Competitive environment within the property industry in the United States of America

Competitive environment within the property industry in the United States of America Industry Description In the recent past, several mergers of large firms within the oligopolistic market setting have been witnessed. As a result, this has not only caused some changes in some of market factors such as competition but also in turn affected the demand of the products. This paper discusses the competitive environment within the property industry in the United States of America.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competitive environment within the property industry in the United States of America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Simon Property Group Simon property Group is the largest Real estate Company in the United States of America. The real estate industry in the US has been characterized by stiff competition among the oligopolistic market players. Competition in the industry is high thanks to the firms that desire to control a larger market share. As such, competition has ensured that firms create str ong brand names and have a commanding brand presence in the property market. In the United States of America, there is no dominant firm in the real estate industry although Simon property Group is the largest of all other players. The real estate industry is characterized by an oligopolistic market setting where there are few dominant firms which account for a majority of the stake in the industry. There are some other firms that follow after Simon Property group. Their main competition factor in the real estate industry is price strategy. Real estate companies engage in price wars so as to attract and retain more customers. This is done through offering cheaper deals to the customers relative to the competitors. These cheaper deals come in form of commission refunds to property buyers. Firms that fail to offer commission refunds usually attract fewer buyers than those that refund. Two Arguments Importance of Competition among Firms Competition is defined as the rivalry that causes businesses to strive to have a commanding control of the limited resources among the competing parties in the market. The importance of competition comes in that firms using price as the competition factor bring their prices down so as to attract the finite rational consumers (Jerry, 2003). This factor therefore increases the consumers’ marginal propensity to consume thus increasing their disposable income. The competitive environment in this industry is of benefit to the society. This is because of the price factor that offers the consumers cheaper deals. The importance of this is that the consumers are able to purchase property at lower prices. This ensures that their economic welfare is enhanced because they have residual cash that they can use for other uses. The high degree of market concentration among the competitors is beneficial to the consumers because these firms will engage in competitive activities that will either result in lower prices or higher quality among the products so as to attract the consumers (Wessels, 2000). Consumers therefore enjoy high quality products from the competing firms and also spend less on these products.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Oligopoly market structure is defined as the market structure that exists when there are a few suppliers in the economy who have a considerable share of the market. However, none of these suppliers is strong enough to be a price setter. This means that the suppliers will have to forge common standards that will be beneficial to the both the consumers and the suppliers. Industries that experience rapid technological change can benefit from an oligopolistic market structure. This is because the negative uncertainties that could be brought about by the technological changes are cushioned by the standardization practiced among the oligopolistic market structure by the various market players. References Jerry, N. L. (2003). Competing in The Information Age: Align in the Sand. London: Oxford University Press. Wessels, W. J. (2000). Economics. New York: Barrons educational Series.

Biography of Joseph Conrad, Author of Heart of Darkness

Biography of Joseph Conrad, Author of Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad (born Jà ³zef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski; December 3, 1857 - August 3, 1924) was one of the greatest English-language novelists of all time, despite the fact he was born in the Russian Empire to a Polish-speaking family. After a long career in the merchant marine, he eventually settled in England and became one of the most prominent novelists of the early 20th century, writing classics such as Heart of Darkness (1899), Lord Jim (1900), and Nostromo (1904). Fast Facts: Joseph Conrad Full Name: Jà ³zef Teodor Konrad KorzeniowskiOccupation: WriterBorn: December 3, 1857, in Berdychiv, Russian EmpireDied: August 3, 1924, in Bishopsbourne, Kent, EnglandParents: Apollo NalÄ™cz Korzeniowski and Ewa BobrowskaSpouse: Jessie GeorgeChildren: Borys and JohnSelected Works: Heart of Darkness (1899), Lord Jim (1900), Nostromo (1904)Notable Quote: The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness. Early Life Joseph Conrads family was of Polish descent and lived in Berdychiv, a city now part of Ukraine and then part of the Russian empire. It is located in a region that the Polish sometimes refer to as the Stolen Lands, since it was taken from the Kingdom of Poland. Conrads father, Apollo Korzeniowski, a writer and political activist, took part in the Polish resistance to Russian rule. He was imprisoned in 1861 when the future author was a young child. The family endured exile to Vologda, three hundred miles north of Moscow, in 1862, and they were later moved to Chernihiv in northeast Ukraine. As a consequence of the familys struggles, Conrads mother, Ewa, died of tuberculosis in 1865. Apollo raised his son as a single father and introduced him to the works of French novelist Victor Hugo and the plays of William Shakespeare. They moved to the Austrian-held section of Poland in 1867 and enjoyed more freedom. Suffering from tuberculosis like his wife, Apollo died in 1869 leaving his son an orphan at age eleven. Conrad moved in with his maternal uncle. He was raised to pursue a career as a sailor. At age sixteen, fluent in French, he moved to Marseilles, France, to look for a career in the merchant marine. Merchant Marine Career Conrad sailed for four years on French ships before joining the British merchant marine. He served for fifteen more years under the British flag. He eventually rose to the rank of captain. The elevation to that rank came unexpectedly. He sailed on the ship Otago out of Bangkok, Thailand, and the captain died at sea. By the time the Otago arrived at its destination in Singapore, the entire crew except Conrad and the cook were suffering from fever. Photo circa 1960: A bust of Joseph Conrad as a figurehead on the prow of The Joseph Conrad, a training ship built in Copenhagen in 1882. Three Lions / Getty Images The characters in Joseph Conrads writing are mostly drawn from his experiences at sea. Three years of association with a Belgian trading company as captain of a ship on the Congo River led directly to the novella Heart of Darkness. Conrad completed his final long-distance voyage in 1893. One of the passengers on the ship Torrens was 25-year-old future novelist John Galsworthy. He became a good friend of Conrad shortly before the latter began his writing career. Success as a Novelist Joseph Conrad was 36 when he left the merchant marine in 1894. He was ready to seek a second career as a writer. He published his first novel Almayers Folly in 1895. Conrad was concerned that his English might not be strong enough for publication, but readers soon considered his approach to the language as a non-native writer an asset. Conrad set the first novel in Borneo, and his second, An Outcast of the Islands, takes place in and around the island of Makassar. The two books helped him develop a reputation as a teller of exotic tales. That depiction of his work frustrated Conrad, who looked to be taken seriously as a top writer of English literature. Handwritten and typed letter from Joseph Conrad to Ford Madox Ford. Culture Club / Getty Images During the next fifteen years, Conrad published what most consider the finest works of his career. His novella Heart of Darkness appeared in 1899. He followed it with the novel Lord Jim in 1900 and Nostromo in 1904. Literary Celebrity In 1913, Joseph Conrad experienced a commercial breakthrough with the publication of his novel Chance. Today it is not viewed as one of his best works, but it outsold all of his previous novels and left the author with financial security for the rest of his life. It was the first of his novels to focus on a woman as a central character. Conrads next novel, Victory, released in 1915, continued his commercial success. However, critics found the style melodramatic and expressed concern that the authors artistical skills were fading. Conrad celebrated his financial success by building the house he called Oswalds in Bishopsbourne, Canterbury, England. Personal Life Joseph Conrad suffered from a range of physical maladies, most of them due to exposure during his years in the merchant marine. He battled gout and recurrent attacks of malaria. He also struggled occasionally with depression. In 1896, while in the early years of his writing career, Conrad married Jessie George, an Englishwoman. She gave birth to two sons, Borys and John. Joseph Conrad and Family. Time Life Pictures / Getty Images Conrad counted many other prominent writers as friends. Among the closest were future Nobel laureate John Galsworthy, American Henry James, Rudyard Kipling, and collaborator on two novels, Ford Madox Ford. Later Years Joseph Conrad continued to write and publish novels through his final years. Many observers considered the five years after World War I ended in 1919 the most peaceful part of the authors life. Some of Conrads contemporaries pushed for recognition with a Nobel Prize for Literature, but it was not forthcoming. In April 1924, Joseph Conrad turned down the offer of a British knighthood due to his background in Polish nobility. He also turned down offers of honorary degrees from five prestigious universities. In August 1924, Conrad died at his home of an apparent heart attack. He is buried with his wife, Jessie, in Canterbury, England. Legacy Shortly after Joseph Conrads death, many critics focused on his ability to create stories that illuminated exotic locales and to humanize sordid events. Later analysis has focused on deeper elements in his fiction. He often examines the corruption that lies just beneath the surface of otherwise admirable characters. Conrad focuses on fidelity as a crucial theme. It can save the soul and wreak terrible destruction when it is breached. Conrads powerful narrative style and the use of anti-heroes as main characters have influenced a wide range of great writers of the 20th century, from William Faulkner to George Orwell and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He paved the way for the development of modernist fiction. Source Jasanoff, Maya. The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World. Penguin Press, 2017.

StrategicHuman Resource Assessment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

StrategicHuman Resource Assessment 2 - Essay Example It is in this context that attracting the appropriate talent pool is often observed as a major challenge in the consumer goods industry, majorly due to the requirement of vast workforce and the persisting divergences in the targeted labor market. Correspondingly, organizations implementing SHRM policies and strategies realized the importance and need of flexibility with respect to change, anticipation, innovation and adaptation. In the consumer goods industry, SHRM strategies and policies differ from organization to organization in accordance to the external factors influencing the business such as the political environment, economic hazards, community culture and the socio-environmental structure of the market. Additionally, the organizational structure, its internal culture along with the SHRM policies applied within the company also imposes significant influence on its attractiveness as an ‘employer of choice’ (Boxall, Purcell & Wright, 2007). ... which the organizations must coordinate and recognize the most potential challenges that the organizations shall have to witness in growing as an attractive employer in the selected market. Furthermore, in order to obtain a critical view regarding the issue, this study will also take into account the example of a world renowned consumer goods brand, i.e. Procter & Gamble Australia & New Zealand (P&G). Elements of HR strategies that must be coordinated by consumer goods companies and the consequent challenges The need to bring about transformational modification in Australian job market is continuing to be determined by an economic plan that aims at improving the productivity as well as the flexibility within its labor force. This plan helps the organization to sustain in the middle of international competitiveness as an attractive employer. The rules and regulations of the Australian job market in accordance to the industrial relations have also expressively affected the HR strategie s being employed in various industries including the consumer goods industry as such elements attempts to bring about vital changes in the framework of employment relationship (Johnson, 2009). As stated by Pettigrew (1985), a planned procedure provides an organization an agenda through which it selects a sequence of action or optimal strategy to accelerate enhancement in accordance to its objective of competitive advantage as an ‘employer of choice’. Therefore, organizational vision and strategic aims can also be regarded as an influencing factor to create an affect over its development as an attractive employer. Based on this context, Glueck (1980) stated that strategy is a combined, inclusive and cohesive plan which is designed to confirm the achievement of the basic objectives of the

What is the significance of new communication technologies for Essay

What is the significance of new communication technologies for contemporary community or youth work - Essay Example The daily lives of youths in the present days are dominated by live communications such as internet chats, use of phones and SMS messaging, among many others. It is not possible to understand the lifestyles of the young people without considering the roles played, in their lives, by internet, mobile phones and other forms of new and modern technology. The teenagers and young people are spending a substantial part of their lifetime using modern technology such are computers, the internet, and mobile phones – hence this issue is incessantly becoming more significant. The new and modern technology has some positive as well as negative impacts on the lives of the youths and the community at large. Although I am aware that Internet has many advantages not only for young people but for the society in general, in my professional role as a youth worker, I only work with young people affected by the negative aspects as they are young people in need. It is through this forum that I have realised the strong need to protect this vulnerable group from the negative impact of new technology, as it will be discussed in this paper. Sociality – private/public boundaries There are various anthropology-based perspectives through which any technology can be studied including creation of social relations, the resultant rituals, the values fostered and the practices developed around the said technology by different users. On the other hand, cyberculture can be associated with new technologies in two areas, including biotechnology and artificial intelligence - such as information and computer technologies. The computer and information technologies have brought about a system of technosociality, which is an extensive process of sociocultural construction built in two systems originated from the so-called cyberculture. In contrast, biotechnologies are the origins of biosociality - a new system for production of nature, life and the body through biological innovations. All in all, cyberculture originates from modernity form of social and cultural matrix, which is seen as a step towards readjusting the dominant tradition. The computer is a reminiscent object and a predictive medium for the creation of various public and private worlds. As the culture of computers continues to spread, more peoples perceive themselves in terms of computers (Escobar 215). It is common to find the term ‘private’ being compared with ‘public’. The field of communication media has been synonymous with the creation of the situations of either being public of private. The private/public boundaries are shaped by the way humans have interacted with the world around them. For a case in point, modern technologies and communications such as televisions, radios, telephones and the internet have practically enjoined the outside and public worlds within the people’s private spheres, breaking the barrier between the two worlds. In addition, the modern te chnology has toughened the boundary of privacy within homes. By intervening in the external world within the home, and at the same time allowing people to interact with the external worl

Explore Blakes Chimney Sweeper poems from the Songs of Innocence and the Songs of Experience Essay Example for Free

Explore Blakes Chimney Sweeper poems from the Songs of Innocence and the Songs of Experience Essay In this essay I am going to explore Blakes Chimney Sweeper poems from the Songs of Innocence and the Songs of Experience. During this essay I will cover Blakes life and times and the way chimney sweepers get treated around that time and what Blake attempts to do about it. Blake was born on November 28 in the year 1757. His parents where strict but understanding. Blakes parents realised early in his life that Blake was gifted. He had an extremely active imagination and he often got visions. At only four years old he claimed he had seen God in one of these visions. Another time when he was with one of his friends he envisaged angels filling a tree. He horridly told his family what he saw but the response he got from his father was quite negative. His father threatened to whip him because he believed it was time for him to grow up. However his mother took Blakes side and when she asked him about it he stated that the angels took the form of his thoughts. This vision was stuck with him and was extremely influential in his life. Blake obviously had a gift for seeing things with his eyes and in his imagination. He used his artwork to express his experiences. When Blake turned ten years of age his parents decided to enrol him into a drawing school. Later on in his life Blake used his talent as an artist to become a apprentice engraver. Throughout Blakes life he had a dislike for nasty, unfair people especially towards those that had power and money like those in the government, and those that where associated with the church. Blake also could not stand power abusers and bad unfair treatment towards the poor, young and elderly. In the time of William Blake chimney sweepers went through a torrid time, it was as if they where young slaves. The age of the infants varied between five years old to the age of eight or nine if they could be fit up the chimneys. They where often bought off parents for as little a à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2, in some cases however they may be purchased for à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5 but it is still a despicable price to pay for a young child. In the extreme cases the chimney sweepers where stole from familys. When the sweeps had lost the use around the age of seven they get passed over to the church. Blake despised the serious health problems the sweeps got from this demanding life of threatening work. Most sweeps after only a short time of working in the chimneys end up with twisted kneecaps, ankles and even spines from crawling up the extremely cramped chimneys. There was even such a thing as chimney sweeps cancer which they got from the soot irritating there skin. Again we can see why Blake hates the idea of chimney sweepers and there treatment, they are forced to do inhumane things that even animals would never be told to do. The master sweeps imbedded fear into the young brains and subjected them to clean chimneys. They where made to live in the most inhabitable of conditions. They often slept on soot bags in dirty wet cellars. The sweeps where forced to clean the chimneys if they refused or could not fit up the chimneys they where punished by the fire being lit, slaps, prodding with poles and various other instruments and pricking of the bottoms of their feet. All this just so the master sweep can make an easy living from the poor misfortune of innocent children. Blake strongly disagreed with the treatment of the sweeps so much he wrote two beautiful poems about their treatment, these featured in two separate books, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. The first chimney sweeper poem is from the Songs of Innocence, Blake shows a strong message through his poems, and they sometimes come across light hearted like nursery rhymes. But often, if not all the time they have a dark sinister meaning. This is the beginning of Chimney sweeper 1 and straight away Blake invites the reader to feel sympathy for the situation the family is in. It shows how poor the family is, it gets so bad the father has to sell his child to get some money to keep the rest of the family going. This reflects on the state of working class people of that time. When my mother died I was very young, And my father sold me while yet my tongue. The boy is sold so young that it has not even developed the ability to speak properly; in the poem he Could scarcely cry weep! weep! weep! weep! The boy could be crying in this passage or he could be trying to say the word sweep but is unable because of his age. This is clever by Blake because the passage has a double meaning; this carries on throughout the poem. The effect of the first stanza is to bring the reader into perspective of what lengths of desperation the families go to, to earn a small amount of money. In the second stanza the audience is introduced to Tom Dacre, his hair is shaved off and Tom is very upset about this. Blake feels very strongly about the dehumanisation of people and shows this in his poems. Blake compares Tom to a lamb because a lamb is innocent like the chimney sweeps and is also a form of sacrificial animal so it is showing there inability to have there own personality and independence. Theres little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head, That curld like a lambs back, was shavd The final part of this stanza represents the pureness of Tom Dacre. The soot represents the master sweeps trying to make him impure but the white hair represents how innocent Tom is. The effect of this stanza is to bring across the innocents of the sweeps to the audience. Hush, Tom! Never mind it, for when your heads bare, You know the soot cannot spoil your white hair. The third stanza is when Tom has a dream; in his dream he has visions of thousands of dead sweeps. The coffins of black represent a enclosed environment with dead sweeps covered in black soot. Blake involves the fact that thousands of chimney sweepers died to once again show the audience what really goes on. That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, Jack, Were all of them lockd up in coffins of black. In Stanza four Tom Dacre is still in his dream and an Angel comes to set him free, this represents the chimney sweeps being liberated from their life of peril. And by came an Angel who had a bright key, And he opend the coffins set them all free Then Blake goes on in the conclusion of this stanza to contrast there life when they are trapped being made to go up chimneys, to being let to run free and be there own boss. It is everything they can not do when working as a chimney sweeper. Blake mentions that they wash in the river, this symbolises that they have left that dark past behind them and are moving on. This stanza has a light hearted mood and shows everything that the chimney sweepers can not have. In the fifth stanza Blake brings his feelings about the church through. The unfairness and manipulative abilities the church is shown in this stanza. And the Angel told Tom, if hed be a good boy, Hed have God for his father, never want joy. This means basically that if you do not sin you get to go to heaven. The angel represents the heartless church who manipulate through fear. This is what Blake is strongly against. In the final stanza of the first poem the boys go back to work after Tom wakes and have to work in poor conditions. And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark, And got with our bags our brushes to work. In the end of the last stanza Blake makes it seems as if it has finished on a high note, however Blake doesnt believe in this naive belief. So if they do all their duty, they need not fear harm. That was the first of the two chimney sweeper poems, throughout this poem Blake says one thing but if you look deeper into it, it has a much deeper sinister meaning. The second chimney sweeper poem is from the Songs of Experience this poem has a different angle that the first poem. Stanza one, The Chimney Sweeper 2 begins like this; A little black thing among the snow, Crying weep! weep! in notes of woe! Where are thy father mother? Say They are both gone up to church to pray. Blake represents the chimney sweeper in the first part, calling it A little black thing among the snow, To Blake the black represents the sweep all dirty and tainted. And calling it a thing dehumanizes the sweep. Blake wrote, A little black thing among the snow because the chimney sweeper is tainting society which is the white snow. Blake uses the same words from The Chimney Sweeper 1, in this poem for the same effect, to show the young boy upset, confused. Crying weep! weep! At this point in the poem the audience can not tell who is speaking. I believe it is the poor people; they are represented as chimney sweepers. The chimney sweeper is lost in society, represented by the snow. The government which is represented by the chimney sweepers parents is ignorant to reality. Blake has used the situation in the poem to express his feelings about politics of that time. Because I was happy upon the heath. And smild among the winters snow, The boy in the second poem has had more experience chimney sweeping and has come to terms that there is nothing he can do about it. He puts on a brave face and gets on with it, when compared to Tom Dacre in Chimney Sweeper 1 he doesnt have the naivety that Tom had. Once again I think Blake had another meaning that poor people represented as the chimney sweep are happy and they smile in society. They clothd me in the clothes of death, And taught me to sing the notes of woe. The parents of the chimney sweeper in this poem clothed there son and sentenced him to death when they decided to sell him to a master sweep. They made the boy cry when he had to leave and now he is alone and knows it. I think that Blake had another deeper meaning. I think the chimney sweeper represented poor people, they got clothed in the clothes of death by the chimney sweepers parents represented as the government. In the final stanza Blake goes on the attack at the church and the government he does this by provoking anger towards them through the unfairness of it all. And because I am happy dance and sing, They think they have done me no injury, In these lines Blake is how the chimney sweeper feels after his ordeal, putting on the front everything is ok when it is not. Going deeper into what Blake is trying to bring across is representation that the chimney sweep is the poor people again. The final two lines Blake attacks the church and the government, the chimney sweep is wise and is experienced and realises that the church and government exploit the poor so that they can make their own heaven out of the money from the society. And we gone to praise God his Priest and King, Who make up a heaven of our misery

Unequal Education in America: Urban vs Suburban Education Essay

Unequal Education in America: Urban vs Suburban Education The gap between the nation’s best and worst public schools continues to grow. Our country is based on freedom and equality for all, yet in practice and in the spectrum of education this is rarely the case. We do not even have to step further than our own city and its public school system, which many media outlets have labeled â€Å"dysfunctional† and â€Å"in shambles.† At the same time, Montgomery County, located just northwest of the District in suburban Maryland, stands as one of the top school systems in the country. Within each of these systems, there are schools that excel and there are schools that consistently measure below average. Money alone can not erase this gap. While increased spending may help, the real problem is often rooted in the complex issues of social, cultural, and economic differences. When combined with factors involving the school itself and the institution that supports it, we arrive at what has been widely known as the divide between the suburban and urban schools. Can anything actually be done to reverse this apparent trend of inequality or are the outside factors too powerful to change? The issue of equality in education is not a new problem. In 1787, our federal government required all territories petitioning for statehood to provide free education for all citizens. As part of this requirement, every state constitution included, â€Å"an education clause, which typically called for a â€Å"thorough and efficient† or â€Å"uniform† system of public schools† (School Funding 6). Despite this requirement, a â€Å"uniform† system of schools has yet to be achieved in this country for a variety of reasons, many of which I will discuss later on. During the early part of th... ...omic background when judging students. Money will not solve or make this problem go away, no matter how many social workers are hired. Schools will succeed despite their financial circumstances if they have the basic components of motivated students, parent support, caring teachings, and strong central leadership. While this is the typical model of a suburban school system, Wilson High School proves that it can work anywhere. When ones thinks of urban public schools, overcrowded classes, underpaid teachers, and a lack of resources often come to mind. The fact is these problems can happen anywhere. While the environment at Kennedy could never be compared to the worst DC high school, the assumptions made against these schools are the same. By erasing these notions and confronting the problems one by one, we will be one step closer to reaching equal education for all.

The Dance

My twenty-year-old daughter Brandy called me the other night. While we were talking, she asked me if I remembered the day we watched a spider spin its web. I told her that I did, and she went on to tell me that the experience was one of her fondest childhood memories. She was a little surprised when I told her it was also one of my favorite parenting memories! Our family consisted of myself, my wife Sharon, Scott, my twelve-year-old stepson, eight-year-old Hugh, seven-year-old Brandy, five-year-old Justin, two cats and a Labrador mix named Mitch. Since our apartment had only a small yard, the kids and I would take Mitch on short daily walks during the week. On the weekends, whenever possible, we would take him on long walks through our small coastal community. During one of these weekend walks, we saw the spider. It was Sunday afternoon on a beautiful California spring day. The sun was shining while the birds added their sweet melodies. The air was filled with that special atmosphere of newness that is unique to springtime. My four children, Mitch and I were headed east, down Ninth Street. Ninth Street, in this part of town, is mostly small shops and offices, and most of these are closed on Sundays. Mitch, like all dogs, felt bound to investigate every tree or shrub along the path. As he was inspecting an oleander shrub in front of a small flower shop with an alcove, I noticed the spider scurrying about in the left corner of the alcove. Since most of the spiders I encounter usually just sit around waiting for lunch, I stepped over to investigate this little flurry of activity. It appeared the little fellow was building a new home. The spider had already built the main structure of its spiral web. The supporting rays of silk were attached to various points on the stucco wall and window casing, and the first few spirals, at the center of the rays, had been completed. I gathered the kids into the alcove and showed them the web. Mitch, having lost interest in the oleander, settled into the shade of the alcove for a nap. As we watched, the spider began a fascinating dance! Its eight legs moved swiftly in a repeating sequence, while its abdomen pivoted from one ray to the next spinning silk, all the while moving in an ever expanding spiral. We continued to watch the little spider until it reached what it, and Mother Nature, determined to be the outer ring of its new home. Every one of us, except Mitch (who was still napping), were enchanted and impressed with the performance. The spider, however, appeared oblivious to our adulation. As we continued our walk, we talked about the spider over and over. When we got back home, all four children kept interrupting each other in their eagerness to describe to their mother what they had seen. Hugh did an enthusiastic imitation of the spider's dance, wiggling his fanny to and fro while gesticulating wildly with his arms and legs. His efforts had us all laughing until we had tears in our eyes. I have always been charmed by the natural world: the acrobatics of squirrels, the cooing of pigeons, the soaring flight of hawks and falcons. Just the sight of a dragonfly sitting still on the end of my fishing pole grips my soul and fascinates my eyes. I had always hoped that I would pass my love of nature on to my children, so that they too would know the particular wonder that only nature can inspire. At the time as I watched and listened to my children's excitement over the simple dance of a small spider, I felt my hope might be becoming a reality. Knowing that the memory is still cherished by Brandy thirteen years later I feel sure she, at least, got the lesson right.

Holy Moly Essay

Socrates is simply asking questions to get a straight answer from Euthyphro, which he is unable to do. When asked,â€Å"what is piety? † Euthyphro answers â€Å"Doing as I do†. He thinks he is doing the pious thing by bringing his father up on charges of impiety. In his words, he is saying prosecutinganyone guilty of murder, no matter who they are . Socrates, basically is not entertained by this response, because it is not an answer. When asked again â€Å"what is Piety? † Euthryphro responds with, â€Å" What is dear to the Gods is pious and what is not dear to them is impious†. Socrates asks† â€Å"Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious? Or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? Euthyphro is contradicting himself. That which is dear to the gods is dear to the gods because it is first loved of them, not because it is dear to them. But the pious or holy is loved by the gods because it is pious or holy. Which is the same as saying that it is loved by them because it is dear to them. Hisexplanation is going in circles. When asked again, Euthyphroresponds, â€Å"Piety is knowing how to please the Gods in word and deed, by prayers and sacrifice†Socrates responds by saying that it is a way of doing business between the gods andmen. You ask the gods what you can do and they tell you what they want you to do. Euthyphro has failed to show what pious is. I believe Socrates goal in the dialogue was to change his mind about prosecuting his father and to determine whether Euthypro’s definition of piety or impiety was sufficient enough toprosecute his own father for murderandto clear himself of his indictment. The features of the dialogue that led me to believe this was when Socrates asked, â€Å"Are you able to show your fatherguilty of murder orthat all the gods are agreed in approving of our prosecution of him. Then says to Euthyphro† If you had not certainly known the nature of piety and impiety, I am confident, you would not have charged your father with the murder† Euthyphro, then hurries away , I am thinking to save his father from being tried for murder. If Socrates knew the nature of piety and impiety he may have been able to clear himself ofMeletus and his indictment.

I Will Bear Witness, a Diary Drafted by Victor Klemperer

I Will Bear Witness, a Diary Drafted by Victor Klemperer Introduction Klemperer Victor drafted his diary â€Å"I Will Bear Witness†, to show the way in which Nazi regime condemned Jewish and other groups. It was unusual experience to the Jewish community during the twelve years rule by Hitler Adolf. The diary of Victor Klemperer showed holocaust experience when the Jews community were condemned and dehumanized in Germany.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"I Will Bear Witness†, a Diary Drafted by Victor Klemperer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Actually, the diary explained the horrible situation which Klemperer Victor had undergone during condemnation of his Jews community. In 1933, Klemperer Victor began to write his diary and proceeded to draft it till the end of Second World War in 1945[1]. Indeed, Klemperer managed to survive simply because he was a husband to a baptized Aryan. Nevertheless, Klemperer was compelled to put on the star and was horribly mistreated by Germans. Though, Eva (Klemperer‘s wife) never put on the star, she suffered a lot of difficulties just like her husband. In addition, each day Klemperer and his family struggled to look for daily meal in order to survive. Surely, Klemperer’s family lived under great fear since they would t be captured and persecuted by the Nazi regime. Indeed, Klemperer kept his document under severe risk since if the diary were to be discovered by the Nazi party, and then definitely Klemperer would be deported and murdered. Moreover, Klemperer aimed at two priorities. First, he intended to record all injustices he and his family had undergone. Secondly, he wanted to deviate from monotony of normal life in his society. The diary explained that Klemperer manage to survive through determination to life, to act within his capability, in fact not to withdraw or to give up from what he wanted1 Klemperer, who was a professor, felt the importance of involvement in many occupatio ns as a way to remain sane. In fact, he engaged in many activities such as involving in studies and providing for his family. However, Klemperer’s commitment was interfered with when he was compelled to shovel snow together with other Jews people. Indeed, the task was really horrible for him because of his advanced age. Klemperer performed the task for some time after which was freed, and thus led his usual life. Furthermore, Klemperer’s family encountered health complications, and the matter was made worst when they could not seek medical attention since people’s movement was restricted in Germany. Indeed, the Nazi regime suppressed their movement and freedom. For example, when moving from one house to another, the Jews people were only allowed to take things that could be accommodated in a suitcase and anything that could be carried on their back1.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 1943, Klemperer was compelled to do labor task that discouraged him greatly. However, the task was not cumbersome, but was boring and monotonous. Indeed, he suffered the punishment that he was given in a factory firm. Actually, Klemperer performed labor task for more than one year. In 1945, Jews people, who practiced mixed marriages, were forced to do labor task and later were deported out of the nation. Moreover, unknown armed groups succeeded to bomb Dresden. Fortunately, Klemperer’s family survived. In fact, they managed to locate to another house in order to hide from the Nazi party. Among the Jews community who lived at Dresden, only Klemperer and a few people managed to survive the bombing incident. Indeed, Klemperer was one of the holocaust survivors during persecution of Jews people in Germany1. Actually, Klemperer’s diary shows how people should appreciate determination put forth by Klemperer in order to survive in a life challeng ing situation. Indeed, it is a positive experience that could be learned when Klemperer never give up despite the war-situation became worst. For example, Klemperer’s family managed to persevere when basic commodities could not be found in their surrounding. In fact, it was time when the Nazi party rationed commodities to Jewish community and other opposition groups. In addition, non- Jewish communities also suffered because impacts of the war affected them too. For example, food rationing led to escalation of commodities prices. In his diary, Klemperer accepted to lead a positive life toward whatever agony that he and Jewish people had undergone. Klemperer was responsible person who looked for several survival ways. Moreover, non-Jewish persons who lived at Dresden were empathetic to Jewish community. However, such non-Jewish people (Germans) did not offer direct support to Jews people because they feared Nazi party to condemn them. Indeed, the fact was that, not all Germans were bad people, and such attitude really encouraged Klemperer to search for good. Actually, Klemperer realized that if people, regardless of their background, could lead a compassionate and rational life, then they would be humane, indeed, to support life. Such situation indicated that several Germans were wiling to abandon Nazi’s attitude of conflict, and surely intended to end violence in Germany. Conclusion Klemperer’s diary is actually important in order to understand the holocaust experience in Germany, and how such violence should be avoided not to happen again. In fact, the diary explained what really occurred and thus could not be replicated. Therefore, as a survivor of the holocaust experience, Klemperer acted wisely to account for what he actually experienced in life. Indeed, Klemperer was wise enough to keep the document under great risk, knowing how it would be important in the community later.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â⠂¬Å"I Will Bear Witness†, a Diary Drafted by Victor Klemperer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Bibliography Rosen, Philip., Apfelbaum, Nina. Bearing Witness: A Resource Guide to Literature, Poetry, Art, Music, and Video by Holocaust Victims and Survivors (Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002), 5-10. Footnotes Rosen, Philip., Apfelbaum, Nina. Bearing Witness: A Resource Guide to Literature, Poetry, Art, Music, and Video by Holocaust Victims and Survivors (Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002), 5.

The Commonly Confused Verbs Shall and Will

The Commonly Confused Verbs Shall and Will The verbs shall and will both point to the future, but in contemporary  American English, shall is used only rarely. In  British English, shall and will are often used interchangeably with little or no difference of meaning. According to linguist R.L. Trask, traditional rules regarding  shall and will are little more than a fantastic invention. Internationally, will is now the standard choice for expressing future plans and expectations. However, in first-person questions shall is often used to express politeness  (Shall we dance?), and in legal statements, shall is used with a third-person subject for stating requirements (Rent shall be paid  when due,  in accordance with the terms hereof). Examples I signed the lease. Incredible. In the middle of all this fine print, there was the one simple sentence, There shall be no water beds.(John Updike, Gesturing. Playboy, 1980)   Stuttering, Bessie told him  what had happened to her. She showed him the handle of the key she had clutched in her hand all night.Mother of God! he called out.What shall I do? Bessie asked.I will open your door.But you dont have a passkey.(Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Key. The New Yorker, 1970)   [W]hen people come and see me they always say, Shall we meet in the local pub?(Simon Russell Beale, quoted by  Imogen Carter  and  Kathryn Bromwich, What Goes On in the Wings. The Observer [UK], November 20, 2016)   If you do not eat your potatoes, you will be upset, and I will be upset; your father, clearly, is already upset. If you do eat your potatoes, I shall be pleased, you will be pleased, your tummy will be pleased.(William Goldman, The Princess Bride. Harcourt, 1973)   I will go home, Bessie decided. People will not leave me in the streets.(Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Key.  The New Yorker, 1970)   Humans need to find a new  planet within 1,000 years to keep the species alive,  Stephen Hawking said in a talk this week. Hawking, the noted theoretical physicist, said that humans will likely expend the planet’s resources in that time.(Justin Worland, Stephen Hawking Gives Humans a Deadline for Finding a New Planet. Time,  November 17, 2016) Usage Notes [T]heres simply  no reason to hold on to shall. The word is peripheral in American English.(Bryan A, Garner,  Garners Modern English Usage, 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2016) The Traditional Rules There is a traditional textbook ruling that runs as follows. For simple futurity, you use shall after I or we but will after everything else, while, to express determination or command, you use will after I or we but shall after everything else. By these rules, the required forms are We shall finish tonight (simple statement) versus We will finish tonight (expressing determination), but They will finish tonight (simple statement) versus They shall finish tonight (an order).As grammarians never tire of pointing out, these bizarre rules do not accurately describe the real usage of careful speakers at any time or in any place in the history of English, and they are little more than a fantastic invention. If you are one of the handful of speakers for whom these rules now seem completely natural, then by all means go ahead and follow them. But, if you are not, just forget about them, and use your natural forms.Do not try to use shall if the word does not feel entirely natural, and especia lly dont try to use it merely in the hope of sounding more elegant. Doing so will probably produce something that is acceptable to no one.(R.L. Trask, Say What You Mean! A Troubleshooters Guide to English Style and Usage, David R. Godine, 2005) The Hazy Distinction Between Intention and Futurity [T]he distinction between intention and futurity can be hazy, and grammarians of C17 and C18 devised an odd compromise whereby both shall and will could express one or the other, depending on the grammatical person involved. . . . Research by Fries (1925) into the language of English drama from C17 on showed that this division of labor was artificial even in its own time. These paradigms were however enshrined in textbooks of later centuries and still taught a few decades ago. Their neglect is one of the better consequences of abandoning the teaching of grammar in schools.(Pam Peters, The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, Cambridge University Press, 2004)​ British Uses of Shall and Will British people use I shall/I will and we shall/we will with no difference of meaning in most situations. However, shall is becoming very much less common than will. Shall is not normally used in American English. . . . Shall and will are not only used for giving information about the future. They are also common in offers, promises, orders and similar kinds of interpersonal language use. In these cases, will (or ll) generally expresses willingness, wishes or strong intentions (this is connected with an older use of will to mean wish or want). Shall expresses obligation (like a more direct form of should).(Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford University Press, 1995)​ Where Shall Survives In colloquial and indeed all spoken English . . . will is fast displacing shall in all cases in which shall was formerly used and in which we are recommended to use it. . . . It survives chiefly in first person questions, where it usefully distinguishes Shall I open the window? (as an offer or proposal) from Will I need a towel? ( will it be necessary). It is useful that the construction ll stands for both shall and will. (Eric Partridge, Usage and Abusage, edited by Janet Whitcut, W.W. Norton, 1995)​ AP Style Use shall to express determination: We shall overcome. You and he shall stay. Either shall or will may be used in first-person constructions that do not emphasize determination: We shall hold a meeting. We will hold a meeting.For second- and third-person constructions, use will unless determination is stressed: You will like it. She will not be pleased.(The Associated Press 2015  Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, Basic Books, 2015) Practice (a) Lets go into the church, _____ we?(b) If you build it, he _____ come.(c) Martha _____ bring the salad. Answers to Practice Exercises: Shall and Will (a) Lets go into the church, shall we?(b) If you build it, he will come.(c) Martha  will bring the salad. Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

Poster presention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poster presention - Essay Example On top of these physical manifestations of trauma, psychological symptoms related to possible post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) may surface. These may be accompanied by chronic pain syndromes, chronic fatigue syndrome, eating disorders and irritable bowels (Springer et al., 2003). The case at hand is about a mother who has fled from her abusive partner because he has been found to have sexually abused her two children. Her older son, aged 9 is by another man, and the younger son, aged 5 is the abusive partner’s own son. It is logical to assume that both boys may have been traumatised by their experience of child abuse. To add insult to injury, the man is requesting for custody for both of them, and their mother is denying it due to obvious reasons. Studies have shown that most often, the abuser is somebody familiar to the child and that the abuse happens in a familiar environment, supposedly safe for the child (Administration for Children and Families, 2004). In this case, the perpetrator is the parent/ parental figure of the child victims, which further heightens the likelihood of trauma. Abused or neglected children develop painful memories of the experience and it can haunt them all their lives. The traumatic experience can even influence the way they behave with others or how they would raise their own children in the future (Anda et al., 2005). Some children may never fully recover from the trauma, resulting in lifelong depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Shengold (1989) have termed the devastating long-term consequences of child maltreatment as â€Å"soul

Portfolio Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Portfolio Analysis - Essay Example The indifference curve can be used to reflect investor attitude or risk by refloating an investor’s preference. The plot of many indifference curves shows the different options that an investor would take. However, from the indifference map, the best option is to take the option that is highest that any other indifference curve. b. Selection of a suitable portfolio Indifference curves are not just used to display the risk aversion factors of an investor; in fact, the indifference curve can be used to select a suitable portfolio in terms of risk and return (Yin and Zhou, 2004). As already stated, the indifference curve is a plot of the risk and return preferences of an investor, therefore, to select the most suitable portfolio, an investor can utilize the mean-variance theory. The mean-variance theory of portfolio selection is derived from the indifference curve, where the map of the different indifference curves for an investor is plotted together (Maharakkhaka, 2011). From th e plot of the indifference curves, the transitive preferences of an investor can be determined, which refers to the selection of the best preference curve as chosen by an investor. From an analysis of the transitive preferences, it is evident that the highest preference curve is the one that should be selected by the investor. From the indifference curve, the investor can determine the highest possible indifference curve, which, combined with the other indifference curves, gives the mean-variance portfolio or the most efficient portfolio in an investment. 2. Correlation and Co-variance a. Correlation and Co-variance The relationship between two variables can be measured or determined in different ways, but the commonest way is the determination of the correlation and covariance of the two variables. A number of variables are sometimes related in some way or another, either the occurrence of one variable affects the occurrence of the other variable, or the does not affect the working of the other variable. The covariance refers to the type of relationship that two variables have, meaning that it shows whether two variables have a positive or negative relationship. In this case, a positive relationship refers to the fact that one variable moves in the same direction as the other variable. Conversely, the correlation between two variables incorporates another dimension, the extent to which two variables are related. In addition to the covariance angle of determining whether variables are positively or inversely related, the correlation also shows the extent to which the variables are inversely or positively related. b. Covariance, Correlation, and Portfolio risk As already stated, the correlation between two variables is determined by the movement of one variable in relation to the movement of the other variable. In the investment market, diversification is a good practice, since it ensures that an investor does not lose an investment in case of a catastrophe or loss in market value. A positive correlation between assets means that one asset will move in the exact same way as another asset. In investment, stocks with low or negative correlation are used to reduce portfolio risk since when one asset falls; the other asset