The Roots of His Lingering Indecision Essay Example for Free

The Roots of His Lingering Indecision Essay If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, To tell my story. (V. 2. 289-292) The tragedy of Hamlet does not only reveal Shakespeare’s remarkable skill as a playwright but it serves as a commentary of how he proclaims the complexity of the human mind. And even in the subject of death, he succeeds in conveying death as not just an element of tragedy, but as a showcase of complex emotions of the bereaved. In Hamlet, the â€Å"outward form† that consists of the thesis of ghostly malevolence and the use of irony in the dramatic integrity of which could not be sacrificed to preconceived Hamlet’s personality patterns and motifs (Wilson-Knight, 1963). Hamlet’s unpredictable character and ambivalent behavior compel its readers to contemplate much about the heros sanity. His personality, during the course of the play, leads us to believe that Hamlet only feigned his madness. Hamlet is a man disgusted with the repulsiveness of life around him and is obligated to set things straight. Under the guise of madness he attempts to fulfill revenge, yet the discussion does not stop there. Did Hamlet really succeed in being a good actor that he fooled everyone into believing in his madness or was he truly mad? Why did he wait so long to carry out his revenge? Did Hamlet pondered too much and this drove him to an insanity that was indeed real? In Act 2 Scene 2, we could read Hamlet speaking to himself. He wishes that he were able to act like the actor who performed the speech for him. Indecision has subdued Hamlet in forgoing the revenge the murder of his father on Claudius or keeping silent due to uncertainty about whether Claudius really killed his father. This is why he decides to try and make the players enact the murder scene as it was described to him by the ghost of his father. Hamlet is hoping that Claudius, when he sees the scene, will reveal himself as the true murderer of King Hamlet: I have heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play / Have by the very cunning of the scene / Been struck so to the soul that presently / The have proclaimed their malefactions (II. 2. 566-569). By watching Claudius when the actors perform this scene, Hamlet expects to discover whether the ghost told him the truth. Shakespeare creates such a vague situation which makes this character more intriguing. As a result of the ambiguity given throughout this play, many might argue for or against the idea that Hamlets antic disposition put on as a facade to mislead the royal family. This pales in contrast with the disposition of Hamlets lunatic mind. In other words, Hamlet might in fact really suffered insanity. Proof could be derived from Hamlets erratic mood changes, careless slaughter of those not directly involved in the murder of his father and his dealings with the ghost of his father. Many critics believe that Hamlet faked his insanity to conceal his real feelings and to divert attention from his task of revenge. Other critics assert that Hamlet hopes that Claudius, thinking him mad, will lower his guard and reveal his guilt in Hamlets presence. With his troubled life, Hamlet embraces the fools, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia and the ghost, and the mirror in which they all are reflected in Hamlet’s consciousness. The play exhibited the â€Å"fine intensification and enlargement of the theme of death; and in end the images which make dramatization possible are significant (Wilson-Knight, 1963). Due to his turbulent emotions which result from his indecision on how to respond to his fathers murder, he then thrived in isolation from society. Ill wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmixed with baser matter. (I. 5. 99-104) A tragic hero, Hamlet largely determines his own fate, similar to Sophocles’ Oedipus and Shakespeare’s own King Lear. An extraordinarily complex young man—intuitive, accomplished, sensitive, noble, philosophic and reckless, Hamlet is a larger-than-life character. Thus, his tragedy rooted from these ill-defined â€Å"excesses† of personality. Hamlet’s emotional side is obviously evident from the beginning: At the plays opening he is portrayed to be consumed by anguish and shock even before he sees the ghost. In his first soliloquy, he even expressed the wish that suicide was acceptable. Also, Wilson-Knight (1963) averred that by establishing a dominant motif of disease and corruption and skillfully developing it through a series of carefully chosen interlaces, always present in moments of dramatic and moral tension, he enhances the genre and provides a structure suggesting macrocosmic and microcosmic horror. How the ghost contributes to irony implicit in that analogy must be investigating by first dialectically proving malevolence. A deeper understanding of the conflicts that hound the character of Hamlet and his turbulent emotions exemplifies the complex reactions of humans towards the issue of death. The approach taken by Shakespeare in Hamlet has generated countless different interpretations of death, but it is through Hamlets struggle to confront his internal dilemma that he himself dies at the end, fulfilling his duty as a son and his duty to society, by purging the corrupt from the monarchy and avenging his father’s death. However, we all know that death is never the end, it is only the beginning. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. In Kirszner Mandell (ed. ), Portable Literature Reading, Reacting, Writing, 5th ed. , Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth Publishers, 2003, p. 722-827. Wilson Knight, G. The Wheel of Fire. New York: Meridian Books, 1963.

Real Estate Reservation System Essay Example for Free

Real Estate Reservation System Essay And helps to easily check the availability status of various properties. The assence of system is really important to be realized by each and every business. Giving importance to it makes a big difference of somehow uplifting of improving the process of the company. Floyd and Allen (2008), In recent years, many economists have recognized that the lack of effective real estate laws can be a significant barrier to investigate in many developing countries. In most societies, rich and poor, a significant fraction of the total wealth is in the form of land and buildings. Real Estate is a piece of land, including the air above, the ground below, and any buildings of structures on it. Real Estate can include business and or residential properties and are generally sold either by a relator or directly by individual who owns property. In the Philippines, one of the growing businesses is Real Estate development. Aside from the development and rising of tall buildings and establishment in the metropolitan area, nearby provinces are now on the stage of land development with its continuous expansion in the provinces such as, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga and Batangas. Some people may benefits from knowing about Real Estate when faced with personal and business decisions relating to housing, investment and other business activities. The researchers chose this topic because it will help the Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦City to know the effectiveness of Online Reservation System. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework Roosevelt (2008), Every person who invests in well-selected real estate in a growing section of a prosperous community adopts the surest and safest method of becoming independent, for real estate is the basis of wealth. The researchers chose the paradigm thru Floyd and Allen (2008) words that coordinated with the problems of this study. In order to understand the flow of the study, the researchers prepared a research paradigm. Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. City Hall Yr. 2012-2013 Effectiveness Accessibility Availability Uses Investment Housing Business Activities Fig 1. Research Paradigm The purpose of this is to illustrate the effectiveness of Online Reservation System in the Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. City Hall. Statement of the Problem This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Online Reservation System to the Real Estate Company, especially this study is sought to answer the following questions. 1. What are the uses of Real Estate Online Reservation System in terms of: 1. 1 Investment; 1. 2 Housing; 1. 3 Business activities? 2. Does the effectiveness of the study corresponds with the following: 2. 1 Accessibility; 2. 2 Availability? 3. Is there an effectiveness in using Online Reservation system the Employed Citizen of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. City Hall? Hypothesis

PESTEL five forces and SWOT analysis of Apple

PESTEL five forces and SWOT analysis of Apple Introduction This study is an analysis of the business environment of Apple, Inc., which is typically undertaken as part of the strategic analysis of Apple’s operations for the medium and long term. The aim of this analysis is to assess the prospects of Apple, Inc. as a potential investment for consideration. There are three aspects of environmental assessment that are undertaken: the macro-environmental analysis makes use of the PESTEL model, industry analysis employs Porter’s Five Forces model, and the organisational analysis is performed using the SWOT model. PESTEL Analysis The business of Apple shall be evaluated within the context of its operations in the UK. Investor sentiment attached to the country plays a major role in determining the level of confidence reposed by investors in the country itself. Negative sentiment in the country overall may cause an investor shift that would affect stock prices even for companies in industries normally unaffected by the particular events or developments, thus consideration should be extended to indirect repercussions or contagion effects due to perceived weaknesses in the country environment (Chittedi, 2014; Haß, et al., 2014; Ioan, et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2014, Syriopoulos, 2014; Trenca Dezsi, 2013; Yaqing Hongbing, 2013). 2.1 Political The United Kingdom is a democratic country with a stable governance system, and maintains strong influence over the laws and customs of those countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, and now comprise the Commonwealth of Nations. The UK thus holds a strong and enviable position in global politics. However, there are risks posed by terrorist elements such as members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) recruited from among the British nationals. Current political challenges include the increasing tensions in the ruling coalition and the sagging government popularity (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.2 Economic The UK is a world economic power, with a highly developed economy that gained its footing after the Second World War. According to the World Bank’s assessment, as of 2003 the UK is the seventh best country to invest in or do business with. It is however burdened by a growing government debt problem (currently at  £1.38 trillion) and a huge budget deficit. In order to strengthen the financial system, the Bank of England (BoE) was given the authority to oversee the macro-prudential health and stability of the financial system. The BoE coordinates interest rate movements with the European Central Bank during times of crisis, however Britain still remains outside the European Economic and Monetary Union (CEEDR, 2012; UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.3 Social The standard of living of UK citizens is comparable with other First World countries. The education and health care systems are among the world’s best, and the social goals of the government include the alleviation of income inequality and eradication of child poverty. As a member of the European market, the UK benefits from the free flow of young people into the country to offset the problems posed by an aging population. Demographically, the population is aging (i.e., 35% of the population are 55 years and older, only 30% are below 25 years), with average life expectancy reaching 82 years for women and 78 year for men (CEEDR, 2012; UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.4 Technology The United Kingdom is renowned worldwide for its scientific expertise and cutting-edge research and development (RD). Intellectual property rights are stringently protected by legislation. Among the challenges to the UK with respect to technology is the increasing shortage of RD workforce, a trend that has persisted since 2008. The number of engineers and technicians in the physical and life sciences, as well as IT and telecom specialists, continue to decline. The lack of technical personnel and RD specialists is a serious threat to the continued competitiveness of UK industry. Patent applications have also been on the decline, meaning that innovations may slow down, further compromising competitiveness (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.5 Environmental The UK is a strong participant in the formulation of global policies, particularly with respect to agreements dealing with the environment, emission reduction, and sustainable energy source. However, the UK is also known to have a high level of air pollution. The European Commission issued a final warning to UK for the poor quality of its air, prompting the country to expedite a solution to the problem (BBC, 2014; Mathiesen, 2014). High air pollution, due to exhaust fumes and emissions from power stations and factories, prevails in London, while dangerous levels of NO2 have been recorded in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester (BBC, 2014; Dugan, 2013; Mathiesen, 2014; UK Country Profile, 2013). Government policies, however, will continue to tread the middle ground between environmental protection and economic development (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.6 Legal The UK has a legal system that is organised, transparent and efficient, and efforts are being exerted to make the processes in the courts simpler and more efficient and transparent (Great Britain Ministry of Justice, 2011). The legislative system favours a high level of freedom in business, primarily to enable investor trust and confidence. There is effective enforcement of the law; in the World Bank’s Doing Business indicators 2013, UK ranks at the 21st position among 185 countries with regard to enforcement of contracts. Challenges remain, however, in terms of tax evasion, and balancing personal liberties against the threat of terrorism. These challenges are being addressed by current proposals to amend legislation (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). Porter’s Five Forces Porter’s Five Forces analysis is a model used for industry analysis. Apple plays a significant role in four businesses, namely the communication equipment industry, the music and video industry, the mobile phones industry, and the personal computer (PC) industry. Because its participation in the overall PC industry is comparatively small compared to its other products, only the first three industries shall be analysed here. Apple’s overall business includes eight product lines: iPhone, its related products and services; iPad and related products and services, Mac portables and other music related products and services, Mac desktops, iPod, software, services and other hardware (Apple, Inc., 2014; GCEIP, 2014). 3.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers Communication Equipment Industry Buyer power is moderate. Apple communications equipment caters to individual buyers, but each buyer has little bargaining power as he/she bargains for him/herself alone. If the company loses just one consumer, the effect on the company will be insignificant. Collectively, however, buyer power may be more significant, as switching costs are low. Fixed line telecommunication devices have a low degree of differentiation and there is little innovation taking place in this area, for which reason buyers are sensitive to price levels and could easily transfer from one supplier to another. Apple’s major competitors in this market include Lenovo, Nokia, and Samsung (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The bargaining power of buyers is moderate. As with the communications equipment industry, there are many buyers in this market, thus reducing their bargaining power. Offsetting this, however, is the low switching costs that enables customers to transfer brands quite easily. Also, there is a trend towards greater preference for online retail channels and digital download sales due to their greater convenience. Buyers are therefore sensitive to price, recommendations, availability, loyalty schemes, and brand image. In the global music and video industry, Apple’s key competitors are Amazon, Tesco, and Wal-Mart Stores (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry The bargaining power of buyers is moderate. There are two types of buyers in this market, the retail outlets (e.g. Europe’s Carphone Warehouse, Walmart) which purchase handsets for sale to consumers, and the mobile network operators that now make their own retail sales bundled with the service they offer. The large retailers are at a disadvantage because they need to stock up on the latest innovations to meet end-user demand. When new innovations or models appear, unsold inventory of earlier models become obsolete. Apple is at an advantage because the firm is capable of forward integration – i.e., they conduct their own retail operations. As a result, buyer power is diluted. Apple’s closest competitors in this industry are LG Electronics, Nokia, and Samsung (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Communication Equipment Industry Mobile Phones Industry Supplier power is moderate. There are only a relatively small number of large multinationals who supply parts and components to this market, reducing market players’ options when sourcing for products. While backward integration is difficult due to high costs of telecommunication manufacturing, it is however not impossible; for instance, British supermarket brand Tesco will launch its own smart phone device, which if successful and followed by other retailers will reduce supplier power. Aside from their scarcity, suppliers are also benefitted by the level of customer loyalty that firms develop for their manufacturers. Apple, however, is one of those few companies which sell their products online and which operate their own retail shops (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry Supplier power is relatively high in the music and video industry. The suppliers in this industry pertain to the purveyors of content, such as the record companies, TV studios and film studios. End-user tastes drive demand, and when the particular content is specifically in demand then market players are compelled to stock on popular products so as not to miss out on revenues for songs, movies, or shows that have high appeal. Also, suppliers such as large film and TV studios tend to integrate forward, that is, they sell directly to the retail market through their own websites. In these situations, there is strong supplier bargaining power (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phone Industry Supplier power is moderate in the mobile phone industry. Mobile phone manufacturers are much larger than their suppliers, and are therefore in a position to better influence supply contracts. Operating systems are vital components to smartphone manufacturers, but in the case of Apple and Blackberry the operating systems are developed by the manufacturers themselves, and therefore one element of supplier power is diminished (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.3 Threat of Substitutes Communication Equipment Industry The threat of substitutes is moderate to strong, as product substitution may potential exist within the market. Landline phones and mobile devices are substitutes for each other, although mobile devices have the advantage of flexibility, portability and mobility. In developing countries, counterfeits may proliferate, drawing demand away from legitimate retailers, but such risk is gradually being eroded by regulation, law enforcement, and security measures. Cheaper second-hand products are also substitutes for new models, which may challenge the higher-priced Apple products in certain market segments (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The threat of substitutes, particularly from counterfeit media, is very strong; this becomes apparent when one considers that digital video and audio content are easily duplicated. Pirated titles appear online, on CDs, and more recently through streaming and file sharing websites. While lawsuits have been filed and litigation pursued in some cases, the lawsuits are so slow that by the time they take effect, damage has already been done that cannot be undone for the titles thus distributed. The same contents made legally accessible online also act as substitutes for the same content formatted on CDs and DVDs. Although demand for the latter may decline, there will still remain buyers who prefer their music or shows on a physical device (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014) Mobile Phones Industry The threat of substitutes is low. The threat posed by landline telephones as substitute for cellular phones is weak, due to the greater flexibility, portability and wide area coverage offered by mobile phone usage. Neither are laptops a strong substitute due to disadvantages in size, weight, and the capacity for outward calls (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.4 Threat of New Entrants Communication Equipment Industry The threat of new entrants is moderate. There is a low degree of differentiation among the products and services that players in this industry can offer; this signifies that customer loyalty is low, and customers tend more to follow the brand of the manufacturer rather than the retailer. Since buyers can easily switch retailers, low cost entry into the market is possible. Entry barriers are thus low, and threats of new entrants is strong, despite the fact that more established and larger-sale retailers would have developed better relationships with their suppliers as well as enjoy economies of scale (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The threat of new entrants is strong, and entry barriers to this market are low. If the prospective player already runs a retail business, then entry into the market becomes easy. Switching costs among vendors is low, and enables customers to transfer among players depending on the price, stock or brand image. Larger players carry strong brand images; however, this alone will not be sufficient basis to draw market share away from new entrants (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry The threat of new entrants is moderate. The popularity of smartphones continue to attract new players which offer the same features as the established brands, such as Apple and HTC. A good number of the more mature mobile phone manufacturers offer their own smartphones. A market for cheap feature phones thrives in developing economies. New entrants are nevertheless faced with challenges, such as the huge amount and the specialist skills and experience required for capital outlay for RD in which Apple is well entrenched (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.5 Internal rivalry Communication Equipment Industry Internal rivalry in this market is low to moderate. The market for global communications equipment is highly fragmented; market participants are numerous and diverse, including large foreign companies as well as local independent shops. Competition is slightly more intense among specialty shops than it is for the larger firms that have a presence in several markets. Even so, competition tends to ease because the demand for digital communications products is still expanding, enabling all firms to acquire a reasonable share of the market (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry Internal rivalry is strong, mainly due to the similar choice of products offered by competing players and the low switching costs among market players. Unless the content is originally produced or published by the player, it would not be able to sustain any long-term competitive advantage over its rivals as content and processes are common and indistinguishable (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry Internal rivalry among mobile phone manufacturers is moderate, with the lion’s share of the market being shared among a few large and well-known firms (i.e. Apple, Nokia, LG, Samsung). A second tier of smaller manufacturers are directed towards specific niches and do not really pose strong competition to the larger firms (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). SWOT Analysis (Datamonitor, 2011; MarketLine, 2014) 4.1 Strengths Apple’s several businesses are the result of a combined horizontal and vertical integration. Horizontal integration is comprised of its wide range of products, while the interconnectivity among such products is the result of the vertical integration. This has enabled the firm to create strong competitive advantages that competitors find difficult to challenge. Apple continues to enjoy strong growth rates and cash flows, as sales remain brisk particularly on its online stores. Apple commands high Application Service Providers (ASPs) which continue to perform well in the market while demand for ASPs of other company providers has declined. 4.2 Weaknesses Apple failed to anticipate certain product categories such as phablets, and therefore was a later entrant into them. Until recently, Apple had not launched a larger screen phone, despite having invented the tablet. Samsung outperformed Apple in this respect, having pioneered in the phablet with Galaxy Note in 2011, and now has a commanding presence in the phablet market. Apple positions itself in the premium category and prices itself at a single price point. Consumers who could not afford the premium price therefore turn to Samsung and other brands that have a range of differentially priced products for different markets. Apple has an overdependence on the iPad and iPhone for its revenues and growth rates; the revenues from these two products comprise 72.1% of its total revenues for 2013. Eventual decline in the sales of these products will threaten the company’s sustainability and viability. 4.3 Opportunities The iPhone and iPad remain popular in the personal gadgets market, and further growth in their sales could still be explored in the corporate arena. A trend known as bring-your-own-device has become popular in the workplace, as people have appropriated these personal devices for their business purposes. Companies have only begun to exploit mobility strategies to offer better choices to the customers, and iPads may be tapped for this. Apple has yet to fully tap the growth prospects in the emerging markets. There is a rising middle class in India in which Apple may carve out a greater market share. It should be recalled that India is a member of the Commonwealth with which the UK is developing increasingly closer ties. The vast market in emerging countries is far from saturation, and Apple in UK is in a position of take advantage of it. 4.4 Threats One of the weaknesses of Apple cited is its premium pricing policy. This policy shall prove detrimental to any efforts to penetrate an emerging market, because few if any will be able to afford it. Therefore, in the event of any economic downturns that tend to erode the buying power of consumers, demand may shift from Apple’s more expensive products to lower-priced competitors like Samsung. The complex environment of electronic communication devices is constantly innovating and poses a serious challenge to Apple’s position in the market. Players are aggressively competitive, principally because of the fluidity of this disruptive innovation that allows for constant redesigning and modification. Conclusion The business of Apple, Inc. is a viable investment in the UK, although recommendation of entry stock price will have to await a valuation analysis of the stock based on financial and economic models. Being an investment that relies in technological innovation, Apple will have to be a growth buy, that is, it may not have long-term prospects but it will continue to have a strong market presence in the medium term. The principal concern of investors will be the sustainability of Apple’s cutting-edge innovations in the post-Steve Jobs era. Apple should continue to maintain its core competence in technological innovation and its competitive advantage in its horizontal and vertical integration to remain a viable investment. References Apple Inc.: The Steve Jobs Effect (2012) Apple Case Study: The Steve Jobs Effect, pp. 1-16 Apple, Inc. (2014) ‘Apple Info.’ Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.apple.com/about/ BBC News (2014) ‘Air pollution needs more monitoring, says GMB union.’ BBC News UK. 8 June. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27753072 Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) (2012, May) Early Assessment of the UK Innovation Investment Fund. Department for Business Innovation Skills. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32236/12-815-early-assessment-uk-innovation-investment-fund.pdf Chittedi, KR (2014) Global Financial Crisis And Contagion: Evidence For The Bric Economies, Journal of Developing Areas, 48, 4, pp. 243-264 Communications Equipment Industry Profile: United Kingdom (CEIPUK) (2014) Communications Equipment Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-37 Datamonitor: Apple Inc (2011) Apple, Inc. SWOT Analysis, pp. 1-10 Department for International Development (2013) Multilateral Aid Review: Assessment of Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multilateral-aid-review-assessment-of-climate-investment-funds-cifs Dugan, E (2013) ‘Government fights Europe over air pollution reduction.’ The Independent, 2 March. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/government-fights-europe-over-air-pollution-reduction-8517922.html Global Communications Equipment Industry Profile (GCEIP) (2014) Communications Equipment Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-35 Global Mobile Phones Industry Profile (GMPIP) (2014) Mobile Phones Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-34 Global Music Video Industry Profile (GMVIP) (2014) Music Video Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-34 Great Britain Ministry of Justice (2011) Legal Aid Reform in England and Wales: The Government Response. London: Ministry of Justice Haß, L, Koziol, C, Schweizer, D (2014) What Drives Contagion in Financial Markets? Liquidity Effects versus Information Spill- Over, European Financial Management, 20, 3, pp. 548-573 Ioan, T, Nicolae, P, Eva, D (2013) An Inquiry Into Contagion Transmission And Spillover Effects In Stock Markets, Annals Of The University Of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 22, 2, pp. 472-482 Liu, Y, Ouyang, H (2014) Spillover and Comovement: The Contagion Mechanism of Systemic Risks Between the U.S. and Chinese Stock Markets, Emerging Markets Finance Trade, 50, pp. 109-121 Mallin, M, Finkle, T (2011) Apple Inc.: product portfolio analysis, Journal of The International Academy For Case Studies, 7, p. 63 MarketLine (2014) Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis, MarketLine, pp. 1-10 Mathiesen, K (2014) ‘Does London have the worst NO2 pollution on Earth?’ The Guardian: The Eco Audit. 10 July. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/10/london-worst-no2-pollution-earth Mobile Phones Industry Profile: United Kingdom (MPIPUK) (2014) Mobile Phones Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-37 Music Video Industry Profiles: the United Kingdom (MVIPUK) (2014) Music Video Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-32 Syriopoulos, T (2014) Stock Market Volatility and Contagion Effects in the Financial Crisis: The Case Of South-Eastern Europe, n.p. EBSCO Trenca, I, Dezsi, E (2013) Connections Between the European Stock Markets, Review of Economic Studies Research Virgil Madgearu, 6, 2, pp. 151-171 United Kingdom Country Profile (2013) UK Country Profile, pp. 1-67 US Central Intelligence Agency (USCIA) (2014) ‘United Kingdom’ The World Factbook. 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David Foster Wallace’s essay Consider the Lobster -- Wallace Animal Ri

Consider the Audience The gluttonous lords of the land capture those who are unable to defend themselves, boil the captives alive, and then feast on their flesh. Could this be the plot of some new summer blockbuster? It could be, in fact, but for now we will focus on how this depiction of events compares to David Foster Wallace’s essay, â€Å"Consider the Lobster,† which starts as a review of the Maine Lobster Festival, but soon morphs into an indictment of not only the conventions of lobster preparation, but also the entire idea of having an animal killed for one’s own consumption. Wallace shows great skill in establishing ethos. In the essay, he succeeds in snaring a receptive audience by laying out a well-baited trap for an audience who was looking for something else altogether, but he ultimately fails to keep hold of much of his catch. The piece in question was written for and published in Gourmet magazine. Presumably, the readers of that publication have already made up their minds about what they like to eat. A philosophical treatise on animal rights is probably not high on their reading list. In order to suck these readers in, Wallace hides his disdain for the subject matter inside cynical and ironic language. In his opening sentence, Wallace refers to the Maine Lobster Festival as â€Å"enormous, pungent, and extremely well-marketed† (252). This is an effective turn of phrase in that each reader assigns his or her own values to those adjectives. While an optimist sees in his mind’s eye a large, aromatic party filled with revelers from all over the continent, a pessimist pictures a crowded, stinky mess which has sold out for the money. Wallace draws them both in with his careful use of language. The words â€Å"optimi... ...lace’s inability to set up enough ethos to bring the reluctant portion of his audience along on his exploration of animal-rights issues causes this to be an ineffective piece. The only readers who are interested in its points are those who already agree with them. The vast majority of readers will either tune him out once he starts using more negative and eventually desperate language, or they will get through the piece and then go have some dead animal prepared for their supper without a second thought. He skillfully guides the audience into his net through his early use of neutral language, but when he tries to draw in his catch he ends up opening a giant hole in his netting, allowing many to follow their peers back into the murky sea from whence they came. Sources Cited David Foster Wallace’s essay, â€Å"Consider the Lobster,† in Gourmet Magazine. June 2008.

Reaching Up for Manhood :: Essays Papers

Reaching Up for Manhood Under-privileged, African-American boys are more prevalent in today's society than the typical person would like to recognize or admit. These boys seem to be faced with an ideal in which they need to follow or conform to as any and all cultures have. However, the problem is that for these boys, this ideal or way of living is believed to be met. Black boys growing up in Harlem are expected to act tough, not take any crap from anybody, and always seem to be strong no matter what they may be faced with. Along with this pressure to not express emotion and feeling, people wonder why they take this aggression out on their loved ones. Even though it may seem sexist it is a known fact that males are more likely to partake in violence than the average female. In order to prevent violence, it needs to stop before it starts. To do this, we start at childhood. The social, family, and educational environment must change for the better. This is not an easy task and no one is saying that it is going to take place over night. However, it is known that what we are, what we know, and how we act all reflects on the way in which we grow up and develop. Not to state the obvious, but I was raised very different from what the novel describes as an African-American male. Considering I am a Caucasian female, I was not raised with the attitude that I need to fend for myself. I did not need to learn self-defense in order to stay safe on the playground. My mother did not coach me on which ways to walk home from school. I didn't have to worry about it since the schools were well equipped with buses and money was not a problem for any of the school districts in the area I call home. I could not imagine telling a child not to go to the playground and play after school because it wasn't safe. If put in this type of culture, I would feel like I'd have to shield my child from everything when the reality of it would be that I am not the educator. The "tough" boys on that playground are the educators in a younger boy's eyes and the older boys come from homes that are either struggling or non-existing.

Tool Of The Devil: Comparing Satan in Paradise Lost and The Golden Comp

The devil, in literature, is always a catalyst of change for those who encounter him. He is a force working underground, moving against what is widely considered virtuous and good, and it is contact with him that often changes the course of characters lives, and even the world. In Paradise Lost and a book based on it, The Golden Compass, ‘the devil’, in both cases, is an advocate for moving away from the control of God and the Church. Where the stories differ, is in the author’s intent for these actions. In the former, John Milton uses the devil to display how vanity and pride are the sins that halt us in an opportunity to live blissfully, with and under God. Philip Pullman, in his twist on Paradise Lost, The Golden Compass, claims that the original sin was the first, and most essential, step in human beings claiming their free will. He writes the devil (Lord Asriel) as a manipulative, selfish but ultimately admirable character. One who stands his ground and hold s onto his beliefs with an intense passion. Milton’s Satan, on the other hand, comes off originally as charming, but slowly presents himself to be weak and unsure, and his ideals are eventually presented as a mask for his insatiable pride. When Milton’s Satan tricks Adam and Eve into leaving paradise, they are ultimately worse off. Pullman, on the other hand, shows that human beings are essentially crippled without their right and ability to sin and make choices. It is through their differing portrayals of Satan, that Milton and Pullman present their respective cases on how the original sin caused man to lose paradise and eternal bliss, or find free will. When Paradise Lost begins, the vainglorious actions of Satan have resulted in his removal from heaven and placed him on the path to exact revenge against those who have done so. Though, the reader is hardly able to experience any distaste when reading about this man who opposes the consented force of good. He is are charming, dark, fanatical and desperate in his attempts. It is from these characteristics, that the reader may be swayed into viewing him as the protagonist (or even the hero) of the tale. Even C.S. Lewis, famous for his critical detraction of Milton's Satan acknowledges how, "Milton's presentation of him (Satan) is a magnificent poetical achievement which engages the attention and excites the admirat... ... an essential moment that exemplifies our true nature. Lord Asriel represents this, a man who is cunning and self absorbed, who is selfish in his tendencies, but also willing to fight passionately for freedom and independence. Pullman’s Lord Asriel never feels guilt or remorse for his actions, as he fully believes his actions are not wrong. In The Golden Compass, the church is an institution that oppresses it’s citizens, and Lord Asriel has no qualms in fighting against it. It is the truth behind Lord Asriel’s passion, that allows the reader to accept him as a sort of hero, while it is Satan’s doubt and weakness that allows us to eventually cast him aside. The resolve of Lord Asriel reflects Pullman’s insistence on how detrimental our own individual thoughts and determinations are. Though our actions may be negative and even harmful, he believes we are essentially soulless without them. Milton, however, see’s that man has no greater obligation than to serve God, and this is the only way which we can find true peace within. Both authors use Satan as their strongest tool, to reflect where they believe we should put God and the Church in man’s life.

Directed Variation by Jean Baptiste Lamarck

By comparing current species with fossil forms, Lamarck could see what appeared to be several lines of descent, each chronological series of older to younger fossils leading to modern species. On the ground floor were microscopic organisms, which Lamarck believed were continually generated spontaneously from inanimate material. At the top of evolutionary escalators were the most complex forms (plants and animals).Evolution was driven by innate tendency toward greater and greater complexity, which Lamarck seemed to equate with perfection. As organisms attained perfection, they became better and better adapted to their environments. Thus Lamarck believed that evolution responded to organisms’ sentiments interieurs, or â€Å"felt needs. †(Lamarck 1803). Lamarck is remembered most for the mechanism he proposed to explain how specific adaptations evolve. It entailed two principles.First is the use and disuse, the idea that those organs of the body used more frequently and ex tensively to cope with the environment become larger and stronger, while those organs that are not used deteriorate. Among the examples that Lamarck cited were the blacksmith developing a bigger bicep in the arm that works the hammer and a giraffe stretching its neck to new lengths in pursuit of leaves to eat (Lamarck 1803). Lamarck’s second principle of adaptation is the inheritance of acquired characteristics.Lamarck believed that the modifications an organism acquires during its lifetime can be passed along to its offspring. The long neck of the giraffe, Lamarck reasoned, evolved gradually as a cumulative product of a great many generations of ancestors stretching higher and higher. There’s however no evidence that acquired characteristics can be inherited. Blacksmith may increase strength and stamina by a life time of pounding with a heavy hammer, but these acquired traits do not change genes transmitted by gametes to offspring (Lamarck 1803).The Lamarckian theory of variation is ridiculed by some today because of its erroneous assumption that acquired characteristics are inherited; but in Lamarck’s era, the concept of inheritance was generally accepted. T o most of Lamarck’s contemporaries, however, the mechanism of evolution was an irrelevant issue. In the creationist- essentialist view that still prevailed, species were fixed and no theory of evolution could be taken seriously. Lamarck was vilified especially by Cuvier, who would have no part of evolution.In retrospect Lamarck deserves credit for his unorthodox theory which was quite visionary in many respects: in its claim evolution is the best explanation for both the fossil record and current diversity of life; in its emphasis on the great age of the earth; and its stress on adaptation to the environment as a primary product of evolution, (Lamarck 1803). Conclusion The major aspects of the Lamarkianism are founded on the fact that environment contributes much to the develo pment of new traits in population.Ignoring the basic principles of biology that acquired traits are never transmitted to the next generation, these biologists believe in the contrary and that eventually these acquired traits form part of the genome (Lamarck 1803). I have written on Lamarck because his evolutionary argument one of the toughest criticism. Therefore, reading on Lamarck can only help one revisit the biological knowledge on evolution with respect to the general knowledge in biology. In short, it was quite interesting reading about Lamarck.