devices can be found in Invisible Man by Ralph †¦ answers.yahoo.com †º †¦ †º Arts & Humanities †º Books & Authors‎ Nov 12, 2007 – Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Study Guides These links will give you a chapter by chapter summary of the book, character analysis, plot and much †¦ [PDF] The Satire Begins – Chapters 1-2 aplitcomp.edublogs.org/files/2009/03/satire-begins.pdf‎ Invisible Man. By Ralph Ellison. THE SATIRE BEGINS. Ralph Ellison uses many of devices available to the satirist. Though they are just a sampling, these †¦

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Practice Final Exam Eng-092

Practice Final Exam Eng-092 Part 1: In this section of the final exam, you will be asked questions about Active Reading Strategies. You will need to know the definitions of each one in order to answer the questions on the final exam. As a way of preparing, test your knowledge of each strategy by defining or describing each one in the space below. Prediction – making educated guesses; guessing about thoughts, events, outcomes, and conclusions. Predictions are confirmed or denied, and the reader makes new predictions.Questioning/Wondering – ask questions based on material in the text. Read with an eye toward finding answers to questions. Summarizing – putting a text’s main ideas and main supporting points into one’s own words. Visualizing – words and ideas on the page trigger mental images that relate directly or indirectly to the material. Making Connections – relate existing knowledge to new information in the text Part 2: Read the fol lowing passage in the left column. In the Think-Aloud section in the right column, read the thoughts of someone who has already read this passage.Next, in each blank, identify the reading strategy this reader activated while reading the passage, â€Å"Chicago and Cleveland. † Chicago and Cleveland (1) Chicago, at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, is a port city. (2) It is also an important commercial (3) and industrial center of the Midwest. It is well known for its educational, cultural, and recreational centers. Chicago draws thousands to its concert halls, art museums, and sports arenas. (4) Cleveland, on the south shore of Lake Erie, is also a port city and a commercial and industrial center important to its area (5). Feature Article Fin 486 Final ExamLike Chicago, it has several important educational, cultural, and recreational centers. It has colleges and universities, and a distinguished (6) symphony orchestra. It has one of the finest art museums of the world, and many recreational centers. The location of the two cities contributed to their growth, but this similarity is not enough to explain the wide social diversity(7) (8). [Adapted from Smith, Breaking Through, 7th edition, p. 191] Think-Aloud (1) As I read the title, I ask myself if it’s a passage about how Chicago and Cleveland are alike. – PREDICTION 2) I can imagine ships docking at the ports. – VISUALIZING (3) Does â€Å"commercial† mean â€Å"business†? – QUESTIONING/WONDERING (4) I have been to many of the concert halls, museums, and sports arenas in Chicago. – MAKING CONNECTIONS (5) It seems like the author is going to compare Chicago and Cleveland. – PREDICTION (6) What does the word â€Å"distinguished† mean? – QUESTIONING/WONDERING (1) I’m confused by the words â€Å"social diversity. † I reread the sentence, and realize the author is not just comparing the locations, but the social opportunities in both cities. – QUESTIONING/WONDERING (2) 3) This passage explains how these two cities have so much in common. It’s not only their locations that make them alike, it’s also their social diversity. – SUMMARIZING (4) Part 3: In this section, while reading the following passage, record the reading strategies you apply in order to construct meaning in the Think-Aloud column. Identify and explain each of the strategies you apply and indicate the number of the paragraph in which you apply each strategy. Write notes in the margin and underline parts of the text as you read, to help show your strategies. Beauty and the BeefWhen was the last time you opened a carton in a fast food restaurant and found a hambur ger as appetizing as the ones in the TV commercials? On television the burger is a magnificent piece of flame-broiled beef. It is topped with crisp lettuce, bright and delicious red tomatoes, tangy onions, and plump pickles. All of this is between two halves of a gigantic sesame seed bun. But of course, the real-life Whoppers can’t compare to what you see on TV. (Par. 1) When making a Burger King commercial, an advertising agency spends at least one full day filming the food.A food stylist prepares the frozen beef patties for the camera. The filming crew first spends two hours setting up lights that will flatter the burger. The stylist begins burning â€Å"flame broiling stripes† into the hamburger patties by using a special branding iron. The stylist then paints the stripes with a dark steak sauce. Next, the stylist sprinkles salt on the burger so that when it passes over the flames, natural juices will rise to the meat’s surface. (Par. 2) Once branded, retouch ed, and juiced, the director films the burgers from different angles as they move along a conveyor-belt broiler.When the meat is broiled, blood rises to the surface in small pools. The stylist dabs at the bubbling blood with a Q-tip so that is doesn’t look undesirable to TV viewers. (Par. 3) Before the patty passes over the flame a second time, the stylist maneuvers a small electric heater about an inch above the burger. This heats up the natural fatty juices until they begin to steam and sizzle. Otherwise, puddles of grease will cover the meat. (Par. 4) Think-Aloud (page one) (Par. 1) PREDICTION (Par. 2) VISUALIZING (Par. 3) QUESTIONING/WONDERING (Par. 4) MAKING CONNECTIONSIf you look at a real Whopper closely, you’ll discover that the flame-broiling stripes are only on the top side of the beef patty. Hamburgers are sent through the flame-broiler once and never flipped over. But on television commercials, the beef patty is fetchingly covered with flame-broiled stripes . (Par. 5) The camera crew has five or ten seconds to capture a good, sizzling, beef patty on film. After that, the hamburger starts to shrink quickly. Out of one day’s work, an agency hopes to get five seconds of film footage. Most of the time the patties are too raw, bloody, greasy, or small. (Par. ) In the final shot of the filming, the stylist has carefully nudged and manicured the ingredients so that they sit just right on the top of the burger. The lettuce and juicy red tomatoes are cut, trimmed, and then piled on top of a cold, cooked hamburger patty. It is then sprayed with a mist of glycerin to make it glisten. Finally, the hamburger is topped with a sesame-seed bun. The stylist positions each seed on the bun. He dips a toothpick in glue and, with a tweezers, places about 300 seeds, one by one, onto a bun. When it’s over, the crew packs up the equipment, and seventy-five hamburgers are dumped in the garbage. Par. 7) [Adapted from Smith, The Lifelong Reader, 20 04, pp. 163-165] Think-Aloud (page two) (Par. 5) MAKING CONNECTIONS (Par. 6) VISUALIZING (Par. 7) SUMMARIZING Part 4: Thesis Statement and Main Idea. Reread the passage on Beauty and the Beef. This time, however, you will first identify the stated or unstated main idea of each paragraph. Second, state the thesis statement of the passage. Beauty and the Beef When was the last time you opened a carton in a fast food restaurant and found a hamburger as appetizing as the ones in the TV commercials?On television the burger is a magnificent piece of flame-broiled beef. It is topped with crisp lettuce, bright and delicious red tomatoes, tangy onions, and plump pickles. All of this is between two halves of a gigantic sesame seed bun. But of course, the real-life Whoppers can’t compare to what you see on TV. (Par. 1) When making a Burger King commercial, an advertising agency spends at least one full day filming the food. A food stylist prepares the frozen beef patties for the camera. The filming crew first spends two hours setting up lights that will flatter the burger.The stylist begins burning â€Å"flame broiling stripes† into the hamburger patties by using a special branding iron. The stylist then paints the stripes with a dark steak sauce. Next, the stylist sprinkles salt on the burger so that when it passes over the flames, natural juices will rise to the meat’s surface. (Par. 2) Once branded, retouched, and juiced, the director films the patties from different angles as they move along a conveyor-belt broiler. When the meat is broiled, blood rises to the surface in small pools. The stylist dabs at the bubbling blood with a Q-tip so that is doesn’t look undesirable. Par. 3) Before the patty passes over the flame a second time, the stylist maneuvers a small electric heater about an inch above the burger. This heats up the natural fatty juices until they begin to steam and sizzle. Otherwise, puddles of grease will cover the meat. (Par. 4) If you look at a real Whopper closely, you’ll discover that the flame-broiling stripes are only on the top side of the beef patty. Hamburgers are sent through the flame-broiler once and never flipped over. But on television commercials, the beef patty is fetchingly covered with flame-broiled stripes. Par. 5) The camera crew has five or ten seconds to capture a good, sizzling, beef patty on film. After that, the hamburger starts to shrink quickly. Out of one day’s work, an agency hopes to get five seconds of film footage. Most of the time the patties are too raw, bloody, greasy, or small. (Par. 6) In the final shot of the filming, the stylist has carefully nudged and manicured the ingredients so that they sit just right on the top of the burger. The lettuce and juicy red tomatoes are cut, trimmed, and then piled on top of a cold, cooked hamburger patty.It is then sprayed with a mist of glycerin to make it glisten. Finally, the hamburger is topped with a sesame-seed b un. The stylist positions each seed on the bun. He dips a toothpick in glue and, with a tweezers, places about 300 seeds, one by one, onto a bun. When it’s over, the crew packs up the equipment, and about seventy-five hamburgers are dumped in the garbage. (Par. 7) [Adapted from Smith, The Lifelong Reader, 2004, pp. 163-165] A. Identify the main idea of each paragraph. (Par. 1) There is a difference between what we see in TV commercials and reality when it comes to fast food. Par. 2) â€Å"When making a Burger King commercial, an advertising agency spends at least one full day filming the food. † (Par. 3) Great effort is made during filming to remove anything that the TV viewer would find unappetizing. (Par. 4) Great effort is made during filming to ensure that the food’s worst characteristic—fat—is removed from the commercial. (Par. 5) The biggest difference between TV and reality is that the real burgers have grill marks on only one side because r eal burgers are never flipped, while the commercial shows the burger being flipped over an open flame. Par. 6) The agency hopes to get five seconds of footage, but most of the time, the burgers show their true nature: they’re too raw, bloody, greasy, or small. (Par. 7) While huge efforts are made to make the burger look as delicious as possible, at the end of the day, a massive amount of food waste is the main result of making a TV commercial. B. State the thesis of this passage. TV commercials for fast food use hours of studio time, specialized techniques, and nearly one hundred real burgers to create an unrealistically ppetizing image of a fatty, greasy product: it’s all about appearances, while reality is ugly and filming is wasteful. Part 5: Answer the following comprehension and vocabulary questions by circling a, b, c, or d. 1. The author explains that most of the work on the burgers being filmed in the commercials is done by a a. professionally trained food styl ist. b. chef. c. make-up artist. d. special-effects person. 2. The author explains that, while salting the patties encourages natural juices to rise to the meat’s surface, it also a. makes the burgers inedible. b. darkens the meat. c. auses blood to rise to the surface in small pools. d. dries out the meat. 3. The author’s point of view seems to be that a. advertising is an exciting field, requiring the work of many specialists and experts. b. the making of a fast-food commercial is expensive, wasteful, and not particularly honest. c. Burger King’s ads are works of genius. d. people should not eat hamburgers, no matter how good they look on TV. 4. The author explains that the hamburger in the final shot looks so perfect for all of the following reasons except a. the ingredients are put onto the front part of the burger. . the food stylist has carefully glued each sesame seed on the bun. c. burger is sprayed with glycerine. d. the burger is actually made with 50% more beef. 5. Hundreds of beef patties are wasted during the filming of a commercial. a. True b. False c. Can’t tell from the information given in the passage. 6. â€Å"and found a hamburger as appetizing† (Par. 1) In this sentence, appetizing means a. tempting b. nutritious c. large d. shiny 7. â€Å"Thus branded, retouched, and juiced† (Par. 3) In this sentence, retouched means a. dabbed b. made-up or improved c. cooked d. andled 8. â€Å"the food stylist maneuvers a small electric heater† (Par. 4) In this sentence, maneuvers means a. encounters b. designs c. purchases d. moves into place 9. â€Å"fetchingly covered with flame-broiled strips† (Par. 5) In this sentence, fetchingly means a. completely b. attractively c. visibly d. carefully 10. â€Å"carefully nudged and manicured the ingredients† (Par. 7) In this sentence, manicured means a. handled b. repaired c. painted with polish d. carefully trimmed Part 6: Answer the following multip le choice questions by circling a, b, or c. 1. â€Å"Who’s† is a. ossessive case of root word, showing that third person owns or possesses something b. contraction of root word and â€Å"is† c. possessive pronoun, meaning that second person owns or possesses something 2. â€Å"Wear† is a. past tense of â€Å"are† b. in what place? c. to have on one’s body 3. â€Å"Their† is a. contraction of root word and â€Å"are† b. possessive pronoun, meaning that a third person owns or possesses something c. location 4. â€Å"Cite† is a. sense of vision b. a place or location c. to credit a source 5. â€Å"Since† is a. because b. money or change c. to feel, hear, taste, see, or smell somethingPart 7: Write a thesis statement, including your main supporting points, for the following topics: (Answer Key Note: Student should write an argumentative thesis statement that, crucially, includes several supporting points explaining hi s/her stance. ) 1. The United States should/should not place a â€Å"fat tax† on foods that have a low nutrition-to-calorie ratio. The United States should place a â€Å"fat tax† on foods that have a low nutrition-to-calorie ratio because people who eat those foods often are at a greater risk for terminal diseases, so paying more for the food might help them to make better choices for their health. 2.Physician-assisted suicide should/should not be an option for terminally ill people. Physician-assisted suicide should be an option for terminally ill people because our prohibition on end-of-life choice is based on religious superstition and denies free, conscious adults a basic right to dictate how they live their lives until the end of life. 3. Every country in the world should/should not enforce a two-child limit on parents. Every country in the world should enforce a two-child limit on parents because the human population is growing out of control and humans are destr oying the environment for all other creatures—and ourselves.Part 8: Read the following sentences and decide how you can order them in order to create a strong organization for a paragraph. 1. To illustrate, a French male is likely to stand closer to you than a British male, even if they had equally positive attitudes toward you. 2. A set of useful guidelines has been developed for estimating how close to stand to another person (at least in many cultures). 3. Cultural differences must be kept in mind in interpreting nonverbal cues. Answere: 3, 2, 1

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Grumman F4F Wildcat - World War II

Grumman F4F Wildcat - World War II F4F Wildcat - Specifications (F4F-4): General Length: 28 ft. 9 in. Wingspan: 38 ft. Height: 9 ft. 2.5 in. Wing Area: 260 sq. ft. Empty Weight: 5,760 lbs. Loaded Weight: 7,950 lbs. Crew: 1 Performance Power Plant: 1 Ãâ€" Pratt Whitney R-1830-86 double-row radial engine, 1,200 hp Range: 770 miles Max Speed: 320 mph Ceiling: 39,500 ft. Armament Guns: 6 x 0.50 in. M2 Browning machine guns Bombs: 2 Ãâ€" 100 lb bombs and/or 2 Ãâ€" 58 gallon drop tanks F4F Wildcat - Design Development: In 1935, the US Navy issued a call for a new fighter to replace its fleet of Grumman F3F biplanes. Responding, Grumman initially developed another biplane, the XF4F-1 which was an enhancement of the F3F line. Comparing the XF4F-1 with the Brewster XF2A-1, the Navy elected to move forward with the latter, but asked Grumman to rework their design. Returning to the drawing board, Grummans engineers completely redesigned the aircraft (XF4F-2), transforming it into a monoplane featuring large wings for greater lift and a higher speed than the Brewster. Despite these changes, the Navy decided to move forward with the Brewster after a fly-off at Anacostia in 1938. Working on their own, Grumman continued to modify the design. Adding the more powerful Pratt Whitney R-1830-76 Twin Wasp engine, expanding the wing size, and modifying the tailplane, the new XF4F-3 proved capable of 335 mph. As the XF4F-3 greatly surpassed the Brewster in terms of performance, the Navy granted a contract to Grumman to move the new fighter into production with 78 aircraft ordered in August 1939. F4F Wildcat - Operational History: Entering service with VF-7 and VF-41 in December 1940, the F4F-3 was equipped with four .50 cal. machine guns mounted in its wings. While production continued for the US Navy, Grumman offered a Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9-powered variant of the fighter for export. Ordered by the French, these aircraft were not complete by the fall of France in mid-1940. As a result, the order was taken over by the British who used the aircraft in the Fleet Air Arm under the name Martlet. Thus it was a Martlet that scored the types first combat kill when one downed a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber over Scapa Flow on December 25, 1940. Learning from British experiences with the F4F-3, Grumman began introducing a series of changes to the aircraft including folding wings, six machine guns, improved armor, and self-sealing fuel tanks. While these improvements slightly hampered the new F4F-4s performance, they improved pilot survivability and increased the number that could be carried aboard American aircraft carriers. Deliveries of the Dash Four began in November 1941. A month earlier, the fighter officially received the name Wildcat. At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Navy and Marine Corps possessed 131 Wildcats in eleven squadrons. The aircraft quickly came to prominence during the Battle of Wake Island (December 8-23, 1941), when four USMC Wildcats played a key role in the heroic defense of the island. During the next year, the fighter provided defensive cover for American planes and ships during the strategic victory at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the decisive triumph at the Battle of Midway. In addition to carrier use, the Wildcat was an important contributor to Allied success in the Guadalcanal Campaign. Though not as nimble as its main Japanese opponent, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Wildcat quickly earned a reputation for its ruggedness and ability to withstand shocking amounts of damage while still remaining airborne. Learning quickly, American pilots developed tactics to deal with the Zero which utilized the Wildcats high service ceiling, greater ability to power dive, and heavy armament. Group tactics were also devised, such as the Thach Weave which allowed Wildcat formations to counter a diving attack by Japanese aircraft. In mid-1942, Grumman ended Wildcat production in order to focus on its new fighter, the F6F Hellcat. As a result, manufacture of the Wildcat was passed to General Motors. Though the fighter was supplanted by the F6F and F4U Corsair on most American fast carriers by mid-1943, its small size made it ideal for use aboard escort carriers. This allowed the fighter to remain in both American and British service through the end of the war. Production ended in fall 1945, with a total of 7,885 aircraft built. While the F4F Wildcat often receives less notoriety than its later cousins and possessed a less-favorable kill-ratio, it is important to note that the aircraft bore the brunt of the fighting during the critical early campaigns in the Pacific when Japanese air power was at its peak. Among the notable American pilots who flew the Wildcat were Jimmy Thach, Joseph Foss, E. Scott McCuskey, and Edward Butch OHare. Selected Sources Military Factory: F4F WildcatChuckhawks: F4F Wildcat

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Basic Finance :: Business Finance Analysis

The main purpose of studying finance is to gain an understanding of the financial performance of a company, corporation or industry. By looking at a company's financial performance, decisions can be made about many things by many different players. Corporations are rated by different agencies that examine financial records and potential for growth. Fitch ratings are a good example of this. My employer has an A++ Fitch rating. This high rating allows a non-profit company to borrow money at lower interest rates. In a publicly held company, which is one that has shareholders, the main concern is to keep the shareholders happy. Shareholders infuse corporations they believe in (usually based on financial performance) with capital. When a company is considered a poor financial risk, the public will not be in a hurry to buy its stock. So who is affected by finance? Shareholders, as mentioned previously, are the focus in publicly traded companies. They are not the only people who think about financials, however. The CEO, CFO and any other "C" position have accountability to report to the board about the financial performance of the company. Management is responsible for creating and maintaining both capital and operational budgets. Employees are required to maintain certain standards of productivity. Customers are affected by finances as well. Consider gas prices, and how increased costs in production are passed on to the consumer. When looking at a company's finances, there are essentially four items to consider: the income statement, the price earnings ratio, the balance sheet, and the statement of cash flows, (Block, 2005). The income statement is a tool used to measure profitability over a given period of time, i.e. quarterly, annual. The income statement evaluates the cost of producing goods or services and the money that was made as a result of selling those goods/services. Gross profit and net earnings are two key features to look at. The price earnings ratio measures the relative valuation of earnings, (Block, 2005). This is a way of looking at how your company's stock earnings compare to other companies both within and outside your industry. This ratio is affected by many variables like marketability, sales growth, and the debt-equity structure of a company.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Minimum Wage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Minimum Wage - Essay Example Minimum wage increases as only a short-term benefit to the poor. Prices will quickly adjust for this increase as companies raise prices to make up for the increased wages they must pay. They need to keep profits the same or raise them...so a rise in employee wages will equate to a rise in prices. Supporters of living wage laws say that the current minimum wage simply does not keep up with the cost of living. Allowing employers to pay less than a living wage is just cost-shifting to the public at large, forcing the government and private charities to fill in the gap between low pay and survival. Many economists supports that the minimum wage is a matter of social justice which helps reduce exploitation and ensures that workers can afford basic necessities of living. Supporters deny claims of causal links between the minimum wage and adverse impacts upon employment, and suggest that in any event, greater social benefit derives from the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wages of employees increases the economic efficiency of the economy where labor markets exhibit a high degree of market power on the part of employers. As Kash explains, (Montag 51) "The minimum wage goes up in one place, but doesn't change right next door.